Speak Out: HOLY WEEK: A long summer get-away?

AFTER those stressful days and unending pressures from work and school, we all long for a long vacation. An extensive time to suffice the days that we never got a chance to bond with our family and friends. For sure, a lot of people are now looking forward to this. Beaches, excursions, outdoor activities and foreign trips are set. It’s the time for relaxation, that’s the mind-set of others.

As early as now, some people are now making their itineraries. Did you even scheduled enough time for Him?

Speak Out: Road constructions: Unlimited

ROAD constructions are being done in different roads here in Baguio City. One is Marcos Highway. This has been reconstructed last year, which caused heavy traffic. People from Marcos Highway are leaving their homes early as four or five in the morning just to be in their work on time. The question that’s been stuck in my mind was why do they have to construct a road during school days or before election? Are they concerned of the public in which most people are complaining that even if they leave their homes early they still get late in schools and workplaces? Especially the students, they would wait for several minutes before the jeepneys or arrive and others may ride a taxi just to get to their respective schools very quick.

Cajucom: Mothersmother ep.05: Diva’s triumph

LAST Saturday was our youngest daughter’s graduation from pre-school. It felt weird, because back in June she was accelerated to first grade after passing the qualifying exams, and in view of the K+12 program started by DepEd this year. In “Mothersmother ep. 03: Diva’s Heartbreak” (Sun.Star Baguio, June 28, 2013), I referred to my baby’s heart as a K+12 “victim”. Nadine was accepted in Grade 1, certified as mentally prepared and academically at par with her new classmates. Unfortunately she was not that prepared emotionally. Despite the pride we felt and our high hopes for her, we realized it was time to step back and really “listen” to what she was not divulging. Back then she could not answer the question “What’s wrong?” while she was crying her heart out and just shaking her head. All the while we had the answer right in front of our faces but were just in denial.

Kinnud: The Hanguwon tree that witnessed many graduation

MY ELEMENTARY school alma-mater, Mompolia Elementary School in Hingyon, Ifugao, is literally a school in the forest with its ground surrounded by trees. I particularly remember the one which is among those with the hugest of trunks that stood exactly on the edge. The specie is locally known as Hanguwon, and in our elementary days, I could say it was the one closest to the children. Its branches were gigantic spreading to a span that can create vast shade for a crowd especially on a noon break. We used to make its trunk as the saving base in the game hide-and-seek. Many ate their lunch while enjoying the breeze on its branches, and at a joint where three branches met, one can actually take a nap without fear of falling down.

Speak Out: Love and understanding of children

AUTHOR and international speaker Barbara Coloroso said "If kids come to us [educators/teachers] from strong, healthy functioning families, it makes our job easier. If they do not come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job more important."

Speak Out: Abra, the murder capital of the North?

REALITY check, the province of Abra becomes popular because of murder. “Barilan dito, barilan doon,” this is how people tag Abra. I cannot blame them because they seldom hear or watch good news about this place. For sure, it will be popular again because of the upcoming election.

Carino: Technical reduction of system loss

FOR ordinary consumers, the term “system loss” most often comes alien. I myself would grope for words to laymanize it to my neighbors particularly that kind of loss that occurs in the electric distribution system itself. It’s okay for non-technical system loss, we could easily translate it to mean theft of power by human beings, be it intentional or not. It’s the technical system loss that is quite hard to explain. Good we have electrical engineers to rely on.

Domondon: Taxi group obtains council endorsement on percentage tax opposition

THE members of the City Council last Monday agreed to indorse to the Revenue District Officer of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Cordillera Administrative Region (BIR-CAR) a letter from the taxi operators in the City of Baguio opposing the imposition of a monthly percentage tax in the amount of P550.

During discussion on the matter, the members of the august body listened to the plea from the representatives of the Samahan ng mga Taxi sa Cordillera Administrative Region (STCAR) regarding the implementation by the BIR District Office 8 of a monthly percentage tax in the amount of P550 which increased the old rate of P275 per month collected previously by the BIR-CAR.

Speak Out: Making learning interesting

MOST students don’t like to engage in learning because it requires lots of mental effort without any fun. Learning therefore should be made pleasurable and satisfying so as to sustain learners’ concentration and interest.

When learners are bored, learning diminishes. We need to keep learning interesting and relevant, or we need to give children something that will stimulate their brain, spark their imagination and open up their creativity if we want to them to participate and learn.

Fernandez: Child abuse (First of two parts)

WE OFTEN hear, if not use ourselves, the term “child abuse” whenever we see images of cruelty to children. More often than not, we equate physical injury with child abuse not knowing that this term encompasses a whole gamut of mistreatment on children.

