Editorial: A melting pot of culture

AS THE Fourth Tam-Awan International Arts Festival came to a close Sunday, the country’s summer capital once again became the hotbed of culture and the arts.

Through the years, Tam-Awan Village of the Chanum Foundation has kept alive the promotion of Cordillera’s rich tradition, which has brought tourism from all over the world to the summer capital year in and year out.

Luzano: Karit kadagiti nangabak, kayetket kadagiti naabak!

ADU a karit ti nagtutuon ken nagsisipol para kadagiti nangabak iti kallabes nga eleksiyon. Karit a sapay koma ta inda tungpalen amin a karida ken isapsapatada idi panawen ti kampanya. Saan a mabalin tay manglipat ta umili ti mangpuor kenka. Adu ngamin dagiti nagkari a dida met tungpalen. Inyappanda laeng kano dagita a kari tapno makabanniit iti butos. Ngem surotendakayo dagiti umili. Ket dikayon koma dadaelen ti talekda. Ket kadagiti met di napagasatan... maysa a padas ken pagadalan kadakayo ti napasamak.

Capili: Rule on property acquisition and ownership (I)

THE right to own real estate in the Philippines is defined by the Constitution and other pertinent laws on Property Acquisition and Ownership.

Brett: Mama Thoughts

THIS piece could be a late entry but honoring mothers all over the world can and ought to be done every day.

Dacawi: Roberta’s blind courage (Continued from last week)

THE multi-titled Baguio Cinderellas took me in as team manager in 1991, a year after the July 16 killer quake. Never mind that I didn’t know what an off-side rule is and the fact that pro bono family Doctor Julie Camdas-Cabato had just confirmed then that I was a sugar magnate without a hacienda, translated to being a football team manager without money and experience.

Cariño: Last Night

IT IS Friday as I write of last night, when my brother Matt came home in an urn. A lovely one no doubt, its size a humbling reminder of what the mortal self is, the proverbial handful of ashes we are all reduced to when all is said and done. Tonight as last night and many more nights, we gather at sunset to offer prayers that Matty’s soul rest in peace. This is our Catholic self talking.

Bautista: I won

FINALLY I am victorious. Victorious I say is because for the last three years since the last elections I have been haunted and hounded; haunted because of the memory of my "past" political career.

Don't get me wrong here, all I wish to convey to every Juan was that ever since the 2010 elections, I have not felt any peace and quiet.  Allow me to explain.

Llanes: Abra’s political turn around

JUST came back from Bangued in Abra Province after being deployed by our station PTV 4 to cover the electoral process for this year’s midterm elections and guess what, the expected bloody elections was nil.

Yes there were reports of indiscriminate firing, yes there were reports of firecracker throwing incidents, yes there was even an incident tire spiking wherein the Chief of Police of Bangued was victim, and yes there was a case of a male person found dead in Brangay Sagap but all were far not politically related.

Sungduan: Best Bocaps

THE search is over for the Ten Outstanding Punong Barangay in Baguio City. The Rotary Club of Metro Baguio (RCMB) OPB Awards Committee has finally chosen the best grassroots leaders worthy to be given recognition.

Exemplifying an extraordinary kind of leadership and selfless service to the community with admirable command filled with passion and dedication are Justina Andaya of Barangay Fairview, Teresita De Guzman of Pinget, Sotero Dulaycan of Pinsao Pilot Project, Thomas Dumalti of Irisan Barangay, and Miguel Kiswa of Sto Thomas Proper.

Editorial: Time to clean up

PROCLAMATION for all local candidates in Baguio City was practically over Tuesday night.

In nearby Benguet, the top provincial officials were also declared Wednesday afternoon at the provincial Capitol.

Domogo: The everything in the small things

WHERE I live now, there's this bar in town. It's a small structure with roof made of bamboo-supported concrete, built around a persimmon tree growing from its floor passing through a hole in the ceiling and partly shading the roof. This bar is called Persimmon or Bamboo and to avoid any confusion for tourists, I direct to this place, I just refer to it as Barry's Bar. My cousin Barry and his brothers and friends run this place.

Cajucom: The Pagudpud Diaries Ep03 - Moonlight fun

IT USUALLY takes eight to 10 hours to travel from Baguio to Pagudpud. Ours took two and a half days. Since the kids are are-we-there-yet kind of travelers, I thought it wise to spend one night in Vigan. It was a mistake (well, sort of...) because I think I left a piece of my heart in Calle Crisologo and now it aches to go back and experience yet another enchanted night travelling back through time.

Macasinag: Professionalism and patriotism at its finest

SERVING as one of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) in the recently concluded national polls, I was not without fear and apprehensions knowing that members of the BEI are the most vulnerable to assaults and harassment during elections.

Cariño: Burying the axe

IT’S time for the governor and the congressman to mend fences. I assume that things may have turned sour for them during the campaign period but that's all part of the hype for the elections. The score between them is typical of those running for public office. It's just that their views emanated from different sides of the fence.

Editorial: The uninvited

THE war between the Bases Conversion Development Authority and the Camp John Hay Development Corporation takes another turn as the Department of Justice recommended the filing of malversation charges against officers of the latter.

This as arbitration proceeding is underway between the warring camps at the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center.

