Toilet for toilet-less household project

At night, the space between these colorful fishing boats usually serves as “toilet” for most of the seashore dwellers. - MWBuzzpic by AP HERNANDEZ

PROVIDING toilet to toilet-less homes in Parang is one proposal that should be given consideration by the community and the local government.

According to Aldrin Toribio, himself a Mambulaoan and a motivational speaker, the absence of toilets in many households in Parang, particularly those along the shore of Mambulao Bay, has contributed much in human waste pollution along the beach.

Toribio sounded off his idea in a Facebook message to MWBuzz recently, stressing that since these households don’t have toilets, the tendency for its members is to dispose of their excreta along the shore.

This appalling condition of the Parang beach has long discouraged people to do leisurely walk along the bay “to shoot the breeze”, especially in the afternoon, he said.

MWBuzz had witnessed lately how household rubbish was being dumped along the beach. 

The entire length of the beach is carpeted with community rubbish and other waste pollutants

Toribio said that the local baranggay should take charge in doing a survey to find out households without toilets.

Parang has 5,754 people in 645 households under the 2007 national census.

“Once they have been identified, we can start finding ways to provide them one,” Toribio said.

Noting that this program would require substantial funding, he said: “We could outsource from the members of the baranggay, businesses, businessmen, politicians, NGOs, sponsors and overseas workers from Mambulao.

“We can save on the cost of manpower by tapping local labor who would contribute their time in building a toilet … ala-bayanihan style”, Toribio said.

The male members of the household should give what is called “sweat equity”. 

This simply means that they will help in the project, Toribio said.

He said that this concept of community tie-up to push development in Mambulao has been one of the concepts he has been advocating through Unlad Panganiban Movement, of which he is the founder.

The LGU should do a survey of households in Parang to find out how many of them are without toilets, especially those along the seashore and those living next to the mangrove swamps. Then, the municipal government should put up funding to provide each of them a toilet, a suggestion from Unlad Panganiban Movement (UPM), saying it’s the only way to keep a healthy environment. - MWBuzzpic by AP HERNANDEZ

Appeal for Enya Gabrielle N Angeles

By PERCY A OSTONAL

Batch ’66

Michigan, USA

ENYA Gabrielle N Angeles is a 2nd grader in Atascocita Springs Elementary School, Humble, Texas.

Originally from Quezon City, the whole family migrated to the US some years back.

In an article about her on Facebook, it was said that exactly three weeks after her 8th birthday, doctors diagnosed her with stage 4 liver cancer with metastasis to the lungs.

With the expected mounting hospital bills, his father, Joel U Angeles and his wife are "urgently appealing" to all kind-hearted individuals most specially to his mother's "kababayans" from Jose Panganiban (Mambulao), Polilio and Jomalig, Quezon.

On behalf of JPHS batch ’66 (At Facebook: Batch Sixtysix) of which Joel's mother, Tessie Uzarraga-Angeles is a member, I am compassionately asking your gift of generosity and be part of  the on-going donations/funds raising drive.

Mga kababayan, in the comfort of your homes with your families, let's reflects upon ourselves the "warmest meaning of Christmas of giving”.

“Sa ating makakayanang halaga, tulungan natin si ENYA GABRIELLE.”

 For your donations, please contact the following persons:

 Mr & Mrs. Manny Malangyaon
223 Ryans Run,Garnet Valley, Pa. 19060
Tel # 610-348-1192   #610-591-3493
USA

JPNHS leadership told: Get your focus

By ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ

“GET your focus.”

   Eddie Tarog ... 'project focus'

This was the suggestion from a prominent member of the JPNHS Alumni Association to the leaders running the group who are now in a frenzy of coming out with projects aimed at helping the less-fortunate members of the Mambulao community.

Eddie Tarog, an executive at a management consultancy firm in Jakarta, Indonesia, told the JPNHS members involved in project planning “to decide on one single project, but do it in a big way”.

A member of Batch 66, Tarog pitched the idea after being informed of a number of projects being lined up by the association to be taken up at the general alumni homecoming on April 28-29, 2012.

He made known his impression in an email sent to his batch mates as his response to suggestions from association members who are based overseas.

A copy of this email was sent to MWBuzz.

Tarog said the planning group led by Sam Tatom, who is also the secretary of the LaPIMa group, should be able “to short list the many suggested projects and then decide on one project”.

