PCL

Good news from our trip to Manila for the 7th Congress of the Philippine Councilors League. Our colleague Danny Dayanghirang won as National Treasurer. He was unopposed.

The two contesting slates carried him as a common candidate. To appease both camps, we campaigned for the National Chair of one group (Fernandez) and National President (Ferrer) of the other group. Both won.

Councilor Alan Zulueta of neighboring Tagum City also won as National Vice Chair and last minute entry movie star Alma Moreno as National Secretary-General.

Kudos!

(4;03 p.m.)

Sinking Manila

I am flying to Manila today for the Philippine Councilors’ League convention. The Davao City delegation will stay at the old Philippine Plaza by the Manila Bay.

This would give me a close look to check the story that Manila is sinking. Scientific studies trace the “sinking” to the drying up of ground water.

In a privilege speech I delivered September 25 last year at the City Council, I asked the opposite. Could Manila be not sinking but rather the Manila Bay is rising?

One consequence of global warming is clear … tides are rising and will sink lowlying islands like those in the South Pacific, Indian Ocean and in the archipelagic nations of Indonesia and the Philippines.

(3:27 a.m.)

Another blog

I am starting another blog.

Yup, this time for the activities of the Davao City Sports Council, Inc.

Check out updates on the local sports scene of Davao here. 

Sports Council

I formally took over the helm of the Davao City Sports Council during our meeting last night. As the 1st vice president, I took over by succession to the post vacated by the untimely death of our president Victorio “Vic” Sai.

With more than four decades of experience in sports journalism and organizing, it is truly hard to fill in the shoes of Vic.

On top our transition agenda is to continue on-going sports projects personally handled by Vic such as the forthcoming Primovit basketball and chess tournaments in April and May and the triathlon championship next month, and the preparations for the So Kim Cheng Sports Awards in July.

Also, numerous sports activities are lined up during the summer by the various sports association affiliated with the Sports Council including arnis, duckpin bowling, swimming, basketball, lawn tennis, table tennis, sepak takraw, baseball, cycling, track and field, and badminton. Local athletes are also busy preparing for the Palarong Pambansa slated in Palawan later next month.

I am happy to note the full backing of the members of the Sports Council to continue our work in bannering sports development in the city.

Another friend passes away

Mindanao’s Mr. Newspaperman, Angelo “Gil” Abarico passed away yesterday.

I paid tribute to him, and to Vic Sai, via a privilege speech at the City Council’s session this morning.

The full text is at http://tocouncilorlavina.pbwiki.com/Vic-and-Gil-now-writing-under-the-
universes-best-editor

(9:29 a.m.)

First Pinay at West Point

The first Filipina, born and raised in the Philippines , to enter the US Military Academy at West Point , Christy Isis A. Achanzar, will graduate on May 31, 2008.

She constantly lands in the dean’s list and was given the Superintendent’ s Award for Achievement for excelling in academic, military and physical programs last September.

She finished her secondary school at Davao City High School in 1998.

Her family is now raising funds to apply for visa, buy tickets, etc. to attend her graduation.

Please help.

The Davaoeno community in New York , particulalry those from City High, might want to host the family or extend whatever assistance.

Family address – # 0306 Platinum St. , San Rafael Village, Davao City 8000, Tel # (082) – 300-2838, Mobile # 0919-267-7236; Allied Bank S/A # 1150-03159-1 Ermine and/or Asuncion Achanzar

(Apart from the Lent break, I had no net in the house. Thus, I failed to blog for the past several days.)

8:43 a.m.

Lent break

I’m going on a Lent break.

Let’s heed the call of Archbishop Fernando Capalla last Palm Sunday to read and reflect on the bible this week.

Happy Easter to all!

(7:17 a.m.)

Vic writes 30

Victorio Sai, sports editor of the Mindanao Daily Mirror and president of the Davao City Sports Council, Inc., passed away yesterday morning.

He was 62.

His remains now lie in state at the Turin Room of the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes along Camus St.

All the members of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) led by Chair William “Butch” Ramirez, who were opening their Mindanao Office in Davao City yesterday, were at his wake last night.

We will miss his popular sports column “Jumpball” and his indefatigable work in organizing sports tournaments and the So Kim Cheng Sports Awards, the country’s second longest running after the Philippine Sports Awards. I was with him last week during the awarding ceremony of the Primovit Chess Championships, one of his many pet projects.

