DARANAK FALLS escapade

SIMPLY GRACELYN

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” -Ibn Battuta

I was really captivated the moment I laid my eyes on this enchanting waterfalls. The pristine, clear water that flows directly from mountain top that turns to a beautiful shade of blue as it touches the deep catching basin will leave you breathless.

The long and tiring journey I had was instantly forgotten. I know for sure that this breathtaking view is just worth it. Though, I can only count on my fingers the falls I’ve been to, this place is really stunning and worth telling.

DARANAK FALLS is one of the flagship destinations of Tanay and is a popular summer getaway for locals and tourists from in and out of the country. This 14-meter high falls nestles calmly at the foot of the Tanay mountains.

We threw ourselves under the tempting waterfalls though we can’t swim…

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Mula’t Sapul Hindi na Maayos ang Pamamalakad ng COMELEC

Mula’t Sapul Hindi Na Maayos ang Pamamalakad

Ng COMELEC

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Kahit kaylan ay palagi na lang nakukuwestiyon ang kredibilidad ng COMELEC, tulad na lang sa isyu ng paggamit ng makina sa pagbilang ng boto. Kung gagamitin lang sanang maayos ng ahensiyang ito ang makinang gagamitin sa pagbilang ng boto, kung saan ay kasama ang pag-isyu ng resibo, wala na sanang problema. Ang sinasabi nilang gagamitin sa dayaan lalo na sa bilihan ng boto ang resibo ay malabo dahil may resibo man o wala, noon pa man kahit wala pa ang makinang ginagamit, ay talagang may bentahan o bilihan na ng boto…noon pa man ay talamak na ang kawalang-hiyaan ng mga kandidato na habang lumalaon ay lalong lumalakas ang loob sa hantarang pagbili ng boto.

 

Ang resibo ay dapat iniisyu ng makina dahil bahagi ito ng tamang paggamit dito. Kasama ang pag-print ng resibo sa sistemang binili ng malaking halaga kaya hindi pwedeng hindi gamitin. Pera ng mga Pilipino ang ginamit sa pagbili ng makina at sistema kaya dapat gamitin sa kabuuhan nito, at hindi pera ng mga opisyal ng COMELEC.  Hindi dapat idahilan ang kawalan ng training ng mga poll inspectors sa pagsubo ng resibo, o di kaya ay inaasahang paghaba ng proseso ng pagboto. Kung ganyan ang mga dahilan ng COMELEC ibig sabihin ay nagpabaya ang mga opisyal nito sa kanilang tungkulin…isang malinaw na paglabag sa tungkuling itinalaga sa kanila na may kaakibat na kaparusahan! Nagkaroon ang ahensiya ng panahon upang paghandaan ang eleksiyon 2016 subalit nagpabaya sila at ipinipilit ang sarili nilang kagustuhan.

 

Dapat isipin ng COMELEC na bukod tanging kopya lamang ng resibo na hahawakan ng botante ang magpapatunay kung sino ang binoto niya at maaari niyang gamiting ebidensiya kung sakaling magkaroon ng protesta. Napatunayan nang hindi mapapagkatiwalaan ang COMELEC dahil sa “hello Garci” scandal noong panahon ni Gloria Arroyo, kaya paano pang paniniwalaan ang ipinipilit nito na ang ebidensiya daw ng boto ay nasa “memory” ng makina at makikita din ng botante habang binabasa ang balotang ginamit niya, kaya okey lang maski walang printed copy? Paano kung may nag-utos na “kalikutin” itong memory? Dapat tandaang ang mga taong involved noon sa “hello Garci” ay nasa COMELEC pa rin! Kasalanan ng COMELEC kung bakit nasa balag ng alanganin ngayon ang seguridad ng eleksiyon, lalo na at siguradong tatakbo si Grace Poe na sa simula pa lang ay marami na ang may gustong madeskwalipay. May inaasahan na naman kayang “milagro”? …o di kaya ay magiging dahilan ang problemang ito ng pagkaanatala o postponement ng eleksiyon?

 

Kung may problema sa pagpapatupad ng mga patakaran sa panahon ng pangangampanya, palaging sinasabi ng COMELEC na wala silang “police power” kaya hindi nila kayang patawan ng parusa ang mga pulitikong nangangampanya nang wala sa ayos. Bakit hindi sila humingi sa Kongreso at Senado ng mga batas na magbibigay sa  kanila ng “kamay na bakal” at “pangil” noong-noon pa man? At, ang dalawang kapulungan namang ito, bakit hindi rin manguna sa paggawa? Bakit pa nagkaroon ng COMELEC kung wala rin lang pala itong kapangyarihan sa pagpapatupad ng mga patakaran upang magkaroon ng maayos na botohan?… at lalong, bakit nagbubulag-bulagan ang kongreso at senado sa problemang ito?

