DATELINE DAVAO: By Rina de Jesus

CONFLICTS AMONGST MUSLIMS

Clan war among Muslims in Mindanao is a commonplace except that in no other time was this ignominy and waste was given more attention than now. If we heard of Sunni and Shiites Muslims annihilating each other in the Arab world we have our own share of the same although in lesser scale. But the toll among warring clans has reached an alarming proportion with the sophistication of weapons used and the intensity of rivalry and abhorrence that refused to ebb.

It is a divine-sent intervention that in the midst of the bloody conflicts among clans is the presence of a strong and persuasive government peace keeping force.

The International Monitoring Team that is keeping track with the progress of the peace negotiation between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government is a privy to what had been taking place in Central Mindanao. By now, the IMT must have understood the cultural and political peculiarity in the region that impact on the life of the Muslims and Christians in the area. It is not so much a problem now between the government and the secessionists or religious differences but has something to do with complex polarities that create the big divide among clans.

Our guess is that even the contentious issue of ancestral domain will hit snag when its comes down to who has prior rights among Muslim clans. In similar fashion that bloody conflicts between clans are resolve with the intervention of the government, the aftermath of the peace pact between the MILF and the government would necessitate the perceptible presence of the government peace keeping force to forestall the conflicts among clans to contain their evolution into the ferocious ogres that pillage the Arab world.

Photo: Lito Cesneros, Popular Gunsmith In Mindanao

Lito Cesneros, a popular gunsmith in Mindanao, works on a pistol in his shop in Cotabato City. He owns the Cesneros Gun Repair and Service at Purok 2, Governor Gutierrez St. Cotabato City. Cesneros is active in promoting sports shooting in Cotabato and is considered by many as one of the best gunsmith in Mindanao because of his quality workmanship. (Photo by Mark Navales)

Photo: Cotabato Students Hold Anti-Arroyo Protest

Students, protesting the State of the Nation Address of President Gloria Arroyo, paint their body and join other groups in Cotabato City to denounce the Filipino leader. (Photo by Mark Navales)

Double-Digit Growth For Mindanao Exports

DAVAO CITY (Romy Montenegro / 26 Jul) Buoyed by the favorable business climate and emergence of new markets for the island's export products, Mindanao pulled off a remarkable 10.97% growth in foreign trade during the first quarter of the year.

The Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) said the total foreign trade in Mindanao has reached $626 million, higher than the $564 million recorded during the same period last year.

The figures indicated that Mindanao's trade performance for the first three months is notably good as it enjoys a 10.06% or $219 million growth in its trade surplus, up from $199 million in the same period in 2005.

From January to March 2006, Mindanao's total exports posted a double-digit year-on-year growth with shipments surging 10.73% at $423 million from $382 million dollars a year earlier.

Meanwhile, total imports were valued at $203 million, 11.47% higher than the $182 million in the same quarter last year.

Fresh banana, the traditional export winner of Mindanao, maintained its lead in the top ten export product ranking as it accounts for 21.7% of the total export earnings valued at $91.8 million during the quarter.

The biggest shipment of fresh bananas came from Region XI. The banana-producing region was able to ship out 515,272 metric tons or 99% of the total fresh banana exports of Mindanao. Fresh banana exports from Mindanao pass through the Ports of Davao City, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos City, Dole Pier in Calumpang, General Santos City and TADECO Wharf in Panabo City.

Crude and refined coconut oil exports made the second highest contribution at 18.35%, followed by sintered iron ore agglomerates with 8.79%; preserved and fresh pineapples with 7.89%; and tuna with 4.45% share.

Other top Mindanao exports include fuel oil, flat-rolled iron, desiccated coconut, pineapple juice, mixtures of fruits and other parts of edible plants.

Japan remains the top export destination of Mindanao products, with a total of $93 million worth of exports received during the first quarter, about 22% of the total export value. Fresh bananas comprise the large bulk of these export commodities that went to Japan.

Next to Japan is United States which accounts for 15% share in the total Mindanao export earnings, mainly coming from coconut oil exports.

A new entrant to Mindanao's top ten list of export market is Turkey, which recently ranked 10th by importing a total of $9.45 million exports such as flat-rolled products of iron, fresh bananas and coconut from Mindanao.

For the past two years, Turkey is one of Mindanao's export destinations for commodities such as fresh bananas, desicated coconut, flour and fresh coconut.

In 2004, Mindanao's export to Turkey valued at US$354,803 and went 83% higher at US$650,135 in 2005.

In terms of regional performance, Region posted the highest export earnings at $188.59 million, followed by Region X at $151.07 million, Region XII at $52.57 million, and Caraga at $14.25 million dollars and ARMM at $92,400 dollars.

Mindanao imports increased by 11.47%, up from $182 million during the same period. Rice tops as the main import commodity, as it accounts for $34.86 million worth of imports or 17.16% of the total value of imports to Mindanao.

"The good showing of foreign trade in Mindanao at the beginning of the year strongly indicates a bullish economy ready to compete in a wider global trading arena. It is encouraging that we have achieved such growth needed to spur business and create jobs for Mindanawons," said Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, MEDCo chairman.

He added that strong trade uptrend will likely remain intact, with export industry leading the growth for the rest of the year.

Frightened, Hungry, Penniless Pinoy Workers back from Lebanon

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mike Banos / 26 Jul) They sacrificed the comforts of home and family to bring home the bacon from a far-off land but instead, overseas Filipino workers Charina Flores-Buton and Maygelyn Lopez Taron-Enero came back hungry, penniless and frightened but thankfully in one piece from Lebanon.

Charina Flores-Buton, 29, of Mauswagon, a hamlet in Lugait town in Misamis Oriental province was taking B.S. Computer Science at the Iligan Capitol College, but had to stop schooling to work as a domestic helper overseas to augment the irregular income from intermittent jobs from construction projects of her husband, Nigel, 29.

She has worked previously in Kuwait and Hong Kong but was only 4 months and 16 days in Beirut when she ran away from her Muslim employer.

"I could not get along with their Ethiopian domestic helper and my employer was accusing me of theft," Flores-Buton said at a news conference Wednesday. "It was only when I sought help from the Phil. Embassy that I learned that war had broken out."

Maygelyn Lopez Taron-Enero, 29, is a LET under board Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEEd) graduate from Cagayan de Oro College. She had also previously worked as a domestic helper in Dubai but only worked 12 days in Beirut before she ran away from her Christian employer.

"I ran away because of lack of food and maltreatment by my employer," she said in the vernacular. "There was a time when all they gave me to eat was one banana for the whole day."

When she sought refuge in the Philippine Embassy, she was fortunate to be given a part-time job screening the cases of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in trouble. But it soon became apparent she had jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

"The Embassy is just seven kilometers from the war zone but near the airport which is a high priority target," Taron-Enero said. "The first night was still okay but by the second day the bombing became very heavy around 3 p.m. It soon became clear we had to evacuate."

After considering various locations, they finally evacuated to Asra Faye but even that site was soon a combat zone due to its proximity to the port of Juni, another high profile target.

"You can see the Israeli bombers and you can be sure five minutes after those bombs were sure to fall somewhere nearby," she related. "I thought it was going to be my fate to die in Lebanon."

She also described how she found comfort and solace in the person of Ms. Teresita Bonghanoy, an OWWA (Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration) administrative staff assigned in Beirut who hails from Cagayan de Oro City.

"Food and other supplies became scarce, and even if you had money, all purchases were rationed," Taron-Enero said. "So when we had done buying our share, we simply queued up again to get another.

Finally, some 160 workers and staff were repatriated from the Embassy to Syria.

The trip to the border which usually took 3 ½ hours took 17-19 hrs because visibility varied from nil to zero because of the smoke of battle and smoke bombs the Israelis were scattering everywhere.

