14-Year-Old Boy Drowns In One Of The Lagoons Inside Camp John Hay In Baguio City

A 14-year-old boy in Baguio City drowned in one of the lagoons inside Camp John Hay Tuesday afternoon (December 23). The teenager's body was recovered from the lake 16 hours later. The victim has been identified as Kim Marinas, a resident of Country Club Village.

According to a Manila Bulletin report, the boy along with a companion identified only as Dodong were playing near lagoon 7 of the Camp John Hay golf course when they fell into the water. A photographer who happened to be nearby rushed to help them but was only able to pull Dodong out of the water.

A response team composed of agents from the Baguio City Police, Bureau of Fire and Protection, and City Disasters Risk Reduction and Management Council were sent to the site but they weren't able to retrieve the body of Marinas until 9:30 am of the very next day.

According to GMA News, Marinas and two other boys (Manila Bulletin reported only a single companion) went to the lagoon to catch frogs when the accident occurred.

Photo by Allan Reyes via Flickr.

The lagoon where the boy drowned is about 6 meters deep. According to Senior Superintendent Rolando Miranda, head of the Baguio City Police, his office is investigating why the boy was naked when he was retrieved.

Concerned citizens are also questioning why children are allowed to play near a lagoon that is 6 meters deep.

The Baguio City Police Office Band Singing The Iconic Christmas Song "Feliz Navidad"

The Baguio City Police Office isn't only one of the country's finest in purging crime, it also has among its ranks some very fine singers. During a pre-Christmas ceremony at the City Hall, the singing policemen from the BCPO band sang the popular Christmas song Feliz Navidad.

Written and released in 1970 by the Puerto Rican singer Jose Feliciano, Feliz Navidad quickly turned into a Christmas classic. The song currently reigns as one of the most aired and played Christmas songs in the United States, Canada and several other countries.

The song has been covered by a lot of well-known musical acts such as Boney M, Thalia, Michael Buble, Celine Dion, and the late operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti. Listen to the BCPO band's cover of the song below plus covers by artists like Walk Off The Earth and Boney M.

Post by Bong Cayabyab.

Here's the original by Jose Feliciano:

Here's the cover by Boney M:

And here's a more recent interpretation by the group Walk Off The Earth:

A Python (Locally Referred To As "Beklat") Was Caught In Tadian, Mt. Province

The Philippines is among the countries in Southeast Asia known for harboring several species of pythons. Pythons are non-venomous snakes that can be found in almost all corners of the country. Although they are not of great threat to humans because they are non-venomous, they are often killed by locals especially in rural areas because the snakes often prey on chickens and other fowls.

In the following photo, a man is shown holding a fairly-sized python caught in the town of Tadian in Mt. Province. In the background is Mt. Mogao, one of the town's more well-known tourist attractions. Pythons, in the local dialect, are referred to as "beklat".

When sighted, beklats are usually hunted down by the locals and eaten. In most cases, these are served as "pulutan".

Image credit: Nairda Gase via Facebook.

People are often advised by authorities that when they come across rare animals and reptiles such as the python pictured above, they should report it to a concerned agency like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

14 People Hurt In A Road Accident In Baguio City Which Involved Fourteen Vehicles

Fourteen people were rushed to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) Saturday night after incurring injuries in a road accident that involved fourteen cars. The incident happened between 7 and 7:30 pm on December 20.

According to reports, a delivery truck carrying tanks of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) was going down a portion of Kennon Road in the vicinity of barangay San Vicente in Baguio City when the driver lost control of the truck's brakes. The truck then plowed through thirteen other vehicles.

An 8-year-old girl who was a passenger in a jeepney that was hit by the loose truck is reportedly in critical condition.

The driver of the truck has been identified as Corla Constante. He was among those hurt and rushed for treatment at the BGHMC.

Below are photos from the incident posted on Facebook by Paeng Valencia, a responder working for 911 On Call: Baguio City.

Post by Rafael Paeng C. Valencia.

Image credit: Paeng Valencia

Hiking Through The Longlong Communal Forest In Puguis, La Trinidad, Benguet

Among the still existing green patches that can be found along the fringes of the La Trinidad Valley is the Longlong Communal Forest located at barangay Puguis. From what I know, the forest is a protected watershed. There are at least two water collectors built in the area.

