YOU HAVE TO BE IMPOVERISHED AND MARGINALIZED TO AVAIL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE

Resisting and dumping clamors to remove VAT from petroleum products, Gloria Arroyo is again deceiving the people into believing that her government is out to help to hurdle the present economic crisis.

Gloria Arroyo will again hoodwink the Filipino into accepting “doleouts. She unveiled her latest doleouts.

1. P1 billion for “Pangtawid Kuryente” program for lifeline users
2. P5 million for senior citizens
3. P1 billion for the repair of infrastructure damaged by Typhoon “Frank,”
4. P5 million for the upgrading of government hospitals,
5. P1 billion for microfinance assistance for the families of drivers and operators of public utility vehicles.

Which means for Gloria Arroyo to help you, you have to be a lifeline energy user, a senior citizen, a typhoon victim, a sickly person and a child or a spouse of a jeepney driver and a public utility operator.

If you are not one of the above, then sorry, no assistance. On the other hand, had GMA and her illegitimate government have the political will to suspend VAT, then not only those mentioned above will be benefitted but all of the Filipinos since all of us, after all, are feeling the pinch of economic and financial crisis.

But VAT is the one that is feeding the engine of this administration. Not so much of assistance to the people but for its survival. An administration that is devoid of public support and has doubtful mandate is in constant threat of legitimacy issues. And so it has to buy out so many people such as the elites, the Congressmen, the Governors, the Mayors and other power brokers. Without VAT there is no clear source of money to spend and to pocket.

The government has to sustain VAT, never mind the hardships of its people. Anyway, people will be willing to just settle for the crumbs. To borrow the line of Archbishop Oscar Cruz, the Arroyo government have low regard on its citizens.

“Bumababa ang tingin sa sarili kung inaabutan, parang umaasa. Masyadong mababa ang tingin ng pangulo yata sa mga Pilipino, aabutan na lang ng aabutan (People have low self-esteem if they just get dole-outs. It seems this president has very low regard for poor Filipinos because she just wants them to depend on dole-outs).

“Ang nagbabayad ng buwis mula sa pobre sa mga nagpapalimos, nagbabayad ng VAT lahat yan. Pagkatapos ang katas ng VAT isasauli nang konti. Sabi ko isauli lahat, lahatin na (Everyone pays taxes, even the poor. Even beggars will pay taxes if they buy goods covered by VAT. Yet this government makes it appear it is giving back the VAT proceeds when in reality it is giving back a very small portion of it. So I say give back all the VAT by repealing VAT).”

That is the present mindset of the illegitimate Arroyo government.

***

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. One of the biggest and widely observed Marian feast in the Catholic world. Here in our locality the following parishes are celebrating their fiestas today.

1. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish (F-1963) Carmen, 9000 Cagayan de Oro City
2. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Talisayan, Misamis Oriental
3. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish (F-1961) Bobontugan, Jasa-an, Misamis Oriental
4. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish (F-1959) Carmen, Agusan del Norte
5. OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL PARISH (F 1876) Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte
6. OUR LADY OF MT CARMEL PARISH ( F 1635) Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte
7. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Carrascal, Surigao del Sur

Happy Fiesta Kaninyong tanan! Kaon na sad!

 

MAYOR RAMON CALO ORDERED TO VACATE POST IN FAVOR OF BROTHER, JESUS.

Court orders Mayor to vacate post in favor of brother

Pat Samonte

Butuan City – A regional trial court here has issued a writ of execution and ordered Carmen, Agusan del Norte Mayor Ramon Calo to vacate his post in favor of his brother Jesus.

In an electoral protest that involved not only two siblings but two powerful and influential families in Agusan, Regional Trial Court Branch 3 Presiding Judge Francisco Maclang directed the sheriff to install Jesus Calo as the duly elected Carmen town mayor pursuant to his decision last February 8.

Ramon Calo was backed by former Agusan del Sur Governor Valentina Plaza and her businessman son, Boyet Plaza who ran for governor and representative respectively, of Agusan del Norte in the May 14 last year. In that electoral exercise, Jesus Calo’s supporters , incumbent Rep. Edelmiro Amante and son, Gov. Erlpe John Amante prevailed.