Five buses carrying Filipinos and flying a white flag of truce and the RP flag made it safely but another convoy which just used white flags were bombed.

Upon reaching Syria, the din of battle could still be heard and another problem arose: most of the OFWs had left behind their travel documents in Lebanon and it took another heroic effort by Philippine officials to finally extricate them from the Syrian red tape and aboard a plane home.

"Only 260 of the first batch were accommodated and another 62 of our fellow OFWs had to be left behind since the Jordan Airlines sent a smaller aircraft than the one originally contracted for," Taron-Enero said.

Both OFWs profusely thanked the OFW and other Philippine Embassy officials whom they said moved heaven and earth working tirelessly day and night just to bring their fellow countrymen home safely. However, while they arrived here safe and sound, they came home with nary a penny.

Taron-Enero's contract specified her monthly pay of US$200 but she only got US$150 of that and her first three months were all collected by the agency. Since she only worked 12 days, she technically still owes her agency for the three months.

Flores-Buton on the other hand, while already settling her three month obligation with her agency, just the same came home penniless and sans all her travel documents which are still in the possession of her employer. Her monthly pay in Lebanon was supposed to be US$150 or approximately PhP7, 800.

Maygelyn's husband Hirojim Enero, 30, works as a library staff in Pilgrim Christian College. He said he wasn't really worried about his wife since she was in the RP Embassy and they stayed in touch by text messaging and instant messaging.

There was an internet café just across the Embassy where Maygelyn would sometimes contact him by IM in between errands she was running outside with an embassy staff named Mario to rescue stranded OFWs.

Charina's husband Nigel said he wasn't aware war had broken out in Lebanon since Luga-it had a brownout when it happened and he only learned about it the next day when his wife called.

Although he was aware of the free calls offered by OWWA, he had to think twice about going to Cagayan de Oro because of the expensive bus fare and finally approached their mayor for assistance.

They Butons have two children, Abigail, 7, and Trisha, 5, who are in Grade 1 and pre-school, respectively, at the Luga-it Elementary School.

Due to the lack of opportunities in their respective localities and the economic needs of their families, both OFWs expressed a desire to return overseas for work.

"Ayaw lang sa (not in the) Middle East," both couples agreed.

Petrona Bergado, OWWA Region 10 Director said 3 out of 4 OFWs leaving for abroad are now women who are high risk because of the 3D's-dirty, difficult and dangerous, and for mainly working in the service industries.

She also confirmed that because of the culture shock and loneliness, many of these women OFWs often ran away from their employers or sought the ultimate escape as "Darna" (the colloquial OFW term for women who committed suicide by jumping from high buildings).

"I personally experienced this during my first foreign stint in Hong Kong where we had at one time 15 mentally disturbed OFWs ranging from professionals, young, old, there was no fixed profile for the victims of this malady," Bergado said. "Workers who stay at home alone for the first time in a foreign land find the culture too much to cope with on top of their loneliness, and other maltreatments like working non-stop for no pay."

Taron-Enero also confirmed seeing five mentally disturbed OFWs during her brief stay at the Philippine Embassy in Beirut, three of whom eventually recovered.

The inter-agency "Team Lebanon" with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Owwa, Dole, and Association of Recruitment Agencies still expect to bring in another 32 identified OFWs from Lebanon.

These include Anabelle Ral Emano, Purok 7, Binitinan, Balingasag; Jane Rose Pada Onipa, Upper Jasaan; Marilou Arquita Maglente, Poblacion, Lagonglong; Ann Ibale Macarandan, Upper Jasaan; Lydia Baquiro Agudo; Cecille Rose de la Peña Ortega, Villa Mila Subdivision, Aplaya, Jasaan; Mary Grace S. Salcedo from San Antonio Jasaan; Alma Lupian from Talisayan.

Maria Prilleta A. Pahunang from Purok Makiangayon, Villanueva; Yvonne Nahial from Mosangot, Binuangan; Isabelita Casiño from Poblacion, Tagoloan; Janeth Pagumpana from Purok 5, Kalamkam, Talisayan; Roslyn Lungay from Lagonglong; Clarisse Talipan from Talisayan; Genie E. Lucagbo from Phividec Relocation Site; Ma. Therese M. Tumulok from Sto. Niño Village Baluarte, Igpit, Opol.

And Jennilyn A. Damole from El Salvador; Juvy Vertudazo from San Antonio, Jasaan; Chery Abao from Kalanguhan, Lugait; Delia P. Zayas from Talisayan; Rosalie Babano from Amakan, Gingoog Misamis Oriental; Gemmo O. Barton from Talisayan; and Mary Jessica T. Collado from Talisayan.

Cebu Pacific Flies Brand New Airbus To Zamboanga City

Charles Lim, Cebu Pacific consultant on Corporate Communications, gestures Wednesday 26 July 2006 during a news conference in Zamboanga City. Cebu Pacific announces that it will fly Manila to Zamboanga City four times a week beginning Thursday with a brand new Airbus A319. Cebu Pacific also opened recently its maiden flight from Manila to Dipolog City, boosting the tourism industry in Zamboanga Peninsula region. (Zamboanga Journal)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 26 Jul) Cebu Pacific on Wednesday announced that it will fly a brand new $60-million Airbus A319 to Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines as part of a two-year re-fleeting program.

Charles Lim, Cebu Pacific's consultant for Corporate Communications, said the 150-seater aircraft will service the Manila-Zamboanga route daily and consequently the Zamboanga-Cebu route also beginning Thursday.

"We are proud to announce that this will be the first time Cebu Pacific will fly its brand new Airbus A319 to Zamboanga City. We will help promote tourism in this beautiful region," Lim said.

Cebu Pacific earlier opened its maiden flight from Manila to Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte province known for its pristine beaches and historic places. The three times weekly flight also use an Airbus A319.

Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific marketing director, said: "The maiden flight to Zamboanga City is a historic event because it marks the start of its all Airbus fleet.”We are committed to the country's tourism agenda."

She said Cebu Pacific has the youngest fleet in the Philippines and one of the youngest also in Asia with a fleer age of less than 7 months. The airline currently operates 10 brand new Airbus aircrafts and awaits the delivery of four more until February next year to complete its two-year re-fleeting program.

Cebu Pacific's expansion, she said, is also underway and recently launched 2 new destinations, Laoag in Ilocos province in northern Philippines and Dipolog City in the south and will also start flying to Legaspi in the Bicol region on August 17 and Singapore on August 31.

It also has air services in the Visayas in central Philippines -- Bacolod, Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Tacloban and Tagbilaran and in Mindanao -- Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, and Davao.

The 11-year old airline also flies to Hong Kong and Seoul in South Korea. It also introduced travelers to on-time service, e-ticketing, and on-line booking, setting the standards for airline innovation in the local aviation industry.

Photo: Street life in Zamboanga

A man cooks rice while his father sells cigarettes and candies on a sidewalk in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, a known stronghold of the oppostion. President Gloria Arroyo appeals anew to the opposition and other sectors of society to put politics aside and instead lend a helping hand in spurring economic growth and move the country forward for the benefit of all Filipinos. (Zamboanga Journal)

2 killed In Clash of Rival MILF Factions In Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 25 Jul) Two persons were killed and five others wounded in in fierce clashes between two warring groups in Maguindanao province in the strife-torn southern Filipino region, police said on Tuesday.

Police said one of the wounded was an eight-year old girl Marissa Saed who was shot in the town Guindulungan over the weekened where two factions of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) clashed over an old feud.

Superintendent Lamala Gunting, the provincial police chief, said the fighting erupted between the groups of MILF leaders Talio Macalpan and Kayob Pual.

Pual also accused the group of Macalpan of ambushing them on July 19. The two rebel leaders previously clashed over ancestral lands in the town.

Eid Kabalu, a rebel spokesman, said there were efforts to reconcile the quarreling groups. "There are efforts to peacefully settle this problem," he told the Zamboanga Journal.

