TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– Meet the child prodigy of Region 8 – a seven year old boy who
knows by heart, the capital of all the provinces of the Philippines,
the capital of the all the different countries of the world, the flags
of all nations and who could point where each province of the Region
is in the map. And all these, he learned even before
he entered school.
In a recent television
interview, he said he is Joseph Benedict Amascual Cinco.
Where does he live?
“At Barangay Sto. Nino, Tanauan, Leyte.”
Does he know the Mayor
of Tanauan? “Yes, Mayor Roque Tiu. I will become a mayor like him.”
Oh! What will you do
when you become the Mayor of Tanauan? “I will build streetlights,
churches, schools, roads…”
Being introduced to
the Regional Director of NEDA, he said he is Director Gosoco. And does
he know what NEDA stands for? He said, National Economic Development
Authority. Does he know other directors? Yes, he knows Director Ernie
Hilvano of BFAR which stands he said for Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources. Yes, he does know the director of PIA which stands
for Philippine Information Agency. He loves to repeat what Governor
Petilla of Leyte once said
at the Panindugan TV program “we are the best.”
Benjo as he is called
by his parents, Rodrigo and Shiela Cinco, is now enrolled at the City
Elementary School where his teacher is aware that he is a gifted
child. His mother who is a home manager used to introduce to him the
alphabet using anything seen in the house including vegetables. The
mother said Benjo is playful just like any other child and she usually
introduces a new thing to him even when he is playing. She noticed
later on that Benjo easily retains what is taught of him.
What Sheila was not
aware of was that she made the Mackenzie Learning Method, Rule #1, Mom
Has Fun! which is a curiosity-based, judgment free, audio and visual
feedback system that allows a person to see their impact, potential
and brilliance and thus attract a more synchronized, fun and
satisfying lifestyle. The method strengthens a person’s emotional
intelligence thus allowing him to live life in greater accordance with
his essence and vitality.
He is very fond of
watching educational television programs. He knows all the basketball
players of NBA including who the most valuable player is. Asked
whether he knows how to sing, he said yes and what it is would we like
him to sing, English or Panhayhay. It turned out that he is
also watching the local channels.
From watching the
television, he knows the different tourist destinations of the Region
and the whole country. Asked about the tourist destination of Region
8, he said Leyte has the MacArthur Shrine near the MacArthur Park
Beach Resort with good accommodation, restaurant and bar.
Looking at a big map
of Region 8, he pointed correctly and fast, each of the provinces,
Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, the capital of which he volunteered to
inform is Borongan. He knows where
Leyte is and where the capital of
Leyte is and where his
hometown Tanauan is.
He could add and
subtract one digit numbers using his hands; for 2 to three digit
numbers, he writes them and add and subtract the numbers using the
right method. For multiplication, he uses an abacus.
He could speak
English, Filipino and Waray, but when asked what the capital of Japan
is, he said Tokyo and he uttered some Japanese words. When asked about
the capital of China, he said Beijing and again, uttered some Chinese
words.
Benjo plays just like
any other seven year boys but he thinks like a boy who is older than
his age.
One thing certain is
that Benjo is born with a unique gift. People who recognize that gift
must act upon it. There is a need for something new, something
honouring this fast moving world, something that could bring out the
best in this child’s genius.
The making of an
Outstanding Policeman of Region 8
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 8, 2006
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte –
The inclusion of a Region 8 policeman as one of the Country’s
Outstanding Policemen this year, is a very refreshing news for the
Eastern Visayans.
Thanks to Senior
Police Officer 3 Nestor Kahano, his winning proved that there are many
admirable police officers in Region 8 and it is unfair for society to
make generalizations every time that they hear bad things happening in
the police institution.
Senior Police Officer
3 Nestor Kahano dropped by the PIA office fresh from his early morning
flight from Manila, a picture of a dignified young police officer
worthy to be called one of the country’s top cops.
A graduate of Bachelor
of Science in commerce major in Accounting at the Divine Word
University in Tacloban City in 1982, SPO3 Kahano has been a permanent
member of the Philippine National Police since February 19, 1987.
