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Man, who was accused of string of cases, shot dead in Maasin City

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ORMOC CITY– An employee of the city government in Maasin City was shot dead on Tuesday (Jan.23) by a still unidentified suspect.

Maasin CPS Chief Police Lt. Col. Jason Balbarona identified the victim as Marlon Gaviola, 49, married, who worked as a ticket checker and assigned at the city’s wet market was shot dead at about 7:45 pm in Barangay Combado of the said city.

Balbarona said that a food delivery rider informed their office that a shooting incident has transpired in Brgy. Combado. Acting on the said report the local police immediately responded to the area to verify the report and to conduct an investigation.

Upon arrival in the area, the local police added that they found the victim lying in the pavement in a pool of blood from multiple gunshot wounds.

Initial investigation conducted by responding police disclosed that the victim was having a phone conversation when the suspect on board of single motorcycle pulled over and without any provocation shot him several times causing his instantaneous death.

After shooting the victim, the culprit sped off towards the direction of Espina Blvd. in Brgy. Tunga-tunga of this city.

Recovered from the crime were four deformed slugs and eight pieces of fired cartridge shells of caliber 45 pistol.

The police said that on December 2, 2014, the victim was involved with homicide and was also involved on the same day of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide after a vehicular incident.

The victim, however, was released from imprisonment after the families of his victim withdrew their cases against him. He was also involved in illegal cockfighting and was charged for violation of PD 449 on June 17, 2021, and was set to be charged of raping a minor before he was gunned down.
(ROBERT DEJON)

DPWH Eastern Samar completes school building for elementary school in Guiuan, Eastern Samar

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The Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office turned over the newly completed school building to Cantahay Elementary School in Guiuan, Eastern Samar on January 24, 2024. The turn-over ceremony was attended by OIC-Assistant District Engineer Chito Nelson Eusores, and project engineer Roderick Floria, among others. (DPWH-ESDEO)
The Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office turned over the newly completed school building to Cantahay Elementary School in Guiuan, Eastern Samar on January 24, 2024. The turn-over ceremony was attended by OIC-Assistant District Engineer Chito Nelson Eusores, and project engineer Roderick Floria, among others. (DPWH-ESDEO)

BORONGAN CITY-Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DPWH ESDEO) turned over the newly completed one-storey, two-classroom school building to Cantahay Elementary School, Guiuan, Eastern Samar on January 24, 2024.

The turn-over ceremony was attended by OIC-Assistant District Engineer Chito Nelson Eusores, Project Engineer Roderick Floria, and other staff from DPWH ESDEO.
Also present are the teachers and staff of Cantahay Elementary School with the school principal Jose Abrajano in attendance.

The newly completed project is a convergence effort between DPWH and the Department of Education (DepEd), with an allocation of P5,850,750.00.

The project started on August 15, 2023, and was completed on December 26, 2023.
Assistant District Engineer Chito Nelson Eusores mentioned that the newly completed school building features two classrooms, a reinforced concrete gutter, a handwashing area, a PWD ramp, a comfort room at each classroom, and other scope of works.

“It is our goal to provide quality infrastructure that will benefit the people, especially the students who are the future of our nation. This project is an indication of the government’s commitment to education and infrastructure development,” said Engr. Eusores.

Also, the assistant district engineer gave assurance that the construction of this project was done in conformance with DPWH standards and specifications.

During the turnover ceremony, school principal Abrajano expressed his happiness with the project, stating that the building will provide a conducive learning environment for grade one and grade two pupils.

“We are very pleased with the new project because it is more spacious than the previous one, and it has complete amenities such as the availability of comfort rooms and handwashing area to ensure the safety and convenience of our school children,” he said.
He mentioned that the former building was no longer safe for pupils due to overcrowding, and deteriorated door and window jambs.

“The design of this new building, along with the diligent supervision provided by the DPWH, ensures its sturdiness. Apart from being a learning facility, we can also offer this building to the barangay as an evacuation center during typhoons and calamities,” added Abrajano.
The turnover ceremony included a ribbon-cutting, handing of the symbolic key, and blessing of the new school building. The completion of this project is a significant step towards improving the quality education and infrastructure development in Eastern Samar. (PR)

Was it a hoax?

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After the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed a storm of uncertainty and upheaval worldwide, people are now pondering the current status of the virus. Numerous pressing questions have emerged, centered on topics such as virus mutations, vaccine efficacy, the potential for another wave of infections, and the possibility that said pandemic was merely a hoax.

