Best Among the Best

Rafael Cachatar of Maligcong Mountain Province Philippines was given a citation by the Lepanto Consolidated Mining company for his exemplary performance in mine safety. He was my mentor in the Boy Scouting movement during the 1970's, he provided our group with readiness and capabilities as real Boy scouts. Being an employee [retired] of the gold mining firm he used his skills as a scout master to provide safety measures for the underground workers as well as those who are working at the surface. Admittedly, it was during his time as a safety inspector that accidents in the mining camp was very minimal thus earning his record as the best among the best when compared with other safety inspectors all over the country. Hopefully such good work of this man will be emulated by others not only his fellow safety inspectors but by the government workers as well, who must work out to be the best among the best of good deeds in their bureau.

Barangay Election In Mt. Province

Let me relate some of the practices done during elections of the smallest local government unit specially in Mountain Province but usually it's almost the same throughout the Philippines except in highly urbanized places. The more relatives a candidate, he has more chances of winning even though he is a gambler and a drunkard or a petty thief. The usual reason if their integrity is questioned is answered in a very positive way, they would say that if these candidate will win they will stop being a thief because he has some allowance from the government so he won't steal from the civilians anymore.How about the gambler? well, he won't gamble the wife savings because he will have a source to capitalize on his vice. The drunkard will now be ashamed to be pissing on his pants in public places if he is elected because he is now a public figure. The electorates are always forgetful specially when given a small amount or a gift from the politician, or they were invited to his birthday party which usually fall before the election. Pretending to be very helpful a month before the election day is the most common gimmick these politicians do to win the people to their side. Surprisingly these politicians are always back all the time, they have mastered the art of politicking. They are in the government service to buy the people, fool the people and off the people.

Five years ago I was talking to Eric Singson,the Vice Governor of Ilocos Sur that time, I ask him if they have plans to create a lateral road link artery for Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur. He answered by describing a plan to connect Vigan, Sagada and Banaue as a major lateral highway connecting three provinces and three regions.HE said, that the highway will be traversing the famous Tirad Pass at Del Pilar, down to the municipality of Quirino Ilocos Sur then up the municipality of Besao and Sagada then to Bontoc Mountain Province where it will link with an on going road concreting towards Banaue Ifugao.Its a good plan though, Its a short cut to the Cordilleras grunting there is a ferry boat from Manila to Vigan just like those old Spanish days. From Vigan to Ifugao will be a short yet historic and picturesque trip. Well, just like this writer Eric was just dreaming that someday the Highway will soon be realized. Yes because even the bridge connecting the town of Cervantes Ilocos Sur and Tadian Mountain Province Was done halfway across the river towards Mountain province side and up to this day it's still unfinished, the last time I saw the bridge was six years ago and until now the project was abandoned with the construction materials rusting away. The Igorots and Ilocanos who are supposed to benefit from this very important bridge have to wait for eternity maybe for the bridge to be finished, the government should make it a criminal act when a contractor abandons his project, this is an economic sabotage and should be dealt with severely, but many lawmakers will not allow it because they are the men behind these dummy contractors.

BAGUIO STOCK FARM TELLS A STORY

A sleeping vast tract of land comes to life as Baguio livestock farmers join hands with the department of agriculture and the National Dairy Authority to establish a privately managed livestock venture by farmers from the surrounding locality. So from a rusting Baguio Dairy farm comes a bustling productive land as government through the enterprising spirit of a few government employees who still retained their idealism to be of service to the people, one of them is a woman veterinarian who was the organizer of the cooperative, she encouraged private livestock raisers and investors within Baguio and Benguet to form an organization purposely to raise animal live stocks and produce dairy products too. During my recent visit to the site I was greatly amazed at the transformation of the stock farm, from an almost abandoned and ill maintained grassland is now a clean and wholesome place to visit. Cows and horses can be seen grazing on the mountain slopes, tall grasses are trimmed and used as fodder. People are seen lining up to buy fresh milk every morning but the demand for fresh milk is more than what the milking cows can supply. This kind of lively hood is what the Philippines need to prosper as an agricultural country. Senator Ramón B Magsaysay gave a support fund from his priority development fund of one million pesos to purchase pregnant island born dairy animals and initial operating expense of the project that has an initial proposed budget of three million six hundred seven thousand and seven hundred fifty pesos for the initial phase. With this kind of venture where private and government sector work together as in this instant case where management is purely in the hands of private managers while the technical aspect and other facilities available is from the government, represented by the National Dairy Authority and the Department of Agriculture, there is a balancing factor to curb the excesses of those who are in government, who do not have real interest in its progress because they are only interested in their salary and sidelines.

