Monday, November 4, 2013

Tête-à-tête with Atty. Midas Marquez



• Clement is Region’s Outstanding SK
Tête-à-tête with Atty. Midas Marquez

Wake-uppers:
Scene: Spotted in Bohol last week were Pinoy Dream Academy runner-up Ronnie Liang, Viva Hotbabe Jaycee Parker and Kapamilya star Aldred Gatchalian during Lila’s town fiesta.
           
Scene: The nation’s first Miss World, Megan Young, is back in the Philippines, her home country. Young was treated to a warm welcome by hundreds of people who had gathered at the airport to get a glimpse of their Miss World. Young was all smiles as she waved and greet to cheering fans during last Friday’s parade.

Scene: CenterStage band is getting ready for another big event on Oct. 15, the Foundation Day of Bohol Island State University.

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While covering the fire incident in Poblacion 1 last Tuesday, Oct. 8, I chanced upon Tracy Remolador Torres who went there to see his friends. He asked me if I was able to read his Facebook status about the Bohol Cultural Center, which I honestly said with all honesty, “no.”

Tracy and other friends are “complaining” about being uncomfortable at the backstage of the Bohol Cultural Center. The experience, according to them, is like inside a furnace.

By the way, here is Tracy’s message (verbatim) addressed to Gov. Edgar Chatto and other concerned officials:

Tracy Torres
TO GOVERNOR EDGAR CHATTO AND OTHER CONCERNED OFFICIALS:

THE BOHOL CULTURAL CENTER IS ONE OF THE PROVINCE'S MOST USED FACILITY WHICH IN TURN GENERATES A LOT OF INCOME.

HOWEVER, UNTIL NOW, ITS BACKSTAGE LACK CERTAIN EQUIPMENTS SUCH AS AIRCONDITIONING UNIT, ELECTRIC FANS, LIGTHS AND CABINETS ETC.PERFORMERS, PAGEANT CANDIDATES, MAKE UP ARTISTS ETC SUFFER FROM ITS POOR FACILITIES.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WE HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY AHEAD KUDOS,KUDOS,KUDOS BOHOLANOS!!!

(Note: Tracy, a formal letter or to set an appointment with Gov. Chatto will greatly help. I am sure he would listen.)

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Spotted in Tagbilaran City last Friday, Oct. 11, was Supreme Court Administrator Atty. Midas Marquez.

We see him all the time on TV who looks so cool despite the great stress in his job, you know announcing a controversial decision of the Supreme Court of which he’s the spokesperson, except when he accidentally pushed a microphone in a presscon in 2011 which became viral over the Internet and other social media sites.

Marquez came to Bohol not for a vacation but for a seminar (he was a resource person) initiated by the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), an environmental non-government organization committed to helping communities uphold their constitutional right to a healthful and balanced ecology.

Supreme Court Administrator Atty. Midas Marquez with your VRS.  Courtesy: Clarence J. Pesquira

Our tête-à-tête led to the judiciary's version of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

He said he is already investigating, albeit discreetly, alleged corruption in the judiciary perpetrated by a certain “Ma’am Arlene".

He also explained that there are no public funds involved in the alleged transactions. He also said that when he checked the facts of reports of 50 rooms being booked in Manila Peninsula, it turned out to be false.

Palagay ko small time ito compared kay Napoles. Pangalawa, ang Napoles incident involved sa public funds kaban ng bayan, dito naman walang public funds involved ito. Simple graft corruption ito...dapat maimbestigahan,” explained Marquez.

Marquez said that the investigation is moving and that before people will be named, they have to conduct a more extensive investigation.

He said that there are three different "Arlenes" being looked into in the investigation. Initial findings pointed to a clerk from the Court of Appeals, a former employee at the Manila Regional Trial Court, and a known contact from Manila City Hall.

“Base sa ating unang imbestigasyon, mayroong three ‘Arlenes’...ayaw kong pangalanan muna kasi very raw yung information natin,” said Marquez.

Marquez also said that based on the initial findings, the issue started because of the hotly contested PJA elections. It started as a smear campaign against someone aspiring for the presidency of the Philippine Judges Association (PJA), which was picked up by some columnists in newspapers.

