Kinnud: Ifugao’s Ligadu, Binnabaddang, Danga, Ububbo and the Brigada Eskwela

LIGADU is a word I first heard when I was a child. But I suspect this is an adaptation of a foreign word as it is very much related to formal systems of government that are not present in pre-colonial public administration. It refers to services rendered by the public for their community as ordered by an authority such as barangay official or at times a school head. These services include repairs of public buildings such as clinics, barangay halls, and schools, cleaning of pathways, fixing of canals and similar activities.

Macasinag: Adding insult to injury

IN PAST elections, the payment of teachers’ honoraria for their Election Day duties was always delayed. Unfortunately, this is still true today. Delayed poll duty pay is a major post election woe which doesn’t seem to get attention from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Fernandez: More things to do

I WAS not quite surprised when the National Statistical Coordination Board (NCSB) released last month its latest figures on the poverty incidence in the Philippines.

According to the NSCB data, poverty incidence hardly eased between 2006 and 2009. Poverty incidence was estimated at 27.9 percent in the first semester of 2012, compared to 28.8 percent poverty incidence in 2006 and 28.6 percent in 2009.

Cariño: Hello, mayora

MY FIRST unsolicited advice for the mayor elect of strawberry town is for her to junk that cute yellow SUV people had seen her drive before the campaign period. That car might create a divide between her administration and those who put her back into public office, or impress something nasty on what motivated her bid.

Domondon: The Other Way Around

THE City Council of Baguio deliberated last Monday, during its 17th regular session, a distinctly unique request coming from an educational institution situated within the central business district area of the city.

De Leon: Now Serving: Theme Restaurants (Part II)

ALICE of Magic World -- Tokyo, Japan. Playing cards, oversize teacup booths and heart-shaped light fittings all feature at the Alice of Magic World restaurant in Tokyo. The eatery, which is located in the Ginza district. The waitresses dress up in Alice in Wonderland frocks, and the menus come in mini dioramas with foldout flaps.

Domoguen: Flow gently river of life into our hearts and minds

IF YOU feel like jumping into the water by the river, are you certain it is clean - good to your health even your limbs. A lot of things are not what they seem since you last reckoned them, mind you.

Tibaldo: Protect yourself from 'Phishing' and online fraud

I MAY not be physically present in any discussion, forum, meeting or group encounter but I can be technologically around with the use of modern day communication gadgets. The use of non-voice communication systems such as e-mail, short message sending or SMS texting has been in practice for over a decade already allowing faster and real time correspondence but the fact remains that these are not free from risks and fraudulent acts.

Editorial: Championing our children’s education

AND the countdown begins.

In 14 days, students of public elementary and high schools begin their annual quest for quality education amid the perennial problems our schools are facing.

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.