Garcia wins Phl's lone gold in Asian youth

Subic, Philippines - FIDE Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia provided the lone bright spot for host Philippines, winning the country’s lone gold medal in what turned out to be an all-Indian show in the 2011 Asian Youth chess championships at the Subic Bay Traveler’s Hotel here Saturday.

Garcia, one of the country’s brightest young stars, outwitted Amiralar Javidfar of Iran in their keenly-watched ninth and final round showdown to finish with seven points on five wins and four draws in the boys 16 years old and under category in this prestigious tournament which attracted 287 players from 20 countries.

An incoming fourth year high school student at Ateneo de Manila, Garcia finished half-a-point ahead of Nima Jabanbakht of Iran and a full point ahead of Ranjan Sahoo of India, compatriot Dominique Lagula and Ali Valizadeh of India.

“I’m very happy to win the gold medal here. It was a tough tournament,” said Garcia, a mainstay of the famed V. Luna Chess Club under Greg Rellorosa.

Overall, the Philippines bagged one gold, two silvers and two bronzes in the week-long competition dominated by Asian heavyweight India.

India capped another dominating year in chess by wining 10 golds, four silvers and four bronzes.

The Indians finished with a 4-3-2 haul in the boys division and 6-1-2 in the girls category.

Aside from the Philippines, the only other country to break India’s dominance was Iran, which won the gold medal in the boys 12 under courtesy of Shahin Lorpanizangeneh.



Dennis Gutierrez III bagged the silver medal in the boys 8 years old and under to join Garcia in the podium.

In the girls division, World Youth campaigner Jan Jodilyn Fronda clinched the silver medal in the girls 18 years old and under.

Fronda, a member of the De La Salle University chess team, defeated Bayar Anu of Mongolia to finish second behind eventual champion Rucha Pujari of India.

Fronda, who nearly did not make it to the tournament proper, finished with seven points on seven wins and two losses.

Actually, Fronda dropped her first two assignments but came back strong by winning the next seven matches.

The only other silver medal came from Samantha Glo Revita, who finished second behind two-time world under-8 championIvana Maria Furtado of India. (Philippine Star)

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Filipina lass grabs lead in Asian Youth chess tilt

PROMISING chess master Marie Antoinette San Diego shocked third seed Sagar Tejaswini of India to stay on top in the girls 12-years-old-and-under category after six rounds in the 2011 Asian Youth chess championships in Subic.

Diego, a gold medalist in the Asean Primary Schools Sports Olympiad, notched her fifth win to improve her score to 5.5 points.

She is half a point ahead of two-time world under-8 champion Maria Ivana Furtado of India with still three rounds left.

Samantha Glo Revita, on the other hand, split the point with Nilufar Yagubbayeva of Uzbekistan to share the third to seventh places with four points.

In the girls 18-under division, Mikee Charlene Suede, Cheradee Chardine Camacho, and Jan Jodilyn Fronda defeated their respective sixth-round foes to remain in hunt for the coveted crown.

Suede surprised top seed Nguyen Thi Mai Hung of Vietnam, Camacho blasted Liu Hongyan of China and Fronda clobbered Vo Thi Kim Pung of Vietnam. The three local bets have four points each.

They are behind frontrunners Rucha Pujari of India with 5.5 points and Hoang Thi Nu of Vietnam with 4.5.

In the boys 16-under, top seed Jan Emmanuel Garcia drew with Nima Javanbakht of India and fell to solo second place with five points, half a point behind leader Antonio Viani D’Cunha of India. (Emil C. Noguera, Manila Times)

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SCTEX helps boost economic dev't in Central & North Luzon

MANILA — With much-improved road networks and other strategic infrastructure projects in place, Central Luzon is now fast turning into a destination of choice for tourists and investors, domestic and foreign alike.

A regional official of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) made this observation, citing the entry into the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) of large business conglomerates, notably the Filipino-owned Ayala Group and the San Miguel food and beverage giant.

NEDA assistant director in Central Luzon Lynette Y. Bautista said some corporations engaged in business process outsourcing (BPO) were also coming in, further boosting the economic activities building up in the region.

Bautista was quick to point out however, that the heartening developments unfolding in Central Luzon were due in large part to the completion of the multibillion-peso Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) built by the state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

The 93.7-kilometer SCTEX traverses the great Central Luzon plains, interconnecting the three key growth areas of the region namely the Subic Freeport Zone, the CSEZ and the Central Techno Park in Tarlac.