During the convention and election of officers of  PJA (Judge Ralph Lee of RTC Quezon City won as President, while Boholana Marlou Magdoza-Malagar of RTC Manila was elected VP for administration), Marquez reminded the judges of their role in the society.

Doon sa pagtatapos ng convention at election ng Philippine Judges Association, medyo sinabihan natin ang ating mga judges na sila ay mga huwes at  hindi pulitiko. At dapat hindi mangyayari yun sa judiciary. Nakakalungkot dahil ito sana ang pagkakataon na umangat ang Judiciary. Kaso dahil sa election na ito, dahil sa paratang na yan, pati na ang Judiciary bumabagsak talaga,” lamented Marquez.

Incidentally, after we talked, we heard the bells ringing at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, St. Joseph Cathedral and other churches in the Diocese of Tagbilaran as part of the national sounding of church bells against pork barrel called by the church-based group Church People's Alliance against Pork Barrel.

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Clement Paulinel Ingking was selected as Region VII’s The Outstanding Barangay Official of Year 2013 or TOBOY for SK Chairperson Category on Oct. 10 in Cebu City.

“It was like in the Cloud Nine and feeling nako worth it tanan efforts, initiatives and sacrifices that I made in order to pursue my passion of public service,” Clement told VRS.

Clement Ingking
At 15, Clement was elected SK barangay chairman of Booy in Tagbilaran City in 2010.

Clement initiated worthy projects for the youth in his barangay such as zero out of school youth in Booy,  seminars on youth development, livelihood and entrepreneurship, disaster coordination and health task force, education services, moral recovery activities and anti-drug abuse campaign, sports program and community immersion activities.

Unlike other officials who are tardy coming to the barangay hall, Clement has his presence in the barangay hall every vacant time during class days.

“Yes, he has perfect attendance,” confirmed Booy Barangay Captain Jun Telmo. “We are proud of him that the winner came from our barangay of Booy.”  Telmo is seeking reelection this October.  

Clement has the ability to lead, motivate and influence people. Being a good leader for him means being strong by taking the risks yet, still being optimistic. He also motivated and influenced his SK and KK members and the barangay constituents as a whole.

“I want them to be a part of an active crusade for change in the system of government and let them be participative in everything,” shared Clement.

Is he running for a higher position?

“I’m running for barangay kagawad in order to continue serving not only the youth but for the whole community na,” said Clement. “Even though wala nay SK (Pres. Aquino has signed into law a bill postponing the SK elections scheduled on Oct. 28- LPU), I’ll make sure mapadayon nako ang kalambu-an sa community.”

The recent award is another feather to his well-decorated cap.  He was chosen as The Outstanding Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman (TOSKA) in 2012, Mr. and Miss Teen Bohol 2012 Top 5, ICM’s Kiddie Idol Champion in 2006, ICM’s Model Quest 2007 (male category champion), Mr. Alturas 2011, Mr. Bohol Island State University (BISU) FreshFace 2011, Lakandula ng BISU 2011, Mr. Sophie Paris 2012 and Mr. BISU-Main Campus 2012 first runner-up.

TOBOY is designed to give recognition to barangay officials who have shown exemplary performance in the discharge of their functions. It is jointly undertaken by the Local Administration and Development Program Alumni Association of the Philippines (LADPAAP) Region 7 Chapter, the DILG and the Liga ng mga Barangay of Region 7.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Boholanos happy for Megan Young’s Miss World 2013 victory



Wake-uppers:
Scene: October 15, 2013 has been declared a regular public holiday in the Philippines in observance of Eidul Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice), considered as one of the two greatest feasts of Islam.  Eidul Adha remembers prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)'s consent when he agreed to sacrifice his first-born son to submit to commands of God, who later intervened to provide him with a lamb to sacrifice. 

Megan Young Courtesy: MWO
Scene: The Charity Rummage Sale is today, Oct. 6, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 1 G. Visarra Street, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. There are three ways to help: Give (donate any good quality unwanted goods), sell (set up your own stall, donate part of your proceeds to charity or to a pre-nominated charity of your choice) and buy (come along and buy some bargains).  Partial proceeds will be donated to VSO Bahaginan to fight against poverty. For inquiries to donate items or stall setup, contact Liza at 09275418455.

