1 Killed, 5 Injured In Road Accident Involving A Victory Liner Bus And A Six-Wheeler Truck

Update: The driver of the truck who has been identified as Algerito Mainit has died. Victory Liner has also promised that they will handle the medical expenses  of the passengers of the bus who were injured. [Source: 9 News Philippines]

One man died while five others were injured when a passenger bus and a six-wheeler truck rammed into each other along Marcos Highway in Palina, Pugo, La Union on Monday (September 29). Those people who were injured were brought to a nearby rural health clinic in Pugo while the one in critical condition was rushed to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

According to Rafael Paeng C. Valencia of 911 On Call: Baguio, the vehicles involved in the accident were a Victory Liner bus (plate number AYK-525) and a six-wheeler truck (plate number CWP-644). Three of the bus passengers and the conductor were injured and brought to a rural health center. The driver of the truck was critically injured so he was brought to Baguio City but he eventually expired.

Photo by Geminelle Peralta via Facebook.

Initial investigation showed that the truck had a mechanical problem. When the passengers of the truck saw the oncoming Victory Liner bus which was on its way to Baguio City, they signaled the bus driver to veer to the side. The bus driver was able to bring the bus to the side of the road but the truck rammed into it nonetheless.

Post by Rafael Paeng C. Valencia.

6 Year Old Boy In La Trinidad, Benguet Accidentally Shoots Himself Dead

A 6-year-old boy in Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet died after he accidentally shot himself with a home-made gun. These types of firearms are commonly referred to in the local vernacular as "paltik". The incident happened last Wednesday (September 24).

The young victim has been identified as Clezar Jones Mangoyao. He was a grade 1 pupil at the Central Buyagan Elementary School. According to a police report, the accidental shooting happened at the apartment where the victim and his mother, Leticia Mangoyao, 45, were staying.

The boy was reportedly playing inside his room when he saw the gun, mistook it for a toy, and started playing with it. That's when it went off and struck him on his chest. He was rushed to the nearby Benguet General Hospital but he passed away.

According to the mother, she doesn't own the "paltik". She said that it's owned by someone named Dave Denver Tindo who is from Bakun, Benguet and that it was given to her for safekeeping.

La Trinidad, Benguet

Leticia is currently separated from her husband Clifford Mangoyao. The La Trinidad police are investigating if there's any foul play involved in the boy's death. The police are also mulling which case to file against the owner of the "paltik". [Sources: ABS-CBN, Pilipino Star Ngayon]

Two Minor Girls Rob 70-Year-Old Taxi Driver In Baguio City

Taxi drivers within Baguio City and neighboring Benguet towns will have to keep their eyes more vigilant these days. Criminals are becoming bolder and younger. 

Last Thursday night, two girls were taken into custody by the Baguio City police after they tried to rob a 70-year-old taxi driver. The names of the two suspects weren't divulged by the police as they were minors.

The victim who has been identified as Honorio Villanueva Dilan, 70 years old,  picked up the two girls along Kilometer 3 in La Trinidad, Benguet. The two said that their destination would be along Access Road in Loakan, Baguio City. When they were along Access Road, the two girls suddenly whipped out knives, pointed these at the driver and declared a hold-up.

After the two girls fled, the taxi driver immediately called the police which led to the arrest of the two suspects. Because they were minors, the two were brought under the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). [Source: Bombo Radyo]

Photo by Daniel Agostini via Flickr.

Today Marks The First Death Anniversary Of A Cordilleran Hero

I was thinking of writing a piece about Lawin Salisa last month in time for the celebration of National Heroes' Day in the Philippines. However, I decided to wait as the first anniversary of his passing is just a few weeks away.

On September 24 last year, the Zamboanga Siege was winding down. The Moro National Liberation Front rebels were on the brink of losing every bit of control they had left. Soldiers and policemen of the government were conducting clearing operations in the barangays besieged by the rebels. It was during one of these clearing operations that Lawin Salisa, a member of the elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police was fatally shot. He was 28 years old.

