Lunes, Hunyo 20, 2011

Rizal honoured as planner and development manager in “Parangal kay Gat Jose P. Rizal”

Not only was our national hero an illustrious writer and a noble statesman, he was also an innovative environmentalist-scientist-manager—always ahead of his time.

Dr. Jose P. Rizal, as a planner and a manager, was recognized and, indeed, honoured during the “Parangal kay Gat Jose P. Rizal” which was held at the DAP Building in Pasig last Friday, June 17, in commemoration of our national hero’s sesquicentennial.

Organized by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), the Parangal served as a venue where notable academicians and scholars gathered to honour Dr. Rizal as a trailblazer in the field of environment, planning, and development management, and whose ideas are currently used especially in the field of management.

Present in the occasion were scholars in the field of history and political science, guests from other countries like Indonesia and the U.S, Knights of Rizal, relatives of Dr. Rizal, and students who are inspired by Rizal’s erudition, patriotism, and fervent love for learning.
  
Professor Jose David Lapuz, UNESCO commissioner, former UST professor, and Grand Knight of Rizal, talked about Rizal as development and human security professional.  He recalled how Rizal had high hopes for Filipinos, believing that “Filipinos can inspire the world.” Dr. Jose Rizal, according to Lapuz , has always believed in cooperation-- in the interrelationship of two units—as a key ingredient to national development, and as instrument to achieve national freedom which we, Filipinos, deserve.

“Rizal was a precursor, a pioneer in his field” was the testimony by historian and National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chairman Dr. Maria Serena Diokno as she spoke of Rizal’s legacy in the field of Development Management. She said that Rizal, through his writings, has been ahead of his time as he already knew the concepts in development management that are widely used and practiced in today’s corporate world.

Dr. Diokno also echoed what Rizal pointed as cause of Filipinos’ backwardness during the Spanish regime, saying that “laziness, inhumane education from the colonizers, and lack of sense of nationhood” were all the roots of backwardness and lack of development on the part of the Filipinos then. While nobody realized these ills that caused political and personal lethargy amongst Filipinos, Rizal had. And it was also our national hero who was able to identify the solution to these ailment;  he said that to transcend from the dismal situation Filipinos were in, they have to “have a sense of nationhood, understand the situation they are in, and act as wisely as they can in every situation.”

The Parangal was an occasion where Rizal’s genius was not only remembered but also reinforced for the younger generations to emulate and use as inspiration. The event is just one of many slated this year in celebration of Dr. Jose Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary, and his immortal image and influence as a national hero.

The Parangal is in partnership the NHCP, Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners, and the city of Dapitan. 

Martes, Hunyo 14, 2011

DAP urges government offices to employ strat planning

Government agencies are urged to come up with a strategic plan, together with quality and performance indicators, and overall measures in order to carry out their mandate effectively and efficiently.

This is according to Dr. Elizabeth Manugue, Vice President of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), during an interview in the government tv/radio program “Talking Points” held earlier today.

These instruments, according to Dr. Manugue, are part of the Quality Management System that government agencies are encouraged to design in order to have a smooth as well as results-oriented implementation of their programs.

For its part, the DAP has delineated its thrust for the succeeding years. DAP is mandated to capacitate individuals and development stakeholder organizations in government to perform their respective roles and mandates in development in a timely and results-driven manner.

Dr. Manague specified national competitiveness, policy reforms, and improved internal system as part of the thrust of DAP in order for it to be attuned to the needs of both government and private institutions.

One of its programs is the Integrity Development Program (IDP) which aides in the counselling of government organizations as well as small and medium enterprises that aims to lead to good governance, leadership and enforcement of policies, rules and regulation.

The DAP is now in its 38th year after being created through Presidential Decree No. 205 on June 7, 1973. 

Lunes, Hunyo 13, 2011

Phl Independence Day celebrated with “fire” in San Juan

“Paigtingin natin ang apoy at tapang sa ating puso; nawa’y ang ating buhay ay maging isang malaking  ‘pinaglabanan.’”

This was the call made by Senator Teofisto Guingona III during the 113th Philippine Independence Day celebration in the City of San Juan.

With audience from various sectors, government agencies, and San Juan residents at the city’s Pinaglabanan Shrine, Sen. Guingona, who is also the guest of honor in the said event, said that “Filipinos must emulate their forebearers who fought courageously to free the country from the shackles of colonialism.”

