PAGAMUTANG LUNSOD, PAPATAPOS NA

Ngayong papatapos na ang pagtatayo ng gusali para sa Proposed San Pablo City General Hospital sa Barangay San Jose, sa kabalantay na lote ng kampus ng Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo (DLSP), napag-alamang si Dr. Ubaldo Ciabal, bilang City General Services Officer ay may patuluyang pakikipag-ugnayan sa pangasiwaan ng Pagamutang Panlalawigan ng Laguna dito sa Lunsod ng San Pablo, upang matiyak na ang mga diagnostic equiptment and paraphernalia ay iyong wala sa pagamutang pinakikilos ng pangasiwaang panlalawigan upang maging maayos at ganap ang pagtutulungan ng dalawang institusyong pangkalusugan sa paglilingkod sa mga mamamauyan.

Dapat tanggapin ang kasalukuyang Provincial Hospital sa lunsod na ito o ang dating San Pablo City District Hospital ay kulang sa mga makabagong kagamitan sa pagsusuri, tulad ng X-Ray Machine, mga Ultrasound facilities at mga katulad nito na salig sa makabagong teknolohiyang pang-elektroniko.

Napag-alaman mula kay Mayor Vicente B. Amante, na ang Proposed San Pablo City General Hospital ay magagawang self-liquidating, sapagkat ito naman ay mapagkakalooban ng accreditation ng Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), kaya ang mga mahihirap na mamamayan ng lunsod na naipatala sa PhilHealth sa ilalim ng sponsored program na umaabot na sa 10,000 ay malalagay din sa payward sapagka’t sasagutan ng PhilHealth ang kabayaran sa mga pangunahing paglilingkod ng ospital.

Bahagi ng balakin ni Mayor Amante ang paglalagay ng Specialty Clinic sa naturang ospital para sa malawakang pagpapagaling sa mga dinapuan ng karamdamang diabetes, puso (cardiology), psychiatry o suliranin sa isip, pulmonology, sakit ng mga sanggol at bata, physical theraphy at orthopedic para sa nababalian ng buto.

Siyempre pa ang OB-GYN ay regular na kagawaran ng mga pagamutang panglahat, at dapat ding paghandaan ang mga paggamot sa mga malulubhang karamdaman sa bahagi ng larangan ng Nephrology o ang may kaugnayan sa pagsasagawa ng dialysis.

Sa tulong ng mga manggagamot na nasa Estados Unidos, na nagsisipagbalak ng bumalik sa Pilipinas, at maging ang maraming propesyonal na kilala sa Metro Manila, ay umaasa si Mayor Amante na ang proposed hospital ay magkakaroon ng mga specialist doctors and diplomate na magkakatulungan sa pagkakaloob ng tulong na pangkalusugan sa mga mahihirap na mamamayan. (RUBEN TANINGCO/sec. gen. 7 lakes press corps)

BRIEF HISTORY OF MALINAW LODGE NO. 25

The first glimmer of light of Masonry in the City of San Pablo was sparked by its prominent residents who were members of Manila Lodges , namely, LOGIA NILAD, WALANA, DALISAY and SINUKUAN. The historic date was the first half of the year 1912. Fourteen masons met in the house of Feliciano F. Exconde and first formed a “triangulo”, then LOGIA MALINAW NO. 340. It was granted “Gran Consejo de la Ordern” on October 23, 1912 by the “Gran Logia Regional de Filipinas” under the jurisdiction of “Grande Oriente Español”, which was then headed by Dr. Miguel Morayta. The fourteen fourteen (14) founders were: FELICIANO F. EXCONDE, MELECIO FULE, ZACARIAS B. SAHAGUN, DALMACIO AQUINO, MARCIAL ALIMARIO, MARTIN ALVERO, MIGUEL LEONOR, EUSEBIO DIAWATAN, SANTIAGO GUTIERREZ, ANTONIO AGUIRRE, DAVID AGUIRRE, ROSENDO REYES, MARIANO SAYO AND CATALINO VILLAS.

The first principal officers were: Worshipful Master Feliciano F. Exconde, Senior Warden Mariano Sayo, Junior Warden Antonio Aguirre, Treasurer Miguel Leonor and Secretary David Aguirre.

Malinaw Lodge No., 340 of San Pablo City was granted its Charter on February 14, 1917 by the “Gran Logia de Masones Libres y aceptados de las Islas Filipinas” (Grand Lodge of F.& A.M. of the Philippines) and became MALINAW LODGE NO. 25.

The word MALINAW was culled from Brgy MALINAW (San Lucas 1 & 2) of San Pablo City where most of the founders originated.

The first meetings of the lodge were held in the residence of Feliciano F. Exconde. The following year, meetings were convened in the house of Dalmacio Celino as the membership grew in number. Further increase, forced the “brotherhood” to transfer to the second floor of the building owned by Mr. Pablo Tan.