I've known Salisa for years. He was my classmate at Saint James High School in Besao, Mt. Province. Since graduating from that school, I haven't seen him much except during batch reunions. He was a good man. The silent type. Doesn't talk much. But always ready to help out whenever he can.

Lawin Salisa (encircled) with other members of the PNP Special Action Force.

During the departure honors at the Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City. The departure honors were held for the bodies of Lawin Salisa, Enrique Afable and Francis Damian who were then flown to Manila. Photo by Rappler.com.

Here's a beautiful tribute poem written by fellow i-Besao Gil "Bag-iw" Bua-ay. As Albert Pike said, "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.".

IMMORTAL EAGLE IN OUR SKY 

In a village of blissful landscape,

Of green gardens and giant stairs of fields,

Across the grandeur of the Kitkitaw-eng Falls,

Embraced by the impervious Mogao wall,

Once a home to an eagle dear to all.

He joined the march of young and gallant men,

Their mission to dire places peace they’d bring,

A noble calling fitting for his strength,

And the warrior’s blood running through his veins.

The eagle then, seemed to have found his space.

When that gloomy September morning came,

In the middle of a raging battlefield,

The mighty hand of fate clipped the eagle’s wings,

And as the world shed tears for his mortal end,

We that he left thought he’d never fly again.

But as the eagle’s tale was being told,

By comrades he served with in those fiery fields,

Other warriors bowed down to pay their tribute,

We saw a hero’s wings soar to the sky,

The eagle we knew, again is flying high!

---Bag-iw---

High School Student From Tabuk, Kalinga Wins 1st Prize In Essay-Writing Contest

A student from a secondary school in Tabuk, Kalinga won the top prize in an essay-writing competition organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Angel Joy Orpilla, 15 years old and a student from Tabuk City National High School bested 170 other students from all over the Philippines with her piece titled "Dumanay Meets Jica". Orpilla, along with the other winners in the writing tilt, received cash awards and certificates from the Japanese agency.

JICA conducted the writing competition to commemorate the 60th anniversary of economic cooperation between Japan and the Philippines. The contest was opened for Filipino students aged between 11 and 16. It carried the theme "The lives of people in the Philippines and Japanese ODA." The ODA is an acronym for official development assistance. The awarding ceremony was held last August 7 at the Sofitel Sunset Pavilion in Manila.

In his column for the Philippine Star, Alfred Yuson who was among the judges in the writing contest, admired Orpilla's piece saying, "I recall marveling at the way the first-prize winner had chosen to craft her essay, in dramatic fashion, as a narrative. It was what made Angel Joy K. Orpilla’s essay stand out. And what a pleasant surprise to learn that she was from the Cordilleras."

Angel Joy Orpilla. Photo by Alfred Yuson via the Philippine Star.

The other winners in the contest are Luis Antonio Valdez, Katherine Anne Del Rosario, Krystel Iris De Castro, Theresa Mae Villanueva, Apple Jean Dulig, Elaine Espirin, Millen Sidney Paderes, Claire Banganan and Khaleila Daine Luyaben. You can read all of the top ten entries at the JICA website.

Families Of The Victims Of Buguias Road Accident Receive 108,000 Each From Mar Roxas

Mar Roxas, secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Malacanang spokesman Edwin Lacierda were in town just recently. On September 22, they went to the Baguio City General Hospital and Medical Center to visit two of the survivors of the road accident last September 9 which transpired in Buguias, Benguet. They were accompanied by Benguet Congressman Ronald Cosalan.

On a Facebook post by Cosalan, his office will handle the hospitalization bills of the two survivors. The solon added that Roxas and Lacierda handed over 108,000 each to the families of the thirteen people who perished because of the accident.

Secretary Roxas also delivered a message for the victims and survivors of the accident on behalf of President Aquino. Here's the message (H/T to Redjie Melvic Cawis):

"Kasalukuyan pong nasa Estados Unidos ang ating mahal na Pangulo, subalit nais po niyang ipaabot ang kanyang pakikiisa sa inyo. Hayaan po ninyong ibahagi ko ang kanyang mensahe para sa lahat ng narito:

Roxas, Lacierda and Cosalan visiting one of the accident survivors at the BGHMC. Photo by the Benguet Congressional District.

