I MUST be in love. She’s always on my mind. She’s the one I’d want to run to whenever the world turns its back on me. I want to spend time with her. I long for her warm embrace. I’d do all that it takes just to be with her.

It feels so good to fall in love, especially if the one you love gives you peace of mind, comfort for your soul, and overflowing happiness.

That’s exactly how I feel whenever I am with my beloved.  Get to know her.

Written in red paint on empty rice sacks, they looked like one of those streamers that activists hang to express their grievances. The sight instantly caught my attention.

I looked closer to see what the streamers were all about. Alabel is not for Sale. Justice for the Market Vendors. I understood.

A Mega Market is being constructed in my hometown. It is seen to be the biggest public market in the province. The construction of which actualy spurred the stunted proposal for Alabel’s cityhood.

It is being constructed in the same place where the original public market is located. In the process, the existing stalls have to be removed and replaced with the new structures.

The Mega Market is more than 50% finished. In fact, the newly constructed buildings are now being occupied by merchants.

Isn’t it not good to see developments such as these in my town?

But why is there resistance?

The problem begins with the price that comes with owning a stall in the public market. A vendor muct go through the bidding process to be able to run his business. Most of these vendors cannot afford the price.

I was able to talk to some of the petitioners and one of the security officers. According to them, there is an ongoing case in the court. The affected vendors are demanding for relocation. They want to be given free stalls inside the public market in lieu of their demolished stalls.

The security officer told me that a temporary restraining order was issued. After the 72-hour period, the local government went on with the demolition.

All the stalls surrounding the old public market were already demolished, except for last row of stores along Pres. Roxas St. In that particular location, the petitioners attempted to bring the operation to a halt by positioning themselves in one of the stalls that was about to be destroyed by a backhoe.

In fairness to these people, the operation of their businesses has been affected by the construction of the public market. Since many of them cannot afford the price of the stalls, and given their small capital, I doubt if all of them that go back to business.

The question is, what can the government offer these people?

As I look at it, this is not a story of wanting to stop progress. It is about people clamoring to get their side heard by the government. I am hoping for a peaceful resolution of the problem. I am not against development. I am for the welfare of the marginalized.

RIGHT NOW, as I am writing this, throngs of locals  flock to the municipal plaza of Alabel, Sarangani Province to welcome the boxing champ.

Aside from the chance of meeting the famous boxing icon, most of the people here expect to receive, if not cash, giveaways from Pacman.

Last year, the Pacman team distributed bags to gradeschool pupils. He’s also sponsoring free embalming and free casket for indigenous Sarangans. His political ads are also being shown on local TV since last month. All these are proofs that his camp is more than ready for the political battle.

While Pacquiao failed in his bid in Gensan in the 2007 elections, I could see some reasons why Pacquiao is a probable winner in Sarangani.

The province has been established through the efforts of the Chiongbians, who have always been its leaders for the past 17 years. There is no question that they have contributed to the development of the province. But in the recent years, they haven’t been very visible to the Sarangans.

I am referring to our congressman, Erwin Chiongbian, who is rarely seen in the province and is not a major character in the Congress, whose public presence is far duller than that of GenSan’s Darlene Antonino. He also doesn’t have publicized flagship projects in the province, which makes the people wonder if he is really working for the our progress.

Several mayors have also signified their support for Pacquiao’s candidacy. Our own mayor, Corazon Grafilo and Mayor Reynaldo Constantino of Malungon  are known staunch supporters. With the support of these mayors of two big towns in the province, Pacquiao has a better chance.

If the Chiongbian camp will be complacent in its campaign, it could be a knockout win for Pacman, especially that they are endorsing Roy Chiongbian, whose name has just been heard recently.

Picture from Imageshack.us

First, the world’s pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has confirmed his political bid for congress against the rock-solid Chiongbian dynasty.

Locals flock to the Municipal Plaza of Alabel, Sarangani Province right now to welcome Pacquiao, half of them expecting that they are not going home empty-handed.

Secondly, our governor, Miguel Rene “Migs” Dominguez, has been recently installed as president of Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.

In the National Convention of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD at the PICC, Migs has ben appointed as the new national president of the party, replacing Eduardo Ermita.

And finally, the province is celebrating it’s 17th Foundation Anniversary and 7th MunaTo Festival next week.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “MunaTo Festival: Pride of Sarangani Tri-People,” highlighting the cultural heritage of the province.

MunaTo is a B’laan word for “first people,” referring to the 2000-year old anthropomorphic jars excavated in Maitum.