Datu Antao Midtimbang, the town's mayor, also sent emissaries to the rival factions to convince them to stop fighting.

Troops Mount New Operation vs NPA Rebels In South RP

BUTUAN CITY (Juan Magtanggol / 25 Jul) Security forces on Tuesday mounted new operation against communist insurgents blamed for a roadside bomb attack that wounded 15 people in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said at least 15 civilians were wounded when the jeep they were riding in hit a landmine planted by the New People's Army (NPA) in in the town of Tago in Surigao del Sur province on Monday.

Col. Francisco Simbajon, a spokesman for the Army's 4th Infantry Division, said troops were tracking down the rebels. "We will get them sooner or later," he told the Zamboanga Journal.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) also condemned President Gloria Arroyo's endorsement of Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan as "an open endorsement of the ruthless criminal acts perpetrated by her loyal fascist attack dog."

Arroyo endorsed Palparan in her State Of the Nation Address Monday before the joint session of Congress. The CPP accused Palparan of allegedly masterminding the killing of militant and progressive political leaders in Luzon.

Palparan denied the accusations.

Gregorio Rosal, CPP spokesperson, said: "Arroyo's all-out support for Palparan not only commends her favorite fascist's extra-judicial executions but also all the political killings and other war crimes being committed with impunity by her fascist generals and death squads in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police, all under the direction of her Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security."

"The Filipino people hold Gloria Arroyo responsible for the rampant ruthless political killings, abductions, torture and other violations of civil liberties and human rights of unarmed activists and innocent people," Rosal said in a statement.

Fighting in the countryside have escalated after peace talks between communist rebels and the government collapsed in 2004 after the CPP and the National Democratic Front pulled out from the negotiations because of its inclusion to the terror lists of the United States and the European Union on Manila's prodding.

Rebels demanded that Arroyo asks the United States and the European Union to strike them off from the terror lists before they resume peace talks. Manila rejected the demand and suspended safety and immunity guarantee for rebel peace negotiators following the collapse of the talks.

Arroyo has ordered the military to crush the NPA, the armed wing of the CPP-NDF, and set aside one billion pesos for the military to help fight insurgency and terrorism.

Inspirational: The Hospital Window!

The Hospital Window

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour eac h afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you!"

Halal Lanes Pushed In Zamboanga City Supermarkets And Groceries

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Lowell Vallecer / 25 Jul) The Department of Trade and Industry in Western Mindanao has urged operators and owners of major grocery stores and supermarkets in Zamboanga City to set up Halal lanes or corners in their stores to cater to the fast growing demand for Halal certified products in the domestic market.

Halal is meat that has been slaughtered in the manner prescribed by the Shari’a. The method of slaughtering all animals excluding fish and most sea-life is known as dhabiĥa, meat prepared in this manner is then considered Halal.

Naz Manzur, DTI regional director, said this initiative has little to do with religion as it is with business. He pointed out that about 30% of the local populations are Muslims -- a captive market for Halal food and non-food products. Zamboanga City has more than 600,000 people.

This does not include those that regularly come to Zamboanga City from neighboring provinces of Basilan, Jolo and Tawi-Tawi in the Sulu Archipelago.

“The opening up of special lanes exclusively for Halal products is a very good marketing strategy for store owners as it will certainly attract patrons, particularly the Muslims who are devoutly practicing Islam and its doctrines,” he said.

Sitti Amina Jain, DTI assistant regional director, said the annual value for Halal food worldwide is estimated at US$580 billion and is growing fast. She added that aside from food, there is also a huge market for non-food Halal products that include cosmetics, perfume, toiletries, body care pharmaceuticals, herbal and healthcare products.

There are also many business opportunities for fashion accessories and apparel, food processing plants and abattoirs, in service industries and in many other industries, she said.

The concept of opening Halal lanes, aside offering new business opportunities, is in line with the DTI’s mandate under the Consumer Act of the Philippines to safeguard consumers against misrepresentation, mislabeling and the fraudulent use of the Halal logo in products sold in the market.

The Halal lane initiative was well-received by the representatives of the 13 grocery stores and supermarkets in the city who attended the meeting but asked that they be given time to set up the lanes as the work entails lots of logistical support.

If this initiative pushes through, Halal lanes or corners shall have been installed in major grocery stores and supermarkets in Zamboanga City by October, in time for the celebration of the National Consumers’ Month.

The DTI said it will also organize a Halal Consumer Group to help the government in its advocacy for Halal and for networking purposes.

Zamboanga's E-World Career Center Now Offers Contact Center Training Program

Juvy de Jesus, E-World's Zamboanga City manager, gestures as she explains to students the importance of skills and attitudes of a call center agent during one of several Contact Training Center seminars in Zamboanga City.

Call E-World Career Center Corporation now at +6362 9925369 and 9927269

GMA Lays Down Structure To Put Needed Programs To Work, Says Arroyo Ally

MANILA -- Charter Change Advocacy Commission (AdCom) chairman Lito Monico Lorenzana said Monday that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) has clearly communicated to the Filipino people that the most prohibitive red tape can be found in the 1987 Constitution and therefore there is a need to change the structure now.

“Red tape is one of the major obstacles of the bureaucracy. Likewise, the President has sent a strong signal that there is a better way to do politics—and even acknowledged that this can be done by clearing out the obstructions. By this alone, we are inspired to work doubly hard to prepare the roadmap for Charter Change,” Lorenzana said.

He added that the President clearly explained what changes should be undertaken to make the country economically strong, politically stable and structurally ready to compete in the global market.

Lorenzana said the President has laid down the structure to finally put the needed socio-economic programs to work in the next four years.

He added that Arroyo has clearly communicated that the current presidential system has been laggard and it’s about time to bring back the ultimate empowerment to the Filipino people.

“President Arroyo’s SONA is an all-inclusive analysis of what should be prioritized as far as the roadmap for her medium-term development agenda is concerned. We are glad that constitutional and electoral reforms are given equal primacy in her speech,” the AdCom chairman said.

According to Lorenzana, he is glad that the President has likewise laid down the blueprint for super-regions that would eventually prepare regions to greater local autonomy once a federal system is in place under a parliamentary setup.

“Electoral reform and creating regional development corridors take a front seat among her priorities. It is no doubt that Charter Change is the necessary impetus to realize the programs that the President wants to be in place before her term ends in 2010,” Lorenzana said.

“The overriding aim is to get ourselves moving and working on a process for the future by laying down the structure now before it’s too late,” Lorenzana said, noting that Charter Change is the backbone of the President’s SONA.

State of the Nation Address of Her Excellency President Gloria Arroyo

State of the Nation Address of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Batasan Pambansa, Manila

Sa araw na ito, nakatuon ang isip natin sa ating mga kababayan sa Lebanon. Nasa kuko sila ngayon ng malagim na paglala ng digmaan. Kahapon lamang, sinalubong natin ang unang dalawang-daang Pilipinong lumikas doon. Limang-daan pa ang mauuwi natin sa susunod na apat na araw.

Sa ating mga OFW, tunay kayong mga bagong bayani. Sa inyong paglilingkod sa pamilya, sa ating bayan at sa Diyos, maraming salamat.

Sa ating mga kababayan, a journey of a thousand miles does not begin with a single step. It starts with the first step, with gathering the means to complete it successfully. Those means are now at hand.

To my friends in Congress who, in the face of grave political consequences, championed and passed some of the most severe and critical fiscal reforms to save our economy, maraming salamat. You are the true friends of the Filipino people. For the real challenge has never been to blame but to fix what is wrong in our country and our economy.

Dahil sa inyo, sa wakas may pondo na tayo, hindi lamang para ibayad sa interes, kundi para sa edukasyon, mas mabuting tulay at kalsada, pagbigay kalinga sa kalusugan at higit na trabaho sa ating bansa. Now, we have the money to pay down our debt and to build up our country.