The Masons, desirous to build a permanent meeting place, organized MALINAW TEMPLE ASSOCIATION, INC. for that purpose. Their fervent desire was realized when a two-storey building was erected in 1919 in Gen. Luna St., in 1925, the local government expropriated the site to build a hospital (now the Panlalawigan Pagamutan ng Laguna or the District Hospital). After two years, the government also bought the adjacent lot where the “temple” was relocated to construct a nurses’ dormitory. A lot was bought in the corner of T. Azucena and J. Zulueta Sts.

Without a temple to hold their meetings, the “brotherhood” rented a space in the Escudero building in Bonifacio St. This was so until the outbreak of World War II. The labors of the lodge was suspended from 1942-1945 when the Japanese occupied the building. Records and paraphernalia were either lost or destroyed. The Lodge meetings were resumed in 1946. They convened in the office (at old City Hall Building of San Pablo) of Meliton Cruz, a member of Malolos Lodge No. 46, who was then the City Treasurer of San Pablo. After a time, the venue was transferred to the house of Werner P. Schetelig in Barangay Concepcion.

Spearheaded by Werner P. Schetelig, Howard R. Hick, Cirilo O. Constantino, Eduardo L. Constantino, Celso P. Borja, Rouben C. Belulia and many more dedicated masons, a new temple was completed in 1948 at its present site. A portion of the lot bought before the war was sold to finance the building of the temple.

Hence the Malinaw Temple was erected three (3) times, firstly in the spot which is now the Panlalawigan Pagamutan ng Laguna (PPL), secondly, on the lot adjacent to the hospital, and thirdly, on its present site at the corner of Azucena and Zulueta sts..

To date, the Lodge has ninety-four (94) active members, almost half of this are “life members by longevity.”

The Malinaw Lodge is proud to have two (2) of its members occupied the “Grand Oriental Chair”- Mr. WERNER P. SCHETELIG and Mr. HOWARD R. HICK. Two others, Mr. CIRILO O. CONSTANTINO and RUBIN A. ALCANTARA served as “District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District No. 11.”

Today, Malinaw Lodge No. 25 is very much visible in the community through its charitable institution-the Malinaw Foundation, Inc. (Sandy Belarmino/DBB)

SAN PABLEÑO...ART D. BRION, NATALAGA SA KORTE SUPREMA

Pormal nang nanumpa bilang associate justice ng Korte Suprema si dating Labor Secretary Arturo D. Brion sa harap ni Punong Mahistrado Reynaldo Puno kamakailan, na hahalili sa nabakanteng pwesto na iniwan ng nag-retirong si Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez.

Ang pagkakatalaga kay Brion ay sa bisa ng rekomendasyon ng Judicial and Bar Council na tuwinang pinangungunahan ng dating kalihim noon pa mang associate justice pa siya ng Court of Appeals at batay na rin sa lawak ng kanyang kaalaman sa batas.

Nag-aral si Brion sa Ateneo de Manila at bar topnotcher sa gradong 91.65% noong 1974. isa siyang matagumpay na manananggol noong mapansin at akitin sa public service ng yumaong Senador Blas Ople. Nahalal si Brion bilang assemblyman ng Laguna sa regular na Batasang Pambansa.

May kasanayan si Justice Brion sa mga labor laws ng bansa at mga alituntunin sa Foreign Service, kung saan nakapag-akda siya ng maraming aklat ukol dito na ipinatutupad at sinusunod pa hanggang ngayon ng mga nasabing kagawaran.

Si Justice Brion ay tubong San Pablo City. Ang kanyang mga magulang ay sina Judge Edon Brion at Laura Dizon na kapwa iginagalang na angkan ng naturang lunsod. Naging kolumnista ang bagong associate justice ng mga local na pahayagan, kabilang na ang Herald Publications, noong kanyang kabataan.

Bukas palad na tinanggap ng mga legal luminary ang pagkakatalaga kay Brion kabilang na ang mga kritiko ng administrasyon dahil sa kanyang angking kakayanan at track record sa larangan ng serbisyo publiko. (NANI CORTEZ-Pres. 7LPC)

HAGDANG BATO SA LAWA

Ngayon ay bahagi na ng Logo ng Lunsod ng San Pablo, ang makasaysayang hagdang bato pababa sa Lawang Sampalok ay sinimulan ang konstruksyon noong Nobyembre 1915 sa isang loteng inihandog sa mga mamamayan ni Kabesang Sixto Bautista sa pangangasiwa ni Presidente Municipal Marcial Alimario.

Ito ay nahahati sa limang seksyon at binubuo ng 89 na baytang, at batay sa isang lapidang nakalagay sa dakong kalagitnaan ng istraktura, ito ay pinsinayaan noong Enero 23, 1916.

Ang pangasiwaang municipal ng itayo hanggang sa mapasinayaan ang hagdang bato ay sina: Marcial Alimario, presidente municipal; Isidoro Alvaran, bise-presidente municipal; at Gregorio Laurel, Pedro Alcantara, Miguel De Rama, Macario Maghirang, Avelino de Guzman, Zacarias Sahagun, Ponciano Atienza, Esteban Cordez, Crispin Avanzado, Miguel Leonor, Feliciano Exconde, Francisco Sobreviñas, Marciano Brion, at Eusebio Diawatan, mga konsehales.

