2 Traffic aides, BPLO guy suspects of license scam

               Two traffic enforcers and a Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) employee are the alleged suspects of the anomaly, a breach of procedure in the issuance of the pedicab driver's license after the investigation of the San Carlos City Police Office (SCCPO). The head investigator is Deputy Inspector Victorino Romanillos.

                Based on the initial investigation, SPO3 Roylin Bahinting, chief of SCCPO, traffic division said the two traffic enforcers are Jose Carballo of Barangay San Juan, Sipaway Island and Richard Alcover of Ylagan Street, Barangay VI.

                "The BPLO employee suspect is Winnie Bellester, in charge of the BPLO releasing section in the pedicab operation," said Cristina Combate, the BPLO head/Licensing Officer IV - BPLO- Designate.

                "Carballo and Alcover are suspended from work [since] last March 8 and Bellester is advised not to report until the case is resolved and further notice from the City Mayor [is released],” Combate told NRWP in an interview.

                According to Bahinting, the two enforcers offered Jose Rommel Cañas, a pedicab operator, that he could secure ID cards for pedicab drives P 350. The said illicit ID cards were made by Bellester in the BPLO.

                Combate said that the ID cards are not valid because they do not have the License Official Receipt (OR) number and the pedicab drivers failed to pass the requirements such as barangay clearance, police clearance, health certificate and traffic seminar.

                "Drivers need to pay at the City Treasurer's Office (CTO) for fees and taxes and not directly pay to the BPLO employee" she added.

Actions made

                Combate, the BPLO head, after reading the article from the NewsRecord about this irregularity, conducted an ambush inspection of Pedicab Driver's licenses last March 7 and found out that some drivers really don't have the Official License OR number.

                One of the victim drivers is Rhowel Baring, 26, a resident of Remedies Street, said "Giingnan ra ko sa usa ka traffic enforcer nga kung mukuha ko ug lisensya, ana sya nga mubayad ko ug P 350, dayon makuha ra nako paghuman sa usa ka semana."

                To resolve the problem, the pedicab driver's licenses were retrieved for authentication. Combate said that the ID will be validated by the Licensing Division and the Pedicab drivers can use the temporary ID dated valid from March 9 to 16.

                Before or on the 16, the genuine IDs will be returned and those who were victims need to undergo the true process of getting the license, and they need to submit requirements and pay at the CTO for fees and taxes.

                The three suspects are still under investigation. Charges are being prepared against them is not yet clear because the BPLO still need to pass a written report to the City Mayor.

RRD's Burial

San Carlos City, Memorial Park, Barangay Rizal March 12, 2012

                                It is ironic that former Mayor Rogelio R. Debulgado is now laid to rest in a private cemetery so near to the people he loved most, the former illegal settlers, whom he had given the opportunity to own house-and-lot for once in their simple lives. RRD's resting place is located just a walk away from Fatima Village, the relocation site he established during his epic tenure as San Carlos City Mayor. 

Flag ceremony. Mayor Gerardo Valmayor hands the Philippine Flag 

to the widow, Mrs. Victoria T. Debulgado.

Good-bye, Papa. Mrs. Debulgado with son Roel and grandkids take a final look and whisper good-bye to their patriarch, former Mayor Rogelio R. Debulgado.

Flowers and salute. A resident of Fatima Village showers the funeral car and its way with petals  while policemen render their salute to the former local chief executive who served San Carlos City for more than a decade.

Going against the flow. San Carlos City Policemen surround Daniel Abeles, 41, who drove headlong into the lines of police on motorcycles that lead the funeral procession.

Farewell, RRD!

Tearful eulogies, banners, testimonies 

mark the burial day

                "Roger made me who I am in politics." Former City Mayor Eugenio "Bong" Lacson tearfully delivered a eulogy during the necrological service for Former Mayor Rogelio R.  Debulgado organized by the Local Government Unit at the San Carlos City Hall on March 12, the morning before the burial.