To the civil servants who rose to the challenge of turning a weakening economy to a strong republic, through more vigorous tax collection and more vigilant action against corruption, maraming salamat.

We have achieved record revenue collections. We are lining up corrupt officials to face the consequences of their misdeeds. And finally earned the respect of the international community as a serious and viable state for our fiscal discipline and billions of pesos in annual interest savings that are now going into necessary public investments.

To our men and women in the armed services, the huge and deep core of your loyalty has earned the nation's accolade. The few mutineers have been condemned by the people. They and their partisan cohorts and funders are being brought to justice. Sa nakararaming kawal at pulis na nagtaguyod ng watawat at Saligang Batas, maraming salamat.

And at a time when we must each, as individuals and as communities, take greater responsibility, our local government officials man the frontline of change: change for greater accountability, for better service and more responsiveness to their constituents. Sa inyong lahat, mga local government officials, maraming salamat.

Higit sa lahat, salamat sa sambayanang Pilipino, para sa inyong mga sakripisyo, sa inyong tiyaga, for believing, in the face of the greatest hardships, in our ability to surmount the obstacles to the future you deserve; you who have resisted persistent if not pathetic calls for despair instead of faith, for anarchy instead of harmony, salamat, salamat, taus- pusong pasasalamat.

So I stand before you today to deliver a state of the nation that is focused on what the people want; the people want to know the plan to put us on the path to prosperity.

I am not here to talk about politics; I am here to talk about what the people want; details on the state of the nation and what their government is doing to make progress every single day.
Sama-sama nating isusulong ang bansa patungo sa kinabukasang nagniningning.

Gaya ng nakikita sa graph na ito, dahil sa ating reporma sa ekonomiya, we now have the funds to address social inequity and economic disparity. Too many ... masyadong marami, ang mamamayang nagugutom. Hindi ako hihinto hanggang magtagumpay ang ating laban sa kahirapan.
We now have the funds to stamp out terrorism and lawless violence.
May pondo na tayo para labanan ang katiwalian.
Our reforms have earned us P1 billion from the U.S. Millennium Challenge Account for more investigators, prosecutors, and new technology to fight corruption. We are matching this with another billion from our fiscal savings.

We now have the funds for constitutional and electoral changes. Sa kasalukuyang sistema, napakabagal ng proseso, at bukas sa labis na pagtutunggali, at sikil ang lalawigan at mamamayan sa paghahari ng Imperial Manila.

Panahon nang ibalik ang kapangyarihan sa taumbayan at lalawigan. For surely, there must be a better way to do politics, so that those who lose elections do not make the country pay for their frustrated ambitions. There must be a better way so that those who win the nation's mandate to govern can work without delay and whimsical obstruction. There must be a better way.

Meanwhile, now we can fund the Medium Term Public Investment Program. Sumusulong na ang ating plano na may tatlong yugto.

Una, ang makaahon sa mga dekada ng utang at kapos ng pondo. Nagawa na natin ito. Ikalawang yugto, ang pagbabalik sa taumbayan ang mas malaking kita ng pamahalaan: upang makapagpundar ng kalinga sa kalusugan, edukasyon at trabaho na kailangang-kailangan ng mamamayan. Ginagawa na rin natin ito.

And finally, Phase Three: to invest in the natural advantages and natural resources of each section of our nation so that when harnessed together, the major economic regions of the nation are larger than the sum of its parts.

We will enhance the competitive advantage of the natural "super regions" of the Philippines: the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway, Central Philippines, Mindanao and the Cyber Corridor.

In North Luzon, we will prioritize agribusiness investments. The agricultural and fisheries potential of the Cordilleras, Ilocandia, and Cagayan Valley can feed Luzon affordably. And nearness to North Asia holds the rich promise of agricultural exports and tourism.

My father built the Halsema Highway from Baguio to Bontoc, and the Bagabag airport in Nueva Vizcaya to access the Ifugao rice terraces, which by the way, the UNESCO has recently praised for the way we have carried out our heritage preservation policy. We have rehabilitated the Baguio to Mount Data leg of the highway and the rest of Halsema will now follow. We will upgrade the Bagabag airport and build a new one in Lallo, Cagayan, which will connect to Cordillera by upgrading the Tabuk-Tuguegarao Road.

Sa Tabuk, Kalinga, noong Abril, tumanggap ng titulo sa lupa ang ilang matatanda, pagkatapos nilang naghintay ng dalawampung taon mula noong napirmahan ang Mount Data Accord ng gobyerno at ng Cordillera People's Liberation Army. May isang matanda, suot ang lumang uniporme ng CPLA. Pumila, hila-hila ang isang binatilyo. Sabi niya, "This is not for me but for him." Agad inabot ang titulo sa apo. Narito ngayon si Ginoong Ama Balunggay at ang kaniyang apo si Jacob.

And our post-harvest support shall continue, like the cold chain that we set up in 2004 for La Trinidad, Benguet under Mayor Nestor Fongwan. It consisted of a refrigerated storage facility and refrigerated trucks to deliver vegetables to Metro Manila. Nais kong tumaas ang kita ng mga magsasaka, at ang ina ng bawat tahanan ay makabili ng mura at sariwang gulay para sa kaniyang mga anak.

So that the people will know how well their money is spent, Benguet and its towns of Bakun, Bokod and Itogon have rolled out the new electronic government accounting system in their jurisdictions.

If Ifugao was able to cut its poverty in half in the first three years of our administration, from 56 to 28%, congratulations. We hope that through these programs, the other provinces can replicate the success of Ifugao. Hangad nating dumami ang mga taga-Cordillera sa mga propesyon na tinitingalaan ng bayan, gaya ng mga abogadong gaya nina Maurice Domogan at Romeo Brawner.

Ibig din nating makapaghanda ang Cordillera sa awtonomiya pagdating ng pederalismo, ayon nawa sa pagbabago ng Saligang Batas.

Sa Dagupan, inilunsad na ng mga kolehiyo gaya ng Northwestern Lyceum University and ladderized system of education. Sa ganitong sistema, magagamit sa unibersidad and mga kursong kinuha sa vocational school at ang karanasan sa trabaho.

We will expand President Ramos' flagship San Roque Multipurpose Dam with the massive Agno River Project. Another major project is the Banaoang Irrigation. We allocate P200 million a month for small irrigation projects like those in the flood control plan of the Region II Development Council headed by Bishop Ramon Villena. Plus another P200 million a month for farm to market roads.

Also in the works is an international airport in Poro, La Union and the improvement of the two airports in Batanes as recommended by Governor Vic Gato. Ilocos Sur will have a seaport in Salomague while the Cagayan Zone Authority will better the one in Port Irene.

To save dollars, windmills in Batanes and Ilocos Norte turn megawinds into megawatts. When Army Commander Romy Tolentino was North Luzon commander, he became a soldier-farmer, planting jatropha as yet another alternative fuel.

The Metro Luzon Urban Beltway spans most of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mindoro and Marinduque. It must be a globally competitive urban, industrial and services center, because it produces more than half of the country's GDP.

To be world-class we invest in five comprehensive strategies for global competitiveness:
1. Make food plentiful and affordable to keep our labor cost globally competitive.
2. Reduce the cost of electricity to make our factories regionally competitive.
3. Modernize infrastructure at least cost to efficiently transport goods and people.
4. Mobilize, upgrade and disseminate knowledge and technologies for productivity.
5. Reduce red tape in all agencies to cut business costs.

The most prohibitive red tape is in our outmoded Constitution. We need Constitutional change to bring our rules of investment into the new millennium.

The new public bidding process has been shortened to 45 days for infrastructure, and 26 days for supplies, as of today.

