Halaman Festival: Guiguinto’s Portraiture of Transcending Heritage

It all started in 1999.

Then newly-elected Mayor of Guiguinto Ambrocio Boy Cruz Jr. made possible a dream of every Guiguintenos back then to show the world how the municipality can be a pride of every Filipinos. It was the year the town gave birth to the now famous and one of the much awaited festivals in Bulacan, the Halamanan Festival.

The festival is an annual celebration for Guiguinteños corresponding with the town's foundation day and the Feast of its Patron San Ildefonso. It is a week-long merriment featuring Street Dancing Competition, Float Parade, the Mayor's Ulat sa Bayan and Landscaping Contests culminating on January 23 which is the town's fiesta.

At present times where modernity is engulfing history, an event like this is like a little fire of hope to remind every youth of their roots and to always go back to where they came from. And for the new generation of Guiguintenos, it is really helping them remember and at the same time, a good opportunity for them to show their talents in terms of performing arts and aesthetic; a two bird in one stone kind of festival.

“Masarap sa pakiramdam lalo na kapag nababanggit nila yung halamanan festival dahil dun ako nanggaling. Kasabay ng makulay na pagdiriwang, pagtanaw ito sa kagalingan at kasipagan ng mga Guiguintenyo.” said Rupert Roniel Laxamana, a known youth representative in Guiguinto who spearheaded activities in town involving the youth, and former editor of the town’s newsletter ‘Ang Guinto’.

According to him, the festival should be treated as one of the pride of every Bulakenyo, a great way to promote the agriculture industry of the town.

Regular youth from Guiguinto are also proud of the unique festival their hometown has.

“Nagsimula ako personally magkaroon ng awareness sa festival no’ng high school ako, kasi kasali ako do’n sa Indakan sa Kalye, ‘yong street dancing contest, tapos ayon taon taon ko na s’ya inaabangan kahit hindi na ako kasali. Nakikita ko sikat na s’ya ngayon kaya sobrang proud ako,” said Jane Tricia Cruz a native from Tuktukan.

Furthermore, Cruz thinks that every year the festival is getting grander and for her that’s a positive improvement from how the festival is celebrated from the past years.

Not only Guiguintenos are proud of the said event, even the youth from other parts of Bulacan.

“Aware ako do’n at para sa’kin napakagandang activity s’ya ng Guiguinto kasi bibihira ‘yong mga festival na gano’n. Kadalasan kasi ‘di ba ‘yong history ang prinopromote nila, pero ang Halamanan [Festival] kasi, it’s also a promotion of the industry. Hindi lang s’ya pagbabalik tanaw pero nakakatulong din s’ya sa present generation,” said Florence Vila from Malolos.

Definitely, Halamanan Festival’s impact didn’t only stop in 1999. It still goes on up to the present, giving every Guiguinteno a reason for pride and living.

Journey to Pugad: A Sunburn Worthy Trip

I was never a fan of travelling; I’d rather stay home and read than experience the hassle of going somewhere. For me, it’s time-consuming and a total waste of energy, but I can’t believe that a mere trip for a journalism class will turn things around. Please, don’t laugh, but the place I’ve been referring to is within my province only.


I went to Hagonoy, Bulacan and I never was the same again after.


You might raise your eyebrows knowing where I went. I know it is not as extravagant or as exciting as going to Boracay, or to Bohol. There was no beach party to anticipate, no grand hotel to stay in, no selfie-worthy background to snap upon to. It was almost boring. I admit I was half-hearted while preparing myself that morning. I can’t imagine how much regret I will feel if I decided to stay home that day.




Brgy. Pugad, Hagonoy Bulacan is not a paradise. The councilor even warned us before the trip that we have to expect the worst; dirty water, garbage, clogged drainage, and every face of poverty. I felt uncertain, not knowing what to expect. When I went into the boat, all I was praying is to be back as soon as possible.


The moment the motor started, I closed my eyes and felt the breeze of the air. I smelled the sea. I smelled the coming adventure, still, I’m uncertain. When we got to the barangay, we were welcomed by old dilapidated houses, and children eyeing us in questioning looks. It was not a good first impression for me. We walked under the scorching heat of the sun, with dried fishes at the sidewalks and children following us. Half-day of not -so-good events and all I want to do is go back home.


Everything started to turn upside down when I got the chance to interview and interact with the people.


There was a lot of stories of loyalty, like how Manang Isabelita told me her childhood days and why she stayed in Pugad despite the promises and opportunities the urbanized parts of Bulacan offered. It is because of the memories that no amount of money can replace.


Stories of survival were also in every corner. How people managed to survive typhoons and floods with gigantic waves from Manila Bay hitting their barangay. How they managed to survive poverty with fishing as one of their main options to live. Accounts of red tide and the impact of climate change to their only source of living.


