TACLOBAN CITY—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office has successfully completed the dredging of two major waterways in Tacloban City as part of its flood mitigation efforts in the region.
According to the DPWH-8, dredging operations have been completed at Burayan Creek and Mangonbangon Creek, removing 53,958.39 cubic meters of silt from Burayan Creek and 49,653.39 cubic meters from Mangonbangon Creek.
DPWH-8 Regional Director Edgar Tabacon emphasized the importance of these operations in reducing the risk of overflowing riverbanks, particularly during the rainy season.
“With the weather situation here in our region, these dredging operations can help address incidents of flooding, especially during this rainy season,” he said.
The DPWH, through its Equipment Management Division (EMD), has also deployed dredgers to other areas in Eastern Visayas to conduct similar desilting activities.
In Northern Samar, an amphibious excavator is dredging Maroyondoyon and Kaglangkoy Creek in Catarman while similar activity is being done at Bangon River in Palo and Taytayan River in Baybay City.
In Samar, a multi-purpose amphibious dredge is clearing Calbiga River in Calbiga while in Hilongos, Leyte, six waterways are being desilted using amphibious excavator.
In addition, a dredging machine will be deployed to Pagsanga-an River in Ormoc City.
The ongoing and completed dredging projects are part of the DPWH’s broader strategy to enhance waterway capacities and protect communities from flooding. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
ORMOC CITY– After eight years on the run, a wanted man accused of rape was apprehended by police operatives on Tuesday morning, December 10, in Sitio Victoria, Crimson Street, Maxim Subdivision, Barangay San Juan, Cainta, Rizal.
Authorities identified the suspect as alias “Siloy,” 43, a laborer and native of Barangay Baganito, Kawayan, Biliran. He was arrested by personnel of the Kawayan Municipal Police Station (MPS), in coordination with local police, at around 7:58 am.
The arrest was carried out by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued on January 5, 2016, by Judge Bienvenido M. Montilla, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 16, Naval, Biliran, for two counts of rape.
No bail was recommended for his temporary release.
The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and his constitutional rights under the Miranda Doctrine in a language he understood.
He was then brought to the Cainta Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition before being turned over to the court of origin.
Police continue to intensify efforts to bring fugitives to justice and ensure accountability under the law. (ROBERT DEJON)
For 37 unbroken years now, Leyte Samar Daily Express has resolved to stand for truth, fairness, and responsible journalism voicing the people without falling into sensationalism or personal vendettas. By focusing on the performance of public servants and exposing anomalies where they exist, the paper does its duty to scrutinize those who are in power and keep them accountable to the public.
It is so easy for the media to give in to the temptation of personal attacks or dramatics, but the Leyte Samar Daily Express has held a principled stand against such practices. Instead, it zeros in on what matters—the actions, decisions, and omissions of those who have accepted the responsibility to protect and preserve the public’s trust. It is in this commitment to substance rather than spectacle that the paper rests its role as a committed institution for ethical journalism. It has, in that process, won the confidence of readers who demand a higher plane of accountability in governance, especially at the regional level, where aberrations can easily be overlooked in the shadow of national concerns.
Public servants are responsible not only for their intentions but, above all, for their concrete outcomes. The Leyte Samar Daily Express has constantly held a mirror to our officials, shining a light on inefficiency, corruption, and negligence when these betray the welfare of the people. For example, issues related to the improper utilization of funds, delayed infrastructure projects, or lackluster responses to critical needs are given due attention.
Such critical coverage speaks to a warning and guide that stands as a reminder that service to the public is one of duty, not a privilege, and for which any default should invite scrutiny.
But at the heart of the operations is the paper’s unyielding alignment for what is right and just. This does not insinuate blind idealism but a measured and decent resolve to champion issues in ways that uplift the lot of ordinary citizens. From lack of education to incompetent health care to inefficiency in local leadership, Leyte Samar Daily Express voices the concerns and hopes of the very same people they are supposed to serve. In so doing, it bridges the gap between public servants and constituents by elevating concerns that may fall to indifferent silence.
As the Leyte Samar Daily Express marks its 37th founding anniversary, that role remains as vital as ever. Moving forward, the media must continue to challenge complacency, expose wrongdoing, and advocate progress based on fairness and accountability. While public officials would do well to heed the scrutiny of this paper, they would do well to understand it not as an affront but as an opportunity to call them to serve with integrity and purpose. The voice of the people, after all, is not noise to be silenced but a truth to be heard and acted upon.
