VOLUME 7 No. 02 Borongan City, Eastern Samar Php 10.00 April 21-18, 2013

REPORTEREastern Samar

website: www.evmailnews.com

Evardone ignores NDF’s ‘final warning’

see NPA p. 2

Advertise with us!Contact (055) 560-9670 or visit our office

Brgy. Balud 1, Borongan City, Eastern Samar

AN WARAY congressman Neil Benedict Montejo leads the cutting of the ribbon of a jetty port project at Basey which will serve as the jump off point to Sohoton, one of the country’s natural wonders. With him are (l-r) tourism regional director Karen Tiopes, Tourism Usec. Ma. Victoria Jasmin, his wife Jenny, Atty Joy Balauitan of TIEZA and Mayor Igmedio “Bunji” Ponferrada of Basey, Samar.

Tacloban City – The De-partment of Tourism, in coopera-tion with the Tourism Infrastruc-ture Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and An Waray congress-man Neil Benedict Montejo in-augurated and turned over two jetty ports at the town of Basey in Samar on April 27.

The inauguration was led by An Waray congressman Montejo, DOT Undersecretary Ma. Victoria Jasmin, DOT regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes, assistant chief operating officer of the TIEZA

DOT inaugurates P 5-M jetty port projects at Basey, Samar

and Basey Mayor Igmedio “Junji” Ponferrada who expressed his profuse thanks for the port proj-ect. The jetty ports were reported-ly lobbied by Cong. Montejo with the TIEZA, and convinced them it was a worthwhile effort because it would improve the experience of tourists coming to see Sohoton Caves by taking off and docking on a suitable infrastructure.

Meanwhile, before going to Basey, Jasmin had an interaction with Tacloban based media outlets at the Granda Manor. There, she

informed the media of the gains of the Canadian-assisted tourism projects at the northwestern part of Leyte island, saying that with the political will shown by some mayors, their tourism projects are taking shape.

Among this, Jasmin raved about Kalanggaman Island in Palompon which she visited on April 25. She was happy to learn that it was already visited by one luxury cruise ship and that anoth-er visit on May 1 was impending.

Eastern Samar - Congressman Ben Evardone (LP), a re-elec-tionist and former governor of this province, said he is choosing to ignore a “final warning” issued to him by the National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas for his alleged “crimes against the people and the revolution”.

“Huwag na lang natin patulan ‘yan ciguro. Hindi kasi kami nagbayad ng permit to campaign and permit to win”, he said in a text message when reached for his reaction.

The NDF-EV, through their spokesperson Fr.Santiago Salas, sent media outlets a press release at around 3:00 PM of Thursday, April 25, about their “final warn-ing” against Evardone and his cousin, Javier Zacate, former mayor of Sulat town, who is run-ning for governor of the province against incumbent Gov. Conrado Nicart.

Salas said “Evardone and Zacate are both in politics and in crime,” and have “enriched themselves in office as well as through masterminding criminal activities.”

The NDF-EV spokesperson also revealed they are sore that the cousins are violating “guide-lines for electoral access in revo-lutionary areas by bringing along soldiers to secure and support in their campaign sorties.

Salas said Evardone was a “plunderer” and backed the military in their Social Integration Program for rebel returnees, even

funding intelligence operations against the NPA’s in Dolores and Can-avid towns, said to be highly influenced before.

On the other hand, the NDF accused Zacate for being involved in some allegedly nefarious activi-ties.

“The people in the towns of Oras, Dolores, Arteche and San Policarpo have been complaining of widespread military operations whenever Evardone and Zacate conduct their campaign sorties”, adding they have been long warn-ing the two against this and “are therefore acting with grave defi-ance and impunity.”

Salas ended the PR with a threat that the NPA’s will “disarm and dismantle” the duo’s alleged goons and “take offensive actions against their military and police backers”.

“This is their final warning and no appeal is possible,” Salas said. By Lalaine M. JImenea

Lope de Vega, Northern Sa-mar – The 20th We Lead Infantry Battalion based here has report-edly preempted NPA extortion activities in this province after they have “successfully driven the armed groups away from the populace in the area”.