There was a unique story of camaraderie, how Manang Mercedes is the official burial coordinator of the barangay. Pugad is an island which is the main reason why death is more difficult to bear with no cemetery around. They have to transport the body from Pugad to Hagonoy proper by 1-hour boat ride. Manang Mercedes is well-known by rendering her service to arrange everything from death to burial process, sometimes when the family is really in need, for free.


There was Teacher Josefina who also grew up there. She witnessed how difficult it is to get education in their barangay with only elementary school for the youth; she witnessed how politicians made promise every elections to give progress in the education system, and how those promises were broken everytime. But she is a living proof that anyone can be successful as long as he dream and work enough to achieve it. She graduated and became a professional teacher, and she chose to go back to her roots and teach in Pugad.


There was a tale of faith, how the numerous personal struggles and disasters a counselor in Pugad experienced restored his beliefs in God. From a drunkard man then, he’s now a public servant serving his barangay and teaching them how to believe when life is giving you many reasons not to.


And what really struck me, is the children. Those questioning eyes I met when we got there were in reality, eyes of the young ones who were excited to tell stories to new people, eyes of the young ones who yearns for attention from us. I told them stories, but they also told them theirs. Their dreams, like finishing their education and go back in Pugad as successful individuals. Their dreams for their hometown, their wishful thinking that one day, their barangay will be more suitable to live at, one day they will not rely to those politicians anymore as their hope, that they will be the hope their town has been waiting for so long. Their hopes that someday,people will not be afraid to go there and listen to their stories, people will visit their barangay not because of requirement but because they want to witness its beauty amidst poverty.


I was ashamed of how I judge Pugad by how it looks like when I first stepped my foot on it, how I judged the people the first time I saw them. I was humbled, how I constantly complains about the number of school works I have to do when there are youth like me who wanted to learn but didn’t had the opportunity to do so. I was very proud, of how Bulakenyos even in far-flung areas showed heroism in their own ways, like how our hometown heroes did in the history.


I came home that day with so many thoughts in my head. I came home exactly just like how I left it that morning; with few clothes, a notebook, a camera and some money, but I felt I brought home many more. I came home with lessons, experiences, stories to tell and a renewed perspective in life.


Funny how when I got into the boat that morning, all I want to do is go back home already, but when I got into the boat the second time around to leave, all I want to do that time is to plan when I will go back to Pugad again.

Bulacan Heritage Houses

So our group decided to head our way to San Miguel Bulacan, also known as the Vigan of Bulacan because of its numerous old houses that until now can be seen by the present generation.

Our first stop is one of the oldest houses in town, owned by elite family headed by its patriarch Catalino Sevilla.

Our second stop over is a simple old house by a simple family from San Miguel.

We also visited de Leon's ancestral house, which is one of the oldest in the town. The original owner was a gobernadorcillo during the Spanish time, and his wife is a socialite owning part of a famous film outfit.

And lastly, before heading home, we also visited the famous Bahay na Pula at San Ildefonso, Bulacan

Kwento ng Ginto mula sa Maraming Pagkabigo

Balingkinitan, may mahiyaing ngiti, ngunit mababakas mo ang tatag ng loob. Ito ang larawan ng babaeng gumulat sa unibersidad nang pamunuan n’ya ang delegasyon ng mga kampeon sa taong ito.

Matapos ang tatlong taon ng sunod sunod na pagkabigong bawiin ang korona mula Bataan Peninsula State University sa Regional Higher Education Press Conference(RHEPC), isang malaking pagsubok ang hinarap ni Jasmin Lorraine Tan nang ibigay sa kan’ya ang pinakamalaking responsibilidad na maging Punong Patnugot ng Pacesetter, ang opisyal na pahayagan ng Bulacan State University.

Pero pinatunayan n'ya sa lahat na kaya n'yang ibalik ang korona sa unibersidad nang tanghaling Over-all Champion sa 13th RHEPC ang Pacesetter sa paligsahan ngayong taon.

Ngunit hindi lang simpleng tagumpay ang kan’yang naabot, naging maugong din ang kan’yang pangalan nang bukod sa kampeonato ay nakamit din n’ya ang parangal na Individual Highest Pointer ng nasabing kompetisyon nang angkinin n’ya ang tatlong unang parangal sa mga laban na kan’yang sinalihan; Sports Writing, Developmental Communications Writing at Opinion Writing.

Ngunit hindi minina ang mga ginto mula sa kawalan. Lingid sa kaalaman ng karamihan, malubak na daan ang tinahak ng nasabing dalaga bago pa man n’ya maabot ang nasabing estado.

‘Mga Dagok’

Lumaki sa di-mabilang na mga pagkabigo sa mga laban, magpasa-hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin s’ya makapaniwala na napagtagumpayan n’ya ang nasabing hamon.

“Tatlong beses akong nag-try sumali sa school publication namin no’ng high school, pero hindi ako natanggap,” pag-aalala nito sa nakaraan na tinuturing n’yang pinakamalaki n’yang pagkabigo. Inamin din n’ya sa napaaraming mga patimpalak na sinalihan n’ya noon ay lagi s’yang talo. Maging noong nakaraang RHEPC ay umuwi rin s’yang luhaan nang matalo sa Poetry Writing at makuntento sa 9th Place sa Sports Writing.

