The First Bishop of Occ Mindoro is Gone..

On August 18, 2007, the Most Rev. Vicente C. Manuel, SVD, DD took his place in the Kingdom of God.
He was more or less 70 years old -- 24 years of which he was a bishop -- when he expired.
According to him, he lived a long life. Yes, if one considers the impact that his episcopate had in Occidental Mindoro. He built the seminary. He had the AM radio station. He served the farmers.
He's such a man of passion..
As his remains goes home on Friday, August 24, 2007, I will be happy to see him home..
I knew the man... that is why...

When One's Action is Divorced From What One Says

Writers would call it integrity, when what one says corresponds to what one does. Or when one does what one says. In a more technical term, it's about the connection between orthodoxy and ortho-praxis; or in a simpler category, it's between word and action.
Consider this, in Monday's session on STL by the provincial board members held in San Jose, the Hon. Romulo Festin, who was visibly playing with the gallery audience by speaking out his mind on the repugnance of STL to his sense of ethics, was equally manifestly taken aback when the STL capitalist by the name of Mr. Rolly Diaz divulged that the truth is an ambulance is already on its way to San Jose courtesy of PCSO. I just have to confirm still if the acquisition of the ambulance is in any way connected to STL proceeds.
This show of lack of integrity by our political leaders was also evident when we were confronting the issue of mining in Occidental Mindoro. The fact is, I for one would appreciate more a politician if he/she honestly states his/her position, like when he/she is keeping an open mind on the possibility of Mindoro being mined. Saddening it is when one promises to join a clamor of a sector, only because he/she does not have the will to show off where he/she really stands on the issue.

Remember Elizabeth Albacino

Month of August is the month of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It's about the Catholic belief that because Our Lady is (or was) not corrupted in any way, she got her reward. She was assumed into the heavens to take her place in the Kingdom of God together with her Son -- body and soul.
Further, Catholic belief assures us -- makes us hope -- that the reward of the Blessed Virgin Mary is going to happen to all the believing Christians. By believing, I mean all that it takes to belief. Which is far more than an intellectual assent, or an emotional acceptance of what the religion teaches.
Anyway, ...
With this as a backdrop, there is a reason to be saddened by a very clear negation of what the Assumption is all about. Years ago, a certain Elizabeth Albacino -- a lass from Central, San Jose -- was raped and murdered by inmates who were brought out from the Provincial Jail in Magbay, San Jose to work in the ricefields of a prison guard by the name of Mr. Maderaso (see older post related to this practise). She was on her way home from the school. She was in the secondary school when she was robbed of her purity and life.
Yes, years have passed. The legal battle still continues.
I can only hope that the presiding judge who hears the case, as an offshot of the consultation that he called for -- what he says as -- the betterment of judicial system in Occidental Mindoro, would expedite the coming of the judgement for the suspects in this crime.
Let us pray for the repose of the soul of Elizabeth...

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives

A news there is that the Representative of Occidental Mindoro, Amelita Villarosa, was sworn in as -- here's the initial confusion -- the first woman Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the first Deputy Speaker for women in the House of Representatives. Reports have it that what prompted the swearing in was the clamor from progressive groups in the Congress for gender balance. That means, just as there are deputy speakers from the three major islands -- Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao -- of the Philippines, so there should also be a speaker from what comprises 22% of the representations currently in the Congress (it is said that the 14th Congress has the most number of lady-legislators, that is 54). In there deliberations, congressmen -- macho as ever -- anticipated the possibility of a deputy speaker for the solons of third sex. Hintayin nga natin, kung may aamin sa kanila.
At least it was Liza Masa who clarified the thing: Rep. Villarosa is not going to be the Speaker of the Women-Legislators. Well, we, in Occidental Mindoro, cannot but agree on Masa's view.
While the clamor, as they named it in the House, was heard, and the ensuing discussions were also held, and the swearing in was already done, let me still think aloud regarding this issue. And I would like to register my strongest objection against the selection of our Congresswoman for such a position.
For one, I am almost sure that her selection was because of her close association to Jose de Venecia (and to Malacanan). Can we expect her to be substantial? As this position is a "first time" in the House of Representatives, I fear that because nothing can be anticipated to happen because of her capacity (evidenced by her performance as Congresswoman of Occidental Mindoro) the Deputy Speakership that is reserved for women shall be short-lived.
Secondly -- and this supports the preceding point -- the capacity of Rep. Villarosa is suspect. (One can always refer to the immediately preceding post (A Congressional Blooper) and the postings on the legislative performance of the Congresswoman.)
Lastly, I would become proud the moment our Rep. Villarosa comes home to Occidental Mindoro and does her work in our lone congressional district. For those who don't know, she is actually coming home very seldom. Kasing dalang ng patak ng ulan sa tag-araw... And she's our Representative in the Congress.

A Congressional Blooper

Last week, I was listening to a (community) radio commentary and I almost dropped from where I was sitting. Why?
The Representative of Occidental Mindoro, the "gentle lady" -- a lexical abuse reported by PDI in the House of Representatives -- was interviewed about the state of the national road in Occidental Mindoro. She generously granted an interview but -- lo and behold!!! -- she made mention of the JPEPA (Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement) as the source of salvation for our terrible road...
Inisip ko na lang bagong gising si Ma'am, kaya hindi niya alam ang kaniyang sinasabi...
But, now, I am just telling myself that in the final analysis, konsorte lang naman siya ni PGMA noon sa Finland. That's why she does not know for what the JPEPA is all about..
Kasi naman, ang mga taga-DZVT, sana nagtanong na lamang kung anu-anong kulay ng gown ang dala sa biyahe ni PGMA noon sa Finland...

