SULPICIO LINES SUDDEN GENEROSITY HAD ULTERIOR MOTIVES

For the first time, Sulpicio wants to play it cool.

Sulpicio spares families from long wait for P200T
By Elisabeth P. Baumgart Sun.Star Correspondent
With Katrina A. Balmaceda

Meanwhile, Sulpicio Lines announced that relatives will no longer have to wait for a whole year before receiving insurance for their loss.

Whether the body has been found and identified or is still missing, the company has decided to waive the one-year waiting period, lawyer Manuel Espina said in a press conference yesterday.The insurance will be given to immediate relatives of the passengers listed in the official manifest, provided they have complete documents, he added. An assessment and processing center for claims was set up at the Cebu City Sports Complex yesterday, and claimants have begun processing their documents.

I cant believe this is Sulpicio Lines. It wants us to have a generous look at them because they “spare” the families of the agony of long wait for compensation.

With a mukhang pera shipping lines, NOTHING IS FOR FREE!

Sulpicio Lines just wants to buy our sympathy in the hope that the suspension of their vessels will be lifted.

Forget it Sulpicio! With thousands of death your unsafe vessels have caused, it would be better if you would shift your business. With the looks of it, your corporate record will make you fit to engage in a mortuary service.

 

THEY NEVER LEARN THEIR LESSONS

Its been a vicious cycle. Ships sunk, passengers dead, relatives grief stricken and the snail pace cases for justice and compensation. When I read the news about another sinking of a passenger ferry owned by the Sulpicio Lines, I was outraged.

It should be emphasized that this is no longer the 1970’s when sea travel was unpredictable because of unsafe maritime practices and smaller vessels. This is already the 21st century,  where there are great strides in maritime safety and the emergence of super large vessels.

But why things like this still happen. If only the cause is excusable, then it may be easier for people to accept the deaths caused by the capsizing of the Mv Princess of the Stars. But no, from my reading, there is really fault and negligence on the part of the ship’s owners, the Sulpicio Lines Incorporated.

As early as Tuesday, June 17, 2008, PAG ASA has been announcing an incoming typhoon east of Mindanao. If the ship owners and the ships crew are sensible enough to foresee the danger lying ahead, it could not have proceeded to its tragic sail. Instead, the ship sailed on Friday! That was June 20, 2008, right smack on the day the typhoon struck the country and directly into the typhoon’s path.

Using the reason of the Coast Guard, Sulpicio Lines had the discretion to set sail considering the tonnage of the ill fated vessel, which accordingly, could withstand the waves. But if you have a responsible business sense, why risked the vessel and the lives of more than 700 souls on board? If they think about lost profits, then they could have thought how much they would lose if the vessel will meet an accident, which what actually happened. It the greed for profits that pushed the shipowners to force the issue and let the ship sail in stormy weather.

 

FATHER COMMITS SUICIDE DUE TO HIGH RICE PRICES

Rice crisis forces pa to commit suicide

Teng Lauban Datu

Cotabato City – Due to the rice shortage father was forced to commit suicide to end his life in the midst of the unabated increase of rice prices in the public market in Poblacion 6, Midsayap, North Cotabato. Authorities identified the victim as a certain Rodrigo Villar, a family man, resident of Poblacion 6, Midsayap town.

According to his wife (who declined to be named) she discovered the body of her husband inside their room already lifeless. Authorities theorized that the victim had strangled himself by placing a rope around his neck. She said, she has observed that her husband did not talk about anything except the price of rice in the public market.

He was always thinking how to make both ends meet considering the continuous price increase of rice.

 

MANOLO QUEZON CITES THE MOUNT BALATUCAN MONITOR

First, Manolo Quezon cited this blog on the issue of the sudden withdrawal of Hanjin of its shipyard project in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

The Mount Balutacan Monitor points to a report that the provincial government in Misamis Oriental is in shock because a massive shipyard project has croaked.

The citation is timely because its really an issue that has shaken the province if not the whole Northern Mindanao region considering the enormity of the employment opportunities lost.