Pero hindi n’ya itinuring na dahilan para sumuko ang mga pangyayari sa nakaraan. Itinuring n’ya itong dahilan para mas pagbutihan pa.

“Biggest motivation ng tao ang failure from the past,” anito.

‘Pagbangon’

Nang magkaroon ng inspirasyon mula sa isang guro no’ng high school, pinili n’yang kunin ang kursong Journalism at sumali sa campus paper ng BulSU.

“Sabi ko talaga no’n sa sarili ko, ‘di pwedeng hindi ako sumali [Pacesetter],” aniya.
Doon din n’ya nadiskubre ang kan’yang talent sa Sports Writing at di maglaon ay nakahiligan na n’yang isulat ang mga ito.

“Masarap kasi isulat ang sports, maaksyon, pwede mong paglaruan ‘yong istorya,” wika pa ni Jasmin.

Sa kabila ng unti-unti n’yang pagbangon sa sarili, nang maging Editor-in-Chief ng nasabing publikasyon, ‘di mabilang na mga pagsubok pa rin ang kan’yang kinaharap.

“Nabansagan kaming weakest batch ng editorial board, may mga ‘di napagkasunduan, “ pag-amin nito.

Pero itinuturing n’yang malaking bagay ang mga tao sa paligid n’ya upang s’ya naman ang tumalo sa mga nasabing problema. Sa paggabay ng kan’yang pamilya, mga kaibigan, kaklase, at mga propesor, isa na s’ya ngayong inspirasyon hindi lang para sa mga kapwa Journalism-major ngunit para sa lahat ng mga nakaranas din ng mga pagkatalo sa buhay.

“Super galing naman talaga ni Jasmin, ayaw lang niyang maniwala sa sarili niya. Kayang kaya naman niyang maging on top pero grounded pa rin siya. Saka super proud kami sa kanya di lang dahil sa nanalo siya sa RHEPC, kasi napakabait niyan. mas inuuna pa niya yung iba kesa sa kasiyahan niya kaya deserve n'ya lahat ng nakukuha n'ya," ani Jesson Lagman, Associate Editor ng Pacesetter.

‘Mas Matatag na Pagharap sa Mundo’

“Dati, sobrang iyakin ako, pero ngayon, iyakin nalang ako,” natatawa n’yang wika nang kapanayamin s’ya ng aming klase. “Pero mas stronger na ako ngayon, masasabi kong mas matatag na ako,” anito.

Sa ngayon, patuloy pa rin n’yang ginagampanan ang tungkulin bilang EIC ng Pacesetter, kasabay ng pagbuno n’ya sa kan’yang thesis, at pagiging Associate Producer ng isa sa mga pelikula sa Sine Bulacan, isang patimpalak sa College of Arts and Letters ng BulSU.

At bilang isang inspirasyon, nag-iwan s’ya ng mensahe sa mga susunod na henerasyon ng mga estudyante sa unibersidad.

“’Wag kang mag-stay sa course mo kung hindi mo talaga gusto. Kasi ako, gusto ko talaga magsulat, mag-cover, mag-interview, kaya kahit mahirap nakakaya ko kasi gusto ko,” aniya.

Sa kan’yang nalalapit na pagtatapos sa unibersidad, napakalaki ng pangarap n’ya hindi lang para sa sarili kundi para sa pamilya. Maging writer sa isang sports magazine o isang broadsheet ang kan’yang plano sa mga susunod na panahon.

“5 years from now, hindi na ko umaasa sa family ko. Hopefully, makabawi sa lahat ng binigay sakin ng family ko.” pagtatapos nito.

[FEATURE] A Peek to the Past Through Ciudad Clemente

In the present world where people are busy living in the present, Joe Clemente, a fashion designer and art enthusiast from Paombong Bulacan is busy collecting pieces from the past for the sake of the future generation.

Giving a warm welcome to Journalism majors of Bulacan State University, Clemente allowed the students to roam around the resort and museum, shoot photos, and eventually gave chance to everyone to throw a question or two about him and the place.

According to him, the then-ancestral place was converted into museum as he started to collect art pieces from well-known, award-winning artists in Bulacan. The 75-year old structure is now housing a thousand pieces of collections. 

"Ang mga kahoy n'yan, original knick knacks from other ancestral houses, kaya ang kahoy n'yan mahogany, molave, narra, mga old wood. Kaya yung mga architects na pumupunta dito, alam na hindi s'ya nagagawa ng overnight. Alam na planned, yong materials," said Clemente.

Although Clemente admitted that demolition of old houses are currently existing, some are making money out of it, he already declined offers of buying the house due to his personal dreams for the place.

"I want this to be a repository of art and culture," he said.

He also said that unlike the modern times where people's aesthetics are constantly changing, art in the past are constant and timeless. Furthermore, he thinks that if every Bulakenyo will take a peek inside Ciudad Clemente, everyone will have something to be proud of.