I hiked up there a couple of days ago. The last time I visited the forest was two years ago during a tree planting activity. There are a few major changes I've noticed in the place. The road that runs through the forest (not open to private vehicles) seems to be in the process of being concreted. Sections of the road's canals had already been covered with concrete.

Thick gravel have been spread on several sections of the road. However, the road construction seemed to have stopped for at least a few months. I didn't see any workers. No construction equipment. And as I said earlier, based on the weeds and shrubs starting to reclaim the road, work there have been stopped for at least a couple of months.

The view deck is still there looking intact and sturdy. Not bad for a cogon building that is 2 to 3 years old. From the view deck, you can see a huge swath of the La Trinidad Valley below. The view is however not as good or complete as the view when you're atop Mt. Jumbo in barangay Tawang. You can view the photos we took on Mt. Jumbo here and here.

In the middle of the forest is the nursery by Puguis. The man or men manning the nursery probably raises chickens as I've come across dozens of chickens in the area.

I was surprised to find out that there were houses built in the area that weren't there when I was in the forest two years ago. They even have garden patches there as well. In fact, there was a man digging through the mountain side possibly to level it. I also saw barbed wire fences built to protect the gardens. From the exact spot two years ago where we planted pine tree seedlings, there now stood a vegetable patch.

The view deck overlooking the La Trinidad valley.

One of the pine tree seedlings we planted over two years ago. This shows how long it takes for these trees to grow. It's been more than two years and it seemed to have grown only two to three inches at most.

Some of the small houses and structures built in some sections of the forest.

To get to the Longlong Communal Forest, I rode a jeep in La Trinidad bound for Longlong. I got off in front of the Marosan's Restaurant which is just several meters away from the entrance to the forest.

Thousands Of Kilos Of Double-Dead Meat (Botcha) Confiscated At The Baguio City Public Market

On Thursday morning (December 18), combined elements of the Baguio City Veterinary Office and the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) of the Mayor's Office confiscated 4,408 kilos of double-dead meat during an operation at the Baguio City Public Market.

Commonly referred to as botcha or bocha, double-dead meat is meat from poultry or livestock that have died due to disease. When consumed, the meat can cause diarrhea, food poisoning, stomach aches, and other illnesses.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), consumers can spot double-dead meat through the following signs: pale color with greenish or bluish tint, has sticky consistency, foul-smelling, and often has very low price tags. The buying public is also warned about vendors selling good meat mixed with double-dead ones.

Post by Ryan Olat B. Mangusan.

Image credit: James Cortez

Enrollment Procedure And Guide For University Of Baguio Students (Incoming Freshmen, Transferees, International Students)

The scheduled enrollment dates for current and incoming students at the University of Baguio (UB) will be on December 17 to 20 and January 5 to 10. Classes will start on January 12. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the enrollment procedure so that they will know what to bring and do when they enroll.

Below are the enrollment procedures for incoming freshmen, transferees, new international students, and current students. All photos by the University of Baguio. For more information about the enrollment procedure, visit the school's official website.

What The La Trinidad Valley Looks Like As Viewed From The Top Of Mt. Jumbo In Tawang

Among the mountains surrounding the town of La Trinidad in Benguet is Mt. Jumbo which is located in barangay Tawang. From the top of said mountain, you can look down at the La Trinidad Valley below.

Below are pictures of what the Valley looks like from atop Mt. Jumbo. To get to Mt. Jumbo, there are three possible points of entry.

1) You can go to sitio Banig in Tawang and ask for directions. 2) You can take a jeepney in Pines Park. There's a jeepney station near the Pines Park bridge which will pass through Lubas, Banig and Tawang. Tell the driver that you're going down in Banig and that you're climbing Mt. Jumbo. 3) You can go to Tawang via Cruz-Tomay.

16 Scenic Views From Atop Mt. Jumbo In La Trinidad, Benguet (Photos)

If you reside within Baguio City or the neighboring town of La Trinidad, you don't need to go very far to get a view of Benguet's rolling hills and jagged mountain peaks. Overlooking the La Trinidad Valley is Mt. Jumbo (referred to by some as Mt. Yangbaw) in barangay Tawang. From the top of the mountain, you can see the town of La Trinidad in almost its entirety below.