Domondon: The verdict is out

AFTER less than a day of hectic machine crunching and tabulation the smoke has cleared to confirm the peoples choices for the next set of local leaders in the City of Baguio coming at the heels of the May 13 elections.

Fernandez: The Haven for Women

GROUPS often visit this DSWD-operated center located just at the heart of the city for outreach programs. Some often spend their birthdays with the center’s clients while others just drop by to give their extras.

While people have varied reasons in visiting this place, the Social Focus will provide our readers of things they need to know to guide them on how they can be of better help to the women and girls temporarily residing in this haven.

Editorial: The case of the missing ballots

EXCEPT for the reported failure of elections in one barangay here in the city, the 2013 midterm elections went on as scheduled.

Some 146,230 registered voters flocked to 215 clustered voting precincts from all over Baguio City but to the dismay of 638 residents from Lualhati barangay, their ballots were wrongly delivered to Compostela Valley prompting the local election office to declare a failure of election.

De Leon: Now Serving: Theme Restaurants

PEOPLE in general, love variety. It is after all, the "very spice of life that gives its entire flavor." (Kudos to Mr. Cowper!) The same can be said for the human palate. Today's dining is all about the experience and array of options available to the adventurous and discriminating diner.

Domoguen: Lost to vote? Something and more did not tally

THE other week, many local politicians with their choicest of words and demeanor courted a religious group's endorsement for their cause. When this endorsement was given by the religious group to its chosen politicians, those who were not endorsed reacted as bitter critics, even taunting the group like some wayward sect, not part of the Christian world.

Guinaran: The parable of decentralization and local autonomy

DURING our diploma course, we were exposed to Finland's primary care and we visited the Pirkkala Health Center. What struck me most was the very organized referral system and health organization in the area. Another thing is the realization that local governance and decentralization of health services are working in this town. I took a taste of real devolution and saw how local governments really are autonomous.

Tibaldo: What I believe is a platform of governance

IN order for a platform to serve its purpose as a pedestal or facility to accommodate things, it must be strong, stable and enduring. It must be built with a good intent and purpose that serves a particular group or individuals. It may be square, circle or triangular but it must withstand loads and allow certain footholds. Also, it must be functional in order for it to be used and not just displayed or wasted.

Editorial: The dirty finger

MORE THAN 900,000 registered voters in the Cordillera Administrative Region are expected to troop to their respective precincts today, Mondat, to decide on a heavy mandate by way of shading a cutesy oblong shape beside the names of their chosen candidates.

In Baguio City, around 140,000, and in Benguet, around 180,000 registered voters will end this day with a mark already synonymous to elections -- the dirty finger, the one smudged with something so recognizable but whose name is utterly forgettable ñ the indelible ink.

Luzano: Botosmo, annadam para masakbayan

MAYO trese - ita a maitukit ti bukel a mangibunganto iti masakbayan ti kaputotan a sumangbay. No aniaít launen ti mapagkaykaysaan dagiti umili a mangpili kadagiti tumugaw nga opisyales... daytoyto ti pondasyon ti sumaganad a panagserbida iti pagilian. Iti maysa a biddut... dakkelto a babawi ti ibungana. Masapul ngarud nga annadam ta botosmo para iti masakbayan. Saludsod: kasano dagiti nagilako iti botosda? Natural, kas met laeng inlakodan ti masakbayan ti pagilian. Kunada: bumutos babaen iti konsiensiya. Ngem kasano kano no mas ad-adu dagiti awanan konsiensiya.

Brett: Meeting Angels

I ONCE thought angels came in white robes and halos. But that is a rather naive notion. They may be these unsung heroes, humanitarians, advocates of causes or they simply come in the form of friends, strangers, or even random people inside a cramped train. A recent drastic, and rather embarrassing incident taught me that.

Capili: Defining real estate practice

ALMOST four years into the law that created real estate practice (R.A. No. 9646 ñ Real Estate Service Act or RESA), many are not yet aware of the professional status of the practice under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). With this short explanation, we shall try to define real estate practice and its implications in the real estate industry as a whole and the business in particular.

Del Rosario: BB (Balance and Bounds)

LAST Sunday, May 5, Mike spoke to nearly 4,000 mostly freshmen NSTP students from Saint Louis University at the SLU Burgos Gym. His topic was “A Parent’s Perspective on relationship, sexuality and school.”

For more than six months now, our youngest child, Jessica has been accompanying Mike and listening to him in all the different talks that he has been giving all over town. This time, in her absence, I accompanied Mike and took video of his talk.

Dumaguing: A meal to control hypertension

LOWERING blood pressure at any level can have a significant impact on morbidity (illness) and mortality (death). Statistics and experience have shown that antihypertensive therapy was associated with average reduction of 40 percent in stroke and 25 percent reduction in heart attack. It is also estimated that a 5mm Hg decrease in systolic blood pressure would result in 15 percent decrease in coronary heart disease.

Bautista: We all win

THIS is the continuation of the files that got lost during printing which many felt left them "hanging" or "bitin." It seems that there really are no accidents in this world. I didn't get mad at anyone for I knew that there must have been a reason for it. Allow me to keep every Juan hanging a little bit more.

Cajucom: Momentum

I JUST turned 38 last week, and I still do not see any need to lie about my age. Truth is, I would rather lie about my waistline, not my age.

Unfortunately, my age is easier to conceal than that other “figure”.