Likewise, he also believes that people should always find time in looking back at the past and knowing his heritage.

"May kasabihan tayo na 'Ang di lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makakarating sa paroroonan,' kaya mahalaga s'ya." he said.

The owner also disclosed about his plans of opening the museum for the public, that is after finishing the catalogs of the art pieces and arranging the place for convenience of the visitors. He's also envisioning the place to be the Visual Art Museum of Bulacan, the biggest in Central Luzon. 

Clemente is also working on a book about his collection.

[NEWS]BAJ 3 goes to a ‘rare’ trip at Angat, Bustos Dam

Feeding their mind and also their eyes, 50 junior students of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Bulacan State University took the rare chance of visiting Angat Dam, October 1.

With the supervision of the professors Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Bulacan correspondent Carmela Reyes-Estrope and Philippine Star’s Dino Balabo, everyone met in front of the Provincial Capitol and started their itineraries.

At 8 ‘o clock, the group is already heading to their first and main stop, Angat Dam. Arriving at the site, the class was given a lecture by Engineer Saturnino Espiritu of Angat Hydroelectric Power Plant. The lecture was composed of series of videos showing how the power plant is working. After the lecture, everyone is given a chance to ask inquiries.

After the lecture, the class took a break and ate lunch at the View Deck, giving them a clear view of the dam as they feast on their lunch. The students also enjoyed taking pictures of the great view.

Next stop is visiting the Dumagats who are residing right beside the dam itself. The class took another half an hour trip to the heart of Angat Dam. They also brought gifts and donations to the ethnic group.

At around 3 ‘o clock in the afternoon, the class left Angat Dam and headed to their last stop, Bustos Dam. But some lucky students were given a chance to stop at Ipo Dam to take a view. At Bustos Dam they witnessed how the ‘Asia’s Longest Rubber Dam’ work and also given a lecture by Engr. Precioso Donato Punzalan.

“This is a lucky batch; they can be the last batch to visit Angat Dam, dahil nga sa pagpasok ng mga Koreans. Ngayon pa lang, ang dami nang mga requirements dahil sa transition na ginagawa,” said Balabo.





This is the third time Journalism majors took a trip to visit Bulacan dams.

[NEWS]Amidst illegal logging activities in Sierra Madre… Dumagats continues to live harmoniously with nature

Months after authorities trooped to Norzagaray to cop illegal timber poachers, a class of Journalism students visited the Dumagats and discover their lifestyle in times of environmental destruction.

Last July, a task force made by provincial government under Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office(BENRO) consists of National Power Corporation(NAPOCOR), Angat Watershed Area Team(AWAT), Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society, the army and Philippine National Police headed to Sitio Ipo Brgy. to arrest timber poachers in the area.

The team successfully retrieved 3,857 tablon, but failed to arrest anyone.

But inspite of illegal activities at Sierra Madre, the Dumagats are still living within the area and refuse to live in more urban part of Bulacan.

“Matagal na kami dito, kaya ayaw na naming umalis. Mas sanay kaming mabuhay dito,” said a Dumagat.

Food other necessities were sometimes donated by visitors, but most of the time, they have to go in towns to buy their needs.

“May kinabubuhay naman kami dito, nagtataga kami ng mga kahoy tapos binebenta naming sa patag,” the Dumagat woman furthered.

While Dumagat’s livelihood came from legal way, timber poaching activities are still uncontrollable in Sierra Madre.

“Yong kasing batas natin ngayon masyadong mahina, masyadong mababa ang parusa, kaya kami sinusulong naming sa kongreso ‘yong tinatawag na FRB, o Forest Recovery Bill, hopefuly maraming congressman ang sumoporta,” Bro.Francisco said.

The bill strengthens the parameters of what is legal logging and what is illegal. More prime species will be protected by the bill and the task force is hoping the national government will support it.






It took days before the operation was made due to careful planning and avoidance of leakage. Still, the suspects managed to escape leaving prime species of woods behind.





“Ang illegal activity do’n talagang nando’n dahil sa presence ng illegal occupants, dito ang ginagawa nila, nagnanakaw sila ng kahoy, pero sa batas, illegal logging ‘yong ginagawa nila,” said Mendel Garcia of AWAT.


Garcia also said he is promoting to strengthen laws against illegal logging.


“Yong kasing batas natin ngayon masyadong mahina, masyadong mababa ang parusa, kaya kami sinusulong naming sa kongreso ‘yong tinatawag na FRB, o Forest Recovery Bill, hopefuly maraming congressman ang sumoporta,” Bro. Martin Francisco of AWAT said.





The bill strengthens the parameters of what is legal logging and what is illegal. More prime species will be protected by the bill and the task force is hoping the national government will support it.

[OPINION]Beyond Margins I: When Stupidity Cured My Fears

The scenario will always be like this: when the dusts are settled, uncertainties will eventually seep in.