Even before this, Metro Manila firms paying bribes for public contracts declined from 57% in 2003 to 46 today. Congratulations, Metro Manila
Machine readable electronic passports will enhance the credibility of Philippine travel documents, improve the mobility and increase the prospects of Philippine business and labor.

Legitimate mobility is hampered by human trafficking. Through the support of the USAID, we have convicted human traffickers with the Tongco spouses who were sentenced in a Quezon City court last December. These accomplishments removed us from the from the priority anti-trafficking watchlist.

To lower power costs we introduced the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market last month. Let's give it a chance to work. And we would like big power consumers like electronics, our number one exports, to avail of lower power rates from the National Power Corporation. On coco-biodiesel, we now have enough capacity for the proposed 1% blend just waiting to be passed into law.
The Subic-Clark corridor is on its way to a competitive international logistics center. This will be my legacy to my cabalens, jointly with Lito and Mark Lapid, Rey Aquino, Ana Bondoc, Blue Boy Nepomuceno, my son Mikey and Tarzan Lazatin. We jumpstarted it with giant investments in the Subic Seaport, the Clark Airport, and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

And to bring the beltway to the west we will connect the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Road to Dingalan Port through Nueva Ecija, and the Marikina- Infanta Road to the port of Real.

Upang ibsan ang pagod ng mga empleyadong namamasahe sa trapiko sa Kalakhang Maynila, mangangapital tayo sa mga expressway at tren.

We will have a continuous highway from Clark to Metro Manila to Batangas Port. TapoƒVs na iyong expressway mula Clark hanggang Maynila. Sa ngayon wala nang isang oras ang biyahe mula Clark hanggang Monumento. Ngayon iiwasan natin ang trapiko mula Monumento, dahil idudugtong natin ang North Expressway sa C-5. Tutulong si Sonny Belmonte sa right-of-way.

Ang C-5 naman ay konektado na sa South Luzon Expressway. Ang South Luzon Expressway ay pinapalapad naman hanggang Calamba. Sa Agosto, pahahabain ito hanggang Batangas. We will also build the Coastal Road to Bacoor, which has become urban under Jesse Castillo.

Pagdurugtungin natin ang MRT at LRT mula Monumento hanggang North EDSA upang mabuo ang biyahe paikot sa Kamaynilaan, at maibsan ang trapik. We will construct the Northrail to Clark and the Southrail to Lucena and on to Bicol, and upgrade the link between them. We will also extend the LRT to Bacoor. Sa pagbilis ng biyahe patungo at palabaas ng Metro Manila, makakatira ang manggagawa sa mas mura at maaliwalas na lalawigan.

Maayos na ang kapaligiran sa riles ng tren sa South Superhighway. Masaya ang mga pamilyang hinatid namin ni Vice President Noli de Castro sa kanilang bago at permanenteng relokasyon. Teddy Boy Locsin said it hadn't been done before, and couldn't be done at all. Well, Teddy?
Ngayon gagawin ito sa Maynila, si Lito Atienza ang bahala.

We thank China for agreeing to fund these housing needs. Huwaran ng ating programang pabahay para sa mahihirap ang mga proyekto ng Iglesia ni Kristo at Gawad Kalinga.

Ngunit kapos sa tubig ang mga taga-West Zone ng Kamaynilaan. Kaya bibigyan natin ng prayoridad hindi lamang ang edukasyon, koryente, enerhiya at kalusugan, kundi tubig din. We are setting up a 300 million liters per day pumping station for Muntinlupa, Las Pinas and Paranaque.

We will build a roll-on-roll-roll-off port system to link Lucena, Quezon to Boac, Marinduque, like the Batangas-Mindoro RORO.

Sa ganitong mga proyekto, palalakasin natin ang ekonomiya ng mga barangay at lalawigan. And we will end the long oppression of barangays by rebel terrorists who kill without qualms, even their own. Sa mga lalawigang sakop ng 7th Division, nakikibaka sa kalaban si Jovito Palparan. Hindi siya aatras hanggang makawala sa gabi ng kilabot ang mga pamayanan at maka-ahon sa bukang-liwayway ng hustisya at kalayaan.

In the harshest possible terms I condemn political killings. We together stopped judicial executions with the abolition of the death penalty. We urge witnesses to come forward. Together we will stop extrajudicial executions.

Central Philippines has the competitive edge in tourism in its natural wonders and the extraordinary hospitality of its people. The area sweeps across Palawan and Romblon, the Visayas and Bicol, plus the northern Mindanao islands of Camiguin, Siargao and Dapitan.

Topbilled by Boracay, Cebu, Bohol and Palawan, it attracts more than half of the foreign tourists to the Philippines. It is also the center of geothermal power in the country, which we continue to develop.

The priority here is tourism investments. Coming soon for superstar Boracay are an instrument landing system for the Kalibo airport and a P3 billion private investment in a San Jose, Romblon airport, plus good roads to spillover destinations all over Panay.

In Cebu, Gwen Garcia is constructing a world-class convention center for the ASEAN and East Asian Summits in December.

Helping our infrastructure upgrading, is the fall in bribery for public sector contracts in Metro Cebu, from 62% of companies in 2004 to 47 today. Congratulations to Cardinal Vidal for shepherding his flock and to Metro Cebu Mayors Osmena, Ouano and Fernandez, and Metro Cebu representatives del Mar, Cuenco, Gullas and Soon-Ruiz.

Bohol became a destination distinct from Cebu since it defeated the terrorist insurgency with community initiatives led by the power tandem of Rico Aumentado and General Johnny Gomez, now the NCR Commander.

It now merits its own international airport, just as our country deserves a world-class Constitution strongly supported by Governor Aumentado and the league of local authorities.

Tourism in Palawan requires the upgrading of the airports of Puerto Princesa, Busuanga, San Vicente and the building of a new one in Balabac; as well as a continuous road backbone from El Nido to Bataraza.

We will lengthen the Dumaguete runway for tourism as well as electronics. Valencia, Oriental Negros could attract semiconductor firms with power rates subsidized by the geothermal field of Palimpinon. Negros will also advance energy independence with ethanol projects in San Carlos City and Tamlang Valley, once the biofuel law is passed.

We will serve Guimaras by the airport being built in Santa Barbara, Iloilo and by a new RORO port in Sibunag. We will link Sipalay via Silay airport funded by the national government and Kabankalan airport being built by its local government. Thank you.

For Bicol's whalesharks, beaches and, of course, Mount Mayon, we have started acquiring the right of way for an international airport in Daraga, Albay. We will provide the means to the perfect surfs of the Pacific by upgrading the airports of Siargao, Guiuan and Tacloban.

We will widen the road to Dakak in Dapitan, and RORO will connect Siquijor to Santander, Cebu; Camiguin to Jagna, Bohol; Ubay, Bohol to Maasin, Southern Leyte, for diving in Limasawa.
We will bring Masbate and Biliran into the RORO Eastern Nautical Highway from Surigao through Leyte through Naval and Maripipi in Biliran through Esperanza, Aroroy and Burias Island in Masbate and on to Bicol.

The much-awaited 10-megawatt generator set arrived in Masbate last Saturday. It is ready to power up the province before the end of the month.
Camiguin, Romblon and Camarines Norte got out of the list of poorest provinces in 2003. With tourism these provinces can become rich.

Also winning the war against poverty and calamity, undaunted by unimaginable catastrophe, the valiant people of Southern Leyte, under the leadership of Rosette Lerias and Oging Mercado (our Rudy Guliani) are rebuilding the lives of Saint Bernard and San Francisco from their tragic mudslides. Yesterday, I asked the Japanese government to help Southern Leyte implement an integrated management approach to deal with their critical ecosystem, like the one the World Bank has approved for the Bicol River Basin.

