OPINION METROPOST DGTE....FROM P. 3


photojournalism; Sofia Jae Caraig from SUES who got 2nd place, and Nathaniel Cerdania from West City Exceptional Child Learning Center who got 3rd


Technology Writing. In high school, Earl John Tilos from St. Paul University Dumaguete got 2nd


Technology Writing. They will also see competition in the nationals next year.


up in the overall ranking among 19 competing schools division in Region 7.


bagged the 3rd


Under the individual categories, students competed in various contests like news, feature, editorial and sports writing, as well as copyreading and headline writing, plus science and technology writing, photojournalism, editorial cartooning, and column writing. The winners: Filipino-Elementary: Pagkuha ng Larawang Pampahayagan: Jaid Adriel Alamillo (SUES), 3rd Unto (SLS-DB), 5th


place and Gleine (West City Science ES), 1st


place; Pagsulat ng Balita: Dexcy Mea Yano place.


English-Elementary: Feature Writing: Breana Carla Therese Abelgas (West City Science ES), 4th Concepcion Fontelo (SUES), 2nd


place; News Writing: Karla


(West City Exceptional Child Learning Center), 4th Princess Gumacal (SLS-DB), 5th


place; Zabrina Khae Concepcion place; Lorraine


Chesca Rodriguez (Catherina Cittadini School), 2nd Child Learning Center), 3rd place.


place; Photojournalism: Alexandria Place and


Rigel Neron Batucan (West City Exceptional Child Learning Center), 5th (SUES), 2nd


place; Science and Technology Writing: Sofia Jae Caraig place and Nathaniel Cerdania (West City Exceptional place.


Filipino-Secondary: Pagsulat ng Artikulong Pang-Agham at Teknolohiya: Earl John Tilos (SPUD-HS), 2nd


place. place; Pagsulat


ng Pangulong Tudling: Zenith Ann Gonzaga (Dumaguete City NHS), 5th


English-Secondary: Science and Technology Writing: Meya Pauline Carlos (SU Junior High School), 3rd


On the other hand, the group contests included radio script


writing and broadcasting, collaborative and desktop publishing, TV scriptwriting, and broadcasting for the secondary level. The RSPC aims to “demonstrate understanding of the importance of journalism by expressing it through different journalistic endeavors and approaches, provide a venue for an enriching learning experience for students interested in journalism as a career or those who intend to use skill sets learned through campus journalism to give them a better edge in their chosen careers.” This year’s theme was Empowering communities through campus


journalism. Organized annually by the Department of Education, the competition starts in the respective clusters and Districts where schools send their writers to qualify for the Division level of the competition. Winners then compete for slots into the RSPC. The regional winners will then compete in the National Schools Press Conference, the highest journalism competition for students in the elementary and secondary levels. (Claudio Sun Jr.)


SU....FROM P. 3


of effective awareness-raising and behavior-change techniques and a waste assessment methodology. At the end of the summit, all stakeholders are


expected to develop department and unit-level plans and a comprehensive information, education and communication campaign. The environmental champions are the key contacts


for environmental –related advocacies within their departments, units or organizations. They are also tasked to monitor and evaluate environmental-related performance and compliance with the “Environmental Principles, Policies and Guidelines” in their departments, units or organizations.


awareness-raising and develop or update specific plans of departments, units or organizations through consultations with the faculty, students and staff. They will submit their plans and periodic reports to the Pollution Control Officer and to the Zero Waste/Waste Management Committee. SU President Betty Cernol-McCann earlier disclosed that one immediate focus of the University is to improve on-campus waste management. “The practice of proper waste management in the


University shall be effective immediately,” said Dr. McCann. “Henceforth, all trash cans will be properly labeled, and faculty, staff, and students will be asked to segregate waste accordingly. Waste Management Committee members and volunteers will visit each building to label bins and provide instructions on segregation.” All biodegradable wastes from the campus, she said, will be composted with the assistance of the College of Agriculture. The blueprint for action was developed by a team led


by Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, professor at the SU Institute of Environmental & Marine Sciences, and a Balik Scientist under the Department of Science & Technology. (Jameela Antoniette Mendoza)


