Caught On Video: Land Moving, Shifting, And Sinking In Poblacion, Bakun, Benguet

It's like a scene from the recent disaster film San Andreas. The earth shifts and moves as if there's a humongous monster operating underground. Huge cracks appear on the ground as large tracts of land slide and sink several meters below. Trees topple down like dominoes as their roots get exposed. Such are the scenes from a video of a recent landslide that occurred in sitio Buagi, Poblacion, Bakun, Benguet. The incident happened on August 23, 2015. The video was taken by Edmund Angluben.

According to someone familiar with the place, the site of the landslide is a sinking area and has been the site of landslides in the past. She added that there are not enough trees in the area to hold off the soil. Although the most recent landslide didn't take any human life because the residents were able to notice the shifting mass of soil, several farm lots and houses were damaged.

The landslide may have been directly caused by Typhoon Ineng which ravaged the Cordillera region for several days. The area has always been prone to landslides and this was aggravated by the continuous rain brought by Typhoon Ineng. The rains softened the soil causing it to eventually collapse.

In the video, a large mass of land can be seen shifting, sinking, and settling several meters below its original position. A man can be heard shouting and warning people to move away from the site. "Kumaan kayo sisa. Men-alis tako ad ngato. [Get out of there. Let's transfer to higher ground.]" the man was shouting. Police whistles can also be heard warning the people below to leave and move farther away from the landslide site.

Watch a video of the landslide below.

Landslide In Bakun, Benguet
This landslide occurred in Buagi, Poblacion, Bakun, Benguet on August 26, 2015. Fortunately, there were no human casualties.[As much as we would like to credit the original uploader of the video, we don't know which one because of the availability of several copies and mirrors of the video online.]
Posted by Igorots Online on Sunday, August 30, 2015

Site of the landslide in Poblacion, Bakun, Benguet. Photo courtesy of the Bakun Municipal Police Station.

I Really Would Like To Ask The INC Rallyists These 5 Simple Questions

1. What makes you think that you are exempt from Philippine laws? Are you so special that the Department of Justice (DOJ) can't lay a finger on you? It's strange that you are out there in the streets shouting for justice. Justice for what? For whom? You are not being persecuted. Your leadership is merely being investigated for illegal detention. Why don't you put yourself in the shoes of Isaias Samson Jr. just for a moment. Can you imagine if you complain about illegal detention and the state turns its back on you? You would feel like the state is abandoning you. This country has laws that the state has to enforce on everyone - Catholics, members of Iglesia Ni Cristo, Muslims, atheists, Buddhists, etc.

2. Are you sure you know what the phrase "separation of church and state" really means? It doesn't mean "immunity from prosecution". It doesn't mean you can do things that are deemed illegal and expect the state to just sit on a couch and do nothing. The people who are holding the "separation of state and church" placards - they either don't know what the phrase means or they are being intentionally ignorant. Whichever is the case, it's not good. Whoever made those placards needs to sit down and reevaluate his choice of words.

3. Do you ever wonder what your god thinks of what you are doing? Do you picture him up there smiling and clapping his hands? Do you picture him giving you a thumbs up? Do you think he agrees with the physical harm being done to some people? A cameraman from a television station was attacked by protesters near the EDSA Shrine. And while he was being mauled, the crowd around him were chanting "biased, biased". Is this what self-proclaimed God-fearing people do? He was just a cameraman.

4. Do you ever consider the inconvenience that you are causing innocent people? There are people who are not able to get to work on time or fetch their kids at school because of the traffic deadlocks. There are people who get stuck in the streets for hours at a time. These innocent bystanders have to go through all these inconveniences for what? Just so the INC can show how powerful they are? Just so the INC can show how immense their numbers are? Just so the INC can show that they are a group that can raise hell if criticized or investigated?

5. What do you want? Seriously, what do you want? Because as far as I can tell, you are blatantly and shamelessly asking for a privilege. What is a privilege? It's "a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people." I'm really concerned how you could not see the hypocrisy in this. You are calling for a "separation of church and state", yet there you are flooding the streets and demanding that the state award your church a special privilege. This is a complete opposite of the concept of "separation of church and state".

Image credit: Lyn Rillon of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

Large Parts Of Baguio City And Benguet To Experience 12-Hour Brownout On August 28

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has served a notice of a scheduled shutdown of some of its transmission lines located within Baguio City and Benguet. As a result of these shutdowns, large parts of Baguio City and Benguet will experience a 12-hour power interruption on August 28 (Friday). The interruption will be from 6 am to 6 pm.