When I first heard my name being called as the new literary editor I was very happy. Who will not be, when you finally reached one of your dreams right? Preparation for the coming days is smooth sailing until I realized; part of the job is also doing an opinion column. I am now tasked to write what’s going on around my mind every now and then. Being a blogger for almost four years now, strangely, I felt I can’t do it. I doubt my capabilities to write something that will be good enough to be called as an opinion column. I doubt my thoughts. I doubt my personal beliefs. I doubt if I can entertain or inspire at least someone.

It’s like when a person who used to speak only in front of few people was suddenly standing in front of a huge crowd to give a speech. What will I write? What if I write something that I’ll regret afterwards? What if my thoughts hurt someone? What if I made a mistake?

The dusts were gone and there goes a marching band of uncertainties. Wait, let me erase that one. Uncertain is an understatement. I was not uncertain. I was afraid.


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Few weeks after, ‘afraid’ became an understatement too.

Sunday, June 2 2013 at around 7:30 in the evening, I was riding an almost empty jeepney home-bound. Since I easily forget things, and that includes innocently forgetting to pay fares(emphasis on ‘innocently’), I promised myself quite some time ago that every time I ride a jeepney I will pay immediately once I am comfortably sitting as a passenger. That evening was an exception. How I wished it is not, because when I finally remember my promise and knew I almost forgot to pay again, I realized that I left my wallet at the university which is by then, around 2 kilometers away from where I am already.

I got off the jeep knowing that the driver was very doubtful if I really forgot my wallet or I’m just a regular passenger who mastered the art of doing “1-2-3”. I found myself standing all by myself along the poorly-lit McArthur Highway, with tall grasses by the dark sidewalk, without someone to ask for help, not even a peso in my pocket, and having the urge to hit myself for being too stupid. It only took a matter of seconds for me to know, that night will surely be long and unforgettable. It only took a matter of seconds to cry due to frustration. It only took a matter of seconds for me to feel the huge wave of fears. A long walk alongside a familiar street way back home is not new for me. But long walk along a strange highway is. Yet, I decided to do it since I can’t rely on anyone else but me.

An hour later, I reached BulSU, telling the guard that I forgot my wallet and silently hoping he will accompany me inside since it was very late and the university was almost deserted. Also, according to them Law Building has its own share of creepy stories. But he didn’t grant my silent wish. I was forced to go on my own. Again, I was afraid. I was very scared while I’m walking in, getting upstairs, heart beating fast and loud music to distract me. But maybe, due to everything that happened, I’m too drained to think anymore that moment. All I wanted was to get my wallet, go home, sleep and when the morning comes, I’ll just remember everything and laugh.

28 days after, here I am, still laughing while I remember that night.


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Yes, it is true that when the dusts are settled, uncertainties will always seep in. But it doesn’t end with that. We have to end uncertainties by moving, by risking to know what the next thing to happen, for the reason that if we will be stuck in our state of being afraid, if we let our fears eat us up, then we have nowhere to go anymore.

Thousands of years ago, nobody thought human can reach the moon. It took almost half a century before our country moved to be free from the Spaniards. It took almost 19 years for me to learn how to ride a bicycle. My father must be right; it is very easy for us to think we can’t instead of thinking how we can.

We fear negative things and that’s normal. Yet, most of the time, we focus on those negative thoughts that we forget that there will always be two sides of the coin. We may be rejected but there’s also a possibility of us being accepted. There will be a lot of “No” to come, as well as a lot of “Yes”. The result can be worse, but it also can be better.

I fear writing an opinion column. But I am more afraid to the thought of failing to do my responsibility. Now I’m doing something to move ahead those fears. I write.

[PHOTO] Barasoain Church Preparation for Republic Day

[PHOTO] Lunar Halo or Moon Bow

A view of Lunar Halo or Moon bow at Bulacan State University last January 13.

[NEWS]Sa gitna ng panganib ng 7.2 magnitude na lindol.. 7 sa bawat 10 Bulakenyo, pabor sa Dam Break Drill

Matapos ang isinagawang Angat Dam Break Drill noong Disyembre 13, pito sa bawat sampung Bulakenyo ang pumabor sa naging hakbang ng pamahalaang panlalawigan.

Tinatayang umabot ng 12,000 ang lumahok sa nasabing aksyon ng Provincial Government of Bulacan sa tulong na rin ng iba’t ibang ahensya nito at apat sa mga pangunahing unibersidad ng lalawigan; Bulacan State University, Bulacan Polytechnic College, La Consolacion University- Philippines at Centro Escolar University.

Nagdulot naman ito ng iba’t ibang reaksyon mula sa mga Bulakenyo.

Para kay Ernesto Villafuerte, Education major mula sa BulSU, ang nasabing drill ay makakatulong sa lalawigan para maging handa sa maaring maging sakuna ng pagkawasak ng dam.

“Sa pananaw ko bilang isang mag-aaral, ang pagsasagawa ng ganitong drill ay nagpapatunay lamang na tayo ay dapat na mamulat na mula sa mga naranasan natin mga kalamidad sa ating bansa na nagdulot ng maraming pinsala.” anito.