He was reacting to a list of proposed projects that included Tesda scholarships, livelihood projects like piglet dispersal, fish-cage project, the development of a fish marketing scheme similar to that one operating in Mercedes, cooperative, among others.

Tarog has implied that the association could be stretching itself too much, thus becoming less effective in carrying out all it wanted to accomplish.

He said:  “Every single one of those suggested ideas will require focus, resources, manpower, expertise to implement … and I'm not sure the group can do justice to all of them.”

Urging them to focus on one single project, Taro said the chances of doing it well and doing it in a big way is “much greater”.

He said: “I have seen so many good ventures fall by the wayside because of lack of focus. Just making one venture succeed will already demand much work and resources. Let's make a big success of one project first, then others can follow.”

Noting that education has been a top project, Tarog said the group should go all out in supporting its education program.

He was referring to the association’s plan to send scholars for skills training at Tesda (Technology Education and Skills Development  Authority), which would require substantial funding, hoped to raise from the members and through fundraising drives.

Tarog said that while a scholarship program is no not a new idea, what can be new is the unprecedented scale of the program the group can do this time around. 

He asked: “Why help only 10 scholars? Let's help 100, or 1,000!  

“Obviously, we still have to do the math and iron out the details of a big scholarship program, but if we are to embark on an ambitious venture to help our town, I say we focus on education … but do it in a really big way because the effects and benefits of education are incalculably far reaching and self sustaining.”

He said that impact of education on the life of an individual cannot be overstated.

“We don't have to look very far for proofs ... WE are all proofs of what education can do! And imagine the multiplier effect : one person we help educate would affect the lives of his family and the people around him.

“And if we help 10, 100, 1,000, imagine how much good that will do for the community!”

Tarog said that if the association would opt for a livelihood program, it should choose one and focus on making it succeed.

“A livelihood program is essentially a business venture, and every business venture would require careful planning,  a dedicated organization, technical and business expertise.”

Not only that, he said. “It would also require considerable resources upfront to cover development and implementation costs, working capital and the likelihood of losses during the initial stages of operation.”

It would also demand extreme patience "as many variables will come into play, most of which are beyond the group’s control, such as competition, local politics, vested interests, weather disturbances, accidents, labor problems, market forces and financial instabilities," Tarog said.

LaPIMa Xmas party fundraiser nets Php74,888

LaPIMa members doing ala-aerobics-style dancing at party ... good for the oldies.

THE recent fundraising Christmas party of the LaPIMa has netted Php74,888.

This was disclosed by Sam Tatom, LaPIMa secretary, in emails he sent out to the members of the Larap PIM Association recently.

Tatom said the amount raised was actually 75% of the P100,000 the association had targeted for this year.

“It’s a big success,” he told MWBuzz.

The Christmas party was held at Camelot Hotel in Quezon City.

The proceeds was raised from sales of dinner and raffle tickets and other cash source, which amounted to K138,800.

The event incurred expenses of about Php63,912, which arose from rental of a function room at Camelot Hotel and the cost of per-plate dinner.

There were also other expenses involved such as the printing of dinner tickets.

The raffle prizes were donated by batch members Alex Reuyan (two pieces each of microwave oven, sewing machines, blenders, grille at P2,000 each)’ Sammy Jimenez (microwave oven and coffee maker); Tatom (assorted gift items, bowls, glasses, clocks, among others); and Jun Ordiz (give-away items, shirts, umbrella and backpack).

Aside from the party proceeds, LaPIMa also received cash donations of AU$400 (about Php17,880) from two Australia-based members.

He also disclosed that he has received a number of emails from members overseas asking ho they can help financially.

“This is good news because we are little by little building up our cash reserves for future projects,” Tatom said.

Tatom said that right now, the association has Php102,043.80 with the Bank.of Commerce.

LoloSam doing the 'jerk'.

LaPIMa fundraising targets Php500,000

THE LaPIMa is seeking to raise Php500,000 in the next four months to fund its various on-going and future projects.

The ambitious target was disclosed by Sam Tatom in emails circulated to the members of Larap PIM Association, who are either based in the Philippines or overseas.

“Sana ma-hit natin ang Php500,000 target natin bago tayo magre-union sa April 21, 2012,” he said.