In a press release sent to

Army discovers 8th NPA camp since January

Soldiers look at what was a remnant of an NPA camp they discovered.

media outlets, the Army unit said that “through the relentless conduct of massive and sustained combat operations, the govern-ment troops has dislodged the presence of armed NPA bandits that was reportedly extorting

PAGE 2 Eastern Samar REPORTER April 21-27, 2013

OPINION SECTION

Treasure Box

LALAINE MARCOS-JIMENEAPublisher/EditorNILO BORDIOS

Bureau Chiefwebsite: www.evmailnews.com

Contributors:Bruno Colico Rubio • Rose Lee Segura • Boyboy Evite • KC

Collado • PIA – Eastern Samar • Jo Fabile• Louie Guarin • Vic Apura • Atty. Reymund Boco Gunda • Jose Sanro Jimenea •

Lirio Baldestomo • Office Address:

Brgy. Balud I, Borongan, Eastern SamarTel. No. (055) 560-9670

Authorized Representatives:Balangiga - KAREN ANN HUPP- SABIO Guiuan - CHARISA ECHAUZ

Throbbing Headache

By ROSE LEE SEGURA

THE

BYSTANDERBy FR. ROY CIMAGALA

The Benefits of Gardening

NPA ... from p. 1

Fidelity in the age of promiscuity

money from the populace in the hinterland baran-gays.”

As a result of their combat operations and with information provided by the people, they found an abandoned camp at Sitio Dakong Sapa in this town on April 23, at around 11:20 AM.

Lt. Col. Noel A. Vestu-ir, 20the IB’s Commanding Officer, in his report to 803rd Brigade Commander Col. Rolando Malinao, said his troops were dispatched to track down reported pres-ence of NPA’s in the area. According to the reports, an undetermined number of NPA’s were roaming in the barangays to enforce their Permit to Campaign and Permit to Win scheme for political candidates who are campaigning in the in-terior barangays. They were also reported as collecting money and food stuff from the residents for their sus-tenance.

Vestuir said the camp had 30 bunkers that can

accommodate more or less sixty (60) rebels, a kitchen, one comfort room. They estimate that it was aban-doned by the rebels about two weeks before the Army operations.

Vestuir said they’ve discovered eight NPA camps already at the 1st district of Northern Samar since January. “Although we were not able to catch them, we have prevented them from staging their ter-roristic activities. We have driven them away from the peace-loving people, we have dislodged them from their base and we have prevented them from influ-encing the safe conduct of election. With the continu-ing support of the people, we are optimistic that it would not be long, that we could neutralize these armed terrorists. Before this would happen, we call on them to lay down their arms for them to once again live peaceful and normal lives along with their families”, Vestuir said. PR

Almost everyone has experienced a headache, which has different causes and symptoms. It’s these darn headaches that feels like your temples are going to explode.

• TENSION HEADACHES. A tension headache is usually caused by emotional or physical stress, lack of sleep, poor posture when sitting or emotional upset. Pressing pain, tightness or throbbing on the front, top or both sides of the head are classic symptoms.

Treat it by reducing stress_ lie down or sit quietly, close your eyes and relax, take a warm shower or treat yourself to a massage. Apply heat to the painful area us-ing a hot-water bottle or damp washcloth. or you may get relief from using ice bag wrapped in a cloth. if a certain painkiller has worked in the past, then try it again. there are several over-the-counter remedies, don’t use ibupro-fen if you are taking blood thinners or have an ulcer. See your doctor if your headaches become more frequent or severe, if you experience nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to light or if your normal treatment does not help.

• MIGRAINES. Women are three times more likely than men to suffer migrains. this is because fluctuating estrogen levels from menstruation, pregnancy, meno-pause, birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are a common migraine trigger. Other migraine triggers include caffeine, chocolate, loud noise, strong odors, red wine, aspartame, MSG, and some prescription drugs.

Migraine pain is pulsating, moderate to severe and is usually on one side of the head. Nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light, noise or odors are common.

About 20% of migraine sufferers experience an aura-flashing lights, numbness or tingling in the face or arm, strange smells or sounds_about 15-30 minutes before a migraine occurs.

Treat it by resting in a quiet room with your eyes close and apply an ice pack wrapped in a cloth to the painful area. Migraine are diagnosed by your physicians and typically require prescription medication.

