Alternative High School is a must
June 29, 2008

I wonder why the Philippines has a lot of colleges, high schools, and elementary schools but they do not have an alternative high school.

An alternative high school is one of the best methods ever that was introduced and founded in my part of the States in the late sixties and early seventies.

This high school is set up and designed to help those students who are slow learners, or who simply just cannot cope up with the regiment of a regular school structured system.

It also helps give a chance to those misfit students who were into drugs or alcohol or who came from poor families and most often are looked at as socially unacceptable.

In the States, competition among regular school students is tough. You have to compete with what we called the preppies, the ones who wore the latest style and designer clothes.

These kids would hang out in cliques because mom and dad had money, so they felt it gave them a right to look down the noses of classmates who are less fortunate.

Often the students from poor families ended up as dropouts or getting involved with gangs that did not tolerate putting up with munch but simply getting into trouble because of feeling unaccepted.

In order to receive attention, they would make physical destruction to property of persons, persons, or school buildings.

Then would end up getting later booted out of the school and that was the kind of attention given to them, trouble makers.

In most public school, uniforms are not worn. Dress codes are strict and if you wear anything that’s camouflage military, or clothes representing any wars in the past or you’re wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts, you’re bound to be given a vacation from the principal.

Certain clothes are considered as gang representation or belonging to a certain anti organization.

So as you can see, it is easy to differentiate the different social levels amongst students from how they dress in school.

Alternative schools are run in block times, meaning after every 6 weeks class change. It keeps the student interested.

The attendance and performance was based on a Magna Carta system, meaning that if you started the week at a 100% and by the end of the week if it reached below 85%, the following Monday you had to see the attendance committee to show what kind of excuse you had, to see if it was good enough from saving you from being reprimanded.

You had regular classes and during Wednesday we had corp. and it was part of the curriculum to teach leadership skills to the students as we were the ones to decide over punishment, social events, and other events that were of concern.

Both of the committees had teacher supervision. The teachers who were giving the lessons were trained to deal with troubled students or students who considered as slow learners.

The teachers were cool with the students and were knowledgeable in the subjects that they lectured the students on.

It was a perfect sized school that was perfect for these kids of students. Four classrooms big and a total student body of around 110 per start of every new 6 week block.

Ten units equaled one regular high school state equivalent credit. Philippines needs an alternative high school run by the government in order to give a chance to those kids who are not able to cut the rug as easy or fit in with students who have less family problems as those student less fortunate.

Many good students came out of the alternative system and were business owners, doctor’s or even professors in other colleges.

The graduating percentage was good for those who would of never had made it in a regular school.

Oh and by the way it has nothing to do with being biased or fabor fabor (favoritism)!

It has to do with being a smart school district that is able to see the problems and be able to help.

Church stands firm on Reproductive Health Bill
June 22, 2008

“The taking of the birth control pills is okay if taken for medical purposes in helping women with hormonal imbalances and irregular periods get regulated,” and “Not okay to take the pills if it is for the purpose of having an unwanted pregnancy,” Catholic Bishop Leonardo Y. Medroso D.D. stated in an interview with this writer prior and also at the conclusion of the workshop that was held this week with city and provincial LGU leaders along with members of the Catholic Church.

The workshop was put on by the Bishop because he says that the church is opposed of such Bill known by its short title “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2007.

An Act Providing For National Policy On Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood And Population Development, And For Other Purposes.

The said bill is a Declaration of Acts and policy that the state upholds and promotes responsible parenthood, informed choice, birth spacing and respect for life in conformity with universally recognized international human rights.

It also provides that the state shall uphold the right of the people, particularly women and their organizations, to effective and reasonable participation in the formulation and implementation of the declared policy.

This policy is anchored on the rationale that sustainable human development is better assured with a manageable population of healthy, educated and productive citizens.

The state likewise guarantees universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information thereon even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children, among other underprivileged sectors.

This Bill is introduced by five members of the House of Representatives. Bishop Medroso during the interview said that the guidelines of such Bill are against the church.

He stated that the Bill is based on an UN vocabulary in cooperation with another international health group known as the World Health Organization (WHO).