The Insured and the Uninsured in the Philippines

Ms. Lorrie Rumbaugh, a balikbayan, an owner of a Fortuner with plate number zem 604 bought from Toyota Quezon avenue, Inc., figured in a traffic accident last September 19 2006 at Dapitan St.cor.KanlaonSt. Quezon City. The car was insured to MAPFRE, The insurance agent of Toyota Company, located at Acacia avenue Madrigal Business Park Ayala Alabang, Muntinglupa city was supposed to pay the cost of repair. So Ms. Rumbaugh had her damaged car estimated by the same car company in the amount of 21,480.00 pesos and promised to make the necessary repair on the damaged car, but it was never fulfilled as of to date. They told her so many alibis; for not doing their obligation. It is better if I should have not reported to this company that I figured in a car mishap and saved lots of money and precious time rather than believing their well planned lies that made me visit their Toyota office so many times, I lost tract of the exact number of days that was wasted going in and out of their office, now I learned a lesson that there is no difference between the insured and uninsured for I didn’t benefit from either, she said.

An Igorot Discourse

It is now election period in the Philippines to fill up local positions and twelve senatorial slates, the polls will be on may 2007.Most of the poor electorates are eagerly looking forward to receive instant cash for selling their votes. It is the busiest time for vote selling and vote buying.This is the best opportunity to get back the taxes undelivered to them in the form of basic services that were long overdue. The winnable candidates are the rich whose family is in the political business for generations while the poor principled ones will never make it.Huge amount of wealth were accumulated by these politicians from graft and corruptions while they were in office, the purpose is continuity of power through vote buying. In mountain province, Philippines ninety eight percent of the inhabitants are Igorots whose lively hood is agriculture. The province is categorized as fourth class, one of the poorest local unit in the Philippines. This miserable condition is not due to lack of funds from the national government but due to the priorities of development were on non essential infrastructures and almost nothing in agriculture. Actually these government projects are implemented to justify the liquidation of huge expenditures because the rest,the amount of about fifty percent of an implemented project went into the pockets of these politicians. To continue their power they see to it that the people will remain poor and make it appear that these politicians are the only source of hope and money.They do this by keeping them hostage through poverty. when election time comes the voters will demand money and the politicians will readily give them. Anyway they will surely recover the amount when they assume office. This is the reason nobody complains, its because they are also a part of the corruption process by being bribed.
The Igorots including me will bear with this kind of system until we are no longer dependent from these corrupt leaders for food,hospitalization, clothings and shelter. The unmonitored campaign expenses of the politicians will show how powerless the commission on election on the fraud being committed. The expenditures too will tell the extent of graft and corruption that will take place after the election is over. Our laws made by these leaders are complex and vague with so many loopholes so that they will have a way to recover their huge expenses.
In the past a family composed of five voters can get a sum of money in the amount of eight to ten thousand pesos plus two sacks of rice from one candidate or an average of five hundred pesos per voter so that in mountain province there are one hundred thirty five thousand voters, multiply that with the money given to each voter plus the food expenses and other expenditures incurred.It will be a huge sum of money to recover. The only way to do that is to meddle with government transactions and create changes,justifications,re-alignments of government funds and projects and profit from it. I call these the mafia in the provincial government of mountain province.
The politicians know that a hungry population won't care for good platforms or good characters,the goodness of a man is measured on how much money he can give. There are only few voters who believe otherwise and there are always the losers.

DEAF COMPUTERS

Friday, February 2, 2007

DEAF COMPUTERS

Living in a society where different government agencies were created to help its citizens in their plight against cruelties and injustices is the best expectation that an ordinary person can receive from his government. To test the claims of many agencies whether local or national,look up at their email addresses and find out that most of these email posts won't answer back when sent mails. Two days ago I sent a letter of inquiry to the office of the ombudsman, www.ombudsman.gov.ph and www.doj.gov.ph to inquire about a complaint of graft and corruption we filed eight months ago against some personnels of the DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES and a BARANGAY CAPTAIN OF MALIGCONG BONTOC MOUNTAIN PROVINCE. I kept on opening my emails for a response but I received none at all. I mentioned only two agencies in this article and its up to the reader to find the others at www.THE AGENCY.gov.ph. Broad bands nowadays are common and are found even at the most remote barrios. This computers are vital links to the central government and will help the citizens from expensive travels, red tapes and other inconveniences. To follow up documents to the central offices is a financial horror specially the residents of far flung localities, that is the reason why the poor complainants never get the appropriate services. But why do we have deaf computers in government offices?...

