Sunday, December 27, 2020
Mag-inang binaril ng pulis sa Tarlac hinatid na sa huling hantungan
Inihatid na sa huling hantungan sa Paniqui, Tarlac nitong umaga ng Linggo ang labi ng mag-inang Sonia at Frank Gregorio, isang linggo matapos silang mapatay sa pamamaril ng kapitbahay na pulis.
Hindi inalintana ng mga kaibigan at tagesuporta ng pamilya ang ulan maging ang banta ng COVID-19 para sumama sa libing.
Katuwang naman ng Central Luzon police ang mga tauhan ng barangay sa bayan para matiyak na ligtas at maayos ang pagdaraos ng prusisyon para sa mag-ina.
Noong nakaraang Linggo, binaril ni Police Staff. Sgt. Jonel Nuezca ang mag-ina sa bahay ng mga Gregorio.
Nakakulong na siya ngayon at nahaharap sa kasong 2 counts of murder, at dismissal mula sa serbisyo.
Ayon sa kaanak na si Avelina San Jose, napatawad na ng pamilya si Nuezca para dapat pa rin itong managot.
"Ang ano namin magkaroon ng justice. Napatawad na po namin siya. Patawarin natin ang tao pero may justice, mayroon po tayong batas, managot po siya sa mata ng Diyos, managot siya sa mata ng tao," ani San Jose.
Nakuha pa ring magpasalamat ng pamilya sa pulisya.
"Hindi ako galit. Kinagagalitan ko lang po 'yong mga taliwas na ginagawa ng iba nating mga kababayan na PNP (Philippine National Police)," ani San Jose.
Muli namang iginiit ng Central Luzon police na hindi gawain ng buong organisasyon ng PNP ang nangyari.
"May talagang ilang bulok na kasali sa hanay ng PNP. Hindi dapat i-blame ang buong organisasyon ng PNP," ani Col. Narciso Domingo, deputy director for administration ng Central Luzon police.
Hinihintay pa sa ngayon ang utos ng korte para tuluyang mai-turn over ang kustodiya ni Nuezca sa Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
Ayon sa PNP, 7 witness ang nakapagbigay ng sinumpaang salaysay habang patuloy din ang psychological assistance sa lahat ng mga nakakita ng krimen, kasama ang 8 menor de edad.
-- Ulat ni Angel Movido, ABS-CBN News
Saturday, December 26, 2020
PRRD withdraws plan to resume face-to-face classes
President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday directed the Department of Education (DepEd) to cancel the planned resumption of face-to-face classes in areas deemed low risk for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in January 2021.
Duterte gave the latest directive after a new strain of Covid-19, which was allegedly more infectious, has been detected in the United Kingdom (UK) and has already been reported in other neighboring countries like Malaysia.
In his meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and infectious diseases experts, Duterte said he could not put the lives of learners at risk.
“I have allowed the face-to-face classes as pilot projects all over the country,” he said. “I’m calling back the order and I will not allow face-to-face classes of children until we are through with this. We have to, I said, we have to know the nature of the germ that we are confronting. Wala pa tayong alam (We know nothing yet). I cannot take the risk of allowing the children.”
Duterte admitted that it would be a “disaster,” should he allow the planned resumption of face-to-face classes to push through in January next year.
“That would be a disaster actually. So (we have to be) mindful of that: I am canceling the order I gave a few days ago – a few weeks ago – to Secretary (Leonor Magtolis) Briones of the Education Department to suspend everything, all activities of children, especially ‘yung (the) face-to-face classes,” he said.
On December 14, Duterte gave his nod to the proposed conduct of a dry run of face-to-face classes in select schools in areas that will be considered at low risk for Covid-19.
In a statement sent to Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Briones would heed Duterte’s fresh directive.
“On her part, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones will implement the President’s instruction to recall limited face-to-face classes,” Roque said.
The DepEd was supposed to start the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes in areas categorized as low-risk areas under modified general community quarantine in January next year.
Before Duterte’s latest order, the DepEd planned to make the participation of learners in the pilot study to be voluntary with the requisite permit issued by the parents.
The proposed face-to-face classes will also not be held for the full week schedule and with reduced class size to observe proper physical distancing within the classroom.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125717
Friday, December 25, 2020
God Is With Us!
