February 1, 2011

Am down to my last P33--20-peso bill, 5 peso-coin and 8-peso coins. WILL bet lotto on the numbers today--08, 05, 20, 28, 31, 38; for seven draws. Haha.






Photo captions.My Laoag "penthouse" at the third floor; Shanelle Julian cleaning the top of the stairs and Marvin using my laptop.. The Laoag River (Padsan)

FINALLY

I have successfully defeated procrastination yesterday: Hired a tricycle to take me to the Aboitiz Magat Power Dam, in Aguinaldo, Ramon, Isabela for the latter's write-up and advertisement for Timpuyog Journal. One of the guards on duty was Conde Bacarra from Oscariz. But I was not able to interview personally the AVP, Engr. Wilhelmino Ferrer. We were at the gate waiting for the go-signal to go to the office, but their community relations officer, a girl, came out and inquired about what I wanted. After the preliminary introduction and stating our purpose, she told us to leave behind the advertisement contract and other documents. They will contact their Makati office today, she said. Then she left because she has a meeting. I left with the guards the ad contract and three copies of TJ. The meeting was over in less than five minutes.

Bad Day for the Prosecution

Vary vague articulation of Article 2 of the charges against Chief Justice Renato Corona. The defense led by former Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas is riding roughshod over the prosecution team that is not performing well and lacking some intelligent minds. The way they answer questions showed they lack the "logical minds" that even a journalist trained in the nitty-gritty of the trade -- the what, who, where, when, why and how-- could give them run for their money.

It's five minutes to five in the morning. The light went out almost an hour ago. The laptop will be "low battery" in a few minutes; I have written a note to Remy Espero from Canada in her FB account.

Brownout ngem nagsubli koriente, 29 minutes after 5AM. Text message from Milton Pascua re his address in Laoag City: 27 Basa St., Barangay 19 Laoag City. I will be sending him copies of TJ today.
I lack the political will to go to the office of Aboitiz Power Corporation in Aguinaldo  despite a recommendation ( to get advertisement for  the magazine) from the Ninang, Linda Pahayahay, of the Chief Executive Officer. But I will go today, mark my word. Haha. Later in the day, other "lousy" concerns were more important than going to the CEO.

Day 3 for Corona Impeachment Prosecutors

They were bumbling and appeared incompetent during the second day of the impeachment trial, but prosecutors on the 3rd day scored a "hit" when they succeeded in persuading the Supreme Court clerk to turn over to the impeachment tribunal the statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALN)papers of Chief Justice Renato Corona. The SALN, according to the prosecutors, will prove that Corona amassed ill-gotten wealth. Former Chief Justice Serafin Cuevas, counsel for Corona, raised several objections during the presentation of evidence. But IC chair Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile ruled against him and the presentation by a prosecutor--Rep. Justin Justiniano- continued. Cuevas, after the SC clerk of court turned over the SALN papers to the IC, cautioned her, attorney Enriqueta Vidal, she could be censured or dismissed by the SC for violation of the SC rules on the SALN.

The trial is expected to last at least three months. Will the people's court (through their representatives in Congress with the elected senators as judges) bring down Corona?

Start of IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, Monday, January 16, 2012

For the first time in Philippine judiciary history, the highest court official will be tried for various violations. It's about honesty, trust integrity and moral fitness for Chief Justice Renato Corona whose midnight appointment by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, perceived as  a corrupt president, sparked controversy in 2010.

Hearings will be held at the Senate session hall with the senators as impeachment judges. Renato Corona need not attend the hearings, but his high-powered lawyers will do the defense for him.



caption,not him behind bars, but a hint Corona could be ousted as chief justice.

LAGLAGIP

Cigarette-smoking Blas Ople, then Labor Minister, was the guest of honor and speaker, and with his booming voice, exhorted the writers. The young and sultry Imelda Papin was guest singer and her husky voice was capturing the anxiety and loneliness of unrequited love.
It was in the evening of January 13, 1979 at the Focus magazine building in Port Area, Manila. The cold wind from the bay wafted through the windows of the office of Focus where the awarding rites for the year's outstanding writers in poetry, essay and fiction were held.

The winners who received their prizes in cash were Peter La. Julian, Prescy Supnet, from Narvacan, Ilocos Sur; Sammy Sta. Maria, Benjamin Afuang, Joel de los Reyes, Romeo Navarro, Enrico Enerio, Wilfredo Aberca, and fellow Ilocano Maximo Ramos, who bagged the top prize in the essay level.

I was one of a 7-man ecumenical group that translated the Bible into Iluko from the so-called original languages of Hebrew and Greek. I was the layman official representative of the Roman Catholic church. The others were: Fr. Godofredo Albano (RC). now dead; Patrocinia Tayaban(United Methodist), Rev. Gerry Tovera (?), Rev. Juan Marigza, Pastor Anacleto Guerrero, now dead, and Rev. Noel Osborn as coordinator. It was a project of the United Bible Societies through the Philippine Bible Society. Mrs. Rosalind R. Camat was secretary. The whole book (that included the Apocrypha for the RC) was launched in Vigan sometime in the 1980s.

The first Iluko Bible revision started in 1986 ( I resigned as an employee of the Department of Public Information, where I started work in 1979 when the project ended) with me as coordinator and revision member. The others were Fr. Alfredo Ancheta, Rev. Eusebio Tanicala, Mrs.Perlita Rabago of the Wesleyan church. The principal venue was in Baguio, in an apartment in a three-story building owned by the Dulays along Marcos highway; then for a change we went to where members can get the venue for free: Rosales, Pangasinan, San Fernando, La Union (we paid the bill), and Sta. Catalina, Ilocos Sur, where Fr. Ancheta was town parish priest. I was photographed with teachers of the Nagtupakan Elementary School in Sta. Catalina along with Fr. Ancheta (extreme right in top photo)



Captions: PLJ with the late Kerima Polotan (bw pix), the winners with the late Blas Ople, Hawaii governor Linda Lingle with Ilocano writers in a Hawaii hotel

January 11, Wednesday, Burial

To Tuguegarao, for the burial of abalayan Nenta's sister, who died of cancer, on board Raul's Starex, with Albert on the wheels. Body lying in state in a cathedral, burial sked at 9:am. Am bringing copies of Timpuyog Journal, for Purita Licas, director of the Philippine Information Agency. A copy will also be given to one of the daughters of the Batugals, who lives in San Gabriel, and who teaches graduate school at St.Paul University. The Batugals are Ilokanos from the town of Faire.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Why do I keep on writing? To keep aware of things around me, to be able to see and just write about what I see, even if it was only a word or phrase to describe what I see or hear. I keep on trying. Who knows, my constant digging may strike a load, a golden nugget of wisdom.

Journal of January 9, 2012

Surviving the day with a loss in tong-it, a card came, a waste of time. Where are the resolutions? These are easier listed in the mind than done. Anyway, while there was practically no money inside my pocket or wallet, there was this hope that tomorrow, that is today, the pension money would be arriving and I well settle my debts--P90 internet and cellphone loads, 45 peso meal and another P50 gambling money.

Christoffer has taken a photo of the Magat Dam spillway.It is a stunning view.