A linkup between the SCTEX and the 84-kilometer North Luzon Expressway spanning Balintawak in Caloocan City and Sta. Ines in Mabalacat, Pampanga provides seamless travel between Central Luzon and Metro Manila and has remarkably reduced travel time to Zambales, Subic, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and towards the north such as Pangasinan, Baguio, La Union and Ilocos.

“SCTEX enhanced the complementary roles of Subic and Clark. Tourism drastically increased in the region due to significantly reduced travel time,” Bautista said.

The BCDA built the SCTEX as part of a larger picture being envisioned by the government to transform Central Luzon as a logistics and aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

From Subic to Clark for instance, travel time is only 40 minutes, while those coming from Manila would take an hour to reach Mabalacat, using Balintawak as the starting point.

NEDA supervising economic development specialist Greg Pineda indicated that judging from the heightened business activities now taking place in Central Luzon, it won’t be long for the government vision of dramatic social and economic growth to become a reality.

“Among the country’s regions, Central Luzon is now the third biggest contributor to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” Pineda said.

He added that Clark and Subic registered hefty increases in visitor arrivals in over the past years following the SCTEX’s full commercial operations in mid-2008.

As a result, tourism-related business concerns in the region, including the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark were compelled to undertake expansion programs to cope with the growing demands of increasing tourist traffic.

The DMIA itself is expanding existing facilities to accommodate larger aircraft and unprecedented growths in tourist arrivals.

With all these developments, Pineda underscored the need for local and national government leaders to “respond positively” to preserve and enhance the gains being achieved.

Pineda also disclosed that the NEDA has its own multi-sectoral Regional Development Council (RDC) tasked to formulate the Regional Development Plan, 2011-2016 to attain the “Central Luzon 20/20 Vision for 2025”.

Chaired by San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, the RDC charts the development and identification of priority programs for the region.

One of the hallmarks of the development agenda for Central Luzon, according to Pineda, is embodied in the plan’s vision statement entitled “Central Luzon: A Sustainable and Caring Global Gateway through Public-Private-Partnerships and Growth for All,” predicated on the principle that improving the lives of the people requires concerted efforts among all stakeholders—the government, business sector, and civil society to harness the region’s potentials for economic growth.

Pineda explained that in line with the President’s “Social Contract with the People,” a “Caring and Global Gateway and Growth for All” means that the marginalized and vulnerable sector of society would be given wider access to adequate protection in an environment of borderless commerce arising from the world-class airport and seaport facilities in Clark and Subic, and the region’s greatly enhanced mobility of people and goods-owing largely to the advent of the SCTEX. (Manila Bulletin)

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Bulacan rescuers top 8th First Aid Olympics in Subic Freeport

The rescue team of Calumpit, Bulacan emerged as the overall champion in the recently-concluded 8th Regional First Aid and Basic Life Support Olympics held at the SBMA Gym here, besting some of the best rescue workers in Central Luzon who vied to be named the number one rescue unit in the region.

A total of 16 teams joined the regional Olympics organized by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-3) through the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and the Philippine National Red Cross Region 3 (PNRC-3).

The activity sought to hone the skills of rescue and first aid teams in the region, and “provide opportunities for participants to develop leadership skills and a chance to see how they could improve their resources,” said OCD Region 3 director and RDRRMC-3 chairperson Neri Amparo.

Among the challenges participants faced in the Olympics were scenario-crisis management, scenario-accident management, rescuing trapped persons, and applying basic life support (BLS) and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

According to records provided by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Disaster Management Center (SBMA-DMC), which hosted the event, the Calumpit rescue team (RT) ended up as champion in the municipal level after outscoring the Sta. Maria (Bulacan) RT, which was named the first runner-up.

Meanwhile, Guagua (Pampanga) RT and Sta. Ignacia (Tarlac) RT trailed as second and third runners-up, respectively.

In the provincial level, the Nueva Ecija RT was declared champion, as it soared ahead of the respective rescue teams of Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan who ended up in the first, second, and third runner-up positions.