Ganito rin ang saloobin ni Katrina Bautista mula sa Tikay, Malolos Bulacan.

“Nabigyan ng impormasyon ung mga bata tungkol dun sa danger ng Angat Dam if ever nga na masira ‘yon, sa ginawa nilang drill alam na ng karamihan kung paano ang gagawin, hindi ‘yong mamamatay nalang tayo ng walang ginawa,” ani Bautista.

Sa kabila nito, may ilang mga residente na nagsasabing hindi sapat ang drill para mailayo sa tiyak na kapahamakan ang humigit kumulang tatlong milyong Bulakenyo.

“Kasi if ever man na mabibiyak o masisira ang dam for sure kahit may time differential ang pag agos nun dito sa atin, hind nadin ako mag lalakad o tatakbo hahanap nalang ako ng building katulad sa school,” ani Andrew Estrella, IT Major ng BulSU.

Sinang ayunan naman ito ni Heidi Toledo, isang ina mula sa sa Guiguinto. Anito, mas kailangan ng Angat Dam ng pagsasaaayos at pagpapatibay pa kasabay ng paghahanda sa mga tao.

“Mahirap kasi na hinahanda mo ‘yong mga tao pero wala kang aksyon sa dam mismo. Pwede naman siguro na habang tinuturuan mo ang mga tao sa dapat gawin, kinukumpuni rin nila ‘yong Angat [Dam], mahalaga ‘yon, mas tumataas ‘yong chance na makaligtas tayo, kapag drill lang kasi, para kasing naghihintay lang tayo ng pagkamatay natin,” ani Toledo.

Ang kinatatakutan

Parte ang nasabing drill sa paghahandang isinasagawa ng Provincial Government of Bulacan simula nang kumpirmahin ni Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Director Ronato Solidum ang maaaring pagyanig na magaganap sa nalalapit na panahon.

Ayon kay Solidum, isang 7.2 magnitude na lindol ang inaasahang maganap malapit sa Marikina West Valley Fault na nananalaytay hanggang sa isang parte ng Angat Dam. Dahil dito, noong 2009, agad na humingi ng tulong ang noo’y kinatawan na si Governor Willy-Alvarado sa National Government para sa isang agarang aksyon.

““The danger of movement of soil is near within a period of three years, but 2009 nang ako’y magdeliver ng privilege speech, it was already four years ago, hinog na hinog na,” ani Alvarado.

Sinasabing kapag nangyari ang pagkawasak ng dam dulot ng lindol, lulubog ang malaking bahagi lalawigan at ilang kalapit na probinsya.

“Ayon sa pag-aaral, ang ating Dam which is carrying 815 million metric tons of water, ay magdadala ng 30 metrong lalim ng tubig sa lalawigan ng Bulacan, Pampanga at Metro Manila,” dagdag ng Gobernador.

Naudlot na pagsasalba

Matapos ang privilege speech ng gobernador noong 2009, naglabas ng budget si Pangulong Noynoy Aquino noong nakaraang taon na nagkakahalaga ng 5.7 billion pesos para kumpunihin ang dam at patibayin ito. Ngunit ayon kay Alvardo, ni isang kusing ay wala pa ring nagagastos para sa nasabing proyekto.

“Dinedebate pa nila hanggang ngayon kung sino ba ang magpapagawa, ang national government ba o ang K-Water na Koreano, hindi tayo pagmamalasakitan ng mga Koreano, nandito lamang sila para magnegosyo,” hinaing ng gobernador.

Sinabi pa nito na mas makakabuti kung habang maaga pa ay masagawa na ang pagsasaayos sa dam dahil mayroon namang pondo para dito at nang sa gayon ay mapayapa na ang kalooban ng mga Bulakenyo. Sa privilege speech nito noong 2009, naglabas din ng sama ng loob ang gobernador sa hindi pakikialam ng Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) ukol sa tunay na estado ng dam kahit pa 90% ng tubig na kinokonsumo ng Maynila ay galing sa Angat Dam.

“At ngayon, sa halip na pagtuunan ng pansin ang bagay na ito at paglaanan ng pondo ang pagkukumpuni at restorasyon ng Angat Dam upang mailigtas ang libu-libong mga naninirahan sa lalawigan mula sa kapahamakan, ay pagtatayo ng isang bagong Dam ang kanilang inaatupag at pingkakaabalahan. At ang kanilang ikinababahala ay ang inumin ng mga taga-Metro Manila sa 2015!” anito.

Nagbigay naman ng grade na 9 out of 10 ang Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region III Director Josefina Timoteo sa ginanap na drill.

“Ganito rin po sana ang maging tugon ninyo sa aktuwal [na Dam Break] upang maiwasan ang pagkakitil ng buhay,” anito.

[NEWS]In spite of the issue of being ineffective… APO runs for the 8th time castigating PDAF scam

Alpha Phi Omega (APO) Epsilon Kappa Chapter held their oblation run again for the 8th time, reminding the Bulacan State University on the issue of Public Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) Scam, December 4.