The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father. John 1:14
And before you hear from my dad, this is Bonnie Sala, president of Guidelines, wishing you Merry Christmas! Today my dad shares what is my all-time favorite Guidelines Christmas devotional. It's the story of two missionaries, Rudolph Bosshardt and Arnolis Hayman, who were left behind, when the communists took over China in 1949.
The two were arrested and thrown into prison. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. China is a vast country, but what many do not realize is that in the northern part of China it gets very cold as the Siberian winds come whistling from the north.
As the months began to drag by, the two soon realized that they would spend Christmas alone and without their families. Forbidden to speak to each other, the two men sat in the cold, unheated prison cell as Christmas day dawned. Shivering from the cold, their thoughts were filled with memories of past Christmases, the warmth of families together, to say nothing of thoughts of Christmas dinner, which would not be their good fortune on that Christmas.
As they sat there, a feeling of hopelessness seemed to settle over them. Arnolis reached down and began playing with pieces of straw on the prison floor. He began making letters--IMMANUEL. The two looked at it‑‑"IMMANUEL," one of the names given to Christ meaning, "God is with us!" And gradually, by their own statement, the reality of what Arnolis had just written began to sink in‑‑GOD IS WITH US. The gloom of a prison was driven back, and the reality of what Christmas really is, sank in.
Seven centuries before Jesus was born, the Lord gave a sign to Ahaz, saying, "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew 1:23 quotes the passage from Isaiah, citing the birth of Jesus as fulfillment of Isaiah's words. But what does it all mean in our world? When the Apostle John took pen and parchment to record the birth of Jesus, he wrote, "The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father" (John 1:14). Theologians have called it "the Incarnation," but it simply means God became flesh and lived among us.
Watching the world with its misery and conflict, we desperately need to discover the meaning of the Incarnation. Many today are imprisoned; but instead of the steel bars of a jail, they are captured by human suffering, the guilt of a troubled conscience, their inadequacies and failures. Bound by ignorance, fear, superstition or just plain sin, they feel that no one cares, no one understands. The Incarnation means that God understands and cares.
On one occasion, a Christian was sharing his faith with a Hindu who just could not grasp the fact that God became man. As the two were talking, the Christian looked down and noticed an ant crawling on the sidewalk. Stooping over he said, "Suppose that I could compress myself to the size of an ant and could put aside my human strength and could live in the body of an ant. Only then could I really understand an ant's world, and that is exactly what Jesus did." "Yes," replied the Hindu, "to understand, one must be one."
And that is exactly what the Incarnation really means‑‑God cared enough to allow His Son to take upon Himself a robe of human flesh, to suffer as we suffer, to experience what we experience, and finally, to give His life in our stead that for all eternity we may dwell in His presence. Yes, the Word, Jesus Christ, became flesh and dwelt among us.
Resource reading: Romans 8:38-9
Behind the Music: 'Pasko Na, Sinta Ko' by Gary Valenciano
Not every popular OPM Christmas song weaves a love story. However, Gary Valenciano’s “Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” started that way.
This sentimental Yuletide ballad that has been crooned by Filipinos for more than three decades, has an interesting romantic story.
Back in 1986, when Valenciano had just joined WEA Records, the company immediately planned to release a Christmas album for him. “Take Me Out of the Dark,” a song Valenciano penned that year, was readily included in the line-up of tracks.
Yet, Valenciano’s wife and manager, Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano, insisted that her husband include a Christmas song that her Sigma Delta Phi sorority sisters at the University of the Philippines (UP) would render during caroling nights.
The song was written by someone who was also from UP (Francis Dandan) and his professor (Aurelio Estanislao).
“I told Angeli, ‘No one knows the song’!” Valenciano told ABS-CBN News. “But Angeli insisted that it had to be part of my Christmas album. She kept on singing the chorus to me and bits and pieces of the song.
“Then, Louie Ocampo told me he knew the song, so we asked him to arrange it and it became such a huge hit. The rest is history.”
Dandan collaborated with UP professor, baritone Aurelio Estanislao, who wrote the lyrics of “Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” before the song landed on Valenciano’s lap.
“The story’s background is supposedly about a young member of the UP Concert Chorus, Fred Gutierrez, whose love of his life, Melba, was leaving for the USA before Christmas in the late ‘70s,” Valenciano added. “But she passed away."
“Meantime, Francis’ story is tragic as he took his life in 2001 due to undisclosed reasons and that was so sad for us.”