Servando Brion, Kalihim ng munisipyo, Telesforo Reyes, Ingat-yaman ng munisipyo at Gregorio de los Santos, Kasangguniang Arkitekto.

Ang tinamong kasiraan ng hagdang bato dahil sa may sumabog na bomba na inihulog ng U.S. Air Force sa malapit dito sa pagtatapos ng Ikalawang Digmaan, ay isinaayos noong taong 1965 sa pangangasiwa nina Alkalde Zacarias A. Ticzon at City Engineer Guillermo P. Inciong mula sa pondong ipinagkaloob ni Pangulong Diosdado Macapagal, bunga ng pakikipag-ugnayan ni Justice Undersecretary Manuel A. Concordia.

Ang kasalukuyang kaayusan ng Hagdang Bato sa Lawa, na may maayos na pailaw, at puting pintura, ay sa pangangasiwa ni Gng. Nercy Sahagun Amante, mula sa pondong kanyang napagwagian bilang tagapangulo ng Lupon sa paglahok ng Lunsod sa ANILAG FESTIVAL 2007. (Ruben E. Taningco-seven lakes press corps)

TILAPIA MONUMENT

This tilapia monument was erected by the Heirs of Jose C. Agahan, opposite the now famous Hagdang Bato sa Lawang Sampalok, inaugurated on May 30, 2005 by City Mayor Vicente B. Amante and PCAMRD Executive Director Rafael D. Guerrero III during the commemoration of the Fisherfolk Month declared by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and to commemorate the 50th year of the local tilapia industry in the city.

Mr. and Mrs. Jose C. Agahan introduces tilapia industry in the city by seeding Sampalok Lake near the City Hall, and Palakpakin Lake at Barangay San Buenaventura with tilapia fingerlings as authorized by the City Government under Resolution No. 85 of the Municipal Board approved by City Mayor Tomas D. Dizon on April 16, 1955.

Tilapia is now the number one table fish in the world according to Dr. Kevin Fitzsimmons of the College of Agriculture of University of Arizona and President of the World Tilapia Association (WTA).

The only monument erected in memory of an initiator of Tilapia Industry, and photograph of this tilapia monument now form part of the records of the international organization on tilapia culture and farming. (RUBEN TANINGCO-7 Lakes Press Corps)

MAYOR VICENTE B. AMANTE, ANG TOTAL PERFORMER

San Pablo City- Sa limang termino bilang punong lunsod ay pinanghahawakan ni Mayor Vicente B. Amante ng lunsod na ito ang record ng pagkakapag-wagi laban sa dalawang incumbent congressman at dalawang nakaupong city mayor, na isang kahanga-hangang achievement sa rehiyon ng Timog katagalugan.

Ngunit hindi ganoong kadali ang naging paglaot ni Amante sa larangan ng pulitika lalo na’t isasaalang-alang na nabigo siya sa unang pagtatangka, nang kumandidato bilang alkalde. Ang kabiguan ay naging isang hamon kung kaya sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay nakuha niya ang tiwala ng mga San Pableño.

Bilang isang matagumpay na mangangalakal bago naging lingkod bayan ay hindi nahirapan si Amante sa pangangasiwa sa kabila ng karampot na kinikita ng kabang yaman ng lunsod. Nagpakita siya ng husay upang ito ay maiangat sanhi nang paglago ng income na pang-suporta sa mga pagawaing-bayan.

Naipatupad ng alkalde ang mga proyektong hindi man lang naisip ng mga batikang pulitiko sa rehiyon. Ang kanyang mga project ay naging kauna-unahan sa buong kapuluan at ginagawang huwaran ng marami pang bayan. Lubos na hinangaan ng Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ang itinayo niyang One Stop Shop Processing Center kung saan sa ilalim ng iisang bubong ay maisasaayos ng mga residente ang mga kaukulang papeles na kinakailangan particular na ang business permit.

Sa kasalukuyan ay may 14 na kampus ang City High School na stratehikong na iba’t-ibang barangay at may kabuuang 12,500 na mag-aaral, bukod pa sa itinatag ni Amante na City Science High School. Kaalinsabay nito ay pinakikinabangan na rin ng 3,500 mahihirap na istudyante ang Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo (DLSP) na brainchild ng punong lunsod.

Napag-ugnay-ugnay na rin ang 80 barangay ng sementadong daan at lahat ay naseserbisyuhan na ng ilaw dagitab. Nagkaroon ng makabagong shopping mall, modernong 8-storey City Hall Bldg. at ongoing ang konstruksyon ng 100-bed City Public Hospital. Nasa Planning Stage na ang itatayong Transport and Food Terminal na lahat ay pawang sa pagsisikap ni Mayor Amante.

