Estremera: Just proud to be

IN A tricycle going to Matina Crossing to take the jeepney ride to Bago Aplaya where my polling precinct is was a fellow passenger, a middle-aged man who was carrying a bottle of mineral water. Since we don¡t normally go around bringing our own water supply because we are still blessed with clean drinking water straight from the faucet, I surmised he was on his way to vote. I myself was carrying a nalgene tumbler of water.

Hidalgo: Enrichment programs of education policies

PERMIT me to write this note first. A day after election, I could just wait, perplexed and ill-at- ease. Is it successful in fulfilling the general clamor of citizens for a CHANGE or " PAGBABAGO"? Was the election peaceful, clean, honest, and wise? This is our dream. After seeing the official results of the election, we can answer this question. We do hope that the answer is yes. Our dream is fulfilled. If the answer is no; ask yourself if this is your answer. Say this, "mea culpa", through my fault. I chose a Philippines and its government, which I deserve. Regrettably all of us are in it too.

Editorial: This is it!

IT'S election day again, 24 years since what was bandied around as the first ever free elections after the dictatorship of President Ferdinand E. Marcos, 15 years since people rose up saying no to charter change for fear that President Fidel V. Ramos intended to run another term; 11 and a half years since we gasped in collective outrage upon learning that President Joseph E. Estrada was Jose Velarde; 12 years and four months since we shouted in outrage when the second envelope during the impeachment trial was decided to remain closed and Estrada walked away from Malacanang; 10 years since the Oakwood Mutiny against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; nine years since accusations of massive rigging of elections rang loud and clear; nine years since the fertilizer fund scam exploded in our communal faces and taking the life of journalist Marlyn Esperat in the process; three years since we have personally seen envelopes with money being distributed in a barangay in the city.

Tabije: Our votes, our future

THIS column appears right on Election Day, May 13. Let me repeat my appeal to all voters. Let's choose those who have track records of integrity, public service and efficiency.

If we are very strict in selecting our household helpers, our drivers, our office employees-i.e., they have to be honest, hard-working, etc.-- we should be equally strict in selecting government officials who will have the power and the capacity to make our lives better or worse in the future. It's really crazy when we gamble our future for a mere 100 pesos or a bag of sardines and noodles given by candidates of questionable repute.

Valle: Nothing happens by chance

THEY say everything in this world is a matter of choice... that all of us humans are gifted with intellect, therefore the capacity to be what we ought to be, what we need to be, and no one can dictate on us but ourselves.

Mendoza: Follow your dreams, vote wisely

Director's Cut: "I am your team leader and you are my teammates; together, let us work as a team." – DepED-11 Director Gloria Benigno, CESO IV.

*****

Estremera: Of being bugo and being humble

ELECTION comes every three years. Like clockwork. It’s in the law, it has to be held. Why those in authority are rushing hither-thither and losing their marbles in the process, thus makes us shake our heads.

Like Ms Ampoloquio of the Commission on Elections, who is now absorbing the heat of the media’s scrutiny and teachers’ ridicule.

Kabasares: 80 and counting

SAN FRANCISCO, California -- With the Lord’s blessings, I’ve reached the grand age of 80 a few days ago. I thanked Him for letting me live to this day and more. Only He knows how much longer I’ll be around.

Until then, I pledge to live it happily. With age comes question from relatives, friends, and others who asked me: How do I feel now? I feel great and I’m happy as ever. A study says a human being is happier as he/she grows older… or he/she has problems.

Custodio: A "generic" letter

Dear ______ (term of endearment for mother here),

Where do I begin?

Uyboco: Our educational system is a funny, contradictory mess

AS A former teacher and now a parent, I cannot help but observe a few things I find dissonant in how we educate our children.

A child usually starts out in pre-school, and a lot of pre-schools adopt or adapt some principles of the Montessori system or some other progressive system. The basic idea is we encourage pre-school children to explore, play, and socialize. We are happy when they become interested in learning. We ooh and ahh at their drawings.

Millan: Trance

TOMORROW is the last day for any and all campaign activities. At the very least, that is what the rules and regulations dictate. To be sure, however, candidates will do anything and everything that they can get away with. More often than not, they do, so there goes our laws and policies, violated by the very people aspiring to make them and aspiring to implement them.

In any case, whatever may happen or may not happen in terms of campaign activities, unstoppable as violations may be, election day is sure to come. This day, only the end of the world can stop, which of course is not yet forthcoming, though it too will have its own time to come.

Editorial: Ecotourism and hazards

ECOTOURISM is the favorite word of many a local government unit in the country, especially because they have finally discovered that the country’s natural resources are something to behold and be proud of.

But last Tuesday’s 73-second phreatic blast at Mayon volcano reminds us all that in exploring nature’s wonders, you have to live by its rules. Simply said, there will always be risks and death will always be hanging around waiting, lingering.

Lee: Guns, Money and Liquor Bans during Philippine Elections

DURING Philippine elections, there is usually a gun and liquor ban implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). There is now, however, a “money ban” recently implemented by the Comelec.

By way of background, the Comelec has consistently implemented gun and liquor bans through the years. What has changed for this particular 2013 elections is the liquor ban and money ban.

Velez: Winning the election

"I'M LOSING here," says my friend over the phone.

My friend is not running in the elections, but his involved in the election. His food business usually earns during election season from candidates' purchases for sorties and dole outs. But this time, things have been quiet.