The workshop discussed was on population control, sex life, and fertility. He says the pluralistic society is pro choice based in the freedom which is subjective, and that pro life is in favor of life by human nature and that with pro life the example he used is that “Politicians often are doling out birth control medicines”.

Thursday morning’s workshop was attended with around 40 members of both city and provincial LGU’s.

The church’s main message given by Reverend Jeffery P. Malanog VG is too protect life and family.

Professor Rosa Linda G. Valenzona who is a former under secretary, Department Of Socail Wellfare and Development, Philippines, General Manager, Ayala Group of Companies Cooperative, member, Vatican Pontifical Council Of the Family, Consultant, Demography, member, Episcopal Commission on Family Life, CBCP and an Assistant Director, SAFE (Subtle Attacks on Family Exposed).

She gave a discussion based on scientific documented from both population and economic organizations, as well as documents from demographic findings regarding the population from other countries such as Spain and Malaysia as well as the Philippines.

She has also spoken with Doctor’s both on reproductive health as well as Psychologists and Psychiatrists regarding emotional and mental health in order to help her with presenting what she refers to are the loopholes of the Bill.

Sexuality;
The state of physical mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or deformity, in all erotic relationships to reproductive process.

Why is Health expanded to mean social well being?

Complete access to contraception. If unwanted pregnancy occurs sex will be no longer be satisfying and safe.

There should be complete accesses to abortion on demand. Dr. Rosa explains that this violates our custodial preamble production of life from the moment of conception.

Article 2 of the 1948 Declaration of Human Rights “The Right to have a Right”. Rights are not based on human nature but determines through democratic process.

During her discussion she explains what she tells everyone is “Un Double-Speak, the use of words that sound sweet to the ears but hides a dangerous intent.

They make us think that it is for our own good that we should have less children space them Etc.” “What are they hiding?”

She went on to discuss that “Racism is another form. Insisting that family planning is the solution justified by the country’s limited.”

“Do you need it?” “Is it going to be a solution to our poverty?” “Do you really have too many people?”

She comments on birth control that they have negative side effects. And said that America is the way that it is because of how sex is being educated in the schools reassuring young adolescents that it is okay and to go ahead and engage in non marital sex.

She discussed abortion both legal and illegal as Dr’s are now discovering that women are experiencing with emotional suffering in what is now known as Post Abortion Syndrome.

The effects of Post Abortion Syndrome include feelings of guilt as the woman is the one who perpetrated the death of an already conceived life.

With these side effects come often with the women trying to think they can make things better by engaging in alcohol, drugs and child abuse.

She even mentioned in a part of her speech regarding demographics that one country is encouraging the birth of babies by paying couples for baby’s that are being born there.

Several LGU leaders had a chance to share and view their questions and comments even though it had been limited to question asking only.

Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim said that after listening to the speech by Dr. Rosa he felt jumbled and says that WHO is wrong with their reports on Human Reproductive Health.

He also said he does not allow women who come into his office to seek maternal funds and then answered his own question on “Why should I have to allow?”

“I do not care if it makes me unpopular. I even do not care if they go against me. Every citizen must be responsible. Do not abuse.”

Mayor Lim also felt that “This issue appears to be a marathon summit and can not be solved in one day”.

Catholic churches, protestant churches and all other churches must be able to collaborate alongside with government in order to make a resolution by starting with the basic grass roots.”

In a follow-up interview with Bishop Medroso he says “That this life of the church Human Rights should come from the acts of marital acts. Man and woman who are formally married and do the marital act out of the love for one another and if we do something to destroy or disrupt the incoming of life there is something wrong.”

Bishop Medroso mentioned earlier “People must warship in order to serve our God in prayer and follow his laws and those who warship must love his neighbor.”

So the people may know
June 15, 2008

I received an uncalled for and nasty text message last Mother’s Day from Police Senior Superintendent Edgardo Ingking.

As our provincial director in charge of the police force here in the Bohol province, as a writer in the local media I felt it was important to let the people of Bohol know just what type of an officer and a gentleman is running the police force.

In a recent past interview the PNP provincial director was not happy with me and had asked me to pass my cell phone to delete the interview we had together. (While still around my neck he was resisting to give it back until he was satisfied the message was gone.)