Michelle Solon, president of Sarangani Tourism Industry Association (SARTIA) said that this year’s celebration would “bring in and drive interest of people towards Sarangani. Ano ba ang Sarangani? Ano ba ang pagkakilala ng tao ng Sarangani? What we boast of is our culture.” (from Sarangani’s Official Website)

But for that to happen, there is a great need to drumbeat the publicity of the festival. The festival, I believe, is one of its kind in the country given the discovery of the artifacts of burial jars that date as far back as the Metal Age.

Photos from www.sarangani.gov.ph

The activities scheduled today include the inauguration of  government projects in the different barangays, tree-planting at the septage treatment facility and in school sites, opening of the agri-fishery fair, thanksgiving mass, fireworks display, and acoustic concert.

I took part in the tree-planting activity early this morning with Junior Ecologist Movement (JEM) members at the Septage Treatment Facility (STF) in Barangay Bagacay.

The area is part of the Calminda Watershed, which is a protected area.

The JEM has always stressed that we do not only plant trees but grow ones.

The clearing behind us was planted with several mahogany  saplings.

Engr. Allan Rivera of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office has always worked with JEM in its activities.

IN THE afternoon, we attended the Thanksgiving Mass and also visited the Agri-Fishery Fair.

Each barangay showcased their local products as well as those that are sold abroad.

For those who do not know it yet, Alabel is the home of the famous Sarangani Bay Bangus that are exported in various countries in both frozen and processed form.

Ms. Christine Gay, Ms. Eljay, and Sir Rolando

My co-teachers and I also went to the carnival and enjoyed some street food.

I’ve only been able to upload the pictures today so I posted them right away on my photo blog.

Ladol teems with life

Get to know Ladol on Digital Detours.

Just what did I do this summer of 2009?

After my students’ graduation day, I wanted to make my family feel that I am really LIVING WITH THEM, I spent a few days at home, did the cooking, played with my nephews and nieces (there’s abunch of them), and, you know, just lingered around. In the afternoon, I would bike, and at times, jog to the beach to get rid of the fats I have accumulated from graduation treats and birthday parties. On the beach, I would watch the sun as it sets down the horizon and the sea waves as they rush to the shore.

Biking to Ladol Beach, Alabel, Sarangani Province

Sunset at Ladol Beach

After the Holy Week, I started taking part of the Sarangani Big Brother Program by facilitating the SBB Volunteer Training and Leadership Camp. It was a great experience–meeting new friends, going to many places, and, of course, somehow being part of social transformation. I went to Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum. Alongside facilitating trainings, we had a great time snorkeling in Maasim’s beautiful beaches.

A small-group session youth volunteers in Maasim, Sarangani Province

I was not able to join the SBB Facilitators in other municipalities because I had to attend the Training for Physical Science Teachers of Regional Science High School at the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP-NISMED) in Diliman, Quezon City.

With the Director UP-NISMED and one of our Facilitators

After the training, I spent a few days to meet my friends who are now working in Metro Manila. I feel nostalgic looking at our pictures. And oh, I was able to use my TimeZone Powercard at last (Geesh, I can’t remember how much I had spent at TZ).

Before going back to Mindanao, I paid my Ate Edna and Ate Marissa a visit in Bulacan where they now work.

With Pathways Friends at the MOA

When I returned here, I was sent to another training on the Teacher Induction Program at the Notre Dame of Marbel University.  It was another great experience, where I met nice fellow participants who treated me like their younger brother. I also met with my old friends in Marbel and had our usual bowling session.

After a few days, I attended another training at Lun Padidu National High School, Malapatan, Sarangani Province on Improvization of Laboratory Equipment with Concept Integration where I learned how to saw, solder, and, well, utilize recyclables to build instructional materials for my classes.

In between these activities, I had target shooting with Board Member Aniceto Lopez III, swimming with Mayor Lopez, eyeballs with GenSan and South Cotabato Uzzapers (haha), bowling and drinking sessions with yuppie friends, and long hours of sleep.

It was one great summer, don’t you think?

Grade one pupils from Alabel Central Elementary School and SPED Center receive books from the Alcantara Foundation last year. *Image from QUEST

To help solve this problem, the Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation Inc., the Office of the Provincial Governor of Sarangani, the Provincial SK Federation (PPSK), the Local Government Units of each municipality, the Department of Education, and the Ayala Foundation, Inc. joined hands in the Sarangani Big Brother Season 2: Reading is Fun, a reading program.