To the men and women behind the continued operation of this regional daily, and most especially to the publishers, editors, and writers, a happy and blessed anniversary! Mabuhay!
The Christmas season seems to have turned into a strange procession of signs and symbols that Christ Himself would perhaps not recognize. Between jolly, round men in red suits, flying reindeer, and wreaths full of baubles, the biblical story of a baby born into a lowly manger could not help but take a backseat. How did we let the center of the story drift so far from the stable in Bethlehem? We dress up the season with so much glitter that the Light of the World is obscured.
It is no secret that many of today’s Christmas traditions are not derived from the pages of Scripture. Meanwhile, Santa Claus, jolly and with rosy cheeks with a big sack of gifts, stems from a patchwork figure, mainly Saint Nicholas but perhaps even older, pre-Christian myths. The Christmas tree? Its roots are from the pagan winter solstice festivities whereby evergreen boughs were brought into homes during the bleak cold to remind people of life. As for December 25, that date suspiciously coincides with the Roman festival of Saturnalia, a riotous celebration of the sun god’s “birthday”. When the early Christians chose a date for Christ’s birth, it perhaps hoped to reroute an already popular holiday toward a new, holier celebration.
At first glance, this melding of traditions might not seem so bad—after all, the Christmas tree is pretty, and Saint Nicholas was said to have been a generous man who gave gifts to the poor. But somewhere along the way, the add-ons began to overshadow the Guest of Honor. It’s as if we threw a birthday party, invited every mascot, magician, and mime in town, and then forgot to acknowledge the one whose name is on the cake. Christ, the supposed celebrant, is left sitting quietly in the corner while everyone else claps for Santa’s grand entrance.
Some say these additions are harmless and that symbols like Santa Claus bring joy and magic to children. Sure, I get that. I smiled, too, when kids went squealing with delight to meet Santa at a mall, but I couldn’t help feeling a pang of irony: children can describe the North Pole in detail, but when asked why Christmas is celebrated, they sometimes stare blankly. It’s not their fault—we adults set the stage. We allow Santa to come centerstage while Christ stays buried in a plastic nativity scene, not to be taken out and dusted until the season’s end.
The problem extends further than misplaced priorities to an unnerving reality that these symbols come from beliefs that had nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity in the first place. Take Saturnalia, for instance, which was a feast and gift-giving event that frequently turned into wanton indulgence. Sound familiar? The Christmas rush today is just about the same as modern-day Saturnalia, where people are trampling others in stores just to get a half-priced blender and/or all sorts of tech gadgets. A season to honor the Savior born in poverty has been turned into times of excess and commercial frenzy.
And here’s where it gets stickier: the date itself. December 25 wasn’t chosen because Christ’s actual birthdate was known. In historical terms, there’s no hard evidence that He was born on that day. Some scholars even propose spring or autumn as more probable seasons due to the presence of shepherds tending their flocks in open fields. If this were true, then the whole spectacle of December 25—a day lifted from pagan origins, is more convenient than sacred.
I am not saying we should regard the Christmas trees and Santa Claus as harmful. But symbols are powerful things that shape our experience in many ways. The risk doesn’t lie in tradition per se but in obscuring the purpose behind those traditions: all this may remain in the malls, the shining tree, and gifts galore—but we need to bear in mind why we get together in the end. Christ should not have to compete for our attention, not on His supposed birthday.
Perhaps what we need is a quiet return to the stable. Strip away the tinsel, the songs about sleigh bells, and the last-minute shopping panic, and what’s left is something beautifully simple: a child born in humility to make salvation available for those who believe. That imagery—a baby in a manger, surrounded by the soft light of a star—is where our focus belongs. The rest, though pretty and festive, are just decorations. Let them enhance, not replace, the true story. After all, what good is a holiday if we lose the reason for its observance?
The day that people have been waiting for is a good reason to celebrate. More that our individual birthday is the birth of our Savior who dwelt among us. He was sent by God the father to fulfill the promise to save mankind from sin. It has been over two centuries since the messianic mission that was foretold by the prophets in the Old Testament had been proclaimed, yet, many people are still do not believe that Jesus Christ has come. There are many people who are still looking for the coming of the Savior and more who had been proclaiming falsehoods. This is why there are many modern-day preachers who established their own religious sects not in line with the true Church that God has established in the institution of the Holy Eucharist.
