Senator Mar Roxas in Tide Commercial TVC30s (2008)

CZECH AMBASSADOR JARUSLAV LUDVA DELIVERS THE REPLICA IMAGE OF STO. NINO DE PRAGA

Czech Ambassador Jaruslav Ludva came to Vigan for the second time. Last year he was the guest of honor during a Special Lecture on the Life of Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. This time, he came to this City to personally deliver a replica of the image of Sto. Nino de Praga to Archbishop Ernesto Salgado of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. A catholic himself, the ambassador came with his wife, daughter and mother-in-law.

According to Anders Wong, the devotion to the Holy Child Jesus or Sto. Nino has long been a tradition of the Catholic Church for a very long time. This devotion is a venerati?on of our Lord's sacred Infancy. Many saints had a very strong devotion to the Divine Child, notably St. Therese of the Child Jesus, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Teresa of Avila.

Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic, which is at the very central of Europe with Germany, Poland, Russia and Austria as its neighbours. The history of the Infant Jesus of Prague started in the 17th century when a statue of the Infant Jesus was brought into Bohemia (now Czech Republic) and eventually was given to the Discalced Carmelites in Prague. Since then, the statue has remained in Prague and has drawn many devotees worldwide to go and honor the Holy Child. Many graces, blessings, favors and miraculous healings have been received by many who petitioned before the Infant Jesus.

Filipinos are avid Sto. Nino devotees. The presentation of the replica of the image in the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia makes the Ambassador's visit significant. It strenghthens the religious, cultural and civil ties between the Philippines and Czech Republic.

Happy Valentine's Day

WHY VALENTINE'S DAY SHOULD BE DECLARED A HOLIDAY

According to Wikipedia, the Free Encylopedia, Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14. In North America, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

Fast Facts on Valentine's Day: (Wikipedia)
Also called
St Valentine's Day
Observed by
Western and Western-influenced cultures
Type
Cultural, multinational
Significance
Lovers express their feelings to each other
Date
February 14
Observances
Sending greeting cards and gifts, dating.
Related to
The Night of Sevens, a Chinese holiday that also relates to love. White Day, a similar holiday celebrated in Japan and Korea one month after Valentine's Day

The foregoing is a good justification why Valentine's Day should be declared a Special Holiday. I used to give little importance to the day of the hearts until I came across to its historical, spiritual and universal significance. Now I understand why there is this natural phenomenon to express one's love and affection during this day. I used to think that Valentine's day is a conconction of western minds to promote their business interests. I thought it was part of the commercialization of activities. I've realized that Valentine's Day is not only an emotional celebration but something which should be given importance. At least during this day, people is in the mood for loving. It is a good opportunity to have a respite from conflicts and wars. Why declare it a special holiday? Because, human nature dictates that people should be caring, understanding and loving. Why don't we give them a chance to celebrate their natural goodness.

THE NEED FOR POLITICAL MATURITY

The ouster of Congressman Joe de Venecia as Speaker of the House of Represenatives by his own partymates and allies only shows how weak the political party system is in the Philippines. Politics here has not really matured. Philippine politics is still based on personalities and patronage. I can't imagine a Congress controlled by the Majority party spent so much time debating to unseat a Speaker who also happens to belong to the same majority party!!! The intramurals among members of the Majority right then and there at plenary hall of the House covered by a national television makes one shake his head vigorously. The arguments should have been made in a caucus room and the decision smoothly executed in the session hall. The issue which had been debated upon was not of national interest but a personal battle of the former speaker who has fallen out from the graces of Malacañang. Shall we say that this is a case of politics of personalities or washing dirty linens in public?

Listening to the explanations of most of the congressmen, it seems that their votes are anchored on the premise that they should protect the interest of their respective congressional districts. I sense that they must be referring to the Countrywide Development Fund or "pork barrel". Many lawmakers cannot afford to loss their "pork barrel" or that a delay in its release be incurred or else the implementation of their projects will suffer. It is the executive branch through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) which has the authority to release such fund. It is not surprising that many congressmen have to see to it that they should not be at odds with Malacañang. This is a reality in Philippine politics. Shall we call this patronage or political phragmatism?

The issue on speakership at the House came on such a time that the United States is busy with its primary elections for the 2008 Presidential race. I can't help but compare the level of political maturity between theirs and ours. The obvious has always confronted us. There is really a need for political maturity.

MAR ROXAS: "SUSPEND VAT ON OIL PRODUCTS"

Senator Mar Roxas, an economist knows what he is talking. He is moving for the suspension of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on oil products to cushion the impact on the Philippine economy the increase of price of crude oil.

Here's a transcript of Senator Mar Roxas' January 10,2008 interview on ANC's 'Dateline' on the Palace's nixing of Sen. Roxas' proposal to suspend VAT on oil products:

Q: The President is lowering tariffs on oil importation, which will lead to a 50-centavo reduction per liter in fuel prices and P11 billion in foregone revenue. What do you think of that?