In media we are always using recording devices so we are able to quote back correct comments when we put them into print.

I had recorded my interview and before the interview was under way I mentioned to him that we had the same cell phones (N95).

I also told him that I will be hitting the record button, and was surprised he did not object. I also introduce my adopted daughter to be and told him that I bring her with me to observe first hand how the system works in certain offices in Bohol.

I also instructed her to take photos of the interview. The picture she happened to snap ended up inside of the Bohol Standard another newspaper that I am writing in. (3yrs)

It was used in a photo expose and titled “What Is Inking hiding about the alleged Dumaluan case?”

Last May my associate editor asked me if I would be kind enough to take on a personal interview with the provincial director.

The subject was regarding to the alleged Dumaluan rape and murder case. The questions that I asked were bold and no other media man I do not think could ever tackle such a straight to the point interview.

I had stopped by the Camp Dagohoy office early one week to inquire with the secretary in scheduling an interview time with the provincial chief.

Police Senior Superintendent Edgardo Ingking sent me a text message the following day, prompt as a friend and law officer should be as part of cooperating with the media.

I was in Cebu dealing with other matters at the time and was not able to make the date, so I asked for a later date for the interview.

The provincial director was so kind that I was granted another time frame again and it was on a Saturday when we in the print media are pressed for going over deadline time.

I told him I was going to shut off my recording button. After that all heck broke lose he ranted on that I did not have permission to record the interview.

He also accused me of recording a private phone conversation in which I know my manners are not that bad I had the pause button on during the phone conversation that was in Visayan and I am not fluent in the language anyways.

He was so upset and went on to say that the publisher of the paper I am writing is also the lawyer handling the Dumaluan case.

I mention to him that the publisher does not discuss his client’s cases with me and I do not ever ask as I respect his client’s confidentiality.

Besides the accused is also related to my adopted daughter to be family through marriage.

The provincial director tried to undermine me in asking what he answered to my questions to be repeated back to him.

I answered all the questions as sharply as I could. After the interview I had gone back to the editorial office of the Standard and did the write up to the interview with Inking.

When the associate editor had seen the picture along with the newspaper’s publisher and my explanation of what went on along with my daughter’s words as to what she had witnessed.

The write up I had done regarding the interview was not put into print. I had gone home around 1:00 O’clock AM and when I woke up the Standard was already delivered to my doorstep.

Just as I had seen the photo expose my cell phone was ringing and blurting out Inking’s name and he called me again throughout the day.

I did not entertain him. His texts read like this word and letter as is, (may I remind you this was my Mother’s day):

“I pity you. You allowed yourself to be used at the expense of your reputation you dared even to record even my private phone conversation without my permission and used it to depict a picture story insinuating that I am hiding something. Now I know why other people shun you. You even used a minor as an accomplice. You’re so pathetic. What do you say?”

I have asked Inking several times for his apology. I have also heard from members at Camp Dagohoy that I and the publisher are supposedly banned from a public owned PNP Camp?

Happy Father’s Day everyone!

Pensioners Please Be Advised!
June 8, 2008

“Oh oh oh oh oh! I have just been swindled from my pension money!

This was the real moans muttered by an elderly woman as she went running inside of a local downtown coffee house last Monday.

She was truly upset until no end and kept on ranting on about how her husband was passed away and it was both her and her late husband’s money that was suckered away from her a real swindler indeed who has been seen prying around on pensioner persons once they get their pension money from the ATM machine, they are not aware of being followed by such suspects who are cold hearted bastards against prying on the sick and the elderly.

(In my heart and mind this type of person who takes advantage on the sick and the elderly should be castrated!)

I was wondering why the employees of the establishment did not offer the elderly woman any assistance to have helped in calming her down.

They just only watched her suffer in her emotional distraught of being just robbed of all her money.

In fact they laughed as if she was crazy and were not sure if they should believe her or not?

She had no money remaining for a fare back to her home place in Jagna. If I was an employee I would have sat her down consoled her as the place was not having but two customers at the time, and offered her a glass of water and ask her to relax and offered to call the police to come and make a report about her incident.

Tuesday early in the afternoon I was at the Tagbilaran City Police Station trying to get other information and again another victim having GSIS cash was robbed of three GSIS pensions of three of her elderly relatives who are ranging in 70 plus years all the way up to almost 90 years old.