The assertion that COVID-19 is a hoax is said to be unfounded and contradicted by overwhelming scientific evidence and the experiences of millions worldwide. The virus, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has led to a global pandemic with severe health, economic, and social consequences. Scientists and health professionals worldwide have extensively studied and documented the virus’s characteristics, transmission patterns, and impact on individuals. The existence of COVID-19 accordingly is not a matter of opinion but a scientifically validated fact.

Conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 is a hoax have been debunked by experts in virology, epidemiology, and public health. The virus has led to widespread illness, hospitalizations, and deaths, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. The global response, including the development and distribution of vaccines, would be an extraordinary and unnecessary effort if the virus were a hoax. Countless medical professionals, researchers, and public health officials have dedicated their efforts to understanding and combating the virus, providing further evidence of its real and substantial impact on societies worldwide.

Dismissing COVID-19 as a hoax undermined the collective efforts to control the pandemic, promote public health, and save lives. Such misinformation contributed to vaccine hesitancy, disregard for public health guidelines, and increased risk of virus transmission. Acknowledging the reality of COVID-19 was crucial for informed decision-making and effective public health measures. The overwhelming scientific evidence and the widespread impact of COVID-19 affirm its existence and refute any claims that it was a hoax. Addressing the pandemic required a united front based on scientific knowledge, public health measures, and global cooperation.

Anyway, even Christ himself confirmed in the Bible that towards the last days, “…there shall be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places”. Pestilence, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is a contagious or infectious epidemic that is virulent and devastating. We can only hope that it was nothing but a nightmarish dream.

Based on Connections

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DOMS PAGLIAWAN

In today’s highly competitive job market, the role of connections in securing employment has become increasingly prevalent. That’s hiring workers solely based on personal connections, a practice commonly known as nepotism, and it can have significant detrimental effects. Yes, there are ails of hiring workers based on personal connections, with ethical, social, economic, and organizational consequences.

Such hiring practices raise ethical concerns that erode the principles of fairness, equal opportunity, and meritocracy. By giving undue preference to individuals based on their connections, employers bypass the principles of fair competition, wherein skills, qualifications, and experience are intended to be the primary determining factors for recruitment. This practice compromises the integrity of the hiring process, undermining the trust of both employees and the public, exacerbating societal inequality, and fueling feelings of resentment in those who are rejected based on mere nepotism.

Nepotistic hiring practices can pose a negative work culture and damage employee morale. When employees perceive that positions are filled primarily through connections rather than merit, their motivation and commitment to the organization may falter. This erosion of trust and morale can lead to a decline in productivity, a lack of respect for authority, and a detrimental impact on teamwork. Ultimately, nepotism disrupts the cohesion and harmony within organizations, hindering their ability to achieve long-term goals and objectives.

From an economic perspective, nepotistic hiring practices can severely affect organizations. By prioritizing personal connections over the talent pool, businesses risk overlooking highly qualified candidates who possess the necessary skills to drive innovation and growth. This inhibits progress and places organizations at a disadvantage compared to their competitors who prioritize merit-based hiring. Furthermore, nepotism fosters inefficiency and mediocrity within an organization, ultimately hindering its ability to adapt to evolving market demands and achieve optimal performance.

Indeed, nepotism poses significant threats to the overall functionality and sustainability of organizations. When positions are filled based on connections rather than skills and experience, the competence and expertise necessary for effective decision-making are compromised. This can lead to poor management, suboptimal strategic planning, and an overall decline in organizational performance. Nepotistic hiring practices may also limit diversity and hinder the creation of inclusive work environments, which are vital for eliciting creativity, innovation, and adaptability in today’s fast-paced and globalized business landscape.

The ails of hiring workers based on personal connections are numerous and varied, touching upon ethical, social, economic, and organizational aspects. To ensure a merit-based and inclusive work environment, employers should prioritize fair competition, equal opportunity, and the selection of the most qualified candidates. With this, organizations can promote an atmosphere of transparency, trust, and equality, thereby creating a culture of excellence and reaping the rewards of a diverse and talented workforce. But sad to say, this nepotism is a prevalent practice in our country, especially in government agencies, resulting in poor performance and government losses.