Ang mga ito ay ilan lamang sa mga kadahilanan kung bakit nananatiling alkalde ng lunsod si Amante. (NANI CORTEZ - President-7LPC)

VISION NOW AND BEYOND

It has become probably a personal obsession. I always observe the few remaining days of the passing year and early days of New Year reserve for a holistic assessment of the state of my own home city San Pablo. The best way to do it is to feel the pulse of its constituent and to scrutinize the performance of its leadership. Refection of the state of the city is the mirror and shadow of its people and leadership. I assess the state of the City using some parameters as follows:

Power, Communication and Transportation

Last year in the same news paper if we recall I highlighted the vision of Mayor Vicente B Amante in an article entitled “ Year That Was”. Mayor Vic Amante emphasized then the need to lay down the basic infrastructures to put a strong base for the ultimate take off of the City to become highly urbanize and progressive. The base consists of roads and bridges to easily reach the farthest tip of the city then accessible only to people walking on foot or mounted on horse back. The feeder roads are in place, concrete and had been widened. Such serve as arteries supplying symbiotically the rustic Barangays of amenities from the Poblacion and the Poblacion is supplied with cheap goods reaped from backyard plantation. They are the blood-life of economy

Communication is no longer problem. Radios (hand held) are available and cellular phone abound. If Barangays are easy to reach it is much, much easier and faster to hear them not only in Poblacion but anywhere else around the world.. Events taking place in San Pablo can be viewed through community television channels.

Let there be light and there was light. No it was not part of the six-day creation written in Genesis of the Holy Bible but light from electricity. The far flung areas of San Pablo are lighted courtesy of Mayor Vic Amante,’s electrification program. Students need not burn their brows to learn their lesson from schools constructed too through the efforts of Mayor Vic.

Private vehicles, PUJ, Tricycles, Buses and Vans for hire sprouts like mushrooms because of crisscrossing passable streets and highways. Twenty four hour, transport is not a problem. Accessibility lures too some investors to put up plants and factories in the Barangays. Their emergence has offered some opportunities to our jobless skilled workers to earn a living within their community..

Economics

The base infrastructures triggered a gradual growth of a balance economy. Not so abrupt to dislocate some sectors but not too slow to be left behind by the neighboring towns. That is ideal. Sudden rise in economy through industrialization and modernization usually brings more social maladies if not properly managed and planned. These offset the economic gains ultimately showing a tilting balance in favor of net loss than profit.

It is not hard to visualize the effect of industrialization (sudden) to environment- depredation. Translation- polluted air, water and surrounding. Conversion- diseases among residence, animals and plants, depletion of potable water, drop in electric power supply, unabated garbage and scant delivery of basic services. That is the dictate of the law of demand and supply. There is limited supply but there is unlimited demand therefore high cost of goods and services. It is hard to allocate scarce resources to unlimited end users. Net effect - higher cost of living due to high cost of food stuff, power, water, hospitalization, housing, personal services and security. A relax and simple life eventually will turn into a rat race.

Basic Services

Though its easy now to enroll in different schools in the Poblacion the fear of accidents, lure of students indulgence to modern electronic wizardry and other vices obliged and duty bound the mayor to devise a scheme to involve the parents while at home to help look after their kids attending classes. How? The good mayor extended the annex high schools and day care centers to strategic locations in the Barangays. Parents can monitor their offspring, Gone were the days soon when student instead of attending schools were found belatedly addicted to vices and dropped out of school sans the knowledge of the parents.. The concept of the system to Mayor Amante, is smple. It must be responsive, inexpensive with community participation.

So that the high school graduates s will no longer venture to go in Metro Manila, a college institution is put up. The Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo and soon should, from the desire of the Mayor, evolve into Pamantasan.. The institution is expected to serve thousands of poor but well deserving students.

Garbage? Every Barangay have garbage collectors collecting regularly the waste to be dumped on a modest landfill constructed to meet the requirements of law to regulate garbage pollution. San Pablo City in region four could be among the pioneer in that laudable project. The City Government has put in place a systematic garbage disposal. The Mayor wishes the people to be more responsible and cooperative in the manner of disposing of their own waste to serve the purpose of the dumpsite. The minimization of waste and it supervised disposal would control if not totally eradicate its ill side effects.

Healthy people are productive constituents. For that concept alone, the city allocated millions of pesos to see to assure that no one in San Pablo would die of any illness without being medically attended. But that is the reaction side. Millions more are allocated to preventive measures. Vaccinations were administered free, eradication of the potential sources of communicable and transmittable diseases define for remedial measures in the like of mosquitoes , rats and rabies. Dental services are in place too.

The support institutions were made available. The City has many ambulances, puericulture centers, mobile clinic and Botika sa Barangay effectively manned by Doctors, Nurses, Midwives and other health workers. Among his ambitious projects in line with free health services is the establishment of a the much maligned and constantly blocked San Pablo City General Hospital. Having tertiary hospital on its budget is gargantuan task for the city to undertake. But, who else if not me to start it? When if not now to initiate it? Those are opt repeated questions of the Mayor. I want to start it now so that my predecessor will have something to continue. A thousand mile travel starts with a small step. There is nothing I will hesitate to venture if it will advance the welfare of our people, he stresses.

Indigency Office? The office help thousands of people every year but he is not proud of it. He maintains the office because he is aware that poverty is still occupying a prominent slot in the hierarchy of national problem. Indigency program is nothing but palliative measure to alleviate for a while immediate needs. He is looking forward someday that the Office through his programs of governance would become totally irrelevant.