The Malolos City rescue team, meanwhile, received the championship plaque for the city level, as newcomer Barangay Sta. Rita (Olongapo City) RT settled for the first runner-up spot. The San Jose Del Monte (Bulacan) RT and Palayan City RT landed as second and third runners-up, respectively.

Among the rescue teams in the non-government organization and private level, Trust International Paper Co. (TIPCO) of Pampanga, successfully defended its title, outpacing Star Force Security Group (Pampanga), and Rescue 117 (Bulacan), which were named first and second runners-up, respectively.

Hall of Famer Olongapo City RT did not join the Olympics and instead nominated Brgy. Sta Rita RT to represent the city.

Another Hall of Famer, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Disaster Management Council, on the other hand, decided not to compete and focused, instead, on hosting the event.

According to Undersecretary Benito Ramos, who is OCD administrator and executive director of the NDRRMC, the First Aid Olympics is the only competition in the country where rescuers display their techniques, as well as learn from other teams how they could improve their life-saving skills.

“The first line of defense against calamity and disaster is the awareness and knowledge of our people on what to do when disaster strikes,” Ramos told the participants and spectators.

According to Ramos, the most common cause of death during flashfloods and landslides is lack of awareness and knowledge in BLS and CPR.

On the other hand, well-equipped, well-trained first aiders and volunteers have done well in saving lives and reducing the effects of injury and trauma through the effective implementation of first aid measures, Ramos added. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO: Participants in the recent 8th Regional First Aid and Basic Life Support Olympics held at the SBMA Gym display their skills in rescue and first aid.

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Taiwan investors relocating to RP – MECO

MANILA – Following the resolution of the Taiwan diplomatic row with the Philippines, Taiwanese businessmen, who have been turned off by the stringent labor requirements in China, are seriously considering relocating here their manufacturing facilities from mainland China, the Manila Economic Cultural Office (MECO) said.

MECO chairman Amadeo R. Perez Jr. told reporters Taiwanese businesses engaged in industrial plastics manufacturing with estimated investments of at least $120 million are considering of relocating their factories from China to Subic and Clark Freeport zones for their export-oriented investments.

Perez said that these Taiwanese firms have existing operations in China but engaged in industrial plastics manufacturing and one bed frame and mattresses manufacturer have existing plants in China but are eager to get out of there because of some stringent labor requirements.

Perez said that five four plastics products manufacturers have visited Subic and Clark earlier and one is coming over to visit Batangas and Clark. Another company engaged in bed frames and mattresses production has found a suitable warehouse in Clark that can be converted for his business.

“One project alone can command at least $20 million in investments,” Perez said. For the six projects that would translate to an estimated $120 million worth of prospective investments.

According to Perez, several Taiwanese investors in the mainland have been getting turned off by policy changes in the labor sector.

“Some of the Taiwanese have already gone to Vietnam and Indonesia as these countries are not very choosy because of their high unemployment situation,” he said.

The bed frame and mattresses manufacturer is exporting its products to the EU, Asia and the US while the plastics products manufacturers are producing industrial products for packaging applications and are exporting all over the world.

“They came here to see prospective site. Their requirement is proximity of their operation to international seaport and airport,” he said. Thus, MECO has suggested to the Taiwanese businessmen to consider Subic, Clark, Batangas and Cebu for these areas have access to international ports.

Following the successful resolution of the bilateral issue early this year, Perez said that MECO is implementing a major campaign to attract more Taiwanese investors into the country.

“Our only problem is our high cost of electricity,” Perez said noting that Vietnam and Indonesia could beat the Philippines on this single factor alone. (BCM, Manila Bulletin)

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Subic fisherfolk celebrate “Pamalakaya 2011” for bountiful harvest

Fishermen in the Subic Bay area gathered themselves together the other day in a lengthy fluvial parade around the bay to celebrate“Pamalakaya 2011: Araw ng Mangingisda,” a festival to thank Mother Nature for a year--round bountiful harvest.

The fluvial parade was part of the week-long festivities “Subic Ay!” that was organized by the municipal government with the theme, “Tuloy ang Pagsulong Tungo sa Subic City.”

The Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (SBI-FARMC) initiated the fluvial event. Delegations from the coastal barangays of Calapandayan, Calapacuan, Matain, Wawandue, Asinan and Baraka in this town joined the parade, which was led by a fishing boat carrying the image of Saint James (San Tiago), the patron saint of fishermen.

