ORMOC CITY– A farmer who helps a neighbor deliver copra to a buyer was shot dead by unidentified suspects in Villaba, Leyte, on Sunday (Jan.7) at about 7:10 am.
Town police chief Major Edwing Tolibas identified the victim as Richard Talle, 48,and a resident of Sitio Mahayahay, Brgy. Casilion, Villaba.
Initial investigation conducted by responding police disclosed that the victim was driving his motorcycle to deliver two sacks of copra owned by his neighbor.
However, while driving along sitio Camalig, Brgy. Villaba, the unidentified suspects who were riding on a motorcycle shot the victim in the head with an unknown firearm that resulted in his immediate death.
The suspects, according to witnesses, immediately fled in an unknown direction after the incident. (ROBERT DEJON)
ORMOC CITY– A newly-elected barangay councilor is in critical condition after he was shot in the head by still unidentified suspects while he was on his way home in Calubian, Leyte on Sunday (Jan.7) at about 4:40 pm.
Leonardo Mañacap,63, who was also a former chairman of Barangay Padoga, was on board in a motorcycle when one of the two suspects, armed with unknown caliber of firearms, shot him in the head, local police said.
Mañacap was on his way home and cruising along Brgy. Tabla when the still unidentified suspects shot him.
The two suspects immediately fled after the incident.
The victim was brought to the Northwestern Leyte District Hospital, also in Calubian for medical treatment.
The local police recovered two slugs of unknown caliber from firearms recovered at the crime scene.
The motive have yet to be determine by the police.
The Calubian police are now conducting a hot pursuit operation and coordinated with nearby police stations for possible identification and arrest of the suspects. (ROBERT DEJON)
The city social welfare office of Tacloban City conducted a forum attended by persons with disabilities, informing them of their rights under RA 10754, or an Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability (PWD). (CIO)
The city social welfare office of Tacloban City conducted a forum attended by persons with disabilities, informing them of their rights under RA 10754, or an Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability (PWD). (CIO)
TACLOBAN CITY-To update the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) sector of the city about the benefits and privileges available to them under the law, the city government, through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), gathered them in a social enhancement and PWD updates forum.
About 300 members of organizations for the differently abled attended the activity held on Friday (Jan.5) at the CEO Gym from 8 am to 5 pm.
Officials of the CSWDO, namely Department Head Fe Chona A. Bahin and Social Welfare Officer (SWO) III Marlou G. Sabate, emphasized in their messages the relevance of the said activity in the enhancement of the well-being and inclusion of disabled people in mainstream society.
In an interview for the City Information Office Radio Program, “Sumat Tacloban,” Sabate, who is the focal person for the PWD of the CSWDO, encouraged members of the differently abled sector to join an organization and register with the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) so they can be issued IDs and access government programs catered for them and benefits, such as discounts on their purchases.
The highlight of the activity was a presentation on R.A. 10754, or an Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability (PWD), which was discussed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 8 PWD Program Focal Person and SWO II Carmela Pullantes-Sabalo.
Sabalo underscored that under the law, PWDs are entitled to a 20 percent discount on their food and medicine purchases and travel fare.
Mandatory PHILHEALTH and SSS coverage are also guaranteed under the law, as is a special lane for abused PWDs.
In the meantime, hygiene kits were distributed to the attendees during the activity.
As of October 2023, there are more than 3,400 registered PWDs in Tacloban City, according to the CSWDO.
The period following Christmas and New Year’s celebrations is marred by excessive waste and debris from holiday festivities, necessitating clean-up drives to address the aftermath of these joyous occasions. By undertaking these initiatives, individuals and communities can collectively minimize the detrimental effects of post-holiday garbage, fostering a cleaner and more sustainable future.
The surge in garbage following Christmas and New Year’s festivities poses a significant threat to the environment. The amplified consumption and disposal of single-use items, packaging materials, and high energy consumption contribute to overflowing landfills and exacerbate greenhouse gas emissions. The excess waste often ends up in our oceans, further contributing to the global issue of plastic pollution. Engaging in post-holiday clean-up drives helps tackle these environmental concerns, as it promotes responsible waste management and encourages recycling and upcycling efforts, thereby reducing ecological footprints.
Beyond its environmental implications, the failure to address post-holiday garbage can have psychological and social repercussions. Prolonged exposure to clutter and filth can induce stress and diminish overall well-being within individuals. Moreover, the sight of overflowing bins and littered streets creates a negative aesthetic impact, damaging the image and appeal of cities and communities. By organizing clean-up drives, communities can actively contribute to fostering a sense of pride, cleanliness, and livability, promoting community cohesion and enhancing overall quality of life.
Clean-up drives present invaluable educational opportunities for communities, with wide-reaching implications beyond the immediate scope of waste management. Introducing and incorporating sustainable practices in households, schools, and workplaces can engender a sense of environmental awareness among individuals. By actively recognizing the repercussions of excess waste and encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their consumption patterns, we can shape future generations to make more sustainable choices. Such initiatives can inspire innovative solutions, research, and policy advocacy to address waste management holistically.
