At WCOPA 2010 in Hollywood
Ecijana wins top prize in international singing tilt

Marielle Corpuz (center) with fellow Filipina finalist Panky Trinidad (left)
and former grand champion Jed Madela (right) 
at the WCOPA championship in Hollywood, California.
Photo courtesy of Philippine Entertainment Portal

Marielle Corpuz of Cabanatuan City won the Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World award in the annual World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) 2010 held in Los Angeles, California from July 17 to 25.

Corpuz (Rose Marielle Mamaclay in real life) was also a member of the team that represented the Philippines in the 2008 staging of WCOPA.  She won gold medals in the 18-24 age group in the categories Female Vocal Broadway, Female Vocal Contemporary, Female Vocal Open and Female Vocal Pop, and a silver medal in Female Vocal Rock,.

This year, she was the only Filipino finalist in the senior division.

She was also given the special awards Overall World Champion in Pop Category 16-24 and Overall World Champion in Open Category 16-24.

Corpuz was ecstatic with her victory. 

"Sa Philippines po, di ako nasasama pag i-i-air na sa TV. Hanggang top 40 lang ako," she said. "Natalo po ako, pero sabi ko po, hindi ako susuko. Kung anuman ang nangyari, naging challenge sa akin. At ito na nga po ang naging bunga," she said.

Corpuz is managed by Charie Vega and "Asia's Queen of Songs" Pilita Corrales.

WCOPA is a yearly international competition held in Hollywood where selected countries are represented by their excellent performers. The events include dance, vocal, modeling, acting, instrumentalists, and variety arts. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded to the winners, Olympics style.

The Philippine team was headed by Kitchie Benedicto. Former WCOPA winners from the Philippines Jed Madela and Rhap Salazar were also present in the event. ###
 
 

Cabanatuan barangay chair wins hybrid rice tilt

The barangay chair of Barangay Buliran in Cabanatuan City won first prize in the "Search for Hybrid Rice Highest Yielder" held recently by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

Severino Payumo, 69, barangay head since 2002, beat 45 other hybrid rice farmers in Nueva Ecija who participated in the competition held in cooperation with Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), National Food Authority (NFA), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the Department of Agriculture- Regional Field Units (DA-NFU) and hosted by SL Agritech Corp.

Payumo's winning feat of 345.6 cavans per hectare in his six hectare rice farm broke the record of 345 cavans per hectare set in May 2006 by lady farmer Aida Badong of San Nicolas, Camarines Sur.

Payumo said that as early as when he was a high school student, he had been helping his parents cultivate their farm.

He said he shifted from inbred rice to  to hybrid rice production after being convinced by the  agro-industrial and coop office in Cabanatuan City.

He expressed the hope that Nueva Ecija will someday become the "Hybrid Rice Granary of the Philippines". ###
 
 

Politicos cross party lines to promote tourism

Umali and Joson family members sitting in Sangguniang Panlalawigan found themselves working together in the committee tasked with developing tourism in Nueva Ecija, one of the under tapped sectors of the local economy.

SP Member Eduardo Rey Joson -- son of ex-Rep. Eduardo Nonato Joson --  was designated as chair of the tourism committee, with SP Member Emmanuel Umali -- brother of Gov. Aurelio Umali  -- as vice chair.

The other committee members are Estrellita Suansing, Edmund Abesamis and Belinda Palilio.

In a five hour marathon special session of the provincial board presided over by Vice Gov. Gay Padiernos, 22 standing committees were formed, and their chairs, vice chairs and members designated.

Aside from the committee on tourism, the other committees formed were those on finance, budget and appropriation; women and family; human rights, youth and sports development, environmental protection, cooperatives, rules and privileges, ordinances and legal matters, peace and order and public safety, social welfare and development, health, agriculture, education and culture; good government, public ethics and accountabilities, public utilities and facilities, games and amusement; trade, commerce, industry and labor, public works, housing and land utilization, local government and barangay affairs, tourism and poverty alleviation.

Suansing, designated as senior board member for getting the highest number of votes among the SP members, was named as chair of three committees: environmental protection, poverty alleviation and social welfare and development.

Abesamis heads the same number of committees: rules and privileges, ordinances and legal matters and local government and barangay affairs. ###
 
 

DPWH cancels Ecija road contracts, 18 others

Secretary Rogelio Singson of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Ordered the cancellation of 19 "midnight deals" entered into by his department, including the P19.1 million projects of Royal Crown Monarch Construction and Supply in Bongabon and San Leonardo, and THE P18.3 million project of L.R. Tiqui Builders Inc. in Aliaga.

The contracts, with a total cost of over P934 million, were for the rehabilitation of provinces affected by storms Ondoy and Pepeng and funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Singson, citing the Aquino administration's policy of transparency and accountability, said that proper procedures were clearly violated as the projects were not subjected to open and competitive bidding.

Aside from that, the contracts were reportedly signed even before their special allotment release orders (SARO) were released by the Department of Budget and Management and only a few days before the Aquino administration took over.

DPWH files show that the contracts were signed on June 18 while their SAROs were released on June 25.