Those that will be affected by the power interruption are as follows:
1) The whole of Atok, Tublay, Kapangan, Kibungan, Bokod, Kabayan, Bakun, Buguias, and Mankayan.
2) The whole of La Trinidad except Upper Ambiong.
3) The whole of Baguio City except the following areas: Ambuklao Road portion, APTS, Sim-sim Compound, Regidor st., Maria Basa, Liteng, Pacdal Circle, Sispno Road, Botanical Garden, Pucsusan, Tavera St., Kneedler St., Poblete Extension, Johnhay, BCC, Country Club Village, Happy Hallow, Lamut, Marlboro Country, DZWT, GMA, RPN, DZBS, Lualhati, Felipe, Moran, Apostol, De Los Reyes, Europa, Modesta, Good Shepperd, Cuneta, Mines View Park areas, Gibraltar, Romulo Drive, Tuding road, Outlook Drive, Mary Hurst, Lucnab, Teachers Camp to Forbes Park DS, and  Balangabang.

Also exempted from the scheduled brownout are the following areas: DENR Compound, Villamor St., Portion of Outlook Drive, Innsbruck, South Drive, Portion of Paterno St., DPS Compound, Lower Cabinet Hill, Green Water, Wagner Road, Military Cut-off, Sta. Scholastica Village, Dagsian, Hillside, Gabriela Silang, Woodsgate, Camp 8, BWD Dedicated Line, Puliwes, San Vicente, Lower Balsigan, Agpaoa Drive, Milo Subdivision, Woodsville Subdivision, Sarok, Kennon road, Kalinga Pelota Court, Petersville, Amparo Heights, Lexber Heights Phase I, Amistad, Montecello, Richgate Square Phase II, Crest Wood, Eagle Crest Phase I & II, Ciudad Grande Phase I & II, Lexber Heights Phase II, Gumamela, Bakakeng road, New Site SLU-SVP, Forest Gold, Ramsey Pumping, Sto. Nino Subdivision, Camp 7, Kennon road, Pias, Youngland, Mangga, Pongian, Soyuc, Ongasan, Lions Head, and Kennon Road.

Photo by Daniel Feliciano/The Cordilleran Sun

4 Small Scale Miners In Itogon, Benguet Die After Succumbing To Gas Poisoning

Four small scale gold miners in Itogon, Benguet died in two separate cases of gas poisoning last Sunday (August 23). Around 2 pm on said date, Bambi Dongla (28 years old) inhaled poisonous gases which caused him to lose consciousness inside a mine tunnel located at Baguio Gold, Tuding, Itogon. Dongla's companion Ismael Sadya-as (25 years old) entered the tunnel to rescue Dongla but he was also overwhelmed by the suffocating gases inside the tunnel.

Tula Mateo (53 years old), a foreman at the mine tunnel, also tried to rescue the two trapped miners but he too succumbed to the gases. All three men died. Their bodies were retrieved from the tunnel by rescuers during the night.

Also on the same day, the lifeless body of Abe Danao Amyao (23 years old) was recovered from another tunnel which is also located in Tuding. According to the Itogon police, the victim's brother noticed that Abe wasn't inside their bunk house. So he called another miner and entered their tunnel to find Abe. They found the unmoving body of Abe inside the tunnel, brought him out, and rushed him to a nearby medical center but he was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.

It can be recalled that two pocket miners also perished just two weeks ago on August 7 inside their tunnel located in Antamok, Ucab, Itogon. The two miners were identified as Eddie Latigo (50 years old) and Jonas Isang (24 years old). The two men got trapped inside their tunnel when a landslide blocked the entrance. The men were already dead when they were found by rescuers16 hours later.

Image credit: 911metallurgist.com

Governor Fongwan Declares Suspension Of Classes In All Levels In Benguet On August 24 (Monday)

Governor Nestor Fongwan has declared the suspension of all classes in all levels in both public and private schools in the whole province of Benguet for August 24 (Monday). According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC), this is to ensure that pupils, students, and school employees are safe from illnesses, accidents, and other threats that may arise due to what's been wrought by typhoon Ineng.

Typhoon Ineng has already weakened and is well on its way out of the country but it has left huge portions of Northern Luzon susceptible to landslides and flooding. The rains also continue to pour. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the typhoon (so far) took 14 lives and injured 11 others. Ineng also took down bridges as well as caused numerous landslides that shut down several roads and highways in Luzon.