Post-Christmas and New Year’s clean-up drives are therefore essential to minimizing the ecological footprint and ensuring environmental sustainability. By addressing environmental, psychological, and social concerns associated with excessive waste, these initiatives help preserve and enhance our natural surroundings while fostering a sense of ownership and pride within communities.
At various stages of our lives, we encounter a myriad of individuals who leave a significant impact on our well-being. While some companions enhance our growth and happiness, others exert a toxic influence that hampers our personal development.
Toxic companions can manifest in different forms, ranging from individuals who constantly undermine our self-worth to those who indulge in destructive behavior patterns. Recognizing these companions is instrumental in safeguarding our mental health. Studies suggest that being surrounded by toxic influences inhibits personal growth, exacerbates depression and anxiety, and perpetuates a cycle of negativity. Moreover, a supportive social network that promotes empowerment and encourages self-belief is integral to maintaining mental resilience.
Emotional well-being is another crucial aspect affected by toxic companionships. Toxic individuals often possess traits such as jealousy, manipulation, and constant criticism, which erode our self-esteem and emotional stability. We are highly influenced by the behavior of those around us. This principle highlights the significance of surrounding ourselves with emotionally supportive individuals who uplift and inspire us to become better individuals. Detoxifying our circle from toxic companions can protect our emotional health, allowing us to cultivate positive emotions and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Beyond individual emotional well-being, toxic companions can also detrimentally impact our professional and academic lives. Negative companions indirectly affect academic performance through their influence on motivation levels and learning processes. Toxic companions may espouse characteristics such as laziness, pessimism, or lack of ambition, which can be contagious and hinder your drive for success. By cutting ties with such companions, one can foster a more focused and driven mindset, enhancing professional growth and achievement.
Letting go of toxic companions is not an easy task, as it may involve distancing oneself from longtime friendships or reevaluating familial relationships. Nevertheless, prioritizing one’s well-being often necessitates making these difficult decisions. It is crucial to understand that by eliminating toxic companions, we create room for new and healthier relationships to flourish. Surely, there must be a strong correlation between life satisfaction and the quality of social connections. Removing toxic influences facilitates the building of meaningful connections, leading to improved overall life satisfaction.
Before completely severing ties, open communication and boundary establishment with toxic companions can serve as an initial step towards healthier dynamics. In some instances, individuals may be unaware of their negative impact or may be willing to work towards positive change. Some approaches can promote strategies for asserting boundaries and fostering open dialogue within interpersonal relationships. This enables transformation in toxic dynamics and provides an opportunity for companionship detoxification without completely severing ties.
The detrimental effects of toxic companionships on our emotional, mental, and social well-being underline the necessity of curating a healthy circle. Their negative influence hinders our personal growth, hence the need for us to pave the way for positive transformations. Detoxifying our circle enables emotional stability, supports academic and professional progress, and facilitates the development of authentic and supportive relationships. Ridding ourselves of toxic companions empowers us to live a life imbued with positivity, genuine connections, and personal fulfillment.
The Roman Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the epiphany on the first Sunday of every new year. It used to be celebrated every 6th of January as practiced in many countries around the world. In some religions and cultures, the celebration spans from Christmas to February, usually on the feast of our lady of candles locally known as candelaria which is February 2. In other places, the season starts from epiphany to Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of the Lenten season.
Whatever is the day of the celebration, the feast focuses on the three wise men coming from the East that had been prophesied in the Old Testament. It was the fulfillment of the prophesy where the three wise men journeyed from different places to pay homage to the King of the Jews. Guided by the star that hovered over the place where the child Jesus was born, the three wise men saw the child Jesus in the manger in that little town of Bethlehem. They offered homage to the Savior and presented their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. .
The gifts symbolize the three aspects of Jesus Christ. Gold represents kingship, frankincense for worship and myrrh for death and mourning. Truly, the paschal mystery of had been foretold long before the birth of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, the Word that was made flesh and became man to dwell among us. He was sent by the Father to save us from eternal damnation by offering His life on the cross. His resurrection was the ultimate victory of truth that He will rise from the dead.
In our time and generation, the call for us to pay homage and offer our life to God remains a continuing challenge in our daily life. The minimum requirement is for us to observe and respect the ten commandments that were revealed to Moses in Mount Sinai. The commandments were simplified by Jesus Christ into two, that is, to love God with all your heart and with all your mind and the second is for us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
The practical aspect of our love for our neighbor was well explained in the gospel tale of the good Samaritan that attended to a man who was suffering injuries and lying on the side of the street. For a Samaritan attending to an injured Jew was uncharacteristic considering their differences in race and culture. But the Samaritan did not mind the social norm and culture as he showed mercy and compassion to what was considered a neighbor.
We are constantly faced with the challenge to live in faith by our life, always striving to give homage and offer to God through our neighbors as manifestation of our being wise. comments to alellema@yahoo.com