THE MALIGCONG MOUSE

A pesky four legged creature hated by humans because of its destructive nature is called mouse.The most common term used by Igorots to identify these pesky creatures is otot. In maligcong terms otot[mouse] is given a particular name depending on peculiarities they exhibit. So that a very small one is modlay,a cute little mouse is inkhi, a small size mouse with long snout is called a cantive, they like to cut and destroy clothings. A big mouse is called monatan, while a big destructive one can be called fangser also.

Sniffing Dogs Needed in Government Offices

I just attended an anti corruption seminar at Lasalle university in Manila. It was funded by the Asia foundation purposely to equip the Northern Luzon Coalition on Good Governance,an umbrella organization of different monitoring groups in region 1,2 and CAR. The seminar is primarily aimed at customizing corruption prevention, tools, modules for engaging Local Government Units in Northern Luzon. The two day workshop was very educational on my part because I was able to realize that corruption can only be contained in our government if the top leaders will genuinely initiate reforms to curb the corrupt practices being done in the country today.The seminar reminded me of our plight to help the government catch some people involved in pocketing millions of pesos from the proceeds of a ghost reforestation project in Maligcong Mt. Province PHIL. but its ironic because they seem not interested in catching the thieves! These government offices in charge of prosecuting culprits move only when someone is diligently following up the case who traveled far from the province, what happens if he gets tired sick or is dead? The law gives ultimatums for answering requests and motions but it is not effective if no one complains,its impossible to be filing complaints in every office because every office have the same practice. why cant the government place sniffing dogs to expose the rotten practices?Why can't the government check all its agencies if their web site is functional so the citizens can help sniff too they can be helpful. I tried emailing the Ombudsman,Department of justice and the commission on audit regarding our plight of very slow action on their part but until this day we got no feed back. You have to go to their office personally only to be informed that the office is waiting for the response of another office before it will move. Complainants traveled for long hours to these offices yet the pain they encountered is never reckoned with.

Pastors, Priests and lay leaders supported massive vote buying in MP

On the guise of good Samaritans the rich politicians approached these church leaders and donated huge sum of money for certain projects of the church members. Knowing full well that the good intention of the giver is purposely to get the votes of their flocks, they accepted the gift offering making it morally wrong. I believe no amount of confession can justify these practice of accepting bribes from politicians. Worst thing that happened was the distribution of money to the church members as if they are receiving legitimate pay cash. This was done a day before the election last May 14 2007 by no other than the pastors themselves!
These people who call themselves workers of GOD usually frequent the den of rich politicians selling their flocks for votes. On Sundays they preach as if they had not been feasting on the table of the devil, they even pray for its prosperity, what an irony. What on heaven and moral authority can they claim now to preach salvation and good deeds when they cannot distinguish evil money from the good one? I mean detecting good from evil is a pastor’s job to impart to the innocent flocks, yet what are these we see and hear, supporting corrupt politicians and promoting corruptions?

How to Ripen a Revolt

Rebellion has many faces and leaders of governments can't make a face of it.
Disregarding those we already know that make rebels commit crime of rebellion, Allow me to point out some attitude that the masses consciously or unconsciously project and I consider it a rebellion in the making.Take for instance the apathy and lack of concern of the people to the call of leaders for unity,the people see the hypocrisy of leaders who are in power so that instead of heeding their call it is a thumbs down as a result. WE see top officials grandstanding and showing off their ability, but the people know better many of them are in office to protect their vested interest. People become rebels in their heart when leaders are liars and hypocrites. Every word they say although with honest intent are received with crossed fingers. How to ripen a revolt? well, allow the existing government to continue its corruption then it will self destruct. This is a peaceful revolution if others don't succeed.

INAYAN YA KASIYANA, TABOO AND HOPEFULLY

Inayan, is an Igorot term which means taboo, bad or a violation. It is also an expression uttered to warn someone not to execute an evil plan, break an existing custom and beliefs. It is a general term uttered when faced with danger too Inayan! [shock!]. Inayan di man-akew ya men-patey[It is bad to steal and kill] Inayan di switiken di gobyerno[Don't corrupt the Government] Inayan di mangbakas si ugali [It is a taboo to violate a belief] Inayan has some variations when used in different situations as shown in the examples above.

