VOLUME XXXV

Issue 3

Libre!

Serving Los Baos and nearby communities

www.lbtimes.ph

MARCH 2015

LB celebrates General Paciano Day

by Mary Joy Antonio and Jowee Estefan Gabiano

GY-UPLB rallies
for womens right
to education

by Anna Sophia Ponce and Judyann Sonido

Students from Paciano Rizal Elementary School perform an intermission number as part of the General
Paciano Day celebration program. (Photo by: Jowee Estefan Gabiano)

LOS BAOS, LAGUNA - Paciano Rizal,

a heroic leader of the revolutionary army
and the brother of the Philippinenational
hero Jose Rizal, was honored last March 9,
2015 at the General Paciano Rizal Shrine
at Brgy. Baybayin. The National Historical
Commission of the Philippines (NHCP),

together with the Tourism Office of Los

Baos and the Provincial Government of
Laguna, organized the commemoration
event.
This event was in accordance with
Presidential Proclamation No. 1737 of
2009 declaring March 9 as General PaciaContinued on page 2

BISOK
holds livelihood seminar
by Mary Joy Antonio and Jobel Mira Evangelista
LOS BAOS, LAGUNA UP Agribusiness Society (UPABS/BISOK), together
with Green Living Advocacy Movement
(GLAM) Philippines and Barangay Batong Malake, spearheaded, COMSERVE
2015: Kabuhayan 101 last March 21. The
seminar was held at the session hall of barangay Batong Malake from 10 am to 5
pm, with the theme Culturing Sustainable
Livelihood through Agripreneurship.
Trishia Taladtad, head organizer from
BISOK, said the event aimed to raise
awareness about agriculture business and
to inspire rural people in starting their own
businesses. Attendees were unemployed
citizens of LB seeking to start their own
businesses. The speakers were Ms. Sher-

ill Quintana, executive director of GLAM

Philippines; Coach Mark Arago, head of
Red Gloves Boxing Gym Los Baos; Ms.
Wilhelmina S. Garcia, CEO of Junk Not
Inc.; and Mr. Clarke Nebrao, president of
GLAM Philippines.
Marami sa mga Filipino ay hindi
nagsusube [o nagtatabi ng pera], Quintana
remarked during the seminar. She encouraged the participants to be more businessminded and forward-looking.
COMSERVE: Kabuhayan 101 is an
annual event organized by BISOK as part
of their anniversary celebration. The second installment of COMSERVE 2015 was
held March 28, 10 am to 5 pm at the session hall of Barangay Batong Malake. #

LOS, BAOS LAGUNA General Alliance

Binding Women for Reform, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action (GABRIELA)
Youth-UPLB celebrated the International
Womens Day by leading an indignation rally
to commemorate University of the Philippines
Manila (UPM) student Kristel Tejada and Cagayan State University (CSU) student Rosanna Sanfuegos death. It was alleged that these
two students committed suicide because they
could not pay their tuition fees. Several students joined the said event at University of the
Philippines Los Baos (UPLB) Carabao Park
on March 6, 4pm- 6pm.
Sulong Gabriela. Lumaban. Makibaka.
This was the cry of the students who participated in the rally, which is an annual event
wherein students voice out and encourage
other students to be more aware of social issues and help make a change in the government system. This year, the students called for
the fight for education, higher state subsidy,
junking of the Socialized Tuition Fee System
(STS), and ousting Pres. Benigno C. Aquino,
III. In line with this, they also used the #AbanteBabae in social media to express their support for the International Womens Month, and
the #AyokongMagmahal as a cry for lower
subsidies and school fees.
The following student guilds also participated in the event: League of Filipino Students
(LFS), ANAKBAYAN, UMALOHOKAN,
INC., University Student Council (USC), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) SC, College
of Human Ecology (CHE) SC, National Union
of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), UPLB
Writers Club,UPLB Development Communicators Society, Inc., UPLB BABAYLAN,
Sigma Delta Phi Sorority, Sophia Circle, Sociology Society, and Sigma Alpha Nu Sorority.#

NEWS

LOS BAOS TIMES

LB celebrates General...
Continued from page 1

no Day. The proclamation aimed to honor

General Pacianos patriotism and heroism
as an officer of the revolutionary army
during the times when the Philippines was
still a colony of Spain.
Cong. Roman T. Romulo served as
the guest speaker for this commemoration
of Paciano Rizal. He called Gen.Paciano
as katangi-tanging tao and the noblest
man of all. During his speech, he gave
emphasis on education and its role in
the development of the country. He also
mentioned three newly passed bills that
focused on the betterment of the education
system in the country, which he remarked
as the very legacy of the Rizal family.
These were the Iskolar ng Bayan Act,
UNIFEST Bill, and the Open distance
learning for tertiary education, which
focuses on granting scholarships to the
underprivileged and giving them a chance
to obtain degrees from universities even if
they are already working.
Before the speech of the guest
speaker, there was a mass led by Rev.
Father Zaldy C. Fortuno of the Immaculate
Concepcion Parish Church. Philippine
National Police (PNP)-Laguna also marked
the commemoration with a gun salute
followed by the ceremonial offering of
flowers. This ceremony was also attended
by the NHCP Executive Director Ludovico
Badoy; Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez;
Los Baos Mayor Caesar Perez; Los
Baos Police Chief Superintendent
Edwin Tapay;UPLB Assistant Vice
Chancellor for Community Affairs Prof.
Genaro Cuaresma and members of the