Singson has formed a team to conduct a thorough investigation of the cancelled contracts and the DPWH officials behind them.

The other cancelled projects were the P53.06 million La Trinidad, Bokod, Itogon and Buguias, Benguet; Sabangan, Mountain Province and Tabuk, Kalinga projects under Ferdstar Builders Contractors; P35.1 million Ilocos Norte project of A. de Guia Construction;
 P91.5 million Sitio Departe, Barangay Bantog, Asingan, Pangasinan project of Tokwing Construction;  P228.7 million Sitio Bato, Barangay San Vicente, San Manuel, Pangasinan project of Northern Builders; P25.8 million Camalaniogan and Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan projects of M. M. Construction; P68.6 million Paitan Section Bay and Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya projects of Royal Crown Monarch Construction and Supply; P27.4 million Sta. Fe, Kayapa and Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya projects of Christian Ian Construction Corp;
P9.14 million Paombong and San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan projects of P.O.N. Construction; P41.1 million Bulacan province project of Northern Builders; P42.5 million San Felipe and Iba, Zambales projects of Tokwing Construction; P19.2 million San Marcelino, Zambales project of Arrowhead Construction; P77.3 million Arayat, Pampanga project of L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.; P78.7 million Candaba, Pampanga project of Northern Builders; P27.4 million Barangay Bodega, Floridablanca, Pampanga project of Northern Builders; P16.4 million Guagua and Lubao, Pampanga projects of L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.; P32.01 million Moncada and Bamban, Tarlac projects of R.A. Pahati Gravel and Sand and LSD Construction and Supplies; and the P22.4 million Balayan and Lemery, Batangas projects of A.D. Construction. ###
 
 

268 adult dropouts get elem/high school diplomas

A total of 268 adults from all over Nueva Ecija who had dropped out of elementary school and high school due to poverty finally received their diplomas in San Antonio last June 20.

They studied under the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and passed the accreditation and equivalency program of the Department of Education.

Of the batch, 254 finished high school, and 12, elementary school.

Maritess Mendoza, San Isidro ALS mobile teacher, said that three of the 18 graduates from her town were among the top examinees in the province.

Remedios Centeno of San Isidro, a barangay health worker and grandmother of five, dropped out when she was a high school sophomore because her parents could not afford to send her and nine other siblings to school.

Jasminda Cortes-Batas, 35, a farm worker and mother of two, also from San Isidro,  finished high school with honors, getting the highest grade and recognition of her writing skills.

Linda Franco Rivera, 20, of Cabiao dropped out when she was in Grade 4. Her ASL teachers discovered that she had the skills to study in college. She took the high school equivalency test and passed, and is now taking an education degree.

ALS students go through "learning strands" instead of subjects taught by grade levels. The strands include Kasanayang Komunikasyon sa Filipino (Language Skills in Filipino), English Communication Skills, Matematika at Agham (Mathematics and Science), Kabuhayan at Likas na Yaman (Livelihood and Natural Resources) and Pagpapalawak ng Pananaw sa Daigdig (Expanding One’s World Vision).

The learning sessions are flexible with the teachers going to the students' places, with the sessions being held just anywhere.

Robertita Fernando, ALS supervisor for Nueva Ecija, said that in addition to mobile teachers employed by the DepEd, instructional managers are hired out of the local school board funds to help implement the program. ###
 
 

Senate expresses condolences on death of ex-Sen. Antonino

The Senate adopted a resolution expressing its sympathy and condolences on the death of former Sen. Magnolia Antonino.

Resolution No. 4 honors Antonino as a devoted educator and commends her exceptional ability in industrial and business management.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada presented a copy of the resolution to the Antonino family in the late senator's home in New Manila, Quezon City.

The resolution was received by Antonino's sons Arthur, Adelbert, Nueva Ecija 4th Dist. Rep. Rodolfo and Gaudencio.

"The passing away of the '1988 Gintong Ina Awardee' is a great loss not only to her bereaved family but to the nation as well," the resolution introduced by Enrile, read.

Antonino, of La Union, was married to the late Sen. Gaudencio Antonino of Jaen, Nueva Ecija.

She first ran for congresswoman for the first district of La Union as an independent in 1965 and got elected.

With the sudden death of her husband, Gaudencio, who was running for senator in 1967, she ran in his place and won.

During her term as senator from 1968 to 1972, she  worked for the passage of Republic Act 6124 (Providing for the Fixing of the Maximum Selling Prices of Essential Articles or Commodities and Creating the Price Control Council); RA 6235 (Prohibiting Explosives and Flammables, Corrosive or Poisonous Substances or Material in Passenger Aircraft and Regulating the Loading thereof in Cargo Aircraft); and RA 6395 which consolidated and revised the Charter of the National Power Corporation.

She was also instrumental in enacting laws beneficial to women, children, farmers and those from the government and education sectors.

Aside from the Nueva Ecija congressman, another family member sitting in Congress is her granddaughter, Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio of the 1st district of South Cotabato.

 Antonino died last July 22 at 94 years old and was interred at the Manila Memorial Park last July 28. ###
 
 

Anti-casino movement reaches Facebook

The protest against the opening of a PAGCOR casino in San Leonardo has reached the social networking site Facebook.