Maclang declared Jesus the town’s duly elected mayor with a plurality of 1,018 votes over the votes received by Ramon. Following the election, Ramon was proclaimed on May 16, 2007 based on the canvass by the Carmen Municipal Board of Canvassers crediting him with 4,818 votes against that of Jesus’ 4,540 votes or a difference of 278 votes.

In his electoral protest, Jesus alleged that the May 14 mayoral electoral exercise was marred by fraud. Maclang held that 981 votes based on stray ballots and 315 votes based on marked, claimed, written by one person, written by two persons and stray ballots should be deducted from Ramon’s votes.

Maclang’s ruling used as basis, among others, Rule 14 of Section 211 of the Omnibus Election Code which provides, “Any vote containing initials only or which illegible or which does not sufficiently identify the candidate to whom it is intended shall be considered stray vote..”

 

FOR NOGIE, “ITS FORM OVER SUBSTANCE.”

“Papogi” thrusts of the administration in implementing projects admitted.

Nograles urged solons to design “visible” projects.

Obet Samonte
Mindanao Gold Star Daily

Butuan City- House Speaker Prospero Nograles has urged collegues to design and implement projects that people could “see and feel” as he declared his support for continued fund allocations given to finance projects.

In a program launching the Mt. Mayapay Reforestation Project here on Wednesday, Nograles said that despite clamor from some quarters to discontinue “pork barrel” allocations to members of the House of Representatives, he stressed their importance especially in programs and projects with long term impact.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo did not make it to the project launching as she led the inauguration of the Caraga Regional Office at around 12:30 pm.

He cited the Mt. Mayapay Reforestation Project which “the people can see and feel and the benefits they themselves will be the beneficiaries,” as an example of an undertaken that “no one could question.” The rehabilitation and reforestation of Mt. Mayapay is one of Agusan del Norte 1st Dist. Rep. Jose Aquino II’s priority projects.

Some 2,000 people arrived at the program site at around 7 am and took part in the planting of tree seedlings from the mountain base up to its peak. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Caraga headed by OIC Regional Director Edilberto Buiser provided tree seedlings to the participants composed of DENR, regional line agencies, city hall employees, students, non government and religious organizations and civic minded private individuals.

City Mayor Democrito Plaza II led city hall employees in the affair.

 

SAN ISIDRO DE LABRADOR: “A WORKER’S LIFE ANCHORED IN CHRIST.”

May 15. Today is the fiesta of St. Isidore the Labourer. I have observed that no other saint in this country who is widely adopted as patron saint of the parishes than Saint Isidore the Labourer. That is why, fiesta goers are at a loss where to go this day considering the number of parishes that are celebrating the fiesta in honor of St. Isidore the Labourer. Fiesta invitations are coming left and right. Most of all, I have observed that it is on this day that most of mountain barangays are celebrating their fiesta. And for that, I can call St. Isidore’s fiesta as the “people’s fiesta” or the “poor man’s fiesta.”

Saint Isidore the Labourer was a Spanish tenant. He is usually depicted carrying shovel, sometimes with a cow.   He was canonized by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622. It was an interesting date for canonization as the day mark the canonization of some “heavyweights (bigatin)” of the Catholic Church such as Jesuits St. Ignatius Loyola and Saint Francis Xavier, St. Philip Neri and St Therese of Lisieux. Can you just imagine that? All of those are either founders of big congregations or Doctors of the Church. Canonized along with them is this humble farmer from Madrid, Spain, St. Isidore the Labourer.

People might ask, why he became a saint? He is just a tenant, farmer, and labourer. According to stories about his life, St. Isidore never fails to visit the church before going and after working from the fields for prayer. Simple. But that simple thing makes it significant. There is spirituality even in work.

San Isidro Labrador Parish Church, Madrid, Surigao del Sur

St. Isidore’s work is not easy. His is a manual job, plowing the fields, and tending it. At that time,  there were no tractors, and no modern harvesting and post harvesting facilities. He didn’t even own the land he is working because he is just a peasant. Yet in his difficult and manual job, he still finds time to pray to God. How many of us, working in airconditioned offices, provided with the best amenities and facilities the modern world can offer, can still find a time to pray before and after work? How many of us who claims to be very busy in our lives still finds time to pray and thank the Lord.