In this issue, the Social Focus will attempt to translate Republic Act No. 7610 or the "Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act” to a more comprehensible manner.

Tibaldo: Photography: When to shoot and not to shoot (last of 2 parts)

I BELIEVE that picture taking whether for personal or for professional use must be done in good taste. It must somehow at least answer the basic question for what, for whom, why and whether it is allowed.

Domoguen: When ideas suck the life out of us

IDEAS can truly suck the life out of us. Imagine the great European Enlightenment thinkers and artists beginning with Jean Jacques Rousseau seeding all kinds of revolutionary thoughts and causes that continues to consume the blood and lives of those who embrace the ideas of these intellectuals in their own pursuits.

Luzano: Baro a Santo Papa

NAGPUNTO met laengen itay kallabes ti gagar a maaddaantay koma met iti Pilipino a Santo Papa. Nalpas ti namnama gapu ta ti mangidaulo itan iti sekta-Katolika iti lubong ket taga Argentina. Ni Pope Francis 1 wenno iti pudno a biag ket ni Cardinal Gorge Mario Bergoglio. Kunada, sapay koma ta adda dagiti reporma wenno baro a namnama kenkuana. Kudos. Sakuntip: sayang, naabak ti manoktayo a ni Cardinal Tagle. Sapay koma apo ta awan dagiti nagpipinnusta. Ngamin ugalin san ni Pinoy tay ngay makipinnustaan no adda pagbabalubalan. Ultimo a panagarem, pagpustaanda. Sabagay, no intay lagipen…ultimo balabal wenno kagay ni Apo Hesus idi mayulog iti nakatayanna a Krus..nagpipinnustaan pay dagiti soldado a guardiyana. Ngem kadakami, tunggal adda tumakder a baro a lider, adda sumursurot a namnama. Adda met latta dagiti kontrabida. Sapay koma ta no ania ti pagayatan ti Apo…isuti maipatungpal babaen kadagiti pasurotna ditoy daga. Arasaas: ania met ngata ti karirikna ita dagiti addaan bukodda a FAFA? Daplis: kanino kaya sila? Sa ITIM o PUTING USOK? Siyempre kay FAFA FARIN ano FE?

Capili: Hurdling estate tax obligations

WE HAVE been asked many times, questions on obligations to be paid when transferring properties, and the most ticklish issue to tackle is the questions on obligations relating to estate taxes. For one, the tax cannot be paid by the decedent (the deceased individual) for obvious reasons. Thus, it has to be assumed by the executor or administrator, who, in most instances are the heirs or the closest relatives.

Cayading: Nurturing enterprising kids in your family

WELL, yours truly used this column to answer several questions people often ask me and summarized into two general queries about having grown-up kids with an entrepreneurial spirit. The first question: What did my late husband and I do to create my situation? And the second: What would I advise for others particularly to parents like us?

Dacawi: Women heroes

A STRONG personality with enduring political savvy once remarked the team I work with just has too many advocacies. Hardly a compliment, her view is a misnomer for we don’t have much of an advocacy. What we have is a feeble attempt to help kids plant and care for pine seedlings or explore the urban landscape they will inherit and manage, to link sick people with Samaritans out there, or to try to see inmates find expression in the printed word. Whatever has been achieved belongs to them, for it’s their work, not ours as we’re messengers.

Cariño: Sabah

IT’S a story that won’t go away. The more I read about it, the more I believe that it belongs to the Sultan of Sulu. I also assigned my Journalism class this semester to get the facts about the ownership of Sabah and then write an intelligent opinion piece about it. Here, one of the ones that resonated with me. It is written by Jomari Guillermo, who is among those graduating, God willing, in March.

Bautista: WhoaMan

GOD made man and then woman. He did make us first and eventually assigned man as the leader and the lover. Although with that thought he forgot that while we’ve been assigned in this world as the leader He realized that who are we to lead as the world was all amongst men. There now would be chaos and anarchy. When one rules he is the dictator, and when a "few" rule, it becomes a democracy. But then when "all" want to become the leader, then it becomes a laissez faire.

Dumaguing: Heart disease dates back 4,000 years (March 16-17)

SAN Francisco: This startling and interesting finding awed as well as surprised the international audience composed of cardiologists, internists, nurses and researchers attending the annual convention of the American College of Cardiology held at the Moscone Center on March 8-11, 2013 in California.

Del Rosario: Behind the success

LAST Saturday, I had the privilege to be the guest speaker at the “Awarding of the Best Performing Barangay Women’s Groups,” an annual project of the Balikatan Sa Kaunlaran, Baguio Chapter.