Our condolence to his family and the sports community of the Davao Region.

Incidentally, this means more work for me. I am the 1st Vice President of the Davao City Sports Council, Inc. and I would take over temporarily its leadership until our next elections in April.

(5:30 a.m.)

Malaysian MP

Congratulations to Charles Santiago for winning a parliamentary seat in the recent elections in Malaysia. He represents Klang in the state of Selangor.

Charles is an economist-activist and expert on trade and development issues.

I met him at an Asia-Pacific Conference on Debt and Development in Bangkok in 2005.

I am certain that he can contribute much to the changes sweeping our ASEAN partner.

(5:02 a.m.)

Unbelievable

The Supreme Court has started to hear oral arguments on the case filed by the League of Cities against the conversion of 16 municipalities into cities.

The lawyer of the League correctly pointed out that the creation of the new cities was “unconstitutional” because it did not meet the requirements set forth in the Constitution and the Local Government Code.

Defending the creation of the new cities, the government’s Solicitor General engaged in hyperbole. Her arguments were simply hogwash.

She was quoted to have said “The change to the Local Government Code was enacted with the understanding that the 16 municipalities and eight others will be exempt from the requirements.”

Ha, ha, ha! Unbelievable!

There has no change yet in the Local Government Code regarding the requirements since its enactment in 1991. There is, however, a pending bill in Congress exempting capital towns on the requirements.

Where the hell did the government’s top lawyer get her basis to exempt the 16 towns? What a lawyer!

(5:48 a.m.)

Heroes

I delivered a privilege speech at the City Council yesterday which created quite a stir. I got mixed reactions. I would elaborate on Saturday when I appear as guest at ABS-CBN’s noontime radio show.

I described Joey de Venecia and Jun Lozada as fake heroes and called on the nation to focus on more important issues other than the telenovela that is the NBN-ZTE scandal.

OFWs to me remain as our genuine heroes. Unfortunately, we neglect their fights and plights.

(6:26 a.m.)

Decrease?

The report of the Department of Tourism that domestic passenger volume at the Davao International Airport decreased by 1.5 percent in 2007 compared to the previous year should be checked.

I can not believe such figure. Both PAL and Cebu Pacific reported growth in this sector with the two air carriers even adding more flights and new routes to Davao in 2007.

The Air Transport Office should be the more reliable agency to dish out such air passenger stats, not DOT. In counting tourists, for instance, DOT gets its figures from hotel registry, not truly a believable source.

Davao City tourism industry leaders should get to the bottom of this report. Otherwise people could get the impression tourism is declining in the city, which is bad for its efforts to lure more visitors.

(5:33 a.m.)

Back as battleground

Top honchos of the economic team of the government are in Davao City today to present the state of the economy to local officials and business sector.

Last week, controversial Joey de Venecia was here too as guest of local lawyers campaigning for truth.

This week, Jun Lozada is expected here for his provincial campus tour.

Davao City is back as a battleground for the hearts and minds of the people.

We recall that during the late 1970s and into the 1980s, this city was the laboratory of the urban war between NPA partisans and government-backed vigilante groups fighting for the loyalty of the people. It was a nasty experience that left the city with scars.

Would I expect this new game to be any different.

Nah, the visits of Joey de Venecia, Jun Lozada and the economic team would be as unproductive.

(6:15 a.m.)

Sitting on our laurels

What seems to be the trouble in keeping our No. 1 spot?

We are the world’s top producer of seafarers but we appear to be sitting on our laurels.

Like the decline in basic education, diminishing English proficiency, etc. our maritime schools are also on the downturn.

Oh well, Pinoy nga naman. 

(5:51 a.m.)

Davao musicians

Congratulations to the new officers of the Samahan ng mga Musikero sa Davao, Inc., the musicians’ association in Davao. I administered their oath of office last night at Kanto Bar at MTS. They are:

Chair – Popong Landero; Vice Chair – Titong Dalumpines; Board Secretary – Lynda Alba

President – Ben Madarang; VP – Percival Tan; Secretary – Sandra Carpio; Treasurer – Manny Pacaldo; Auditor – Marlyn Catindig

Board Members – Noli Bencio; Erning Alba; Randy Avila; Gingging Alonday; Francis Pitao and Jovy d’ Cowboy

There are over 100 active bands in Davao categorized into student bands, amateurs and professionals.

(6:32 a.m.)