Rizal family- particularly Mr. Jose Rizal

Lopez, the grandson of General Paciano,
who also served as the last speaker of
the event. The event culminated with the
awarding of tokens of appreciations to
the guest speaker and certificates to the
outstanding students of Paciano Rizal
Elementary School.
Students from the two Paciano Rizal
elementary schools, one from Los Baos
and another from Bay, also attended the
commemoration. Each school prepared
a special number reflecting the life of
Paciano Rizal and the oppressed society of
colonial Philippines. Some University of
the Philippines Los Baos (UPLB) students
also participated in the event.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LOLO CIANO
According to Mr. Rommel Maningas,
the tourism officer of Los Baos, it is
important to pay tribute to Gen. Paciano
because of the heroism and sacrifice he had
done not only for Los Baos, but for the
whole country. Mayor Perez also reflected
on the heroism shown by Paciano Rizal
by saying that hindi natin kailangang
magbuwis ng buhay para maging bayani
and ang bawat isa sa atin ay may tungkulin
na dapat gampanan. Gov. Hernandez also
showed his admiration to Gen. Paciano
Rizal by saying dapat nating isabuhay
sa bawat panahon ang kabayanihan ni
Heneral Paciano Rizal. Hannah Mikaela
Miguel, one of the student awardees, also
said that we can become heroes in our own
little way by helping others.

Fatima Sharleen Palad

Editor-in-Chiel

Dee Urtua

Associate Editor

Alyssa Joy Gabertan

News Editor

E D I T O R I A L S TA F F
Mary Joy Antonio Beverly Balmoria Zoe
Arianne Banzon Jessica Batoon Bianca
Alyssa Caugma Jobel Mira Evangelista
Aira Kissa Edduba Jowee Gabiano
John Vincent Manglicmot Meiji Pancho
Anna Sophia Ponce Elsie Reyes
Writers

Judyann Sonido
Features Editor

Angela Johanna Danay

Special Section Editor

Sherika Jan Niez

Online Editor

Sarah Joy Trivio

Karen Lou Mabagos
Layout Artists

Ricarda Villar
Jon Paul Maligalig
Advisers

LOLO CIANO: THE MAN BEHIND

THE NATIONAL HERO
Alam kong naghihirap ka upang
maabot ko ang aking propesyon, said Jose
Rizal in his last letter to Paciano, as read
by Jose Peping Rizal Lopez during the
commemoration.
General Paciano Rizal was born on
March 9, 1851 and was the eldest among the
Rizal siblings. Because of this, he played a
big role in Joses nationalistic ideals. Paciano was the one who convinced Jose to
pursue his education abroad. Paciano studied in Colegio de San Jose and he was an
assistant to Fr. Burgos, one of the priests of
GOMBURZA who were executed.
He was appointed as general in Central Luzon by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Paciano spent his remaining days in his home
at Los Baos where he died on April 30,
1930.

Ano ang hinahanap mo sa

susunod na lider ng bansa?
[Ang gusto ko] na lider ng ating bansa
ay maging matapang, yung ayos ang
pamamalakad. Walang corrupt.
JOEY ARTILLAGA

Ang gusto [ko] ay mahusay at maayos ang

pamamalakad.
JOBET LAYNO

Dapat yung susunod na presidente ay

yung [matino, di nangungurakot at puro
pangako.]
NORA

Dapat hindi [siya] nagfofocus lang sa panglabas na kaunlaran ng bansa, [dapat pati]
yung sa ibang sektor ng agrikultura.

The Los Baos Times is produced by the students and

staff of the Department of Development Journalism
at the UP Los Baos College of Development
Communication, in collaboration with the Los Banos
government agencies, barangays, schools and civil
society organizations. No part of this paper may be
reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means
stored in a database or retrieval system without
prior consent. All rights reserved.
The Los Baos Times is located at Rm. 201 B,
Department of Development Journalism,
College of Development Communication,
University of the Philippines Los Baos
College, Laguna
Tel. No.: (049) 536-2511 local 401 or 410
Email: lbtimes@devcom.edu.ph
Website: http://lbtimes.ph

Semana Santa sa
Los Baos

FEATURE

PAGGUNITA NG MGA TUBONG LOS BAOS

Ilan sa mga residente ng Los Baos ay sumasama sa taunang prusisyon. Tulad lamang ni Donna Ardiente na naging penitensya na ang
paggising ng maaga at pag-lakad sa ilalim
ng init ng araw tuwing Semana Santa.
Hindi lamang mga nakatatanda ang
nakikiisa sa Simbahang Katolika. Mayroon
ring mga kabataan na katulad ni Lian Reyes,

