Deli makers lament 'dying tradition' (Sun.Star, Sunday, December 23, 2007)

Deli makers lament 'dying tradition'

By Ian Ocampo Flora

GUAGUA-While many people build up on commercialized food stuffs, deli merchants here are lamenting the gradual "falling out of love" of the locals in the traditional food delicacies.

"People are no longer craving for the food that we serve long ago, they would rather buy those food stuffs filled with preservatives than cook the food that we traditionally prepare during Christmas," Nimfa Manalo, proprietor of Nimfa's Deli here, remarked in the vernacular.

She said most people now have been more interested with easy to prepare food.

"In the past, we were asked to cook and prepare suman and kalame for even affluent families, but now it seems that most people would rather do their food preparation the easier way," she said.

She added that the high price of the ingredients and the painstaking time to prepare home-cooked delicacies like Tsokolateng Batirul, Kalame, Suman and Mamon Tustado. Deli merchants here point out that the process of making such delicacies for a whole family would take around four to five hours, depending on the volume to be produced.

"Families seem to have stopped in passing out to the next generation the food tradition, those who cannot cook the delicacies could not resort to deli merchants to cook for them since the price alone is very discouraging," Manalo said.

Despite this, deli merchants here are hoping that the attention given by local government units in the province would reawaken the interest in Kapampangan native cooking. They added that the youth should not be deprived of such interest.

The town of Guagua and its neighboring towns of Sasmuan and Sta. Rita are home to native delicacies and traditional Christmas cooking. Recently, the cultural arts group Arti. Sta Rita have celebrated their 6th Duman Festival highlighting the native Kapampangan cooking and delicacies, especially the Christmas cereal Duman. The Save Pampanga Movement has incorporated the "Pamangan Kapampangan" in their yearly celebration of the Sinukwan Festival in which different town delicacies and native Kapampangan cooking were exhibited.

4 named most outstanding Betisenos (Sun.Star, Sunday, December 30, 2007)

4 named most outstanding Betisenos

By Ian Ocampo Flora

GUAGUA -- Four individuals who hail from the district area of Betis have recently been recognized in a ceremony here that highlighted their achievements in their respective fields.

The Betis Fiesta Committee, through the Circulo Betisenos, has awarded the Most Outstanding Betiseno Awards to four distinct individuals: Roberto Huang, Margarita Songco, Bishop Eduardo Guiao, and Bishop Pablo David.

The awards aim to give due honor to outstanding sons and daughters of Betis.

The Circulo Betisenos is a brotherhood that envisions a community that cares and concerns itself with the welfare and progress of its citizens, which taps and unleashes its potentials and strengths towards economic, social, and moral upliftment and geared towards maximum professional achievement.

The awardees were chosen based on stringent criteria.

The four were honored at the Saint James Parish of Betis Friday with award plaques ingeniously carved by master artisan wood carvers.

Florentino Torres, Fiesta Committee president, said the event showcases to the people of the area the best role models and inspirations that they could emulate.

One of the awardees, Roberto Huang was former president of Coca Cola Bottlers Inc. (2003) before his current stint as president of San Miguel Beverages, Inc. and general manager of domestic operations of the brewery. "Boy," as he is fondly called, hails from San Juan Bautista Betis here.

Another notable awardee is Bishop Edgardo Guiao who is founder and president of Jesus Revival Church, Philippines. He comes from San Juan Betis. He also founded St. John Academy of Guagua. He is the current president of the Christian Minister's Fellowship of Guagua and co-founder of Jesus Saves Christian School. He is recognized as the first ordained bishop of Christian Minister's fellowship in the Philippines.

Margarita Songco is Neda-NDO assistant director general for four years (since November 2001). She worked for the Neda Agriculture Staff, National Planning and Policy Staff, Social Development Staff and the Trade, Industry and Utilities Staff for most of her professional career. She was also Assistant Director General for Investment Programming of the NDO and the Director of the Trade, Industry and Utilities Staff of Neda and Neda deputy director-general. Songco hails from San Miguel Betis.

Probably one of the most prolific of the four is Bishop Pablo David, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Fernando. He has been distinguished for standing up for certain social and political issues in the province. Bishop Ambo was appointed as Titular Bishop of Guardialfiera in May 2006 and was ordained Titular Bishop of Guardialfiera in July 2006. He is brother to media personality Randy David.