Through the years, “Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” has become one of the most iconic Christmas ballads ever recorded and Valenciano cannot be any happier about that fact. The popular song has undoubtedly become Valenciano’s signature anthem during Christmas. It was the carrier track of his first holiday album, “From Gary, Merry Christmas.”
“Having a song that hits is one thing, but having been given a chance to record a song that eventually becomes a classic is different feeling,” Valenciano said. “Somehow, it takes longer for it to sink in.
“Most of the time, it really tugs at my heart when I hear ‘Pasko Na, Sinta Ko’ being played after all these years. What a blessing to have been given this song. I count it an honor to have been the first to record the song, but we were very sad that we couldn’t do more for Francis Dandan as we were unaware of his mental condition.”
At about the same time Valenciano and Ocampo were trying to record the song then, they found out that young singer, Keno, wanted to do the same thing. “But we beat Keno to it,” Valenciano said. “And his manager then, Arsi Baltazar, and Angeli had such a fun time arguing about what happened.”
“Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” has been in the roster of Christmas songs every Yuletide season. It has become a sentimental favorite by many. It always warms Valenciano’s heart when people come up to him to say how they have embraced the song.
“I’ve had many who have come up to me either just laying their hand over their chest, like to signify how much they’ve been affected by my song, as others have that look on their faces like they want to cry,” Valenciano disclosed.
“Both of those actions are done in a light and almost joking kind of way. It is easy to tell though that the song is something. That they relate to quite well.
“Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” was not the first original Christmas song recorded for the album, “From Gary, Merry Christmas.” Valenciano also did another Tagalog Christmas ditty, “Himig ng Pasko,” by Levi Celerio and other well-known traditional Christmas classics like “Joy To the World,” “Little Drummer Boy,” “Silent Night," and "O Holy Night.”
“Pasko Na, Sinta Ko’ may not have been the first, but the album would never have been complete without it,” Valenciano said. “Of course, there is the ‘Hele ni Inay,’ composed by Roy and Lissa del Valle.
“I composed ‘Once Again It’s Christmas’ for Kiana 20 years ago, which won for her Best Christmas Recording and Best Performance by a Child Recording Artist at the Awit Awards of 2000 when she was only seven.”
Through the years, “Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” has been re-imagined and rendered onstage several other artists, like Martin Nievera, Sharon Cuneta, Tim Pavino and even the Philippine Madrigal Singers.
Behind the Music: 'Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko' by Apo Hiking Society
If there is perhaps an apt OPM Christmas song at this time of the pandemic, it is the Apo Hiking Society’s “Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko.”
While many are wary about celebrating Christmas this year, Filipinos will find every reason to still enjoy the holidays however they can, in whatever way they can.
It was back in 1991 when the Apo Hiking Society trio of Jim Paredes, Danny Javier and Buboy Garovillo recorded their first Christmas album, “Pasko nApo,” that contained 11 original Christmas tunes.
Among the tracks in Apo’s 12th studio album was “Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko,” one of the well-loved OPM Christmas tunes ever recorded. The song has been embraced by both young and old through the years.
“I loved the song the moment I heard it,” Apo member Jim Paredes told ABS-CBN News. “It was a great song. We had Eddie Munji III arrange it. He was the same guy who arranged ‘Panalangin.’ He made ‘Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko’ a big winner.”
Through the years, “Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko” has been constantly included the roster of Christmas songs every Yuletide season. It has become a sentimental favorite of many Filipinos.
The OPM Christmas tune is a familiar piece for carolers, students, choirs and pop groups who never fail to render it for their celebrations. The upbeat tune has become a staple in Christmas get-togethers or presentations annually.
Back in 2006, Orange and Lemons recorded a re-imagined version of “Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko” that was used in that year’s Christmas station ID of ABS-CBN. After more than a decade, the song was given a new feel and Paredes couldn’t be any prouder when he heard it.
“It is always a good feeling when another artist does a take on a song that we previously made a hit,” Paredes maintains.
The trio’s “Pasko nApo” Christmas is full of great songs and Paredes immediately went on a trip down memory lane when asked to talk about the album.
“I especially like ‘Lata ang Aming Tambol,’ ‘12 Days of Pinoy Christmas,’ ‘Sanggol na Mahiwaga’ and our ‘Pasko na Sinta Ko-Miss Kita Kung Christmas’ medley,” he said.