CULTURE

The training and development of mind, the refinement of taste and manner acquired by such training, the social and religious structures and intellectual and artistic manifestation that characterize a society as a whole is culture. The basic foundation of orderly society is well cultured people. That includes education and discipline manifested on how we treasure our heritage, our values and traditions, the spirit of our heroes through nationalism and pride of our distinct identity as San Pableno... The sense of belonging. teaches us to get involve and think as a member of a community.

As we look back San Pablo is starting a Museum. The projects have the all out support of the City Government. The traditions of our forefather are not only maintained these are also enhanced. We actually evolve our fiesta celebration into Cocofestival. The city corroborates in the holding of lengthen procession to commemorate the suffering of Jesus Christ. In addition to religious tone these two occasion have evolved into tourist attraction boasting too the economy. The city has embarked to in protecting or restoring land mark building and structures. Meaning we treasure our heritage and we give due recognition to the achievement of our ancestors. On the aspect of discipline there is much to be desired. But we are moving positively because of people getting aware of the need to be involved.

Political Leadership

Put things in order and peace will follow. In San Pablo City no one is above the law. Even the mayor, his relatives and close associates observe it. From more than a decade the Honorable Mayor has been in the helm of power no one can point an accusing finger to him of committing abuses . He is too soft hearted, his main strength but probably his main weakness too.

Police and traffic enforcers are now very visible. It is pre-emptive measure to deter would be criminals. Walking the City at night is not a fearsome experience. More support is thrown to law enforcers in term of office supplies, gasoline and vehicles.. Police now can attend with dispatch to any call for assistance.

Accident among school children is rare even in the busiest streets and highways teeming with pupils and vehicles. The Barangay officials through the coordination of the Mayor involve themselves to assure the safety of children. The parents have peace of mind that their sons and daughters are not in danger from reckless drivers and other lawless elements

But what he considers as the crowning glory of his political career and leadership is the manifest trust and confidence given him by the electorate of San Pablo City. He was given a fresh mandate with a very wide margin of approval over the fact that he has little money to spend. Such approval was compounded by the fact that he has a brother re-elected too in the Sangguniang Panlunsod in the person of Dante B. Amante. The euporia did not end there. More love is pour on him by the people when his grand daughter Tintin Amante was chosen by peers to head the Sangguniang Kabataan. Probably to complete his day but I hope he will not get drunk with the so much confidence bestowed on him, another brother is sent to Sangguniang Panlunsod via presidency in the Liga ng Mga Barangay. Gener B. Amante or Ma Gener to many. And as assurance that the position will not go to other undeserving personality in case Ma Gener by twist of luck is ruled not qualified ( though even technically we find no impediment in his re-election) the extended will of the people is capped and punctuated by Carmelita “ Na Lita” was mandated to become Vice president of the Liga.

With the entire overwhelming mandate he had, the mayor cannot rest on his laurel. In his somewhat jittery voice, he categorically avers, such trust is coupled with high expectation. He hopes to live up with the measure and deliver the expectation. He only expound that he is but a human being, not a superman so please don’t expect more than I can do. I will exert all my best to fulfill the demand of my office but my limitation is there so please bear with me for I will not let you down.

I rate the present administration just very good so that there would always be forever a room for improvement. In a scale of one to ten let us give eight and a half. We have provably needed to thank the oppositions for a job well done. At least though in some aspect the fiscalising is not constructive, the administration is kept on its toe. And watch its steps. CONGRATULATION!!! (sandy belarmino)

DOÑA EVANGELINA MACAPAGAL BOULEVARD (Dagatan Boulevard)

Ang lansangang ito ay nabuksan at napaunlad sa pamamahala ng Emergency Employment Agency (EEA) na inilunsad ng pangasiwaan ni Pangulong Diosdado Macapagal, na isang tuwirang pagsuporta ng pangasiwaang pambansa sa pangarapin noon ng pangasiwaang lokal na masimulan ang pagpapaunlad ng industriya ng turismo, bilang isang estratihiya sa pagpapaunlad ng kabuhayan ng lunsod.

Bilang isang paggawain, ito ay binigyan ng Office of the City Engineer ng project code name na “Dagatan Boulevard,” bagama’t ang opisyal na project title ay “Proposed Peripheral Road of Sampaloc Lake,” na natapos na may-uring “macadamized all weather road” noong katag-arawan ng 1965, na kaalinsabay ng isinagawang rehabilitasyon ng makasaysayang “Hagdang Bato” na itinayo noong 1914, na ngayon ay bahagi na ng desinyo ng ng Opisyal na Sagisag ng Lunsod ng San Pablo, na nawasak sa pagtatapos ng Ika-2 Digmaang Pandaigdig, isang paggawaing pinunduhan din sa malasakit ni Pangulong Diosdado Macapagal, kaya nang ito ay pasinayaan, ay minarapat noon nina Justice Undersecretary Manuel A. Concordia at Alkalde Zacarias A. Ticzon na anyayahan ang Pangulo ng Bansa upang siyang mapagpasinaya sa dalawang natapos na paggawain.