• SINUS HEADACHES. Causes and symptoms of sinus headaches result from sinus blockage due to a cold or allergies. It occurs around the eyes and over the fore-head. Symptoms are usually mild in the morning and get progressively worse as the day goes on. If your sinuses are blocked for than a week, see your doctor. you may have sinusitis, which may require antibiotics and nasal spray.

The most common home remedy _inhaling steam from a warm water in a bowl or using a cool-mist hu-midifier may help loosen the mucus. Try a combination of decongestant-painkiller product.

Colleen Brady, Pharmacist University of British Columbia

THE TITLE may refer more immediately to married couples who are committed to their spouses for a lifetime of love. But it can actually be applied to all of us also, single or married, young or old, healthy or not, etc.

That’s because in the end we all have to be faith-ful to something or someone who, if I have to say things bluntly, is none other than God, our Creator and Father. Some people may choose to be faithful only to their own selves, but that’s another story that we can take up some other time.

We cannot help but live some degree of fidelity be-cause by nature we are a relational being. We are always connected to someone and there is always some kind of hierarchy in this network of relations in which we live. And one task we have to do is to find the place that properly belongs to us. This is the context of fidelity.

We need to be more aware of our duty to be faithful, especially in our present times when forms of promiscuity are increasing and often in a most subtle way. We need to know what is involved in this duty to be faithful.

We also need to know how to distinguish promiscuity from the legitimate attitude that respects and even fosters tolerance of an increasingly diversified world, or more, even taking advantage of such diversity.

We are in tricky times. And so we have to be discern-ing as we pursue the real and ultimate goals of our life, and everything in it. Here lies the seed of the secret of fidelity. It’s never a passive, laid-back virtue. Rather, it is active and dynamic.

We can only be faithful if we work for it consciously, keeping the right priorities that should be set out by the objective laws that govern us as persons, members of the community in all aspects—social, economic, political, cul-tural, etc.—and ultimately as children of God.

Our main problem is that we often take this duty to know who we really are and the laws that properly govern us for granted. We often allow ourselves to be led mainly by the unreliable swings of our emotions and passions, the social and ideological trends, and the changing economic and political weathers, etc.

These are never absolute guides. At best, they give some light and impulse, and they can condition and exert some influence on the different aspects of our life, but they are in need to be rooted on an absolute, permanent

ground—the terra firma who is God.Fidelity requires of us nothing less than the genuine

impulse of love, the love that ultimately comes from God, the author, pattern and end of love. It requires an intimate relation with God.

When a cou-ple’s love refuses to conform itself to this love, and prefers to linger on the bodily aspects of love, or some other considerations only, fidelity may survive more of an accident than by intention.

Same with those engaged in other fields of human endeavors—business, politics, academics, culture, philoso-phy, theology, etc. If their main inspiration is not God, but something or someone else, they will go wayward sooner or later.

This love of God is something we can always have, if we are open to it in the first place, and then work hard to keep it. There will be difficulties, of course, but none that could not be overcome if we just keep our faith and love for God.

This love of God is expressed first when springing from our faith in God we obey his commandments, even if such commandments may give us temporary difficulties. It is developed by having recourse to God in the sacraments themselves and in abiding prayer.

This matter about prayer should be understood well, because many misconceptions distort its real character. Prayer is simply keeping our mind and heart in God’s presence, allowing them to act and interact with God ac-cording the circumstances of the moment.

This is how we can keep ourselves vitally strong and dynamic, giving us a good vision of things and the capacity to discern what God really wants of us, especially when we are faced with many so-called legitimate but competing choices, tempting us to be promiscuous.

This is how can be truly faithful, enjoying a sense of meaning and direction in our life, a sense of confidence and security amid the many vagaries of life. We need to cultivate and spread this lifestyle and culture. Email: roy-cimagala@gmail.com

Summer is here! It is a great time to start a new gar-den. In our very stressful modern life where we mostly spend much of our time indoors; there is a need for us to be in commune with nature every now and then. Garden-ing is one of the cheapest ways to do that.

A small piece of land in front of our house or in our backyard can become a stress-relieving space once it has been transformed into a thriving garden. By adding a small pocket of lush green plants in one corner, a plot of vegetables, or an ambitious pond with waterfalls filled with blooming water lilies can make a big difference. Whether you are interested in planting vegetables, or ornamental plants, the act of gardening and the amount of dedication you pour into it will be life-changing.