Mindanao is our priority for agribusiness investments in the south. Mindanao is mostly fertile and largely typhoon-free, exporting coconut products and high value crops, and from its waters come 40% of the country's fish catch. Our investment priorities mirror those for North Luzon, and more because Mindanao has the poorest regions and poorest provinces and because we have to spend on a logistics system linking it to the north.

In 2003 we introduced the RORO from Zamboanga del Norte through Negros, Panay and Mindoro to Batangas. This system has slashed travel time from Mindanao to Luzon from 36 hours to 24 hours, and freight cost by 30 percent, so crucial to food shipments. Now we will develop more routes like the one from Cagayan de Oro through Camiguin, Bohol, Cebu and Masbate to Bicol, the Central Nautical Highway.

Also in 2003, Sulu, Lanao del Sur, and Tawitawi registered double-digit declines in poverty incidence from the year 2000. Congratulations.

Kitang-kita ang pag-ibayo ng mga isla ng Sulu, Basilan at Tawi-Tawi. Nagbukas ang Jollibee sa Basilan. The Balikatan exercises with the United States, combined with the US GEM program and other donor-assisted projects, have no doubt contributed to this.

Sa Sulu, isang araw ng Mayo, umuulan, nagwakas ang isang mahabang pagtutunggali nang pumasok ang mga kawal at sibilyan sa Kampong Bitan-ag sa Panamao na hawak ng mga rebelde. Nagyakapan at nagkamayan ang dalawang panig.

Dahil sa matinding pagnanais para sa kapayapaan ni Marine General Ben Dolorfino, naganap ang pagkakasundo. Gayon natapos ang isang madugong kabanata. Congratulations, General Ben Dolorfino.

Susi sa anumang pag-ibayo ang malakas na suporta at ma-abilidad na liderato ng pamahalaang local. Halimbawa, iyong "from arms to farms¡¨ ni Governor Ben Loong ng Sulu, with his caravan of tractors literally invading former rebel camps in his province. Congratulations.

Mahigit isang linggong nakaraan, dumating sa "Eleven Islands" ang daan-daang rebeldeng at kanilang pamilya, sa pamumuno ng dating MNLF Commander na si Aribari Samson. Dito sa mga pulo na kilalang "no man's island," dati nagtatago ang mga rebelde at criminal.

Ngayon sa tulong ng isang programa ng United Nations, nagtayo tayo ng dalawang daang tahanan at panibagong buhay para sa pangkat ni Samson. Thank you for giving peace a chance. Congratulations, Commander Samson.

I take this occasion to express our gratitude to the donor community from the US, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the European Union, Australia, Japan, our ASEAN neighbors, the multilaterals and the rest of the world. Thank you for helping us in our peace process.

If we can harness the forces of good in our nation, the positive force at work here at home and those from abroad such as the US, Malaysia, the OIC and others, we shall prevail in Mindanao with a peace agreement that brings freedom and hope to all Filipinos. With this peace, we would reap dividends in resources invested in agribusiness, not aggression, to build up, not tear down, the Philippine south.

Among the possible peace dividends would be pro-poor road projects like the Siocon-Sirawai-Sibuco-Baligyan Road in Zamboanga del Norte; the Lebak to Maguindanao which Sim Datumanong started when he was Secretary of Public Works; the Dinagat Island road network in Surigao Del Norte; the Hawilian-Salug-Sinakungan barangay road in Agusan del Sur; the Pangil Bay Bridge; and the Surigao-Davao Road, which we want to be as beautiful as the Bukidnon Highway completed during the administration of Joe Zubiri and the term of Migs Zubiri.

Mindanao's number one export, coconuts, has been growing continuously for the last three years, at the rate of 10% a year. The coconut farmers deserve a portion of the peace dividend. I invite Congress and the Bishops-Ulama-Priests-Pastors-Farmer-Lumad Conference led by Archbishop Fernando Capalla to help me ensure their rightful share.

On top of peace and investment, progress also demands good governance.

I congratulate Donkoy Emano for the drop in reports of corruption for public contracts in Cagayan de Oro from 65% of firms last year to 38 this year. Also Rudy Duterte and the other leaders of Metro Davao led by Majority Leader Boy Nograles for a similar drop, 57% last year to 49 now. Things are coming together for Mindanao, a prelude to their readiness for eventual federalism.

The Cyber Corridor will boost telecommunications, technology and education. The corridor runs the length of all the super regions, from Baguio to Cebu to Davao.

The cities of Davao, Tagum and Samal Island Garden all operate electronic government accounting systems. There are many wings now to the corridor because enterprising local executives like L-Ray Villafuerte and Jerry Trenas have aggressively attracted call centers to their jurisdictions (Congratulations, Jerry) In this corridor, the English and information and communication technology skills of the youth give them a competitive edge in call centers and other business process outsourcing.

In 2001, in this hall, we hailed ICT as a key growth sector. So we built up telecommunications infrastructure and opened the market for Internet phone calls.

Today international calls cost 6 cents a minute, down from 40 cents. From 2,000 BPO workers in 2001, we now have 200,000.
I had coffee with some call center agents last Labor Day.

Lyn, a new college graduate, told me, "Now I don't have to leave the country in order for me to help my family. Salamat po." I was so touched, Lyn by your comments. With these structural reforms, we not only found jobs, but kept families intact. Thank God, I thought, or someone might also try to impeach me for violating Article 15 of the Constitution on the solidarity of the family as the foundation of the nation.

As Louie Villafuerte argues, to step into the future, a country that wants to be a player in the global economy needs bold and well-funded research and development initiatives of its own. To this end, we will continuously increase the budget for science and technology, and education. For in today's global economy, knowledge is the greatest creator of wealth.

In summary, I named only a few priorities to illustrate that on many fronts, your government is working, and working well. Our economy is now growing over the longest period in the last quarter-century: 22 consecutive quarters of growth. Umakyat ng mahigit tatlumpung porsyento ang kita ng pinakamahihirap na pamilya sa unang tatlong taon ng ating panunungkulan, at bumaba ang dami ng maralita sa 25% ng mga pamilya, mula 28%, katumbas ng dalawang milyong katao na lumaya sa kahirapan. According to Thornton and Punongbayan, 70% of medium-sized business owners are optimistic, the fifth most optimistic among 30 countries, just behind India, Ireland, South Africa and China.

Bickering in politics may delay, but not derail the initiatives that need to be taken on our pro-poor, pro-growth, and pro-peace agenda. Regardless of the fate of the national budget, we must automate our election process. Local governments must get their rightful share of revenues. I ask Congress to pass a supplemental budget to effect this.

We are a great people. We have honest students and honest cops. We have scaled the heights of Mount Everest, dominated the Southeast Asian games, we have won international beauty titles, and of course punched our way to triumph in the boxing world. Our people compete and win every day in every imaginable job throughout the world. Individually, we've taken the world on and won; together, we must take on the challenge of creating a new, peaceful, humane and competitive nation and prevail.

For those who want to pick up old fights, we're game but what a waste of time. Why not join hands instead? Join hands in the biggest challenge of all, where we all win or we all lose: the battle for the survival and progress of our one and only country.

After three years, eleven months, and six days, I shall relinquish the Presidency, with much if not all that I have outlined completed. I do not want it said then that, in the end, I defeated my enemies. I would rather have it said that all of us, you and I, friends and foes today, achieved together a country progressive, prosperous and united.

Thank you. Mabuhay!

MAGHUSAY TA! By Uriel Cruz Vallecera In Cebu

MEDIA SA ASEAN

SA akong paghikay niining lindog, gikataho nga giplastar na ni Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena ang kontak niya sa mga embahadang Pilipinhon sa gawas sa nasod aron maoy moila sa mga sakop sa foreign media nga mo-cover sa ASEAN Summit nga ipahigayon sa Sugbo sa Disyembre.

