BY: MARILOU N.GO

Higatangan Island is a part of Naval Municipality that is separated by a narrow channel located in the north west tip of Leyte.
The name Higatangan is derived from the word “atangan” meaning to wait for. Old folks say that the place was where the pirates ambush approaching ships laden with goods and also the place where the Moros lay in wait for their enemies going to Sumbul (Naval).
The island has several white beaches and blessed with exotic rock formations.
From the town of Mabini, which was named in memory of Apolinario Mabini, there is a 200-meter white sand bar that stretches out like a giant tongue. Because the current surrounding the sand bar is strong, some people lost their lives, some attribute this as “alay-buhay” to placate the gods.
The unnaturally beautiful rock formations along the south coast were said to be home to supernatural beings. There were cases that a sudden big wave or a gush of wind rock the boat when passengers were being noisy.
President Marcos temporarily took refuge during WWII on this little island, that’s why the highest point on the island (46m) is still called Marcos Hill to this day and a light house is erected on it to guide boat men.
It is said that this is where Marcos received his divine sign that he was destined to be a president of the Philippines.
The truth behind his stay is a source of controversy for the Biliranons. The long held belief was that it was Fidel Limpiado, member of a prominent clan who hid Marcos and his companions against the Japanese patrollers.
However, Professor Rolando Borrinaga, a known Philippine historian disproves that story. His long and arduous research give way to the fact that it was a simple skipper named Man Dising from Caray-Caray Biliran, who helped Marcos in hiding.
NOTE: The author is he teacher-in-charge of the Tag-abaca Elementary School in Leyte, Leyte)

The Kabit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi CIDSS) uses Community-Driven Development as an strategy wherein the people have direct control over the decisions and resources in their community.
It is through their involvement that they can become empowered citizens which leads to an improved local governance and poverty reduction.
In Barangay Poblacion 9, Llorente Eastern Samar, it has been the hope of community to lessen the unsafety the dark street brings.
According to Lisa Gade, a community volunteer, it poses fear and danger to the residents because of accounts of theft and violent incidents. Ms. Gade attested, “Before, the street was so dark that it invited theft, violence and accidents. And I have been a witness to those unfortunate situations.”
Aside from that, it is accounted that 40 per cent of the labor force in the barangay was affected due to this dim place. Affected were people which ’padyak’ was the source of income and those who sell barbeque and the like during night time. Only a few people patronized because they were afraid to go out at night due to theft and violent incidents in that place.
It is no doubt that the community identified a solar street light in the Kalahi CIDSS LGU-led implementation. Only 11 of all 33 barangays were prioritized during their Municipal Development Council-Participatory Resource Allocation (MDC-PRA) to use the Kalahi CIDSS pure grant of P7, 052, 150. Brgy.Poblacion Nine was not included in the prioritization as it ranked 13th.
But the LGU Llorente allocated a fund of P1 million to be shared by the remaining barangays. Only two Brgy Poblacion 9 and Brgy Poblacion 11 were able to avail it. Barangay Pob. 9 got the P294, 473 for their identified streetlight intervention project.
Though the fund is purely from the Local Government Unit, its preparation and implementation followed the Community-Driven Development (CDD) process.
The local government unit of Llorente believed so much in the CDD process because of the community from planning to implementation and maintenance.
Some 186 households are now enjoying the seven-unit solar street light which helps them have a safer place and better opportunities.
This only shows how DSWD Kalahi CIDSS heightened the partnership of community and local government unit in addressing the most pressing need of the community. (PR)

By: ANGELINA G. WING

Change has always been constant, with its new School Principal, the Burauen National High School plan the new teaching assignment designated to newly hired Teachers and non-Adviser teachers giving way to the newly promoted Master Teachers and Head Teachers.
There are five newly promoted Master Teachers. From the English Department Salve Renomeron, Paz Posion from the Science Department, Aurora Abud from the TLE Department, May Desabille from AP Department, and Analyn Naboya from the MAPEH Department. Adelfa Juan is promoted from Teacher III to Head Teacher I. Adelfa Juan will be in-charged for the Grade 9 and Grade 10 as well as the Senior High School Applied subjects.
Dr. Rosita Pantin-Abio, the new School Principal of Burauen National High School, designated new teacher assignment corresponding to its grade level they will be holding as well as the new room assignment and class advisory.
Among its 63 teaching staff, 32 of which are Teacher Advisers from Grade 7 – Grade 10 and the Senior High School.
There are 9 sections in the Grade 7, for the Grade 8 there are 7 sections, for the Grade 9 there are 6 sections, for the Grade 10 there are 6 sections, and for the Grade 11 there are 4 sections as well as the Grade 12 having 4 sections also.
Newly-hired teachers are designated as new teacher advisers in lieu for the newly promoted 6 Master Teachers and 2 Head Teachers.
Dr. Abio emphasized in her message during the First Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff meeting for the S.Y. 2019-2020, that each Teacher who is given new assignment should embrace change for the betterment of the student’s welfare and the school as a whole to cater their needs.
(Note: The author is a Teacher III of the Burauen National High School, Burauen,Leyte)