He said that poverty, and graft and corruption aren’t the real enemies of our country. Rather, it is “sawa” (lack of enthusiasm) and “awa” (self-pity) that are the enemies of the people. “Sawa” in doing what is right, in helping fellow citizens, and in searching for truth. “Awa”, he explained is being contented with what is provided, and just asking for alms from others.

The two mentioned, according to the senator, “are barriers to achieving independence which was fought by our grandfathers, and only by setting fire in our hearts, by acting with passion, and by being fearless in the fight for the country will not put the struggle and sacrifices of our heroes to vain.”

He admitted that it would be difficult to undertake the same task done by our forefathers (our national heroes), but we can emulate their courage and burning love for the country.

“Nawa’y magsilbing paalaala sa atin ang bantayog na ito, ng Pinaglabanan ng kagitingan ng ating mga lolo. Ang buhay natin ay sana’y maging isang malaking ‘pinaglabanan’ at ang bawat Pilipino ay sana maging palaban para sa pagtataguyod ng ating kalayaan—para sa bansa, para sa lahat,” the Senator said as he ended his speech.

The Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan is one of the venues for the simultaneous flag-raising activity which is part of the celebration of Philippine Independence Day.

Also present in this activity are Representative Joseph Victor Ejercito, San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, SJ Vice Mayor Francisco Zamora, Architect Reynaldo Inovero of the Historic Preservation Division, representatives from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and other government agencies.

Part of the ceremony are the offering of flowers to the Pinaglabanan Shrine led by Sen. Guingona III and Rep. JV Ejercito, followed by the lighting of Torch of Independence

Huwebes, Hunyo 9, 2011

Jose Rizal @ 150: A historic celebration of a hero’s 150 years

The year is 2011, and this year marks another milestone in our country’s history. This year, we are celebrating not one, but two momentous events: first, the Philippines’ 113thIndependence Day; the other, Dr. Jose Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary—both of which have played significant roles in our formation of nation and our notion of “independence”.

The activities lined up for this year are testament of how the present government deems the importance of these two occasions, as the activities are year-long and are meant to idealize our national hero, Jose Rizal, as an instrument—the driving force—which made the Filipinos fight for independence from the Spanish colonizers.

The two events are interlaced, interlocking, inter-related, for the birth of Rizal held the future of Filipinos. Jose Rizal was instumental in our gaining of independence from foreign forces. Rizal has gained international acclaim and critical praise for his literary works—“Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo”— that have moved hearts and influnced minds to mass action.

This year’s commemoration of our national hero’s birth anniversary revolves around the theme: “Rizal, Haligi ng Bayan” and the events slated are as rich and as multi-faceted as Dr. Rizal himself.
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has organized a series of activities in remembrance of our national hero, which will start on June 19 with simultaneous flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies in Laguna, Manila, and Dapitan City. On the same day, there will be an unveiling of the Jose Rizal Monument in the Calamba City Hall in Laguna, followed by the launching of “Rock Rizal” album, still in Calamba City Hall.
Dr. Jose Rizal has been formed and influenced by ideologies from the West, and various universities run by Spaniards have played a big role in Rizal’s education. This year, a number of conferences have been slated in universities where Rizal was educated. The University of Santo Tomas (UST) for one has organized a three-day conference named “Rizal: Malay, Diwa, Puso at Buhay. Balik Tanaw: Si Rizal sa Kanyang Panahon” (July 7). Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) will also have a conference on “Issues and Perspectives: The Teachings of Rizal in the Present” (July 8). Colegio de San Juan de Letran will hold “Rizal Reborn: Honoring, Understanding, and Living Rizal as Filipino” on July 9. Other institutions like Holy Angel University in Pampanga and Silliman University in Negros Oriental will likewise hold conferences on Rizal.
Exhibits will also be another hallmark of this year’s Rizal @ 150 celebration. Photo, stamps, and other memorabilia of Rizal will be shown in different venues in Luzon, while commemorative items will also be made available this year. The unveiling of “Rizal@150 commemorative stamps will take place on June 19 at the Rizal Shrine in Calamba, and the book “Ferdinand Blumentritt: An Austrian Life for the Philippines” by Harry Sichrowvsky will be relaunched on June 28 at the Rizal Shrine Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila.
Rizal’s restored original manuscripts under the custody of the National Library of the Philippines will also be witnessed during the celebration.
Filipinos around the world wouldn’t want to miss this historic event in our history as Philippine embassies abroad, foreign institutions, and individual Filipinos have also prepared various activities like exhibits; shows like kundiman, sarswela, and operas; conferences, lectures, and seminars; contests; etc. in different countries like the U.S, Autralia, Middle East, and Europe.
Finally and closing activity of the celebration would be the Rizal Awards which honors individuals and institutions that have contributed in the growth of the country while embodying the ideals of our national hero specifically love of country, fullfilment of the duties of a Filipino, professional competence, and integrity.
This year’s commemoration of Rizal’s 150 years calls for unity among all Filipinos. The NHCP and the Philippine government, academic institutions, private entities, and all Filipinos are one in this historic celebration of a leader, a motivator, a hero, a FILIPINO.