From a distance, you can also view neighboring towns. I hiked up Mt. Jumbo very early this morning (around 5 a.m.) hoping to catch the sun as it rises. It rained the night before so with the accumulated clouds in the sky, I was expecting a fiery red sunrise. Unfortunately this didn't happen.

As the dark gave way to light, the clouds quickly dissipated leaving just clumps on the east side from where the sun should rise. It wasn't a wasted morning though as I was able to take several photos of the scenery as light started to envelope the valley and the surrounding mountains and hills. Check them out below.

For photos of the La Trinidad Valley as seen from the top of Mt. Jumbo, go here. Below are directions on how to get there:
1) There's a jeepney station located near the bridge in Pines Park (Km 4). Tell the driver that you will get off at sitio Banig in Tawang. Or better yet, tell the driver that you are going to Mt. Jumbo. This way, he will drop you off right where the trail starts.
2) You can also pass through Tomay/Cruz. Take a Tomay jeepney then tell the driver to drop you off at the junction road leading to Tawang. Just hike for a little bit up the road then ask any resident to point you to where the trail starts.
3) Or you can hike from Km 5, pass through Balili, reach Tawang, and from there find the start of the trail.

One Baguio City Vendor Being Collared By Three POSD Officers: So Who Is In The Wrong?

So this photo of a female vendor in Baguio City being collared by three officers of the Public Order And Safety Division (POSD) is making its rounds online. For those not in the loop, the POSD is a team under the mayor's office the main function of which is to enforce the laws, policies, and regulations of the city with regards to keeping cleanliness and orderliness in the city's streets and sidewalks.

So yes, it's part of their job to keep illegal and ambulant vendors off the city's streets. So back to the photo in question. It was posted on Facebook by Mau Victa, a Baguio-based journalist and photographer.

In the photo, we see three men (POSD officers as per the Facebook post by Victa) and a woman (a vendor according to the same post). We see the three officers accosting the visibly shaken vendor in what looks like a portion of Session Road. In fact, she seems to be on the verge of crying. One of the officers has one of his hands on a blue bag being held by the vendor. He's probably trying to grab it to confiscate it. But then again let's not forget that it's what they do. It's part of the job.

Here's the post on Facebook by Mr. Victa:

Post by Mau Victa.

Reading through the comments left by people on the post, I gathered that most people are angry of what the POSD officers did. And I can't blame them. The photo shows a helpless woman making her stand against not just one but three men. We all tend to side with underdogs.

However, what we have here is a photo. We don't have photos of what transpired before and after. And again, even if the three men were indeed trying to grab the bag from the woman, that's their job right? They were ordered to keep ambulant vendors off the streets. And if they find them there, they are obligated to confiscate what they are selling. That's what they were doing.

Now, let's talk about the use of "excessive force" since this seems to be the main reason why some people are getting angered by the photo. What is excessive force? I think this is sort of subjective, depending on the type of job a person holds.

In the case of POSD personnel, their job is confrontational in nature. You can't go around the city's streets looking to snap people off their livelihoods and not expect vendors to fight back. This brings to mind the case of a certain Oscar Caranto who died after an altercation with elements of the POSD. If the allegations against the POSD in the Caranto case are true, then it's excessive force. If true, they basically beat up a vendor to death.

As to the case of the woman vendor in Session Road, can it be called excessive force? Let's put on the shoes of the POSD men for a minute here. We're walking down Session Road and we spot an ambulant vendor. We approach her and ask her to give to us her goods. She refuses and holds on to the goods. As enforcers, what are we to do. Should we just let the vendor hold on to the goods or we'd rather try to wrestle them from her?

I also see a lot of commenters saying the vendor is just trying to earn a living. To make money so she can put food on the table. Of course, we all know that. The vendor knows that. The POSD men know that. But there are rules. There are laws. There are regulations. If these laws are not to be enforced then we might as well turn Session Road into a market.

I also see comments saying the POSD men should go around and catch pickpockets, thieves, and other criminal elements instead. People leaving these types of comments clearly don't understand why the POSD were set up in the first place. The POSD wasn't created to take the jobs of our policemen.