MAR: Not enough, inadequate, tokenism. The government has to get ahead of the curve. Oil prices have reached $100 a barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. All the analysts say that this will be the new band or the new area where oil prices are going to be. The time of $30-$20 oil is going to be long gone already. This is the new reality we have, and this tariff cut is simply not gonna make it. Admittedly it's a good start, and when Congress is not in session, this is all the executive can do, adjusting tariffs. But I would say, let's change the law. I've been saying this for some time now. Let's take the VAT away from petroleum products.

Q: How does your proposal translate in savings?

MAR: In the present oil prices, a reduction of 12% VAT would translate to P4 per liter for diesel or more than P60 for an 11-kilo LPG tank. So these are huge savings, it's enough scale to actually modify consumer behavior, to actually have an impact in the broader economy. Second, government will not actually lose this. Whatever you save in a 40-liter tank, that's P160, when you go out and buy Jollibee or McDonald's or something, there's a VAT on that right away. So government will also catch it, in the next go-around. They will capture it. The point is, the government is being lazy about it. They only want to talk to three oil companies, when they should be collecting this from every store and enterprise that sells to the people. This is going to have a cash-flow impact, rather than a real collection impact.The price of diesel right now is P38.50 per liter, the VAT component of that is P4. It becomes P34, with P4 straightaway saved. With LPG, it's almost P65 per tank. There's going to be real savings for the people, and they will also spend. And with that point of view, it's not going to be a loss to the government.

Q: Are you concerned that the savings won't actually happen because the oil companies will say they have underrecoveries and find some reason not to lower prices?

MAR: No, because the VAT is on top of whatever their pricing is. Whatever their pricing is, the VAT is automatically removed from that.

Q: And if they fiddle around with it, that could be checked?

MAR: That's right. More importantly, the earlier news said oil companies were looking at another P3 of uncaptured increases yet, meaning the inventory levels that are being reflected by the pump prices today are based on $85/barrel oil. Oil is now in the $90s range, and the companies might have another P3-P4 of unpassed-on increases. So 50 centavos is not going to be much. That's not going to substantially change the quality of life of a housewife, of a driver, of someone in the transport sector, anybody delivering eggs, vegetables, fish or manufactured products.Oil is one of those things that are present in nearly every product, either because of the transport or the raw material - plastics really come from oil as well. The point is, by taking out the oil VAT component in pricing, you'll be able to help the entire economy across the board without the government really suffering because all of the savings of the consumer will be captured subsequently.

Children - The Heritage of the Lord

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call."

(Acts 2:38,39 NIV)

The importance of children is not only philosophical or legal but also biblical. The City of Vigan does not only care for its tangible and intangible heritage but also for its children --- the future generation. Anyway, the protection of Vigan's heritage is for the next generation. As a child-friendly city and as a religious center being the seat of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia, the responsibility of protecting the Children, the Heritage of the Lord and Vigan's rich legacy is not only a governmental function but ecclesiastical as well.

Vigan Longganiza Streedancing (College) 1

Vigan Longganiza Festival Streetdancing (College) 2

VIGAN LONGGANIZA FESTIVAL STREETDANCING (High School)

TRADITION AND TRANSITION: 7 YEARS OF CITYHOOD, 250 YEARS OF NUEVA SEGOVIA

Today, we celebrate the Cityhood of Vigan. Technically speaking, we are celebrating the 7th year anniversary of Vigan as a City from the time of the ratification of Republic Act 8988 in January 22, 2001. Historically, we have started celebrating the 250 years of Ciudad Fernandina from the time the seat of Nueva Segovia was transferred from Lallo, Cagayan to Vigan way back September 7, 1758 by virtue of a Spanish Royal Decree issued by King Fernando VI. Indeed it is a celebration of civilization.

We will also be launching the Amended Vigan Revenue Code. Do not be alarmed because the rates were merely updated from the outmoded to the reasonable. The outputs of the cultural mapping project are also on display and we will also be witnessing the launching of the Gawad Kalinga Housing Project.

The City's Vision is to make Vigan a globally competitive World Heritage City. Along this line, we do not merely celebrate our fiesta but we give meaning and substance to every form of celebration. We want the people of Vigan and our visitors to really appreciate Vigan's legacy of the past, not only physically but more specially historically and culturally.

Tradition and Transition is a story of Vigan's Rise, Vigan's Turning point, and Vigan's Re-birth. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this celebration.

(Welcome remarks delivered by Vice Mayor Franz Ranches on the occasion of the opening of the Tradition and Transition Exhibition at the Vigan Culture and Trade Center)

Vigan Longganiza Festival Street Dancing (Elementary Division)

LESSONS LEARNED FROM HOI AN, VIETNAM

The trip to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam makes the members of the Vigan City Council wonder in awe how this country survived an infamous war and becomes a favorite destination of tourists.

