PMA to hold entrance exam on August 29

By Rachelle M. Nessia

Dumaguete City (3 August) — The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) will conduct its Entrance Examination for PMA Cadetship on August 29, 2010 in 35 examination centers nationwide.

In Dumaguete City, the designated examination center is Silliman University.

Benefits of studying at the PMA include, aside from the rare privilege of serving the country, a full government scholarship inclusive of salary and allowances while studying, guaranteed job after graduation and a progressive career as an officer in the Philippine Army, Navy or Air Force.

Basic requirements for applicants are the following: natural born Filipino citizen of good moral character; single and never been married; 5?4? in height if male and 5?2? if female; 17 to 21 years old (not a day older than 22 years old and not a day younger than 17 years old on April 1, 2011 or born on or after April 1, 1989 and on or before April 1, 1994); at least a high school graduate with a general average of 85% or higher; for 4th year high school students, 3rd year general average of 85% or higher; and physically fit for cadet training.

Application forms are available in all AFP units nationwide.

Interested applicants may also download application forms or apply online on the PMA website (www.pma.ph). For more information, write: Office of Cadet Admission, Philippine Military Academy, Fort del Pilar, Baguio City or call (074) 446-8002 or 0918-587-2384 or 0927-381-0493 or email: oca@pma.ph. (PIA)

PNoy calls on barangay leaders to be in forefront of change

Tacloban City (August 3) — President Benigno Aquino III called on barangay chairmen to live up to the trust given them by their respective barangays and to police their own ranks so that the seed of change sowed by the Aquino Administration will bear fruit.

“Kayo po bilang mga barangay officials, ang nasa harapan ng patuloy nating laban. Sa inyo rin po ako umaasa sa malawakang paglalatag ng ating mensahe sa kalakhan ng populasyon.”

“As barangay officials, you are at the forefront of our fight. In you I place my hope for the massive dissemination of our message to the greater number of population,” President Aquino told the officers and members of the Association of Barangay Chairmen of the Philippines who were gathered at the SMX Convention Center at Mall of Asia on July 30.

The President said that his guiding principle since during the campaign remains the same: “we can only progress as a nation if the interest of the greater majority is placed above personal interests; if the leadership will remain faithful to their responsibilities as public servants; and if we will continue in our determination to tread the right path.

President Aquino also called on the barangay officials to closely watch the leaders they have elected to office.

President Aquino urged the barangay leaders to take a step towards participation rather than fault-finding. Fault-finding means never ending complaits; Participating entails taking part in finding a solution to a concern.

“Tutukan ang mga pinunong tayo rin naman ang nagluklok sa puwesto. Humakbang mula pakikialam tungo sa pakikilahok. Dahil ang nakikialam, walang hanggan ang reklamo. Ang nakikilahok, nakikibahagi sa solusyon,” the President said.

By helping one another, the concerns facing the constituents will be answered. This will be the road to fast-track the development of the country, the President added. (PIA

PNRC Negros Occidental prepares for disasters

Bacolod City (2 August) — The Philippine National Red Cross in Negros Occidental held a series of disaster risk reduction activities to strengthen and maintain its preparedness and response capabilities as the nation celebrated the National Disaster Consciousness Month in July.

Twenty-five volunteers from Toboso, Calatrava, Hinbaan and Candoni towns and the cities of Sagay, Victorias and Kabankalan attended the 3-day Community Based Disaster Risk Management, while the 150 Red Cross Youth participated in the Youth Forum on Disaster Risk Management.

A meeting with Red Cross Community Based volunteers from the municipalities of Ilog, and Cauayan and the city of Sipalay was also held in Cauayan to review their respective disaster preparedness plan in their barangays.

The PNRC has also strengthened its Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Prevention Campaign in the affected barangays in the province. (PNRC/PIA/cad)

Feature: Even the deaf listened to SONA of PNoy

Tacloban City (August 3) — Those who watched over television station channels history unfolding as President Benigno Aquino III delivered his first State of the Nation Address, noticed perhaps the inset interpreting the SONA which is history as well.

For the first time, the State of the Nation Address of the President of the Philippines was appreciated and understood by the deaf. Indeed, this is giving the people with disabilities, the right to participate in nation building, access to communication, access to be equal to people without disabilities.

Educators and veteran interpreters from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), MCCID Institute of Technology, Philippine Deaf Resource Center, and the Philippine School for the Deaf together with Deaf leaders of the Philippine Federation for the Deaf (PFD) worked together to make the first inset-interpreting of the SONA possible.

For the Deaf community, this is a dream come true, and the realization not only came through one but through three communication channels. There is no boundary for inclusion or access.

