LCC TO HOST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH By: Owen Segovia Bayog

La Consolacion College Bacolod will be hosting the ‘2nd InternationalConference on Multidisciplinary Research’ on October 21 – 22, 2011.The conference is organized by the Philippine Association of Institutions for Research (PAIR) and the International Association of Multidisciplinary Research (IAMURE) in partnership with the Commissionon Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Science andTechnology (DOST) in Western Visayas.A press conference was held at LCC yesterday with visiting researchersDr. Alan Lau, Dr. Purita Bilbao, Dr. Veneracion Cabana and Dr. JenaroJapos and discussed the importance of research and journal writing.The group also encouraged the people in the academe to adapt to the technological advances of the time like the going to the world wide web or the internet.


More than 200 participants from all over the country and abroad are participating in the conference and 163 papers will be orallypresented.  Three participants will be coming from Canada, two from Germany, two from Indonesia and one from Australia while the rest arefrom various higher learning institutions in the country.Dr. Jenaro Japos President of the Philippine Association ofInstitutions for Research and the International Association of Multidisciplinary Research says there is no problem for the people who access the internet, only that they are not guided on how to use itand on what purpose. Poverty is not an excuse says Dr. Japos as mostof those who are poor can easily access a computer and be able to use it.  "The role of the teachers also is to guide the students which websites to use and patronize", Dr. Japos added.


The conference will provide a venue for researchers and institutions to disseminate results of scientific studies; learn from the experiences and best practices especially on research journal publication; and collaborate among other institutions or individual research experts for the development of research programs and building of capacities in research.  The conference will also recognize meritorious achievements of individual researchers, institutions and research journals.#osb

MassKara Street Scene series [002]

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MassKara Street Scene series [001]

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http://myshutterlife.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/masskara-festival-street-scenes-001/

CHAMBER VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE HOLDS ANNUAL MEDICAL MISSION BY: Owen Segovia Bayog

Barangay Tangub – The Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade (CVFB) in cooperation with the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Incorporated, Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated and Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Junior Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated held its annual medical mission yesterday at the Barangay Tangub Gym.

The medical mission enjoined CVFB volunteers as well as volunteer doctors, nurses and dentists and catered more than 1,000 individuals at Barangay Tangub.  People started to line up as early as 8am for the said activity.  CVFB Fire Chief Bryant Lao said “Chamber does not limit itself during the time of fire and disasters and emergencies, it is also extending a helping hand to the community”. 

Tickets were distributed to various Puroks in Barangay Tangub led by its Punong Barangay Carlos Montaño.  The Barangay Chieftain was elated by Chamber to hold the medical mission in the Barangay as it compliments to the efforts of the locals for good health.  “We are thankful that the people of Tangub could avail these medical services”, Montaño said.

The activity ended noontime and had served more than 1,000 Tangub residents.  Some had also availed of free medicines given by the Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade.#osb

FACT FINDING MISSION AT MURCIA DISCLOSE INITIAL FINDINGS By: Owen Segovia Bayog

Members of militant organizations conducted a fact finding mission at Hacienda Ilimnan, Barangay Sta. Rosa, Murcia regarding the alleged dislocation of farmers in the area due to the procurement of land by the Provincial Government for its cattle and dairy farm.  Initial findings of the team also disclosed that the properties bought by the province are mostly lands that are under petition for land reform and most of farmers in the area have Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA).

In a phone interview by NDB, Bayan Negros – Secretary General Christian Tuayon said that the land is owned by Alfonso Arguelles Sr. and was divided to three of his siblings namely; Gloria, George and Alfonso Arguelles Jr.  The said property was declared by MARO of Murcia, Edwin Sanchez “unproductive” but the Fact Finding Team found otherwise as the land are planted with Sugar Cane and partials of land are being used as rice fields.  

23 houses of farmers were demolished during the procurement of the land and were promised to get a job from the province amounting to P6,000 a month but later on farmers were made to plant napier grass and received a salary P1,500 for two weeks of work, Tuayon said.  Only 17 workers were made to work for p58/day, Tuayon added.

Participating organizations that conducted the said Fact Finding Mission are; Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros, National Federation of Sugar Workers, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Gabriela.  The team will present the fact finding report as soon as they are done with the collation of date and will meet members of the media to present the Fact Finding report.

“ The initial data gathered by the fact finding team today shows a discrepancy on the procurement of the property and the province was not able to provide work for the demolished and dislocated farmers to pave way for this government project”, Tuayon pointed out.#osb

BAYAN SAYS PNOY MAY BE OUSTED By: Owen Segovia Bayog

Multi- sectoral alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Christian Tuayon says President Benigno Aquino III may be ousted by the Filipino people if he continues to dismay the people due to his inaction to the people’s plight against poverty, hunger, joblessness and landlessness.  Recent surveys reflecting the performance and trust rating of the president has shown that 75% of the people believe in the performance of Pnoy and 77% believes that his programs will bring forth progress to the nation.

Tuayon says that the trust ratings and performance rating of Pnoy does not reflect the situation of the Filipino people.  He cited that Filipinos continues to become homeless in their own country whereas Multi-National and Trans-National Corporations continue to come in and occupying the Philippine soil.  The activist also lamented on the fact that President Aquino has not step in to take action on the Oil Deregulation Law that has caused the sky-rocket prices of Oil and other commodities.

BAYAN also disclosed that a movement is shaping up to expose the present administration and forge larger unities with the people and oust a president if the present condition of the Filipino people continues to go down in poverty.  Tuayon also said that farmers in the countryside is asking for land but had been answered by military presence and harassments on the ranks of freedom fighters and organizers for the people’s cause.

“As long as the people dwell in the present irreversible crisis, their struggle for the rights will continue and may elevate to a higher level”, “Bayan cannot discount the people’s will if they will decide to oust a president that serves the interest of the few and the elite”, Tuayon added.#osb

CERES UNDERCHARGING FARE SAYS UNDOC By: Owen S. Bayog

Transport Center – United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) says Ceres is undercharging fare and is killing small transport operators. Secretary General Jessie Ortega says they are calling for the public not to patronize Ceres as it gently takes away the food on the table for drivers and small operators plying the North bound route. 

Undoc calls on the passengers of Talisay, Silay and Victorias not to patronize Ceres Liner so as small operators and drivers may survive.  Orgtega also told NDB that this is also due to the move of the City Government, establishing terminals in the guise of reducing the number of vehicles so as not to cause traffic congestion in the City but favors a monopoly in the industry.

“How could drivers and small operators of jeepneys and mini-buses compete with the giant Ceres Liner who can afford to lower down fare and could still go on with their operations”, Ortega added.  The City Officials could not pressure the said company and allow these small players to get their share of the passengers and income to survive economically, says Ortega.

Last week a consumer’s alliance group also met and came with position exposing the interests behind the North Terminal and called the said move of the City Government as “Lopsided Development”.  “Development should serve the interest and benefits of the people, otherwise, such development is lopsided. We have witnessed many times how oppressive development can be if the welfare of the majority is disregarded”, says Maria Elena Lazarte of Consumers Alliance of Negros (CANE).

“The government, where authority is supposedly entrusted by the people, should promote and uphold the welfare of its broad constituents. Thus, the policies and resolutions it passes must be expressive of the desires and aspirations of the people it promised to serve”, Lazarte concluded.#osb