Then Manolo comment on the criteria of the search of the Top Ten Emerging Blogs in 2008 which cited the Mount Balatucan blog as one of the blogs he is reading. Although the citation is not an endorsement, nonetheless it was a great source of honor, joy and inspiration to be read by him and I thank him profusely for that. Here’s the excerpt of that entry.

“Often, in an arbitrary manner. For The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008, a thorough effort to define criteria’s been undertaken by Can Talk Tech but what is a solid criteria for him may differ from the way other people approach the same task.

Let me weigh in with my list. Let me begin with a caveat: there are quite a few blogs I’ve added to my reading list over the past year, but they’re not new enough (cut-off is a blog birthday after July 1, 2007) to qualify for the list. These blogs are in no particular order. They represent my biases as to what I consider significant and these choices aren’t necessarily endorsements of these blogs, their advocacies, etc. Though for many of these blogs, I do heartily sympathize with them, which is why I follow them -but not all.

1. Writer’s Block which is a fine example of intellectual efforts by a writer online.

2. The Mount Balatucan Monitor one of the regional blogs that makes inter-regional cross-pollination possible.

3. scaRRed_cat sadly not often updated, but a good example of a veteran journalist trying to adapt to sharing articles online.

4. Mon Casiple’s Weblog on Philippine Politics. The finest example of an old school pundit settling in on the interweb.

5. Brian Gorrell’s The Not So Talented Mr. Montano? If Malou Fernandez was the Affair of the Diamond Necklace (complete with a mystery: she flew coach), then the birth of this blog was the Bastille moment of the Philippine blogosphere.

6. New Philippine Revolution, an intriguing blog and one that I think has a covert following among the politically-inclined. Also, an example of how anonymous blogging can be effective.

7. Vera Files. Had a discussion on Twitter if this counts as a blog or not, but Juned Sonido opined it does. If so, it marks the emergence of what could comprise the Big Three in independent journalism online.

8. Ateneans ACT, which has become a forum for advocacy and debate among the alumni of one school, but which serves as a model for advocacy and inter-generational debate. This site marks the evolution and, to my mind, coming of age of the political advocacy blog.

9. Team RP, particularly because it’s on Multiply and there seems to be a lingering bias of sorts I can’t quite pin down, but it seems to be there, against Multiply/Friendster etc. blogs. This blog is significant because it’s wedded to an advocacy site, and it’s an advocacy led by, and targeted at, the youth, which conventional wisdom tagged as apathetic -but who proved the pundits wrong after NBN-ZTE broke. The kids were just waiting for an issue that really engrossed them.

10. I’m not sure if FilipinoVoices.com counts, because it’s composed of veteran bloggers and commenters, but, well, it’s new and is making ripples, if not waves.”

While Manolo Quezon III cites this blog, I have no illusions whatsoever of being chosen as one of the emerging influential blogs of this country. Aside from a number of really good and better blogs out there, Balatucan cannot qualify in the first place because of its anonymity. I chose to remain that way. Its not the messenger that is important, but the message.

Despite its anonymity though, Balatucan strives to adhere as humanly possible to the tenets of responsible blogging.

 

IN CEBU, TEACHERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DISCUSS ISSUES OF NATIONAL CONCERN

A clear case of abridgment of freedom of speech and expression.

DepEd cautions teachers on making political statements

The Department of Education has cautioned teachers to be careful in issuing statements about the national situation to students when they will be asked about it has the said issue has not yet been closed.

DepEd Assistant Regional Director Recaredo Borgonia said that they are not however prohibiting teachers from discussing the matter in classrooms, but told them to be cautious enough in giving statements to students as the matter “has not been settled” yet.

Borgonia said that DepEd will not allow teachers and students to attend political rallies during class hours.

He cited an earlier order of DepEd that prohibits students and teachers to engage in rallies during class.

The directive says that school administrators and teachers should be steadfast in the performance of their duties in delivering quality education to their students in the face of challenging times. It further emphasizes that educators should be above partisan politics and should stay away from activities that will disrupt classes and endanger the safety of students and teachers.

Borgonia said, this order calls on all public and private school administrators and teachers to ensure that the basic right of students to have access to quality education should not be hampered by the political crisis in the country.