                During the service, Jose Marie Zabaleta of the San Julio Realty, Inc., City Mayor Gerardo Valmayor, Vice-Mayor Edgardo Quisumbing, and City Administrator Fransisco Tolcidas also delivered their eulogies replete with praises, reminisces, and farewell to the leader who obviously endeared himself in the hearts of both the masses and fellow politicians.

His monuments

                Valmayor and Tolcidas both mentioned the most important contribution of RRD which is putting "San Carlos in the map of the world" with the Eco-Tourism Highway, the major artery that now connects Panay, Negros and Cebu Islands with the city as the hub.

                Pointing out that the late mayor was a UP-Los Baños trained agronomist, Tolcidas added that RRD was the champion of agriculture advocacies and ordinances and had institutionalized tree planting.

PB, SP condolences

                The Provincial Board and the Sangguniang Panlungsod gave RRD's widow, former first lady Victoria T. Debulgado, Resolutions of Condolence. The Provincial Resolution of Condolence was read and awarded to Mrs. Debulgado by Provincial Board Member Renato Gustilo. Both resolutions were salute and praises to the achievements of RRD as a professional, a citizen and a civic leader.

The burial

                On the afternoon, a thick crowd of San Carlos residents attended the Requiem Mass at the San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral and followed the funeral procession to the San Carlos Memorial Park, Barangay Rizal.

                The entire stretch of the Fatima Village along the Eco-Tourism Highway was crowded with people who experienced the public service of RRD. Many of them were once informal settlers who were given the chance to own homes and lots at the relocation area better known to many as "Urban."

                "Si Mayor RRD makatao. Maong among gitawag ug Bayani ng Maralita," said Ronaldo Castillo, 50, who once lived in the Public Cemetery in Barangay IV. Castillo added that before he and his neighbors were relocated in May 1994, Mayor Roger used to invite them to join his entire family during Christmas parties and that Fatima Village is the greatest help he had given the urban poor.

                Roque Cosio, 58, was also an illegal settler in Barangay III before their community was razed by fire. RRD was first to arrive to rescue the victims and helped them relocate, he recalled. The banners they set up on the roadside spoke of their gratitude and their promise that they will never forget their beloved mayor.

                At around three in the afternoon, RRD's golden casket was interred to the tomb in the Debulgado Family mausoleum. The tomb is right beside his daughter's. Mayor Debulgado was finally laid to rest after the religious rights, flag ceremony (when the Philippine Flag was handed to wife Victoria by Valmayor), and the gun salute by San Carlos Policemen.

                SP Member Rommel Debulgado, RRD's son, thanked all the people who sympathized with the bereaved family and for those who showed their love to the fallen local leader. Rommel described that his father was "confident" that he would overcome the challenge of the triple heart by-pass.

                His last message for his father was, "We will take care of Mama and we will live life as you would want us to live. Go on with your journey."

Eulogy for RRD

Delivered By Vice-Mayor Edgardo Quisumbing during

the Necrological Service on March 12, 2012

at the San Carlos City Hall

                We are assembled here today to render our last measure of respect and affection for the departed, in this very House of the People that he built.

                A famous story is told of a visitor who visited London when it was newly-built after a destructive earthquake in 1666; he asked the name of the architect who was responsible for the beautiful and imposing buildings; he was told that it was the great Sir Christopher Wren; then the visitor asked: But where is his monument? The reply was: SI MONUMENTUM REQUIRIS CIRCUMSPICE-if you're looking for monuments, look around you.

                Yes, just look around you for the tremendous achievements of our dearly departed leader and friend. From this imposing City Hall to the long winding Eco-Tourism Highway, from the City Auditorium to the edge of our Tañon Strait, from a reclaimed area of Barangay VI to the Fatima Village, and Alger's and its Villa Consuelo Alger Community Center, the Memorial Tree Park, the Muslim Cemetery, and many others.

                Mayor Debulgado was not born here but he decided to make this city his very own, his own children have grown up among us, and one sits in the council of our local officialdom, and when the summons came to serve his city, he readily heeded the challenge without hesitation or demur, and served it well, so well that he was further disqualified to win the Galing Pook awards so other cities had their chance.