An Experience of Generation Gap

Last week, in the municipal plaza of San Jose, there was a promotional activity by Tanduay. To promote the products of Tanduay were two of the Viva Hot Babes and the Six Cycle Mind -- the former being a known rock band.
The day of the show was raining. It of course helped when between 8pm to 12mn the rain stopped -- as if the heavens were sanctioning the show.
The attendance was unexpected in number. The Tanduay people placed their estimate at more or less 30,ooo attendees. And most of those who were around were young people. All through out the show, I was asking myself: pag isyung panlipunan, nasaan ang mga kabataang ito?
And in here was my experience of generation gap. Especially when the band began performing, I seemed to be placed before an unfamiliar crowd. At the promptings of the vocalist of the band, the young people would jump, wave their hands, and join the band in almost all of their songs.
Truth is, when I learned of the band who's coming over, I did not have the interest to go and watch them. Hindi ko sila kilala. Of course, that was the first indication that I am not young anymore.
Yes, it was an experience of generation gap. To my mind, a question is equally forcefully registered: paano kaya maibaling ang potential ng sektor ng kabataan para sa pagsikhay para sa ikabubuti ng bayan?
I bet, the potency of the young is too much to ignore.

The Fate of the Deceitfully Ambitious Priest

Almost three months after the elections of 2007, what has happened to the priest who aspired to become provincial governor of Occidental Mindoro?
I heard his suspension is still in effect. For how long? I do not know. Certainly the Catholic Church against which he committed treason has its own set of laws -- the Code of Canon Law, that animal which is known only to its ordained ministers and those who reached formal theological studies. Actually, this is one issue that keeps on bothering me. For sure, Omanio studied not only his theology but also his Canon Law. And yet until now he's sturdy in his belief that he does not violate any law of his Church. Which his authorities in the AVSJ -- which I suppose have been doing their homework by consulting competent canon lawyer(s) -- claim otherwise. Noticeably, however, the powers-that-be of the local Church have at their fingertips the canonical items that Omanio violated. I wonder on what canonical provisions will Omanio base his claim. Can he be scholarly enough to debate his authorities?
The support, too, of a handful of people from Sta. Cruz, Occ. Mindoro -- from his parish, which he deserted -- is still strong. But, to my observation, they are "led by a fellow blind". I wonder how well they appreciate the entire situation. Which I suppose should begin by questioning: who really is this priest? What really are his intentions? To where shall he lead us, after he deserted his previous commitment as an ordained minister of his Church and now that he's known as already beholden to a discredited politician?
Well, whoever began the art of brainwashing, Omanio perfected this craft...
At least, he's three year-sustenance is assured. Words are going around that he's driver is boasting that they are payrolled in Congress. Of course, it's from the office of the Rep. Villarosa. For any thinking tax-payer, a moral issue it is. From the coffer of the government, salaries are paid for the services that are given primarily to the Villarosa's. Pagnanakaw ito sa kaban ng bayan, di po ba?
By the way, he's acting as station manager of the radio owned by the Villarosa's.
May I ask a candid question addressed to the authorities of the Church? Fathers, where do you think did you fail in your work of forming your ordained ministers that you have this kind of a priest?

Provincial Jail(s): Source of Cheap Labor

It's planting time again.. Thanks to the rain these past days.
Too, its time to see inmates from the Magbay Provincial Jail out of their prison cells mingling with the regular farmhands planting rice seedlings.
I understand they are plucked out of the jail to serve their prison officials' needs in their ricefields during this time. They are brought out of the jail in the morning, and are brought back before the sun sets. However, there are instances when they are made to spend the whole week in the fields of their prison guards.
Actually, even the judge of an RTC branch in San Jose is benefitting from this kind of arrangement. A television network in Manila caught the presence of an inmate in the residence of Judge Pagayatan some years ago when the rape and murder of Elizabeth Albacino took place (see the upcoming post on the case).
What this blog exposes is nothing new. For the people of Central, the sight of prisoners in the house of a prison guard is ordinary. And to have prisoners working in the ricefield of the same prison guard is not at all an abnormal practise.
Fact is, an administrative case was already filed against the prison guard before the provincial government. Thankfully, the committee that handled the case was very "compassionate," that after the accountability of the prison guard was established the latter was given a very soft slap in his butt for his punishment. The prison guard still works in the Magbay Provincial Jail.
If this practice does not stop, our Provincial Jail(s) will continue to become a source of cheap labor for prison officials.. And a source of peril for our communities.

Water Crisis in Occidental Mindoro

The over-extension of the dry season, taken into context of the global warming that has caught the attention of even the former second-in-command of the USA, Al Gore, has been the topic of the news these past days. Media covers the scampering of the government in the latter's effort to address the shortage of water especially for residential use.
As I watch the news, I see no similar issue in Occidental Mindoro. Of course, I knew how the farmers are earnestly praying for rain. In a number of areas, the ricefields are literally opening themselves up for the rain. But, if one comes to think of the state of irrigation for the farmlands in Occidental Mindoro, the so-called water crisis is commonplace in Occidental Mindoro.
NIA has been here in the province since 1980's. But, as expected from a government agency, NIA's accomplishment is still minimal -- for too out of the effort the irrigated farmlands is still lesser in area than the non-irrigated fields.
I knew of barangays in Sablayan, for instance, where farmers can only have one cropping season for a year. The reason is they are not reached by the irrigation canal built by the NIA, and hence have to depend very much on rain. For such small farmers, the option of having their own motorized irrigation system -- which is very costly to erect and to sustain -- is nil in possibility.