Carrying the theme of ‘Sino ang dapat makinabang, Nawawalang kaban ng bayan?’, a total of 30 members of the fraternity participated in the event, urging the students and BulSU community to keep their eyes on the issues of PDAF scam amidst national calamity brought by Typhoon Yolanda.




"Yong pinaglalaban natin ngayon or 'yong gusto naming i-address ngayon ay 'yong issue sa PDAF. Kasi alam naman natin na nagkaro'n tayo ng mga kalamidad pero hindi naman natin sinasabi na 'wag nating i-etsapuwera 'yon. Nakikisimpatiya kami do'n, kaso nga lang sana wag makalimutan ng mga tao na before that meron tayong issue nA malaking kinahaharap which is PDAF. Masyado nan nakakalimutan 'yong issue." said Jerone Sanchez, APO Epsilon Kappa Chapter Chancellor.




Aside from the issue of PDAF, the fraternity also supports the fight against Roadmap to Public Higher Education Reform (RPHER). But inspite of different advocacy that the runners want the community to be concern of, students have different opinion about the effectiveness of the fraternity in informing the BulSU community.




“Siguro para sa akin, effective naman kasi naca-caught naman ‘yong atensyon ng university dahil sa ginagawa nila eh, ‘yong way naman kasi ng pag-iinform nila sa atin, ginagawa na rin ng ibang university pero at least, sa atin, meron din at may gusto silang mabago kaya ginagawa nila ‘yon,” said Luisa Andrada,from CAL.




While others still believes that the annual run is still effective as advocacy campaign, some students says otherwise.




“Sa tingin ko po hindi na s’ya gano’n ka-effective na way para marinig ng mga estudyante, kasi may ilan na kaya lang nagpupunta e para makakita ng mga bagay na gusto nila makita, pero kung tutuusin, hindi naman nila nakukuha ‘yong mensahe na gusto iparating ng pagtakbo ng APO. Pumupunta lang sila for the entertainment factor,” said Carl Espiritu.

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UNMASKED. After running for their advocacy, an APO member took off his mask and hopes that their message will echo across the university.

[NEWS]Maguindanao massacre not yet hopeless.. Journalists, students, Bulakenyos still cries for justice

The long wait is not yet over, still, not hopeless.

Local journalists, students and advocates trooped again infront of Provincial Capitol of Bulacan to commemorate the still hanging case of Maguindanao Massacre, November 21.

The ceremony started with a parade around the capitol with placards showing different messages about the case. "Justice by 2016" is the main cry of the crowd composed of journalists from different local and national newspapers, Bulacan State University students and faculty, and La Consolacion University of the Philippines students. After the parade, various representatives from different sectors gave their speeches with the same theme; for the case to be resolved and to stop the culture of impunity in the country.

"Expected ko na, na aabot ng ganito katagal. Una palang, umaattend na ako ng ganitong activities nong estudyante ako, ngayon nagtratrabaho na ako sa media, parte na ako ng mga practitioners, nandito pa rin tayo, so i-expect natin na matagal talaga 'yong pagkakataon na makukulong kahit na sino man sa pamilya ng Ampatuan. May hope pa naman sa kaso dahil lahat naman ng ebidensya, nagtuturo sa kanila[Ampatuan], kailangan lang talaga natin tanggapin na minsan 'yong hustisya, may pinapanigan," said Ron Lopez from Manila Bulletin and former Journalism student of Bulacan State University.

Furthermore, it is not only journalists who has a say on the issue but also aspiring ones.

"As a communication student, mahalaga talaga na may ganito tayong activities, mahalaga na namumulat tayo sa buhay ng mga mamamahayag, na sa totoong work na, nakalagay ang isang paa natin sa hukay. Pero kung talaga desidido ka, ang kailangan mo lang talaga gawin ay 'yong sabihin 'yong totoo, kasi 'yon ang dapat. At kahit may ganito, patuloy natin kalampagin ang gobyerno," said Danica Mae Puevo, Communication student from LCUP.

After the speeches is a candle lighting ceremony where everyone offered a prayer for the souls of the 32 journalists who died four years ago, and also for the victims of the Typhoon Yolanda.

[REPORT]John Hohenberg, “The Professional Journalist” Joseph Lariosa, “Pinoy Pulitzer winner fined $378 for driving without license”

People are already sleeping in the urban, as well as in rural areas. Most establishments are starting to close. The sky’s color is at its peak. You can lie in the middle of highways. Only few people are awake, staring at no particular scenery outside their window, gulping their 7th cup of coffee. They can’t sleep, because in their hands lies the gravity of tomorrow. Literally.

In the middle of a night, as the world is sleeping, few people are fighting the urge to close their eyes, bounded by the huge responsibility to be the story tellers of history, bounded by the huge responsibility to take a lot of care their license, their credibility.