Martes, Hunyo 7, 2011

BJMP uses restorative justice for inmates

From punitive to restorative — this is the paradigm shift being put into practice by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

Although there is a necessity to punish wrongdoers, it is also necessary to restore the moral, emotional, and psychomotor aspect of the person, hence the turnaround in the jail system.
One way that the BJMP addresses this need is through its Therapeutic Community Modality Program (TCMP) which looks into the potential of an inmate and uses this latent potential into practical use.
According to J/Csupt Doris Remedios Dorigo, deputy chief for operations of the BJMP, during government media’s regular tv/radio program “Talking Points,” skills trainings and seminars that would help hone and introduce new skills are given to the inmates which would aide them when they go back to the “outside world,” she added.
The program, with the use of an assessment tool, checks the capabilities of inmates: technical skills, non-skills, administrative potential, and leadership skills — all tapped and used in office or maintenance work.
Through this program, prisoners realize the skills that they never knew they possess and at the same time, the program gives them a feeling of worthiness — something most of prisoners haven’t felt during their time outside jail.
The TCMP is in line with the restorative justice model that moves beyond punishment for wrongdoings committed by a person. The model sees and addresses the human side of justice which corrects and improves. Rather than measuring how much punishment must be inflicted, restorative justice measures how many harms are repaired and prevented. 

Miyerkules, Hunyo 1, 2011

Information drive against smoking in public places, ensued

People caught smoking in public places will not be penalized yet, but they will definitely be given warning.

This was according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Spokesperson Tina Velasco during an interview earlier today in governement media’s tv/radio program “Talking Points”.

The MMDA recently announced that starting May 30, they will be arresting those who are smoking in public places. This is in strict implementation of the anti-smoking law, which is under the provisions of Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.

The full enforcement of the said law was later moved to July 1 as MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino would want to make use of the present period as information campaign for RA 9211 --as part of the government’s effort to make the public aware of the existence of the said law.

Ms. Velasco said that those who were caught since May 30 until June 30 will just be given warning.
The MMDA, together with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the 17 local government units in NCR are tasked to apprehend no-smoking transgressors.
Under R.A 9211, smoking tobacco is prohibited in public places such as: centers of children and youth activity such as schools, playgrounds, recreational facilities and youth hostels; elevators and stairwells; locations with fire hazards such as gas stations; hospitals and health centers, medical and dental facilities; public conveyances and public facilities such as airports, trains and bus stations except those with separate smoking areas; and, food and beverages preparation areas. “Public conveyances” are defined  as modes of transportation servicing the general population such as, but not limited to, “elevators, airplanes, buses, taxicabs, ships, jeepneys, light rail transits, tricycles, and similar vehicles.”
According to the MMDA statement, violators will be fined P500 on first offense while those who cannot afford to pay the fine are obliged to render eight hours of community service. Those arrested for the second time will be made to pay a P1,000 fine and those arrested for the third and subsequent times will be made to pay a P5,000 fine.
The announcement of the anti-smoking law is in observance of 100 percent Smoke-Free Environment campaign and the World No Tobacco Day celebration on June 1, 2011.
The reinforcement of the said law is aimed at achieving a smoke-free metropolis by 2012.
Ms. Velasco added that the anti-smoking law will be an endeavor the MMDA, the Department of Health, the 17 local government units in Metro Manila, together with NGOs and the UP College of Law will strongly undertake, with the cooperation of the public in order to achieve a smoke-free NCR.