The attire of the POSD men is also a common point of criticism. I'm not fully informed about what they should be wearing or what their uniform looks like but I do believe they should be wearing them at all times while on the job. Vests and ID's if these are what's required from them. In the photo, one of the men is wearing a vest but didn't have it buttoned properly. ID's are also not visible from the men.

So what lessons should we learn from this?
1) The POSD men should be wearing their uniforms, vests, and IDs at all times while on patrol.
2) The POSD men need to apply a more friendly approach when accosting ambulant vendors.
3) Vendors should sell only where they are allowed to sell.
4) Vendors, when caught selling in a prohibited space, should give up their goods to avoid altercations.
5) Netizens should not let their emotions or the "underdog mentality" get to them when looking at photos of men-in-power confronting ordinary citizens online.What you see don't always portray the whole picture of what transpired.
6) There are laws and regulations governing the streets of Baguio City. It's best that we adhere to them.
7) POSD personnel are not evil. They are people too. In whatever thing they are being accused of, they deserve the benefit of the doubt.

And last but not the least, here are a couple of comments left by fellow netizens on the photo that I think made great points. I used their initials instead of their full names for privacy reasons.

H.M. says:
"We symphatize with those vendors but we have to understand also why POSD are doing that. Its their job to clean the city of illegal vendors because it is the policy of the city government to once and for all clear the central business district of illegal or ambulant vendors after so many years of abuse to the point that pedestrians and legal vendors are irritated. It is really a job where you're damn if you do it and damn if you don't perform your job."

B.D. says:
"Remember Slaughterhouse area? Ginawa po yun na relocation for the sellers. Ayaw nila. Remember hilltop na inayus ng government para may pagtindahan ng matino mga vendors? it took several months bago napuno kasi ayaw nila ng may konting bayad among others. 

Nang napuno na slots ng mga legitimate vendors, another batch of ambulant vendors ang naglabasan. . . Do we blame people kung gusto mabuhay at ang isang alam na gawin maglako? But there are rules to follow. . .laws to be implemented. . . if ayaw nating makakita ng mga ganitong sitwasyun. . .let us also do our share and not patronize ambulant vendors. . . but we dont. . . POSD people are hired to maintain order in that aspect. . . pag walang POSD. . .sinu manen sisishin pag napuno mga sidewalks and flyovers mga ambulant vendors? Im sure si Gobyerno Baguio manen. . .si Mamang police. . 

That picture? Speaks a thousand words. . .generates a lot of criticism against these implementing group. Bakit sila naka civiian? kasi pag naka uniform sila. . .malayo lang sila takbuhan na mga vendors. . . I empathize with the mother-vendors, I know somebody close na ganyan ginagawa nuon para lang me maiuwing pagkain for the family. However, I know for sure the government is doing something to curb this problem by giving out skills training sa mga nanay. 

OCSWADO, DTI, Councilo Betty Lourdes F. Tabanda's office, lots of NGO's TESDA, Baranggays, all were known to be regularly conducting skills training for nanays but with what I can see, konti lang either nag aatend or ginagamit ang natutunan. Mas maganda ang maglako. . . .walang upa (or illegally renting) walang legal fees na bayaran (sa mga kotong lang). Adu ti issues. Still boils down to WHAT WOULD YOU AS A BAGUIO CITIZEN DO TO HELP? Opinyun lang. SAlamt."

Engaged Lovers Not Allowed To Marry In Itogon, Benguet Unless They Plant At Least 5 Trees

If there is such a thing as a "green marriage", this could be it. The town of Itogon in Benguet has come up with a unique resolution which requires couples to plant at least 5 trees before they can be allowed to marry. Failure to comply means you're not getting your marriage license.

The municipal council and Victorio Palangdan, mayor of the town, gave the resolution their full support.

As to where the couples should plant the trees, they have several options. They can plant them on idle or vacant public lands, on municipal parks, on their own backyards, or on private lands provided that they were given consent by the owners of said lands.

Tree seedlings can be acquired from the barangay council, the municipal agricultural office, or from the provincial/regional offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture.

Photo by Daniel Feliciano / The Cordilleran Sun.

After planting the trees, the couple will then have to get a certificate of compliance from the barangay captain. They need to present the certificate (along with the other requirements in the issuance of a marriage license) to the Civil Registrar's Office.