Kung papaanong nang dumalaw si Pangulong Carlos P. Garcia noong katag-arawan ng 1961, nang malamang kasama sa pagdalaw si Gng. Leonila Garcia, ang Unang Ginang ng Bansa, ay ipinahayag ng pangasiwaang lokal noon na ang tree park sa pag-itan ng Gusaling Pampamahalaan at ng Lawang Sampalok, ay tawaging Doña Leonila (Mini-Forest) Park, sapagka’t kasama rin ni Pangulong Diosdado Macapagal ang Unang Ginang ng Bansa, Dra. Evangelina Macaraig Macapagal, sa pagdalaw sa lunsod, ay ipinahayag ng pangasiwaang lokal na ang Dagatan Boulevard na daraanan ng Pangulo sa pagpapasinaya sa Hagdang Bato ay opisyal na tawaging “Doña Evangelina Macapagal Boulevard.”

Doña Evangelina Boulevard o ang lansangang walang dulunan sa paligid ng Lawang Sampalok, sa nakalipas na mga taon, ay simbolo ng walang katapusang pagmamalasakit ng Pamahalaang Pambansa sa mga maliliit na mangingisda at karaniwang manggagawa sa lupa, na may pagsasaalang-alang sa pangangalaga at pagpapatatag sa kalikasan, kultura, at pagpapahalaga sa pagkakakilanlan sa Lunsod ng San Pablo. (ITO BIGUERAS)

TRANSPORT at FOOD TERMINAL, SINANG-AYUNAN NG ALKALDE

San Pablo City – Sinang-ayunan na ng lokal na pamahalaan dito ang dalawang resolusyong pinagtibay ng Sangguniang Panlunsod na may bilang 2008-65 at 2008-67 ukol sa pagtatayo ng Transport and Food Central Teminal upang maibsan ang lumalalang suliranin sa trapiko.

Sa kalatas na ipinadala ng pamahalang lunsod sa mga mamamahayag ay nagsasaad ng anunsyong: TO ALL LOT OWNERS IN SAN PABLO CITY- THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF SAN PABLO IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR 3-5 HECTARES PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED WITHIN 3 KM. RADIUS FROM THE SAN PABLO CITY PROPER FOR THE PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF “TRANSPORT AND FOOD CENTRAL TERMINAL”, AS PER SANGGUNIANG PANGLUNSOD RESOLUTION NO. 2008-65 AND 2008-67, DATED FEBRUARY 5, 2008. ALL LAND OWNERS, INTERESTED TO SELL THEIR LAND TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT, MAY BRING OR SENT THE FF: (1) LETTER OFFER TO SELL, and (2) LOT PLAN, AT THE OFFICE OF THE CITY INFORMATION , 3RD FLOOR, 8TH STOREY BLDG., CITY HALL COMPOUND, SAN PABLO CITY, WITH TEL NO. (049) 562-3086 AND (049) 562-5743” tanda ng kanyang pagsang-ayon sa mga nasabing resolusyon.

Matagal nang idinaraing ng mga residente at mga nagdaraan sa city proper ang mabigat na daloy ng trapiko na kahit anong kautusan at regulasyong ipatupad ni Mayor Vicente B. Amante ay hindi malunasan sa patuloy na pagdami ng mga sasakyang nag-aagawan s mahalagang ispasyo ng lansangan.

Ang pagtatayo ng naturang terminal ayon sa resolusyon ang tanging makatutugon sa mga problemang ito, sapagkat malaking bilang ng sasakyan particular ang mga pampubliko ang doon na lamang papayagang magbaba at magsakay ng mga pasahero, ganoon din ang mga delivery trucks na kung pumarada sa public market ay sakop na ang buong lansangan.

Inaasahan ni Kon. Richard Pavico, ang may akda ng resolusyon na masisimulan ang proyekto ngayong taong ito. (NANI CORTEZ)

MUSEO NG SAN PABLO ITINATAG

SAN PABLO CITY- Nagkaisa ang lokal na pamahalaan, Cultural Society ng lunsod at Fundacion Santiago na itatag ang Museo ng San Pablo dito upang minsan pa ay sulyapan ang lumipas na bahagi ng kasaysayan sa kapakanan ng mga kabataang San Pableño.

Matatagpuan sa ika-apat na palapag ng lumang kapitolyo ang museo ay hinati sa apat na bahagi na ang bawat isa ay mga kuwentong ipirarating sa mga nagnanais malaman ang pinagdaanan ng lunsod at pagpupunyagi ng mga naunang mamamayan rito. Ikinatuwa ni Mayor Vicente B. Amante ang pag-alalay ng Cultural Society at Fundacion Santiago sa katuparan ng pangarap ng bawat residente dito na magkaroon ng sariling museo.

Ipinaliwanag ni Lerma Prudente na ang unang bahagi ng ukol sa heyograpiya ng lunsod, sa taglay nitong 14 na ilog, pitong lawa at isang bundok. Ang pangalawa ay ang mga haligi ng San Pablo na alay sa mga nagsikap upang tumanyag na pamayanan, samantalang ang pangatlo ay kung bakit nila dito napiling manahanan at ang pang-apat ay pagtanaw ng utang na loob sa puno ng niyog na matagal nilang pinagkunan ng ikabubuhay.