Ang mga deboto ni San Agustin ay nakikilahok sa prusisyon nang gabi ng Biyernes Santo. (Photo by: Randolph Tolentino)

17 taong gulang, na sumasama sa kanyang

pamilya sa pagpunta sa Kamay ni Hesus
upang magdasal. Ayon kay Lian, Kasi
patay si Hesus. Sakripisyo na rin namin ng
pamilya namin ito para mapatawad Niya
kami sa mga nagawa naming kasalanan.
Samantala, hindi lahat ay may isang
linggong bakasyon tuwing Semana Santa.
Isa na dito si Amado Ebec na isang Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
street sweeper. Ayon kay Amado, Wala
namang day-off ang trabaho ko kaya kapag Semana Santa nag-wawalis lang
din ako. Parang normal na araw lang.
MGA DEBOSYON AT PANATA NG ILANG
KATOLIKO
May ilan namang Katoliko na nagsasagawa ng sarili nilang panata tuwing panahon ng Semana Santa. Mayroong ibang

Tuberkulosis: Mga Dapat Alamin

Ang tuberkulosis ay isang nakahahawang sakit na nakukuha sa mikrobyong
Mycobacterium tuberculosis o TB bacili.
Madalas nitong tinatamaan ang baga na
kalaunay nagdudulot din ng masamang
epekto hindi lamang sa buto, kundi maging
sa balat, bato, atay, at utak.
Ayon sa World Health Organization
(WHO), tinatayang nasa 37 milyon na
taong may sakit na TB ang nagamot na mula
noong taong 2000 hanggang 2013. Sa kabila nito, nasa may tatlong milyon pa rin ang
hindi naagapan sa sakit na ito na kalaunay
nagiging sanhi ng kanilang kamatayan. Ito
ang isa sa rason kung bakit ipinagdiriwang
ang Marso 24 o TB Day bilang paggunita
sa tatlong milyong namamatay sa tuberkulosis bawat taon.
Ang Pilipinas ang isa sa may
pinakamataas na insidente ng tuberkulosis

nag-aayuno o fasting, o di kayay pangilin o abstinensya para sa mga mag-asawa.

by Sherika Jan Niez and Elsie Reyes

(with contributions from Randolph Tolentino)

Tradisyon na sa mga Katoliko na magnilay-nilay tuwing kapanahunan ng Semana Santa. Ayon sa National Statistics Office,
tinatayang mayroong 70,407,588 milyong
Katoliko sa Pilipinas. Mahigit kumulang
na 70 milyong Katoliko na nagsisiksikan sa
simbahan upang marinig ang magandang
balita. Dalawang milyon sa mga ito ay sakop ng Diyosesis ng San Pablo na mayroong
85 na parokya. Isa na dito ang Los Baos.
Bago pa ang mismong linggo ng pagdiriwang ng Semana Santa ay marami ng
mga preparasyon na ginawa ang Simbahang Katoliko sa buong mundo pati na rin
dito sa Los Baos. Halimbawa na lang ay
ang mga aktibidad na isinagawa noong
nagdaang Kwaresma sa mga simbahan dito
sa Los Baos tulad ng Immaculate Conception Parish sa bayan, San Antonio De Padua Parish sa Barangay Batong Malake, St.
Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, at iba pa.

LOS BAOS TIMES

nag-aayuno o fasting, o di kayay pangilin

o abstinensya para sa mga mag-asawa.
Ang iba ay aktibo sa tradisyon na Stations of the Cross o Senakulo kung saan
isinasadula ang mga pangyayari mula sa
gabi ng huling hapunan hanggang sa pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ni Hesu
Kristo. Maraming deboto na ang taun-taon
nang lumalahok sa pagsasadula. Isa sa kanila ay si Fortunato Atoy Loon na gumaganap bilang Hesu Kristo ng higit pa sa
sampung taon. Si Mang Atoy ay isang simpleng manggagawa at kasapi ng simbahan.
Ayon sa kanya, ang pagganap bilang Hesu
Kristo ay silbi ng kanyang matibay pananampalataya sa Panginoon.
May ilang mga Katoliko naman na
mas piniling gawing panata ang Pabasa.
Madalas ay pinangungunahan ito ng mga