                He was an indefatigable worker at the vineyard of public service, rising with the sun and retiring only when the blanket of darkness descended upon his labors. How can we ever forget such a man? Perhaps, when he was born his mold was thrown away by the Almighty.

The only way to honor his memory and legacy of public service is to follow his example, for there is no greater force in the universe than the power of example.

                Psalms, Chapter I, verse 3, fully characterized Mayor Debulgado, and I quote to conclude:

                "And he shall live like a tree planted on the banks of running water,
giving fruit in its season, its leaves NEVER FADING."

Not really a eulogy

No Baby Talk

By Georgene Rhena P. Quilaton-Tambiga

               When someone dies, everybody suddenly remembers an occasion or two with the dead. The casket quickly becomes a vacuum for extracting those long forgotten tales out into the air. And as I was listening and intently taking notes (the old school journalist that I am) during the necrological service, I recalled a particular moment back in 2001 when the late Mayor Rogelio R. Debulgado visited our home when he and the then opposition block campaigned through Endrina Street.

                My late Lola who was an avid fan of then radio commentator Rics Cañizares, now my colleague, noticed that he was with the campaign because he was running for a seat at the City Council. In the manner of every Filipino die-hard fan, she opened our bulky steel gate (which is rarely open by the way) and invited the whole party in. Lola was so happy and grateful at the magnanimity of the local politicians visiting our lowly home. My grandfather, who rarely receives visitors, gave his best and widest smile, happy that Mayor Debulgado visited us.

                My grandparents happen to be politically opinionated despite the really private lives they lead and they are very particular about the political leaders they like or dislike. 

                This Mayor Debulgado, they used to tell me during brown out nights (which were quite often when I was a kid), was up so early in the morning and was all over the city as any farm manager would in the hacienda. Whenever the public market was flooded and when there was fire somewhere, he'd be first to arrive to manage the disaster. Everyone in the market knew him as he knew them. He was approachable and tended to the slightest to the rocket ship of a problem of his constituents. He was such a man of the masa that with his sunburned skin and lanky figure you could not mistake him as one of the elites except when he would ride his expensive pick-up truck.

                This is the portrait of RRD that my grandparents painted for me when I was young and I grew up seeing the longing of some yesterday-once-more citizens that he make a big come-back to the City Hall that he built and turn the city into one dynamic economy once again. And that 2001 election was that one, big opportunity that opened for him and the opposition block. But it was a come-back that did not quite happen until the forces of the gods in San Carlos pushed him hard to go back to the block he once deserted. It was a move that he swore he would never do until his death but knowing politics, he turned out doing it anyway.

                Compared to the storehouse of reminisces of former Mayor Eugenio "Bong" Lacson, who was vice-mayor when RRD was mayor, and of investor Mr. Jose Maria Zabaleta, who is his best friend, mine is just a speck of dust, a mere five minutes in the colorful and busy life of the late leader. But in a way, I did join the excavation movement for memories of RRD, memories both fond and otherwise for some.

                During the burial, as the Debulgado family released effervescent white balloons into the blue summer sky, I stopped ruminating over the memories and started searching in the crowd. I was searching for one particular person, a leader, actually, who can make an impact as huge as that RRD made during his tenure. That leader must be a man or woman of the masses and must be able to drive the sleeping San Carlos people to wake up and start the walk for change to reach progress.

                Unfortunately, during that do or die moment, I did not find the person I was looking for.

EDSA 26

ESSAY

By 1Lt. Alexander Cabales, PMA Class 2008 

               I was reading a statement written by Senator Bongbong Marcos on his Facebook account about the EDSA 1 celebration. In that statement he did not dwell much in defending his family or criticizing the revolt.  Rather, he asked the obvious question what has happened to our country after that historic event.