Aktibo sa museo ng San Pablo ang walumpung taong gulang na si dating vice mayor Palermo Bañagale at retired Judge Bienvenido Reyes. Ang desinyo ay kaloob ng United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) San Pablo Chapter.

Bukas ang museo mula ika-9 ng umaga hanggang ika-5 ng hapon araw-araw hanggang biyernes. (NANI CORTEZ/Pres. Seven Lakes Press Corps)

"HUWAG MAWALAN NG PAG-ASA" - SEN. LOREN LEGARDA

San Pablo City – Pinayuhan ni Senadora Loren Legarda ang 728 nagsipagtapos sa Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo (DLSP) na huwag panghinaan ng loob sa lumulubhang kalagayan ng bansa sapagkat may kapareho ring kalagayan nang siya ay nagtapos noong 1981, sa mensaheng kanyang ipinaabot sa ika-8 commencement exercises ng nasabing kolehiyo.

Ang national mood noong panahon ng martial law ay katulad ng nararamdaman ng bansa sa ngayon ngunit hindi dapat ikabahala at inamuki ang mga nagsipagtapos na huwag mawawalan ng pag-asa.

Ayon kay Legarda ay sa hirap na dinaranas ng bansa ay may ilang hindi nakatatapos ng elementarya, sumasahol pa sa high school ngunit sa pagtataguyod ni Mayor Vicente B. Amante ay nalulunasan ang suliranin sa pamamagitan ng mga City High School Annexes sa iba’t-ibang barangay.

Pinasalamatan rin ng senador si Amante sa pagkakatatag ng DLSP para sa mga mahihirap na mag-aaral ng lunsod dahil ito aniya’y nakatutugon sa pagkauhaw ng mga kabataan sa karunungan.

Hiniling ni Legarda sa mga nagsipagtapos na palakasin ang kanilang character. Nilinaw niya na hindi lang talino ang kailangan kundi pati sipag at disiplina. Bale wala aniya ang personalidad kung wala ang character sapagkat ang humuhubog dito ay values at kagandahang asal.

Kaugnay nito ay inialay ni Sen. Legarda sa mga magsisipagtapos ang kanyang mga naiakdang batas tulad ng Public Employment Service Office (PESO) para sa mga maghahanap ng trabaho, Countryside Barangay Business Enterprises (CBBE) sa mga nagnanais pumasok sa negosyo at law on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sa pangangailangan ng kapital. (NANI CORTEZ)

YEAR THAT WAS FOR MAYOR VIC AMANTE

Still beaming with smile despite a bout from flu, we visited the Mayor of San Pablo City Vic B. Amante in his simple but well appointed office inside the eight story new Capitol Building for a chat. As usual he is jolly in the exchanges of pleasantry with us over a cup of instant coffee. Occasionally he turns pensive and serious whenever we talk about his administration.
We showed him some statistics we gathered. The data are results of survey commissioned by one national political party, the other is by an aspiring candidate in the province of Laguna and the last was done by the national organization for what ever interest it has it is only known to the group. We thought he will be glad to see them.
We did not delve much on figures because (we did not expect it) the mayor is hesitant to accept the results of his public acceptability as a mayor reflected in the survey done in San Pablo City. According to him the percentage is shockingly too high. No past politician in the history of the Philippine ever had such high rating in term of popular acceptability. He rather prefers to feel in person by going around the satisfaction of his constituents in the manner he runs the city hall.
True he has established several annexes to the existing high schools of the city. Thousands graduated every year at a minimal cost to parents. These would be college students end up in Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo another laudable pet project of Mayor Vic. The City subsidizes the college to provide tertiary education to poor students of the city. However, because of the quality education offered by the Dalubhasaan even the well of families are sending their kids to this school. The students from the suburban areas sad to say even cheat their residence just to be accommodated and be enrolled.
He stressed that in areas where private entrepreneur failed, refused or afraid to venture because of high risk and low profitability, the government must come in and invest to fill in the gap. That has been his policy ever since he enters the arena of politics. The reason why his low cost educational institutions came to being. The closure of services of a private school sparked the needs to save the dislocated student with no school to go.
Not only that, the high cost of getting ill compelled him too to increase the budget for health services. Always, medicines for common illness are available in the government health offices for the poor. For those in need of confinements the Indigency Office is ready to assist and shoulder the expenses of those who cannot afford to defray the high hospitalization cost. The disbursements ran to millions of pesos. The city suffers much. Yes the cost is high but the value of saving human lives is priceless. The gleams and beams from the eyes of parents or relatives whose kin was save from the edge of death cannot be equated by what ever the government may save in trying to hold back expenses for some meaningful endeavors.
The concept of city manages hospital after some accounting of expenditure cropped up from the imagination of the Mayor. The city should have one. He has now the blue print and bent on implementing the program. His emphasis is on his vision that no San Pablo or any one for that matter who is in San Pablo City must be deprived of medical services by reason of poverty.
Over the successes of his public service programs the Mayor has not the look of satisfaction. According to him still the local government is one of the biggest employers. He is looking forward for a better San Pablo where the private sectors have the greatest stake in providing livelihood or employments.
The modern land fills and waste segregation; the city latest venture may spark a new kind of business opportunities. True it is still in its infant stage but he believes in a thousand mile travel starts with a one small step. Little by little people will realize that there is money in many little endeavors. He is encouraging and supporting small but imaginative entrepreneur most likely those engage in agriculture base industries.
This is one of many ways according to him of bringing back to the mind and heart the dignity of industry and hard work. He refused to encourage mendicancy a strategy most scheming politicians employ to buy loyalty. They never want their place to progress to suppress immediately any threat to their own political and economic dynasties.
His program for small scale businesses drives the mayor to be more careful in allowing the invasion of giant malls like SM , Robinson, Rustan etc. He is prudent in trying to foresee the consequences of competitions between these corporate titans to the small local capitalists. Will he side with the consumers who can buy high quality goods from more efficiently manage establishments at a cheaper price or be protectionist of the local investors? His options are open but he refuses to rush his decisions. He is trying to balance the gains vis-Ã -vis the social malady brought about by changes. There could be in migration needing more infrastructures which may not be offset by the employment to be generated thus creating more problem than solution to present predicaments
In the final analysis he is very emphatic in saying he will feel fulfilled in his administration only if his Indigency Office became irrelevant, when the students are enrolled in Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo and the great majority if not all of his constituents can afford to be confined in city hospital suites and not in crowded wards.
These are legacies he wants to leave to the people of San Pablo City. Tall order but doable according to him. He has only to be bold and decisive in pursuing his vision. He may or may not be able to complete these ambitious projects but it is his contention that somebody must start so that other has something to continue. TO START IS NOW. DO NOT DO FOR TOMORROW WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR TODAY FOR TOMORROW WILL NEVER COME UNLESS IT IS TODAY!!! We were surprise to hear such sensibility from a man besets by several cases from his detractors trying to put him down in vain. Are these detractors being fair to him and most especially to the people of San Pablo City who will be much, much benefited by his relentless efforts to pursue meaningful governance? (Sandy Belarmino)