Continued on Page 6

by Dee Urtua and Meiji Pancho

sa buong mundo. Ayon sa World Health

Organization, nabibilang ang bansa sa 22
na high-burden countries sa TB epidemic. Dahil dito, mas pinagtibay at hinigpitan
ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan ang kanilang
mga programa upang mapababa ang bilang ng mga taong may TB. Binibigyangdiin ng Kagawaran na ang tuberkulosis ay
maaaring maagapan at malunasan kung
magpapatingin lamang agad.
Ganoon rin ang kaso ng tuberkulosis
sa Bayan ng Los Baos. Ang mga baranggay San Antonio, Mayondon, Bambang,
at Malinta ang apat sa may pinakamataas
na kaso ng tuberkulosis sa buong bayan,
ayon sa datos mula sa Los Banos Municipal Health Office (MHO). Nag-iikot
ikot ang mga taga-RHU upang matanong
at mahikayat na magpagamot ang mga
tao. Ayon kay Dolly Vasques, baranggay

health worker sa Baranggay Bayog at isa

sa mga Informal Laboratory Workers ng
bayan ng Los Baos, nilalayon nila na
mapababa pa ang mga kasong naitala na.
Sa kanilang baranggay, tinatarget nila na
magamot ang labindalawang pasyente at
mahikayat pa ang ibang may tuberkulosis
na magpagamot sa kanilang health unit.
Ngunit ano nga ba ang tuberkulosis?
Ano nga ba ang mga nagiging sanhi nito
at paano nga ba natutukoy ang taong may
sakit na nito? Ano ang mga lunas at ginagawang hakbang ng Kagawaran at ng mga
lokal na health workers upang maagapan at
mabigyang lunas ang tuberkulosis?
Ang mga sumusunod ay mga karaniwang tanong ukol sa sakit na tuberkulosis
na sinagot ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan.
Ang mga tanong at sagot na ito ay alinsu-

Continued on page 7

LOS BAOS TIMES

FEATURE

Los Baos is truly a town worth being

proud of. In line with the International
Womens Month, we are sharing the
story of three of the many exemplary
women of Los Banos.

JUANA DRIVE? The story of the female jeepney driver

By Judyann Sonido and Elsie Reyes

To some, roads are just ways to get to

their destination. But for Ms. Lyn Fernando-Lawas, roads are more than that.
For 33 years, the life of Tita Lyn, as
people would usually call her, has been one
bumpy ride. She has caught the attention of
Los Baos residents as she inspired women
in the community when she challenged the
stereotype that only males can be jeepney
drivers.
LIFE AS A SINGLE MOTHER
Since her husband died 17 years ago,
she was left with no other choice but to
raise her two children all by herself. During that time, her two kids were in grades
one and four. Instead of looking for other
jobs, she pursued her passion for driving
and saw this as an opportunity to persevere
for her family. Her children now works at
the International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI) and the Los Baos Doctors Hospital
(LBDH).

being natural. For her, women must note

that they do not need to rely on cosmetics
and surgeries to be called beautiful because
for her, it is enough to be clean and presentable.
With regard to the stereotype that only
men can become jeepney drivers, Tita Lyn
wants to tell to all the other women out
there who want to follow her lead that
confidence is the key to conquering their
dreams (Hindi pwede ang nerbyos, iiwan
yan sa bahay). Moreover, she pointed
out that both men and women are equal
and should remain so. Also, she said that
women are not weak, they just need support. Kung gusto mo talaga, kaya mo.
Kaya lang kaya hindi nagagawa ng iba ay
kulang sa support

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE

Tita Lyn plans to be a lady jeepney

driver as long as she still can. when she
retires,Tita Lyn said that she is considering
to have a junk shop but there are still
other businesses that she might consider.
For Tita Lyn, their jeepney was once
their bread and butter. Without it, they
would have not survived all the challenges
in their life. There is also more to this jeepney than just being a source of their living.
The jeepney served as a means for Tita
Lyn to pursue her passion in driving. And
this passion has gone far and resonated to
many people in Los Baos - the people
who have ridden her jeepney and charmed
by this rare chance of seeing a lady jeepney driver, and the people to whom she
has shared her knowledge in driving. #

BEING A LADY JEEPNEY DRIVER

Tita Lyn has never worked for a job
that is related to her degree because she
chose to become a jeepney driver right after her graduation. She turned down other
employment opporunities because her passion is in driving. When asked why, this
was her answer ...basta masaya ka sa ginagawa mo, go for it basta enjoy ka.
Tita Lyn has remained humble despite
all the achievements and publicities she has
received as a lady jeepney driver.
ON BEAUTY, MODERN WOMEN, AND
GENDER EQUALITY
Tita Lyns concept of beauty is simply

Tita Lyn (left) shares her life experiences as a woman jeepney driver, and Tita Vicky (right) smiling for the
camera while having a break from her duries at the fire station.(Photo by Judyann Sonido & John Vincent
Manglicmot)

LOS BAOS TIMES

FEATURE
CONQUERING FIRE: The story of a female firefighter

By Angela Johanna Danay and John Vincent Manglicmot

Most people are afraid of fire, but for

FO1 Vicky Madelyn Canaveral, fire can
quench ones thirst for adventure that no
other profession could provide. And thats
exactly what she looked for when she left
her BS Nursing program to chase fire, literally, and work as a fire-fighter instead.
Originally, Vicky decided to pursue
nursing as a college degree. It fulfilled
her thirst for service, for helping, and
for saving lives. But eventually she realized that she wanted something more
than that. It wasnt that she didnt think
there was adventure in being a nurse;
rather, she did not want to be confined in
the corners of a hospital room. She wan-

ted to do something bigger.