Mao kini ang akong gibeliban ni Mayor Osmena. Abtik siya kaayo ug aktibo sa bisan unsang kalihokan nga may kalabotan sa kalamboan. Labaw sa tanan, kadali ra siyang makahunahuna og nindot nga mga ideya nga makatabang aron molambo ang Sugbo ug mailhan sa tibuok kalibotan.

Matod pa nga may giandam na nga mga brochure bahin sa kaanindot sa Sugbo nga gitagana nga ipanghatag ngadto sa mga sakop sa foreign media aron nga bisan dili pa sila makaabot dinhi sa Sugbo, may ideya na sila kon unsa kining maong lugar.

Nasayod si Osmena nga dili lang mga ordinaryong beat reporters ang moanhi sa Sugbo aron pag-cover sa ASEAN Summit kondili may mga senior editors gayod nga moanhi aron mokuhag estorya alang sa tagsatagsa ka kompaniya sa media nga ilang gialagaran sa ilang mga nasod.

Pinaagi sa giandam nga mga brochure, daghan unya silag ikaasoy bahin sa kaanindot sa Sugbo nga makapaikag usab sa mga negosyante sa pagbubo og puhonan alang sa pamatigayon. Makatampo usab unya kini sa pagpalambo sa industriya sa turismo sa Sugbo.

Maayo kining maong ideya ni Osmena. Tinuod gayod nga pinaagi unya niining maong mga brochure, mas mailhan ang Sugbo ug masayran sa kadaghanan pinaagi unya sa pagpakaylap sa foreign media kon unsay mga nindot nga talan-awon nga makaplagan sa Sugbo.

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Dako gayopd og kahimoan ang pagpahigayon sa ASEAN Summit dinhi sa Sugbo. Karon pa lang gani, gipangpikot na ang mga libaongong karsada aron makita sa mga langyawng delegado sa summit nga nindot diay ang kadalanan sa Sugbo.

Pero dili sab maayo kon kanunay na lang anhi ang ASEAN Summit sa Sugbo. Hasol kaayo tungod kay pangandaman man gayod kinig maayo sa mga Sugboanon. Hinuon, dili man gayod mahitabo nga anhi na lang kanunay sa Sugbo ipahigayon ang Summit.

Dako usab natong dungog nga dinhi gayod sa Sugbo ipahigayon ang Summit. Seguradong naglaway niining maong kalamboan ang Manila. Nagpasabot lang kini nga ang Manila dili makabentaha sa Sugbo. Mao nga garbo sa mga Sugboanon nga ang Sugbo maoy napili nga pahigayonan sa summit.

Manghinaot lamang kita nga magmalamposon ang pag-host sa Sugbo sa summit. Maayo unta nga dili kini lawgawon sa mga badlongon sa katilingban, ilabi na gayod niadtong mibatig kasina nga ang Sugbo maoy napili nga pahigayonan sa Summit.

New Impeachment Complaint vs GMA

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mike Banos / 24 Jul) The local Black and White Movement has endorsed to House Minority leader Francis Escudero (Sorsogon) 53 citizens' complaints to form part of the new impeachment complaint against President Gloria Arroyo which the opposition will be filing when Congress convenes next week.

Lawyer Antonio Soriano, lead convenor of the Black and White Movement in Cagayan de Oro, handed over the notarized complaints to Escudero, an opposition leader, at the weekend during an impromptu press conference.

Dubbed the first ever gathering of the anti-GMA forces in the region, the activity was also joined in by other civil society groups including the Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR), Gloria Resign Now (GRN), Task Force Macajalar (TFM), ENRAGED, NPKK, PILIPINA, and the Foundation for Good Governance.

"This is different from the previous impeachment complaint which pitted politician against politician, congressman versus congressman," Escudero said. "With the citizens' complaints, we have a bigger chance of convincing other congressmen to sign the second impeachment complaint because in this way, their constituents are telling them we will not vote for you if you don't vote for impeachment. Also this time, we shall also only be endorsing the complaints of civil society whom we represent."

Escudero debunked the contention of administration congressmen that the second impeachment complaint would be counter-productive and could lead to a legislative impasse like what has been happening in the Senate.

"We can multi-task if needed, and we can work overtime to pass needed legislation, as we have shown in the past," he said.

He also denied it was the minority in the House of Representatives who was responsible for Congress' failure to pass the 2006 General Appropriations Act since it was the administration, in particular President Arroyo, who stood to gain most from a re-enacted budget.

"We are only 39 opposition congressmen out of a total of 227," Escudero said. "The budget was submitted a month late in August last year by the chief executive, and we had already finished hearings on the first impeachment complaint by September 6, so that was only a week's delay at most. We cannot be held responsible for its delay up to this time and the record will show that more pro-GMA congressmen interpellated the GAA on the floor than the opposition."

With a re-enacted budget, Escudero said the President holds the purse strings for approximately P150billion of the "free money" or 17% of the budgeted capital acquisition of the 2005 GAA of P900 billion under the provisions of P.D. # 1177.

This outdated law which he has unsuccessfully tried to have repealed since he became a congressman in 1998 also grants an "impounding power" to the President to impose reserves for contingencies on specific budget items which could run as high as 35% and which she is under no obligation to restore even if such contingencies fail to arise.

"This is the biggest ever pork barrel and the reason why the check and balance between the executive and legislative arms of government has been usurped in favor of the former," Escudero said.

Asked what he was expecting from Monday's State of the Nation Address (Sona) by the President, Escudero demurred and said he was scheduled to deliver a "counter-Sona" by Tuesday so he would first listen to what Pres. Arroyo has to say.

He also denied reports of an opposition boycott since they would have to listen to her anywhere anyway to hear what she has to say and plan what they have to do in response. "They will also fill up our seats in Congress with someone else to make it look like it's full," he joked.

However, he later said he hoped and challenged the President to say how she intends to realize the "trickle-down effect" of her administration's economic gains to the poor.

"This is already her sixth Sona, so when is that trickle down effect going to happen?" he asked.

He also challenged the President to show how the touted gains from the country's stable fiscal position and appreciation of the peso would benefit the masses.

"Who has benefited from the gains in the stock market or the rise of the peso? Isn't it the rich? These touted economic indicators are not putting more food on the table and many people perceive themselves to be poorer (IBON's latest survey) and the only reason why less people are going hungry (latest SWS Survey) is that they are belt-tightening or eating less."

"How has a stable fiscal position and increased investor confidence addressed the basic needs for food, clothing, shelter and education of the masses?" he said in Pilipino. "Hindi naman makakain nila iyon."

Fr. Tony Ablon of the GNR/PCPR said his group together with other "progressive militants" would be holding a People's Sona at the Freedom Kiosk at Plaza Divisoria on Monday following a 'people's march' from the provincial capitol gardens slated to start at 12 noon.

Earlier, P/Chief Supt. Florante Baguio, regional director of the PNP Police Regional Office-10 said they will be strictly implementing the "no permit, no rally" policy of the DILG. Although he expects sporadic protest actions to be held Monday throughout the region, the PNP would nevertheless exercise "maximum tolerance" to keep the peace and avoid violence.

He said the full force of the PNP PRO-10 and local police have already been in place in the last three days on full alert in anticipation of the President's Sona on Monday.

Korean Movie Star Lee Dong-Wook In Manila

Korean movie star Lee Dong-Wook is escorted by Filipino security men Sunday 23 July 2006 as he arrives in Manila to promote the television drama series My Girl, a big hit in the Philippines. (Zamboanga Journal)

MANILA (Juan Magtanggol / 23 Jul) Korean actor and heartthrob Lee Dong-wook surprised his Filipino fans Sunday after he arrived unannounced at one of the country's biggest mall in Manila.

Clad in white t-shirt and a pair of denim pants, Lee Dong-wook, who portrays the character Julian in the localized version of the television romance-comedy series My Girl, arrived at the Mall of Asia surrounded by bodyguards.