The victim had the money inside of her purse inside of a smaller zippered bag that contained ID and around P14.000-15.000 cash inside of it.

The victim is an employee with the Municipality of Ubay she had her toddler aged daughter with her who was trying to console her tearful mother at the time.

She told the police men on charge that she was the trusted one in the family to come into Tagbilaran City to collect her elder family members pension and buy their medications while in the city.

This lady victim had around P100.00 to travel back to Ubay on and no money remaining to buy the needed medicines for her mom, grandmother, and an aunt who were at home waiting for her return.

I was able to hand her some cash for her fare back home and I was also able to talk to her about the event that had taken place.

She mentioned some store names where she was and that she heard a guy asking about a wrench once she noticed the cash bag inside her purse was missing?

I had followed up her story at the two stores that she mentioned which were UNITOP and NOVU.

The management pointed out security cameras and said that they have people monitoring the cameras always.

When they played the video back from that time the victim was inside the store he says that there was no one near to her purse.

He did mention how he has noticed the work being done by suspects who are seen following persons from the ATM machines and once they enter inside the store they find an inconspicuous time opportunity to pick pocket.

The suspects who are normally a man and a woman pair in which one of them is carrying a folder and once the suspect has been looted of their cash and goods the suspects put the items inside of the folder to look less conspicuous.

At the NOVU store I talked with the one on duty security guard and the on sight management together.

I had noticed that there were not any security cameras or any plain clothes security scanning the stores perimeters?

The owners are in China and are rarely here according the on sight manager. I asked her to check into getting a better security system to help protect the store employees and its customers as well.

She was some what hesitant to ask the stores owners when I mentioned that I would follow up on what type of security up grade that she planned to inquire on them about.

UNITOP on the other hand has both uniformed and none uniformed security all over the store and also has security cameras through out the store.

The suspect file has many pictures of persons being sought for habitually robbing persons who are elderly or disadvantaged.

Is there another way for these persons to get their monies safely?

Airport 2010? – Common Sense, Not Nonsense
June 1, 2008

A new school year is upon us here in the Philippines. The parents and kids are seen everywhere scrounging what they can afford in order to buy new uniforms and school supplies and junk foods?

Yes, I said junk foods! Every check-out lane I am in, no matter where I am, I have seen an abundant amount of people here buying these non-nutritional foods for the past few months now.

I am sad when I see this, but lurking in their purse or clipped to their belts is this enormous expensive cellphone with loads that cost more than the food being put on the center of the table for a family meal.

A lady the other day in front of me, checking out grocery items had nothing but a large whole sale bag of chips and some extra bags of another assorted chips.

Her purchase came to P102.50. Grabe por vida!

I normally buy what is necessary and red meat is not on my list these days as it is way up there in price.

Hey, you people and you parents, you do not have to eat junk foods that will cause you to feel malnourished. There are plenty of options on what to buy even if you have to buy beef bones and boil it for a broth soup to go with rice. (Plenty vitamins are found in bone marrows)

Stop wasting money for text messages that are not worth making your family unhealthy over eventually.

Even me I, am shunning at some of these prices. And when I see ATM’s not working and many persons driving from one ATM machine to another as the cash machines are down much of the time in the city here I get more irate about things.

Why not give some one an extra job to keep the cash machines at each outlet on Sunday’s running smoothly, particularly so that persons preparing for the work/school week can prepare?

As I type this column some, skinny and lanky-looking Filipino teenager comes into the internets store and purchases smokes and a Grande bottle of beer.

Where in the world are his parents at? Does he know that we are in a crisis does he even care has anyone taught him any morals or values on what are the important things in life to buy during hard times? My two wonders of this week are: One of the many importance’s brought up regarding Philippines is that it is 98% Catholic oriented.

The second wonder in this week’s column is they say, they protect the children here but why is it that the kids are begging in the streets, and being left behind in families with out money to properly provide and care for them?

Children should be something you deserve to have, and it takes money to deserve them.

Let some one who has money and time to give adopt and provide properly for a child that other wise does not have a chance in a poor home.

Use family planning. It’s way more affordable than having a baby.