Studies and experts found that gardening can fight stress and is a better alternative than regular leisure ac-tivities like watching television or reading. We, modern humans, are currently experiencing attention fatigue from our daily tasks like texting or answering cellular phones or going over our emails and surfing favorite social net-working sites. On the other hand, gardening will give us involuntary attention, an effortless form of attention, that we use to enjoy nature. Involuntary attention may also even help improve depression symptoms, according to experts. Gardening can also make you go out and breathe fresh air and enjoy the sunshine.

Mrs. Nenita Alura, Assistant Professor and Coordi-nator of National Service Training Program (NSTP) in the

By Rolex Gelig

College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences of the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU), Borongan City, elaborated that gardening does not only beautify our surroundings but also provides oxygen for the environment and absorb carbon dioxide and other toxins in the air.

Mrs. Alura also believes that gardening can give you relaxation, feeling of contentment and a source of ad-ditional income if you propagate and sell your plants. She also added that planting medicinal herbs could be a cheap and effective source of traditional medicine.

You can also perform different movements in the act of weeding, digging, planting and other repetitive tasks that require strength or stretching which are excellent forms of low-impact exercise. This is beneficial for both young and elderly who could not bear vigorous or high impact exercise routines such as weight lifting or long-distance running. There is a new field of medicine that has been developed in Europe called Horticultural Therapy which involves exposure of patients with psychiatric disorders to gardening and garden appreciation in order to deal with their conditions. The therapy is said to help calm their agitation.

If you wish to establish a garden whether for busi-ness or for pleasure, you have to choose an area with good drainage because most vegetables and ornamentals do not like waterlogged areas except for swamp or aquatic

see THE BENEFITS OF GARDENING p. 3

April 21-27, 2013 Eastern Samar REPORTER PAGE 3

Republic of the PhilippinesEighth (8th) Judicial RegionREGIONAL TRIAL COURT

Branch 01Borongan Eastern Samar

SPEC. PROC. NO. 152-13IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR ADOPTION

OF AMADA B. TABINASSPS. AMADO C. TABINAS AND CONCEPCION B. TABI-

NAS Petitioner.

X------------------------------------------------------XORDER

This is a verified petition for Adoption of Amada B. Tabinas filed by the spouses Amado C. Tabinas and Concep-cion B. Tabinas petitioners through counsel Atty. Celestino A. Cabato praying that after due notice, publication and hearing and submission of favorable recommendation of the home study and case study reports, the petition be approved allow-ing the petitioners to adopt the child Amada Bacula Tabinas.

The petition alleges that petitioners are husband and wife and are qualified under the law to adopt; that petitioners were married on June 18, 1989 at So. Calico-an Chapel, Brgy. Calico-an, Borongan Eastern Samar; that petitioner Amado C. Tabinas was born on October 18, 1953 at Borongan E. Sa-mar while Concepcion D. Bacula was born on Dec. 8, 1937 at Borongan E. Samar, that petitioners desire to adopt Amada Bacula Tabinas who was born on November 14, 1981 at East-ern Samar Provincial Hospital, Borongan E.Samar naming petitioners as her parents; that the biological parents of the Amada Bacula Tabinas were Melencio Bacula and Verginia Abella of Brgy. Balud 1, Borongan City Eastern Samar that immediately after the delivery of the former by her mother who is the sister-in-law of petitioner Concepcion B.Tabinas the spouses decided to entrust the custody of their child in favor of the herein petitioners, thus since then the petitioners treated her as their own child baptized her and thereafter secure the certificate of live birth give her the necessary sup-port for her education and subsistence; that Amada Bacula Tabinas has been consistently considered and treated by pe-titioners as their own child since her birth up to the present; that Amada Bacula Tabinas has voluntarily given her consent; that petitioners have no child of their own and they are ready and willing to legally adopt said Amada Bacula Tabinas; that petitioners are financial capable ever since of giving support to the ward of Amada Bacula Tabinas; that petitioners possess all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications to adopt and that they are more than 16 years older than the person to be adopted; that petitioners are willing to undergo basic re-quirements imposed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development relative to the submission of Case Study and Home Report which agency is in charge of conducting such report; that subject person to be adopted is willing that her birth certificate be first reverted and changed to conform that the fact she is the daughter of the spouses Melencio Bacula and Verginia Abella as to her biological parents.