Let's take the case of HOI AN. Referred to as an old town, the place is a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. In here, one can find rows of shop houses of Chinese and French influences. Compared to Vigan, our ancestral houses are far more grandiose and aesthetically imposing but Hoi An has more visitors who come in millions, considering that both place were inscribed in UNESCO simultaneously in 1999. I've been wondering why Hoi an has more visitors than Vigan. National factors might have affected Philippine Tourism in general such as the issues on kidnapping, bombings, street crimes(hold-up robberies, pick-pockets, cellphone or bag snatching, and the like) in urban centers like Manila. Unlike in Vietnam, the Philippine national government is not agressively promoting heritage sites like Vigan as tourist destination. Hoi An is being promoted agressively by both the local and national governments of Vietnam. Another factor is the souvenir items. Hoi An has plenty of them while Vigan has to rely on suppliers outside Vigan. Local artists such as painters, wood carvers, lantern makers, embroiders, pottery makers and performing artists among others abound in Hoi An. Hence, traditional crafts and industries of the town are income earners.

The ticketing system of the tourism department of the place is very entreprenurial. Instead of the traditional entrance ticket at the Historic district, the ticketing system was done in such a way that those availing it can visit and view one of the 4 museums, one of the 4 old houses, one of the 3 assembly halls, handicraft workshop and traditional music performance, and either the Japanese Bridge or Quan Cong Temple. Revenue capture by the local government of Hoi An is ensured through this package heritage walks in the form of one ticket with several stubs worth only 75,ooo Vietnamese Dong or 5 US dollars per head.

Tourism in Hoi An is so vibrant. Aside from the historic district it can boast of a port where trade and commerce is very much alive. Restaurants are mostly operated by members of families who act as cooks, food servers and managers. The World Class Hoi An beach resort which is owned by the Provincial Government of Qua'ng Nam has opened its doors to investors. Around 40% shares have been offered to the private sector.

The trip to Hoi An, Vietnam is indeed a learning experience!

HOI AN, VIETNAM: A World Heritage Site

A LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE IN 2008 AND BEYOND

Time flies so fast. It's 2008, and the Philippines remains a third world country while the most developed ones kept on improving every year. People readily blame the politicians and existing government policies. But there are other and inner reasons why our country had a hard time getting itself out of economic difficulties. In fairness to the present administration, modest economic gains have been achieved. The Philippine economy surged in the first quarter of the year. According to Romulo Virola, Head of the National Statistical Coordination Board, first-quarter gross domestic product was up 6.9 percent on an annual basis and grew a seasonally adjusted 2.5 percent from the previous quarter. The peso significantly gained strength against the U.S. dollar due to tha latter's weakening and the strong remittances of Overseas Filipino Workers(OFWs) especially during the holiday season.

Let us try to look into the deeper reasons. The fact that the peso is tied to the dollar makes our economy susceptible to the dictates of foreign business interests. The Asssociation of Southeast Asian Nations should consider coming up with a common regional currency to strenthen the economic position of members states. Despite globalization, loopsided economic policies of rich nations work against poorer ones like the Philippines. Our dependence on oil importation is a major factor in hampering the country's economic growth. Without these, the Philippines could have performed better. A liberal orientation on governance might provide the solution. As clearly stated in the Primer on Liberalism authored by Dr. Julio Tehankee, Liberals believe that liberty is the best remedy against poverty. Liberals believe in the principle of freedom of the individual and a set of inalienable human rights. Extereme poverty is a daily attack on the right to life of an individual and therefore cannot be tolerated by liberals. A market economy based on economic liberalism, competition, and free trade as defined by Adam Smith is the framework that we need. LET'S WELCOME 2008 AND BEYOND WITH A LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE!

JOSE RIZAL'S LINK TO VIGAN

December 30 is not only the Death Anniversary of the National Hero of the Philippines but a time to prepare for the ushering of the New Year. Historically, Dr. Jose Rizal's link to the City of Vigan can be traced by the fact that a Bigueño (native of Vigan) inspired him to pursue his advocacy that the Philippines be recognized by Spain. Through his brother Ponciano, Rizal learned his first lessons on nationalism from Padre Jose Burgos, a son of Vigan. Another significant link is Poetess/Satirist Leona Florentino who hails from Vigan and happens to be the distant cousin of Rizal.

Let us remember our National Hero on this day. The people of Vigan must draw inspiration from him in the same manner that he drew inspiration from a fellow Bigueño. As we bid farewell to 2007 and prepare for 2008, let us reflect on the heroic acts of Dr. Jose Rizal, Padre Jose Burgos and Leona Florentino. We need their wisdom in working for a globally competitive World Heritage City and a better Philippines.

