Bayan: Palarong Pambarangay and Araw ng Kagitingan

THE winners for the Palarong Pambarangay Darts and Bowling Tournament were awarded last April 5, Friday, during the monthly punong barangays meeting with the mayor.

The winners for the darts tournament (fixed doubles) were: Champion: Kim Dolo and Daniel Compay, Jr. from Guisad Barangay; first place: Cris Dacanay and Fernando Eukan (Pacdal); Second Place: Paul Lomas-e and Victor Benlingan (Kias) and on third palce are PB Arnold Alimbuyao and Larry Aguilar from T. Alonzo. For the singles division (darts tournament), the winners are: champion Daniel Compay, Jr (Guisad Central); first place: Kim Dolo (Guisad Central); second place: Victor Tibangwa (Honeymoon); third place: Paul Lomas-e (Kias, and on fourth place: Fernando Eukan (Pacdal).

Cariño: Challenges for the Valley

I HAVE yet to see how Bobot or Nestor Fongwan Jr. (National Unity Part

y) disposes himself before a crowd of voters. I am just curious if he has inherited the genes of his dad's savvy. Of course, if he is his own man, then there's no need to for him to mimic his father. The interest is more on his ability to convince people that he has what it takes to become the mayor of La Trinidad.

Fernandez: Field notes

IT WAS too late when I realized I forgot to send a piece for this column last week. I only got into my senses when good friend JM of Sun.Star asked me about my promotion.

Well, I have to be honest I overlooked that one. Thanks to Sun.Star for still allowing this piece to come out. And my congratulations to Ate May Anne who has assumed responsibility as Sun.Star's officer in charge.

Domoguen: Roots and struggles (Pieces of my mind, from “Deep waters,” an unpublished memoir)

YRNEY Nesbik was young long ago. His heart has many reasons for journeying away from his home in the mountains to the homeland’s lowlands and on to foreign shores.

On the second year of his stay in Metro Manila, he yearned to return home. He began setting his sails in that direction but not without struggles. Unless you are a tourist, a journey is not a “come and go” arrangement.

Guinaran: The Parable of the Bridgemaker

IT’S graduation time again. Graduation reminds me of how fortunate many can be to be gifted with the opportunity to be formally schooled. We thank our parents and everyone responsible for this privilege. Education has become the bridge to dreams. Despite the increasing unemployment, it should be handy when better days come.

Tibaldo: The Anti-Red Tape and the Philippine Transparency Seal

IT IS a proven fact that red tape has become part of the country’s history, a practice rooted in our culture that continues to stain our bureaucracy. Just to secure documentary requirements like certificates or licenses for example, thousands of Filipinos had to deal with voluminous requirements and seemingly endless processes especially in seeking business permits, passports and clearances. I heard stories that even lowly retired government employees had to bring something as a gift to their head office counterparts so that their papers and document will be given priority and signed. I hope gone are the days when live chicken and bayongs filled with vegetable and fruits serve as grease objects to fast track certain procedures. Back then, if you are from Baguio and Benguet, chances are, you’ll be asked if you had brought something like a strawberry jam or a soft broom.

De Leon: WTF

WHEN you are trying to grasp a word or an expression that perfectly captures a moment of greatness, awe, amazement, surprise, fun, madness, incredulity or even outrage at man’s infinite potential for bigotry and stupidity, WTF just fits the bill.

Luzano: Gubat San…Adu Pay La’T Di Nakaraman!

ADU’T namigerger idi pimmutok ti damag a karkaritenen ti Nokor wenno North Korea ti Estados Unidos. Nakaposisyon kanon dagiti armasda kadagiti base-militar ti Amerika sadiay Guam, Hawaii ken dadduma pay a disso.

Capili: Fulfilling donor’s tax commitments (II)

LAST week we discussed the nature of “donation,” donation of immovable or real property, persons subject to the payment of donor’s tax, inclusions and exclusions from “gift” and rates of taxes. The computation of the donor’s tax is on a cumulative basis over a period of one calendar year.

Husband and wife are considered as separate and distinct taxpayers for purposes of the donor’s tax. However, if what was donated is a conjugal or community property (property jointly owned by the spouses) and only the husband signed the deed of donation, there is only one donor for donor’s tax purposes, without prejudice to the right of the wife to question the validity of the donation without her consent pursuant to the pertinent provisions of the Civil Code and the Family Code relating to the property relations of the husband and wife.

Cayading: What’s In A Business Name?

WHAT’S really in a business name? So plenty! A lot when it comes to small-business success. Either having the right or funny name can make your establishment the talk of the town. Sometimes coming up with a funny or the wrong one can also bring trouble, misfortune and failure. Ideally, your name should express the capability, value and uniqueness of the product or service you have developed.While there are many technical strategies that can be used when picking a name for your startup, you can just as easily turn through the business section of any newspaper or you can also browse the wide... wide web to get an idea of how other entrepreneurs are doing it.