“The Pamalakaya is our way of thanking Mother Nature and our patron for providing us with a continuous source of livelihood and keeping us safe while catching fish offshore,” said SBIFARMCI chairman Laureano Artagame.

Aside from the fluvial parade, the Subic Ay! Festival also enlivened the streets around the poblacion area of Subic by the cheering songs of fishermen, as well as women and children who joined the karakol or street dancing.

The fluvial parade was followed by boat races in various categories: paddle-driven, motorized, and mini-banca, which used recycled materials.

The SBIFARMCI is among the sectors being assisted by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) through the Environmental Guarantee Fund, which was tapped for scholarship grants and various livelihood programs for fisherfolk in the Subic Bay area.

Members of SBIFARMCI include fishermen from Olongapo City, Morong in Bataan, and Subic and San Antonio in Zambales.

Last October 2010, SBIFARMCI received P2.3 million from the SBMA for the production of 60 artificial concrete reefs modules that were later installed in coastal areas in Morong, Subic Bay, and San Antonio in Zambales. In addition, the SBIFARMCI also purchased two new motorized bancas for use as monitoring, controlling and surveillance (MCS) patrol boats.

Outgoing SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga said during the turnover of the fund that the SBMA aims to implement a program that will benefit the marine environment from which Subic stakeholders derive their livelihood.

“It is a common endeavor of the stakeholders in the Subic Bay Area to promote higher marine biodiversity in Subic Bay and create better and healthier marine environment for fishing, recreation, tourism and related livelihoods,” Salonga also said. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO CAPTION:
Fishermen from Subic, Zambales paddle their boats against a backdrop of merchant vessels in a boat race held during the "Subic Ay!" festival held recently in thanksgiving for bountiful harvests.

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'No discussion on increased US military assistance in PHL'

MALACAÑANG said on Thursday there was no discussion on the increase of US military assistance in the country during the recent visit of two US senators.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that when they met with President Aquino, US Sens. Daniel Inouye and Thad Cochran did not discuss anything “political” with the Chief Executive.

“[There was] nothing political, they did not discuss Subic, so it’s really surprising that the issue of Subic or establishing a military base cropped up. There was no such discussion,” Lacierda said.

He said the senators also discussed with the President the Save Our Industries (SAVE) Act, which is being backed by Inouye.

“That’s what was it all about. Other than that, no more,” Lacierda said.

Asked about Malacañang’s position on increased military presence, Lacierda told reporters that the Visiting Forces Agreement is being reviewed.

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III at the same time vowed to resist incipient attempts to bring back American military bases in the country, amid reports this was part of the “hush-hush” agenda of two ranking US officials who visited the country recently.

“Yes. I will oppose it,” Osmeña told reporters at the sidelines of the Kapihan sa Senado media forum yesterday.

Osmeña observed that the Philippines and the US have enjoyed “excellent relations” despite a 1992 Philippine Senate vote terminating the lease on American military facilities. “So, why do we need to host their bases here [again]?”

He added that the Philippines would not want to get caught in a conflict between the US and China. “We do not want to get involved in the fight between two giants. Uupakan lang tayo dalawang elepante diyan.”

He sought a reasonable justification for the Philippines to allow the return of American military presence. (B. Fernandez, K. Corro, Business Mirror)

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Images of Christ appear in old Acacia tree in Subic

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Images of Christ wearing the Crown of Thorns, one of the instruments at the time of crucifixion, appeared in several branches of an old Acacia tree in a posh residential area, here.

The faithful started to flock offering flowers and prayers in the place which they now claimed as sacred.

About few weeks ago, 64 year-old house keeper Remedios Generalo started to see the

unusual formation of the Christ images in several branches of an old Acacia tree in a landscaped garden owned by businesswoman Geralda Villa of East Kalayaan Heights.

Generalo said that the cutting, pruning and trimming of several branches of the huge Acacia tree were done about two years ago but images were discovered only last March 28.

The images appeared in about four to five trimmed branches of the tree.

But days before that, Generalo recalled that for several occasions, she witnessed the swirling and powerful winds near the Acacia tree, lifting door maps and slippers off the grounds.

“Ang akala ko may darating na bagyo (I thought a typhoon is coming),” she said.

Generalo added that another unusual thing happened after she discoverd the images ofChrist on the branches of the Acacia tree.