Currently, he is assigned with the Office of the Regional Intelligence
and Investigation Division, Police Regional Office 8 at Camp Kangleon,
Palo, Leyte.
Within his 19 years of
service in the Philippine National Police, SPO3 Kahano has received 67
medals and 41 commendations for exemplary performance in the police
service.
He was a Regional
Awardee receiving a plaque of Merit on the occasion of the 15th PNOP
anniversary on February 7, 2006 from Police Chief Superintendent
Eliseo dela Paz having been adjudged as the Best Senior Police
Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.
In view of his
outstanding performance in police administration and operations
particularly in the areas of Crime prevention and control,
peacekeeping and internal security operations, law enforcement, public
safety and community relations, SPO3 Kahano has also been a national
awardee as the Best Senior Police Non-Commissioned Officer for the
year 2005 on the occasion of the 15th PNP Anniversary on January 30
2006, receiving a plaque of Merit from PNP Police Director General
Arturo Lomibao.
Among his major
accomplishments in Crime Solution with community involvement are his
direct participation in the conduct of special intelligence and
manhunt operations against three top personalities of the dreaded
Waray-Waray kidnap for Ransom group who were included in the list of
most notorious kidnappers in the country. This operation resulted to
the eventual arrest of Allan Balimbigan with approved monetary reward
of P600,000; Allan Celebre and Silverio Superable with approved reward
of P500,000.00.
He also participated
in the campaign against loose firearms which resulted to the
successful raids in the premises of Ex-Army and Ex-Barangay Captain
ArturoPacasas in Calbayog which resulted in the confiscation of three
baby armalite rifles, one M1 Garand rifle; one Cal. .30 carbine, one
cal .45 pistol; one shotgun and several rounds of ammunition.
The raid in the
premises of Victor Chen alias Chen Fei Chuang in Tolosa,
Leyte resulted in the confiscation of two cal .45 pistols; one
live rifle grenade and several rounds of ammunition. He also
participated in the successful arrest of Alfredo Porra, an escapee
from Carigara sub-provincial jail charged with crimes of robbery with
homicide and murder, approved with a reward of P50,000.00.
SPO3 Kahano has also a
long list of accomplishments in crime prevention with community
involvement like the implementation of Sagip Batang Manggagawa Project
in Region 8, among others.
No wonder, the board
of judges considered SPO3 Kahano as one of the Country’s Outstanding
Policemen. SPO3 Kahano has made Region 8 proud.
Goat milk is nutritious as mother’s
milk
By FLOR JACKSON, (PIA Biliran)
July 3, 2006
NAVAL, Biliran – "If
a child drinks goat’s milk, it is just like he is drinking a mother’s
milk because the vitamins, minerals and nutrients he gets from a
goat’s milk is equivalent to a mother’s milk which is a complete food
in itself," thus said Ms. Nascencia Abad, the Municipal Agricultural
Officer (MAO) of the local government unit (LGU) of Naval who is also
the chairman of the Municipal Nutrition Council (MNC) in said
municipality during the Kapihan forum held live recently at Radyo
Natin-Naval.
She revealed that the
municipality of Naval through the MNC is targeting the total
eradication of malnutrition in the area.
At least, she said,
two of the 26 barangays in the municipality have been identified with
malnourished children.
The MNC of Naval
through the office of Ms. Abad as the MAO has identified Goat for Milk
Production project in all the barangays of the municipality so that
children especially those that were identified as malnourished can
avail of the daily supply of fresh milk extracted from the female
goats.
She added that in
order for the Goat for Milk Production project to be sustainable, a
family-recipient of one female goat will have to return two female
goats months later and this will be given to other households who are
yet to receive their share of the project.
The beneficiaries, she
declared, have nothing to fear if the goats will not survive because
these are fully insured under farm animals and livestock insurance
with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), hence
replacements are at hand anytime.
A training of the
beneficiaries initially identified by the MAO of Naval on the goat for
milk production will be conducted by the first week of July to teach
them how to raise goats for milk production especially in handling and
taking care of the female goats which are the sources of the rich and
nutritious fresh milk.
