Bishops, clergy visit Naval to join Episcopal ordination anniversary celebration of the bishop of Naval

By FLOR JACKSON (PIA Biliran)
October 20, 2006

NAVAL, Biliran – The day, Tuesday, October 17, 2006 is a very memorable occasion for His Excellency Most Reverend Filomeno Bactol, Bishop of the Diocese of Naval as he celebrates his silver Episcopal ordination anniversary here in Naval, the capital town of Biliran province.

The town of Naval was set in a festive mood since Monday as preparations were set for the grand affair as the bishops, the clergy and the religious sisters and other guests from all over Eastern Visayas and from other places as far as Dumaguete, Iloilo, Manila to include guest priests from Sarawak, Indonesia started arriving to join Bishop Bactol on this occasion.

A welcome dinner party at the Naval Institute of Technology (NIT) gymnasium was tendered to honor Bishop Bactol on the eve of the big day, and to welcome all the guests which include Msgr. Pedro R. Dean, Archbishop Emeritus of Palo; Msgr. Angel Hobayan, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Catarman; Msgr. Leonardo Medroso, Bishop of Borongan and Msgr. Jose Mari Delgado, Rector of the St. Vincent Seminary in the Archdiocese of Jaro, Iloilo who are attending the celebration.

The evening was also graced by the former First Lady of the Philippines, Madame Imelda Romualdez-Marcos who was elegantly dressed in her blue terno.

She was accompanied by Mrs. Luz Mate, former fist lady of the city of Tacloban, former Congresswoman of Masbate Luz Bacunawa, Mrs. Lily Montejo and Mr. Odon Sabarre, artist in residence of Region 8 and a ballet dance scholar to Russia sponsored by Mrs. Marcos - all are close friends of Mrs. Marcos and of Bishop Bactol.

Local officials of the province were also present led by Mayor Gerardo G. Espina, Sr.

A cultural presentation was arranged by the priests from the diocese of Naval together with the religious sisters, faculty and students of the Cathedral School of La Naval to honor Bishop Bactol and to entertain the guests.

Part of the activities of the cultural night was a video presentation highlighting the life of Bishop Bactol since he entered the seminary, became priest - until his Episcopal ordination and his appointment as bishop of the diocese of Naval up to the present.

Messages given by his close friends and other religious personalities were likewise shown in the video presentation and all they could wish for the Bishop is good health, more success and fulfillment of his dreams in his chosen vocation.

For his part, Msgr. Pedro Dean, expressed his thanks to Bishop Bactol publicly for his cooperation during his stint as Archbishop of Palo.

He gave this piece of advice to the honoree as he said “you welcome worries, disappointments, burdens because these humps in life are not to give you problems but to ask you to go slow so that you can reach the peak of fulfillment of your life as bishop and as servant of God.

“I hope you can reach the golden years of your episcopacy”, he said.

Meanwhile, the silver Episcopal ordination anniversary of Msgr. Filomeno Bactol, Bishop of Naval on Tuesday was highlighted with a Pontifical concelebrated mass.

The mass was attended by six bishops from region 8 to include Msgr. Pedro R. Dean, Archbishop Emeritus of Palo; Msgr. Emmanuel Trance, Bishop of Catarman and Msgr. Angel Hobayan, Bishop Emeritus of Catarman; Msgr. Maximiano Cruz, Bishop Emeritus of Calbayog; Msgr. Isabelo Abarquez, Auxiliary Bishop of Palo; Msgr. Leonardo Medroso, Bishop of Borongan and some 100 priests from all over region 8 and other parts of the Visayas area to include the priests from the diocese of Naval as concelebrants with Bishop Bactol, the honoree, as the main celebrant.

Bishop Medroso who was the homilist, described Bishop Bactol, who has no other ambitions in life but to serve God as a priest and bishop, is a very simple person who makes every bishop’s meeting and gathering alive further saying that he is dearly missed whenever he is not around because of his bright ideas and skills in planning.

“The honoree is keen about discipline and he always work hard for the good of the community – trabaho lang walang personalan” Msgr. Medroso further said.

Earlier, after the processional, the message of Archbishop Fernando Filoni, D.D. Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines was read congratulating Bishop Bactol and wishing him to sustain more years of his episcopacy.