God shares his power and authority with us

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FR. ROY CIMAGALA
FR. ROY CIMAGALA

ONE day in Capernaum, Christ with his followers was teaching in a synagogue and the people were amazed because he taught as one “with authority and not as the scribes.”
Later, the people were again amazed when Christ drove away the unclean spirit that possessed a man there. They could not help but exclaim, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” (cfr. Mk 1,21-28).

These incidents simply showed to the people the true identity of Christ—that he was not just any ordinary person, nor just an accomplished preacher. He was trying to lead the people to believe that he was the expected Messiah who wants to bring us back to the dignity meant for us.

But underlying all these incidents is the fact that Christ also wants to share his power and authority with us. He is actually unstinting in sharing what he has with us. As to our capacity to share his power and authority, there should be no question. We are wired and equipped for that state of life. Things would just depend on us as to how we are receptive to God’s designs for us in this regard.

That is why we need to give due attention and care for our spiritual faculties of the intellect and will. As our Christian faith tells us, of all the powers and capabilities we have, it is the intellect and the will that make us image and likeness of God before all the other components of our humanity, like our body, can partake of the same dignity.

That’s simply because these powers of ours enable us to know and to love, and therefore, allowing us to enter into communion with the objects of our knowledge and love. They are spiritual powers that transcend the dynamics of our physical or material constitution, i.e., our biological, chemical make-up, etc.

As such, these powers of ours are capable of receiving and acting not only on things of nature, but also on the spiritual and supernatural realities. A philosophical term is applied to this phenomenon. And this is called their “obediential potency,” that allows them to be elevated to the supernatural order, to the world of grace, the world of the spirit and of God.
As a Catholic dictionary would put it, obediential potency is “the capacity to receive either a miraculous change or a supernatural perfection that exceeds the natural capacities of a being.” Of all the creatures of God, we, together with the angels, have that potency.

It stands to reason therefore that we have to give due attention and care for these powerful faculties of ours. We just cannot allow them to develop on their own, simply guided by what our senses can discern.

They have to be inspired and guided by the things of God who give us a share not only of his knowledge but also of his very life, his power and authority, through the gifts of faith, hope and charity, or the gift of grace in general.

Unless our spiritual faculties of intellect and will are guided by faith, hope and charity, they can only go anywhere and nowhere, and in fact can expose and lead us to a lot of dangers. Indeed, they can be our worst enemy, our gravest curse!

Without faith, hope and charity, or without grace, we may know a lot of things and get involved also in significant human affairs, but we will fail to reach the goal meant for us. We would be prone to get entangled in controversies and endless contentions. We would fail to enjoy what God wants to share with us.

School calendars

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AL ELLEMA
AL ELLEMA

While the current classes in schools, colleges and universities is about to close under the experimental August to May school calendar, there is a move to revert to the pre-pandemic June to March school year. The education department had already issued a directive to that effect. The question as regards the plan is when to implement it considering the many factors attendant to the proposal.

In the transition period, the school calendar for the forthcoming school year 2024-2025 would be adjusted initially to July to April, according education assistant secretary and deputy spokesperson Francis Cesar Bringas. Many quarters are hopeful that the plan would be implemented so that the school calendar would be back to the old June to March setup by school year 2025-2026.

The change of the school calendar was premised on the risks that school children are exposed to during the rainy months which usually occur during the start of the old school year. This is the argument being raised by those opposing the plan to revert to the old school calendar.

Situations in rural remote areas where school children have to cross rivers or reach school by banca along coastal areas are indeed a cause for concern. Urban areas are not spared from such risks brought by the rainy days which inundations in the metropolis. Indeed, the risks are enormous and policymakers must consider all factors in its plan to revert to the old school calendar.

Taking a different view, the old school calendar had withstood all kinds of calamities such as rains, floods, typhoons and volcanic eruptions. It remained a standard school calendar over the years during rains, droughts or other disastrous occurrences. In all instances, it is the people who adjust to every situation by taking measures to alleviate possible damages to life and properties.

The changing climate which seems unpredictable even with the modern instruments used by experts in the field is a clear indication that disasters are natural occurrences except the manmade environmental destruction that results in disasters.

There is no use changing the school calendar as the disasters it aims to avoid also changing. This calls for the reversion to the old school calendar and make it permanent thenceforth. There is no clear benefit in the change that was adopted to lessen the risks from the rainy days keep on changing year in and year out. It would be wise to revert to the old school calendar where graduates recognize the same semestral and summer breaks following similar school calendars.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com

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