Needless to say, this is a resolution that should be copied by other towns in Benguet given the fact that mountains and hills in the province continue to lose their forest covers in alarming rates.

The city of Baguio also needs to adapt the resolution. The city's status as a tourist destination depends a lot on its green cover.

An International Trailer For "The Little Prince" Has Been Released And It's Beautiful

The Little Prince by the French author Antoine de Saint-Exupery is one of the most beloved books of all time. Since being published in 1943, it has captivated millions of readers from all corners of the globe with its beautiful writing and illustrations. It has been translated into 250 languages and it continues to sell over one million copies every year.

Because of the book's huge following, it has been adapted at least a dozen times for television and film audiences. The latest in these adaptations is a full-length French animated feature that's scheduled to hit theaters in October next year. Directed by Mark Osborne (Kung Fu Panda, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie), The Little Prince will be distributed by Paramount Pictures France.

The film will be featuring the voices of Riley Osborne, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, James Franco, Jeff Bridges, Benicio del Toro, Ricky Gervais, and Paul Giamatti.

Watch the international trailer for The Little Prince below. If you are wondering about the song featured in the trailer, it's Somewhere Only We Know by Lily Allen. It's her cover version of an original song of the same title by the English rock band Keane.

Here are a couple of stills from the upcoming animated film:

Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures

Somewhere Only We Know by Lily Allen:

Somewhere Only We Know by Keane:

Prisoner Found Dead In His Temporary Detention Cell In A Baguio City Police Station With A Shoelace Around His Neck

A male inmate was found dead in his temporary detention cell at a police station in Baguio City Saturday morning (December 6). The man was found with a shoelace around his neck which strongly suggests that he may have committed suicide.

The man has been identified as Glen Cerezo Valle. He was found by a policeman in his temporary detention cell in Station 3 of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO). According to a police report, in the morning of December 6, a cop saw Valle in his cell seemingly sitting but with his head and face covered by a black jacket.

When the cop entered the detention cell to check on Valle, that's when he saw the shoelace around his neck. The other end of the shoestring was tied to the metal hinge of the cell door.

Valle was immediately brought to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) but he was pronounced dead on arrival. Valle's body was taken to the BGHMC's morgue.

Additionally, Valle had just been arrested the day before somewhere in Victoria Village in Baguio City. Valle was taken into custody during a buy bust operation in said Village by members of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) and Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR).

[Correction: An earlier version of this article wrongly mentioned that Valle died at the Baguio City Jail. Valle died at Station 3 of the BCPO. We've made a mistake and we apologize for it.]

/Source: Bombo Radyo Philippines

A street in Baguio City. The Cordilleran Sun file photo.

ONE FC 23 Results: Kevin Belingon Batters Japanese Foe Enroute To A Unanimous Decision Victory

Cordilleran mixed martial artist Kevin Belingon is back in the winning column after a dominant victory over Koetsu Okazaki of Japan last night. The two fought at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila in the undercard of One Fighting Championship 23: Warrior's Way.

The two fighters started off slow as they sized each other up. After a brief halt in the fight due to a low kick by Belingon that landed on Okazaki's groin, the two fighters started to heat up the fight a bit. The Japanese fighter got wobbled in one of the exchanges and Belingon rushed in to do some damage.

The second and third rounds were all Belingon's as he was more busy, was landing the more meaningful punches and leg kicks. He was also able to hurt Okazaki several times during the fight. He mixed his striking very well. He threw punches, leg kicks, back kicks and he defended well against counterattacks by the Japanese.

With the win, Belingon improves his record to 13 wins and 4 losses. Okazaki on the other hand drops to 10 wins and 4 losses.

Belingon fights in the featherweight division, an area currently being reigned upon by Bibiano Fernandez. The main event in the Manila card was a tussle between Fernandez and Dae Hwan Kim which the former won via submission.

Prior to beating Okazaki, Belingon squared off against Kim and he was doing great until he got caught with a rear-naked choke.

Image credit: One Fighting Championship

Related stories:
1. Honorio Banario Loses by Submission to Herbert Burns of Brazil
2. Eduard Folayang Knocked Out by Timofey Nastyukhin of Russia