It is said that when his master verified reports that he is late on his job, he wnt to the fields to catch St. Isidore. But lo and behold!, he instead saw St. Isidore either assisted by the Angels or the Angels working the fields in his stead while St. Isidore is still in the Church praying. With him getting help from angels, St. Isidore’s work equalled to 3 workers. His working time spent in prayer is compensated several folds because the angels helped him accomplish his work for the day. Pray and God will do the rest.

St. Isidore became a Saint because in his simple life of a worker, his life was constantly anchored to God. A simple work done with great love and devotion is a prayer and an act of Holiness in itself. In the end, St. Isidore became a saint for being a model of worker in prayer and in constant communication with God.

Since most of our country, particularly in Mindanao is agricultural, it is not surprising that many parishes are patronizing St. Isidore. Here farming communities appropriately chose St. Isidore as their model by making him their patron saint. One diocese even make him its titular, the Diocese of Malaybalay, Bukidnon which is presently administered by Bishop Honesto Pacana.

Diocese and Parishes where St. Isidore is the patron saint and which is celebrating its fiesta today.

Diocese of Malaybalay, Bukidnon

San Isidro Parish Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City

San Isidro Parish (Medina, Misamis Oriental

San Isidro Labrador Parish Naawan, Misamis Oriental

San Isidro Labrador Parish Rizal, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte

St. Isidore the Farmer Parish RTR, Agusan del Norte

San Isidro Labrador Parish Salvacion, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur

St. Isidore The Farmer Parish Loreto, Agusan del Sur

San Isidro Labrador Parish Binucayan, Loreto, Agusan del Sur

San Isidro Labarador Parish, Madrid, Surigao del Sur

San Isidro Labrador Parish Malimono, Surigao del Norte

San Isidro Labrador Parish Alegria, Surigao del Norte

San Isidro Labrador Parish Loreto, 8415 Surigao del Norte

 

And countless chapels around the country.

 

To all of the faithful celebrating the day of St. Isidore the Labourer, Maayong Pyesta kaninyong tanan.

P.S. Reminders to all fiestagoers. Please before going to any house to eat, visit first the Church. Pamistahi una ang patron. If you failed to attend mass, at least, you can light a candle. Its the patron’s day, a homage to him or her is just appropriate. Thanks. Happy eating.

 

 

POLITICAL REALITIES IN CARAGA REGION

A bridge in Bayabas, Surigao del Sur

Columnist Bert Gorgonio Sr., of Periodico News made an assessment on the present political reality in Caraga Region after the recent visit of Gloria Arroyo in Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte last week. It’s a primer on the political alignment in the region.

“MAKA ADIK ANG GAHOM (POWER IS ADDICTIVE)

Originally written in Cebuano (my translation in English)

In my assessment, it looks like the opposition is non existent in Caraga Region. At present, if there are people or politicians who are opposed to the administration, they are the so called “Way G” and “Way N” which means Way Gahum (No power), and Way Nahot (No Wealth). All the veterans and the strong already kissed the hand of Madam, including the Church!

Let us begin with the political leaders of Surigao del Norte. If in the past there is someone who is against President Gloria Arroyo, now it is ZERO. Despite the numerous issues in the national capital, including the expose of the so called CORRUPTION OF THOSE IN POWER, not one political leader in Surigao del Norte can speak against it.

But former Governor, now Congressman, Francisco “Lalo” Matugas cannot be blamed if he is now under the banner of the President. Cong. Lalo’s candidacy under the KAMPI party is a logical decision so that the people of Siargao Island can readily avail government projects. Its just right for Cong. Matugas to bless the hand of Malacanang to assure that Siargao Island cannot be left behind. Look, projects are promised left and right by Presidet Gloria Arroyo for the upliftment of Siargao Island which is now called the surfing and fish gaming capital of the Philippines.

If Cong. Lalo did not choose to join the umbrella of the President, it’s a cinch that only the Barbers’ (led by Governor Robert Ace Barbers) will be known by Malacanang. Oh well, there is the “graduating” Mayor Pons Cassura (of Surigao City) who is also a favorite of the Palace being an official of the League of Cities.