Vicky is well aware of the dangers that
come with being a fire-fighter but she is
confident that she is equipped with enough
knowledge that will help her save other
peoples lives and hers as well.
A fire rescue operation in Caloocan
is one of her memorable experiences. She
could still remember the cries for help, and
the heat and ashes in her eyes -- she remembers the cries of the people who lost their
family, friends and home in the fire. With
that, she understood better her responsibility as a firefighter.Alam mo yung sa mga
palabas, yung mga nag-iiyakan yung mga
kapitbahay yun dun mo talaga maiisip

na yun pala talaga yung pinili mong trabaho, she added.

There has been a sterotype that jobs related to firefighting or rescuing people are
done by males. Firefighters, in the minds of
many, are synonymous to firemen. Vicky
is one of the few who have broken this stereotype. In the Los Baos fire station, only
three of the 15 employees are females.
As a firefighter, Vicky has changed the
stereotype of being a fireman and continues to inspire other people.
Kaya din namin yan, Vicky firmly
stated as she proudly claims that the tasks
of male firefighters can also be done equally well by female firefighters.#

A MOTHER AT HEART: The story of an adoptive parent

By Beverly Balmoria and Jowee Estefan Gabiano

As they say, motherhood is both rewarding and challenging. How about being a mother to an adopted child? How
different could it be? Glenda, a Los Baos
resident, shares her journey to becoming
an adoptive parent.
Adoption is the legal process of adding a person, usually a little child, into
the family as a full, permanent member.
It aims to provide lifelong care and security for the adopted child. Childless parents sometimes turn to adoption if they
really wanted to have children, but others
are hesitant to try it because of its various
emotional and ethical considerations. But
for Glenda, a 40-year-old mother to her
adopted daughter, her choice to go through
adoption is not merely for having a child
but also a way of advocating this practice.

Glenda worked as a factory worker for

13 years before getting married. She got
married in 2005 at 30 years old. They have
been trying for eight years to have a child
without success. Sinubukan namin yung
IUI (Cintrauterine Insemination) pero wala
pa din, Glenda said. Dalawang trials na
kami nun, pero hindi na pwedeng ulitin
kasi hanggang dalawa lang daw talaga yunSyempre nag-aalala na kami kasi hindi na

naman kami mga bata.

The IUI, or intrauterine insemination is
a laboratory procedure in which the sperm
is implanted directly into the womans
womb near the time of ovulation. When the
procedure didnt succeed after two trials,
the couple turned to legal adoption in 2010.
Today, they are now the proud parents of a
sweet and energetic three-year-old.
Continued on page 7

ON DECIDING TO BECOME ADOPTIVE PARENTS

Oo, legally adopted namin [siya],
Glenda said nonchalantly when asked
about her three-year old daughter. Alam
yun ng mga kapitbahay namin dito sa looban tsaka sa mga teachers nya kasi ayaw
naman naming itago pa yun.
Art by Fatima Sharleen Palad

LOS BAOS TIMES

EDITORIAL

Sulong, Juana: Ang Tatag Mo!

By Fatima Sharleen Palad and Dee Urtua

One of the Millennium Development

Goals set by the United Nations is to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and
in all levels of education no later than 2015
and promote gender equality and women
empowerment. The UNDP Philippines has
already reported that women in the country fared better than men in education and
literacy. The same agency reported that the
role of women in economy and politics of
the country had increased in the past years.
Yet, if we see the daily headlines of
the major newspapers as well as the online
newspapers of the country, we can read almost every day something about a woman
abused, raped, or discriminated. Just last
year, the UPLB has again made the headlines of the newspapers because of another
rape case.
How do we ensure the safety of women
in our country? How do we really say that

the women in our country are already empowered enough to fight for themselves?
And how do we really say that women are
strong enough to battle the everyday life of
being a woman?
There are various criticism about how
women are being treated nowadays. Ironically enough, the criticism isnt about them
being oppressed, but them being celebrated
and acknowledged.
Some question the need for an international womens month. Isnt it only proper
to make up for all the years that women
were robbed of their rights -- unable to
speak, unable to act according to their will.
The International Womens Month is not
only an act of festivity, but also a reminder that once upon a time women were not
even acknowledged or recognized as a part
of society. Once upon a time women were
taken for granted.
But we are far from those times. To-

Rehistradong botante ka na ba?