Kasiyana is another igorot word that is dramatically used to comfort and give hope even though everything is hopeless. It is uttered with the utmost sincerity to ease the pain. Generally, it can be expressed by anybody but specifically it should be used by persons who are realy sincere in their heart. A hypocrite should not use this word of hope for it will just negate its true comforting message. "Kasiyana et matago ka"[you will live] "kasiyana et gumawis ka [you will get well soon]. But when a thief says," kasiyana," it would necessarily mean "hopefully I won't be caught".

Karma at the Deparment of Public works and Highways

They say that all things a man will do to their fellow men will always come back to him whether it is bad or good.When Rudy Camarillo was the former chief accountant of the Department of public works and Highways mountain province engineering district in the year 1980, it was during that time that the DPWH of Ifugao sold some bridge materials to the DPWH of Mountain province engineering district, being the person who is responsible to sign the documents, since Mr. Gasmenia who is suppose to do the work was on leave, so Mr. Camarillo affixed his signature on said bridge documents. He said that in all innocence he signed because he thought it was a legitimate transaction, since it was a customary document proceedure during those times. He did not know according to him, that the bridge sold by the people of the Ifugao Engineering district to the mountain province engineering district were stolen bridge materials, a big blunder on his part. After sometime a complaint was filed against the district engineer and several companions for falsification of public documents, Mr. Camarillo was pleaded in the complaint because his name was found at the illegal document, the case dragged for many years at the Sandigan Bayan and the appellate courts, Camarillo did not attend the proceedings because he believes that he is innocent, that his companions will not include him as he did not partake in the proceeds of the crime. Then finally the verdict came out and he was declared guilty as the others as well. So he just kept quiet and accepted his fate,years passed and all his companions including the complainant died except for a certain Roland Ramirez who became a preacher. Camarillo was hospitalized for kidney trouble and was on dialysis for many months, he said he prayed to JESUS CHRIST to make him live longer to prove to the people concerned including the Department of Justice and the Office of the President that he is innocent yet there is the miscarriage of justice. Rudy Camarillo survived the dreaded kidney desease and surviving with out a retirement benefit during his twilight years since it was forfeited. But still praying that karma and miracles still abound and he hopes to get one someday before leaving his earthly life.

DEAF COMPUTERS PART 2

SCHOLARSHIPS IS ONE WAY THE TALENTED FILIPINO CAN GET A DEGREE IN A CHOSEN FIELD. I AM ONE OF THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE A BENEFICIARY, SO I BROWSED MAGAZINES AND NEWS PAPERS TO FIND ONE. I CAME UPON A DOST INVITATION FOR A SCHOLARSHIP IN A MAGAZINE, I WAS VERY HAPPY AND TRIED TO FIND THE ADDRESS AT AN INTERNET CAFE, I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO DOWNLOAD THE NEEDED FORMS SO THAT I WILL FILL IT UP TO BEAT THE DEADLINE BUT THE THE COMPUTER ALWAYS DISPLAY THE FOLLOWING, THAT THE WEB PAGE CANNOT BE FOUND. I DOUBLE CHECKED THE EMAIL SEVERAL TIMES BUT I GOT THE SAME RESULT, I TRIED TO CHECK THE INTERNET CONNECTION AND ITS ALRIGHT, TO SATISFY MYSELF I OPENED THE OTHER DOST OFFICES AND THE WEB SITES ARE OPENED EXCEPT THIS OFFICE; [PLEASE READ THE PARAGRAPH BELOW].
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Sec. Estrella F. Alabastro of the Department of Science and Technology announces 400 scholarship slots for master's and doctoral degrees for school year 2007-2008 under the Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP). The scholarships are open to Filipino citizens, not more than 45 years old, in good health and have passed the admission requirements for graduate studies in any DOST identified institutions.

According to Secretary Alabastro, there are three program categories where students may apply to.- MS/Ph.D. in S&T priority fields of study; MEd/Ph.D in Science and Mathematics Education and Straight BS-MS Program.

Dr. Ester B. Ogena, Director of the DOST-Science Education Institute said that the S&T priority fields of study being offered are Biotechnology, Basic Science, Materials Science and Engineering, Medical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Communications Technology; Microelectronics, Earth and Space Science, Agriculture, Forestry & Natural resources, Fisheries and marine Science, Environment and Science and Mathematics Education.

