Think about it
Province wows visiting Guam officials
By Jun Velasco
“We should give as if we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers.” –Seneca
IT was Guam Day in the province last Thursday.
Governor Amado Espino Jr., was at his element; ditto with his favorite vice, Ferdie, and Board Member foreign affairs chairman Jaming Libunao and the rest of the pack in well-ironed barong with their well-dressed ladies.
Visibly impressed were Guam Senators Rory Jonathan Respicio (majority leader) and Judith Poulette Guthertz and Federation of Pangasinenses of Guam president and Mrs. Vic Rivo and other Guamanians. “I have never seen such a handsome place with the best facilities,” said Senator Guthertz who we liken to Sarah Palin in praise of Spines’ leadership.
You would easily mistake a Pinoy to a Guamanian because of their physical features except for the senators who spoke like Yankees.
The Philippines and Guam have a lot in common. They were both subjects of Spain for 300 years, with Magellan as both their discoverer, under Japan for four years, and under the Americans for 65 years, although some of our countrymen would insist that we have been freed from the American yoke since 1946.
Not many know that we have been acquainted with the Mariana Islands of which Guam is a member. In 1987, we were editor of the Marianas Review in Saipan and stringer of the Pacific Daily News. In 1980, we co-published in Manila the Guam Tribune, owned by mega rich Mark Pangilinan.
At the Capitol press conference following the sisterhood signing, we asked the senators if Guam residents, who are American residents, have the same rights as those in the mainland. Their answer is no. Although American citizens they can’t vote in US national elections. Guam is now self-governing with a civilian governor and a popularly elected 21-member legislature. Each of the island’s 19 election districts is headed by a commissioner.
Here’s the lighter side of the Guamanians visit: if plans won’t miscarry, a group of Pangasinenses headed by Board Member Ming Rosario and Alfie Bince will lead a socio economic team to Guam shortly.
In all probability, they, too, would have Guv’nor Spines as adopted son of Guam.
Meanwhile, the Pangasinan media which includes Ramil Tamayo, who has lived in both Guam and Saipan for l5 years, are suggesting a Pangasinan-Guam newspaper to enhance the cultural and economic ties. But Ramil who seems to have great love of Guam says political rights should be excluded because being smart politicians, a Pangasinense the likes of Spines might easily get elected Guam governor (who knows?)
You see, Guam today is one-third Filipinos majority of who are Pangasinenses led by folks from Binalonan and Mapandan. It won’t be difficult to imagine a possible Pangasinan invasion of that US protectorate territory.
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In San Fabian last week, we witnessed the blossoming of a government and the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) partnership with the disarmament of some 1,099 CPLA militias towards the former rebel movement’s economic reintegration.
The CPLA, a breakaway group of the communist New People’s Army founded by the late Fr. Conrado Balweg, had agreed to lay down their arms as early as 1986 when then President Cory Aquino had worked out the Mt. Data Peace Accord, which reduced killings and clashes between Cordillera rebels and government soldiers.
It was only this year, however, when the CPLA’s disposition of arms and forces was finally implemented under a Memorandum of Agreement between the government, the Cordillera Bodong Administration (CBA) and the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) signed last July 4, 2011 by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles, CBA President Marcelina Bahatan and CPLA Chairman Arsenio Humiding in the presence of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in Malacanang.
Under the set-up, the government offers a package including a range of options for CPLA’s 1,099 members, such as enlistment of 120 CPLA members into the Armed Forces of the Philippines; employment as forest guards of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), livelihood and job placements.
During a two-day seminar-workshop jointly held by the CPLA and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), CPLA officers led by chairman Humiding said after 25 years lasting peace through mutual cooperation and community development “is now within reach” as a result of President Noynoy Aquino’s directive to “put a closure to the CPLA problem.”
Major Gen. Jessie D. Dellosa, Commanding General of the Northern Luzon Command, said putting an end to strife and killings among Filipinos could be the highest legacy the government and the CPLA leadership could leave for future generations of Cordillerans.
The peace panel leaders acknowledged that the peace process for the Cordilleras officially started with the Mt. Data Peace Accord in 1986, paving the way for interaction and dialogues, now culminating in the July 4, 2011 GPH-CBA-CPLA MOA.
The community development aspect of the MOA provides CPLA members livelihood projects, technical assistance and training in entrepreneurial development, preparation of business plans, cash flows, product sourcing, technical and vocational courses and job-matching services.
A preliminary list of identified sub-projects in 57 Cordillera barangays include potable water systems, road-building, construction of public utilities such as warehouse, solar-drying facility, agricultural tramline, multi-purpose center, purchase of ambulance units and improvement of irrigation canals.
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NOTES: For chiding many Dagupan residents’ practice of hanging their refuse in plastic bags in front of their houses, Didong Clave, mis-written as city hall man Dindo Cave, was pilloried by city hall sycophants. Columnist Alex Tuliao says he was actually rallying support to BSL’s cleanliness and hygiene drive. ….. Barley is dominating the food supplement networking market due to its reported effectiveness in fighting cancer and other diseases.
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