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and sub-stance let the hearing of the petition be set on May 24, 2013, at 8:30 o’clock in the morning at the Session Hall of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 01, Borongan, Eastern Samar where all interested parties may appear in court and show cause why the said petition should not be granted.

Let this Order be published at the expense of the peti-tioner in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Eastern Samar and accredited by this Court to publish legal notices, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks before the scheduled hearing. The Provincial Office of the DSWD is hereby directed to submit to the court a Home Study Report and Case Study Report of the child and the petitioners duly approved by the Regional Director of the said office prior to the scheduled hearing in coordination with Mrs. Ma. Lourdes S. Cales, Social Welfare Officer of this Court.

Furnish copy of this order to the Solicitor General, 134 Amorsolo St. Legaspi Village, Makati City, the Local Civil Registrar of the City of Borongan , E. Samar, petitioner’s counsel, the petitioner, the Civil Registrar General, National Statistics Office (NSO), Manila and the Provincial Prosecutor of the Province of Eastern Samar.

SO ORDERED.In Chambers, February 14, 2013, Borongan, Eastern

Samar.(SGD.) ELVIE P. LIM

Presiding Judge

Republic of the PhilippinesEighth (8th) Judicial Region

Regional Trial CourtBranch 01

Borongan City, Eastern SamarSP CASE No. 152-13

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR ADOPTION OF AMADA B. TABINAS

FOR: ADOPTIONSPOUSES AMADO C. TABINAS

AND CONCEPCION B. TABINAS,Petitioners,

X--------------------------------------------------XPETITION

COMES NOW the Petitioners through the undersigned Counsel, and unto this Honorable Court, most respectfully file this petition and allege as follows:

1. That the petitioners are both of legal age, husband and wife respectively, with legal capacities to sue and be sued, residents of Brgy. Balud, Borongan City, Eastern Samar, where they may be served with summons and other notices.

2. That the herein petitioners are qualified under the law to adopt a child pursuant to the Family Code of the Philip-pines, and that they are not suffering from any disqualification to adopt.

3. That the petitioners entered into marriage on June 18, 1989 at Bo. Calico-an Chapel, Brgy. Calico-an, Borongan, Eastern Samar, and for reference attached is the petitioner’s marriage contract marked as Annex A and made as an integral part of this petition.

4. That petitioner AMADO C. TABINAS was born on October 18, 1953 at Borongan, Eastern Samar, while petitioner CONCEPCION D. BACULA was born on December 8, 1937 at Borongan, Eastern Samar.

5. That the petitioners desire to adopt AMADA BACULA TABINAS, who was born on November 14, 1981 at Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital, Borongan Eastern Samar naming the herein petitioners as her parents and for reference attached is the birth certificate of the subject child marked as Annex “B” and made as an integral part of this petition.

6. That actually the biological parents of the subject person, AMADA BACULA TABINAS were MELENCIO BAC-ULA and VERGINIA ABELLA, of Brgy. Balud 1, Borongan City, Eastern Samar, that immediately after the delivery of the former by her mother, who is the sister-in-law of petitioner CONCEPCION B. TABINAS, the spouses decided to entrust the custody of their child in favor of the herein petitioners, thus since then the petitioners treated her as their own child, baptized her and thereafter secure the certificate of live birth, give her the necessary support for her education and subsis-tence.

7. That the subject person, AMADA BACULA TABI-NAS, prior to the filing of the petition has been consistently considered and treated by the petitioner as their own child since her birth and up to the present.

8. That the subject person AMADA BACULA TABI-NAS has given her voluntary consent that she be adopted by the herein petitioners, and for reference attached is her affidavit of consent marked as Annex C and made as an integral part of this petition.

9. That the petitioners have no child of their own and that they are ready and willing to legally adopt said AMADA BACULA TABINAS and assume the responsibility as adopting parents.

10. That the petitioners are financial capable ever since of giving support to the ward of AMADA BACULA TABINAS, and that this petition is filed for her interest.

11. That the petitioners possess all the qualifications and none of the disqualification to adopt the subject person and that they are more than 16 years older than the person to be adopted.