Furthermore, she said
that the goat for milk production project will be paired off with
vegetable gardening project so that each family in the barangays of
Naval town will have a steady supply of fresh vegetables readily
available right at their own backyards.
A regular feeding
program is also conducted regularly by the MNC of Naval in barangays
with identified malnourished children. Funding of this program comes
from Roselyn Espina-Paras who spends her fund salary as member of the
Sangguniang Bayan of Naval for this particular project.
With these
interventions, Ms. Abad declared, she could not find reasons why
malnutrition in Naval will not be eradicated, though she said, this
can only attain success if the parents especially those with
malnourished children will extend full cooperation and support to what
is expected of them by the Naval MNC and the coordinating agencies.
Based on the data
released by the NNC in region 8, Brgy. Libtong and Brgy. Villaconsuelo
in Naval town have been identified as barangays with malnourished
children in various degrees.
US teacher warns Pinoy educators who
want to teach in US: 'The higher the pay, the harder the job'
By ALEX P. VIDAL / PNS
July 1, 2006
ILOILO CITY – A
visiting science education teacher from the University of Georgia, USA
has warned Filipino teachers intending to teach in the United States
"to be strong" saying US public school teachers are currently facing a
"difficult cultural problem" and that Filipino teachers "might lose
their important values because of the problem of the culture of
teacher."
Dr. Deborah J. Tippins,
now assigned at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) under the
Rotary Foundation University Teacher Grant, told members of the Rotary
Club of Jaro-Iloilo City during its 45th regular weekly meeting last
June 16 at the Amigo Terrace Hotel, that "the job of teachers in the
US is harder even if the pay is big."
"Inter-city schools
(in the US) are difficult to work at as students don't respect the
teachers there," Tippins said.
Eager To Learn
She said unlike in the
Philippines where students are not hard to motivate and are very eager
to learn, "students in the United States are undisciplined; they carry
knives, and they call their teachers bad names, throw chairs and piece
of paper at them."
Tippins said she
learned of so many Filipino teachers in the US that are "oftentimes
struggling" in their workplaces.
It is illegal to pray
in a US classroom, she said, because of their strong adherence to the
separation of state and church. "If you pray in the classroom, you are
automatically fired," she warned. "You can't have religious icons
inside the classroom."
On the contrary, most
classrooms in the
Philippines,
the only Catholic country in Asia, start their morning classes with
prayers and with icons of the crucifixion and the Blessed Virgin Mary
conspicuously displayed above the blackboard.
Values
"Money is not the only
thing in the world (for Filipino teachers)," Tippins stressed.
"Important values might lose (if they can't withstand the problem of
the culture of teacher)."
Tippins said most
American teachers are shying away from inter-city schools but would
demand a "hazard pay" if prevailed upon by the institutions to work
there. And because American teachers avoid inter-city schools, many
Filipino teachers are assigned in these schools, she opined.
In US schools,
teachers are allowed only a 15-minute break for lunch unlike in the
Philippines where teachers can have enough time to prepare for the
next session, Tippins said.
The biggest problem US
schools are facing today is shortage of teachers especially in the
fields of science, Spanish language, mathematics, and special
education "that is the reason why we recruit from the Philippines."
P.E. Teachers
Ironically, she said,
there is an abundance of teachers in the physical education subject
"as everybody wants to teach in sports."
American teachers,
Tippins pointed out, preferred to work in pharmaceutical firms "where
the pay is good and the hazard is less."
There is a shortage of
teachers in the
US
because American schools have more classrooms, she said.
"We have no special
classroom for special students. All students whether bright, gifted,
blind, impaired, artistic are in the same classroom," Tippins
stressed.
Jampacked Classrooms
They only have a
maximum of 21 students per classroom unlike in the Philippines, she
said, where a jampacked classroom can still accommodate from 30 to 50
students.
American teachers,
Tippins added, also have multi-cultural schools and most of the
students are Spanish-speaking Mexican immigrants who don't speak
English making it difficult for them to deal with their different
backgrounds and history.