The album contains other tracks including “Paskong Walang Pera,” “Himig ng Pasko,” “Pasko Na sa Mundo” and “Panahon ng Pag-ibig,” “Pasko Na” and “Ang Pasko.”
Fifteen years after “Pasko nApo” was recorded, the 11-track album was digitally remastered and a new cover was created with the CD release.
Thursday, December 24, 2020
The Ten Wonders Of Christmas
His name shall be called WONDERFUL. Isaiah 9:6, KJV
Over 365 names and inscriptions are found in the Bible referring to Jesus Christ, but none is more lovely than the one found in Isaiah where the prophet said, "His name shall be called WONDERFUL" (Isaiah 9:6, KJV). As a light that sparkles on a tree, the wonder of Christ can hardly be reduced to a treatment of a few minutes, but in that length of time I can give you the ten wonders of Christmas.
First, there is the wonder of HIS BIRTH. Any birth is a wonderful event, but the birth of Christ had been foretold by the prophets for centuries. To Abraham, God revealed the nation through which Christ would come. To Jacob, He revealed that Christ would be of the tribe of Judah. To Isaiah, God mentioned a family, the line of Jesse. To Micah, God whispered the name of the city. To Daniel, God revealed the time of His birth. The events leading up to the birth of Christ were like the gears of a fine watch that had to mesh together so that when the fullness of time had come, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. What a wonder!
Second, there is the wonder of HIS CONDESCENSION. Really, to understand what this means, you have to remember what heaven was like and what Jesus left to come to our world and be tabernacled in human flesh. Had men arranged His birth, it would never have been in a stable, but the wonder of His condescension means that God touched the needs of humanity right where we are.
The third wonder of Christmas is the wonder of His CHARACTER. Though we are saved by the death of Christ, His life is yet filled with wonder. Who but Jesus could say, "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?" (John 8:46). He lifted the fallen of life. He gave His life that we might have newness of life in Christ.
The fourth wonder of Christmas is the wonder of HIS PERSON. He was human yet divine. He could grow weary, yet could say, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, KJV). He hungered, yet could take five loaves and two fish and feed a multitude. He was heaven's light for Earth's darkness and heaven's bread for man's hunger.
Then fifth, there is the wonder of HIS WORDS. He spoke with authority, demanding the attention of those who heard. He said, "You have heard that it was said...But I tell you." His words are ethically true. You will find no loopholes in what Jesus taught or said. He spoke with simplicity but with great power.
The sixth wonder of Christmas is the wonder of HIS WORKS. How can we describe them! Wherever He went, He did good. To the blind He said, "Receive your sight"; to the lame, "Rise up and walk." He stopped funeral processions and raised the dead. He made no clinical analysis; He brought in no specialists. He just spoke the Word and it happened.
The seventh wonder of Christmas is the wonder of HIS DEATH‑‑freely given, undeserved, but effecting a lasting relationship for each person with our Heavenly Father.
The eighth wonder is the wonder of HIS RESURRECTION. Pilate gave the order to seal the sepulcher. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how" was his command (Matthew 27:65). Yet the tomb is empty and Christ ever lives.
The ninth wonder of Christmas is the wonder of HIS SECOND RETURN. "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven" spoke the messengers at the Mount of Olives, "will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11).
But last of all, the tenth wonder of Christmas is the wonder of HIS SAVING POWER. "He will save his people from their sins," was the message of the angel to Joseph (Matthew 1:21). This is the great wonder of Christmas: through His blood we find forgiveness and cleansing. Thank God for the wonders of Christmas!
Resource reading: Luke 1:1-38.
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/the-ten-wonders-of-christmas-2/
Comelec OKs holding of plebiscite in 23 Palawan municipalities on March 13, 2021
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan– The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has approved the conduct of a plebiscite in 23 municipalities on March 13, 2021 according to the local election office.
Provincial Comelec spokesperson Jomel Ordas said that they have received the approved Resolution No. 10682 and the calendar of activities through Resolution No. 10687.
In the Resolution promulgated on December 16 by chairman Sheriff Abas, Commissioners Ma. Rowena Amelia Guanzon, Socorro Inting, Marlon Casquejo, and Antonio Kho Jr., it stated that the voter who will vote for its approval shall write the word “Yes” or “Oo” or its conceptual equivalent in the blank box after the question, or the voter will voter will vote for its rejection, the word “No” or “Hindi”.