Roxas and Cosalan meeting the media. Photo by the Benguet Congressional District.

Kasama ang mamamayan ng Benguet at ng ating mga kababayan, nais ko pong magpahayag ng pakikidalamhati at pakikiramay sa pamilya at mahal sa buhay ng mga nasugatan at pumanaw sa naganap na aksidente sa Buguias. Sadyang may mga pangyayaring mahirap maintindihan. Ang magagawa natin ay magtiwala sa plano ng Poong Maykapal para sa atin, at dumamay sa isa’t isa para malampasan ang kalungkutang pinagdaraanan.

Kaya naman taos-pusong pasasalamat ang gusto kong ipaabot sa komunidad, samahan, kompanya, at mga pribadong indibidwal na hindi nagdalawang-isip na tumulong sa kani-kanilang paraan. Pinatunayan ninyo: talagang bukas ang palad ng Pilipino kapag may nakitang nangangailangan.

Makakaasa rin po kayo: Hindi kayo pababayaan ng ating pamahalaan. Nariyan ang iba’t ibang ahensiya at opisina para magbigay ng suporta, pati na rin ang inyong LGU. Patuloy rin po ang ating kapulisan sa kanilang imbestigasyon kaugnay ng trahedyang ito. Ang atin pong layunin: makapaglatag ng mga hakbang upang masigurong hindi na mauulit ang ganitong insidente. Ang pakiusap ko din po: isama na rin natin sa ating mga panalangin ang kumpletong recovery ni Elejoy, na na-discharge na sa Abathan Lutheran Hospital, at ang agarang paggaling nina Reyshan at Jamerose, na kasalukuyang nasa Baguio Medical Center pa.

Sina Efren, Jairah Flair, Maricel, Jera, Sheribeth, Jasmin, Minerva, Angie, Meljoy, Yvonne, John Ray, Marie Faith, at Charee ang patunay: ang halaga ng isang tao ay hindi nasusukat sa haba ng itinagal niya sa mundo, kundi sa pag-ibig, malasakit, at pakikitungo na ipinakita niya sa kanyang mga magulang, kapatid, guro, kaklase, at kaibigan. Ang pagbubuklod natin ngayon ay pagbabalik-tanaw sa ligayang dinala nila sa inyo.

Habang sinasariwa ang kanilang mga ngiti at yakap, pinagtitibay naman natin sa ating mga puso at isip ang kanilang mga alaala. Ito ang magbibigay sa atin ng lakas at gabay sa patuloy nating paglalakbay sa buhay. At sa ganitong paraan, masasabi nating hindi naman talaga nila tayo iniwan. Ipagdasal po natin sila, at sama-samang humakbang kipkip ang kanilang alaala.

Muli, isang taimtim na pakikiramay po sa inyo."

Hold Your Horses DOT, The Cordillera Region Ain't Autonomous Yet

First of all, a shoutout to fellow Redditor kenroubii for bringing this to our attention. The official website of the Department of Tourism's It's More Fun in the Philippines campaign is referring to CAR as the Cordillera Autonomous Region instead of the Cordillera Administrative Region. Below is a screenshot.

It's most likely that this is an honest mistake. After all, we are in the "autocorrect generation". However, since the website has been up for quite some time, we have the feeling that the error has been around for just as long and the administrators of the website never bothered to fix it. Or maybe, they just have the impression that "autonomous" is the correct term. Or maybe, they think that the two terms mean the same thing.

Anyway, there's a huge difference between the two terms. And it should've been corrected by now. This region hasn't attained autonomy yet and by the looks of it, it might never do. Well, here's to hoping that somebody who works in the DOT or knows of someone who does sees this and do something about it.

Fake Nurse Victimizing Employees At A Baguio Hospital Finally Caught By The Police

Whether you're a nurse or a doctor working at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), it's probably best that you live by the mantra, "Don't trust anyone just because he or she is wearing the same uniform as yours." Just recently, a woman there was arrested by the police for allegedly posing as a nurse then stealing valuables and cash from real employees.