Sarangani Big Brother, which started last year, is a volunteer-based reading program that runs for 15 days during the summer. Volunteer school teachers will extend their services to the identified frustration readers. Youth volunteers, the Ate’s and Kuya’s of the paraticipants, are also mobilized as teacher aids that will help ensure that the participants obtain optimum learning in the program.

Tomorrow, April 14-16 is the first round of the training of the teachers and the youth volunteers in Maasim, Sarangani Province. That will be followed by the other six municipalities of Sarangani.

Ayala Young Leaders Congress alumni, together with other volunteers from PPSK and the units under the Office of the Governor, will facilitate the training.

***

Being the senior AYLC alumnus in the group, I was tasked to talk on Servant Leadership. I am both honored and pressured because this is the topic that I think our Mentor, Sir Monch Mossessgeld, has the credibility to deliver. Haha. I think I will just borrow his words.

In November last year, Archimedes Flores, general manager of Aboitiz Energy Solutions presented a briefing paper to the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce that projects  an 84 MegaWatt shortage next year and 174 MegaWatt shortage by 2011. (Source: GMA News)

On the daily basis, the SocSKSarGen area requires about 150 MW of electricity and this is expected to increase by about 150 MW when the Sagittarius Mines Incorporated (SMI) begins its operation in 2011. At present, the are is sourcing its electricity from NAPOCOR and from two diesel power plants located in General Santos City and Alabel, Sarangani Province. The two power plants produce electricity at only 104 MW. (Source: Edwin Espejo)

The continuous development in the area, such as the rise of new establishments, also increases the power requirement. Now, how are these problems being addressed? For sure, as most activities that people do today involve electricity, we could not afford to deal with brownouts everyday.

CONAL Holdings proposes an answer to this with its plan to build a 200-MW coal based power plant in Kamanga Maasim, Sarangani Province. CONAL Holdings is a venture between the Electricity Generating Public Company Limited (Thailand) and the Alacanta Group, which also operates the Southern Philippine Power Corporation and Alsons Aqua Resources Company in Sarangani Province. (Source: Industrial Info)

Although, Kamanga Power Plant General Manager, Gregorio S. Gonzales, claims that the company will employ technologies that are compliant to Philippines Laws that protect the environment, the people cannot be blamed if they would rise up against it as it still pose danger to Massim, nearby towns Kiamba and Maitum, and even the city of General Santos.

The major drawbacks of coal-fired power plants include emissions of greenhouse gases that are said to contribute to global warming, inroganic aerosols that can damage the ozone layer, and fly ash that can pollute the air and water systems. (Sources: GSA, ORNL, Wikipedia)

Now it is a question of how much are we willing to put at risk for the sake of development?

Public Hearing on the proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Maasim, Sarangani Province (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion)

I THOUGHT we were to witness a historic event when we were invited to the unfurling of the largest flag of the Philippines at the Sarangani Provincial Capitol Complex this morning. To my dismay, what we witnessed instead was a large-scale disrespect to the nation’s emblem. Or so I thought. Just yesterday, the students and teachers of our school were advised to proceed to the capitol grounds for the unfurling of the largest Philippine flag. So we all went there this morning.

Lying on the ground was a huge lump of wet cloth spanning the length of the lawn in front of the capitol building. (That is roughly 200 meters long, I estimate.) The colors of the cloth were familiar so I recognized right away that it was the flag that was to be unfurled. White, golden yellow, red, blue, brown, and gray. Brown and gray? Does the Philippine flag have brown and gray in it? Something was very wrong about it. (Thanks to Joanna for this photo)

I grew up with a sense of respect to the flag. During my grade school days, when we were tasked to hoist the national color, we would always see to it that we handle it with care and that it would always be flown with the blue color on top, not red. During flag retreats, we would fold it without allowing it to touch the ground. I also learned that we should not raise the flag anymore when its colors have faded or when it already looks weathered. (The Flag Law)

I looked at the large piece of cloth on the ground again. It looked like a huge mess to me. So I decided, it wasn’t the Philippine flag at all but rather, just a huge cloth that looked like the Philippine flag.

Students, government employees, and men in uniform drag the edges of the flag

Why would you create such a huge flag if you don’t know how to treat it well? If you really value the national flag, why would you allow it to just lie on the ground overnight and be drenched by the rain? (It is just made of cloth, for God’s sake! Sun and rain can make it vulnerable.) And if it is sacred to you, why would you allow it to be trampled upon? On second thought, doesn’t that huge flag depict our country today, disrespected and broken apart?

Gov. Migs Dominguez and representatives from various sectors mend the flag as it needed stiching from previous unfurling.

The Woman Behind the Huge Flag