                Growing up, the grandeur that was given to that event has always been a story to behold. Although I wasn't exactly aware of how these things have happened (I was born in 1982), my generation just can't rid [itself] about stories of a peaceful revolution, with tanks, soldiers on one side and nuns, priests and ordinary citizens on the other. It was only later that I learned that EDSA actually meant Epifanio delos Santos Avenue. I thought it was a nickname for that event. What I do remember very vividly was the tanks that barricaded our subdivision during one of the coup plots in the late 80's. Our subdivision was developed by the AFP Insurer AFPMBAI and at that time, most if not all the residents were officers in the Armed Forces from both the Government and the RAM side. I remember how, as little children, we would threaten our friends that we will report his father as one of the RAM Boys (my father was with the government). At that time though, I did not have a clue what RAM was, I just knew they were the ones being arrested.

                I also had memories of the power shortage the country experienced when we dealt with daily blackouts up to 9PM. For us kids, it was a perfect excuse to go out of the house and play with other kids. I remembered the Mt. Pinatubo Eruption when we dreamed we were in some other country experiencing "winter" for the first time. There was also the earthquake when I learned that "linog" was actually the Visayan term for "lindol."

                Back in the 1992 elections I idolized the now Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. At that time her brilliance was mostly considered "kabaliwan." I would like to think that people then was not yet ready to accept somebody who was as brilliant as she is.

                In all these events in our country's history, the glory of EDSA Revolution seems to be a spirit that provides inspiration and aspiration for the people to hope for a better Philippines. Today, as I read Senator Marcos' Facebook statement, I realized that we have never moved on from that EDSA hysteria. Not that it is bad to relive the glory of that proud event, but considering the state of our country now, I think one can say that the EDSA Revolution is some dead star like the one described by Paz Benitez in her classic short story.

                The ABS-CBN article that printed Senator Marcos' statement elicited a lot of negative comments.  Many commented that the late strongman's son has no ascendancy to speak of such things and that he is still the part of the devil that brought about the horrors of Martial Law. But in his Facebook page, most were praises for a fine statesman he has become. My bias is leaning on Senator Marcos.

                I think it is one thing to remember the horrors of the past so as to become vigilant so that we will not allow it to happen again but it is another thing to be tied down by these horrors and not move on. The question is simple.  What have we done after EDSA 1, 26 years after?  We have been overtaken by many of our neighbors in terms of national development.  Our country's laurels are still those that have been laid down by those who marched in EDSA. That was the question that Senator Bongbong asked but was missed because he is a Marcos.

                In all important events the often missed point is the effect that event has done to the person. In everything, there always has to have an effect that goes beyond the mushy feeling of that clincher. Like in a relationship, there has to be something beyond the courtship. In the case of our country today, that is yet to be seen.

                Today, I am in a barangay conducting Peace and Development Outreach Programs. Many of the people here now do not know anything about EDSA, but like those who joined the revolution 26 years ago, they too want a good life for them and their children. While many will talk about the impeachment, about the hazing of a promising San Beda student and the glory of the EDSA Revolution, people here do not give a damn. The truth of the matter is, we are missing the point why issues are ISSUES in the first place. We can have Renato Corona impeached or even all of the other justices be impeached, and then WHAT? We can eliminate hazing, and then WHAT? We can celebrate EDSA Revolution for another century and then WHAT?

Reflections

                The February 23 issue of the Newsrecord prompts me to respond and add to some of the articles of my fellow contributors. We do not coordinate our efforts, so I never know what will appear alongside my own scribbles! It would be good if other readers sent in comments for publication. -G. Tambiga

Friendly Observer

By Arthur Keefe

                A timely article identifies the waste of time, money and manpower resulting from the 'degree and diploma mills.' The total absence of any national strategic planning and the reliance on a market for higher education, means there is no 'fit' whatsoever between the output of the college, and the needs of the economy. As a result, many young people find they have a qualification which is largely worthless. No benefit for society and no benefit for the student. The only beneficiaries are the colleges, making profits on the back of a false prospectus.

                The related scandal, now referred to in the article, is the appalling pass rate of graduates for their Board exams. The college standard for a degree or diploma should be the same as the standard for Board passers. Colleges where less than (say) 80 percent of graduates pass the Board exam should lose their accreditation. Why is the quality assurance by the Professional Regulatory Commission so feeble and ineffective? Perhaps, the first step is to reconstitute this body whose role should be to protect standards.