Torres said the four are just the beginning of the roster of prominent sons of Betis. He added that the years to come would see more names added to the growing list.

Porac folk mourn death of Cabalen in Glorietta 2 blast (Sun.Star, Wednesday, October 24, 2007)

Porac folk mourn death of Cabalen in Glorietta 2 blast

By Ian Ocampo Flora

PORAC -- Jeweller Liza Enriquez normally calls her siblings during national disasters, but that Friday afternoon, October 19, she failed to do an ordinary routine that sent her siblings scampering to the Manila.

As Sarah Enriquez-Talavera, her sister, heard of the Glorietta 2 bombing that left 11 dead and a hundred wounded, she began calling relatives.

"We were praying earnestly that she was not in the area during that blast. We were dialing her phone number but she was not answering," she narrated to Sun.Star Pampanga during her older sister's wake at St. Louie Funeral Holmes in Barangay Cangatba here.

"It was unusual of her, she would usually call us when similar disasters occur. But last Friday we heard nothing from her." Sarah added.

Liza was at Glorietta 2 with another sister on their way to I-Bank for an official business. At around noon, her other sister went off her way. Liza on the other hand, had a lunch date with a friend. At around 1:25 p.m., she sent a text message to her sister that she was at the area of Land Mark. It proved to be her last text message. At 3:00 p.m. her phone went silent.

"I do not understand why of the so many thousands and millions of people, why should it be my sister, she doesn't deserve such a death," teary-eyed Sarah said.

Sarah's other siblings went to Manila to look for the body. When they found the Glorietta area cordoned and restricted, they were directed to hospitals where the wounded and some of the dead were brought.

"My other siblings went from one hospital to another, they were hoping to see my sister alive," Sarah said.

Their relentless search brought them to Veronica Funeral Parlor. There, they found five victims who died in the blast. To their shock, one of them was Liza, who sustained a serious wound at the back of her head, which caused her instant death.

"We were devastated, we did not immediately tell our parents, but somehow we all have to face the truth," Sarah said.

Liza Enriquez just turned 49 last month. As the eldest, she was the family's bread winner.

Liza finished BS Commerce at Holy Angel University in Angeles City. She later joined a company to support her family. She retired soon after and began pursuing jewelry trading as a fallback source of income. She was at Glorietta on that unfortunate Friday to check on her items and to meet a friend.

Family members describe her as a supportive and a loving sister. "She loves to work and every time she earns big, she shares it with us," Sarah said.

Liza's body was interred Tuesday at the public cemetery here.

Despite what happened, the family is still optimistic that justice would be served to their sister.

"In as much that we feel pain, we are still hoping that authorities will be able to give justice to our sister. What happened is only a part of the past. Now we only hope that everything will come to order in the soonest possible time," Sarah said.

Guv sacks provincial engineer (Sun.Star, Wednesday, November 14, 2007 )

Guv sacks provincial engineer

By Ian Flora Ocampo

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The die is cast.

Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio dismissed on Monday the provincial engineer in the province following the recommendation by an investigative committee that found the Capitol official guilty of serious dishonesty and falsification of official document.

Provincial Engineer Juanito Macatuno, who is serving a 60-day preventive suspension, has been charged with the alleged offenses for stating in his Personal Data Sheet (PDS) in the Provincial Government that he is a licensed civil engineer.

The committee has found out in its investigation that Macatuno was not telling the truth.

The investigative body composed of Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu, Human Resources Department head Jesusa Goseco, and Assistant Provincial Legal Officer Joseph Quiambao was tasked to look into the allegation that Macatuno was not a civil engineering graduate of Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU), as he had stated in his PDS.

The committee called different witnesses to establish the truth. They included Thessani Sumalapao, liaison officer of MLQU; Emma Francisco, officer-in-charge of Records Management Division, Professional Regulations Commission (PRC); Perla Sayana, OIC-Application Division, PRC; Rodelo Mangubat, chief administrative officer, Cash Division, PRC; and Lobella Damian, registrar of Mapua University.