He arrived in a convoy of four vans and cars and two motorcycle policemen. Fans, who recognized the young actor, screamed and took photographs of him from their cell phones. Others charged the actor and asked for autographs.

But his staff prevented the actor's fans from taking more photos. "No photographs please," one unidentified Korean woman was telling the fans. Filipino security guards at the mall were also called to protect the actor from his screaming fans.

Lee Dong-wook plays Seol Gong Chan in My Girl, the second generation heir of a big corporation. Because of his grandfather's illness, he was forced to ask Lee Da Hae, who plays Ju Yoo-rin, an impostor proficient in English, Chinese and Japanese, to be his long-lost cousin so that the old man's wish can be fulfilled.

So therefore, they both are bound in a lie that no-one in the family knows the truth. Others in the series are Park Si Seon, who portrays Kim Sae-hyun, and Lee Joon Ki, who plays Seo Jeong-woo.

He also starred in television series Hanoi Bride, Precious Family, Island Village Teacher, among others. The Korean actor was in Manila on a tour.

Ex-Philippine Military Chief Supports Proposal To Split Southern Command In Mindanao

Former Armed Forces and Southern Command chief Gen. Narciso Abaya (ret) gestures 23 July 2006 as he expresses support to plans to split the Zamboanga City-based Southern Command headquarters into two unified commands to effectively address present insugency and terrorism problems in the restive region of Mindanao. (Zamboanga Journal)

MANILA (Juan Magtanggol / 23 Jul) A former Philippine military chief praised Sunday plans to split the Zamboanga City-based Southern Command headquarters into two to make it more effective in fighting communist insurgency and terrorism in the restive southern island of Mindanao.

"That's beneficial because the military will now be more effective in handling the threats in Mindanao. That's good at least the Southern Command will be more focus in addressing whatever problems as far as security is concerned," Gen. Narciso Abaya, a former Armed Force chief, told the Zamboanga Journal.

Abaya, war veteran in Mindanao, also served as commander of the Southern Command at the height of the anti-insurgency campaign in the 1990s.

He said there was an earlier plan to put the military forces in Mindanao under two controls of two Southern Command headquarters, but it did not push through for a still unknown reason.

Senior military officials said the Army's 1st Infantry Division based in Labangan town in Zamboanga del Sur province would also be relocated to Zamboanga City as soon as the two Southern Command headquarters are transferred to Davao and Zamboanga del Sur provinces this year.

Aside from the Southern Command and the 1st Infantry Division, Mindanao is also home to the 4th and 6th Infantry Division, a marine and air force headquarters and two naval bases. More than half of the Armed Forces' 120,000-strong soldiers are deployed in the southern Philippines where they are battling the New People's Army and the Abu Sayyaf group.

President Gloria Arroyo on Friday ordered the division of the Southern Command into two unified commands "for more effective troop management and control.

At the same time, she instructed new Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon to revive the Office of the Civil-Military Operations in southern Philippines to ensure "fast and effective troop management" in Mindanao.

They were among the reforms in the military recommended by former military chief Gen. Generoso Senga.

She added that she approved the recommendations to improve the capability of the AFP to maintain peace and order in Mindanao and ensure economic development in the area.

Arroyo said the revival of the office of civil military operations in the region became necessary after the AFP created a new division in the Davao area. "But we will go beyond that, we will divide the Southern Command into two unified commands for more effective troop management and control," she said.

The new set up of the Southern Command, Esperon said, will make it more effective in addressing the present security situation in Mindanao.

NPA Attacks Sorsogon Town As Military Vows To Crush rebels

ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN: Above, new Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon (left), Defense Secy. Avelino Cruz and new Army chief Gen. Romeo Tolentino walk Saturday 22 July 2006 as elite soldier march during a parade inside the Camp Andres Bonifacio in Manila. (Zamboanga Journal)

MANILA (Zamboanga Journal / 22 Jul) Northern Philippines military commander Gen. Romeo Tolentino formally assumed Saturday as the new Army chief and vowed to crush communist insurgency and terror threats posed by the Abu Sayyaf in the restive southern island of Mindanao.

Tolentino replaced Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, who was named as new Armed Forces chief by President Gloria Arroyo Friday.

“It’s all work for now and our priority is to crush communist insurgency and terrorism and other threats to the country’s security,” he said.

Tolentino, a veteran of the Mindanao insurgency campaign, said he would also stepped up army’s humanitarian and literacy programs to win the hearts and mind of civilians in areas where the New People’s Army insurgents are strong.

“This is not all about war or fighting, but also winning the hearts and minds of the people, especially in areas where the NPA is actively operating. And we will win battle because the people are behind us,” he said.

President Gloria Arroyo ordered Esperon to crush the NPA and has even set aside one billion pesos to help fight the NPA.

“My first order to the troops is to intensify the operation against the NPA and we will destroy them. There is no room to hide, but for the insurgents to lay down their arms and surrender peacefully,” Esperon said.

But police and military reports on Saturday said more than 200 NPA soldiers simultaneously attacked the town of Matnog in Sorsogon province, blew up a bridge and clashed with security forces that left at least 6 people dead.

Reports said at least 5 NPA gunmen and a member of the Coast Guard were killed in the fighting before sunrise.

It said the insurgents came in two buses and a jeep and raided the town’s police headquarters.

Peace talks between the two groups collapsed in 2004 after the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front pulled out from the negotiations because of its inclusion to the terror lists of the United States and the European Union on Manila's prodding.

The rebels demanded that Arroyo asks the United States and the European Union to strike them off from the terror lists before they resume peace talks. Manila rejected the demand and suspended safety and immunity guarantee for rebel peace negotiators following the collapse of the talks.

The NPA is the armed wing of the CPP and the NDF.

Military, Police Nab Bandit Leader Linked To Killings, Kidnappings In Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 21 Jun) Filipino security forces captured Friday a notorious bandit leader implicated in a series of kidnappings and killings in the southern island of Mindanao, officials said.

Officials said policemen, backed by marine soldiers, swooped down on a hideout in Iligan City and arrested Elias Makil.

"He was finally captured after a long surveillance operation. Troops are tracking down the rest of his gang behind a failed kidnapping Thursday of three traders in Iligan City," Brig. Gen. Mohamad Dolorfino, deputy commander of the military's Southern Command, told the Zamboanga Journal.

Dolorfino said the bandit leader is being interrogated for his alleged links on the spate of attacks on soldiers and highway robberies in Lanao del Norte province.

His group almost kidnapped the traders, but they managed to escaped and sought help from the military in Iligan City. Makil was also tagged as behind the kidnapping of a 56-year old Muslim provincial poll official Disalungan Pulala last month, Dolorfino said.

Pulala was kidnapped while on his way to mosque in Iligan City and freed days later in the remote village of Ulangu in the town of Balo'i in Lanao del Norte, one of five provinces under the restive Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao, after private negotiators paid some 100,000 pesos in ransom.

Last month, gunmen also seized Pala-o Diamla, a court sheriff in Marawi City in Lanao de Sur province on orders from a politician who lost in the May 2004 elections.

Diamla was returning home May 30 when kidnapped by a band of armed men.

He was freed a week later after Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels, backed by government soldiers, threatened to assault the kidnappers' hideout in the province.

The military said a defeated town vice mayoralty candidate, who has a pending electoral protest, allegedly masterminded the kidnapping to forcethe court to rule on his favor. Even judges in the provinces who were hearing election protests were also under threat.

The MILF, the country's largest Muslim separatist rebel group, forged an agreement in 2004 that paved the way for rebel forces to help government hunt down terrorists and criminal elements in areas where the MILF is actively operating.

Kidnapping for ransom in the southern region has become a lucrative business with many groups operating independently. The proliferation of illegal weapons also aggravated the problem of the peace and order in the Muslim autonomous region.