my Egotopia

Posted on January 21, 2011 06:54:00 PM

Posted on 10:13 PM, January 13, 2011

BY LOUIE O. PACARDO, Correspondent

The hearing conducted by the board allowed five stakeholder groups to present their arguments.

But Jose M. Madanguit, vice-chairman of the two committees of the board that conducted the hearing -- those of environment protection and of justice and legal matters -- said in a phone interview yesterday that the arguments presented were not convincing enough.

No choice

The fate of Sagittarius Mines, Inc.’s (SMI) $5.9-billion copper-gold Tampakan project hangs in balance, since the code bans open-pit mining.

Sagittarius had argued that it does not have any choice when it comes to mining method, which is dictated by the kinds of minerals being extracted -- an argument backed by both the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and officials of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines.

"The majority of the members of the board are saying that many questions we raised were not answered (by the five groups)," Mr. Madanguit said.

The groups that submitted a petition to the board, after the code’s signing into law at the end of June last year, to review Section 22 that bans open-pit mining were: the Regional Mines Development Council (RMDC), Municipal Tribal Council of Tampakan; Provincial Tribal Council; the mayors of Kiblawan (Davao del Sur), Tampakan (South Cotabato) and Columbio (Sultan Kudarat) towns covered by Sagittarius Mines’ project; and South Cotabato’s quarry operators.

Quarrying not covered

Mr. Madanguit said only quarry operators went home happy after the hearing. This sector had been worried by the code, since a quarry is sometimes described as a type of open-pit mine.

"The implementing rules and regulations are clear that quarrying operations will not be banned, except if quarrying is done in danger zones, as defined in the code," he said.

But Mr. Madanguit noted a review is still possible even when the code is already in effect.

"(The) board believes there is no law that is not amendable after all. All possibilities are open," he reiterated.

The board had earlier said it will conduct another hearing in the next two weeks to listen to the arguments of supporters of the ban.

Against national policy

MGB Regional Director Constancio A. Paye, Jr., who also heads the RMDC secretariat, argued that the code contradicts national policy that does not specifically ban any mining method.

"Open pit is only a mining method; thus, it is allowed by national law," he said referring to Republic Act 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo had ordered the South Cotabato government in November last year to suspend the enforcement of the ban, pending results of a review.

The government has argued that while local governments have the power to make laws that govern their constituents, these cannot contradict national laws.

Kiblawan Mayor Marivic C. Diamante, a lawyer, also argued during the hearing that the issue on the ban is within the ambit of national law.

Ms. Diamante has previously warned that the ban will affect poor municipalities that receive small internal revenue allotment, which constitute local governments’ share in national taxes.

The Tampakan project is located within the ancestral domain of the Blaan indigenous groups found on the borders of South Cotabato, Davao del Sur and Sultan Kudarat.

Still committed

In a press statement, Sagittarius Mines said it remains optimistic that the issue would be resolved before it starts mineral extraction in five years. The project is still in exploration stage, hence, unaffected by the ban for now.

Mark Williams, Sagittarius Mines general manager, said in the statement that a continuing dialogue with all parties involved is key to solving the dispute.

"While the Tampakan project is not immediately impacted [sic] by the ban on open-pit mining, given it is still in the exploration phase, we continue to monitor this issue closely and engage with all stakeholders regarding the proposed development of the project," Mr. Williams said.

His black and white picture placed on top of his casket reflects the life Pap (as his children fondly called him) lived for 59 years. I personally chose the picture. It had a rich black and white photographic contrast, two colors that spoke well of his actions when he was alive, black indicating that white exists. Pap was a man whose spirit was clouded with negatives, but that was how he taught us life’s lessons.

Pap lived a very colorful life. Many of my encounters with him were rather strange. Others might slightly agree or strongly disagree with his propositions, but I usually disagreed.

We used to say, only half in jest, that Pap was negative energy in human form. He had imperfect explanations for the things he did, but he always had one. For example, he believed that his life was written on his palms—no more, no less and no excuses. His high school teacher once read his palms and predicted that something bad would happen if he should get married. He lived to fulfill the prediction.