For the purpose of the March 13, 2021 plebiscite, the official ballots which bear the date May 11, 2020 are valid and shall be used, according to the resolution.
The following question shall be provided in the official ballot:
“Pumapayag ka ba na hatiin ang probinsya ng Palawan sa tatlong probinsya na papangalanang: Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental at Palawan del Sur alinsunod sa batas republika bila ng 11259?”
The voting will start at 7 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. except when there are voters present within 30 meters of the polling place who have not yet cast their votes. The counting of votes will start at 3 p.m.
The convening of the municipal or provincial plebiscite board of canvassers (M/PBOC) shall not be later than 6 p.m.
Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police will be assigned to conduct thermal checks on all persons before entering the voting center and those with the temperature of 37.5 and above will not be allowed.
Governor Jose Chaves Alvarez recently said in a press briefing that he sees an “overwhelming” victory of 3 in 1 Palawan through the plebiscite in March, 2021, that would pave the way for the creation of the three provinces of Palawan.
He expects that the majority of Palaweños will be in favor of the creation of two additional provinces.
Comelec sets Palawan split plebiscite on March 13, 2021
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the plebiscite to divide Palawan on March 13, 2021, allowing the local voters to decide on the provincial split into three provinces.
Provincial Comelec spokesperson Jomel Ordas on Thursday confirmed that the poll body, ruling en banc on Dec. 16, approved Resolution No. 10682, the revised rules and regulations on the conduct of the Palawan plebiscite, and the election calendar of activities through Resolution No. 10687.
Ordas said they received the en banc resolution on Wednesday, Dec. 23.
3-in-1 vs One Palawan
Winston Arzaga, provincial information officer, in a separate interview on Thursday morning welcomed the development as “the right move” to let the public decide on splitting Palawan into three provinces namely Palawan Del Norte, Palawan Del Sur, and Palawan Oriental, ratifying Republic Act (RA) 11259 signed by President Duterte on April 5, 2019.
“While on its early stages, bill pa lang, we are already doing an information education campaign (IEC) about it,” Arzaga said, denying the claims of One Palawan Movement, a civic group opposing the move, that residents were against the split.
Cynthia Sumagaysay-Del Rosario, one of the convenors of One Palawan Movement, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, said at least 60 percent of the Palawan voters did not vote for Gov. Jose Alvarez in the last elections, to contradict the provincial government’s prediction of a “landslide win” in favor of the division.
Del Rosario pointed out that the total number of registered voters in Palawan in 2019 was 523,314 but Alvarez garnered only 207, 875 votes. The combined votes of the other candidates totaled 142,954, while those who did not cast their votes for governor were 172, 485. This means, he said, that 315,439 did not vote for Alvarez or about 60 percent of the province’s voters.
Arzaga said Del Rosario’s assertion “does not deserve a comment,” pointing out that the predicted numbers of the opposition lacked merits, or went through a survey.
Alvarez earlier said they were targeting the “undecided” individuals to convince them to favor the Palawan split.
Rules and guidelines
In the resolution promulgated on Dec. 16 by Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas and Commissioners Ma. Rowena Amelia Guanzon, Socorro Inting, Marlon Casquejo, and Antonio Kho Jr., the voter shall write Yes” or “Oo” if they favor the split and “No” or “Hindi” if they are against it; or its conceptual equivalent in the blank box after the question, “Pumapayag ka ba na hatiin ang probinsya ng Palawan sa tatlong probinsya na papangalanang: Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental at Palawan del Sur alinsunod sa Batas Republika bilang 11259 (Do you agree to divide Palawan into three provinces, namely, Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Sur as provided under Republic Act 11259)?”
The official ballots, which bear the date May 11, 2020, the initial schedule of the plebiscite that was reset due to the coronavirus pandemic, will remain valid and used in the March 2021 plebiscite, according to the resolution.
The voting will start at 7 a.m. and end at 3 p.m., except when there are voters present within 30 meters of the front of polling places, who have not yet cast their votes.
Counting of votes shall start from 3 p.m. onwards, with the municipal or provincial plebiscite board of canvassers convening not later than 6 p.m.
Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police will be assigned to conduct thermal checks on all persons before entering the voting centers. Those with a temperature of 37.5 degrees Celcius will not be allowed inside the polling precincts.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1375579/comelec-sets-palawan-split-plebiscite-on-march-13-2021