Well, there was a time when former Congressman and now Governor Robert Ace Barbers attempted to challenge the power of the President when the Hello Garci (issue) was still the craze. But Ace realized that like the undercurrent in Nonoc during northerlies, it is very difficult to counter flow the power of Malacanang. That’s why Gov. Ace consolidated his position in the Lakas party, which enabled the Barbers to retain the reins of power in the Provincial Capitol.

Its also a good thing that Congressman Jun Romarate in District 2 sing allelujah to Malacanang otherwise he would have a difficult time challenging the Barbers camp.

In Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Butuan City, it seems that there is no well known opposition group that exists. What I mean of being well known is that which has a member occupying a present elective position. From the Amantes of Agusan del Norte to Joboy Aquino and Mayor Boy Daku Plaza in Butuan City and to the Plaza’s of Agusan del Sur, it seems no creature is working against the President nowadays. Well, Congressman Ompong Plaza tried to play as an oppositionist, who has no qualms about his pro impeachment stand against Mrs. Arroyo because of the numerous issues. But like Governor Ace Barbers, Cong. Ompong realized its very difficult to meet head on the current.

 

“FUNDING NA POD.”

Looks like Gloria Arroyo will cough up more taxpayers money again in the knee jerk reaction to the rice crisis by converting Mindanao into a “swift” food basket. Exactly what it meant, I had no idea.

The suggestion was made by Speaker Nograles which was duly seconded by other Mindanao legislators such as Davao del Norte Representative Anton Lagdameo, Agusan del Norte Representative Joboy Aquino, Agusan del Sur Representative Rodolfo Plaza, Davao del Sur Representative Marc Douglas Cagas, Davao del Norte Representative Arrel Olano, and Sulu Representative Munir Arbison.

We don’t know how they would turn Mindanao into a food basket. The last thing I know, a so called Senator from Bukidnon promoted the conversion of farmlands to planting jathropa to support his advocacy on Biofuels. The so called Senator turned silent about his jathropa when the rice crisis exploded. Where to Mr. Biofuels?

Back to the food basket, what is sure is that money will be released again. Havent we learned? The fertilizer scam, the swine scam and all? Funding were released but suddenly all went unaccounted for?

I can only shake my head in resignation and sigh, ‘funding na pod.”

 

“THE LAND IS MINE”

Group urges probe on politicians dipping dirty finger to monopolize mining, logging in Caraga Region.

Ben Serrano

Butuan City- Environmental watcgroup Ugnayan sa Kalikasan have urged investigation on some politicians in Caraga Region dipping its dirty finger by allegedly influencing, coddling, bribing sometimes threatening government entities boasting political influence to monopolize mining and logging in today’s top money maker in the region.

The surging of mineral ores trading came into wake following influx of foreign and local ore traders mostly Chinese who tied up with Filipino trader counterpart searching for nickel, copper, chromite and other metallic ores as the demand for local and world markets soar.

The rising prices of gold that reach more than 1,000 per gram have also increase alleged smuggling activities of the precious stone depriving government of millions worth of revenues in alleged connivance with some personnel of some government agencies who are supposedly to implement laws.

Alicia Reyes and Christopher Angayan, Ugnaya Sa kalikasan officials cited discovery of many illegal mini gold processing plants sprouting like mushrooms in different areas in the region which do not only endanger environment due to toxic emissions but also human lives.

The two said they wondered why concerned government agencies failed to detect the existence of the illegal constructed mini ores and gold processing plants in Rosario, Agusan del Sur and some towns in the province, in Agusan del Norte and prominently in Placer, Surigao and some areas in Surigao del Sur.

“They surely do not pay due taxes to the government and this is tantamount to economic sabotage because finish products of gold were undetected where it is sold and where it will go.” Ugnayan officials alleged.

“Yet government officials are sleeping on it and in both ways somebody made money out of it because they continue to proliferate despite pronouncements of government agencies (that) they have acted on it.”

Ugnayan alleged that President Arroyo’s promise to five Caraga bishops who held closed door meeting with her at Almont Inland Resort remained to be seen saying it maybe superficial considering that most Caraga politicians, majority (are) her allies, are dipping its dirty finger to monopolize mining.