He insisted that one’s destiny would be revealed no matter how one might try to change it. Of course, I disagreed. I told him man had free will to build his destiny, but it had no effect on what he deemed as “wisdom.”

My childhood days were tough. Pap was my mentor, but I remember him more as my tormentor. His frequent fights with my mother happened when I was in the sensitive stages of my youth. Being the eldest, it was hard to understand our condition as a family but it was even harder to understand him. It was distressing for us, their five children, to live amidst such domestic chaos. It hurt so much that I developed a fear of getting married and having my own family.

My father was a proud man. Although he stood just a little above five feet, he had the swagger of a six-foot basketball star.

But then who could sneeze at his proud past when as a young boy he supported his sisters and sent them to school? At age 15, he started to earn a living and became the family’s breadwinner. And he never got tired of reminding everyone about this.

Pap saw his country as a hopeless place populated by intolerable people. Our last president was on top of his hate list—one of the very few things we agreed on.

I argued that we could change as a nation, recover from all our troubles and become a superior race in the future. He shrugged off my optimism.

What I found most disagreeable about him was his belief that our mother did him wrong. They separated in 2000. No one believed his reasons for their breakup no matter how many times he tried to explain.

Did my father get what he deserved after making all his mistakes? Of course, he did. But what he got from us was not hate but love. For despite his many flaws, he was the one man who completed our life stories.

He might have exuded negative energy, but he was in fact teaching us how to experience life. He courted his sad destiny, but not everything he did was bad. Once he told me that he had foreseen his children’s future and it was exactly what we were now. With his perseverance and because of the generosity of the universe, things fell into place one by one.

He might have affected us negatively, but at the same time he was molding us into better persons. Like a diamond that needs hard rubbing to show its brilliance, he prepared us to face challenges.

I turned 28 recently, still very much single. If I remain a bachelor all my life, it would not be because I am afraid to get married. I invoked free will in my discussions with my father, so I should feel free also to do what I want regardless of my experiences or what society prescribes. I grew up seeing Pap as a responsible man and this is my template for fulfilling my responsibilities as a brother and as head of my own family in the future.

I learned from him that being a good husband does not necessarily mean sharing in housekeeping and parenting. More importantly, it requires emotional and psychological maturity.

Pap might have been the reason ours was a broken family, but he remained faithful to his wife. Seeing my two brothers sticking to their girlfriends and not fooling around makes me believe he was successful as a role model in this respect.

If Pap saw this country as a hopeless place, he himself didn’t feel completely hopeless. I knew he had hope from his enthusiasm for the elections last May. He even campaigned for his candidate, a deposed president seeking election to high office again. For Pap, his choice was the one who could best bring change. Unfortunately, he died exactly one month before election day.

Pap’s keen observations on the national situation made me proud that I had somebody on the same page with me, and prouder still because he happened to be my father.

If Pap was proud of what he had done for his siblings, he was honest about what they had to go through so that his sisters could get an education. He himself was not able to finish college but he worked hard so that his children would achieve their dreams. He can be more proud now because of what we have become. We have all graduated from college and are now doing what we have learned in school.

Being the pessimistic person that he was, he made us understand life better. We often had conflicting opinions, but we learned to decode his messages. He showed us contrasting perspectives on life so we could choose what was best for us.

I remember well the time when my father passed away. We were there in the emergency room, watching fearfully as nurses tried to revive him. Certain that his end was near, we made sure that he left the world knowing how much we love him and how grateful we were for what he had done to us. Before he died, I whispered to him: “Salamat sa tanan, Pap. Okay na kami di. Palangga ka namon (Thank you for everything, Pap. We’ll be all right here. We love you).”

Indeed, Pap deserved congratulations. His death was a celebration of a battle well-fought and the many intangible treasures he left us. Now, as I look at his picture again, there’s something black and white photographs make me feel that I wish would not linger: loneliness.

(Louie O. Pacardo, 28, works as a research and publication officer in the city government of Koronadal.)

Congratulations to the Earth Warriors of South Cotabato!

With 9 votes for the big Yes, 2 for Abstention and 1 No, the Provincial Environment Code is Finally Approved!

Open Pit Mining will be banned in South Cotabato!
This is one big kick in the ass of SMI!