12. That petitioners are ready and willing to undergo basic requirements imposed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development relative to the submission of Case Study and Home Study Report which government agency is in charge of conducting such report

13. That the subject person to be adopted is willing that her birth certificate be first reverted and changed to conform the fact she is the daughter of the spouses MELENCIO BAC-ULA and VERGINIA ABELLA as to her biological parents.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respect-fully prayed that after the necessary hearing and submission of favorable recommendation of the home study and case study reports, the petition be approved, allowing the petitioners to adopt the child, AMADA BACULA TABINAS.

Borongan City, Eastern SamarDecember 28, 2012

(Sgd.) ATTY. CELESTINO A. CABATOCounsel for the Petitioners

Borongan City, Eastern SamarIBP No. 837912-12-27-11PTR No.0266613-1-2-12

ROLL No. 37483MCLE Compliance No. IV-0000803

Issued on Nov. 22, 2010

VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATIONWE, AMADO C. TABINAS and CONCEPCION B. TA-

BINAS, petitioners in the above-entitled case, after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law, hereby depose and say:

1. That we have caused the above petition to be pre-pared and filed.

2. That we have read and fully understood the contents of the same and that to the best of our personal knowledge the allegations contained therein are true and correct.

3. That we further certify:a. That we have not commenced any other action in-

volving the same issue in any other court, tribunal or agency.b. That to the best of our knowledge and belief no ac-

tion or proceedings has been filed or is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any tribunal or agency.

c. That if we shall learn that a similar action or pro-ceedings has been filed or is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any division thereof, or any other tribunal or agency, we shall notify the Honorable Tribunal or Agency within five (5) days from such notice of knowledge.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and affixed our signature this 28th day of December 2012, at Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

(Sgd.) AMADO C. TABINASAffiant

ID No. 0531Issued by Province of Eastern Samar(Sgd.) CONCEPCION B. TABINAS

AffiantID No. 1396661

Issued by OSCA, BoronganSUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 28th

day of December 2012 at Borongan City, Eastern Samar, af-fiants exhibiting to m their identification cards numbers as stated above.

(Sgd.) ATTY. CELESTINO A. CABATONotary Public

Until December 31, 2012IBP No. 837912-12-27-11PTR No.0266613-1-2-12

ROLL No. 37483MCLE Compliance No. IV-0000803

Issued on Nov. 22, 2010Doc. No. 520Page No. 105Book No. CXIV;Series of 2012ESR April 7-13, 14-20, 21-27, 2013

PDEA launches anti-drugs text center

The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born. —Warren Bennis

THE BENEFITS OF GARDENING ... from p. 1varieties. After preparing the area and adding garden soil with a mixture of sandy-loam soil and compost, you can now layout the design where you wish to plant.

The next thing that you have to consider is to decide what to plant. The best sources of planting materials and garden accessories are garden centers in your locality.

According to Mr. Ely Luna, owner-proprietor of the Divine Land-scaping and Garden Accessories Supply in Sabang South, Borongan City, when you choose plants for the garden, you have to consider whether the plants are sun-loving or shade-loving and determine what temperatures they are acclimatized to. At present, their garden center has more than 100 different varieties of plants to choose from and they also offer landscaping and hardscaping services, fountain and artificial waterfall installation, as well as garden tables.

You accumulate less non-biodegradable solid wastes by having your own garden because you can directly harvest vegetables from your garden and don’t have to pack them in plastic bags just like if you only buy them from the market. On a larger scale, by making compost fertilizer out of your vegetable and other plant wastes to be used for the garden also frees up space in landfills. Gardening is also educational especially for children. Gardening can teach children where our food comes from and why it is so important to have a garden; whether large or small in every home or school. By showing a child how a plant grows from a seed and how it progresses to develop into a full-grown plant will make them appreciate and love the wonders of nature. At a young age, if children are exposed to gardening, it will also teach them to appreciate the hard work that farmers do when they grow crops for our food.

To sum it up, beside its social and economic benefits, gardening can provide you with fresh, healthy food and the joy of seeing plants you nurtured flourish and encourage the natural environment to recover. The longer you garden, the more you realize how many different ways you benefit from it beginning with your body, extending to your intellect and creative abilities, and reaching your soul.