This program is a concerted effort of DOST, its various councils and institutes to accelerate the production of high-level human resources needed for S&T activities especially in the area of research and development. For almost 50 years now, the scholarship programs of DOST have produced quality S&T human resources who are now participating and assuming leadership roles in the S&T activities of the country.

Qualifiers to the scholarships will be awarded free tuition and other school fees, monthly stipend, transportation allowance, book allowance, group accident insurance and thesis/dissertation allowance.

Interested applicants may secure application forms at DOST-SEI, 3rd Floor, PTRI Bldg., General Santos Avenue, Bicutan Taguig Metro Manila. Forms may also be downloaded from this website. For more information about the ACTHRD, contact the DOST-SEI at telephone numbers (02) 837-1359; (02)837-1333; (02)8390083; or visit the website at www.science-scholarships.ph.

WILL SOMEBODY HELP, I WOULD LIKE TO USE THE INTERNET IN MY TRANSACTIONS WITH THE DOST BECAUSE I HAVE NO MONEY FOR TRAVEL AND LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE EXPENSE. THE INTERNET IS THE CHEAPEST I CAN AFFORD.

Corruption is a Custom

Philippine laws on criminal justice provide protection of the accused by maintaining the principle that they are innocent unless proven guilty. This will give them the benefit of the doubt, that they are presumed innocent until the final verdict. This presumption is taken in its all encompassing aspect so that looking into the possibility of the commission of corruption or other crimes is doused by the waters of disbelief of investigating officials. Complainants are portrayed as pesky, disgruntled and sour graping individuals. This kind of outlook by many Filipino leaders should be reversed and consider reported anomalies a cause for an immediate investigation of the complaint, yet still the presumption of innocence is observed. Corruption is so rampant in most government offices that filling a complaint involving its officers is kicking the pricks. Benefit of the doubt that public officials are doing their job well and clean is a principle giving a cloak of protection to white collar thieves in the government organization. Stealing government money, properties and other items from the government is not considered a sin by many. This kind of moral decadence is increasing daily so that nationalism is just a byword spoken without encouraging effect. Now,fellow Filipinos and Igorots, should we just look at our corrupt public servants tear our nation to pieces and leave everything to,”k sera, sera whatever will be will be”?

MALIGCONG GHOSTS

Stories of the unknown have always fascinated man ever since, how they affected the social,psychological and even their political decisions. The interference of these spirit entities are regarded as a blessing or a curse,depending on the outcome of the offering and the corresponding requests. Every place have their own ghost story to tell,maligcong, a member of the igorot tribe is one among the many who, until this day believe on a number of ghosts that are active in their locality. The Anito is considered a friendly ghost because they believe these are the spirits of their departed kins. when a person is about to die, his soul is seen among the rice terraces, a Fotattew holding a torch of fire. The natives believe that the soul of the person who is about to die is making his last round of inspection of his properties.According to those who witnessed these apparitions, they will know who the guy who is about to die when the fire holding ghost will go back to the house of this person. The anitoes dwell at the papattay, located at the upper portion of the community among the old trees. The elders who are entrusted the priestly duties come to this place called the papatayan to offer animal sacrifices to appease the anitoes. After the rituals were performed the elders believe that good health, harvest and blessings will follow when these things were accomplished. As there are good and bad spirits the maligcong people believe in the presence of bad ghosts called the Gegedchay,these are nasty spirits who dwell the precipice near the community. when these Gegedchay enter somebody and posses the person, its called Sadsadayyan, the person's eyes are red and glaring,he becomes uncontrollable and dangerous. The Pacheg is a ghost that steals the soul of a person who are in their sick bed. residents claim that whenever a person is very sick the pacheg would appear, his height is enormous of about twenty feet with human form, It stays near the house of the sick person and ran away carrying the soul of the sick person.
However these ghost whether they are good or bad can cause sickness to any person who cross their way. The only way to know who caused this ailment is to consult an elder of the community, usually an old woman,she becomes the medium between the living and the spirit world. She will give the instruction for the sacrifice as demanded by ghosts. Chickens, pigs or dogs are the favorite sacrificial animals. These are butchered and parts of it were reserved and brought to the place where the sick person met the ghost, with other items demanded by the ghost.
I mentioned just a few ghost that play major roles in the life of these maligcong igorots, how they manage life surrounded by a demanding spirit world. However some are trying to rid themselves of the ancestor worship by embracing the Christian faith. Yet the ghosts still span around manifesting themselves in many forms and ways planting fear to whoever believes in them.