Likewise, the message of Pope Benedict XVI from the Vatican City was read in Italian language by Fr. Benjie Pantas, pairsh priest of Caibiran in Biliran province and in the Cebuano dialect by Msr. Silas Florencio also of the Diocese of Naval.

The Pope sent his warm greetings to the honoree and told him to continue guarding his flock as he moves on in his journey.

He appreciated the honoree for his very fruitful stint as Rector of Palo Seminary.

Before the Pontifical concelebrated mass ended, Bishop Bactol who has no other ambition in life but to serve God as a priest and bishop, delivered a message thanking all his guests for their valued presence on said occasion.

“I am speechless”, he said as he paused for a while and started saying thank you to the six bishops in Region 8 present, the priests from the different parts of region 8, Visayas area and from Indonesia, the religious sisters from various congregations and other distinguished guests which include former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Congresswoman Remedios Petilla of the first district of Leyte, Former Mayor of Tacloban City Uldarico Mate and his wife Mrs. Luz Mate, and Naval Mayor Gerry Espina.

Hepatitis not water-borne, water utility assures

By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern Leyte)
October 20, 2006

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte  –  Engr. Gaudencio Alejandria, the Manager of Maasin Water District (MWD) here, has assured the drinking public that water is not the primary channel in which hepatitis A-inducing ailment can infect others, as what he had learned.

Having said that, however, he said he was open to investigation and in fact a probe was conducted by health authorities where water samples were taken from their water sources and other suspect points in the distribution system of the District, the findings of which may be available next week.

In a press conference held at the MWD Office Tuesday, October 17, Alejandria announced that the major sources of water in their area of concern were duly chlorinated, treated, and filtered, with regular, periodic examinations of random water samples.

Still, the possibility of contamination is there, with cross-connections and dirty water tanks in concessionaires’ service lines, factors which were already beyond the control of the water utility firm, Alejandria said.

Alejandria hastily called the audience with local media to express his side of a flash report aired over DYDM by Leticia Tan, this city’s Department of Health (DOH) representative, about the sudden rise of outpatient consultation mostly involving students who displayed signs of Hepa A disease.

Tan had revealed that as per her office’s monitoring of the situation, some 24 students had come to the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Provincial Memorial Hospital displaying symptoms of Hepa A, such as stomach ache, slight fever, and yellowish eyes.

But none of those who came for physical consultation were admitted, for they were just sent home after receiving medication, Tan said, adding that she was closely following developments of those who had consulted.

Among the barangays in the city proper identified as having sporadic cases of Hepa A symptoms were barangays Combado, Tagnipa and Tunga-tunga.

Tan said the infection from Hepa A was caused primarily from a virus absorbed in food, water, and unsanitary conditions in the home, including personal hygiene.

Water District Manager Alejandria expressed confidence that water from their sources was not the main cause since the cases reported so far was scattered and not rampant as in one block was affected altogether.

PGMA urges Samareños to unite for peace and progress

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
October 18, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the occasion of her visit to celebrate with the people of Calbayog on the occasion of their 58th Charter Day commemoration urged all Samareños to unite for peace.

Speaking before an estimated 3,000 Samareños gathered at the Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST), the President introduced her military officials whom she said could very well maintain peace and order in the area.

She mentioned LtGen. Cardoso Luna, who she said has a very impressive record of pursuing peace. She also mentioned 8th ID Chief MajGen. Rodrigo Maclang who has been newly installed as the 8th ID Commander based in Catbalogan, Samar. Another General, now PNP 8 Regional Director Eliseo dela Paz joined the ranks of the mentioned generals with the same mission: promote peace and eventually progress in Samar.

The President said that before Calbayog and Samar would be able to revive its old glory witnessed then by her father the Late President Diosdado Macapagal who ordered the construction of Calbayog Port in its prime, Calbayog and Samar have to achieve peace in all the villages in the area before it can attain progress.

Aside from emphasizing the benefits of peace in the area, the President also stressed that a Notice to Proceed regarding the construction of the Calbiga-Calbayog road section rehabilitation project amounting to P2.8 billion – a much sought after development project for the province of Samar has been given. This received a loud applause from the masses.