The suspect has been identified as Milisa Teroso, 43 years old, originally from Dagupan City and a resident of Upper Quezon Hill in Baguio City. A report from a local radio station mentioned that the woman has been pursuing her racket for some time.

Teroso was identified and eventually caught through the help of CCTV cameras installed within the premises of the hospital. Bombo Radyo Baguio reported that Tesoro not only stole from a doctor and a nurse, she also victimized on-the-job trainees.

A still of the Joker posing as a nurse from the movie The Dark Knight.

Damaso Bangaoet, The Father Of The Panagbenga Flower Festival Has Died Today

The city of Baguio is known for a lot of things. The cool air that attracts people who wish to escape the numbing heat of the lowlands. Burnham Park and the man-made lake and giant ducks at its center. The unique cultural environment. Strawberries. Ube jam. Session Road. And of course, the annual Panagbenga Flower Festival.

It is with sadness that we meet the news that Atty. Damaso Bangaoet has passed away this morning (September 15). Bangaoet has been a key figure in the development of Baguio City as a tourism magnet during the last few decades. He, after all, is the brains behind the Panagbenga Flower Festival, an annual event that has generated millions of visitors to the city since its first staging in 1996. 

People who are familiar with Bangaoet's work and contributions to the city expressed their sentiments about his passing. Anthony de Leon of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) posted the following on his Facebook page.

The first Baguio Flower Festival which carried the theme "The Birth of a Tradition" was held in 1996. In 1997, it acquired a local name: Panagbenga. This is a Kankana-ey term which translates to "a time to bloom". Bangaoet has been instrumental in the realization of this event. For this, the citizens of Baguio City and everyone who had the opportunity to witness the festival, will always be grateful. Sir Dammy, thank you.

Edward Kelly Returns To Co-Headline One Fighting Championship: Roar Of Tigers In Malaysia

Redemption is on Edward Kelly's mind right now. The young and budding mixed martial artist was on a five-fight winning streak when he got a call to fight under the One Fighting Championship banner last year. On December 6 of that year, he entered the ONE FC cage for the first time. It was supposed to be his ticket to bigger things. Fate however had a different path for him as he got submitted in the very first round by Herbert Burns of Brazil. It was a devastating loss indeed.

Fast forward to the present time. Kelly is in the same spot but with more at stake. He will be co-headlining the next ONE FC event which will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 17. He will be facing Ev Ting (7-2-0) who just debuted in the ONE FC last June with an impressive knockout win over Yohan Mulia Legowo of Indonesia. 

More is at stake here because of the fact that Kelly can't afford to lose this fight. As an MMA fighter, you don't want to lose twice in a row under the same organization. Not only does your stock and drawing power slide back, you also run the risk of being cut from the promotion.

The main event for Roar of Tigers is a fight between Rob Lisita of Australia and Marat Gafurov of Russia. Lisita is coming off a loss to Eric Kelly (Edward Kelly's older brother) back in July. Gafurov who has been fighting for the last several years under M-1 Global will be making his ONE FC debut.

Team Lakay Fighter Unsuccessful In Championship Bid; Loses By Submission To Brazilian

A few days ago, Cordilleran mixed martial artist Geje Eustaquio flew to Cambodia with one thing in his mind; to fight like hell and bring back home to the Philippines a championship belt. He was to headline One Fighting Championship 20: Rise of the Kingdom at the Koh Pich Theatre in the capital city of Phnom Penh. At stake was the Asian MMA organization's inaugural flyweight belt. Also dreaming of clinching the belt was Adriano Moraes of Brazil, Eustaquio's opponent in the main event.

Fight night came. The cage was closed and the bell was rung. The first round was a feeling-out process. With Eustaquio pressing forward and Moraes backtracking, it was an uneventful round. No significant punches or kicks were landed by either fighter. Moraes went for the takedown midway through the round but Eustaquio was able to stuff it.

Warmed up by the first round's scuffle, the two fighters got more active in the second stanza. Both fighters started swinging at each other. Moraes who mostly backtracked in the first round reversed the scenario and started moving forward to press the action. In several instances, he landed punches which seemed to stagger Eustaquio.

