Mandatory Submission of IPCRF Coerces Teachers to Lie and Cheat

Let's take the hard fact and painful reality of what the public teacher regarded the mandatory submission of their Individual Performance Commitment and Review Form (IPCRF) as made public by an elementary grade teacher II - ICT.

She has relayed on how unreliable this teacher's IPCRF. In her own right and privilege, she described her dissatisfaction objectively. She has pointed out that quality education and the quality of teacher's teaching are not guaranteed by such paper works. She stressed that it is a waste of time.

Teachers are not helped improving their teaching competencies in achieving quality education, she firmly expressed.

Stakeholders' SBM Commitment

Any endeavor for the school's improvement without the commitment of support from the stakeholders is unrealistic. SBM facilitates the academic performance of the school and the like if everybody is involved and committed.

Stakeholders of Cubay Elementary School (Division of La Carlota City), both the internal and external, got into details the principles and the new tool for School-based management assessment in a one-day seminar as echoed by the school principal.

The external stakeholder representing the parents, guardians of the school pupils is represented by their PTA president Racquel D. Angelitud along with her federation officers. The community and the Church is represented by the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Masville Branch with his auxiliary officers, the youth, the relief society, the priesthood, and the elders.

'Ulupod Kita' (Let's Join Together) - Youth Commitment Song

Our school while having its annual physical maintenance participated in by the different sectoral stakeholders in the community, a group of three youth composed this Ilonggo song and recorded it in one of the classrooms of the school by using a cell phone recorder.

Kaye Stephanie Marabe, an LDS member in Masville, Brgy. Cubay, La Carlota City was the led vocalist of this group. The other two were Michael and Retoy, rapper and rapper-guitarist respectively.

"Ulupod Kita" (Let's Join Together) is an original song composition in local dialect of this group. It portrays the role of the youth in charting their future. The tune is simple. It is easy to sing along with.

This song as I mentioned earlier was recorded in a cell phone recorder by Kaye and a copy was furnished to this author. This is featured here for public exhibition and exposure.

Negros Daily Bulletin Turns 51

NDB Newspaper in its 50th year

Negros Daily Bulletin, the vigilant community newspaper in Bacolod and in the Western Visayas, turns 51 today and 17 as a daily.

NDB started as a weekly paper in 1960 and as a daily publication in 1994 up to the present.

Its mission is to fulfill a noble goal in this profession in the end by contributing its humble share in the strengthening freedom and democracy in this part of the country and the world.

The late Lino Villanueva Moles, a veteran newspaper-man-novelist in his time was the founder and first Editor-Publisher of Negros Bulletin and the late Santiago "Santi" was his co-founder who acted as Business Manager until 1966 when Moles gave way as Editor-Publisher in order to assume a government post as Provincial Standards Officer of Negros Occidental under the Bureau of Commerce.

Ruperto "Pert" G. Toga, protege of Moles, worked hand in hand with Alacapa, the Publisher, as cub News Reporter, Circulation Manager, Managing Editor.

Toga finally became Editor-in-Chief of the daily paper, and the first President of the Negros Bulletin Publications when the publication was duly incorporated with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1995.

From then on, the paper sailed through rough waters but survived the hard times, notably under Martial Law in 1972 through 1985 to become a twice-weekly in 1991, a thrice-weekly in 1993 and finally as a daily in 1994 to date. It started full color editions on July 7, 2007.

In the year 2000, 2001 and 2003, NDB garnered the national award in succession for "Best in Environmental Reporting.

The paper rose from its humble beginnings and its ascent, arduous as it was, to its present stature in full color has always been founded on five guideposts: excellent and non-partisan content; responsive and responsible reporting; a continuing search for improvements and innovations; its unrelentless advocacy for truth and justice, and, its love and respect for its readers and advertisers.

The Bulletin will pursue its goals and objectives religiously with the end in mind of participating effectively in nation-building. We aver that the Bulletin exists not only for economic gains, but more particularly to inculcate in our readers and advertisers – hopes for the progress and development of our country. Likewise, to give our younger generation visions of the roads ahead – which in due time they will overcome.

The Bulletin is inspired by the principle of  a famous author, Og Mandino, that says: "That where the desert ends- green grass will grow."

On the other hand the paper's admonition to its reporters and feature writers is, "First draft, write with your hearts, but in the second draft, write with your head."

Today, as the staff, reporters and everyone in the publication celebrate NDB's 51st anniversary, look forward for more challenges and rivers and mountains to cross. As they face these roadblocks with faith in their hearts and minds with the Lords blessings, they can overcome all of those successfully.

More power and long live NDB!

Filipino Nurse Honored

Mica Alcedo, a Filipino nurse recently received the 2011 Pride of Australia Medal for Fair Go category in recognition of her dedicated efforts in "helping disadvantaged youth" and in organizing the Filipino community's "Ladies of Alice Springs" group in the Northern Territory, Australia, the news said.

The ceremony was held at the Crocodylus Park in Darwin, Northern Territory.

We're proud of you, Mila Alcedo. You give a name and honor to our country Philippines.

In 2004, Mila Alcedo arrived in Australia to work as a school nurse in Alice Springs.

It's God's will. Alcedo's dedication to her job as a nurse in the Northern Territory communities, didn't go unnoticed. Presently she is a maternal health nurse in Tennant Creek.

Generally speaking, Filipinos are hard workers, can be trusted, and dedicated to their job. They are loyal. They are also God-fearing and God-loving people. They are even more religious.

The Pride of Australia Fair Go Category award received by Alceda is one of the ten categories given to Australian permanent residents or citizens born overseas, who have enriched Australia through their community involvement, hard work and willingness to embrace Australia as their new home.

The Pride of Australia Awards which was founded sometime in 2004 honors ordinary Australians who do extraordinary things, exemplify the core value of contributing for the good of the Australian nation and people and their local communities.

The other awards are in the category of Outstanding Bravery, Courage, Heroism, Community Spirit, Child of Courage, Young Leader, Care and Compassion, Inspiration, and Environment.

"Taas noo kahit kanino!" [I'm proud to be a Filipino!] That's how confident Filipinos are.

Source: Manila Bulletin, September 2, 2011

HABITAT "Knocks Down" PACMAN For Good

World renowned PHL boxing champ Manny Pacquiao was recently tapped by Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) as one of its celebrity-ambassadors.

Habitat's campaign head Fernando Zobel bestowed upon the title of Habitat Hero Ambassador to Pacquiao who "cares eeply for the less fortunate Filipinos" by providing decent homes to them especially his constituents in Sarangani province, which he represents in Congress.

Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) is a non-profit Christian ministry working to help build responsible and self-reliant communities by enabling Filipino families in need to acquire affordable, decent, and durable homes. Established in 1988, HFHP is present in provinces and cities through its local affiliates, local management councils and project coordinating councils nationwide. HFHP envisions a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

PHL Prexy: 'No Apology'

PHL President Aquino

Manila Bulletin, one of the major national newspaper dailies in the Philippines, banners today PHL President Aquino's reactions to the embroiled Catholic prelates' request to apologize to them: "No Apology"

Why should the Philippine President Noynoy Aquino be sorry to the prelates whose names were dragged to the infamous scandal of "unauthorized" Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) luxurious sports utility vehicles (SUVs) donations?

PNoy stood firm in his decision not to apologize to those seven involved Catholic Bishops in PCSO vehicles irregularities. He had not done anything wrong with them, he said in an ambush interview of the media yesterday. The alleged "Pajero" anomaly in the state-lottery agency did not transpire in his present administration. It did occur in 2008 and 2009 as to the findings of the Commission on Audit (CoA).