Monday, October 23, 2006 Mongaya: Superbalita turns 12 By Anol Mongaya Panahom
CEBU’s top Bisaya newspaper Sun.Star Superbalita turns 12 years old today. The staff has prepared an exhibit at the second floor of SM City showing the transformation of the paper’s look since we came out with the maiden issue on October 23, 1994.
The opening program for the weeklong Sun.Star Superbalita Anniversary Exhibits at the second floor of SM City this afternoon will feature Bisaya singer Maria Donna Taneo and two Bisrock bands.
Maria Donna, who has an album of Bisaya songs, will perform this afternoon during the opening of the Sun.Star Superbalita Anniversary Exhibits at the second floor of SM City. This is her farewell performance before she leaves to represent the Philippines in the 2006 Shanghai Music Festival later in the week.
Leading the personalities who will cut the ceremonial ribbon this afternoon are Gov. Gwen Garcia who had been supporting Superbalita’s annual literary writing contest and Sun.Star Publishing President and chairman of the Board Jesus B. Garcia Jr.
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Superbalita, which has adopted the slogan ‘Kampyon sa Bisaya’ two years ago, has committed itself to supporting Cebuano music especially the Bisrock phenomenon that has hit the air lanes for sometime now.
I remembere that during the early 90s, there was also the phenomenon we called ‘New Cebu Music’ that the Y101 of Johhny Kawa and Jack the Wack Jakosalem supported. A whole generation of Cebuanos then rocked in such blockbuster concerts like “Local Ground.” At that time, the only newspaper that regularly featured ‘New Cebu Music’ developments was the defunct Newstime Daily. Like this newspaper, the ‘New Cebu Music’ died.
Today, I hope that with the support of various media like Sun.Star Superbalita, Bisrock will not suffer the same fate as ‘New Cebu Music.’
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Friends at the customs bureau recounted how a lawyer mauled a processor nicknamed ‘Piskal’ last Friday as a result of the controversial release of four luxury smuggled vehicles that was foiled by the customs police. Others, however, insist that no mauling occurred. The lawyer identified as Atty. de Buco merely confronted the fiscal, they said.
I gathered that the foiled release of smuggled vehicles was not a ‘swing operation’ but something that was elaborately covered by documents and endorsements by various offices. Somehow, Piskal was involved.
According to Customs Cebu intelligence chief Koko Holganza, somebody came up with entirely new import documents. His agents realized that the documents involved previously forfeited goods when computer records showed that the container van number referred to the original shipment. CIIS agents under Holganza and the Customs police under Capt. Estrera were instrumental in apprehending the shipment in Lapu-Lapu City.
I am sure a no-nonsense investigation will help clean up the bureau. “Para mawala ang mga badlungon,” an importer friend said. A vigilant media will help ensure that no cover-up will succeed. Siguruon lang sab nato nga ang sad-an gyud ang maigo.
(superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol.blogs.friendster.com/anols_blog)