The President was joined by all congressmen of the whole Samar island, Governor Evardone was the only governor who attended the program. PIA learned though that Governor Milagrosa Tan joined the President and Party at the airport. She was accompanied during her visit by Secretary Arturo Yap, Secretary Gabriel Claudio who is also from Samar, Assistant Secretary of Air Transportation Office Nilo Jatico, among others.

PGMA also unveiled projects in Calbayog which the national government has supported, foremost of which is the Cabagyang Bridge, the Transco Project and the awarding of Secure Tenure Certificate to some 1,700 informal settlers.

It has been a while that the Samareños have yearned for the visit of President Gloria Macapgal-Arroyo and her less than two-hour stay seemed to have appeased them.

PGMA awards Security Tenure Certificates to informal settlers in Calbayog City

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
October 17, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her visit to Calbayog City on Tuesday (October 16) distributed Secure Tenure Certificates to some 1,700 Calbayog City informal settlers through the presidents of several housing cooperatives all over the city of Calbayog.

According to Assistant City Administrator Alan Diomangay, the so called informal settlers (squatters) were relocated to different areas throughout the city. The City government led by Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento has devised ways and means to relocate them with the cheapest cost of three to four pesos per day.

These informal settlers lived in areas of high risks of being swept out to sea or being washed away by flooding due to swelling of rivers during stormy weather.

The city government then, approached the land owners of the areas where there are squatters. It was the city government which negotiated sale of the private land to the government itself and in turn the recipient pays the lot according to his capacity to pay. Diomangay said some would pay as low as P3.00 to P6.00 a day. The payment will last for 25 years, he added.

Others too lived in lots owned by the government, though legally transferred. This comprises some 20% of the land area occupied by the informal settlers. Still, the city has a lot more of them, but Calbayog City envisions a better, more secure places for them. But Diomangay said, this has to be addressed one at a time.

The relocation area has now totaled some ten hectares. The organized homeowners association came in droves to see the President though only their officers were invited to participate in the ceremonial distribution.

Others were just content to wave to the President who brought a flicker of hope to these poor families. Yolanda Villar, one of the cooperative presidents said she is happy with the coming of the President who unveiled mostly pro-poor projects initiated by the City government.

DSWD-Samar assures educational assistance to rescued NPA minors

By ELI C. DALUMPINES (PIA Samar)
October 15, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) here assured the rescued child warriors that they can continue their studies after they will be turned over by the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, to the DSWD’s Crisis Center in Tacloban City.

PSWDO Luz D. Tacal, in a press conference Wednesday, said the social welfare department will shoulder the expenses of the children while they are in the custody of the DSWD undergoing rehabilitation.

This was in response to the issues raised by the media concerning the education of the five minors whose schooling had been stopped after they have been recruited by the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

In earlier interview, Ka Liza, Medical Officer of the Batter Unit of the Central Front-Samar 1, Samar Provincial Party Committee, informed she was just finishing her 5th Grade when the NPA recruited her to join the revolutionary movement.

She said a certain Tito came to their house in Brgy. Catundan in San Jorge and invited her to attend a three-day lecture on various social issues, including that of the political overview of the communist movement.

After a few months, however, she was left in charge in educating new recruits until being assigned as medical officer of the unit.

Maryjane, meanwhile, was in her 6th Grade in an elementary school in Brgy. Socorro, Catbalogan when her father brought her to the mountains last September 5, this year to join the movement.

Maryjane said she is still willing to go back to school but Ms. Tacal said it would be very risky if she still goes to the same school she was attending since the possibility is great that the NPAs will get her back.

Ms. Tacal informed though that they will be more secure if they will be placed in the DSWD facility in Tacloban City.

Lt. Col. Glorivine Dida, Commanding Officer of the 34th Infantry Battalion informed earlier that they are only waiting for a signal from the DSWD when they will turn over the rescued child warriors.

In the same development, the 14th IB led by Lt. Col. Wilson Leyva, has likewise rescued three minors who have been positively identified as NPA members in a barangay in San Jose de Buan, an interior town of Samar.

Col. Leyva said his unit was responding to a tip by barangay residents of the presence of seven NPA guerillas in their village. The military then arrested Nene, 16, a member of Lawin Platoon; Otoy, 18, also of the Lawin Platoon; and Rex 13, of Dalogdog Platoon, all of the NPA’s Central Front-Samar 1.