 

LIKE TOM AND JERRY

Caraga LAKAS-KAMPI merger impossible, says former party leader

By Ben Serrano 

Butuan City- A former top local party leader of Lakas CMD who is semi retired in politics today claimed the proposal of President Arroyo and House Speaker now Lakas President, Davao Rep. Prospero Nograles is not only a kiss of death but its “like shooting the moon with a sling shot.”

The former politician turned entrepreneur speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid “sourgraping” tag said animosities between local Lakas and Kampi party leaders that is like a volcano waiting to erupt violently is one of the reason why party merger is impossible.

The semi retired politician who once occupied top position in Lakas Caraga regional hierarchy added that President Arroyo and Nograles knew all along that their proposal was impossible, “because most of KAMPI leaders in Caraga region today were once with Lakas holding key positions but quit when their rivals moved in and formed KAMPI,” the former politician said. “They are like Tom and Jerry fighting for a single bone,” the ex politician explained.

When asked what the single bone means, the ex politician added,

“although very hard to substantiate it is public knowledge that politicians get kickbacks or commissions from millions of government projects either loan, grant, official development assistance and other sources, that’s what politicians die for, plus the honor and power we get.” 

The ex politician claimed that what politicians get more than honor, power and kickback from projects is that it can influenced corridors of power who among regional directors or head of government offices will be removed or not according to their political interest.

But the former politician blamed the voters in Caraga region who it claimed are also corrupt and like parasites suck politicians’ blood dry claiming corrupt political system of the country impossible to cure.

 “Unlike in the U.S. where people support politicians here in the Philippines it is the other way around and at one time, I tried to test loyalty of my supporters by cutting temporarily my money support to them and then almost all of them deserted me and went to my rivals,”

the ex politician laughed and chuckling recalling political days. The ex politician also clamored drastic reforms at the bureaucracy complaining rampant alleged cheating done by some unenlightened teachers and COMELEC officials manning voting precincts totally paralyzed vital democratic processes in the Philippines.  “The mother of all corruptions in this country is in the corrupt electoral exercises where rampant vote buying seems to be accepted by society in general as regular moral norms as if an S.O.P. or standard operating procedures”, the ex-politician said.  

 

LESS IRA FORCING MINDANAO CITIES TO CUT DOWN ON SERVICES, WORKERS

Less IRA Forcing Mindanao Cities to Cut Down on Services, Workers

Budgets for education, health, peace and order to be reduced by as much as 40 percent

By Jesus Llanto

City governments in Mindanao are set to cut down on basic services and contractual employees to cope with the unexpected decrease in their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share this year.Cities nationwide were expecting huge increases in their IRA this year, and thus programmed their expenditures based on those amounts. However, the national government–upon Congress’s initiative and the President’s approval–created 16 cities in 2007 that didn’t meet the requirements set by law. This slashed the old cities’ expected IRA increase by tens of millions each.Earlier, existing cities launched a series of protest actions by threatening to halt operations or withholding tax remittances and government insurance payments. Six of the 16 municipalities that gained cityhood status in 2007 are from Mindanao, and most of them missed not just one but two of the requirements for conversion–locallly generated income (from fees and taxes collected) and population size. Under the Local Government Code, a municipality or cluster of barangays can be converted into a city if it has a minimum local income of P100 million, a population of 150,000 inhabitants, and a contiguous territory of 100 square kilometers. The League of Cities in the Philippines (LCP) has questioned the conversion of the 16 cities before the Supreme Court as soon as the laws creating them were passed last year. However, since the tribunal had not decided on the case, plebiscites were conducted and affirmed the conversion of those cities.Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra, executive vice president of the LCP, said they are planning to reduce spending for basic services like education, health, and peace and order by as much as 40 percent.“It’s our way of making up with the cut,” said Casurra, who added that they could not make adjustments with the budget for personnel services or employees salaries because it is already fixed.

In 2007, the IRA accounted for 84 percent of Surigao City’s total tax revenue. It’s expected IRA increase for 2008 has been reduced by P31 million.