He clarified however that the order does not prohibit the exercise of one’s right to freedom of expression.

“We continue to encourage academic discussion of the current political crisis in the classroom, but not in a manner where we put our children in danger,” He said.

“Our teachers know very well that we have serious problems in education that we need to address. As professional educators, we must do our share by ensuring that everyday, our students learn their lessons well. The issues concerning our current political crisis are lessons significant to social studies. We do not prohibit the discussion of these issues for as long as the facts are set straight and the children are not politicized,” Borgonia said. – Jasmin R. Uy/NLQ

——————————————————————————————-

This is intended to prevent pro Jun Lozada discussions from flourishing in the classrooms. If teachers discuss issues favorable to the administration, will they be prohibited as well?

 

“I AM NOT GLORIA ARROYO’S VICE PRESIDENT” - NOLI DE CASTRO (WHEW!)

“Di ako bise presidente ni Pangulong Gloria, bise presidente ako ng buong bayan … Iba ang kaalyado at katulong ng presidente (I’m the vice president not of Gloria but of the Filipino people. Don’t confuse my helping government programs with being allied with her),“Dapat maging transparent ang pamahalaan … Mahirap magsalita ang di pa nasusubukan. Ako ang constitutional successor, alam ko ang aking gagawin kung sakasakali po (I know government must be transparent. But it is hard for someone who is not yet there to speak out. I know I am the constitutional successor, I know what to do when the time comes)”

More on this statement.

Even Davao Mayor Rody Duterte vows loyalty to the people, not Arroyo. 

The mayor said he sympathizes with the people who are demanding the resignation of Arroyo, but at the same time pointed out that the President must be given the chance to prove her innocence.

“I am not ready to demand the resignation of the President because wala akong makitang dahilan (I see no reason to). Let us just wait for the result of the investigation. There is no need to defend the President if she’s telling the truth.”

Duterte assured Dabawenyos he will act accordingly to what the truth is and will not allow anyone to use him for their selfish end.

“Di ko pagamit nila. Mas maayo pang ako na lang mu-resign una kung gamiton lang ko nila (I will not let others use me. I would prefer to resign than be used),” he said. - Sun.Star

 

ACACIA TREES ON AGUSAN ROAD MANGLED

Acacia trees on Agusan road mangled

Protests swamp DPWH over uncoordinated cutting
By Chris V. Panganiban
Mindanao Bureau
Last updated 02:51am (Mla time) 11/13/2007

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur—They cut off the main branches of 17-year-old acacia trees planted on both sides of the national highway near the two public schools here. Now, the canopy shade that brings fresh air to school children and passers-by is gone.

But what the workers of the Department of Public Works and Highways did to the kilometer-long row of trees sparked a public outcry in this town.

Residents are appealing to local officials to act and save the remaining trees near the road and around the poblacion.

Despicable

“This is an unacceptable, despicable act,” said Butch Garcia, owner of Café Christina who planted the trees along the national highway approaching and around the poblacion in 1990.

Garcia diligently labored for months to nurture the trees he planted until they were old enough to survive.

Since last week, concerned residents started to denounce officials of the DPWH for lopping off the branches of acacia trees near the San Francisco Pilot Elementary School and the Agusan del Sur National High School that formed a canopy across the highway.
More protests

“While the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) is encouraging people to plant more trees along the roads in response to the global concern on climate change, here we have DPWH men who cut,” said Dr. Lamberto de Leon, a former provincial board member.

Other civic groups, like the Rotary Club of San Francisco, have aired their disgust.

Local reporters joined the growing protest as they took turns in lambasting DPWH district engineer Jaime Bernat and his assistant, Rocky Cabanos, on public affairs programs, newspaper columns and on the simulcast broadcast of “KBP Hour” program on Tuesday.

A video documentary titled “Unsay Sala sa Mga Kahoy? (What have the trees done wrong?)” showing before and after scenes has been posted in YouTube.

The public outcry has prompted the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Council to discuss the issue as its main agenda in a meeting on Wednesday at the Sangguniang Bayan session hall.

 

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