SAGARBARRIA....FROM P. 3


This school year, various scholars enrolled in Technical Education & Skills Development Authority-related courses, availed a total of P2 million in funds from the Congressional office of Sagarbarria. “This is not just for the Second District [from Mabinay to Dumaguete] but for the entire Negros Oriental [from Canlaon in the north upto Basay in the south]. There will be no discrimination,” Sagarbarria assured. (Gene Turco)


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PCOO USec for Administration/Legal Affairs Atty. Marvin Gatpayat administers the oath of office to the new leaders of the Association of Negros Oriental Public Information Officers (ANOPIO): Des Tilos as president, Ma. Corazon Cartagena as VP North, Rosalie Ignacio as treasurer, and Marnie Credo as VP South. Also taking their oaths as members were Sharon Desquitado-Araula from Noreco II and Jhayber Distrito from Noreco I. (PIA7-NegOr)


The champions will also assist in environmental


runner-up honors while in the group categories for both elementary and secondary, the young scribes bagged the 2nd


runner-up plum. In the individual elementary category, the delegation The Dumaguete City delegation was named 2nd runner-


Agham at Teknolohiya, while Meya Pauline Carlos (SU Junior High School) bagged 3rd


place in Pagsulat ng Artikulong Pang- place in Science and


place in Science and THE WAY....FROM P. 4


all work. The stark reality is that nothing comes our way so effortlessly and free, no matter how good we are at dreaming it. Our existence cannot be on lay-away. There is no such thing as eat-now-pay-later. Life is now. Life is consciously lived. Life is as we do it. As important as dreams are, it is also a destroyer of lives. Treasure hunters are dreamers until they have found their treasure. Dreams—it hypnotizes people with its unimaginable breadth and the breathtakingly beautiful visions that it offers. Anyone could be mesmerized, easily taking as victims those so predisposed. Those chronic dreamers have left their families vulnerable to hardships. They turn a deaf ear to them, stubbornly following their own skewed beliefs, not realizing their destructiveness. They believe that their treasure is somewhere out there, just waiting for them to find it. The now is left on hold because the promise of wealth is just around the next corner. That is why they must take the next corner, not as a gamble but as a course of action to finding that elusive treasure. They believe that they can win only after they have lost. How many times? They don’t care. They have become glassy-eyed. I think we can have a role in helping the dreamers abandon their dreams, and come to grips with what is accepted as reality. Some of these people we know, as well as the families who must live with them and endure the consequences of their seeming irresponsibility. We must help them overcome the temptations of dreams that entice them to forego of their own well- being and that of their families. We must help them realize that they will never find that treasure in the future, just as surely as they have not found it in the past. If they are slated by fate to


find their treasure, they will find it. Until then, I think they should continue to lead a life that is devoid of such wanton dreams. If one was meant to find a treasure, one would find it, dream or no dream. In excess, even dreams of


RONALD WILSON SPORTS TALK HealthAssist@hotmail.com


As I’m writing this, the Philippines is leading the gold medal rush in the 30th holding of the SEA Games held in various venues here in our country. The latest medal count (as


of 7 pm, Friday, Dec. 6) shows the Philippines with 70 gold medals, far outpacing our previous showing in Malaysia in 2017 where we only won 24 gold medals, and finishing at 6th place.


The 70 gold medals were won in the following sports: arnis, dancesport, wushu, obstacle course, triathlon, cycling, gymnastics, weightlifting, shooting, judo, sambo, skateboarding, sepak takraw, basketball, lawn bowls, fencing, kurash, pencak silat, aquatics, duathlon, modern pentathlon, muay, athletics, and golf.


53 silver medals (one of which was garnered by our very own Eleazar “JR” Barba in


TREE....FROM P. 5


of San Martin de Sobran. While Angela Montenegro stayed in Galicia, her two brothers went on a lifetime adventure in one of Spain’s colonies, the Philippines. The two Montenegro brothers Enrique Ruperto and Joaquin landed in


treasures can destroy if not fulfilled. Then again, in the end, others don’t care. They believe there’s a treasure out there, just waiting for them to find it. That’s just the way it is.