“Each morning, I used to feed several crow birds in our garden which has become part of my daily routine but now the birds are all gone,” she said.

The images have caught the attention of Fr. Oddie Mozo, the parish priests of San Roque Chapel, who recently visited, blessed the tree and reportedly officiated a mass in the garden.The priest could not be contacted for comment.

Kalayaan resident Angie Samson said that neighbors are not bothered by the influx of faithfuls visiting the house but warned that the “miracle” should not in any way be used for commercial purposes.

“The place is blessed with the appearance of these sacred images. It should be treated with utmost respect. Hindi yung mag-isyuso lang,” Samson said.

The latest visitor in the area was former Senator Dick Gordon who was amazed to see the image of Christ.

“Miracles do happen these days,” says Freeport worker Elsie Muñoz-Cabral who went to see the Holy Face of Jesus on Holy Thursday in Kalayaan Housing with her children.

Some of the visitors claimed that there should a message that comes along with the images of ‘dying’ Jesus.

Olongapo resident Susan Miranda cited the Last Words of Jesus before He died on the cross.

“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,” the word of Christ which she believed that God has forgiven our sins and will never leave us.

“Clearly, the image of dying Christ tells us that people have to repent, turn away from sinful life and offer ourselves to the forgiveness of sins,” Miranda said.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has yet to investigate on this. (Rey Garcia, News Central)

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Ship parts assembler eyes Subic for Asian/European hub

Polarmarine, Inc., a household name in ship parts industry, is planning to transfer production facilities in Malmo, Sweden and Russia to this free port under an expansion program designed to capture the growing shipbuilding industry in Asia.

Carolina Agoo, Polarmarine administration and financial manager, said that the expansion will be undertaken for two reasons: first, because of the strategic location of the Subic Bay Freeport, which is closer to the firm’s Asian customers and suppliers; and second, because of the English-speaking skilled workers here.

Currently, Polarmarine has 86 workers, most of whom were former workers in the Subic Naval Base, who have been highly trained by the U.S. Navy, Agoo said.

“With this expansion plan, we aim to lower the cost of our products since we will be saving more from freight costs because we will import from our suppliers in Asia, and export products to customers in Asia,” Agoo added.

Outgoing Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Feliciano Salonga, who himself was an executive in a maritime company, expressed elation over Polarmarine’s long-term plan during a tour of the firm’s assembly plant in Subic last week.

“The SBMA welcomes this expansion project, and the agency is here to help in any way it can. That’s our role — to assist,” Salonga said.

Polarmarine, a Swedish firm which started operations here in 1996, is among the pioneer locators in the Subic Freeport.

Initially, Polarmarine produced “Polar Jet”, a programmable multi-nozzle tank cleaning equipment designed to clean difficult-to-reach parts of slop tanks, wing tanks and under-stringer platforms in conventional tankers.

Later on, Polarmarine ventured into assembly of sonic horns used in shipyards, for which it acquired recently a 484-sq.m. building to for additional assembly facility.

“This is in preparation for our plan to transfer production in Malmo, Sweden to Subic,” Agoo explained, adding that the company sees a 20 per cent increase in production and employment in the first year, and an additional 50 per cent in the succeeding years.

Agoo added that in 2010, the Polarmarine unit in Subic generated about $7 million in revenue. From this level, the company plans to increase production to $8.5 million and augment its workforce to a total of 103 in the first year.

Thereafter, the firm plans to hike production to $12.75 million and its workforce to 155.

Agoo added that company executives also plan to transfer to Subic the production of loadmaster, a loading computer that calculates and balances the load of ship, as well as shipmaster, which takes care of cargo and ballast automation in any type of ship. However, she said the company is set to strengthen its technical team, which includes naval architects, marine engineers, and data encoders, before it could undertake the assembly of loadmasters and shipmasters.

Agoo said that shipbuilding-related industries are now being concentrated in the Asian region, and more shipbuilding component assembly operations are now being transferred to Asia.

Because of this, Polarmarine started this month to closely coordinate with Subic-based Korean shipbuilding firm Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Phils. for an arrangement to directly supply sonic horns.

Polarmarine is a member of the Kockumation Group based in Malmo, Sweden. Aside from Polarmarine, the Kockumation Group also has Kockum Sonics and Texon Automation under its umbrella. The Kockumation Group also has production facilities in Sweden, Russia, Shanghai and Dalian in China, and Great Britain.