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Finally, after years of trying to bring home that elusive blue crown, Miss Philippines Mega Young has won the Miss World 2013 crown after outpacing 126 other contestants from around the world at the glittering ceremony held at the Bali International Convention Centre in Indonesia on Saturday night, Sept. 28.

The “most beautiful woman in the world” was crowned by last year's winner Wenxia Yu from The Peoples Republic of China.

Boholano beauty pageant watchers are happy for Megan Young for winning the first Miss World crown for the Philippines. File

Young is the first-ever Filipino winner of the title since the Philippines' debut in the pageant in 1966.

In the final round, the top six were asked to explain why they deserved to win the Miss World crown, to which Young said: "I treasure a core value of humanity and that guides her into understanding people, why they act the way they do, how they're living their lives. And I will use these core values and understanding not only in helping others but to show other people how they can understand others, to help others. ... So that as one, together, we shall help society. Thank you!"

Philippines has made history only country to have won all major and minor beauty pageants. This proves that the Philippines is indeed the powerhouse of beauty in the world!

Filipina beauty queens who placed runners-up in Miss World are Evangeline Pascual who was Miss World 1973 1st runner-up, Ruffa Gutierrez was declared second runner-up in Miss World 1993, Gwendoline Ruais placed second to Ivian Sarcos of Venezuela in 2011 and Queneerich Rehman made it to the Top 15 in 2012.

Boholano beauty pageant watchers and lovers rejoiced over the major piece of pageant history, and squeals of euphoric ecstasy can still be heard all throughout amid political scandals that had rocked the nation.

Miss Bohol Sandugo 2008 1st runner-up Chandrina Elluiska Schreurs, who met Megan Young, said she had been confident of Young’s chances. She was glued to the TV set to watch the pageant and she burst into cheers when Young’s name was called. “She prepared herself very well that she deserved the crown... and that makes us all proud.”

“Megan's winning is a dream come true for me and to the rest of the past Miss Philippines who competed in Miss World. We were once there, represented our country and tried to bring home that elusive crown,” Anna Maris Igpit, who was the Philippines’ bet to the Miss World 2006, told VRS. “I was very emotional the moment she was declared a winner because finally a Filipina won that title for us. I'm just so proud of her, she didn't only prove that a Filipina is the most beautiful woman in the world, but she also made all Filipinos feel good and happy despite all the challenges we are going through as a country. Mabuhay ka Megan!”

Elvie Bongosia of PIA-Bohol told VRS that, “Megan's victory is a breather from all negative issues Philippines is now facing.”

It’s #ThrowbackSunday! Yours truly, Panglao Mayor Nila Montero and Maricor Igpit attended the Miss World 2006 in Warsaw, Poland.- LPU
1983 Miss Young Bohol 4th runner-up Tessie Labunog-Sumampong of Loboc Riverwatch (The Floating Restaurant to the Stars) said that, “She deserves the crown....she's so gorgeous like me hehehe!”

Miss Bohol Sandugo 2012 Idy Caseñas Cagas said, “A Filipina has proven once more that our country is a home to most beautiful women in the world - beautiful women with grace, confidence, character and substance. It's a triumph not only for Megan but for the entire country. Her victory is like a ray of sun that shines in and gives us hope with what our country is going through right now. She is a woman with a clear purpose, an inspiration to everyone especially to every woman who dreams of becoming a beauty queen.”

“I've always been one of those people who pray that Megan would one day represent our country in an international pageant like Miss Universe or Miss World,” said fashion icon EJ Relampagos. “Megan winning our first Miss World crown is not only a proof that He answers our prayers in perfect time, it’s also a proof that if we believe in our dreams and we claim it, nothing is impossible!”

US-based Boholano socialite Mikey Gatal believed that “for bringing home the bacon, she might solve the pork barrel.”

Beauty pageant watcher Raul Phillip Gatal also shared that “Megan’s victory is not only a breath of fresh air from all the negative vibes and bad news that have swirled in the Philippines but also an affirmation that our country does have the most beautiful women.”

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.