ANOPIO....FROM P. 2


Amorganda from Mabinay. Gatpayat congratulated


the new set of officers and wished for the success of the organisation.


Oriental, in the areas of Tanjay, Bais, Ayuquitan (now Amlan). (My editor was curious why they left Galicia, and why they chose to come to Negros Or i e n ta l , of all the thousands of islands in the Philippines. I wish I knew.) The


“I hope this endeavour... will inspire you to be good information officers. Maging partner tayo ng PCOO, ng PIA,” Gatpayat said. He cited the importance of PIO networks like ANOPIO in disseminating information for public awareness on the development programs of the national government. Gatpayat also noted that


the PCOO had previously initiated programs to capacitate PIOs. He assured that his Department will continue to engage and collaborate with PIOs to address the information needs of the public. (ral/PIA7-NegOr)


Negros


Simeona died, Joaquin went back to Galicia with his daughter Emanuela, and left Felix behind in Negros to manage the family plantation. Back in Galicia,


We also have won so far


mountain biking-downhill; and 49 bronze medals, or a total of 172 medals in the last seven days. Malaysia, the overall


winner back in 2017, is currently in 5th place with 27 gold medals.


Although there are many more gold medals to be won in the next five days (hopefully in the fields of underwater hockey, ice skating, aquatics water polo, squash, canoe,


polo, billiards, or tennis for the Philippines), the question is, “What can explain the huge improvement by the Philippines’ 1,496-strong contingent?”


that the host country has the right to select the sports they wish to include in the year’s competition. They also have the right to suggest to remove any sport they believe can be deleted. So it comes to no surprise that the host country would


It is interesting to note


naturally pick the sporting event that it excels in, and remove those events where they are not as competent. As I


Malaysia did just that in their gold medal romp in 2017 when they far-outpaced other countries with 145 gold medals. That time,Malaysia did exclude some sports that the Philippines was so prepared for.


Thoughts on the SEA Games


“Should this be the norm that the host country gets to select the sporting events?”


So now we wonder:


There are actually so many events that one wonders what sport eventually does not get included. It could even get ridiculous with wahtever new sports are included. How about a Pig Rodeo? Or a Bamboo Pole Vault? Meanwhile....


Go for more gold, Philippines!


NOCCI....FROM P. 3


employment because investors cannot do their business alone and therefore have to generate employment and “we want our businesses to succeed because they generate taxes and our government needs taxes.” In response, lawyer


Rosa Cores-Burr’s pencil portrait of Joaquin Montenegro who, together with brother Enrique, left Galicia to settle in Negros Oriental.


that Enrique Ruperto Montenegro had two children with his wife Maria Manuela Mariño:Jesus Maria y Josef Montenegro -- my maternal grandfather -- and his sister Carmen Bocanegra y Montenegro. Enrique’s brother


story goes Joaquin remarried.


in Vila Xoan, the ancestral town.


We are family, Rosa wrote to me.


Rosa herself was born


Joaquin Montenegro married Simeona Trasmonte, and became a wealthy sugar planter in Negros. Joaquin and Simeona had two children: Emanuela and Felix. When


How dear that is. Such a sweetness this acknowledgement of belonging which opens a world of potentials and possibilities. For now, while we establish a clearer genealogy, we rely on the world of Facebook to further cement our common ancestry.


Kristian Ablan, assistant secretary and FOI program director, said they will take note of Martinez’s suggestion while sharing to the audience in the multi- sectoral roadshow forum that “we have an instruction coming from Cabinet Sec. (Karlo) Nograles for PCOO to tie up with the Anti-Red Tape Authority to come up with our communications plan on how to implement the Ease of Doing Business.” Ablan said that based on their observations, many people, including policy-makers, think that a policy “will automatically implement itself” but in reality, there is a need for a good communications plan for the public and for fellow public servants on how to proceed with the policy. “We are actually talking with ARTA to determine which agencies have the most red tape and this is being addressed right now,” he said.


Once everything is in


place, Ablan said the PCOO will come up with an audio-visual presentation explaining the Ease of Doing Business law, and the earliest would be by next year, he added. (Judy F. Partlow/ PNA)


researched back, DECEMBER 8 - DECEMBER 14, 2019 7


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