The planned LaPIMa reunion will take place at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

“The funds are urgently needed,” Tatom said, citing a newly-proposed funding for 16 Tesda scholars for 2012-13 at a cost of Php48,000 every quarter, for a total of Php192,000.

Tatom said it would cost about Php12,000 for each of the Tesda scholars.

LaPIMa will be picking out four scholars from each of the four major communities, namely Pag-Asa (July-Sept), Parang (Sept-Dec), Jose Panganiban (Jan-March 2013) and Larap (April June 2013).

He also cited yearly funding to members on medical assistance, funeral assistance, calamity assistance (during typhoon); financial assistance during fiesta celebrations, and others.

On funding assistance to fiesta celebration, Tatom told MWBuzz: “Fiestas have been a tradition that we have cherished ever since and we are glad to support it …”

Piglet dispersal project in pipeline

PIGLET dispersal is among livelihood projects for its members that are now in the pipeline, according to LaPIMa.

LaPIMa said several of these projects are under consideration and that they would have to be coordinated with the community, the municipal government and interested community organizations.

A common source of additional income, hog-raising has become popular among a number of rural household in Mambulao as it could be done along with other income-generating activities.

According to LaPIMa, under its piglet dispersal program, a household would receive a female piglet (breeder) at no cost, usually worth Php1,200.

One of the female litters produced from a breeder would have to be given away to a neighbor interested in hog-raising, who would do the same, once his/her animal has produced its offspring.

“This way, the chain of piglet dispersal is not cut off,” says Sam Tatum, secretary of LaPIMa.

Usually, a breeder would produce an average of six live piglets in 3.8 months after “being serviced” by boar.

The hog could be sold at marketable weight of 60kg to 100kg in five to six months, depending on its variety.

To achieve the desired impact of income generation, LaPIMa is planning to acquire at least female 10 piglets initially, for dispersal to 10 households.

This would cost the association Php12,000 for the 10 young breeders.

LaPIMa said the recipients of the breeder would have to shoulder the cost of raising the animal.

If the 10 households succeeded in breeding their animals, it would mean that there would be another batch of 10 households receiving their young breeders in the next six months.

In one year, at least 40 households would benefit from the project.

Tilapia fish cage project for Larap and Mambulao

Tilapia net cages ... A common sight in Isabela province’s freshwater ponds. They could be replicated in Mambulao and Larap’s coastal waters as livelihood project for marginal fishermen. – MWBuzzpic by ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ

WITH the built-in presence of the sea, a tilapia-cage project could work wonder for subsistence fishermen of Larap and Jose Panganiban.

This is one of the income-generation schemes that the JPNHS Alumni Association would launch once the needed funds are obtained.

The project is among the short-term livelihood schemes being lined up by the association. The other one is the piglet dispersal program for poor families in Larap and Mambulao.

Both are waiting for funding, Sam Tatom, of Batch 66 and secretary of the LaPIMa, said in his email to batch members recently.

According to Sam Tatom, LaPIMa secretary, the initial cost per fish-net cage is Php200,000 a year. 

It will be initially operated by the association and later turned over to a multi-purpose cooperative which will be created.

The increasing demand for fish-protein from the municipality has prompted LaPIMa to promote tilapia-cage project in Larap and Mambulao.

“There’s big market … we can bring the catch to Mambulao where fish is a daily staple and therefore there’s a demand,” according to some fish folks in the area, whose comments were also posted on Facebook account of “Taga-Larap Ako”, the chat room for Larap people who are either at home, overseas or elsewhere in the country.

Usually, a fish-cage would involve a 15 x 15 x 3 meter net that would be secured by four sturdy posts while it is submerged in the water.

Feeding, usually using commercially-available feeds, is done twice a day. 

Raising fast-growing varieties of tilapia, a harvest is expected in four months at an average weight of 300gms to 400gms.

The technology has been available since the early 80s but is only being used along Philippine coastlines where the water is calm. 

The technology is yet to be tried in both Larap and Mambulao, thus requiring a fish-cage tilapia expert from the Bureau of Fisheries and Acquatic resources (BFAR) who would explain and supervise how the scheme is carried out.

The Mambulao Bay, according to residents, has calm water and therefore, will not be destructive to fish-cages, such as the one being mulled for the two areas.

-By AP Hernandez