By Angela Johanna Danay

Alinsunod sa Resolusyon bilang 9853

ng Commission on Elections (COMELEC), ang voters registration ay nagsisimula ng Mayo 6, 2014 hanggang sa Oktubre
31,2015. Ito ang itinakdang panahon ng
gobyerno upang masimulan na ang preparasyon para sa eleksyon ng susunod na
taon 2016. Pero kamusta na ba ang dami
ng bilang ng mga nagrerehistro sa COMELEC-Los Baos? Nakikita pa nga ba kaya
ng mga mamamayan ang halaga ng bawat
boto na ipinagkakaloob sa kanila ng batas?
Ikaw, alam mo ba ang halaga ng boto mo?
Nagtungo ako sa tanggapan ng
COMELEC sa munisipyo ng Los Baos at
kinausap ang opisyal na si Ginoong Randy
Banzuela. Tinanong ko sa kanya kung kamusta na ba ang rehistrasyon para sa pagboto sa lungsod ng Los Baos. Agad siyang
sumagot na di umanoy nakakalungkot ang
maunting bilang ng nagrerehistro ngayong
taon, sa kabila ng pagkakaroon ng kabikabilang anunsyo sa mga pampublikong lugar ukol dito. Sila pa nga daw ay dumadayo
pa at nagbabayan-bayan upang personal
nang himukin ang mga mamamayan na
magparehistro, ngunit kung tutuusin ay tila
wala padin daw itong epekto. Ikinagulat
ko ang walang pagdadalawang isip niyang
pagsagot ng hindi. Ayon sa kanya, Hindi
pa masyadong aware ang mga tao sa kalakaran ng pagboto, although meron silang
napipili hindi parin ganun kataas ang ka-

nilang batayan ng pagpili.

Nakasaad sa Presidential Decree
No. 1187 ang mga kwalipikasyon ng pagiging botante--kahit sinong mamayan ng
Pilipinas na labing-walong taong gulang
o higit pa na nakatira sa Pilipinas ng isang
taon o higit pa ay maaring nang magparehistro. Napakasimpleng kwalipikasyon para
matamasa natin ang karapatan ng pagboto.
Pagpaparehistro nalang ang gagawin natin,
bakit hindi pa natin magagawa ito?
Samut sari ang mga isyu na kinakaharap ng ating bansa patungkol sa
pamamalakad ng mga nahalal sa pwesto.
Kung isa ka sa nagbabato dito ay bakit hindi mo tanungin ang iyong sarili, paano ba
nahahalal ang isang kandidato? Isa lamang
ang kasagutan nahalal ng boto ng taong
bayan. Tayo lang din ang nagdedesisyon
kung sino ang iluluklok sa pwesto at kung
ganito man ang nangyayari sa bansa dahil
sa pamamalakad ng napili ng ating mga
boto, maunting sisi ay maaring ibalik satin
dahil sa hindi kritikal na pagpili ng lider na
mamalakad sa bansa. Tayo ang bumuboto,
tayo ang nagpapaupo sa pwesto, ang bawat
boto ay garantisadong may epekto sa kabuuang resulta ng mahahalal sa estado. Kaya
ikaw tatanungin kita, alam mo pa ba ang
halaga ng boto mo? Alam mo din ba ang responsibilidad na nakaatang sa iyong bawat
pagpili ng kandidato? #

Art by Dee Urtua

day, women continue to break the chains

that bind them to keep silent, and hopefully
they will continue to do so in the coming
years. Sulong, Juana! Ang tatag mo!

Semana Santa sa...

Continued from page 3

grupong aktibo sa simbahan. Ginagawa

namin ito para maging ligtas ang lugar
namin. Yoon ang paniniwala namin, sabi
ng isang deboto nang tanungin ang grupo
nila kung bakit sila nagpa-Pabasa.
MGA NAGING PAGHAHANDA
NG AWTORIDAD
Samantala, bukod sa Simbahang Katoliko, naging abala rin ang mga awtoridad
sa nagdaang Semana Santa. Ang pamahalaan ng Los Baos ay nagsagawa ng Oplan
Sumvac noong April 1, Miyerkules Santo,
hanggang April 5, Linggo ng Pagkabuhay.
Ito ay para sa inaasahang pagdagsa ng
mga biyahero, papasok man o palabas ng
Los Baos, sa panahon ng Semana Santa.
Ang Oplan Sumvac ay pinangunahan ng
Pamahalaan Bayan at Sangguniang Bayan.
Kasama nila ay ang MDRRMO (Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management
Council) ,MENRO (Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office),
LBTMO (Los Baos Traffic Management
Organization), ACTION CENTER, LB
-PNP, Kabalikat Los Baos, Red Cross
Los Baos,GPRS (Great Praetorian Riders Society), GUARDIANS, COPS (Communication Organization for Peace and
Security), DPWH (Department of Public
Works and Highways), Patrol Assistance
Rescue and Community Services (PARACS), Brgy. Lalakay, Brgy. Timugan, at
Brgy. Maahas. #

A mother at...