Led by Hon. Lourdes Tabanda, Judge Heila Philipps, Becky Domogan, Gloria Vergara, Zeny Cating, Marlene de Castro, Paning Daoey, Andy Lagasca and other active members, this organization has helped encourage leadership and community service among women in the barangays.

Balweg: Agbiag ti Baro a Papa!

IN THE face of the scandal of Christian disunity, it is just but heartening to see that united leadership is still strongly entrenched within the ambit of the Roman Catholic Church. This is how I felt whenever I saw the Cardinals from various parts of the world and representing various nations coming together, marching solemnly together, attending mass together, then interacting peacefully together, preparing for the sacred duty of electing among themselves the topmost leader of Christ’s Church. We know how the Lord prayed for unity among His followers from a whole chapter in St. John’s gospel.

Padilla: Two city athletes in PSA Sports Awards tonight

WHEN love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece. This is exemplified by at least two of our city and Benguet athletes who will join the core of 56 awardees in the prestigious Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night billed tonight at the grand ballroom of Manila Hotel.

Youthful businessman-sportsman Mikee Romero will grace the historic occasion as the guest of honor and speaker according to PSA president Rey Bancod of Tempo. Romero has been prominently involved in basketball, cycling, polo, shooting, baseball, volleyball and mixed martial arts, among others. Bancod said Romero’s love and passion in sports is unwavering.

Sungduan: Women empowerment

THE Mass Communication Society (MCS) of the University of the Cordilleras takes a more active role in the campaign for women empowerment and gender sensitivity in celebration of International Women’s Month.

MCS Adviser Assistant Professor Katrina Mamaril said a series of activities were already done within the campus for the month long celebration dubbed “Babae ka” which were all organized by the officers and members of the said club.

Cacdac: National year of rice

HAVE you ever heard that pick up line, “Para kang unlimited rice, mahirap tanggihan”? Well, I did in the just concluded Koreanovela I had the delight to watch, “A Gentleman’s Dignity”.

True, a lot of restaurants have taken to unlimited rice as a major come on. Everybody happy, or so I thought.

Llanes: Serving the flag

IT’S timely to talk about sports and the Philippine flag what with the incident of PBA import Rudy Balkman bullying his teammates.

And rightfully so, this again is my statement - he got what he deserved. You don't do that to my fellow Filipinos! And not in my own backyard! The lifetime ban is just fitting. Unprofessionalism is not part of the corporate culture. And that's that!

Speak Out: March, so?

“THIS girl is on FIRE...” This is not to promote a song or an artist.

On the other hand, we all know that March is the season for culminating programs, closing exercises, or graduation rites; that is why it was called “march” because it is the time for the graduates to march. But not all of us knew that this month is also significant for some other reason.

Cajucom: Unrequited

THE thing with this serendipitous couch is that I get to find things, people and incidents by “fortunate chance”, and share them (or their stories) with you as a patient candidly does with his shrink (*evil grin*). Normally my articles get prepared a few hours before deadline (no news there) and until the very moment I draft my first sentence (sans any title) I have no clue what I am going to write about (which explains why some articles you may have previously read sounded like musings pre-lucid intervals).

Speak Out: Drop death and hold life

IT IS not hard to see that we are living in a world of great imbalance. Not only imbalance among people and nations but also a destructive imbalance for planet earth itself.

To be honest, there are things in this world that are very simple but man makes it complex. The balance of nature is not balanced when unnecessary factors intervene.

Kinnud: ‘Bugan Nak Dammitan’ and other women in Ifugao native songs

NON-RITUAL Ifugao native songs, some probably are as old as the famous rice terraces, are generally intended for entertainment. But timeworn as they are, they carry wisdom that is very relevant today. Such is the case of some songs that have women characters in it.

Commonly known by the title Ed-eddoy (an interjection approximating the English Oh!), the tune introduces a woman thru the following lines: “Ed-eddoy!/ Hi Bugan Nak Dammitan/Boble dad Namulditan/Payo day nangawitan...” (Oh!/Bugan child of Dammitan/Their hometown is Namulditan/ Their fields has a recess...) Intentionally or not, the woman is being portrayed here as one who has an identity, belonging to a community, and can have property such as a rice field.

Bayan: Palarong Pambarangay and KP Training

PREPARATIONS for the Palarong Pambarangay, composed of three sports activities namely darts, chess and bowling tournament, have been finalized. According to Hon. Joel Alangsab, Liga President and City Councilor, the schedules and venues for the tournaments are all set and the participation of the barangay officials is highly enjoined to promote camaraderie within the Liga ng mga Barangay – Baguio Chapter.