In Caraga region, where Surigao City is located, three new cities have been created.

For its part, Panabo City plans to reorganize and lay off at least 100 contractual workers from various offices. Panabo, whose 2007 IRA share accounted for 87 percent of its total tax revenue, will see its original IRA increase of P48 million reduced to just P8 million.

“We cannot provide the budget for personnel services of all departments,” Panabo City Mayor Jose Silvosa said.

Silvosa added that if the city is not going to reduce its workforce, they would be forced to cut their spending for basic services. He said that their budget for this year was computed using income estimates and the expected IRA increases.

Other cities in Mindanao are also facing huge IRA share cuts. Highly urbanized cities, like Davao and Zamboanga, will have IRA cuts of P194.5 million and P114.97 million, respectively. Iligan City will be facing a P68.83-million cut, and Butuan, P68.1 million. The six Mindanao cities whose cityhood are being challenged by LCP are Cabadbaran in Agusan del Norte, Bayugan in Agusan del Sur, Tandag in Surigao del Sur, Mati in Davao Oriental, Lamitan in Basilan, and El Salvador in Misamis Oriental.

Casurra said some of the towns converted last year become a city even if they did not achieve first-class income status as municipalities. Mati and El Salvador were third-class municipalities before the conversion, while Cabadbaran and Tandag were second-class municipalities.

The league is also opposing House Bill 24 filed by Rep. Dulce Ann Hofer (2nd District, Zamboanga Sibugay). The bill seeks to automatically convert into cities 27 capital towns—14 in Luzon, 9 in Mindanao, and 5 in the Visayas—of provinces with no existing cities even if they do not meet the income requirement.

Among the Mindanao capital towns included in Hofer’s bill are Mambajao in Camiguin, Nabunturan in Compostela Valley, San Jose in Dinagat Islands, Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao, Alabel in Saranggani, Datu Odin Sinsuat in Shariff Kabunsuan, Jolo in Sulu, Bongao in Tawi-Tawi, and Hofer’s bailiwick—Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Most of these Mindanao capital towns earn less than the minimum P100 million required for cityhood. Mambajao, Jolo, and Bongao are third-class municipalities with annual incomes ranging from P30 million to P40 million. San Jose, the capital of the newly created province of Dinagat Islands, is a fourth-class city with an average annual income of P20 million to P30 million.

Casurra said that existing cities are not against the conversion of towns into cities as long as they meet the requirements. “We are only against creation of cities by exemption.”

Casurra added that if Hofer’s bill is passed, they are afraid that other lawmakers will file similar bills to accelerate conversion of cities. “What will prevent from making other exemptions?”

Editor’s Note: This story is part of the Mindanao Online Reporting Project funded by the Australian Embassy.

 

 

“ I WON BUT LOST IN A COURTROOM” – MAYOR RAMON CALO

Butuan City- Mayor Ramon Calo of Carmen, Agusan del Norte, has questioned a court decision that unseated him.  The decision favored the electoral protest filed against him by his brother, Jesus.

 He told reporters during a news conference, that he felt “cheated” and he would fight for justice.  Calo was proclaimed winner in the May 14, 2007 mayoral race based on a COMELEC count that showed him with 4,818 votes.  His brother, Jesus, based on the same COMELEC count, bagged 4,540 votes. But regional Trial Court Judge Francisco Maclang declared Jesus winner with a plurality of 1,018 votes. Maclang finding irregularities, voided over one thousand ballots and deducted votes from Ramon. 

 Ramon said he won by 278 votes but lost in a courtroom because the judge voided the ballots that only had his “RMC” initials. He argued that “Monching” and “RMC” were recognized by the COMELEC. Lawyer Nelbert Poculan said the initials were valid in that Calo had “RMC” registered with the COMELEC. Calo also claimed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) found no falsification of document despite his brother’s allegations.  He said he instructed his lawyer to file an administrative complaint against the judge. Calo claimed he had asked Maclang to inhibit from the case last year.  He said he would also ask the court for a temporary restraining order to prevent Jesus from taking over as Mayor of Carmen.

 He said his brother is not his enemy but the Amantes who were allegedly using Jesus against him. (Obet Samonte, Mindanao Gold Star Daily)