**********

                What welcome news! The identification of a potential land slip area in Barangay Guadalupe and a firm response supporting relocation of residents by the City Mayor and others is a welcome contrast to the blind eye response to risk we see often elsewhere. Let's hope the tragedy of the earthquake brings a change of attitude to other risks, and more action to protect lives and homes.

**********

                Finally, the article concerning the role of teachers is spot on! It correctly states that education is about the development of the whole person, now just instruction or skills development. It reminds us that excellent teachers should have a passion for their job and a love for their charges. Although written as a sermon by a priest, I was pleased to see he does not describe schools as places for religious indoctrination. He does refer to the importance of developing values in children, with which I agree, but religious doctrine is the preserve of the Church or the family, not the role of the school.

**********

                My final comment on the new road beside the high school is a positive one. Now well into the construction, the project appears to be well-managed and normally the workers are busy when I pass as I do three or four times a day. After my criticism of the lack of activity of the workers for a couple of weeks, it is good to end my review of this project on a positive note.

Bayanihan

Bantay Banat

Ni Rics Cañisarez

               Buhi pa gyud diay ang bayanihan system sa kabukiran sa San Carlos. Niadtong nakalabay nga Sabado, ang dalan nga nagsumpay sa Sitio Kambyahan ug Sitio Higalaman Barangay Guadalupe, sa dugay nang panahon nga pag-antus sa mga tawo nga lisod nang maagi-an, kaluoy sa kahitas-an karon tawhay na nga maagihan sa mga tawo nga magbaklay gikan sa Sitio Higalaman, Bugta-an, Balasiang, Handalago, Gabon ug uban nga mga sitio nga ang agi-anan mao kining foot road nga nalaka (landslide) gumikan niadtong duha ka adlaw nga kusog nga ulan. Maglisod aa pag-agi ang mga tawo nga magpas-an, lukdo ug pagsinangay sa ilang inug baligya dinhi sa syudad. Ang mga habal-habal dili na usab maka-agi kay ang foot road natabunan man sa lapok gikan sa bukid nga nalaka.

                Sa maong kahimtang wala say mahimo ang barangay kay matud pa sa report, wala pay budget ang barangay nga magamit aron ipaayo sa nalusno nga bukid. Dinhi nagkahi-usa ang katawhan ug ang mga magtutudlo sa Higalaman Elementary School nga dagyawan kon mahimo aron sulhay nga maagi-an sa mga tawo. Daghan ang mi-uyon kay matud pa dili kini kaayuhan sa pipila lang ka tawo kon dili para man sa tanan. Kay nagkahi-usa man, mitampo ang uban ug para makaon ug  gamay nga tuba para sa kauhaw sa mga nagdagyaw. Kon para sa tanan ang kaayuhan, uban ako kaninyo mga higala. Salamat kaayo kaninyo.

Bayanihan spirit. Mga taga Barangay Guadalupe nagtinabangay pag-ayo sa dalan nga na-landslide.

                **********

                Pastilan, inay unta nga magkinto ang atong kapulisan gumikan kay gibalik pag usab ni Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome sa PNP ang panawagan ngadto sa tanan nga hepe sa kapulisan ang 'One-strike' policy tali sa mga illegal nga sugal nga kutob sa mga hepe sa syudad ug mga kalungsuran nga dili makasanta niini, mahimo nga mawala kini sya sa iyang pwesto. Hastilan, bungol-bungol gyud ni si P/Supt. Harold Tuzon. Panid-i kuno ninyo kon nawala ba ang jai-alai dinhi sa San Carlos. Unsa-on gyud ang pagkawala sa mga illegal nga sugal sa atong dakbayan kay sila mismo mao na man ang nag promote ining illegal nga buhat?