These benefits could also be the result of the exercise one gets from working in the garden or the reduction in stress level; but looking at it more holistically, you will realize that in doing what you love, creating beauty and communing with nature can heal your body, mind and soul.

The Philippine Drug Enforce-ment Agency (PDEA) has launched a Short Message Service (SMS)/text center that will receive drug-related information and activities from the general public.

PDEA Director General Under-secretary Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr. said that the message center, which was donated by Go Live Pacific, a lead-ing global provider of technology-enabled solutions and services, will be merged to the already existing PDEA SMART Infoboard System. The center will have Globe and Sun Cellular numbers, in addition to SMART as telecommunication net-works that will receive information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from concerned citizens nationwide.

The official launching and turn-over of the PDEA SMS/Text Center highlighted the regular PDEA Monday Flag-Raising ceremony on April 22, 2013, at the PDEA National Headquarters, Quezon City. For-mally turning over the system to PDEA was Mila G. Rivera, Managing Director of Go Live Pacific.

“The PDEA SMS/Text Center is the fastest, secure and affordable means to receive, process and reply to anti-drug queries and informa-tion from concerned individuals. At the same time, the system also provides a venue for the public to report to PDEA any suspected illegal drug activities in their community,”

Cacdac said. The text center has advanced

features such as Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Solution System, automatic forwarding of SMS to concerned anti-drug units, auto-matic answering of queries falling under the FAQ, automatic sorting of SMS and automatic follow-up on forwarded messages. The system can also be used for SMS blasting like mass and selective announce-ments and other similar services.

“I would like to thank Go Live Pacific for their generosity. Through the adopted system, the citizenry will be encouraged to work hand in hand with PDEA in enforcing the anti-drug law by passing timely and reliable information through the use of the PDEA SMS/Text Center.

The PDEA SMS/Text Center maintains special numbers to fa-cilitate relayed information. SMART and Talk and Text (TNT) subscribers may send their comments, sugges-tions, queries and reports concern-ing suspected illegal drug activities in their community by texting:

PDEA<space>FEEDBACK<space>NAME<space>ADDRESS<space>AGE<space>MESSAGE to 09998887332.

On the other hand, Globe and Sun Cellular subscribers may use the numbers 09279150616 and 09255737332, respectively. PR

Somebody selling/ using drugs in your neighborhood?

Send your comments, suggestions, queries and reports concerning suspected illegal drug activities by texting:PDEA<space>FEEDBACK<space>NAME<space>ADDRESS

<space>AGE<space>MESSAGE to 09998887332 (Smart)09279150616 (Globe)

09255737332 (Sun) DO YOUR SHARE IN PROTECTING YOUR COMMUNITY!

PAGE 4 Eastern Samar REPORTER April 21-27, 2013

Samar’s many beautiful nature spots wow Pres. Noynoy Aquino

Pres. Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III during his speech before media and guests during the port inauguration at Calbayog City. With him was Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and other key officials. PNoy was in Samar for a mixed official and political sortie.

Calbayog City – Awed by the beauty of Calbayog’s bounties of nature, President Benigno S. Aquino pledged to help boost the tourism industry in Samar Island.

President Aquino was in Calbayog on April 26 where he took a short land trip from the Calbay-og Airport to the City’s Ba-rangay Maguino-o where he inaugurated the newly improved Maguino-o Port. On the way, he passed by the beautiful Malajog Beach.

“ I y a n g M a l a j o g Beach, bago kayo umabot

doon, nakita ko ho kanina na may river. At saka mara-mi hong lugar sa Pilipinas na nay river tours, pero itong river nyo, ang gilid parang merong bundok na may granite eh. Ang ganda ho ng view talaga,” the President exclaimed.

He then said that when he goes home to Ma-nila, he will talk to Secretary Ramon Jimenez of the De-partment of Tourism to look for an investor who might be interested to put up a resort there so that it would generate jobs for the locals.

“Pag-uwing pag-uwi ko po ay kakausapin ko

si Secretary Mon Jimenez, maghanap ng investor, baka gustong magtayo ng resort doon at magdagdag tayo ng trabaho.”

The President was also loudly applauded when he said “Pag naipa-tayo naman po iyan at ako po ay nakapag-asawa na, baka diyan na rin ako mag-honeymoon.”