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Igorots Versus Racism

The Philippines is populated by various groups of people who almost look similar in all aspect except when they wear their traditional costumes but ordinarily all Filipinos are similar whether they are Tagalogs,Ilocanos,Visayans,Muslims,Igorots,aetas and etc. An Igorot however is always projected as ugly, unkempt, rugged and undisciplined among the other Filipinos. In fact even one of the Philippine's great statesman and well known diplomat said that Igorots are not Filipinos,in the movie industry igorots are always projected as ugly, dirty and undisciplined, television networks are depicting the igorots in a totally different and confusing background, artworks show them as funny and idiotic. these are some of numerous instances where Igorots were maligned in pubic fora, movies, TV and other media outlets by no other than their Filipino brethren. No wonder some Igorots would rather hide their identity and let his kindred suffer the stigma inflicted by the other groups including aliens as well.
For many centuries that passed,very little is known about the igorots except those misconceptions imputed to them. The high mountains and rough terrains protected these people from constant contact with the outside world so that there was no change in their dress code and social adaptations of other cultures. They developed a culture peculiar and unique that an outsider can only make external assessment but not the psyche that envelope these igorots. The long isolation of these people from the outside world did not diminish their intelligence nor their wisdom, the truth is, they developed a sustainable food production methods that the Philippine government thought it's obsolete and tried to change them. Now, it is encouraging the Igorots to go back and maintain the old ways since it is more profitable and sustainable in the long run. These igorots created rice terraces and complex water systems that require an excellent degree of intellectual capacity, songs,chants,and poetic expressions that entails good memory and analytical mind, art creations that are unique and unrivaled, there are more to tell but let modesty aside as I am carried away by emotions in defence of my fellow igorots. The law makers should put teeth on laws that prohibit discrimination's and enact new ones that prohibits discriminatory broadcast, TV, movie and theatrical shows that directly or indirectly place the Igorots as a lower kind of people. If the other nations are discriminating against the Filipinos let us not entertain these kind among our selves and allow charity to begin at home.

tribal murders

The cordilleras is one of the northern hinterland regions of the Philippine archipelago. It is occupied by various tribes and sub tribes who maintain their independence from one another and at times engage each other in a tribal war. Innocent victims have lost their lives from numerous senseless cold blooded killings that can happen anytime, peace and order is very illusive and still far from being resolved despite the advance of technology and education. There are contributory factors that are hindering the peace initiatives of concerned citizens who are weary of tribal killings. Firstly, the tribes cannot forget the murdered tribe members who were killed by the other tribes. Generations will pass but the clamor for revenge is handed down to the younger ones till their death is avenged. Secondly, the law enforcers who are members of a tribe are protecting their tribe mate whenever they are involve in troubles with a member of another tribe. In other cases a police officer will walk away from his duty to save or protect human lives just to prevent his tribe from being involved in future troubles. At this point in time they are so ineffective that crimes are never solved and the culprits are not arrested though publicly known. Thirdly, after a tribal killing the leaders of the tribe together with local elected leaders gather and try to come up with a resolution. In most cases the payment of a blood money to the victim's relative is enough and the criminals go free. The payment of blood money should be punitive to prevent the wrong doers from committing more crimes but the total contribution of the culprits is just a small portion, the bulk of the amount is a contribution of the community and from the coffers of local government. These practices should be stopped because it is just a temporary solution of a case but did not solve the problem. They are actually encouraged to commit another crime because they did not feel the pain of punishment. Fourth, The murderers are given a heroes welcome by their tribe after a tribal killing, the women would hang decorations on the neck of these criminals during a celebration and the young ones are encouraged to follow their steps of bravery. Fifth, the tribal community is a perfect hiding place of the culprits who do not know what is justice since the protection of their tribe member is paramount to anything else. they would utterly disregard the crimes committed no matter how horrible it may be. These and other social difficulties on the part of the government and the communities need extra attention for indeed human dignity is violated against the poor and innocent victims who have died without Justice.