Ironically, credibility and its twin brother, honesty are not taught in school. They are not included in any course syllabus or curriculum. They are acquired by years of experience, and the natural-born urge to serve. As the years of experience is unfolding, also the years of struggle to fight off temptations like corruption and masking the truth for material gain.

But credibility and honesty once again proved their might as Filipino Pulitzer Prize winning-journalist-turned-immigration rights crusader Jose Antonio Vargas was fined $378 last October 5 after pleading guilty to driving without a valid license during his pre-trial before Judge Marilyn Kaman of the 4th Judicial District of Hennepin County in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
According to Nancy Peters, Public Affairs-Communications Specialist of the Minnesota Fourth Judicial District, Vargas “pled guilty to driving without a valid driver’s license and paid the petty misdemeanor fine of $378. His attorney signed the fine payment slip.”
The 31-year-old Vargas was driving he was stopped by a Minneapolis State Patrol officer, who ticketed him for driving without valid license.

In his essay in the New York Times, Vargas said he obtained a driver’s license in Washington State in 2011 after his Oregon license expired.

“Early this year, just two weeks before my 30th birthday, I won a small reprieve: I obtained a driver’s license in the state of Washington.”

“The license is valid until 2016. This offered me five more years of acceptable identification – but also five more years of fear, of lying to people I respect and institutions that trusted me, of running away from who I am.”

It was reported that Vargas’ driver’s license was revoked by Washington state but Vargas did not surrender his driver’s license.
In his tell-all article in the New York Times last June 2011, Vargas outed himself as an undocumented immigrant in the US he was 12 years old when his parents sent him to the US to live with his grandfather in California. Never in his whole life he imagined to become one of the 11.2 million illegal immigrants living in the US as of 2011( 270,000 of them are illegal immigrants from the Philippines).

Near the first anniversary of his outing last May in Chicago, he told a group that he had been on a speaking tour in 60 events in 20 states in 11 months after writing his first-person account in the New York Times Magazine on June 22, 2011.

And days after he and about 2,000 undocumented immigrants made the cover of Time magazine, President Barack Obama signed on to the new policy of Secretary Janet Napolitano of the Department of Homeland Security, allowing from 1.2 million up to 1.7 million undocumented young immigrants to apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). However, Antonio did not qualify for benefits under DACA, which only accepts 30-year-old applicants. He turned 31 last February.

Vargas, one of those people who fight off sleepiness and corruption, one of the story tellers of history, is not a demigod. He is a journalist

[REPORT]The Importance of Media

Media have been and will always be the prime distributor of information from the sources to the masses. Since the beginning, from those times when the only communication device to be used is telephone, down at this present time when sharing of information is one click away, media practitioners always find quick ways to relay the news and information to the people. As those years passes by and as numerous media people started conquering Philippine politics, their fellows have been waiting for one solid law that will be enforce to protect the rights of media men. The waiting continues until early this year.

Of course, we cannot deny the fact that there are certain provisions in few existing laws that can be considered to be an advantage for media people. There is the Article III, Section 4 of the Philippine Constitution which empowers the freedom of speech, of expression, and of the press, and Article IX concerning foreign media ownership. But there is no law made solely for the media alone.

Until President Noynoy Aquino, the Data Privacy Act (Republic Act 10173) in August and the Cybercrime Prevention Act (Republic Act 10175) in September.

At first glance, you can’t tell that these laws will affect the media industry in a very disastrous manner. The Data Privacy Act states that, although the free flow of information promotes innovation and growth, it is essential that personal information in the government’s and private sector’s information and communications systems is secured and protected, while the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act supposedly protects the people from cyber crime offenses like cybersquatting, cybersex, child pornography, identity theft, illegal access to data and libel.

But at these present times when the competition in the media industry is stiff, when information flows should be as fast as it can be, media is really affected by these laws which prohibits them to get information and relay it all at once. It slows down information and news, and people have to wait for a long time to know.

The two laws doesn't really block the information flow, but it limits the media and the people on what they are and they are not suppose to know.

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As said in the book, Media ownership is one of the most problematic aspects of the media institution in the Philippines. Foreign people are prohibited to own a media outlet without any solid reason. That is why even if a media company is slowly losing its funds to support their operation, any foreign man cannot help the company by funding it and eventually be the owner of the outlet.

The prime reason why there’s provision in the law because of the issue of influence of the owner to the views and opinions of the people working in the media outlet they own. Of course, you cannot go against the person feeding you, as they say, so an invisible limit to the news and information and there, whether they admit it or not.

This reason may be applied also to fellow Filipino media owners, but a foreign one is more harder to be controlled by the government due to the reason of being ‘loyal’ not to the Philippines but to his own country. It can be an easy way of foreign countries to control what they can in our own land. Of course, media is an obvious target, because if you can control it, then it will not be hard for you to control public’s opinion, too. The media is the main distributor of information, anything they release on public will be the truth in the eyes of some or many.

Public believes in media, and anyone who can control what the media can release is vital to the views and opinion of the Filipinos.