The end came when the Brazilian was able to take Eustaquio to the ground and slip his hands around his neck. Eustaquio tried to weather the tight guillotine choke to no avail. He eventually tapped out. With the win, Moraes improves his record to 12-1-0 while Eustaquio drops to 6-3-0.

It Looks Like Baguio City Has Been Infected With The Persona Non Grata Syndrome

Bombo Radyo Baguio reported that some of the judges and members of the committee behind the staging of the Miss Baguio 2014 beauty pageant are mulling to declare Maricel Marang Morales as a persona non grata in the city. Who is Maricel Morales? A former beauty queen and a current councilor in Angeles City, Pampanga, Morales was one of the judges during the final stage of the Miss Baguio 2014 pageant last month.

And why is she in the hot seat? Well, just a day after coronation night, Morales went to Facebook to vent out her frustration with some of the judges whom she referred to as "kupal" and "manyak". She however did not elaborate nor drop names. So when the word spread that Morales has got some accusations flying around, everyone started cooking his or her theory as to who these kupals and manyaks are. Unfortunately, Morales preferred to stay in her hole; mum and not giving names.

Furthermore, the Baguio City council is also planning on calling Morales back to the city to explain her side. If she fails to bring her behind over here, she'll be declared a persona non grata.

Our Take On The Issue

This persona non grata thing is just stupid. Just another instance of Filipinos not being able to stomach criticisms against them that their only recourse is to banish the critic. In the first place, why are we even talking about persona non grata here? Her accusations are yet to be proven true or false. Until we know who the wolf with the sheep's clothing is, it's best we refrain from declaring someone an "unwelcome person".

Or here's a better idea. Why don't we all just forget about it and move on with our lives. What does beauty pageants bring to the common good anyway? Besides the bragging rights and prizes accorded to the winners, the other folks in Baguio City receive absolutely nothing. In fact, they get a "negative". Think about it. If it's true that the pageant was partly funded by public funds, the funds would've served a better purpose had they been used in something like...you know... fixing of the dilapidated roof of the shed in Malcolm Square? Methinks this would've been more noble. It doesn't involve boobs and bikinis, but it serves a purpose for Baguio folks.

But then again, as The Dude famously said on The Big Lebowski, "Yeah, well, you know, this is just, like, my opinion, man." Well, okay, this isn't exactly what The Dude said but you get the point.

12 Students And A Driver Killed In Road Accident In Buguias, Benguet; 3 Were Also Injured

Thirteen people died as a result of a tragic road accident that occurred in barangay Bangbangayen in Buguias, Benguet yesterday afternoon (September 9). The private jeepney (a Ford Fiera) that they were riding reportedly malfunctioned causing it to fall down a 100-meter ravine and into a creek. The incident happened between 4:00 and 5:00 in the afternoon.

Eight of the passengers including the driver died on the spot while four others expired while being brought to hospitals. The thirteenth fatality passed away in the early morning of September 10 while being treated at the SLU Hospital of the Sacred Heart in Baguio City.

All of the passengers except for the driver are students of a national high school located in Poblacion, Buguias. Efren Dalisdis, the driver of the Ford Fiera, went to fetch his son John Ray at the school and schoolmates hitched on the way to barangay Amlimay. According to a statement by Buguias PNP Chief Fernando Botangen, the truck stopped at Bangbangayen to pick up another three students. When the truck was about to move forward, the engine suddenly died, then the truck moved backwards causing it to fall off a ravine. 

Three of the passengers were rushed to hospitals in Baguio City. One was brought to the Lutheran Hospital in Abatan, Buguias. Charee Bestre, one of the three brought to Baguio City, died while undergoing treatment at the SLU Hospital of the Sacred Heart.