Auld Lang Syne -- Traditional New Year - Karaoke Song Track

IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS!

The Vigan City Council team once again displayed its competitivenes by placing 2nd runner-up in the recently concluded Christmas Street Dancing Contest. Participated by the different departments of the Vigan City Government, this activity is the Filipinos' way of upholding a tradition --- to celebrate Christmas despite the odds of life!

Vigan City Employees Christmas Street Dancing Contest

THE NEED FOR LIBERAL YOUTH

The recent election of Sangguniang Kabataan(Youth Council) officers in the different barangays all over the country made me ponder on the Philippine Youth Situation. The following questions kept bugging my mind:

> Is the Sangguniang Kabataan truly representative of the youth in the barangays considering that the age bracket of the SK is limited only to 15-17 years old?


> Why is it that only few registered as members of the Katipunan ng Kabataan in the the different barangays?



> Why is it that traditional partisan politics like vote-buying, hate campaign and machinations marred the SK elections in general?



> Are the Youth of today being trained to become traditional politicians of tommorow?



> Are the SK Chairpersons all over the country ready and capable to perform their role as local legislators?



> Is there ample representation of the Youth in Congress?



> Is the existence of the National Youth Commission felt by the Filipino Youth in general particularly the Out-of-School, the poor, the deprived and the oppressed?



> What is the real state of the Filipino Youth?

These are issues and concerns that confront the Filipino Youth of today. I believe that a liberal solution can address these. The need for a Liberal Youth orientation is timely at this moment. As manifested in the orientation of the KABATAANG LIBERAL NG PILIPINAS (KALIPI),

A LIBERAL believes that the Filipino Youth is an agent of social, political and economic change and in them lies the future of this nation.

- a liberal therefore, aims to harness the vast potential of the youth for the end view of making them active participants in charting the nation’s destiny.

A LIBERAL believes that access in government must be afforded the youth to enable them to become more relevant and meaningful particpants in Philippine society.

- a liberal therefore, endeavors to motivate the youth to enter government service not as a mere option but as a career decision.

A LIBERAL believes in a new brand of politics that depart from traditional politics, which is personality oriented, to a politics based on liberalism and the rational presentation and discussion of all issues, programs and ideologies.

- To this end, a liberal, therefore, encourages healthy exchange of ideas, greater consultation with the people, wider participation by the citizenry, and resolution of ideas that affect all sectors in the Philippine society and the pursuit of programs that advance the total development of all Filipinos.

A LIBERAL shall propagate a type of politics that promotes and encourages a healthy plurality of political visions and options.

- In this connection, a liberal strives to instill the concept of youth empowerment, which sees the Filipino youth taking an active role in the political arena and infusing young, energetic and fresh blood in all government branches.

A LIBERAL believes that each Filipino has a responsibility from which he/she derives his/her cultural and historical identity.

- a liberal therefore, aims to unite all Filipinos, especially the youth, regardless of origin, status and creed, towards the promotion and preservation of the nations sovereignty and the right to self-determination.

A LIBERAL believes that collective Filipino identity can only be developed through instilling national pride.

- to this end, a liberal is dedicated to the enhancement and development of progressive and nationalistic leadership among the youth, constantly reminding them of their historical role n the pursuit of freedom and democracy against colonizers and dictatorships.

A LIBERAL believes the pursuit of this objective requires the organized and effective participation of the broadest sectors of the Philippine society.

_ a liberal therefore, therefore, aims to establish its presence in all political and geographical units as well as in all academic institutions nationwide. Moreover, KALIPI is committed to cooperate with all progressive sectors of Philippine society.

A LIBERAL believes in development program that is systematic, rational, sustainable and nationwide.

- liberal is committed to the implementation of a development program which extends not only to urban areas but to the countryside as well; a program that will strengthen and develop both the country’s agricultural and industrial bases and enable the country to become self-sufficient.

A LIBERAL pursues peace based on social justice.

- to this end, a liberal is committed to the consolidation of democracy in our country through equal access towards economic upliftment and self-improvement.

A LIBERAL believes that the country, being part of the international community of nations, can learn some lessons from experience of other countries as well.

- a liberal therefore, endeavors to preserve and promote international solidarity among nations.

A LIBERAL believes in protection of the environment and natural resources to ensure sustainable development.

- in this vein, a liberal is committed to take an active and meaningful role in fostering environmental consciousness and incumbent upon the present generation to ensure that the succeeding generations will be heir to a clean, healthy and safe environment.

A LIBERAL believes that all Filipinos must be accorded to equal access to education.

- a liberal, therefore is committed and shall work for a relevant, liberal and nationalist education that is consistent with the needs for national development.

Indeed, there is a need for liberal youth!