Tippins, sponsored by
the Rotary Club of Athens, Georgia District 6910, will be here until
August 2006.
She majors in
anthropology research and has been visiting the country since 1999.
NBI probes on EV’s “little league”
champions
By ROMMEL L. RUTOR
June 18, 2006
CATBALOGAN, Samar –
After capturing the championship in the elementary baseball
competition during the “Palarong Pambansa” held in Naga City last
month, the Eastern Visayas region’s delegation composed of players
from this town is now being investigated allegedly by the National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
In a report that
reached this writer, a certain Edgardo Baldemos who identified himself
as an NBI Agent from Tacloban City, and accompanied by one Atty.
Mendoza from the NBI Samar Office, went to Catbalogan II Central
Elementary School (CIICES) here asking for various records of the
pupils who composed the EV team who beat the National Capital Region
in the national finals of the “little league” division in last month’s
national sporting event.
The Little league
Baseball Team coach Orlando B. Abuyen, in June 9 airing of CCATMAN
Weekly Kapehan television, disclosed that the NBI agents went to see
him posing questions regarding the children’s records.
Accordingly, the NBI
Agents also went to Samar National School (SNS) and took out records
of the other siblings of some of the players that represented Eastern
Visayas (EV) in the Palarong Pambansa.
“They told us that
there is big discrepancy on the age gaps of the playing children of
our team to that of their respective siblings, hinting that we might
have faked the age requirements of our players”, Coach Abuyen
stressed.
However, CIICES
Principal Mrs. Sofie L. Rutor clarified that their baseball team’s
records, particularly the age aspect are all undoubtedly straight and
authentic.
Mrs. Rutor voluntarily
provided the NBI with photo copies of the children’s school records,
which were later revalidated with the local civil registrar’s office
here.
“Waray man hira
makikit-an nga diperensiya kay an tinu-od man la nga requirement ha
edad hiton kabataan an am gin-susunod.”, the principal said, adding
that the alleged age gap between one of the players and his brother at
the SNS is obviously significant because having different mothers.
Coach Abuyen likewise
informed that the NBI agents asked for the presence of the children
and started interviewing them, “this despite of the fact that the
national screening committee of the Palarong Pambansa already reviewed
the veracity of our team’s membership”, Abuyen stressed.
Media Hype
“There was no formal
protest actually filed by the NCR against EV region’s little league
team”, this was disclosed by Coach Abuyen.
But accordingly,
because of the alleged media hype instigated by the parents of the
children of the NCR team, the national screening committee “por
delicadeza” conducted a review on the papers and records of the EV
baseball players, but still ruled out that the records are all in
order, said Coach Abuyen.
“Waray man hira mag-file
hin protest, pero nakadto lugod hira ha media pag-yinakan nga kesyo
mga lagas na kuno an mga players han EV”, he stressed.
What Actually
Transpired?
In details, Coach
Abuyen informed the media that during the start of the game, the EV
Team composed of Catbaloganon pupils have beaten all of its opponents
in the preliminary games.
Accordingly, during
the placing game that will determine the Champion and the runner ups,
NCR play against Calabarzon, while EV tackles Cotabato region.
As a result, NCR ruled
over Calabarzon and EV won over Cotabato region, and both of the
winning team faced each other resulting to a loss for the NCR team,
while in the Calabarzon and Cotabato match, Cotabato ruled the game.
“In that case our team
is already on the waiting place for the finals for having beaten all
of the teams with no single loss from the start, and due that we have
the privilege of the ‘twice to beat’ ruling from whoever will come up
again from below”, Coach Abuyen explained.
Accordingly, the game
format will push NCR - after losing to EV - to face Cotabato region
and if will emerge as the victor, it should beat the EV team twice so
to become the game champion.
Typhoon Caloy
The last remaining
games however did pot push through because of Typhoon Caloy.
Coach Abuyen informed
that the Peace Keeping Committee already know the possibility that the
national games will be affected by the upcoming typhoon at that time,
“thus they have contingency plans regarding the rules”, Abuyen told.