Last year, Polarmarine was number 24 among the 198 exporters in the Subic Bay Freeport, with freight-on-board value of $6.13 million; and number 47 among the 314 importers here, with its freight-on-board value of $4.11 million. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO:
Polarmarine administration and financial manager Carolina Agoo shows samples of the firm’s products to outgoing SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga (right) and SBMA Maritime Business Department head Ronnie Yambao.

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Festival bats for recognition of local fishers

MORONG, Bataan — Local fishermen called on the government to recognize the importance of the fishing industry in the Philippine economy and to place importance on the protection of marine resources during the recent “Araw ng Mangingisda” celebration held at Barangay Sabang in this town.

The event featured activities like fun run, coastal clean-up, fluvial parade, galunggong cooking contest, and parlor games that were lined up for residents and visitors alike in the two-day program held on April 14-15.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which manages part of Morong town under the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, gave its full support to the Sabang festival. SBMA public relations manager Armie Llamas served as a judge in the cooking contest, while the SBMA brass band rendered musical entertainment during the fluvial parade.

Sabang, which is located along the coast of this town, relies on fishing as its major source of income. The major product of resident-fishers is the “galunggong” or mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus), which is a common food fish in local markets.

Restituto del Rosario, chairman of the Morong Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (FARMC) and 2008 Gawad Saka awardee for fish capture, said the local galunggong season usually starts in February and continues throughout March and April.

But he lamented that the fishing industry is not being recognized as an important part of the economy and is not regarded as a major industry.

“Kailangang makilala ang pangingisda bilang isang malaking industriya,” Del Rosario said.

Apart from batting for recognition of fisher folk, Del Rosario also wants the people to be aware of their responsibilities in taking care of the environment, particularly the sea.

Del Rosario said that changes in the climate is affecting the fishing season. He said that the “amihan” or the northeast wind, which is supposed to end by mid-February, has just ended in April, thus delaying the fishing season by more than a month. This delay reduced their fish catch by almost half, he said.

Normally, the average galunggong haul that local fishers make reaches one to two tons per day during the galunggong season.

At the same time, Del Rosario recognized the SBMA as one of the agencies, which provide assistance to the Sabang fishing village. He said that SBMA gave a P4-million grant recently to rehabilitate the coastal area and to provide aid for fishermen.

“SBMA has always been supportive of our programs here,” Del Rosario said.

He added that they have recently asked the SBMA Ecology Center for technical assistance in conducting studies for the marine protected area project that they are now undertaking.

Meanwhile, Morong vice mayor Bienvenido Vicedo Jr. said the festival is also a good avenue for promoting the products of Morong, particularly galunggong.

Vicedo also said that the local government of Morong had tied up with the Department of Labor and Employment to provide assistance to fishermen, setting up the “Sapaw” group and giving them P1-million worth of boats and equipment to help them in their trade. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO:
Fishermen get ready for the fluvial parade during the “Araw ng Mangingisda” celebration in Sabang, Morong, Bataan.

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Aytas celebrate ‘Apu Buk-Kot’ festival in Freeport forest (feature)

Far from the busy highways and factories of this free port, inside the thick forest where flora and fauna still exist almost undisturbed, is an open space considered sacred to all Ayta people of Central Luzon.

Every Holy Week, different Ayta tribes from Central Luzon gather at this sacred land which the Aytas believe to be where their most holy ancestor Apu Buk-Kot turned himself into spirit and joined his creator in Heaven.

The place is inside the Boton Forest Area at the back side of the Subic Technology Park, more than two kilometers from ArgonautHighway in the Subic Bay Freeport.

This Holy Week, about 20 Ayta families left their homes in the foothills of Bataan and Olongapo City to visit this place in Boton forest to pay respect to their ancestors, especially Apu Buk-Kot, the holy one.

Bonifacio Florentino, former tribal chieftain of the Pastolan Ayta tribe in this free port and member of the festival organizing committee, said that Aytas celebrate Apu Buk-Kot’s spiritual journey to connect them with the past.

“Ginaganap namin ito tuwing Mahal na Araw bilang pag-alaala kay Apu Buk-Kot, na hindi namatay kundi naglahong parang bula sa lugar na ito. Kaya sa ganitong panahon din siya nagpaparamdam sa amin,” Florentino said.

