This article by Fr. Cyrain Cabuenas tells the story of the incident that occured around 11 am on Nov. 23. Interviews described the robbers as bold and cruel as they did not bother covering their identities while killing a graduating student of the Eastern Samar State University.

With the mounting incidents of killings and robberies in the province, one of the Philippine National Police’s leaders expressed doubts on the capacity of Senior Superintendent Prudencio dela Cruz to keep the province safe.

Alice Nicart wrote an article on Senior Superintendent Prudencio dela Cruz’ reaction to his superior’s statement.

What are your thoughts on the mounting crime rate in the province? Share them on the comments box below.

If you think these long weekends are long enough to be out of the office and so enjoy more time with family friends, think again.

The longest vacation from work would be coming soon this month. From December 25, we will be having a series of holidays, special non-working holidays, and weekends. If the President decides to give workers the chance to go home to their respective provinces before Christmas day, that is on December 24, then we shall have a 12 days of Christmas vacation!

December 25, a Thursday, is of course Christmas Day.

December 26, a Friday, since it is sandwiched between a holiday and a weekend and since we would have just celebrated Christmas Day then, is already declared as a special non-working holiday.

December 27, Saturday, and 28, Sunday are weekends. Saturday is probably already a special non-working holiday too for those who work on Saturdays.

December 29, a Monday, is sandwiched between a weekend and the last regular holiday of the year, Rizal Day, so it is also proclaimed as a special non-working holiday.

Decemebr 30, a Tuesday, as we said is Rizal Day.

December 31 is traditionally a special non-working holiday for being the Last Day of the Year!

January 1, Thursday, is of course New Year’s Day and no one works on the first day of the year (bangin mahiblungan!).

January 2, Friday, is a special non-working holiday again, to be followed by another weekend, January 3, Saturday, and 4, Sunday.

So we will meet again on Monday, January 5 already!

Whew! That would be a long vacation indeed!

ha ak pagpahuway usa ka nga inop

inop ha durunggan nga makahurulop

makahurulop gad kay bisan magkulop

magkulop katuspok ha im pag ininop

pag ininop ha im nga waray katangpus

katangpusan hinin akon pag inantos

pag inantos hinin imo pagmamadlos

pag mamadlos di-in an bu-ot nalumos

nalumos na gudman waray na umutnga

umutnga tumikang hinin pag inanga

pag inanga aber hin guti kumita

kumita guti-ay han im pagpa-ura

pagpa-ura ngani bisan la sinangkay

sinangkay nga hul-os nga makalilipay

makalilipay gud bisan matagsahay

matagsahay ako nga imo gin agbay

gin agbay tikathon pagdul-ong ha dalan

dalan nga sinulsog nga may kalipayan

kalipayan hinin aton ginsa-aran

ginsa-aran hangtod aton katangpusan

katangpusan sanglit dire ta igbido

igbido ha dughan an aton paglingo

paglingo ha sa-ad nga aton ginhimo

ginhimo pa-agi han luha ngan bakho

bakho amo nala adton ighahalad

ighahalad hini nga aton kasugad

kasugad nala in nga aton ighatag

ighatag ha langit adton aton kalag.

john d simborios

taft e samar

8-9-10-2001, 8:00am

ginpapalid-palid, gin huhulid-hulid

adton ma-nga timbi nga man ngiwid-iwid

adton ma-nga linti nagpulipulilid

tungod han inabat nga pantigib-tigib

tinu-od balitaw baga sabid sabid

sugad hin tambalan, naghuhutibhutib

adton ma-nga siplat nagbarubalikid

tungod han pan mulong in pagtipig tipig

dire ginugul-an hadton hunot-hunot

hin damo nga sumat nga pan murubu-ot

danay pa magbakho hinin unot unot

han duha nga misay hinin munot bunot

ba-a kun malipay hinin ungot ungot

danay gad sumiring: waray bakut bakut!

pabay-i la hira panda-ut da-ot

kay ha ka-urhi-an igbuburubu-ot!

john d simborios

taft e samar

4-18-2001, 8:00am

Na-ano an sayaw han imo paniday

Ngan kumpas han yakan han im pan hulagway

Ino-unan-o ngani adton pag pahamtang

Hini nga hinimo nimo nga kabutang

Ipina-agi ba han im sukol sukol

Aber han pag tak-um in mag uru-untol

O kun gin irigba adton nu-on du-on

Bas an magbarasa mag igba an baton

Ini ba inupat adton pag parapdis

Nga an katapusan papriho an wiswis

O kun pinbay-an adton ngawas-awas

Hadton huna huna hadton pagkagawas

Ginsunod ba nimo adton de katorse

O kun an nahundong an butnga ha onse

Hinubad ba ini tikang han kada-an

O kun igin hitso hadton kabag uhan?

Tapos an hinungdan hini an paghimo

Hin-o nga palaran an ha im nag sugo

Ini ba in gugma o kun kasurub-on

O kun binuhatan hadton tulin naton

Han kadamo nala nga baga pa-agi

Aber adton mahimo nga tangsi

Nga andam ighukot bis ano nga hugna

Nga hin makasikop han sasrang nga gugma

Kadamo hin kusog nga halad nga gudti

Basi mag himangraw an ngula nga tamsi

Nga hina-ot unta di la panilhigon

Ngan dithon ha ligid madunot hin dayon.

john d simborios

taft e samar

kay mabusag

an putos

mahamis

waray dum-it

an sulod

homgron, organik,

yaraws mantika,

an preserbatib,

asin la

ug tubig.

Ambot kun ano,

mas masurong la gihap

an mani ha QC,

waray putos,

kundi tapo-tapo,

betsin, an halo

harang ngan

mantika.