The victims have been identified as follows: 

1. Efren Dalisdis, 45, the driver

2. Jera Mayao, 15

3. Maricel Basatan, 13

4. Jera Madiano, 15

5. Sheribeth Simeon, 12

6. Jasmine Lestino, 15

7. Minerva Menzi, 16

8. Angie Aguien, 15

9. Meljoy Agustin, 15

10. Ivonne Bestre, 13

11. John Ray Dalisdis, 16

12. Mari Faith Lamsis, 16

13. Charee Bestre, 15

Those injured are:

1. Reyshan Latuwed, 18

2. Rose Bankin, 15

3. Elejoy Agyapas, 17 

Below are photos of the Benguet accident (Sep. 9, 2014) courtesy of the Buguias Municipal Police Station.

Ukay-Ukay Worth 22 Million Pesos In Baguio City Seized By The Bureau Of Customs

The ukay-ukay industry in Baguio City received a hard wallop in the gut last September 2 when the Bureau of Customs seized nearly 2,800 bales of used clothes, comforters and other garments from nine separate warehouses in the city. Most of these are apparel from Canada and the United States. According to a statement released by the BOC, the seized bales may have entered the country via locators at the Subic and Clark Freeport zones or via the Cavite Export Processing Zone in Rosario, Cavite. The total worth of the items seized is estimated to be about 22 million pesos.

An investigation conducted by the Intelligence Group of the BOC found out that some locators inside Subic and Rosario are using a privilege given to them as a front to import used clothing. The importation of used clothing in the Philippines for commercial purposes is prohibited under Philippine laws. To get around these laws, some locators disguise the used clothing they smuggle as scrap fabric. Disguising the items as scrap fabric allows the locators to bring these into the country without paying taxes and duties.

The BOC statement also noted that the proliferation of ukay-ukay business has significantly hurt the local garments and clothing industry. Read the full BOC statement here. Below are photos from the operation which led to the seizure of the 2,800 bales of used clothing. All photos courtesy of the BOC.

Watch The Teaser For "Walang Rape Sa Bontok", An Upcoming Documentary By Carla Ocampo

This coming September 24 to 30, the inaugural edition of Cine Totoo: Philippine International Documentary Film Festival will unfold at three key cinema locations in Metro Manila (SM Megamall, SM Manila and Trinoma Cinemas). Film enthusiasts will be treated to a slew of documentaries by eleven independent filmmakers from all over the country. Said documentaries tackle themes that run the gamut from life in Filipino communities abroad, to the plight of small scale miners in Benguet, to the evolution of Filipino komiks.

Among the documentaries to be screened in the festival is Carla Ocampo's Walang Rape sa Bontok. The endeavor revolves around two Filipinas who were both victims of sexual assaults. In their search for a place where women aren't sexually violated, they came across a study by an anthropologist named June Prill-Brett. Said study made the assertion that the native Bontoks of the Cordillera region have lived for generations without a concept and not even a term for "rape".

This serves as the foundation for the documentary. Is the assertion true? If it is true before, is it still true today? From the synopsis provided by the Habi Collective on their Facebook page, it does seem to imply that things did change. Driving the point a little bit deeper is the teaser for the documentary below which shows elders who have lived through two eras: an era where rape was non-existent and an era where it sprouted its ugly head. So in a sense, this is a documentary that compares an older era to the current one with women's issues as the comparison point.

This is not the only documentary in the festival with Cordilleran themes. Also screening in the festival is Ferdie Balanag's Agbalbalitok which will take viewers to a first-hand look into the lives of small scale miners in Benguet.

Watch The Official Trailer For The Upcoming Documentary "Walang Rape Sa Bontok"

Among the 11 documentaries to be screened in the upcoming CINE TOTOO: Philippine International Documentary Film Festival is Carla Ocampo's Walang Rape sa Bontok. A documentary inspired by the works of the anthropologist June Prill-Brett, the film tackles themes that touch on history, gender crimes, and Bontok culture. The festival will run from September 24 to 30 in SM Megamall, SM Manila, and Trinoma Cinemas.

Also screening in the documentary film festival is Ferdinand Balanag's Agbalbalitok. Agbalbalitok is about the plight of small scale miners in an area in Itogon, Benguet. It tells of the struggles of the miners as they try to make ends meet while regularly subjected to the elements and constant danger.

Here's the trailer:

Here's the screening schedules for the documentary: