UP Ibalon Bicol

Israel’s Netanyahu rebukes deniers of the holocaust

9/25/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

After yesterday’s speech of Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the General Assembly of the United Nations, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu followed with a rebuke of those who just stand by to watch a leader of nation deny the horror of holocaust and wish a nation to be wiped out on the face of the earth. Netanyahu debunked Iran’s odious assertion that the horror of the holocaust didn’t happen by displaying in the UN assembly a blueprint of the Auschwitz death camp and showing Nazi orders to kill Jews.

“The man who called the Holocaust a lie spoke at this podium. To those who refused to come and to those who left in protest, I commend you. You stood up for moral clarity and you brought honor to your countries. But to those who gave this Holocaust denier a hearing, I say on behalf of my people, the Jewish people, and decent people everywhere -- have you no shame? Have you no decency?"”----Brietbarttv.com(09/24/09)

“Netanyahu, 59, also defended his country against allegations of war crimes in a UN report on Israel’s military offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The prime minister said Israel sought to end rocket attacks on its communities, assaults he said the UN had ignored for years”---Bloomberg.com (09/24/09, Fersiger, J.)

Boycotting Ahmadinejad’s speech, Netanyahu clearly commended other UN delegates among them from Canada, Britain, and diplomats from France, Spain and other European contries who walked out in disdain over Ahmadinejad, the dictatorial leader of Islamic Iran with a long record of human rights violations and disregard of international covenants. The controversial Iranian leader who faced civil unrest and a disputed reelection in Tehran obviously didn’t represent decency and truth---but nontheles, he was welcomed in the UN.

In denying the merciless extermination of the Jews, Ahmadinejad insulted the memory of countless innocent victims of tyranny and evil during the Nazi regime. This comes on the heels of a growing worry that Iran is about to succeed in building a nuclear bomb in violations of UN samctions. If the world is populated with the likes of Amadinejad, the world’s future looks ominously dismal. (Photo Credit: ctv.ca; United Nations) =0=

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Labels: Benjamin Netanyahu, holocaust, Iran, Israel, Jewish, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speech, Totie Mesia, United Nations

US terrorist plots more real than Americans realize

9/24/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

“When police on September 14 searched an apartment in the New York City borough of Queens that Zazi had visited, they told local media they confiscated cell phones and at least nine empty backpacks. The Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people involved backpacks stuffed with explosives that were detonated via cell phones.”----Reuters (09/23/09, Honan, E; Kearney, C.)

The specter of terrorism is reignited anew when in the weekend, in America, three suspected Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists were arrested hatching a bombing plot that could parallel that one pulled in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005. The arrests came at a time that world leaders trooped to New York for the 64th annual general assembly in the United Nations headquarters.

Shuttle driver Jajibullah Zazi who admitted training in a bomb making school in Pakistan, an imam, and a 37 year-old Afghan-born Ahmad Wais Afzali were arrested on suspicions of forming a terrorist team in the US mainland. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigators apprehended Zazi in Colorado and found his laptop bearing instructions on making, handling, and detonation of explosives.

An apartment in Queens, New York turned in cell phones and back packs that might be readied for bombing similar to the one that occurred in the subway system in Madrid, Spain killing innocent people.

Pres. George Bush and his military advisers said before that a terrorist attack in the US soil is not a matter of if, but when. Inciting incredulity and falling in deaf ears, the president's warning was echoed by vice-pres. Dick Cheney. These recent arrests surely brought back the same grim warning.

Yet, the liberals in society and civil rights groups have dismissed terrorist warnings as being alarmist. It was easy for them to deny a worst-case scenario that could well occur in the future. With the new arrests, the American people had been reminded anew of their vulnerability.

Enemies of freedom and those opposed to the western way of living are relentless and unyielding. They only need one plan to succeed and inflict huge damage to society--- in a magnitude that can bring back the horror of 911. (Photo Credit: Josue Lozano) =0=

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Labels: 911, bombing, FBI, Islam, Islamic militants, terrorism, Totie Mesia

Iranian president to address UN general assembly in New York

9/24/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad Iran’s vitriolic president is in New York City to participate in the 64th annual UN General Assembly. The controversial Muslim hardliner who espouses medieval religious tenets to govern Tehran will deliver a speech in the world body of nations. A crowd of demonstrators picket in front of the Big Apple's UN building on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 to air their disdain for the president.

Ahmadenijad has caught media attention for denying the extermination of 6 million Jews during the Nazi regime and for wanting Israel to be “wiped out from the face of the earth.” Such brazen and horrendous rhetoric must have no place in the world community, but it happens right in the United Nations.

Ahmadenijad’s disputed reelection this year has ignited grassroots protests from Iranian opposition whose leaders have been incarcerated and tortured. He is in the forefront of denying the long-suspected nuclear program which the IAEA believes is capable of producing a radioactive bomb, thus posing a threat to its neighbors.

Representing a Muslim country which supports terrorism, Ahmadenijad has been an embarrassment to the United Nations and his people. The religious-led Muslim country is noted for violations of human rights, inspiring resistance from the Iranian people.

For his shameful provocations against Israel, the Canadian delegation intends to abandon the UN assembly during his speech. A Canadian official whose delegation plans to walk out when the Iranian president addresses the assembly said Ahmadenijad’s behavior is shameful.

“He uses his public appearances to provoke the international community, and that is why Canada’s seats will be empty. The gesture is a step stronger than one announced Tuesday by the German Foreign Ministry, which asked other European Union member states to walk out of the General Assembly chamber if Ahmadinejad again denies the Holocaust, or makes anti-Semitic statements.”----Ottawacitizen. Com (09/23/09, Edwards, S.) (Photo Credit: Reuters/ Leonard Foeger; Jasondecrow; AP) =0=

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Labels: holocaust, Iran, Israel, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, nuclear weapons, speech, terrorism, United Nations

Prelate rues over slanted coverage of Penafrancia fiesta

9/23/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

When Tong Pilar, my friend and classamate in New Jersey told me that a brawl erupted during the Traslacion in the Penafrancia celebration in Naga City, I felt sad. I thought this year’s fiesta was marred by a few irresponsible people of Maogmang Lugar.

My friend’s story of seeing in TV a priest assaulted during the Friday procession was very disconcerting. As far as I could recall, such disdainful behavior did not happen when I was growing up in that peaceful city. The bad news came to New York in tandem with the local government promoting a secular program of public drinking, gay beauty contests, and other “demeaning” activities that wasn’t in synch with the fiesta’s religious purpose. With civic activities that tend to denigrate Ina, I thought, Penafrancia had gone to the dogs.

Daet Bishop Gilbert Gacera however had a different take on the issue. He said the Penafrancia celebration this year was supposed to be as peaceful as before. It was the media who sensationalized the melee which painted an ugly picture of the whole event. The isolated incident was aired in the internet and in major national TVs as though it dominated the celebration. This he said wasn’t true.

As a result of the bad publicity, Bicolanos were unduly portrayed in a bad light. The peaceful procession was made to appear that it ended in trouble. Bishop Garcera was saddened by the lopsided coverage of the fiesta which came at a time when the Catholic Church made effort to make Ina’s tribute more spiritually meaningful at the eve of her tercenary. (Photo Credit: Roy Fernando; Msgr. Vergara; Marive Roc-de Guzman) =0=

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Labels: Bishop Gilbert Garcera, Ina, Maogmang Lugar, media, Penafrancia, Penafrancia 2009, religion, secularism, Tercenary celebration, Totie Mesia, traslacion

More fatalities in Abu Sayyaf firefight

9/23/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

The death toll of the fighting between the Islamic rebel group Abu Sayyaf in Jolo, Sulu, Mindanao and the military rose this week. Victor Reyes of Malaya reported:

“Nineteen bandits were killed Sunday, and another 15 Monday in clashes following an ambush staged by the bandit group on a military convoy returning from the captured Abu Sayyaf camp. The bandits killed eight Marines in the counter-attack. Nine other Marines were injured."

In a fierce fighting between more than 200 Abu Sayyaf bandits and government forces, Saddam Parad, the brother of Abu Sayyaf chief Albader Parad and as Ustadz Muktar, the cousin of another leader Ismilon Hapilon were killed. In January this year, it was Albader's group who kidnapped and eventually released three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) humanitarian workers after months of painstaking negotiations.

The fatalites were considered a huge blow to the Al-Qaeda-affiliated trouble-makers who lost their camp to the military in Sitio Talibang, in Barangay Buansa, Indanan last Sunday, September 20, 2009. As a result, government forces are beefing up their defenses to foil a retaliation from the notorious insurgents. (Photo Credit: Charlie Saceda) =0=

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Labels: Abu Sayyaf, Al Qaeda, Albader Parad, Islamic militants, Ismilon Hapilon, Jolo, Mindanao, Sulu, terrorism, Totie

New Jersey ends fiesta with joyful anticipation of 300th year of Penafrancia devotion in 2010

9/22/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

Rev. Msgr. Jeremias R. Rebanal, Our Lady of Penafrancia Devotees Association’s (OlPDA) spiritual adviser called faith-based activities like the Penafrancia fiesta in New Jersey, USA as instruments which help renew, strengthen, and enrich “our faith through our Ina.” According our insightful pastor, through Jesus’ mother, “we can live and enjoy the present with her, our future filled with hope, peace, and love that can only come from the Lord."

With undbridled gladness, similar messages had been said by Rev. Msgr. Romulo Vergara, the rector of the Penafrancia Basilica and National Shrine in Naga City and Rev. Jose C. Saltarin of St. Anne’s Church in New Jersey who emphasized Ina’s maternal protection wherever we might be. From a beautiful Filipino song Fr. Saltarin paraphrased:

Saan ka man naroon anak,
Sana’y malaman mo na mayroon kang Ina
Ang ‘yong Ina, Maria ang pangalan,
Bigay ng Dios sa iyong lahi.
Saan ka man naroroong bansa,
Pangarap ko ikaw, pagkat mahal kita.
Asahan mong sa habang panahon
'Ka’y anak ko pa rin, saan ka man naroroon.

Saen ka man magduman aki,
Sana mamidmidan mo na igua kang Ina
Ang saimong Ina, Maria an pangaran.
Ta'o nin Diyos sa saimong angkan.
Saen ka man napaduman na lugar,
Pangiturogan ta ika, dahil padangat ta ika
Asahan mo sa habang panahon,
Ika aki ko pa man guiraray, saen ka man magduman.

Such wonderful words to expatriate Bicolanos and all Filipinos worldwide couldn’t be said at a better time, when we start preparing for next year’s 300th year of Penafrancia devotion in Bicol.

This September, we were blessed to have well-intentioned Bicolano leaders of OLPDA and affiliate organizations---the Bicol Association Inc. of the Eastern Seaboard USA (BAES) and the Ateneo de Naga Alumni Association working in unity and cooperation. Energized by a team of supportive devotees, volunteers, and friends, Amado Cabaero, Jr., this year’s chairman, led the group to make the Penafrancia celebration in the Northeast a complete success.

Having gone through the nightly prayers and fellowship at the Our Lady of Victories Church (OLV,) the fiesta reeled with the traditional fluvial procession by ardent "voyadores." A rousing tribute to God and Ina followed on that clear sunny afternoon of Saturday, September 19, 2009 at CRRNJ Terminal Building in Jersey City, New Jersey.

As an expression of gratitude OLPDA once again invites devotees, families, and friends to come for a solemn mass at the OLV Church at Kennedy Blvd, NJ on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 3 PM.(Photo Credit: balaoglogo) =0=

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Labels: Ateneo de Naga, bicol, Bicol Association of Eastern Seaboard, Boy Cabaero, Fr. Joe Saltarin, Msgr. Rebanal, Msgr. Romulo Vergara, New Jersey, OLPDA, Penafrancia 2009, Totie Mesia, Tricentennial

Opposition to healthcare reform rises to 56%

9/22/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

At the end of the week, Rasmussen poll released its new number on Obama’s campaign to sell his healthcare proposal---the nationwide opposition against the measure climbed to 56% compared to only 43% in favor. Contrarians dominate over those who approve of the plan since the last week of June 2009 when opposition registered at 50% and approval at 45%. This is in spite of Obama's aggressive promotion of the healthcare bill, undoubltedly one of the centerpieces of his administration.

The overhaul of healthcare became more unacceptable to the doubting public as the details are laid bare in the on-going debate. The confusion, lack of transparency, and truthfulness at the onset were partly to blame. Top leaders of the government react to criticism sorely as they wanted to ram their proposal to the public's throat--- hook line and sinker. Rasmussen revealed that for August, the public perception of protesters (wrongfully accused by being rabble-rousers and Nazis for airing their concerns) improved, making the Obama administrtion to pay more attention.

“If the plan passes, 26% of voters say the quality of care will get better, and 51% say it will get worse. In August, the numbers were 23% better and 50% worse. Fifty-one percent (51%) say passage of the plan will make the cost of health care go up while 20% say it will make costs go down. In August, 52% thought the plan would lead to higher costs, and just 17% thought it would achieve the stated goal of lowering costs.”---Rasmussen (09/18/09)

These numbers make Democrats worried. More people are speaking against the heathcare plan as much as they demonstrate their opposition to the bailouts of banks, financial institutions, and the auto industry at the expense of taxpayers’ money. These are on top of humongous spending by a government with trillions in budget deficit on its back. (Photo Credit: ctv.ca) =0=

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Labels: Health, healthcare reform, poll, Rasmussen Report, survey, Totie Mesia

After the banks, housing sector & the auto industry, a bailout of newspapers?

9/22/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

After the costly bailouts of banks, the housing sector, and the auto industry Barack Obama is considering another bail out---this time, the ailing newspaper industry. Without much help given to ordinary people, the president is likely to think of helping the newspapers, the machinery that helped him get elected.

The media have worked doubly hard, at the expense of its credibility to prop up Obama, hence, in part, the bias that lead to the newspapers' dramatic slide in readership. In the last election, tabloids highly favored the Democrats over the Republicans. Is it incidental then that Sen. Ben Cardin, a democrat of Md has introduced a bill to help these cash-strapped newspapers?

”Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) has introduced S. 673, the so-called "Newspaper Revitalization Act," that would give outlets tax deals if they were to restructure as 501(c)(3) corporations. That bill has so far attracted one cosponsor, Cardin's Maryland colleague Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D).”---- The Hill (09/20/09, O’ Brien, M.)

Many readers have shunned away buying newspapers nowadays, causing a precipitous decline in their revenue. The explosion of fast communication in the internet has displaced most tabloid readers.

Even if Obama thinks that newspapers are "critical to the health of our democracy," he is concerned where reports, particularly in political blogs are going. The bailout of tabloids is part of a string of government controls that recently include the redesigning of the student aid fund and the revamp of healthcare.

Frustrated and tired of the bailouts which preferentially favor interest groups and political allies, the idea of helping out newsprints on the edge of bankruptcy only give credence to more government interference over people’s lives in a way that many think bends to socialism.

Newspapers have been instrumental in Obama’s glossed over persona and his coming into power as president. Now an instrument of slick propaganda, newspapers in democratic societies must be detached and separate from the government. They employ less people and do marginal help to shore up the economy. (Photo Credit: Photoburst) =0=

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Labels: bailout, bankruptcy, Barack Obama, bias, media, Newspaper, Totie Mesia

AdenCSI HS'73 Reunion in Naga City, September 12, 2009

9/20/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

by Roy C. Fernando, M.D., Art Villamor, Marive Roco-de Guzman, Lian Ragragio-Bolivar & Totie Mesia, M.D.

On September 12, 2009, the Ateneo de Naga University and Colegio de Sta. Isabel High School Class 1973 came together for a memorable reunion marking the 299th devotion to Our Lady of Penafrancia, the patroness of the Bicol Region.

The joyful fellowship brought batch members, friends, and supporters from the city and out of town to attend the thanksgivng mass at the Ateneo de Naga Campus church. Fr. Antonio de los Santos of the Parish of Calabanga officiated the solemn celebration. (Photo Credit: Dr. Roy Fernando; Marive R. De Guzman; Lian Ragragio, Art Villamor, KaiyanWong ) =0=

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Labels: 2009, AdenU-CSI'73, Ateneo de Naga Univeristy, Colegio de Sta Isabel, Dr. Roy Fernando, Fr. Antonio de los Santos, Marive Roco-de Guzman, Nini Ragragio, Penafrancia 2009, reunion, Totie Mesia

Clash between Penafrancia tradition & the secular festivities of Naga City government

9/19/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

With the backing of the Archdiocese of Caceres and the Roman Catholic clergy, religious groups of Naga City complained to the Naga City government for reneging on a bilateral agreement to ban activities that didn’t reflect the faith-based observance of the Penafrancia fiesta. In part, the letter sent by the laity to City Mayor Jesse Robredo read:

“We are disappointed and dismayed when we saw the calendar of activities prepared by the city government of Naga published in its widely distributed Viva Naga, Viva Bicolandia pamphlet. Viva Naga and Viva Bicolandia Festival include activities that have been banned within the novena on moral grounds. In the joint statement, it is very clear that pageants and beer plazas should not be held within the period of the novena.”---Vox Bicol (09/13/09)

The letter was sent by concerned citizens representing groups like the Archdiocesan Council of the Laity, Apostleship of Prayer, Our Lady of Peñafrancia Association, Holy Name Society, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Mother Butlers' Guild, Parish Renewal Experience (PREX), Couples of Christ, Pastoral Council of Bagumbayan Sur, Knights of Columbus, Children of Mary, and Visita Domiciliaria among others, airing their disapproval to government-sponsored revelries like gay beauty pageants, street parties, and drinking fests.

Demanding for accountability from those who plan and implement the highly secular civic celebration, the church-affiliated groups considered the vulgar activities disrespectful to the tradition of prayer to God and Ina that the Bicol-wide Penafrancia celebration is known for.(Photo Credit: Jerry Lim Lee) =0=

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Labels: fiesta, Ina, Jesse Robredo, moral values, Naga City, organization, Penafrancia, Penafrancia 2009, religion, seclarsm, Totie Mesia, tradition

UP Ibalon Bicol

Israel’s Netanyahu rebukes deniers of the holocaust

US terrorist plots more real than Americans realize

Iranian president to address UN general assembly in New York

Prelate rues over slanted coverage of Penafrancia fiesta

More fatalities in Abu Sayyaf firefight

New Jersey ends fiesta with joyful anticipation of 300th year of Penafrancia devotion in 2010

Opposition to healthcare reform rises to 56%

After the banks, housing sector & the auto industry, a bailout of newspapers?

AdenCSI HS'73 Reunion in Naga City, September 12, 2009

Clash between Penafrancia tradition & the secular festivities of Naga City government

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