ORMOC CITY– The region’s No. 8 most wanted person was arrested by joint operatives in Bacoor City, Cavite on Wednesday (June 5) at about 4:30 pm
Arrested by the elements from the municipal police station of Malitbog, Southern Leyte, Provincial Intelligence Team (PIT) of Cavite-RIU4A, Provincial Intelligence Team (PIT) Southern Leyte-RIU8, PIU SLPPO, Southern Leyte MARPSTA, Leyte Sur Provincial Highway Patrol Team was alias “Nardo” 62, a tricycle driver, and a resident of Poblacion Malitbog, Southern Leyte and temporarily residing in Salinas I, Bacoor City.
The accused was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest, dated February 20, 2024, issued by Judge Ma. Daisy Paler Gonzalez, presiding judge of Branch 25, Maasin City for the crime of frustrated homicide and frustrated murder.
The accused is now under the custody of the Bacoor Component City Police Station for documentation and proper disposition. (ROBERT DEJON)
ASSISTANCE. More than 2,500 residents from different municipalities of Eastern Samar received cash assistance through TUPAD on Monday (June 3). Among those who were present during the payout were Rep. Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan of 4Ps party-list, Governor Ben Evardone, and ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo. (Photo Courtesy)
ASSISTANCE. More than 2,500 residents from different municipalities of Eastern Samar received cash assistance through TUPAD on Monday (June 3). Among those who were present during the payout were Rep. Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan of 4Ps party-list, Governor Ben Evardone, and ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo. (Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY – The 2,590 beneficiaries of the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program from the province of Eastern Samar received their payouts from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The payout distribution, held on Monday(June 3), event was attended by ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo, DOLE Regional Director Dax Vilalruel, 4Ps Partylist Representative and House Minority Floor Leader Marcelino Libanan, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan, Salcedo Mayor Ma. Rochelle Melgar, provincial board officials, and municipal council officials.
“Ang paki-usap ko lamang po, gastusin ng tama yang pera na yan, hindi niyo yan waldasin. Binigay yan para magamit ninyo pambayad ng kuryente, pambili ng bigas, yung iba may mga gagraduate na mga anak,” advised Rep.Tulfo to the beneficiaries.
About 1,591 TUPAD beneficiaries received their payouts at the Guiuan municipal gymnasium, while 999 received theirs at the Salcedo gymnasium. These beneficiaries hail from the towns of Guiuan, Salcedo, Maydolong, Gen. MacArthur, Hernani, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Balangiga, Lawaan, and Mercedes.
Each beneficiary received P4,050, amounting to a total of more than P10.488 million distributed to the TUPAD beneficiaries.
This amount compensates the beneficiaries for participating in community work, such as clean-up drives in their respective barangays, for 10 days. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
NO PERMIT YET. The organizers behind the Pintados Foundation and Kasadyaan Festival are waiting for the response of their permit application to conduct their street parade relative to the June 30 Tacloban City fiesta. (Photo Courtesy)
NO PERMIT YET. The organizers behind the Pintados Foundation and Kasadyaan Festival are waiting for the response of their permit application to conduct their street parade relative to the June 30 Tacloban City fiesta. (Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY – The permit for the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals, which organizers applied for in March, is still pending with the Tacloban City government.
Pintados Foundation president Eugene Tan provided this update when asked about their preparations for the grandest festival competition in Eastern Visayas, held in relation with the annual Tacloban City fiesta.
“We were not given a permit for the nightly activities we are planning to hold at the RTR Plaza, but we are still hoping they will grant us a permit to hold a parade. Our request was sent to the city government in February or March, but we have yet to receive a response,” Tan said.
“Despite the lack of response, we continue preparing for the festivals and other activities,” he added.
The Pintados Festival, organized by members of Tacloban’s business community in 1987, and the Kasadyaan Festival, a provincial government-organized competition of festivals from various parts of the region, are typically held on the day before the Tacloban City fiesta.
The date was later changed to June 27 and, last year, to June 24, as decided by the city government.
Tan said that their organization usually applies for parade permits early due to the extensive preparation required for the festival.
“Preparing for a contingent is not easy. It takes time to rehearse, find choreographers, musicians, costumes, and props. You need at least six months of preparation for each contingent,” he explained.
In 2023, after large gatherings were permitted following a three-year prohibition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their organization learned that their parade permit request was granted less than two weeks before the festival competition.
“Our only goal is to bring joy to the people. Since this festival started in 1987, we’ve seen how tourists enjoy it and how local businesses profit from it. We hope for a peaceful celebration in honor of our city fiesta,” Tan added.
This is not the first time the group has encountered difficulties obtaining a permit from the city government.
In 2011, the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival sought to conduct a parade using their usual route, but the city government barricaded it and diverted the parade, leading to a standoff between festival and city officials.
In 2023, the festival organizers applied for a permit but were allowed to parade around the city on June 24 instead of the usual June 27.
For this year’s Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals, Tan said they expect four contingents for the Pintados Festival and 10 contingents for the Kasadyaan Festival.
The Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals has produced several national championship-winning contingents, such as the Buyugan Festival of Abuyog, Lingganay Festival of Alangalang, Pasaka Festival of Tanauan, and Buraburon Festival of Burauen. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
This has become a common practice in Region 8, particularly in the province of Samar: roads that are still in good condition, with smooth asphalt overlays, are being recklessly destroyed by heavy equipment, pulverizing perfectly serviceable infrastructure. Meanwhile, the heavily damaged roads, marred by deep crevices and dangerous cracks, are being blatantly ignored. This grotesque inversion of priorities raises an unavoidable question: what kind of practice is this?