“The fact that the EV
team climbed up to the top with no single loss, it could have been
declared as the champion, but NCR protested that the games are not yet
over, and told the committee that if the games will no longer push
through, then the three teams – NCR, Cotabato and EV – should be
declared as the champions”, Coach Abuyen explained.
The EV delegation
however retorted saying that NCR cannot claim for a shared
championship with the EV team because they have been beaten by the EV
players during the semi-final round.
However, to resolve
the issue brought by Typhoon Caloy, the Palarong Pambansa secretariat
ruled out that shared championship be awarded to the said three teams,
but emphasizing that the First Champion is the EV team, represented by
the players from Catbalogan, Samar.
“And until now, maybe
the parents of the NCR team members cannot accept the fact they were
beaten by ‘promdi” players from Samar, kay huna-hunaa nala nga may-ada
usa nga kag-anak didto nga nagyakan nga nasering, kay-ano kuno nga
mapeperdi hira samantalang baseball daw is there game”, Coach Abuyen
concluded.
Last year the
Catbalogan team, who likewise represented the EV region in the said
annual sporting event landed third in the championship.
‘Sick’ pa videotapes 17-year-old
daughter who was taking a bath
By ALEX P. VIDAL / PNS
June 9, 2006
ILOILO CITY – “Forgive me, I didn’t mean it. I’m only sick in the mind and I admit
I need (to see) a doctor.”
This was the appeal
made by a 47-year-old Chinese-Filipino businessman to her 17-year-old
daughter who found the videotape recorder attached to a cellular phone
owned by her father secretly placed inside the bathroom while she was
taking a bath at around 1 o’clock in the afternoon last June 6 in Brgy.
Hipodromo, City Proper here.
“Go away. I don’t want
to see your face anymore. I will report you to my aunt,” screamed
Melody (not her real name), a second year college student at the
University of San Agustin, while running away from the suspect who was
remorseful and apologetic while chasing and egging her not to panic.
Melody’s violent
shouts attracted the attention of her board mates who hid her in one
of the rooms downstairs.
Alone
Melody occupies a room
alone in the second floor of the boarding house. She yelled at the top
of her voice in order to shoo away her frantic father who wanted to
embrace and appease her.
The father, who owns a
big merchandizing store in downtown, City Proper, is not married to
Melody’s mother. He has a legal wife and children and they live in
another house somewhere in the city.
Melody is his love
child to a saleslady who is also married to a cop.
“Please come to me. I
love you and I am your father. I cannot afford to molest you,” the
father appealed in a hoarse voice. “It was (the videotaping) only a
joke.”
But Melody, whose
mother lives with another family also somewhere in the city, said she
now fears her father who provides her regular allowance and pays for
her education and boarding house.
Videocamera
She said she noticed
that her father’s cellular phone equipped with videocamera, which he
purportedly “left” after visiting her earlier, was focusing to her as
she was taking a bath.
When she checked and
rewinded the gadget, she discovered her nude body had been recorded in
the videotape. Melody suspected that her father, who admitted he
fancies sexual toys and some pornographic materials “to escape from my
family problems”, had intentionally and maliciously placed the
cellular phone inside the bathroom.
She complained that
she felt her privacy had been violated and her being a female defiled.
When Melody refused to
face her father and continued to badmouth him, he broke down like a
kid. “It was my fault. I failed to control myself,” he bemoaned.
Warning
He warned Melody not
to tell anybody about what happened and not to call her aunt in the
cellular phone “because they will again use this incident as a big
issue against me and this will worsen my many problems.”
Unable to win her
after 20 minutes of negotiation, the misty-eyed father left and vowed
to return “in a few minutes.”
Later, Melody’s mother
arrived after being tipped by Melody’s aunt who got Melody’s call.
Spewing with unprintables, the 44-year-old mother stayed behind and
slept beside her daughter overnight for the first time in that
boarding house.
“I will kill him if he
returns and harm my daughter,” vowed the mother who, before the
incident happened, communicated only with her daughter through
Melody’s aunt.