                Niadtong nakalabay nga Sabado sila ang nag promote sa usa ka derby diha sa bulangan. Syempre kay pulis lagi ang promoter 36 ka entry. Unsa gud diay ni pulis nagpa derby? Ang nagbantay sa gate pulis usab apil na usab ang driver sa kapulisan. Okay man unta kini kon may fiesta pero, mahibulong man ta nga walay fiesta ug nga gi-atol man gyud ug Sabado nga adlaw.

                Sir Tuzon, walang personalan ito ha? trabaho lang. Totoo bang balita na aking natanggap na ang proceeds daw sa derbing ito ay panggastos para sa seminar nyo?

Daghang salamat, Sir!

Pikpik sa Abaga

Ni Henry Sandoval

                Gisubay sa Licensing Department ang isyu nga akong gipaguwa atong milabay nga semana mahitungod sa mga lisensya sa pedicab nga walay tatak nga L.C. O.R. number sa likod sa maong lisensya sa pedicab. Nagka istorya kami sa usa sa dako sa maong opisina ug ako silang giingnan nga subaya ninyo kay naa nay daghan nga miguwa niana. Wala magdugay diha sa may NOVO nakakuha gidayun sila ug I.D. sa pedicab ug ilang na-confirm nga dili kini gikan sa ilahang opisina. Nadala sa Police Station ug didto nangguwa ang ngalan sa mga involved sa maong palusot sa peke nga mga I.D.

                Matud pa sa impormasyun nga akong nakuha duha ka traffic enforcer ug usa ka casual nga empleyado dinha sa City Hall ang nahilambigit niini. Wa sad kuno magpaabot ang maong empleyado sa City Hall mihiklin ra sad sa iyahang mga gamit ug wala na motrabaho. Pasalamat na lang sad ko sa Pedicab Driver nga mipakita sa iyahang I.D. ngadto sa among mga field researcher  sa News Record.

**********

                Mayor ROGELIO R. DEBULGADO, ang tawong naila sa iyahang pagka-maayo nga pangulo sa siyudad. Ang tawo nga nag-abri sa kauswagan sa San Carlos. Kinsa ba ang magdahum nga ang tubig nga dugay gihandum sa katawhan sa kabukiran maabot sa ilahang panimalay? Kinsa ba ang magtuo nga ang kabukiran aduna nay mga appliances nga de koryente? Mga damgo sa katawhan sa kabukiran nga nahimo ug natuman sa panahon nga sya ang nahimong mayor sa syudad. Ang pagbu-ak sa kabukiran nga gitawag ug '70 Million Project' nga wala mangutang ang atong syudad maoy usa ka dako nga proyekto nga gibilin ni Mayor Debulgado.

                      Ang pagtapos niya sa City Hall, ug ang pagpabarog sa usa sa pinaka magarbohon nga terminal sa Pilipinas. Ang People's Park nga maoy usa sa mga anindot nga lugar nga suruyanan  sa mga turista. Ang giingon nilang Ohong kaniadto nga mao ang Auditorium nga karon mao ang dunggu-anan sa mga aktibidades labi na ug panahon sa ulan. Ang Fatima Village nga diin ang mga skwater kaniadto naghandum nga maka angkon ug kaugalingon nga yuta pinaagi sa programa ni kanhi Mayor Debulgado, "ANG YUTA PARA SA MGA KABOS." Ang pag relocate sa mga pipila ka panimalay ngadto sa payatas nga karon ilahang gitawag ug Riverside Village.

Suporta gihapon. Mga taga Fatima Village nga nag-atang sa  kilid sa Eco-Tourism Highway sa ulihing byahe ni kanhi Mayor Rogelio R. Debulgado.

                Sa iyahang katapusang byahe ang mga tawo nga dili mawala sa ilahang kasing-kasing ang utang kabubut-on ngadto sa mipanaw nga mayor nangguwa sa ilahang panimalay. Ang Riverside Village, ang Purok Kaingat ug ilabi na ang Fatima Village nga kanhi gitawag ug Urban Poor nangguwa sa karsada ug aduna silay banner nga may gisulat "WE LOVE YOU FOREVER! Salamat, Sir!"