The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) in Catanduanes had its first meeting of the year last Feb, 6, 2025 at the Queen Maricel Inn in Virac.
Unfortunately for the public they had sworn to serve, not one of the 12 local chief executives, as well as the congressman of the lone district, were present during the gathering called by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources.
Just two months earlier, in November 2024, the Department of the Interior and Local Government issued Memorandum Circular No. 2024-171 reminding governors and mayors or their duly authorized representatives, as well as barangay captains of villages where the protected area is located, that their membership in PAMB is mandatory under the provisions of the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018.
The law also designated as member a senator or district representative who are residents of the province where the protected area is located “unless they decline membership in the PAMB.”
“Non-observance of the pertinent E-NIPAS provisions and refusal to perform the roles and responsibilities under Section 11-A of Republic Act 7586 as amended by RA 11038 are grounds for administrative disciplinary actions,” the DILG circular warned.
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Only a small fraction of provincial government officials and employees attended the brief ceremony marking the 80th Catanduanes Liberation Day last Feb. 8. 2025.
Vice Governor Peter Cua led the wreath-laying rite at the World War II Memorial Fountain, in the presence of uniformed officials and personnel as well as one of the two remaining guerillas who actually participated in the battle against Japanese soldiers at the old municipal hall in Virac, Tomas Gil, who delivered a message. The other is Florencio Tapales and they are both in their late 90s.
After the program, the veterans and surviving family beneficiaries, totaling 176 in all but only 72 were present, were treated to a medical mission at the Capitol dome where they also received 10 kilos of rice and a P1,000 cash gift from the provincial government.
The tokens are not enough for the Catandunganons today to repay the war veterans, living or dead, for the sacrifice they offered during the struggle against the Japanese invaders.
For their heroism to remain in the memory of the next generation, the veterans’ individual experiences and collective stories of the war should be gathered in a book that can be published and circulated locally. Perhaps, a group of writers led by Prof. Ramon Felipe Sarmiento could collate such stories as their share in paying tribute to those who perished or lived through the war years.
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A DAY AT THE HORSE RACE. A man goes to the racetrack and bets $2 on a long shot and wins $18.
So he puts that $18 in the 2nd race and wins again, $128. Again, he puts it all on a long shot in the 3rd
race and again wins $770!
He keeps doing this for each race, and finally on the last race he puts his entire winnings so far – $1,941,550!
The crowds are all around him watching this race, because at 8:1 odds he can win $15,532,402!
They’re off! Everybody is cheering an urging on the horse, who seems to slide back a bit, and comes in last! Everybody is so disappointed – a truly exciting day.
The man goes home and his friend asks him how’d he do at the tracks. He answers: “I lost $2.”