Bishop appeals for aid to Reming victims

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra was among the first to respond to the call for help from the typhoon "Reming" victims of Bicolandia.

That followed an earlier appeal by Sen. Richard Gordon, president of the Philippine National Red Cross, for help for the Reming victims. The fatality count, as of the latest reports, had already climbed to almost a thousand with more "coming" as the hitherto to inaccessible places are reached by rescue and relief teams from various agencies.

Navarra also asked for prayers for the victims of Reming. He said relief goods and cash assistance may be sent through the Social Action Center of the Bacolod Diocese.

Amity volunteers in Bacolod, according to Crispin Chua, are also helping raise additional relief aid for the typhoon victims.

Although aid may be sent in goods and other items, Gordon said it is better to have cash donations. The thing is that these collected items, especially canned goods, rice and clothes will have to be shipped yet to Manila or from Bacolod directly to Bicol. And that costs more money.

Thus, for the moment, the best means of reaching the victims is through cash donations via the PNRC, Gordon pointed out.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had declared a state of national calamity in the wake of super typhoon Reming. She also ordered the release of P1 billion for the relief and rehabilitation of areas hit by Milenyo, Paeng and Reming.

Gordon said Globe Telecom is accepting donations through its G-Cash and Donate-A-Load program.

PNRC, on the other hand, will accept donations through its Metrobank Port Area branch accounts. The account name is Philippine National Red Cross, Peso account number 151-3-041-63122-8 MBTC and Dollar — account number 151-2-151-00218-2 Swift code MBTC PH MM.

Relief aid through the Bacolod Diocese will be shipped to the typhoon hit area via the Negros Navigation Company vessels, Navarra said.

It is timely this plea for assistance for the typhoon victims, now that Christmas is in the air, people are bound to be more generous.

As pointed out by a Catholic leader: "Christian charity calls for us to be able to share not only of our abundance but also of our substance with those who are now suffering from the ravages of the typhoon."

Hopefully God will touch the hearts of Christians all over the country so they can respond enthusiastically to the call for assistance to Reming’s victims in Bicol.

NPA infiltration

The recent discovery that one of the alleged NPA raiders killed in a shootout with 11th IB troopers in San Carlos City recently was an official of the Philippine Guardians Brotherhood, Inc. and his companion-driver prompted the military in Negros Island to air the suspicion that the NPA may have penetrated also religious and media sectors in the island.

Col. Gregorio Fajardo, commander of the Army 303rd Infantry Brigade, claimed that "it can no longer be denied that the NPA in Negros have already infiltrated some religious and media sectors in the province to advance their cause against the government."

Fajardo, however, refused to name names and reiterated his call for Negrenses to help support the army in its fight against insurgency in Negros.

It was also learned that Ralph de la Vina, alias Ka Batoy, killed in the encounter at Barangay Quezon, San Carlos City last week, was a political officer of the NPA. He was also a member of the Canlaon City chapter of the PGBI, although admittedly a latecomer.

Four others were killed in the encounter. The four others killed in the encounter were Rodrigo Bernao, allegedly De la Vina’s driver, and others known only as Ka Benzar, Ka Label, and Ka Dianong.

But another member of the group, Salvador Manumag, alias Ka Demon, was wounded and captured by the military. He is now being treated under guard at the San Carlos City district hospital.

The group reportedly belonged to the Rehiyonal Sentros de Gravidad-Komiting Rehiyonal Negros-Lanrangan Guerilya 3.

The authorities discovered from the interrogation of Manumag and from the captured documents that the NPA units were already consolidating preparatory to an alleged plan to attack the Canlaon City police station.

Last week’s encounter was considered one of the most explosive developments in the Negros insurgency campaign.

And the indications are that the insurgents, who seem to have established themselves in northern Negros Occidental may have gained enough grassroots empathy that they can move around in platoon strength.

Outstanding city mayor

Escalante City Mayor Santiago Barcelona recently received his award as Outstanding City Mayor of the Philippines from the Local Government Leadership Award. Senator Aquilino Pimentel, chair of the 2006 LGLA National Selection Committee, presented Barcelona his award recently in the presence of the country’s name officials of the academe, universities and colleges of the Philippines.

Among these were Senator Edgardo Angara, Magdalena Mendoza, of the Development Academy of the Philippines; Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC, president De La Salle University System, Ateneo de Manila University and Dr. Jose Abueva, professor-Emeritus of Public Administration and Political Science of the University of the Philippines.

Barcelona is considered one of the most dynamic and enlightened city mayors of Negros province.

Not only has he helped solve the housing problem of city constituents with the help of Gawad Kalinga, he has also introduced tot he city some outstanding public services outreach projects.

Today, Escalante’s city hall has become a landmark of the province. And the once sleepy community is now considered one of the most bustling in Negros Occidental.

Proof is the number of buses that commute between Escalante City and Bacolod daily. And it has also become the favorite destination of many foreign visitors.

Japan Lions outreach

Sunday’s Alay Lakad, under the auspices of Council of Lions Club chairman Manny Jalandoni was called the most colorful and the best attended among several such events in years.

Jalandoni said he hopes to reach the target goal of P500,000 for Alay Lakad 2006.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Renecito Novero, and Councilors Ana Maria Palermo and Reynaldo Iledan participated in the walk for a cause.

Leonardia hailed Jalandoni and the officials of the Alay Lakad 2006 for having mobilized the most number of participants in years.

Meanwhile, the Toyota Tomei Lions Club of 2Z 4R District 333-A International in Japan also donated last week a stage theater sound system to the Lorenzo Zayco Elementary School in Bgy. Hilamonnan, Kabankalan City.

The visiting Japanese Lions numbered 20. They were led by club president Tanobus Nishikata. They were accompanied by members of their sister club — the Sagay Cabingaban Lions Club.

Members of the Kabankalan Lions Club, led by president Johnny Zayco, welcomed the guests. Also present were Acting Gov. Isidro Zayco, and Kabankalan City Mayor Pedro Zayco, Jr. and board member Mamerto Mayuga Jr.

Actually, the Toyota Tomei Lions Club had been involved in various social outreach projects in Sagay City where they have a twinning relationship with the Sagay Cabinganah Lions Club.

Before their visit to Kabankalan City, the Japanese Lions also visited Dumaguete City and Bayawan, both in Oriental Negros.

Miagao National History conference

I still have to get the details of the 17th National Conference on History and Culture sponsored by the Asosasyon ng mga Dalubhasa, may interest, May Halaga sa Kasaysayan Ng Pilipinas held at the Justice Ramon Eritanico Cultural Center of Miagao town of Iloilo province, this lasted until Saturday.

The conference was also organized by the Miagao municipality with the cooperation of the provincial government, Iloilo City, and several other groups.

Among the featured discussants were Henry Funtecha of the UP Visayas, Randy Madrid of the UPV-Center for West Visayan Studies, lawyer Agustino Misola of Sumamakwelan Iloilo and former vice governor Demy Sonza of the Central Philippine University.

Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas and Miagao Mayor Gerardo Flores hosted a dinner for the participants during the Fellowship Night last Nov. 30.

The creation recently of the Western Visayas Historical and Cultural Council led by Antique Gov. Sally Zaldivar-Perez, also signaled a significant uptake of interest in regional history and culture.

The group is spearheading with the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation the 150th birth anniversary of the Ilonggo national hero on Dec. 18. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is reportedly scheduled to groundbreak the museum and shrine of the Ilonggo national hero.