What a realization, that indeed, there is no monopoly of skill and intent to do good. There is no exclusivity of information.

GMA-7 staff and crew provided inset FSL interpreting through live streaming in gmanews.tv with Jojo Esposo and Nicky Templo-Perez as interpreters, Myra Medrana as Deaf representative and Giselle Montero as team leader. This was much appreciated by the Deaf Filipino community abroad.

For those with cable access, the ANC Channel aired interpreters John Baliza and Febe Sevilla with Raquel Estiller-Corpuz as Deaf representative and Joyce Dalawampu as team leader.

The Deaf students who were excused from their classes tuned in to TV5 with Junjun Sevilla and Therese Bustos as interpreters, Jay Sunico as Deaf representative and Techie dela Torre as team leader. (PIA Region

8th ID marks 22 years of selfless, dedicated public service to counter-insurgency

Tacloban City (August 1) — Today, Major General Arthur Tabaquero leads the officers and men of the 8th Infantry (Storm Troopers) Division of the Philippine Army celebrate 21 years of dedicated and committed service to the country and its people, particularly the people of Eastern Visayas and some parts of Central Visayas.

Major General Arthur Tabaquero, commanding officer of the 8th ID, informed that several anniversary activities have been lined up in line with the anniversary theme which underscores the role of the military in Eastern Visayas, as partners and defenders of the people towards peace and development in the area of responsibility.

The officers, men and women of the 8th Infantry Division will be joined by its partners for peace and development in celebrating this important milestone in the history of 8th ID.

There are many reasons for the officers and men to celebrate considering the accomplishments against members of the rebel group New People’s Army achieved a level of success which would be maintained this year until the insurgents are completely wiped out.

So said Lieutenant Colonel Armand Rico, information officer of the 8th Infantry Division, who added that their anti-insurgency campaign last year resulted to substantial gains.

It is a public knowledge because it was reported that the 70 government-initiated engagements against the rebels had resulted to the death of 12 NPA members and the capture of 26 others. These resulted to the surrender of 159 NPA members and the recovery of 145 assorted firearms from the enemy side.

From previous 14 guerilla fronts of the rebel group, there are now only two which exist in Northern Samar. Last year, the military operations have also yielded to the discovery and recovery of 28 camps of the rebel group.

Last year, around 140 villages, mostly in the Samar provinces were declared as “free” from insurgents, thus it could be said that the anti-insurgency campaign was a success, with the help of the civilians themselves.

Aside from military operations, the men and women of the 8ID provides basic services and projects to the people living in remote villages as part of their campaign against insurgency.

The Philippine Army, through its engineering battalions, are engaging in various projects like construction of farm-to-market roads, water system, health centers, school buildings and even electrification under its “Kalayaan sa Barangay Project.”

The 8th Infantry (Storm Troopers) Division, Philippine Army traces its roots from the 8th Infantry Brigade (Separate) of the Philippine Army which was organized pursuant to General Orders Nr 123, GHQ, AFP dated 26 May 1986.

The Brigade was first based in Brgy Santol, San Miguel, Leyte and its AOR covered the whole of Eastern Visayas of Region 8 composed of six (6) provinces, three (3) of which are in Samar Island, two (2) in Leyte and one (1) in Biliran Province.

The 8th Infantry Brigade (Separate), Philippine Army drew its personnel and equipage from the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, Philippine Army. It was initially composed of two (2) Tactical Brigades, the 1/8 Infantry Brigade and the 2/5 Infantry Brigade with six (6) Battalions (19th, 20th, 34th, 43rd, 52nd and 56th).

With Samar Island as the center of gravity and for better command and control, the 8th Infantry Brigade (Separate) transferred its headquarters from Brgy Santol, San Miguel, Leyte to Camp Lukban, Maulong, Catbalogan, Samar on October 17, 1987.

Brigadier General Tabaquero is the 16th in the lineage of Commanders of the 8th Infantry Division. The first was Brigadier General Isagani delos Santos who was the commander from May 26, 1986 to March 31, 1988.

The other commanders were Brigadier General Federico Ruiz,Jr, Brigadier General Romulo Yap, Brigadier General Ruperto Ambil, Brigadier General Danilo Olay, Brigadier General Romeo Tarrayo, Major General Arturo Carrillo, Major General Rufo De Veyra, Major General Glenn Rabonza, Brigadier General Bonifacio Ramos, Mayor General Jovito Palparan Jr., the comebacking Brigadier General Bonifacio Ramos, Brigadier General Randy Dauz, Major General Rodrigo Maclang, Major General Armando Cunanan, and Brigadier General Allan Ragpala. (PIA