He added that through this festival, young Aytas and the lowlanders who married Aytas were taught about the origin, culture, practices and traditions of the Ayta.

In the opening ceremony, Florentino urged young tribal members to continue this kind of gathering, stressing that Apu Buk-Kot wanted to see members of the Ayta tribes happily bonding together and sharing food, as well as preserving their rich culture and history.

Joy Reyes, cluster head of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in Central Luzon, said that as part of the three-day festival, Ayta elders also teach new members of the tribe and children aged four and above, how to live in the forest with only a bolo for making shelter and gathering food.

She said the children must know how to catch shrimps and crabs in the creek using their bare hands, and identify edible root crops and fruits, as well as sources of water.

They are also taught how to pray in the native dialect, and dance the way their fathers and mothers did.

Reyes added that on May 2 and 3, the festival will move on to Limay, Bataan where the Aytas will be trained in planting, nurturing and harvesting various crops. A tribal wedding ceremony will also be held for those who wish to get married during the festival.

“We hope that the coming generations will continue practicing our rich culture and tradition, and pass them on to their children so that the Ayta heritage will continue to exist through the years,” Reyes also said. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO:
Ayta elder Bonifacio Florentino shares with youngsters the beliefs and practices of the Ayta tribe at the Subic Bay Freeport

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PHL masters ready for chess championship

TWENTY-FOUR young chess masters will represent the country in the prestigious 2011 Asian Youth Chess Championships scheduled from May 14 to 22 in Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo City.

According to National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) grassroots development program Director Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, the players were selected based on their impressive finishes in the recently concluded 2011 Pangasinan National Age Group Chess Championship.

FIDE Master (FM) Emmanuel Garcia and Paul Robert Evangelista will spearhead the team’s campaign in the boys’ division as they participate in the 16-under event along with National Master Alcon John Datu and FM Haridas Pascua who will vie in the 18-under class.

Also seeing action in the boys’ category are Khulene Lord dela Cruz and Dennis Gutierrez III (8-under); Julius Gonzales and Istraelito Rilloraza (10-under); Daryl Unix Samantila and Haince Patrick de Leon (12-under); and Giovanni Mejia and Jerad Docena (14-under).

Leading the girls squad are veteran campaigner Woman FM (WFM) Chardine Cheradee Camacho and Christine Joyce Laz (18-under) along with Jerlyn Mae San Diego and Rheam Arah de Guzman (8-under); Fiona Geeweneth Guirhem and Regyne Palamig (10- under); Marie Antoinette San Diego and Samantha Glo Revita (12-under); Mary Joyce Fuerte and Merlene Membrere (14-under); and WFM Cherry Ann Mejia and Janelle Mae Frayna (16-under).

“The top two players in each division will have the chance to compete in the Asian Youth. These athletes are no pushovers. They will be fighting for medals,” said Gonzales. (Emil C. Noguera, Manila Times)

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Subic kids paint for Japan disaster victims

Grade school students in this free port had pooled their paintings together in an arts exhibit here in an effort to raise funds for victims of earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza said that students of the Casa Kalayaan International School (CKIS) in Subic had taken the initiative to raise funds in their own way.

“They put up their own first exhibit, not to profit from the sale of their artworks, but to help in their own little way the victims of disasters in Japan,” Arreza said.

“Their parents should be proud of them, like how I am proud of these kids,” he added. Arreza’s children, fifth grader Lorenzo Gabriel and fourth grader Danielle Bianca, both students of CKIS, participated in the exhibit.

CKIS principal Joanne Prieto said that the arts exhibit was conceptualized a couple of months ago after seeing several beautiful art works the students had made at the Subic Lighthouse Marina, and she thought the paintings should be put on exhibit for a wider audience.

Prieto then made arrangements with Lighthouse manager Argee Gomez, a noted supporter of environmental advocacy, who excitedly agreed on the proposal and named the project “Towers,” an art exhibit at the Lighthouse to save life in Japan.

“The destructive earthquake and devastating tsunami had inspired several students to make posters on Japan, representing hope for their recovery,” CKIS Student Council president Michelle Prieto said.

“The Casa Kalayaan International School Student Council was so moved by these efforts and wanted to organize a fundraiser for this country (Japan) in its time of need,” Michelle said.