FEATURE

LOS BAOS TIMES

Continued from page 5

There are measures to be taken before a match can be foundsimilarities in

physical features, and the emotional readiness of the parents about taking in a child
that is not of their blood. Despite this, the
desire to become a mother pushed Glenda
to continue the process. They did research
on the adoption process and visited several
orphanages before filing for legal adoption
at DSWD. Finally, a match for them was
found at New Faith Missionaries Orphanage in Cainta, Rizal.
Glenda admitted experiencing challenging times when they first brought their
adopted daughter home. According to her,
she [adopted daughter] didnt talk to them
at all for the first two days, nor did she ask
for anything. The child seemed dis tant that
she began wondering whether the adoption
was a good idea.
But it was at the third day that she said
a word. Katatapos ko lang siya paliguan
nun, tapos tinawag niya akong Mama,

narrates Glenda. That one word was enough

to melt her heart, and right then she knew
that they made the right choice.
BEING ADOPTIVE PARENTS
AS AN ADVOCACY
Despite not being the biological mother, the adoption has also taught Glenda
lot of lessons on parenting. Kelangan
lagi kang may time para sa anak mo, she
said. A mother should be hands-on, 24/7.
Iba kasi yung outcome ng bata pag di mo
siya nagagabayan. She also shared that
sometimes she wonders how it would be if
they had not adopted their daughter. Minsan pag tinitingnan ko [siya], naiisip ko,
Paano kaya kung hindi namin siya inampon? Anong buhay kaya meron ang batang
to ngayon?
Indeed, adopting a child was a lifechanging move for them. Having a child
brought peace and happiness in their home,

and has made them emotionally complete.

The most rewarding thing for Glenda, is
being loved back by her daughter. Sweet
na bata yan eh, a beaming Glenda narrated. Kaya yung kapag lalapit siya at ihuhug kami at iki-kiss, tapos sasabihan ka ng
I love you.. Napakasarap sa pakiramdam
eh. Ang laking reward na nun para sakin.
And this reward is what Glenda also
wishes for everyone who wants to be a parent. When she meets someone who wishes
to become a parent but cannot have children, she always encourages them to adopt.
Kapag hindi kayo magkaanak, dont take
it as a bad thing. Sa halip, take it as a blessing. Maybe may reason kung bakit ganyan.
Madaming batang gaya [niya] sa mga orphanage, naghihintay lang ng pagmamahal.
Nagkaroon ka na ng anak, nakatulong ka pa
dun sa bata at sa lipunan. #

Tuberkulosis: Mga Dapat...

Continued from page 3

nod sa datus na inilabas ng Department of

Health (DOH), na nasa bawat health unit sa
bawat baranggay ng Los Baos.
T: PAANO MALALAMAN KUNG IKAW AY MAY TB
NA?

S: Hinihikayat na magpatingin na sa doktor

o di kayay sa lokal na health worker kapag
ang isang tao ay may ubong dalawang linggo o mahigit pa. Ang mga health workers
ay may kakayahang magbigay ng serbisyo
at gamot sa TB. Kasabay nitong pag-ubo
ay ang iba pang sintomas ng TB. Ito ay ang
pagdura ng plema na minsan ay may bahid
ng dugo, lagnat at pagpapawis karaniwan
tuwing hapon o gabi, pagbaba ng timbang,
kawalan ng ganang kumain, pananakit ng
likod at dibdib, at panghihina at pagiging
madaling mapagod.
T: ANO ANG MAGAGAWA NG TAONG MAY KAKILALANG MAY TB?

S: Isa ito sa mga suliranin ng mga health

workers dahil karamihan sa mga may sakit
na TB ay nahihiyang magpagamot o aminin
na may sakit na sila nito. Ani Vasques, maraming mamamayan na may TB ang hindi

nagpapatingin sa health center dahil sila ay

nahihiya na malaman ng ibang tao na sila
ay may TB. Mahalagang papel na magagawa ng komonidad upang matulungan ang
mga mamayang may TB. Hindi dapat pandirian o iwasan ang mga may TB sa halip
kumbinsihin ang mga ito na kumonsulta sa
Health Center upang masuri at magamot.
Maaari din itong magsilbing health partner.
T: ANO ANG MAGAGAWA NG PASYENTE NG
TB UPANG MAKATULONG SA KOMUNIDAD
AT SA KANYANG PAGBUTI?
S: Tungkulin ng pasyente na ibahagi sa
health workers ang lahat ng impormasyon
ukol sa kasalukuyang kalusugan, kagaya
ng mga nakaraang mga sakit at allergies.
Kasama din sa ipapaalam ng pasyente ay
ang kanyang mga pakikisalamuha sa mga
miyembro ng pamilya, kaibigan, at iba
pang maaaring mahawaan ng TB. Upang
masigurado din ang paggaling, dapat sundin ng pasyente ang nakapagsunduang oras
ng pag-inom ng gamot. Makakatulong ang
pasyente sa komunidad sa pamamagitan
ng paghikayat sa ibang may sintomas ng
TB na magpatingin. Kanyang ibahagi ang
mga impormasyon at kaalamang nakuha at

natutunan sa pagpapagamot. Responsabilidad din ng pasyente na makilahok sa mga

gawaing inilulunsad ng komunidad upang
masugpo ang TB.
T: PAANO MAIIWASAN ANG PAGKALAT NG TUBERKULOSIS O TB?