 

Kung may natalo namang kandidato na naghain ng reklamo, inaabot ng siyam-siyam bago maglabas ng resulta, at palagi na lang ilang buwan bago matapos ang termino ng inireklamo, kaya wala ring saysay ang pag-upo ng talagang nanalong kandidato. Ganoon kabagal ang COMELEC sa pag-aksiyon, lalo na kung kontra-partido ng administrasyon ang inirereklamo, dahil mabilis pa sa kidlat ang paglabas ng desisyon tulad ng ginawa nila kay Ejercito sa Laguna noon.

 

Sa isyu naman ng allowance ng mga itinatalagang titser upang tumulong tuwing panahon ng botohan, palagi na lang lumulutang ang mga reklamo na halos kalahati na ng taon ay hindi pa nila natatanggap ang ipinangakong allowance na hindi pa nga sapat sa ibang itinalaga sa mga delikadong lugar. Palaging sinasabi rin ng COMELEC na na-“release” na daw nila ang pera, ganoong naririnig ang ingay ng reklamo. Tinitipid pa ang allowance ng mga titser ganoong tuwing italaga sila sa mga polling precincts ay animo nasa hukay ang isa nilang paa dahil sa nakaambang panganib sa kanilang buhay.

 

Nakakatawa din ang naging reaksiyon nila sa desisyon ng Supreme Court sa kaso ni Grace Poe, na nirerespeto daw nila pero hindi katanggap-tanggap. Huwag nilang sabihing bobo ang siyam na mahistrado ng Supreme Court na gumawa ng desisyon pabor kay Grace Poe. Sa reaksiyon ng COMELEC sa isyung ito, may hindi maganda silang pinapahiwatig na lalong nagdidiin sa kanila upang mawalan ng respeto sa kanila ang taong bayan.

JC “Toto” Tiaga-Mariano: Young Athlete with a Big Dream

JC  “Toto” Tiaga-Mariano: Young Athlete with A Big Dream

…and a staunch believer in Jesus

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

At seventeen, JC Mariano, one of the star athletes of Lyceum (General Trias) in Cavite has a big dream – to become an engineer in the field of Information Technology. During the NCAA Season 90 he garnered 3 bronze medals, and for the latest Season 91, he earned 1 silver and 2 bronze medals all in the track and field events. And, for such feat, he profusely thanks his coach, Marc Basuan. Aside from his running prowess, he also dribbles and shoots basketball ball with learned precision. He is a member of the team composed of the youth of Barangay Real Dos of Bacoor City.

 

The afternoon I found my way to the snacks counter of his mother, Arlyn Tiaga who hails from Aklan, “Toto” as JC is fondly called by his family, just arrived from a basketball practice. I was lucky as he came home early that afternoon, and got surprised by the unannounced visit. I found out that he makes it a point to go home early to lend a hand to his mother whose small business is their bread and butter. His mother confided that the snacks counter that she has been tending for more than ten years now is the only source of their financial support. Summer days bring a little more than enough money, as the most popular is “halo-halo” – fruit tidbits in milk and shaved ice, a cooling snack.

 

JC who is a full athletic scholar of Lyceum (General Trias) is in Grade 10. Unlike the other youth of his age, he has no vice and prefers to stay home when there is no practice in their school on the track or basketball at the court of the Perpetual Village 5. He is a “New Christian’ by heart and in action. He confided that Jesus has always been part of his life – his guiding Light. He is serious in his studies that not even the tempting pleasure of bumming around with his buddies could distract him. Without even saying it, his statements imply his big dream which is to lavish his mother with comfort soonest as he starts earning. Her mother from whom he and his brother learned the virtue of discipline has been raising them singlehandedly.

 

During our short talk, JC recalled that he had his first running experience when he was in Grade 6 at the Imus Pilot Elementary School. A teacher who noticed his promising athletic talent assisted him to undergo a tryout for an athletic scholarship when he was about to enter his second year high school at Lyceum (General Trias).  That tryout was impressive because a school representative visited him at home to advice that he passed it and that he was to report for enrollment and training right away. That hard-earned scholarship was the start of his interesting journey as a struggling young student with a big dream. On his third year, Marc Basuan who also has a son on athletic scholarship made him part of the school team for which he served as the official coach.

 

Before we parted, JC confided that, “all the recognition that I have received, I owe to my family and coach, and of course to Jesus…”, who is obviously guiding him while trudging along the road that leads to success. He added,” I will definitely share with others what I have learned from my mentors…that will be the time for passing on the blessing…”  The same thought was also expressed by his basketball coach, Ian Paredes-Atrero, who is likewise, a true “New Christian” by heart and action. As a young man, JC, plays hard and gives his best, but aims high for his future and beloved family….all in the name of Jesus!