Cariño: Like Sputnik (the origins of the UB Science High)

PICTURE this: A young teacher named Rhey Bautista and his buddy, Damy Bangaoet, shooting the breeze one smoky, inebriated Baguio night. It is the early 60s.

Balweg: The milestone... that is CUBC

SINCE last October 2012, Baguio City has been agog with so many activities that sometimes it is not easy to pick up one in particular to feature as focus of interest. One feels like not being able to see a particular tree because of the forest. This was especially true from December, the Christmas month, to February, the Panagbenga month in Baguio, followed closely by March, part of the Holy Week month. I felt this situation most pronounced this year with involvements in the cooperative seminars and trainings under the aegis of the Cooperative Union of Baguio City (CUBC) led by its indefatigable chair, Engr. Susan Angaga, to whom a “No” answer is a no answer when she requests for action. Her examples of movements and prayerful pleas simply melt any tinge of initial, or even hardened, non-committals. Even elderly colleagues will find no time to hum “Tra la la, la la la laaa, Silver treads among the gooold…” No excuses for lackadaisical performance, not even advancing age that is; much less non-performance for everyone who has raised his/her hand in oath to serve the cooperative community.

Bautista: The Journey

JUST recently have we (my family) become witnesses to a start of a journey that would have to take all of fifteen years. Not only is it going to be that long it shall also entail travel around the world. In this particular adventure not all is first class travel or that of luxury. Imagine being chased by sharks or having to swim surrounded by jellyfish. Even before starting out, a struggle already will ensure. There is the threat of an attack by rabid dogs or the threat of drunkards somewhere in the dark. I'm not exaggerating at all.

Sungduan: Title: BCBC plus MGB

SOME aspiring journalists in Baguio City were given an opportunity to have a deeper grasp about the works of media that will prepare them in facing the challenges necessary in surviving the very challenging life in the said industry.

Llanes: Political intelligence

JUST yesterday, incumbent Senator Francisco "Chiz" Escudero and senatorial candidate Grace Poe visited the city for their campaign sortie and basing on their informal discussion with us members of the media, I would say that there’s intelligence in their campaign.

Not that I'm campaigning for them but it's just that being with political personalities for how many years since I started my broadcast journalism career in 1994, I have always made it a point to look at the doable political promises of political candidates and not promises made to be broken.

Cajucom: Wanderlust

SUMMER brings back memories both wonderful and sad. It is what I consider a season of ironies: tempering mixed emotions and merging a fusion of sentiments. I could not face summertime without having to think about vacations we used to spend with my Mama, and all the fun, food and festivities we have shared while she was still with us. Added to that is the fact that Mama’s birthday falls on April 23, and mine in May, and we would always find something special to do – even the simplest gathering felt the grandest with her smile. I remember her last birthday with us, when April showers forbade a picnic out and we decided to just have a family dinner at home. She showed up from her room braving the cool air sans her much needed oxygen tank, dressed in a flowing summer dress fit for a queen.

Macasinag: School’s out but not for teachers

ANOTHER school year has come to a close. Personally, I am amazed year after year how much faster time seems to slip away.  Each school year evaporates faster than the year before.

Reflecting on my work as a teacher, I would say the 10 months teachers and students spend in the classroom is intense. New mandates and benchmarks require increased instruction and testing in the same small period of time. Each school day is packed with information and activities to enhance student learning. Educators and students agree the school year can be daunting and exhausting.

Cariño: The vetoed City charter

IT APPEARS that the city would have to go back to square one on its bid to have the city’s charter revised. I kept track of the reasons cited by Pres. Aquino in his veto and they seemed plausible, at least legally. The only qualm about the President’s decision is that how come the contentious provisions were not threshed out in Congress, most importantly at the committee level?

Domondon: Block III development lauded by Council

THE City Council in its eleventh regular session last Monday passed a resolution supporting the successful operation of Block III at the Baguio City Public Market by the improvement of its facilities, the removal of street vendors along the immediate perimeter areas of the said place and the opening of more stalls to temporarily accommodate displaced street vendors.

Guinaran: The parable of Easter

I JUST came from the chapel to hear mass. But I digested only half of the priest’s sermon, as I was post-duty (awake and about the whole night) and groggy - a lame excuse, I know. I missed hearing the whole homily during the mass.

Feeling light-headed on my way back to the charity ward, I saw 70-year-old Mang Gorio who was alone, and with his eyes closed. He sat cozily on his wheelchair, breathing the refreshing air wafting from the mini-garden of the hospital. His face met the sun’s warm rays thankfully. He appeared unperturbed near the corridor rails. Amid the commotion of people rushing to and fro, he felt serene meeting the new day. It was 7 a.m., Easter Sunday.