In its investigation, the committee discovered that Macatuno consistently entered in his four PDSs that he was a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at MLQU in 1978 and passed the board examination given in the same year.

"In two of the PDSs, he likewise indicated another school, Mapua, as the school where he graduated with the same civil engineering degree. However, based on school records and ancillary documents submitted by MLQU, particularly his transcript of records, the alumni directory and the commencement exercises program for 1978, Engr. Macatuno was never a member of the graduating class of that year," the committee report stated.

"Comparing the submitted photocopy of his diploma with authentic but unclaimed 1978 diplomas, it was noted that the words 'Acting' written before the title 'University Registrar,' present in the originals, was not found in Engr. Macatuno's certificate. It was further noted that the signatures of the school officials of MLQU had marked differences between the two," it added.

The committee also said records from the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) show that Macatuno took and passed the board examination for civil engineering. However, it said the same PRC records show that in his application to take the examination, he indicated Mapua as the school from where he graduated, whereas in his permanent record with the PRC he indicated MLQU as his alma mater."

"Ms. Sumalapao categorically denied the possibility of Engr. Macatuno having graduated from MLQU with a degree in civil engineering. She also gave a categorical 'NO' when asked if he graduated with a degree of Master in Public Administration inasmuch as he did not fulfill the prerequisite bachelor's course," the committee stated.

For his part, Macatuno insists that he graduated from MLQU with a degree in civil engineering in 1978. He said he also passed the licensure examination for civil engineer given by the PRC on the same year.

On October 22, Macatuno filed a complaint with the Regional Trial Court here seeking to stop the governor from investigating him for allegedly falsely claiming to have a degree in engineering. He also asked for a P500,000 in damages.

Macatuno stressed that his case was already decided by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) a few years back when former Pampanga governor now Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid charged him with the same case. He said the CSC had ruled that he was a civil engineering graduate and a licensed civil engineer.

On October 1, Panlilio slapped Macatuno with a 60-day preventive suspension after his office received information from a "concerned citizen" alleging that he did not obtain a college degree. He also charged Macatuno with dishonesty and falsification of public documents

The investigative committee added: "On the matter regarding the document issued by the Civil Service Commission Regional Office 3 and penned by Regional Director Anicia Marasigan-de Lima, the committee said it at best may be called an order issued by CSCROIII not to give due course to the request of Atty. Benalfre Galang, provincial legal officer, province of Pampanga, to investigate Engr. Macatuno."

According to the committee, while it disposed of Galang's request due to lack of evidence, it did not prevent the filing of another complaint if new evidence so warrants."

The panel said: "Engr. Macatuno may have taken the board examination and passed it. However, it does not change the fact that he did not graduate from MLQU. He is not an engineer and is not legally and morally fit to continue occupying the position of provincial engineer in the Province of Pampanga."

Provincial legal officer Maria Elissa Velez said Macatuno was given due process. "If he (Macatuno) feels aggrieved about this, he can always make an appeal," she stressed.

Assumption U liberalizes tuition payment scheme (Sun.Star, Monday, October 22, 2007)

Assumption U liberalizes tuition payment scheme

By Ian Ocampo Flora

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A premiere Catholic school here has announced the “liberalization” of its school fees in a bid to strengthen its enrollment standing.

The University of the Assumption (UA) on Saturday announced that they will be changing their payment schemes to make enrollment more accessible to majority of its students.

In a memorandum issued by UA’s new rector Roberto Mallari D.D., the university is reaffirming its commitment to “provide quality Christian education to the poor.”

This after the university experienced a “slight decline” in enrollment last school year. According to Dr. Ruth Balajadia-Ducut, director for academic research, the move was prompted after the university conducted a comparative survey with other leading universities in the province.

“People and some students have this perception that UA has a high tuition, but the truth is we have one of the lowest fees in the province,” Ducut said.

“The previous first payment was a bit high because we wanted the succeeding payments to be lower, but we saw that it was a bit difficult for the parents and students. Now we have ‘liberalized’ the payment scheme,” Ducut said, stressing that the school understands the current economic condition of most families.

Effective this second semester, first payment payable upon enrollment is pegged at P5,000 for all programs and levels in all colleges except for the College of Nursing. Due to operational considerations the initial payment for students under the nursing course is at P8,000.