The President was quick to say, however, “pero huwag na po natin hin-tayin iyan, medyo matagal nang hinihintay ng iba iyon; unahin na natin iyong re-sort.” (Let us not wait for that, however, for it might

take a long time; let us start with the resort.)

With the efficient and effective service that comes with the modernization of the Maguino-o Port, tourists will be encouraged to visit Calbayog, the breathtaking Bangon Falls, Guinogo-an Cave and Malajog Beach, PNoy enthused about the city’s touted tourist spots.

He pointed out this would redound to a more vibrant tourism industry and more brisk economy in Samar which will open more doors of opportunities for the city and the entire Eastern Visayas region. PIA

Visit Brgy. San Miguel in the town of Llorente!

talisay beach in Llorente. Photo from the FB Llorente Eastern Samar

The scenic town of Llorente, a virgin paradise one would say, is one of Eastern Samar’s towns that would surely make your summer vacation unforget-table and exciting.

Small and with its ru-ral charm evident, this town was awarded as Cleanest and Greenest Municipality in 2004. Among this town’s famed landmarks are their differently styled houses and a historical church. Llorente is also known for its unique traditions and historical events.

Meanwhile, a coastal barangay, San Miguel, has all the makings of a tourist spot. Awarded the same ac-colade as the town in 2000 and 2001, it is an indication of the village’s cooperative and hospitable people.

To make your summer getaways perfect this year, Brgy. San Miguel Beach, around 7-kilometers away from the town proper, should give you a memo-rable experience. Its beach is known for its captivating beauty and refreshing ambi-ance. The natural beauty of this beach is an expression of God’s powers.

The beach is divided into three parts: the “luyo-baybay”, “tanggapa” and “katamsi-an”. The different parts have unique charac-teristics and beauty.

The “tanggapa” has a monument of Virgin Mary to protect tourists and visi-tors. This is were you can also see lots of colorful fishes and corals.

The other part of the beach called “katamsi-an” is known to be the roost of different kinds of birds. It has a small forest where locals swear some of their birds can only be found there.

“Luyo-baybay” is the third part of the beach, known of its clean, crystal water. It has fine white sand and a perfect scenery. Here you can also do whatever adventure you want.

So what are you wait-ing for? Relax and enjoy your summer getaways just visit Brgy. San Miguel, Llorente, Eastern Samar. And you can post your un-forgettable pictures on your favorite social networking sites. By Joana Jessica Boco

Developing urban communities like the City of Borongan is one of the places where you can find different summer getaways.

Here in Borongan City, we have the man-made Villa Brozas, Pirates’ Cove and etc. We also have na-ture paradisos like the Divinubo Island and Taluba-gnan Cave that tourists patronize. If you go beyond the heart of the town, you will find out that there are still undiscovered beautiful places and one of these is the “ Pabubuntugan” situated in Brgy. Pepelitan.

According to the old folks, Brgy. Pepelitan was just a Sitio of Brgy. Sabang. One day, a group of Phil-ippine Scout Rangers went to the place to undergo training at a former camp which was built during the Spanish times, called the “quartel”. During the training, one ranger was amazed by the beauty of a lady who lived in the place. The ranger fell in love with the beautiful lady but the parents rejected him.

It so happened that the man was a Tagalog and promised by saying “Pipilitin Kita”. Since then the place was called Brgy. Pepelitan. Now, the history of Pabubuntugan is not found anymore and left unheard.

To reach the place, one has to ride a tricycle for 3 kilometers for about 5 minutes and a short walk. The beach is adorable. In sight is the Islands of Divinubo and Ando and the eye-catching man-made cross at the islet known as Pukawon. The man-made cross serves as a signal for fishermen during high tide for them to avoid getting smashed at the islet.

Pukawon and Pabubuntugan beach is con-nected by a sandbar which serves as a bridge in low tide. During high tide, however, it is not advisable to cross to the islet on foot because it is covered by the water.

You would be fascinated and amazed to find that Pabubutugan is a black sand beach while Pu-kawon has white sand. It is best to visit at 9:00-10:00 in the morning because the sea level is not too low or too high. It is the perfect time to experience the captivating surroundings and where one can witness the glowing crystals of the shore and the sand reflect-ing the heat of the sun. By Via Canmie B. Lobina

Borongan’s beach paradise is just a doorstep away