CITY ADMINISTRATOR AMBEN AMANTE SA TIME MANAGEMENT

Isa sa mga hinahangaan ng pitak na ito sa pangangasiwa ng kanyang time management ay ang City Administrator ng Lunsod na sa maraming pagkakataon kahit medyo late na umuwi sa pagtupad ng kanyang tungkulin o may pinanggalingang official function ay nasa oras pa rin kung ang pagbabatayan ay pagtupad ng mandato sa pag-o-obserba ng office hours.

Anlahoy, anlahoy, anlahoy! Ilan lang si City Admin Amben Amante sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan na masasabing 24/7, na sa madaling sabi ay palaging on-call at walang pinipiling araw, ma-Sabado o Linggo kung ang nakasalalay ay ang pangangailangan sa kanya ng taumbayan. Ito marahil ang tinatawag nating tunay na serbisyo publiko na hinahanap ng bawat mamamayan.

Walastik! Kung tutuusin ay hindi naman elected official si Admin Amben at ang tanging hinihingi lang ng civil service ay ang paglilingkod ng 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Lunes hanggang Biyernes. Maliban dito ay ang labis na oras na ipaglilingkod ay hindi na nito ipinag-uutos, samakatuwid ay kusang loob ni Admin ang kanyang ginagawa. Natutuwa siyang maglingkod ng labis sa oras.

Nagkakaroon siya ng labis na panahon na kanyang nagugugol sa maraming pag-aasikaso na kailangan ng kanyang mga kababayan. Ang oras na wala nang mapag-gagamitan ay maayos niya naiuukol sa pamamahinga, kaya nga’t quality time wika nga ang naipagkakaloob niya sa mga kababayang nagtutungo sa kanyang tanggapan at sa mga imbitasyon ng may opisyal na saklaw ng panunungkulan.

Ala eh, naaalala ko pa noong may dalawang journalists na sais siyang makapanayam isang araw ng Sabado. Walang opisina kaya siyempre’y di rin sana siya matatagpuan ngunit buhat sa isang official function ay dumaan si Admin Amben sa kanyang tanggapan upang gawan ng report ang conference na kanyang dinaluhan.

Sabi nga ng dalawa ay maaari naman sa kina-lunesan na gumawa ng report, katulad ng ibang opisyal na kanilang kakilala. Ngunit iba si Admin Amben sapagkat ang magagawa ngayon ay pinagtutunuan na niya ng pansin upang hindi na nga naman makabawas pa sa oras na kailangan sa susunod na araw.

Ano pa’t ang bagay na ito ang susi kaya kahit anong bigat ng tungkuling pinanghahawakan ni City Administrator Amben Amante ay magaan niyang nagagampanan. Ang kailangan lang pala at ito’y hindi mahirap isagawa ay tuparin ang disiplina sa time management.(Sandy Belarmino)