Water Controversy in Bontoc

Patch up and cover up best describe the Bontoc waterworks project in mountain province Philippines. This project cost the Philippine government 60 million plus pesos of tax payers money.It was conceptualized during the term of congressman Roy Pilando of the lone district of Mountain Province. The purpose was to provide a potable water supply to four barrios of Bontoc namely Caluttit, Poblacion,Bontoc ili, and Samoki. Mainit an upland barrio of Bontoc was identified as the water source because the local residents were amenable to it. The project was ready to start then but the opposition of certain groups against the project was filed to the office of the Department of public works and highways holding the project in abeyance.Its implementation was stopped because it was overtaken by the 2003 national election. When congressman Victor Dominguez took over he initiated the the realignment of the project from Mainit to Bayyo, another barrio of Bontoc. This was the start of a series of demonstrations by the Bayyo and Bontoc people who were against the transfer of the project. Series of consultations were conducted to iron out their differences, it was during these consultations that the engineers of the DPWH presented a very attractive technical plan that divided the opposition for some time. Immediately thereafter the waterworks at Bayyo that started raising eyebrows. Hardly did the project project made a headway when the people renewed their resistance against the project due to violations of agreement by the DPWH and the good congressman. Another reason for the opposition are as follows, first,the people had bad experience regarding the use of questionable plastic pipes a few years back when plastic pipes were installed to carry potable water from Talubin to Bontoc. Every now and then the pipes would burst causing lots of inconveniences to the populace specially to the business sector and the hospital. Ultimately nothing was left of those plastic pipes because they were replaced with G.I. pipes. Now the DPWH are again installing plastic pipes that experience taught them is impractical. It is practically spending 60 million pesos for nothing and wasting taxpayers money. Second, the DPWH engineers presented a proposal that is a bit acceptable but in the implementation of the project it is totally different. This maneuvers of the DPWH is contrary to the informed and prior consent provision of Philippine laws and international principles. They tell one thing and do another, obviously the purpose of this is for profit.
The author believes that a test must be performed on these plastic pipes to analyze whether or not the plastic pipes are safe. That there is no guaranty that the project is operational for 50 years as promised by DPWH engineers.who is to blame when the project becomes useless? The first project was useless and no one was answerable. Three years ago these problem started and again it was overtaken by another election in 2007, maybe this can go on and on.Before we know it this controversy will just be forgotten and the poor Igorot beneficiaries will just sit in silence and sleep on a nightmare and wake up as if nothing happened.

foreign aids and developement

Meddlers on the spending of government funds are frowned upon by the community, in fact some were harmed and others were threatened because they were critical of substandard project implementations.We had very bad experience with the community people in barrio maligcong Bontoc mountain province regarding our fight against the corruptions and misspent foreign funds .

Me and my companions filed a case against our barrio chairman and members of the department of environment and natural resources for misappropriating five million pesos, a part of a multi- million loan-grant by the Asian development bank for reforestation project in maligcong bontoc mountain province. The purpose is to help in the reduction of the green house effect that is endangering the earth. But the people who are supposed to benefit from this project which include of course their future generation do not see the good side of its success. Their eyes are focused on the small amounts given to them and a few crumbs of bread distributed. They hated us for our exposure of the anomalies but are blind to the millions pocketed by these corrupt people.
They were willing to sign affidavits to support corruption even though the evidence of corruption is very clear[video/photos]. We brought our case to the Sangguniang Bayan of Bontoc for investigation but it was dismissed, the members of the municipal council including the vice mayor decided to support their colleague for political reasons and for indirect benefits they received. We were not satisfied with our municipal leaders so we elevated our case to the ombudsman, that was almost a year now yet there was no concrete action on the case. We followed it up personally,by emails and through notarized letters yet there was no viable answers, Philippine laws mandates a certain number of days to act on verified complaints submitted to them, yet there was no action until now, a classic example of justice delayed is justice denied.

Foreign aid continue to pour to the Philippines but not to the Filipinos, the documents tell the Benefactors everything is clean and well done but the physical evidence of corruptions are shouting at the top of their voice!. To those who have ears please listen to the silence of the igorots.

WT round up

Before anything else, I would like to thank Google and its people for allowing this kind of media outlet to people who cannot afford media mileage. News and other information are the monopoly of selected few individuals and corporations specially here in the Philippines. The rich get the juiciest part of media coverage while the majority of the ordinary citizens are on the limelight only when tragedy strikes. The television and radio stations are confined mostly on advertisement and concentrated on self promotions with lopsided interest while more priorities are relegated to the background. with Google let the voice of the dumb be heard to all the four corners of the world. Let then the four winds carry the good news to all people, to the igorots wherever they may be.

Peden