Kudos to all the warriors!

(in photo: the wife of late anti-mining advocate Boy Billanes, almost into tears after the code was declared approved)

In my continuing search for the footprints that connects the earth and the ethereal i realized one very important fact: i am human.

GMA:
“First, I am not afraid
I’m not petrified
Kept thinking I could always live
with immunity by my side
Though I spent so many nights
thinking I did nothing wrong
I am strong
I learned how to carry on

So I’ll go back
to my old place
’Though I walked out to find you all
with that mad look upon your face
I should replace my stupid son
I’d soon be their congresswoman
If I had known it’s quick and easy
I should’ve just run for VP

THE PEOPLE:
Go on now go, walk out the door
just disappear now
’cause you’re not welcome anymore
weren’t you the one who tried not to bid your post goodbye
you think you’d Con Ass
you think we’d let you even try

GMA:
Oh no, not I
I will survive
oh as long as i know how to bribe
I know I will stay alive
I’ve got all my life to live
I’ve got all my cash to give
and I’ll survive
I will survive

It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart
kept trying hard to fight
the media, the Left, and all bishops
and I spent oh so many nights
rehearsing how to perfect lies
I will not cry
I will hold my head up high

And you’ll see me
in Congress soon
I will not be that stuck-up person
who refused to hold press cons
I now hope for charter change
In twenty-ten, yeah, hopefully
I’ll be saving all my power
for what else? Prime Ministry!

THE PEOPLE:
Go on now go, walk out the door
just disappear now
’cause you’re not welcome anymore
weren’t you the one who freed Bolante and Garci
you think they’re friendly
you redefined impunity

GMA:
Oh no, not I
I will survive
oh as long as i know how to bribe
I know I will stay alive
I’ve got all my life to live
I’ve got all my cash to give
and I’ll survive
I will survive hey hey

Should I be glad that she's gone to the church to pray? I think the feeling is more of a disgust, and there's a suppressed laughter.

There's this familiar slithering specie that reminds me of her tongue.

I have always believed in the power of my generation in shaping up the future. I see the youth as a sector that has always been a great potential energy waiting to light a spark and make change in a very dynamic and controversy-soaked society. But how do we harness this power to really work?

Good idea. Let me write more about it...or you can share your ideas. :)

in photo: Olongapo's PREDA org logo

So much to do!

Im lost in the universe of filthy complexities and disorganized thoughts!

Good thing the cosmos has the way out of this..but that i have yet to find out in the days/weeks/months/years to come.

Of all the good and deserving artists, why Carlo J. Caparas? WTF! Pwede paki review ng mga sensationally-titled films nya? Bastardization, again! "It is appalling to us that someone who has made a living exploiting the lowest common denominator in films", sabi nga ng online petition against qualifying Caparas for the national artist title.

The mere thought of carlo j caparas having the National Artist award makes me want to puke! An outright bastardization of real art and the true artists.

As posted by an Fbook buddy: " “Sometimes there are people who simply ignore the credentials or greatness of some persons because of some personal agenda ... If there will be another group to look at the credentials, there is a balance, there is validation.” --USec Vilma Labrador on NA scandal. My god! Whatever happened to "better luck next year?" "

Wait, got to take time to sign the petition here. This petition points out "Caparas’ apparent lack of Visual Arts contribution, asserting that he was a comic writer, not an illustrator as covered under the guidelines in naming a National Artist for the Visual Arts."

Have Mercy!

For the 5th time this morning within less than 24 hours, i was asked the same question by 5 different people: "What if it was Gloria who died, would the people care this much and consider her a loss too?"

I bet you know what i answered.

A new study explains how cats control their humans. Would you believe the idea that you are being controlled by your pet? Accept it, we may not  be aware but we're being manipulated.

Read the article Here.

Death is an intruder that takes away a piece of you every time it succeeds with its designs.

Even with readiness to accept the worst this universe can offer and can take away, it’s still hard to dictate emotions not to succumb to sorrow.

Rest in Peace

Foktillus Amaru Shakur

I think Wowowee is an indication of how bastardized and stupid noontime entertainment has become!