Lulugayan Falls (Calbiga, Samar PH)

No Juan Is An Island

In life, we are confronted with several options. Travelling may serve the same options life gives – the more popular and safe ones or the off-beaten tracks that is defined by uncertainty. Which path to take is determined entirely by our own actions, our decisions, and our priorities. I personally like roads that are less travelled. One of my backpacking experiences in the Visayas has led me to explore a place only to most locals knew of. After an awesome trip to Biri and Capul Islands in Northern Samar, my friend Imma and I were off to Tacloban. But for some reasons, we ended up working pur way to a quiet town in Western Samar called Calbiga. Calbiga is home to a cave system known to some. But we were more interested when their tourism officer mentioned about a falls they call their version of a “Mini Niagara” at this…

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The Pristine Beaches of Burgos (Pangasinan, Philippines)

No Juan Is An Island

Artist Jason Mraz once shared, “My home isn’t about being grounded in one corner of the planet. It’s about being in love and being lost in the middle of an amazing adventure, witnessing sunbursts over horizons of every time zone”. I couldn’t agree more… Spot on words that have never been spoken.

There’s nothing like the joy you feel when on the road, heading off to a strange new place, either alone or with friends. And so one weekend, I decided to hit 2 of the beaches in Burgos, Pangasinan — each possessing a unique character to boast. These 2 beaches are not frequented by people. Moreover, they are tucked in the outskirts of Western Pangasinan making them a little kept and more pristine.

TIMAPOG na BATO

First stop – the gigantic, screaming rock towers of Timapog na Bato. (Timapog, a local term, as I understand it, could mean “water…

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Ang Pagmamahal ng Ina sa Anak…para kay Miguel Kurt Padua

Ang Pagmamahal ng Ina sa Anak

(para kay Miguel Kurt Padua)

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Mula sa sinapupunan niya nang ito ay sumibol

karugtong na ng kanyang buhay

ang anak na walang kamalay-malay

at sa marahang pagpintig ng puso nito

ramdam ng ina’y ligayang hindi matanto.

Nagmamahal nang walang pasubali, yan ang ina

na lahat ay gagawin para sa anak

nang ito’y lumigaya’t ‘di mapahamak

gumapang man at magtiis, o maghirap

matupad lang para sa anak, ang pangarap.

Ina lang ang kayang magtiis sa mabigat na pasakit

kakayanin ang lahat para sa anak

na sa mundo’y iniluwal na may galak

biyaya ng Diyos, sa kanya’y ipinagkaloob

kaya, pagmamahal niya’y taos, marubdob!

A Question on COMELEC’s Credibility

A Question on COMELEC’s Credibility

by Apolinario Villalobos

In the Philippines, it is disheartening to note that offenses are seemed tolerated or allowed to circumvent laws. Also, despite the strong indications of misdeeds, these are let pass due to the absence of laws, but no effort is being made for their formulation.

For instance, the obvious and early campaigning of those who are interested to run during the 2016 election is not considered an offense against electioneering because they have not filed their respective candidacy, yet, and what they are doing is not within the campaign period. How can the Commission on Election be so naïve not to understand what is happening, when even an ordinary Filipino knows that what these people are doing is plain and simple campaigning?

If COMELEC has to maintain its image as “guardian” of honest elections in the country, why can’t it come up with a policy or enhance its already existing ones to put a stop to the mentioned fraudulent practice which is making a fool of the Filipino people? How can COMELEC maintain obsolete rules that tolerate unbecoming practices that smack of deception?

The Filipinos also cannot understand why the COMELEC fail to come up with their judgments against erring overspending candidates immediately after every election when all that its people need to do is tabulate the expenses of candidates to check the total against what is allowed. To say that they are undermanned is foolishness, as this kind of hectic activity is anticipated, hence, budget for such is supposed to be appropriated for contracting auditors which is necessary. What is irritating is that their findings are released as the questioned officials are nearing the end of their term!…or when another election is forthcoming! Worst, COMELEC waits for an interested party to lodge a complaint before conducting an investigation, when it is holding on to the basis for election frauds! If that is the rule, why not change it?

Finally, while the COMELEC as an agency has a mandate, the big question is if the people who are administering it are capable and trustworthy!