The provinces in the Cordillera region took the most damage from Ineng. The Baguio-Bontoc road (Halsema Highway) is closed as of today because of several landslides along its stretch especially the washout that occurred in a portion of the road in Tublay.

Additionally, rescue operations are ongoing in Taneg, Mankayan, Benguet where at least a dozen people were reported missing when their homes were carried away by flashfloods on Saturday. As of today, the lifeless bodies of four of those reported missing have been recovered by rescuers.

Photo by Daniel Feliciano/The Cordilleran Sun

Missing: Angelica Bagsao, 19 Years Old, Architecture Student Of Saint Louis University In Baguio City

The family and friends of Angelica Bagsao who went missing last August 6 are seeking help in tracking down the whereabouts of the 19-year-old student. Angelica studies architecture at the Saint Louis University (SLU) in Baguio City.

Based on posts containing photos that were circulated on Facebook starting on August 9, Angelica failed to come home on Thursday afternoon (August 6). She reportedly went to school in the morning of said date to enroll.

She was last seen wearing a black jacket with a hood, blue pants, black shoes, and a green backpack. She is 5'2 in height, has shoulder-length black hair, has light-brown skin, and she has a mole on her nose. Angelica hails from the town of Balbalan in Kalinga.

What to do if you've seen the missing student. 
Although there are phone numbers provided with the photos posted by the family and friends of the missing student, it's still recommended that your first course of action is to contact the proper authorities. In this case, it could be a police station near you or a barangay outpost. Approach whichever is closer. Just tell them that you may have seen a person who's been reported missing. The policemen or the barangay officials will take it from there. You can also call the cops. Here is the telephone directory for the Police Regional Office - Cordillera (PRO-COR).

If for any reason, you can't find a police station, a barangay outpost, or you don't know the phone numbers of nearby police precincts, then call the numbers provided in the posts circulating on Facebook.

1 Man Killed, Another Injured After Being Attacked By Wild Bees In Atok, Benguet

A farmer died while his companion was rushed to a hospital in Baguio City after they were attacked by wild bees in barangay Topdac in Atok, Benguet. The man who passed away has been identified as Charlie Mendoza. His companion who was brought to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) is Romeo Butag. Both men are residents of barangay Topdac in Atok.

Mario Baliwen, an official in Topdac, told Bombo Baguio (a local radio station) that Mendoza and Butag went to a nearby mountain to collect firewood when they encountered a swarm of wild bees. They were chased by the bees and stung on different parts of their bodies. According to Butag, he felt dizzy and nauseous when he got home after the incident. This prompted residents in the area to rush him to a hospital in Baguio City.

Other residents went to the mountain to check on Mendoza and that's when they found him lying along the trail and no longer alive. Mendoza had several bee sting marks in various parts of his body especially on his head and stomach.

Image credit: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

This is obviously a case of bee poisoning. According to Healthline, most people who have been stung by a bee do not require any medical attention. However, if the person has been stung numerous times, the accumulated poison from the bee stings can turn fatal. The health website recommends that if a person feels dizziness, headaches, nausea, and difficulty breathing after getting stung by bees, the person should seek medical attention immediately.

Update: several readers have suggested that the culprits may not be ordinary honey bees. The local radio station in Baguio City which first reported the incident used the term "uyokan" which is the Kankana-ey term for wasps/hornets/yellow jackets.

DSWD Cordillera Is In Need Of An Executive Assistant (Salary Grade 17)

The regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Cordillera region is looking for an Executive Assistant II. Below are details about the job vacancy. The regional office of said department is located at 40 North Drive, Baguio City.

Notice of Vacancy

Please be informed that the DSWD-CAR is inviting applicants to fill up the hereunder vacant position:
One (1) Executive Assistant II (MOA) Position
Monthly salary: SG 17 (Php29,028.00)
Area of assignment: Office of the Regional Director (ORD)

Preferred Qualification Standards
Education: Bachelor's Degree preferably in Social Sciences, Public Administration, Laws, or any allied courses. Considerable units in Master's Degree is an advantage.
Training: Training in project management or social development is an advantage.
Experience: At least 2 years of supervisory experience preferably in government, managing projects or social development programs.
Eligibility: CS Professional/RA 1080

Interested and qualified applicants may submit their application to the undersigned on or before August 7, 2015 with the following attachments:
1. Resume/Personal Data Sheet
2. NBI Clearance
3. Transcript of Records
4. NSO Birth Certificate
5. Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
6. Certificate of previous and present employment (if applicable)
7. Certificate of company clearance (if applicable)
8. CSC eligibility/PRC Rating report and updated license (authenticated)
9. Diploma
10. Certificate of trainings for the last three (3) years (certified photocopy of the original)
11. Performance Appraisal/Evaluation Rating (if applicable)

Applicants previously not considered need not apply.

