VIGAN'S ESKWELA DE LOS MATADEROS: Training ground for World Class butchers

Vigan’s Eskwela de los Mataderos continues to produce world class butchers. This is in line with the city’s vision to train its residents and other persons interested to acquire skills in order to become globally competitive. In cooperation with TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) which provides scholarship grants to participants, the City Government of Vigan through the Eskwela de los Mataderos has recently paid tribute to its 5th batch of graduates. These certified butchers can easily be employed locally or work abroad where there is great demand for this kind of job.

AUGUST 21, 1971 and 1983: Two Significant Events in Philippine History

August 21 is an important date to remember not only for Liberals but for all Filipinos as well. Worth commemorating are the two significant events in our nation's history --- the Plaza Miranda bombing in 1971 and the Assasination of Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. in 1983.

The Plaza Miranda Bombing of the Liberal Party political rally in Manila was believed to be a ploy of the Marcos Regime to maim the political opposition. The act was immediately blamed to former President Ferdinand Marcos but several years after the Marcos rule, a new twist emerged, new accounts of witnesses have attributed the bombing to Jose Ma. Sison, the self-exiled leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines. The bombing led to the killing of nine persons and scores injured including the candidates of the Liberal Party. The results of the election gave the Liberal Party candidates a near sweep in the senate slots, winning 6 out of 8 and the victory of the local candidates in Manila. However, the event was among the bases of Marcos in declaring Martial Law in September 21, 1971.

The assassination of Liberal Party stalwart, Senator Ninoy Aquino shocked the world. Upon his return from the United States for a medical treatment and political exile, he was felled by an assassin's bullet at the Manila International Airport, minutes after he was fetched by security escorts of the Aviation Security Command (AVSECOM) who led him to a separate exit of the plane. Despite using the name Marcial Bonifacio (Marcial for martial law and Bonifacio for Fort Bonifacio, the place where Ninoy was incarcerated, military authorities were able to trace what plane took him to Manila. The killing was also attributed to the Marcos regime which led to the outpouring of support to the advoacay of Ninoy --- FREEDOM for the Filipinos. Three years after the assassination, a snap election was held amidst the countless protest rallies, condemnations and pressures including those coming from the international communities. The questionable results of the election in which Marcos deafeated Corazon Aquino, widow of Ninoy eventually led to a People Power Revolution (EDSA 1) which catapulted Mrs. Aquino into the Presidency and the restoration of Democracy. For a brief shining moment, the Philippines was looked up to by the world as a symbol of freedom.

This events prove how liberals stand for their conviction in the name of freedom and for love of country.

METRO VIGAN COORDINATING COUNCIL ESTABLISHED

“It started with a simple idea, we have waited for 14 years and after almost two days of Strategic Planning, we have made it, we were able to establish the Metro Vigan Coordinating Council.” This was my statement during the closing program of the Metro Governance Workshop held last August 13-14, 2008 attended by the Mayors, Vice Mayors, Councilors, and Planning Officers of Vigan, Bantay, Caoayan, Sta. Catalina, San Vicente, Santa and Sto. Domingo (the town of San Ildefonso did not send its participants although it accepted Vigan’s invitation to explore the possibility of establishing the Metro Vigan Coordinating Council). I went further by saying that “we have made history and it has happened during our time, during our incumbency”. Looking at the eyes of the participants, I felt a sigh of relief as they looked at me with approval.

VISION
During the strategic planning, ten vision pillars have been identified namely:

1. Trade, Industry and Employment
2. Fiscal Management
3. Tourism
4. Good Governance
5. Environment
6. Infrastructure
7. Basic Services and Utilities
8. Public Safety
9. Education
10. Agriculture

which led to the formulation of this Vision Statement:

METRO VIGAN --- A self sustaining, ecologically sound and globally competitive growth center for agro-economic tourism and trade, steered by politically matured leaders and inhabited by educated and God-fearing people.

TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP (TWG)

The consultative workshop culminated by the creation of a Technical Working Group(TWG) assigned to finalize the the Memorandum of Agreement(MOA), the areas of cooperation, and the organizational structure. The TWG was given up to August 31, 2008 to finish its work. As the head of the group, this humble representation has to see to it that everything will be ready for the formal signing on September 8, 2008 during the Solidarity Day Celebration of Vigan City.

PLEDGE OF COMMITMENT

All participants to the Strategic Planning Workshop commited to support the Metro Vigan Coordinating Council (MVCC) by signing a Pledge of Commitment. This is a manifestation of oneness among the member LGUs and willingness to work together and share resources and responsibilities in order to realize a common development agenda.

METRO VIGAN PLANNING WORKSHOP

ROXAS: NO TO CHOP-CHOP REPUBLIC; FILES MOTION TO INTERVENE IN SC CASE(Adapted from the Official Website of Sen. Mar Roxas)

Senator Mar Roxas, President of the Liberal Party, asked the Supreme Court to stop the government from pushing through with the controversial GRP-MILF Peace Panel Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Ancestral Domain tagged by opponents within Mindanao as a trigger for war and violence in the region.

"Nagsalita ang taumbayan at hindi sila papayag na basta na lang matsa-chop-chop ang bansa natin gawa nitong MoA na produkto ng pamimilit at panloloko," Roxas said after filing the motion for intervention at the Supreme Court in Manila.

"Nais ko ng kapayapaan sa Mindanao, pero hindi sa pa-traydor na paraan gaya ng ginawa ng mga negosyador ng ating pamahalaan."

Roxas pointed out that the MoA violated the Constitution because it creates another "state" within the Philippines.

"Malinaw na malinaw sa unang pahina pa lang ng Konstitusyon ang hangganan ng ating teritoryo. Hindi ito pwedeng magbago sa sabi lang ng peace panel. Ni isang beses sa buong MoA ay nabanggit ang Konstitusyon sa MoA na ito," he added.

He said the country had so much to lose if the MoA as crafted would be implemented.

"Matagal na nang ninanais nating lahat, mas lalo ang mga taga-Mindanao, ng kapayapaan at katahimikan. Ngunit paano magkakaroon ng kapayapaan, kung ang kasunduan mismo ay hindi dumaan sa konsultasyon ng mga maaapektuhan nito?" he said.

"We are for peace, but not for ‘peace at any price,' not peace with a gun to our heads. If there is a peace agreement, it must go through the proper procedures and consultations not just between the government and the MILF but with the citizens of Mindanao," he added.

With Roxas' filing, he joins the petitions of the people of North Cotabato represented by their Governor Jesus Sacdalan and Vice-Governor Emmanuel Piñol, and the people of Zamboanga City represented by Mayor Celso Lobregat and congressmen Isabelle Climaco and Erico Fabian. The petitioners were granted a temporary restraining order on the MoA last August 4, a day before it was scheduled for signing.

ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR METRO VIGAN

After the information drive conducted by the Vigan City Council for the establishment of the Metro Vigan Coordinating Council, the neighboring towns of Bantay, Caoayan, Sta. Catalina, San Vicente, Santa, San Ildefonso and Sto. Domingo responded and came up with their respective resolutions to accept the City of Vigan's invitation to explore the possibility of creating said Coordinating Council. Preparations are being undertaken for the conduct of a Strategic Planning this 2nd week of August and eventually the drafting of the Memorandum of Agrement (MOA) which will be signed on September 8 this year on the ocassion of World Heritage Cities Solidarity Day.

Let's go Metro, Metro Vigan!