This is not merely a matter of incompetence or poor planning; it reeks of systemic corruption. Destroying roads that are in good condition to justify new construction projects is a blatant ploy to secure additional budgets. These budgets, in turn, offer ample opportunities for unscrupulous officials to siphon off funds for personal gain. This vicious cycle wastes public money and subjects the populace to unnecessary inconvenience and danger.
The logical and ethical approach is to prioritize repairing the damaged roads, ensuring safety and mobility for all. Instead, the current practice suggests a deliberate, nefarious strategy designed to perpetuate a continuous flow of funds into the pockets of those in power. This form of corruption is particularly insidious because it masquerades as a development while actively sabotaging progress and eroding the very infrastructure it purports to improve.
Furthermore, this practice has far-reaching consequences beyond immediate financial waste and public inconvenience. It creates a culture of cynicism and helplessness among citizens, who see their needs and safety blatantly disregarded. When people witness such blatant malfeasance, it diminishes their faith in public institutions and discourages civic engagement. The long-term impact of this erosion of trust is incalculable, leading to apathy and disengagement that weaken the fabric of society.
This malpractice must be exposed and condemned in the strongest possible terms. Transparency in allocating and using public funds must be enforced, and those responsible for these nefarious actions should be held accountable. Only through rigorous oversight and a commitment to genuine public service can the integrity of infrastructure projects be restored. The people of Samar and Region 8 deserve roads that are safe, functional, and built with their best interests at heart—not the wallets of corrupt officials.
Mondays have taken on a new charm for the senior citizens in many cities nationwide, thanks to a delightful privilege, allowing them to watch movies for free in the local mall’s air-conditioned theaters. All they need is their senior citizen ID, and voilà—instant access to the silver screen! However, as charming as this sounds, a quirky twist prevails, making the experience both amusing and, well, a bit pungent.
But instead of eagerly watching the latest blockbuster, some of our elderly moviegoers have turned the theater into a napping haven. Picture this: rows of seniors, comfortably dozing off in plush seats, blissfully escaping the sweltering heat outside. Who needs an overpriced cooling fan at home when you have a state-of-the-art, darkened, air-conditioned paradise right here? But alas, not all that glitters is gold, and not all that naps is… dry.
The inevitable downside of this siesta phenomenon is the occasional unfortunate incident of in-seat urination. Understandably, the aging bladder is not the most reliable companion, and some seniors have found themselves contributing more than just their presence to the theater’s ambiance. The resulting aroma—a heady mix of urine, medicinal creams, and various ointments—has led to younger folks giving these theaters a wide berth come Tuesday. A matinee viewing suddenly feels like an olfactory assault course.
Even younger senior citizens, who might still retain some bladder control, are voicing their concerns. Their suggestion? Allow only diaper-wearing seniors to partake in this freebie extravaganza. It’s an oddly practical, albeit slightly comical, solution. Diapers or not, the real MVPs here are the janitors. Tasked with cleaning up after these “movie-goers,” they deserve a medal—or at least a significant pay raise.
To maintain the theater’s glory, a robust cleaning regimen is imperative. Industrial-strength disinfectants and powerful air fresheners could work wonders, transforming the theater back into a welcoming space for all patrons. Perhaps the theater management could even consider installing discreet “nap zones” where seniors can snooze without any bladder-related mishaps impacting fellow cinema lovers.
While this privilege is undoubtedly a well-intentioned and much-appreciated gesture toward our elders, its execution requires a tad more finesse. Sanitation and hygiene must be paramount, ensuring that everyone, from the sprightliest youth to the wisest elder, can enjoy their movie-going experience without holding their breath—literally. Perhaps a small fee could be introduced to cover the extra cleaning costs, ensuring the privilege is sustainable and enjoyable for all.
In the end, this scenario exemplifies the creativity and resourcefulness of our senior citizens. Who else would think to turn a free movie perk into a clever way to beat the heat? It’s a humorous twist on senior privileges, and while it brings a smile to our faces, it also highlights the need for better planning and maintenance.
So, here’s to our seniors: may their naps be restful, their movies be entertaining (when they’re awake), and their bladders be… well, manageable. And to the rest of us? Let’s hope the theaters get a thorough clean-up because as much as we love our elderly, no one wants their movie experience to come with a side of Eau de liniment.
Ultimately, this privilege for senior citizens is a wonderful initiative that brings joy and relief from the heat. But like all good things, it needs a bit of tweaking to ensure it remains enjoyable for everyone involved. A touch of humor, a dash of practicality, and a spritz of air freshener might just do the trick.
The summer break afforded ample time for the conduct of sports competitions in various localities at all levels, from the barangay, municipali and cities. People would see sports tournaments being held in different communities where fiestas are celebrated. The competitions are giving the youth a good way to develop their physical and mental well-being. It also serves as a good avenue away from vices and drugs.
With the growing population in every community, the youth are challenged to enhance their physical fitness to compete in various sports competitions. The number of young people are more than enough to compose a team, thereby creating more teams as no one would want to be left on the sidelines as mere spectators while their friends are enjoying the games.
It could be observed that players could easily find donors for their team uniforms unlike before where teams could hardly have a complete set of uniform even until the tournament is finished. People talk about the economic difficulties nowadays than years ago but in the field of sports, money seems easy to raise to support a team, much more fund a tournament. It could be that donors believe in the value of sports as a way to promote health and wellness more than just an event for entertainment.
But more than prizes in sports competitions is the intangible cost that athletes save from undue expenses for medical treatment and hospitalization due to illness. The person who is into sports is physically healthy and could resist minor ailments that people without physical exercise suffer with. Athletes undergo physical training in order to be competitive.
With the availability of training videos that they watch as their sports idol does, the young athlete would develop discipline as they aim to rise in the world of sports that goes beyond the ordinary sportsfests. comments to alellema@yahoo.com
