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01.29.08“Covering” Our Officials
What are the chances that any of our Cordillera officials will make the cover of international magazines? Unless they do something really really newsworthy like, say, win a Nobel Peace Price or get themselves adopted by Angelina Jolie, we must say that such chances are zero.
Of course, that shouldn’t stop us from creating fake magazine covers for our officials like we did here.
We used the National Geographic cover for Ifugao Governor Teddy Baguilat because he keeps talking about cultural heritage, environment, alternative tourism and those kinds of stuff that said magazine usually writes about.
Meanwhile, we used People magazine for Baguio Congressman Mauricio Domogan because we can’t resist it. Eh, how can we not use People magazine as the cover template with that hat he is wearing?
Now, do we have too much time in our hands or what? Kasalanan ni Ivadoy Country kasi sinimulan niya hehe (Thanks FBI).
If you have politicians you would like us to “cover”, please tell us in the comments.
CREDITS: Magmypic for the covers and Drasko and the Taipei Times for the original photos.
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01.29.08Ifugao Sponsors Terraces Tour
I like it when local government units seek to gain control over their local tourism industry. That is how our communities can directly benefit from tourism. I like it too when officials look at tourism beyond organizing that street dancing thing that Panagbenga has become. Good move Ifugao.
From Sunstar Baguio:
In line with the continuing promotion of the rice terraces as an eco-cultural destination, the Ifugao Provincial Government is sponsoring a package tour, which would show the series of cycles involved in the planting of rice in the hand-carved rice terraces.
The tour, which is scheduled on February 9 and 10 (two days, one night) and February 8 to 10 (three days and two nights) is part of the series of rice terraces cycle tours, which the Save the Ifugao rice terraces movement offers — from land preparation (lodah/mamanong), to harvesting (botok, pfoto) and the thanksgiving or bakle.
For a minimal fee of P2,800 per person for the February 9 tour and P3,600 per person for the February 8 tour, participants can expect meals on the day of arrival to lunch on day of departure, lodging transportation, guide, entrance and environmental fees will be provided to visitors.
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01.28.08Going Up
Thanks to one of you who alerted us about the promotion of our kailiyans who are serving in the military:
Then Major General Nelson Allaga was promoted to Lieutenant General. According to the Inquirer, with this promotion Lt. Gen. Allaga now joins “other three-star generals as contenders to replace the Chief of Staff, General Hermogenes Esperon Jr.”
We first blogged about General Allaga here when he saved Gloria’s ass from those “disobedient” marines.
Anyways, aside from his talents in effectively spanking insubordinate subordinates and arresting suspected Abu Sayyaf members, General Allaga seems to have an additional talent in conducting lectures (or should we say “pen pointing”) as you can see in the pictures below:
Maybe he can become a professor when he retires? After all don’t military men retire when they’re still in their 50s?
The other kailiyan who was promoted recently is Brig. General Rommel Gomez who was promoted from Colonel. We can’t find any pictures of the new General but here’s two recent reports about him:
On the alleged torture of Aeta villagers in Zambales:
Inquirer report: In a phone interview on Friday, Col. Rommel Gomez, chief of the 703rd Infantry Brigade, which has command over the two battalions, urged those helping the Aeta to file the cases in court and have the erring soldiers summoned.“I will not tolerate these kinds of behaviors from our soldiers,” Gomez told the Inquirer.
On peace and order in Pampanga where the general is assigned:
Philippine Star: It quoted Gomez as urging the council “to take into consideration the possibility of working on a system, rather than a plan, and strategies on how to address social issues that breed criminality.”
Hah! That sounds like an academese language (or “professor speak”) if you ask me. Maybe General Gomez can join his superior General Allaga in becoming a professor when he retires, no?
Note: Everything is quiet in the rebel front so far. Come on, Ka Filiw, are you going to lose the public relations battle by default? Kailan may ma-propromote na iCordillera sa pinaka-inner circle ng NPA/CPP/NDF?
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01.23.08Probers: Politics Behind Mayor Cesar Rafael’s Murder
Come on people in power, let’s have a gun ban not only during elections but forever and ever. Politicians, of course, should be the first to surrender their guns. Here’s the latest update on the murder of Paracelis Mayor Cesar Rafael.
Politics behind murder of mayor, probers say
By Dexter See/Manila BulletinBontoc, Mountain Province — Police probers here said that politics is behind the murder of Paracelis Mayor Ceasar Rafael on Dec. 25, 2007.
They said they are now closing in on the suspects in the first sensational political crime in this province.
Senior Supt. Joseph Adnol, director of the Mountain Province police office, said that the investigators have ruled out revenge and personal grudge as motives, noting that circumstantial evidence point to politics as the cause of the murder of the mayor.
He said that the investigators are now validating the information on the five to 10 suspects who, they said, have not yet left the province due to the tightened security they have implemented at various exit and entry points.
However, Adnol did not give any description about the politicians involved in the killing, saying it is still premature to disclose such details because this might prejudice an on-going operation against the mastermind and the killers.
The men who carried out the murder plot on the long-time municipal chief executive of Paracelis are said to be aligned with an influential person in the town.
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01.22.08Governor Diasen’s First 100 Days
Here’s the report of Kalinga Governor Floydelia Diasen on her first 100 days in office. From the official website of Kalinga province:
The political lane is one less travelled by me before. But because of your overwhelming support it now became an avenue that shall serve as my linkage to you in delivering the reciprocate of the mandate that you have given me.
My being a newbie in the arena has not deterred my strong determination to fulfil the development thrusts especially the PEACE vision I have outlined upon my assumption into office.
Of course the road has been rough and tough considering the complicated situation that I’ve been through right from the start, but against all these odds, and with your usual support, we have been able to start it right rowing towards a common direction that fits our vision for a better Kalinga. With full humility, allow me then to present some highlights on my first 100 days in office.
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01.18.08Give Him Credit
Well, we’re sure you know that we’re not a fan of Baguio Congressman Mauricio Domogan (note: we used to like him when he was starting his political career) but we’re giving him credit for putting up a website which provides details on where his pork barrel is going. So let’s give the Congressman points for transparency. We hope that other Cordillera officials are just as transparent with their use of public funds so their constituents can see where these are being spent.
In the case of Congressman Domogan, click here if you like to see where he budgeted his pork barrel.
Now, it’s up to the people of Baguio to investigate if the projects listed by their Representative are worth the money that were supposedly poured into them. If they are, then we should give more points to Morris. If the projects turn out to be “for compliance only”, then we should deduct points from him.
What do you think?
IMAGE CREDIT: morrisdomogan.com
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01.16.08Land Scam in Baguio?
Ramon Tulfo is not my kind of columnist but he does have interesting “exposes” sometimes. In his December 22, 2007 column he writes about a Cordillera official who is reportedly selling Baguio ancestral lands.
Hah! If Tulfo’s story is true, we are totally clueless as to who this official is but maybe some of you know.
From Ramon Tulfo’s On Target:
During the time of President Marcos, a judge of the defunct Court of First Instance approved the titling of Burnham Park in Baguio City to a private person.
Up to now, that kind of scam is going on in Baguio City.
There is reportedly a racket in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources where ancestral lands of native tribes are auctioned off illegally.
The Court of Appeals recently nullified land auctions conducted by the DENR in Baguio, calling them scams.
An official of the Cordillera Autonomous Region, a professed close friend of a former Cabinet secretary, is reportedly selling ancestral lands of Igorot tribesmen in the City of Pines.
Secretary Lito Atienza, please look into this matter!
SOMEWHAT RELATED POST: The Biggest Landgrabber of Them All
INFO SOURCE: Inquirer.