S: Siguraduhin ding kumakain ng masusustansyang pagkain upang mapagtibay

ang iyong resistensya mula sa sakit. Sinabi
ni Vasques na ang isa sa pinamahalagang
panlaban natin mula sa sakit na ito ay ang
ating resistensya. Para sa mga nanay naman, pabakunahan ng BCG ang mga sanggol. Ang BCG ay makukuha ng libre kapag
tayo ay nagpunta sa ating lokal na health
center.
Patuloy ang mga ginagawang hakbang
ng lokal na gobyerno upang mabigyan ng
karampatang lunas ang mga pasyente ng
Tuberkulosis. Ngunit, hindi ito sapat upang
makamit ang isang TB-free na bayan.
Kailangan ng mga mamayang may sapat
na kaalaman sa TB, bukas ang isip sa mga
posibleng lunas nito, at nakikiisa sa mga
ginagawa ng bayan upang tuluyan ng mapuksa ang nakamamatay na sakit na ito.#

LOS BANOS TIMES

NEWS

ARC conducts autism seminar for parents

By Judyann Sonido and Dee Urtua

To educate parents was the goal of the

Behavior Management on Children with
Special Needs seminar conducted by the
Autism Resource Center (ARC) last March
21.
Ms. Ana del Valle, director of ARC
Los Baos spearheaded the event. The
seminar was one of the activities held every
month to help address the needs of children
with autism. Thirteen participants composed of parents of children with autism,
parent- volunteers, and teachers from different areas in Laguna such as San Pablo,
Cabuyao, Bay, and Los Baos participated
in the event.
Three workshops were conducted to
further the knowledge and skills of the
participants in dealing with children with
special needs.
The Autism Resource Center is under
the Autism Society Philippines which cater
to the needs of people with disabilities by
conducting seminars all over the country.
As of now, seven centers are supported
by the local government units in Laguna.
These are located in Los Baos, San Pablo,

PESO continues
job fair series

By Jessica Batoon, Jobel Mira Evangelista

and Elsie Reyes

The Public Employment Service Office (PESO)-Los Banos held the first quarter job fair last March 27, at the New Municipal Building of Los Banos.
Out of 402 applicants,193 were male
while 209 were female. The 43 companies
who participated in the event were mostly
privately owned, some of these companies
are: Searchers & Staff; Serbiz Coop; Nozomi Fortune; SM Store Calamba; Toyota;
Engtek; and Waltermart Supermarket.
The next job fairs for 2015 are scheduled on June 25, September 24, and November 26, respectively. Aside from the
quarterly job fairs, PESO will also conduct
job fairs in some of the barangays. The
job fairs in barangays were scheduled as
follows: April 15 Brgy. Bagong Silang;
April 24 Brgy. Malinta; May 15 Brgy.
Bambang; May 29 Brgy. Batong Malake;
June 11 Brgy. Lalakay; July 25 Brgy.

Participants in the Behavior Management on Children with Special Needs seminar discusses the needs of
children with autism. (Photo by Judyann Sonido)

Calamba, Sta. Rosa, and Liliw.

Ang mga pamilya ng batang may autism ay kailangan matuto. Kailangang on
their own, maghanap sila ng paraan kung
pano tuturuan ang anak nila para paglaki
ng mga anak nila, hindi sila maging liabilities sa community. Katulad ng sinabi ko

kanina, when they go out, they will survive

and be accepted in the community. So their
family should teach children these skills.
Parang kayo. Kung skilled na kayo, then
your parents will be confident enough to let
you go, del Valle said.#

MNAO conducts nutrition seminar in

Brgy. Maahas
By Ma. Alyssa Bianca Caugma, Alyssa Joy Gabertan and Sarah Joy Trivino

In line with the celebration of the National Womens Month, the Municipal Nutrition Action Office (MNAO), together
with the Gender and Development Office
(GAD), organized a nutrition seminar for
the women of Brgy. Maahas last March 12
at the Maahas Covered Court.
Ms. Pamela Gonzales, network coordinator of the Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement (BIDANI) gave a short lecture about
the importance of Life Cycle Approach to
Maahas; July 31 Tadlac; August 18
San Antonio; and on October 14 Brgy.
Bayog.
For more information on the schedule
of job fairs and other services of PESO,
contact PESO at (049) 501-4177. #

nutrition, which recognizes the different

nutritional demands of each life stage starting from the fetal until senior age. Malnutrisyon ay kalaban ng isang bayan sa pagiging maunlad, she emphasized.
Moreover, MNAO Officer, Dr. Maria
D. Cerezo, gave talks on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and nutritional demands per age
group, from infancy to elderly.
This activity happens at least three
times a year in different barangays of Los
Baos, each with varying health topics.#

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