It is therefore a great challenge for every person to know Jesus Christ through the Word of God, the Holy Bible that was compiled by the Roman Catholic Church. It is the Word that was made flesh and became man to live with mankind through our Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from the Holy Bible, there are other sources of faith, namely: Sacred tradition and the Church magisterium. Very clearly, Jesus Christ never told His disciples to write His teachings. In the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 16, Verse15, Jesus told His disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”. One must read or listen to audio versions of the Holy Bible in its entirety and not just selective piecemeal verses for one to know Jesus Christ.
One could easily be deceived by pretenders who claim to be preachers carrying Holy Bible that had been translated by sects that tailor-made according to their own personal interpretation. Such is prone to many errors that may lead the listeners to believe what the preacher tells. It requires apt knowledge not just of the bible verses but a good background of hermeneutics to one to understand the context of the bible as expressed by the writers at the time of its writing, considering the culture and social norms of the communities during those biblical times.
For many non-Catholic preachers for instance, they do not give respect to Mary the mother of our Savior as they claim that in the Gospel of John, Chapter 19, Verses 26-27, Jesus Christ while hanging on the cross shouted, “Woman behold thy son. Son, behold thy mother. They misinterpret the statement of Jesus Christ not even giving due respect to her mother as He simply addressed her “woman”. With a good background in hermeneutics, one would understand that during that time in history, the word woman is a high form of addressing a woman, mothers included.
It is therefore a misplaced interpretation for preachers who pretend to know the bible, to disrespect the mother of Jesus Christ. Even in our times, we need to respect the mother if we want to be in good terms with the son. How can one claim to be a good friend with the son if he disrespects or even blasphemes the mother. Can one have the courage to ask for any favor from the son if he does not respect the mother? It is a good question to ponder if we want to obtain God’s favor. In this year’s Christmas, may we all learn to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ as we celebrate our Savior’s birth. comments to alellema@yahoo.com
The entrepreneurial journey, often romanticized as a path paved with innovation and success, can be a treacherous terrain, especially for millennial entrepreneurs navigating a landscape rife with economic uncertainty and societal expectations. This article examines the multifaceted challenges faced by a millennial entrepreneur, shedding light on the realities of navigating a path less traveled.
One of the most significant hurdles for millennial entrepreneurs is the constant struggle for financial stability. The lack of established networks and limited access to traditional funding sources often forces them to bootstrap their ventures, juggling multiple side gigs and sacrificing personal comforts to keep their fledgling businesses afloat. This financial pressure can be overwhelming, leading to anxiety and a sense of constant precarity.
While the intent to work hard may be seen as a positive attitude towards success, it can be daunting on a millennial entrepreneur to be constantly being burdened with tons of work, as if there was little time every single day. I have been observing the younger generation wanting more at such an early age. Half of them might be a product of influential parents who have been in the business for some time, thus pursuing the family’s legacy and probably half of them simply want to be make a name of their own to start their own empire. Either way, still it emphasizes how the millennials are determined to be recognized as successful in their chosen fields.
Furthermore, the pressure to succeed in a world that celebrates overnight success stories can exacerbate feelings of self-doubt and imposter syndrome. The constant need to prove oneself, coupled with the fear of failure, can create a cycle of stress and anxiety that can be detrimental to both personal well-being and business growth.
The millennial entrepreneur also faces the unique challenge of navigating a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The constant need to adapt to new technologies, platforms, and marketing strategies can be daunting, requiring a continuous learning curve and a willingness to embrace change. The lack of established mentors or role models in this constantly shifting environment can further exacerbate these challenges.
Moreover, the millennial entrepreneur often grapples with the pressure to maintain a healthy work-life balance. The blurring of boundaries between personal and professional life, fueled by the constant connectivity of the digital age, can lead to feelings of burnout and exhaustion. Balancing the demands of their businesses with personal commitments, relationships, and self-care can be a constant struggle.
Despite these challenges, millennial entrepreneurs possess a unique set of skills and perspectives that are valuable in today’s business world. They are digitally savvy, adaptable, and driven by a desire to create positive change. However, navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship requires a deep understanding of the challenges, a resilient mindset, and a willingness to seek support from mentors, peers, and communities.
The journey of a millennial entrepreneur embodies the resilience of the human spirit. It is a journey marked by both triumphs and setbacks, fueled by a potent mix of passion, determination, and a deep-seated belief in the power of their ideas. While the challenges are real, the rewards of building something meaningful and creating a lasting impact can be incredibly fulfilling.
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If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts on the column, feel free to send an email to jca.bblueprint@gmail.com. Looking forward to connecting with you!