TACLOBAN CITY- A farmers association in Barangay Palanog and several rice retailers from the different barangays of Tacloban City were recipients on May 31, 2019, of the livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment Livelihood Assistance program in partnership with the city government through Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez.
The 34-member Palanog Coconut Farmers Association and 10 rice retailers received, respectively 2 coconut squeezers, 2 rice grinders, 100 pieces of coconut, 50 sacks of rice, 1 water tank (stainless) and 3 push carts. Present during the distribution of assistance were Councilor Evangeline Esperas, DOLE Representative Gemma Dela Cruz, PESO Manager Emilia Cruz and Miss Tacloban 2018 Cassandra Marie Lee. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – Two siblings have died after they were struck by lightning in the rice fields at Sitio Carugyao, Barangay Osmeña in Palapag town this province.
Police Major Joseph Quilitano, Palapag chief of police, identified the victims as Arnel Laoreno Jr,21, Grade 12 student, and his younger sister Airene, 18, a Grade 10 student both residents of Brgy. Laniwan, Palapag.
Based on police reports, at around 10am last May 30,the siblings were tilling their farm along with their father, Arnel Sr., when a heavy downpour occurred prompting the three to take shelter in a nearby nipa hut.
They barely reached the hut when a lightning struck, hitting both Arnel and Airene who died instantly. Their father, though slightly injured, was in a state of shock after the incident Quilitano said.
Village residents assisted in transporting the victims to the Palapag poblacion where municipal health officer Delia Chy conducted a post mortem examination on the cadavers.
The remains of the victims were brought at their residence in Laniwan.
Dr. Chy told Leyte Samar Daily Express in a mobile interview that both victims suffered second degree burns from the head to their anterior chests that caused their instant death. Their clothes were burned and torn.
Catarman Pagasa manager Feleon Corona said that structures like a solitary nipa hut or a tree are commonly hit when lightning strikes in rice field areas.
“Thunderstorms occur most frequently during May; kasagsagan ng init dito sa ating lugar. During thunderstorms when you notice that a thunder and a lightning strike,ibig sabihin niyan yung clouds na pinanggalingan ng lightning is overhead or near your place. And it will hit at the highest object in your area,” he said.
Corona noted that in rice fields usually the highest object is a nipa hut, a coconut tree or a person standing.
“So to avoid being hit don’t shelter in a solitary hut. Go to areas where there are several houses. If you have nowhere to go better just duck in a place where you are not the highest object,” he said.
He also advised not to lie on the ground as the place may be wet or moist. (And) when the lightning hits a tree near you malaki ang posibilidad na makuryente ka din,” Corona said.
Corona said that their agency always include tips on how to avoid being hit by a lightning during Disaster Risk Reduction and Management seminars.
“Disasters from lightning is often disregarded kasi isa o dalawa lang naman an natatamaan. Pero paano kung ikaw o ang pamilya mo ang tamaan?” the official said.
(RACHEL V. ARNAIZ)

NAVAL, Biliran-The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) -Biliran District Engineering Office (DEO) participated the ‘Brigada Eskwela’ of the Department of Education (DepEd) from May 20 to 25, 2019 with the theme “Matatag na Bayan para sa Maunlad na Paaralan.”
Believing that the community cannot stand without the school, and likewise the school without the community, DPWH-Biliran DEO under District Engineer (DE) David P. Adongay Jr. contributed their time, efforts and resources to help prepare the school for the opening of classes Monday (June 3).
The Maintenance Section headed by Engr. Glenda G. Dagalea, Chief Maintenance Engineer, said that Biliran DEO has given assistance to some schools in towns of Naval, Almeria, Kawayan, Caibiran, Cabucgayan, and Biliran during the Brigada Eskwela.
“Among the assistance given were cleaning of school grounds by cutting grasses, repainting of concrete benches, and repainting of pedestrian lanes,” said Dagalea.
Dagalea added that Biliran DEO through DE Adongay has also donated empty containers of asphalt sealant that can be used as trashcans and bags of cement to be used in constructing/ repairing some structures of the school.
“This kind of activity wouldn’t be possible without the help also of our dedicated school personnel, cooperative parents, accountable community and innovative learners,” said Dagalea.
The Brigada Eskwela is the National Schools Maintenance Week that aims to prepare the school one week before its formal opening of classes.
The following schools served by DPWH-Biliran DEO were Naval Central School, Catmon Elementary School, Lucsoon Elementary School, Calumpang Elementary School, Agpangi Elementary School, Naval Night High School, Naval School of Fisheries, Naval National High School, Biliran Province State University (main campus), Jamorawon Elementary School, Masagongsong Elementary School, Information and Communication Technology High School for the Eastern Biliran, Talibong Elementary School and Biliran Province State University (Biliran Campus).(PR)