Tibaldo: Things we need to know before signing a contract

IN ALMOST all of the things that we do in our practical life, we often encounter things that binds or tie us to certain agreements and impositions. When we affix our signature to certain documents such as an application form to avail a credit card, sworn statement of an oath of office or even a marriage contract, it means that we are in full conformity or agreement to all that are stated in that document.

Domoguen: Deep Waters (Stories from an unpublished memoir)

I DRAW this out from a memoir, still fiction that I have been trying to write in my mind. Here I scroll the pages and let you in to some of the thoughts that got stacked there. We begin with Yrneh Nesbik and his magnificent career in government.

One may ask how can that be, a memoire in fiction?

Luzano: Adios ngilin... Sinnairo manen!

ADIOS Semana Santa... a nagparintumengan kano dagiti deboto a kandidatos ken nagulimkan dagiti saan a katoliko. Exit manen dagiti adu a kannawidan ti Nangina Nga Aldaw wenno Holy Week a kas gagangay ket adu dagiti di mailawlawag a pakasaritaan. Kas koma dagiti ngilin a dika unay nalangiwat ken nalaaw... isu a naiparit ti panagkampanaya idi Huebes ken Biernes Santo. Maiparit met kano ti umuli kadagiti nangangato a kayo ken pasdek ta no madisgrasyaka kano... narigatka a maimbagan. Kunada pay..maiparit ti mangan iti karne. Kunada: depende kano iti karne. Adda dagiti karne a mabalin a maipauneg... no laketdi ta nadalus ken dika paglabusan ken pagbasolan. Arasaas: no naiparna nga adda iti honeymoon ti dua a kararua... adda pay ngata maiparit kadakuada? Depende. ...nangnangruna no addan iti sangona ti KARNE... KEN KARNE LATTA! Santo manen KARNE a merienda ken ti agpatpatnag a nasagpawan iti KARNE LATTA! Pakawan apo!

Capili: Fulfilling donor’s tax commitments (I)

APART from estate taxes, another form of transfer taxes to be paid would be donor’s (gift) taxes. Basically, “Donation” is the generous act where a person (known as the donor) disposes freely or gratuitously a thing or right in favor of another (known as the donee) who accepts such property transfer. In most cases it is a transfer of property from one person (donor) to another (donee) without any consideration or compensation.

Cayading: Ways to raise your start-up capital

JUST last night, this writer received a text message from certain Rommel of Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) and asked, “Can you email me how and where to apply a bigger loan without collateral with lesser requirements?”

Honestly, last night my cell phone load is no longer enough to respond his queries. Secondly, giving him an answer to his questions was not enough to give him two liner explanations, so I decided to put this in writing through this column to give him some details of what he really wanted to know.

Dumaguing: Have a Healthy Happy Easter

AMONG Catholics and other religions Lent is a time for sacrifice and self denial. And obviously staying away from food glorious food admittedly the delicious food are sourced from meat dishes - red meats like beef, veal white meats like pork and chicken.

To our dear friends and pious readers don't despair because you can have the best of both worlds, something delicious as well as something nutritious without the guilt feeling.

Dacawi: Dignity in and equal access to Baguio’s public spaces

LONG before Dr. Enrique Penalosa was born, the American founding fathers of Baguio already established that this city should be established and developed as a pedestrian-friendly community. So they provided for a road network for a population of 25,000. Parallel to or beside the road, they laid out a sidewalk system that accented on and celebrated Baguio’s rare blessing of being the only city in this tropical archipelago with a year-round temperate climate.

In short, the Lord Almighty designed Baguio for walking.

Bautista: New Beginnings

FOR seventeen years as I have, I taught business. Post grad courses in business education and management, an expert as some would think. Taking risks and high profile decisions, not a problem, for I may have had passed a course or two in corporate governance and risk management. Family lineage and experience in banking and of course...business. As it all seems, perfect ingredients all combined to make me a successful businessman. Not so it seems. Never have I had the thought to come up with a business of my own. Why? Knowing all the do's and dont's of putting up a business and of course knowing all too well that I may not be able to practice my profession as the city's top executive. I never did plan for one. And maybe just scared to do so. Things have not been too well when ideas are shared with partners. Not the risk taker that I am if it's from hard earned sources. Funny for I may have made billions for the city in its coffers and million peso decisions for some other businesses, but when it comes to that which is mine...never mind.

Kinnud: The Parable in the Strawberry Farm

ONE night I was groping for some stories to tell my kids to send them to sleep. They wanted something new, not found in their storybook. Somehow, I was not able to browse over the computer for something I can easily translate to my mother tongue which is the language I use with my children. With the Internet failing me, resorted to the Outernet.

Cariño: The Gov and the lawyer

THERE’S no bad blood between Gov. Nestor Fongwan and lawyer Jerome Selmo. It’s just that their desire for public service has placed them on opposite sides of the fence. No one is openly belittling Saint Selmo’s fire but admittedly, the odds are heavily stacked in Gov’s favor.