Diana Pangilinan, coordinator for academic research, assured that the liberalization of payment schemes will not affect the quality of education in the institution.

“The liberalization scheme does not mean that we are sacrificing the educational quality of our programs,” Pangilinan said

Post-Christmas medical mission for indigents (Sun.Star,Monday, December 31, 2007)

Post-Christmas medical mission for indigents

ANGELES CITY -- Six hundred indigents from a barangay here were the beneficiaries of a medical and dental mission sponsored by the local government and a medical foundation in a post Christmas medical and dental mission.

The Tomas Dizon Foundation has joined hands with barangay officials here led by Barangay Captain Robin Nepomuceno to provide free medicines along with medical and dental services to indigent families of Barangay Cutcut here recently.

Barangay Cutcut is the rear side of Angeles City near Porac town and is reputed to be one of the most populous and congested barangays of the city.

Councilor Baby Sigua said the program was part of a series of projects undertaken by Nepomuceno to ensure the availability of medical services to his marginalized constituents. This is a move to somehow bridge the gap of health services that remain to be beyond the reach of ordinary Filipinos.

"The barangay has done similar projects in the past, but it is only now that Tomas Dizon Foundation has joined us in our project," Sigua said.

The foundation has managed to put in eight volunteer doctors to man the medical and dental services. The project was made possible through consultative talks with the city government, Home Emergency Response Office (HOME), Civil Engineering Office (CEO) and the General Services Office (GSO) who provided the manpower and logistics support. Sigua said the local government would assume the responsibility of augmentation and bringing forward possible beneficiaries.

"We made sure that our first priority would be indigent families that we have scouted. The foundation has done almost everything since they have the medicines and all. The local government, on the other hand, would augment in case that the medicines would not be able to cover all the beneficiaries," said Councilor Beth Angeles.

The medical services included check-ups and consultation with free medicines ranging from vitamins to antibiotics. The dental service was only limited to tooth extraction due to budgetary constraints. Joining the event was City Mayor Francis Blueboy Nepomuceno, and councilors June Vega, Guaning Dayrit, Nestor Datu, Ed Bundalian and Noel Pineda.

The police augmentation came from Chief Superintendent Medy Manalo of Police Station 5 and Compac Comander Ernesto Silva. (Ian Ocampo Flora)

Holiday is employment time for tomb cleaners (Sun.Star, Saturday, November 03, 2007)

Holiday is employment time for tomb cleaners

By Ian Ocampo Flora

GUAGUA, Pampanga -- It has been two weeks now that Michelle Sandico and Anton Camaya, out-of-school youths, have been cleaning tombs in the Guagua Old Public Cemetery in Barangay Sto. Cristo.

The two belong to marginalized families living beside the public cemetery just between the walls of the "apartment-type" tombs. They have been accustomed to living beside the dead.

"We have been used to living with the dead, at this time of the year they're the ones that allow us to live," said 17-year-old Sandico.

Sandico's house stands alongside the back wall of the tombs. "We have become used to it, we are no longer afraid," she added as she scrubs the marble plate with a liquid polish.

Her family belongs to the 50 families, most of them poor, living in the area around the half a century old public cemetery.

Incidental income

Anton Camaya, on the other hand, tends to five mausoleums, mostly of old rich families of the town, all year round. "I usually clean them twice a month, but during November 1 and 2, I also do the painting jobs on them and the usual maintenance," he said.

Camaya added that he gets paid a thousand pesos a year per grave and he usually collects this during All Saints' Day when the families of his "employers" would come to pay a visit.

The half-century old cemetery houses more than six thousand tombs, niches, and mausoleums. However, one perennial problem of the cemetery is the floodwater that rises from drainage canals due to high tide and poor drainage system.

"Because the cemetery is inundated, some people would have their tombs cleaned up for them," Camaya said, adding that most tomb cleaners make easy bucks from cleaning ranging from P50 to P150 depending on the tomb size.

"The tombs without caretakers would ask most of the kids around here to clean for them. Children here would also scrape up candle wax from worn out candles and sell these by the kilo," Camaya added.

He said the season provides a brisk opportunity for business. The only problem now would be how to source out possible income after November 1 and 2, he said. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)