Anonymously created, the Facebook page has so far received the support of some 400 Facebook users.

The  anti casino page, accessed by typing "STOP-CASINO-IN-NUEVA-ECIJA" in the Facebook search box, is linked to a Facebook page of Rev. Fr. Sedfrey Calderon of the Diocese of Cabanatuan that reproduces the anti-gambling Pastoral Letter earlier issued by seven bishops of the Ecclesiastical province of Lingayen-Dagupan. ###
 
 

Illegal drug trade in San Leonardo motels bared

The San Leonardo police revealed that traders of illegal drugs are trying to use the many motels in that town to hide their activities from authorities.

Chief Insp. Francisco Mateo II, town chief of police, however said that the plot had been uncovered by the police intelligence unit. As a result, he said that motel owners and managers were summoned to a meeting, asking them to cooperate in the drive against drug sellers.

He said that another racket uncovered is the use of fake money as change for drug transactions.

Two non-residents of the town were arrested with fake bills, five sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and a homemade cal. 22 inside a motel room in Barangay Castellano last week, Mateo said.

Larry Antonio, 36, a resident of Barangay Bantug Norte, Cabanatuan City who was caught along with another suspected pusher, Angelito Eugenio, 35, of Poblacion, San Isidro, said that they bought the fake P1,000, P500 and P100 peso bills for P20 each somewhere in Cabanatuan City.

The two said that they went to the motel to deliver shabu to a woman who managed to leave before the police arrived.

Mateo described the illegal drugs situation in his area as “on a street level”, citing intelligence information that drug peddlers operating there are from other places like the cities of Gapan and Cabanatuan. ###
 
 

Farmer groups point to military in Laur farmer-leader's death

A fact-finding team composed of members of the farmer groups Anakpawis and Alyansa ng Magsasaka sa Gitnang Luzon concluded that only the military had the motive to kill farmer leader Pascual Guevarra in Laur last July 9.

Guevarra, chair of Alyansa ng Magasasakang Nagkakaisa ng Laur (ALMANA), was shot twice in the chest by two men in his home in Barangay San Isidro, Laur. His 18 year old grandson, Ronnel Viloria, was wounded.

The fact-finding team said that the killing was part of "fresh harassment" of farmer leaders in Nueva Ecija.

Arturo Regarla, Anakpawis provincial chair, linked the shooting to alleged efforts of the military to eject farmers living and tilling lands in a 3,100 hectare land being claimed by the Department of National Defense as part of the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Laur.

He said that a road widening project has been completed in the area in the government's attempt to attract investors there.

He claimed that many farmers tilling lands in the area have already been prevented from going to their farms. ###
 
 

Priest asks for media help in grenade attack vs. aunt

A Catholic Claretian missionary asked for the help of the media in finding the suspects in the grenade attack on his aunt's house in San Antonio before dawn last July 25.

Fr. Arnold Abelardo said that two people riding a motorcycle in tandem threw a grenade at the house of his aunt, Lucia Ferrer Perez in Poblacion, San Antonio at about 3:00 A.M.

In a letter to National Press Club President Jerry S. Yap, Abelardo said that his aunt is fearing for her life and those of her family members.

"I hope you could help her [in] bringing this [story] to light so that criminals may know that they cannot hide and continue their evil works," Abelardo added.

He described Perez as an ordinary vendor who owns a simple store and an eatery in the San Antonio public market.

He said that the police suspected that the incident may be related to the coming barangay elections. ###
 
 

2 soldiers, 3 barangay officials charged with murder

Two Army soldiers, a barangay chair and three Bantay Bayan members were charged with murder for killing a student and a tricycle driver in separate incidents last May.

In the first case, the National Bureau of Investigation charged Private Rheian Aligen, assigned to the Army's 7th Infantry Division in Fort Magsaysay, with murder.

Pedro Roque, Jr., NBI-Nueva Ecija head, said that Aligen was the primary suspect in the killing of Eusebio Sebastian, Jr., 19, a student, in Santa Rosa last May 24.

The NBI said that Sebastian and a friend were initially bullied by Aligem and two unidentified companions. The victim and his companion ran towards a grassy area near a military checkpoint in Barangay Mapalad where the suspects shot them.  Sebastian sustained three bullet wounds in the head and one in the back.

When barangay officials confronted Aligen, he asked to be allowed to leave so he could change to his military uniform but later failed to return.

In the second case, the NBI filed murder charges against TSgt. Reyes Lazo, a member of the Army's Training and Doctrine Command based in Tarlac; Danilo Damaso, barangay chair of Caputican in Talavera, Nueva Ecija; Bantay Bayan chief Regalado Sacatrapos; and Bantay Bayan members Amancio de Leon and Ramil del Mundo.

They were charged for the killing of Ariel Regondola, 33, of Cabanatuan City.

Investigation showed that Regondola and two companions passed by a checkpoint manned by Lazo and barangay officials at Caputican Elementary School in Talavera last May 7.

Sacatrapos and the Bantay Bayan members admitted in an affidavit that they arrested Regondola at the checkpoint. ###