The young artist said that there are about 20 paintings exhibited, each selling between P2,500 and P8,000. “Fifty percent of the sales will go towards helping Japan,” Michelle added.

Aside from the fundraising efforts of CKIS students, the Subic Freeport community also responded to a relief drive initiated by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake disaster.

The SBMA also sent its fire and rescue team to Japan to help in recovery operations, and expressed its sympathy and support to the Japanese community in this free port through a resolution passed by the SBMA board of directors.

SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga said the SBMA resolution expressed solidarity with the Japanese community “in this time of trial and adversity” and offered its deepest sympathy and condolences to all Japanese locators and residents in Subic, especially those who may have lost loved ones and friends in the recent disasters.

The Subic Bay Freeport Zone is home to more than 40 Japanese locator-companies, some of whom were pioneering enterprises that helped develop this free port in its early years. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTO: SBMA administrator Armand Arreza (right) and wife Maria Paz, together with Casa Kalayaan International School (CKIS) principal Joanne Prieto (second from left) and Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce official Susan Dudley, opens an exhibit of paintings by CKIS students. The students are selling their paintings to help raise funds for victims of earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

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Aquino affirms partymate Payumo’s BCDA posting

Malacañang yesterday confirmed reports that President Aquino appointed another fellow Liberal Party (LP) member and former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Felicito Payumo as the new chairman of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA).

Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte made the confirmation through a text message following Payumo’s admission to Subic-based correspondents that he was indeed appointed by the President to lead BCDA.

“I confirm the appointment of (Felicito) Payumo to BCDA,” Valte said.

The Office of the Executive Secretary claimed Payumo’s appointment papers were signed by Aquino last April 7.

BCDA was established under Republic Act (RA) 7227 whose primary function is to convert former military bases of the United States and military camps in Metro Manila into special economic zones that are expected to generate job and business opportunities for the locals.

Payumo will replace Aloysius Santos who held the BCDA’s reins for about five years. He called the shots for the SBMA from 1998 to 2004 during the Estrada administration. He also had quite a long career as a member of the House of Representatives serving the first district of Bataan from 1985 to 1998.

Wikipedia’s account says Payumo worked in the private sector for more than 20 years, including stints at Procter and Gamble Philippines, Mobil Corp. in New York and Engineering Equipment Inc. where he served as president before venturing into politics.

Payumo’s page at the same database also said he was the principal author for the act creating BCDA along with the Build Operate and Transfer Law and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority during his career as a legislator. (Aytch S. de la Cruz, The Daily Tribune)

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Belmonte cites lawyers’ role in nation-building

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte cited the role of lawyers in nation-building, as he graced the closing ceremonies of the 13th national convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in this free port over the weekend.

Lawyers, he said, “are the most responsible in making our democracy work through their guidance and leadership.”

Belmonte also reminded lawyers that they are the social architects and engineers who design and build the society, and that they have extensive influence in the formation of a nation.

He likewise recognized the challenges faced by lawyers in solving novel and complex legal problems. “This is why the study of law requires mental discipline, logical thinking and organization of ideas,” Belmonte said.

Some 2,000 lawyers from different chapters of the IBP attended the three-day convention at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on April 7-9, the biggest convention turnout so far in the organization’s history.

Notable lawyers such as Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Francis Escudero, Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta graced the affair.

At the same time, Belmonte cited the gains made by the House of Representatives under his helm, pointing out that it has achieved the highest approval rating in post-Martial Law years due to the integrity and competency of current House members.

“Leadership by example is one of the deterrents against corruption,” Belmonte stressed in his speech.

Belmonte also mentioned that the budget for this year was approved by both houses of the Senate and by President Aquino before the year 2010 ended.

He added that another accomplishment eyed by the House is the passage of House Bill No. 4067, or the GOCC (government-owned or controlled corporation) governance bill that both Houses have already approved.

He said that they are just waiting for the bill to be signed into law. If the GOCC governance bill is signed, it would be the first law to be passed this year, he added.

House Bill No. 4067, which is principally authored by Belmonte, recognizes the potentials of GOCC’s as significant tools for economic development, and ensures that their operations are consistent with national development policies and programs. The bill covers all GOCC’s, including all government instrumentalities with corporate powers and government corporate entities. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

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