Janet Armas
OIC - Regional Director

Baguio City Taxi Driver Promptly Returns An iPhone 6 Left In His Taxi To Rightful Owner

During the last few months, taxi drivers in Baguio City suffered a barrage of negative publicity because of news about drivers robbing or attempting to rob their passengers. Of drivers being rude to their passengers. And of drivers allegedly using a "spray modus" to incapacitate their passengers with the intention of stealing from them or even molesting them.

Whether these cases turned out to be true or not, they still placed a lot of commuters on edge. Some people who used to take cabs are now taking jeepneys because of the fear that they'll end up flagging down a cab with a bad driver. Needless to say, the whole fleet of taxi drivers in Baguio City are bearing the brunt of the bad publicity caused by a few bad apples within their ranks.

That said, it is with a sigh of relief that we welcome the story of an honest taxi driver who promptly returned an expensive smartphone left in his cab by a passenger. In a post on Facebook, Bruce Ganaban Limmayog narrated how one of his students left her iPhone 6 smartphone in a cab. When they called the phone, the driver answered that he was at a police station in Pacdal waiting for them to call.

Image credit: Bruce Limmayog via Facebook.

Limmayog and his student proceeded to the police station in Pacdal and indeed there was Vic Serran, the driver, waiting for them. So all is good. Kudos to this driver. Read Limmayog's full Facebook post here. If you're wondering how much an iPhone 6 costs here in the Philippines, prices range from 36,000 pesos to 48,000 pesos depending on whether it's 16GB, 64GB, or 128GB.

Art Exhibit To Feature Cordilleran Artist's Igorot-Themed Paintings

I remember the first time I saw one of Jef Cablog's larger-than-life paintings. It was a year or so ago and the piece in question featured a woman in what looks like a stream or river bank. A lot (if not most) of the artist's works actually featured women. Looking at the painting was quite an experience. Cablog's use of vivid and subdued colors to create details in his paintings is something to behold. It's hard not to be enchanted by the artist's subjects.

Cablog grew up in the town of Barlig in Mountain Province. He studied fine arts at the University of the Philippines in Baguio City. He favors using a palette knife in rendering his paintings. To find inspiration, the artist tapped into the Cordillera's rich culture and traditions. Cablog's creativity and consistency have earned him accolades as well as a growing number of followers and collectors. Cablog made it twice as a semi-finalist and once as a finalist in the Metrobank Art Competition. Some of his paintings were exhibited in foreign countries like Singapore, Hongkong, United States, Malaysia, and Japan.

Early in his career, Cablog introduced his works by joining group shows. He participated in over a dozen group shows before he finally got his own solo exhibit in 2012. He called it Birthmarked and had it staged at the Art Center in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. This month, Cablog will have another solo show called Coexistence at the same venue starting on the 6th until the 11th. For more information about the exhibit, check out the listing for it on the Galerie Franceska website here.

Below are two of the several artworks that will be featured in the exhibit. The opening reception for the show on August 6 will commence at 6 pm.

"Chapor (Ash)"

"Downstream"

1 Killed, 3 Others Injured In A Road Accident In Suello Village, Baguio City

The driver of a delivery truck died while his three passengers received serious injuries as a result of an accident that transpired in Suello Village, Baguio City on Sunday morning. The truck reportedly came from Marcos Highway and was supposed to deliver soil and rocks at a nearby construction site for a golf course.

The driver lost control of the truck due to a mechanical malfunction. The truck rammed into the road's stone walls before crashing into the golf course. The driver who died has been identified as Bonifacio Pagtalunan. Those injured are Abraham Rivera (55 years old), Christian Cruz (19 years old), and Edgar Velando (40 years old).

Responders which included personnel from 911 On Call, BCPO, BFP, EMS Baguio, and EMS Tuba rushed the four men to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC). Pagtalunan was declared dead on arrival. Rivera, Velando, and Cruz are currently being treated of their injuries.

[Sources: Baguio Auto Forums, Herald Express, Rafael Valencia of 911 On Call: Baguio]

Image credit: Romel Rimorin via Baguio Auto Forums.