Editorial: Why not sanction yourself, Energy Secretary Petilla?

THERE is something distressing in Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla’s interview over ANC when he said that government will force a shutdown on businesses on Election Day, May 13, and that violators will be sanctioned.

If an energy secretary thinks that way, then Mindanao is indeed in big trouble.

Gonzales: Spotting the difference (Part 3)

ONE of the awareness campaign slogans of the Autism Society Philippines (ASP) is that “autism is not a tragedy… ignorance is the tragedy.”

Ledesma: Of people power and power crisis

THE crippling power blackout in Mindanao will have a telling effect on the May 13 elections. With the national government giving the problem a lackadaisical attention it is not farfetched that the results of the polls will reflect the sentiments of the Mindanao electorates. The ruling party is lucky that the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has not actually exploited the power problem in Mindanao.

Editorial: Breast milk is still best for babies

THE World Health Organization (WHO) released an update of its 2007 Long-Term Effects of Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review as the start of this month, which just confirms what has long been said, that breast milk is still best for babies.

Let us qualify further that the “best” here means, it’s the only nourishment that suits human babies.

Hidalgo: Innovating initiatives for education policies

IT TOOK me some time to gather all the facts mentioned in this article. They are like silver linings in the horizon of the field of education. I just hope they will be done and prove successful in the long run.

Ledesma: Casting the die

AMIDST last ditch attempts to gain votes some candidates and their salivating cohorts have added oil to their dirty tricks department. In Davao del Norte text brigades had been harnessed. The latest of the poisoned text circulating states that Governor Dolfo del Rosario has withdrawn his support for Liberal Party (LP) mayor bet for Tagum City, Oyo Uy, in favor of Alan Rellon.

Editorial: Removing the screen

THERE is a big problem in poverty alleviation in the country. One basic problem: The problem is denied.

Philippines just got its second investment grade, the headlines screamed. We’re supposed to applaud and join the investments wagon. Except that we don’t have anything to invest.

Valle: Is your candidate a child’s rights advocate?

THE United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child is “an international treaty laying out the rights of every child to which all government who signed it is considered as the primary duty bearer in order to fulfill and protect these rights. This was enforced since September 2, 1990 world-wide and the Philippine government have signed and ratified the UNCRC on July 1990. By doing so, it took on the role as the primary duty bearer accountable for ensuring that its provisions are implemented fully.”

Mendoza: 10-point education agenda

DIRECTOR’S Cut: "I am your team leader and you are my teammates; together, let us work as a team." - DepEd 11 Regional Director Gloria D. Benigno, CESO IV.

- o0O0o –

Serbisyo ni Mylene dili Makita sa kalaban

DUNAY mga isyu sa politika nga nahuman na pero kanunay balik-balikon panahon sa elekiyon, sama sa nahitabo sa ikaduhang distrito ning atong dakbayan sa Davao.

Unang akusasiyon sa kaaway ni Mylene nga dili siya residente sa Davao, apan gibasura na kana sa Commission on Election (Comelec) dihang gipaylan siya ni lawyer Dado Mahipus og disqualification case human siya napildi sa 2010 eleksiyon.

Estremera: Eeek and eeew

FOR it is the nature of men to be bound by the benefits they confer as much as by those they receive.

Therefore, if everything is well considered, it will not be difficult for a wise prince to keep the minds of his citizens steadfast from first to last, when he does not fail to support and defend them. That’s from chapter X of Machiavelli’s The Prince.

Custodio: The importance of sisters

LAST weekend was one of my sister's birthday. She is now (bleep) years old! Hehehe. I have to smile to myself and think about how time flew so fast and now we're all grown up and yet we still haven't really outgrown each other.

Which is a good thing. Thank God. Because, if you ask me (and I know most of you would agree), sisters are a great bunch of people to have on your side, or, watching your back. This sister of mine, well, she's prime grade, star (sister) material. But of course I would never say that to her face to face! Hehehe.

Editorial: Make that list

NINE more days and it’s election day. It’s time to make that list so that every vote will count.

In this issue, we are ending our series of special reports on the 2013 election with the complete list of Senatorial and Davao City Council candidates, simply because, they’re not readily available in the campaign propaganda we are seeing nowadays.

Labored thoughts

WHAT does one say about labor on the occasion of the 127th celebration of May 1 as International Workers’ Day?

Already there were many accounts of how labor groups all over the country, nay all over the world, massed up to make an accounting of the situation of workers and their more often than not unanswered demands.

Food for work, a sham

“MIRRIAM”, a 28-year old woman survivor in Cateel who worked hard for 10 days early on last month, just recently said that she is still waiting to be paid for her efforts in the “food-for-work” program of the UNDP, she tells, in that God-forsaken place. She said she had to do something to feed her family since much of their livelihood had been taken away by ‘Pablo’.

But what did she get after having to do manual work under the heat of the sun? NOTHING. And now, she’s being saddled with the health problems of her children as money is hard to come by.

Editorial: Shape up

ANOTHER edition of the Palarong Pambansa was concluded, this time in Dumaguete City. For Davao Region, it was another embarrassing campaign in the country's biggest sporting spectacle.

So, what else is new? This has been the story -- a sad one -- for the Davao athletes in the Palaro for the past several years now, the glorious days in the field of sports among elementary and secondary players long gone and may not be experienced again.