Sige nala,

may lasuna man

panlusaw

ha paglapot

han dugo.

ha kakuri - ikaw nabayaan,
binalhin ha langyaw para trabaho makit-an,
gin-ubos kusog ug oras,
ha lugar nga ha akon naghugas.

mga picture han nakada ako ha imo kinuha,
nga nadidto han imo mga dagat - ha kamingaw ako nagluluha,
an mga magtam-is nga ngisi han mga tawo - akona,
ikaw nga akon inihan nangingita imo paghigugma.

nagtuturoy han mga ngiya-ngiya han gab-i,
han mga huni han imo kagugub-an,
an pag-laum nga makita ka ambot kun mabuhi,
sanglit hit akon pagbalik angay nagud matuman.

ginikan gihap wa panumat,
puno hin kalipay nga ikaw harani na,
ha barko sige an tan-aw,
han isla han sinirangan samar kalipay napukaw.

paglusad han barko tinumak han tuna,
han imo bugto nga hi samar norte,
harani na - harani ikaw nga akon ina,
an imo anak adi na inuli.

haros maubos an ngisi ha akon kasing-kasing,
pagkita han imo kalsada,
kalsada tipakada ha imo nanay nga hinirang,
in pareho hin salug nga di maagi-an.

sakripisyo man ngay-an pagbalik,
mga bukol tikang han pantok - pasenya hapit lumitik,
pero kay amo man karuyag nga bumalik,
pero kay karuyag man bumalik,

haruuy, hin butlaw it pagkiniling-kiling,
gasko ko man hat tinabok na ak matnog,
paro nagud it pagabat hit hubog naapaparading-pading,
sana ha dagat ako nala nahulog.

haay gihap Borongan na,
Ina ko nga Borongan - aanhi na imo anak,
pero an dagat nga kalsada mayda pa,
wara katapusan nga milyones ada nga lubak.

kun huhunahunaon la - hin butlaw hin duro,
kakurian dipa nasurat ha libro,
para hin tawo nga ha lugar suki,
ano nla it turista bangin ngani nla umuli.

kun dire la dara han karayhak han mga tawo nga tinapo,
kun dire la han han hangin nga presko,
kun dire la han kinilaw nga akon gin-daphagan,
kun dire la dara hin nga usa ka container nga tuba nga amon na gintitikangan…

bangin ko na nahingalimtan it pag-uli,
bangin han pagkita ko pla han kalsada in mahubya,
bangin, bangin, pero aadi na gihap,
aadi na gihap ako ina ko nga sinirangan Samar!

Strictly speaking the “Obama-fever” started way before the election proper. It started I think when Barrack was elected as the official Presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. His rose to success was a like a net that caught everyone. And when he became “THE PRESIDENT” everyone thought that they know him – a bit or pretty well.

Why the attention? Barrack Obama based on a bit of research came from the working class. He toiled hard to receive an education – well a very good one! As written by Ms. Melanie Lim (Sunstar November 09, 2008) “the man who in his life seemed to have made all the right decisions”. To make it sound Filipino, he came from the “working Masa” (sounds familiar) and rose up to the ladders of success. A typical rags to riches runt. Now, as America faces the threat of diving deeper into economic crisis this man is seen as the silver lining on the horizon. A man that might turn their (American) stale bread of joblessness to something that is sweet as before. Hence, with this governing ambiance the young Senator from Illinois has toppled the “experienced Republican” – John McCain.

This “hyper-fever” reminds me of some events here in the country. That time was when the impeachment for Mr. Estrada has driven the country wild. Everyone searched for the silver lining. And the appetite for a new leader was felt within the corners of the Government’s key players. The stacking up of desires to change the existing Government bloated and exploded during the dramatic vote not to open the second envelope. Pushed by disgust the people marched to EDSA to make another historic move to protest and manifest the voice of the many that hated the current leader of the land. Backed up thousands of activists, the church, the politicians and finally the military – the then Vice-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo became the 14^th President of the Republic. She was the hope for a better nation. She manifested the salvation of the ailing Juan dela Cruz. Years later, some of the people that helped her to be in power became the force that keeps on asking her to step down. With her Presidency plotted by enormous attempts of impeachment, with the dwindling down of the economy, with the “Hello Garci”, with the ZTE, and now the return of “Joc-Joc” Bolante would or might add another garbage to her reputation; these are some reasons that causes her survey to plummet. Her Presidency, is attached with so many controversies that serve like a mantra for her own destruction. And henceforth, the People looks for another silver lining or for some they have grown tired of staring at the horizon that offers nothing but temporary euphoria.

Being in the local setting another event dawned on me. The 2007 election was an event similar to that of the recently concluded election in the United States. It was the battle between a new face on the Provincial race and the wife of the former Congressman. “A fight of David and Goliath” as my mentor wrote in Inquirer. Mr. Doloy was considered the underdog. He never held any seat of power long enough for he was removed from being a Mayor due to a citizenship issue in Oras Eastern Samar. But on the other side stood Mrs. Libanan backed by her husband political machinery. She also did not hold any office in the government but shadowed her husband in his political spoils. She shadowed her husband until she herself became like him and when the time was right she replaced him to continue what his imminent husband (Ex-Cong Nonoy Libanan) started. Given the present circumstance I can compare Mr. Doloy to Barrack Obama for the people of Eastern Samar at that time saw him as the power to alleviate them from the pit. The Estehanons I think were tired of the incumbent leader and feared that his wife might follow through. Although Mrs. Libanan was a force to be reckoned but the “hyper-fever” of the people of Eastern Samar to change gave in for the victory of Mr. Doloy. A year later of being in power Mr. Doloy’s re-election is in doubt as mentioned by one the old men in our barangay in one of their afternoon sessions. I think this is too early to even have a thought of that? I hope it is not because of in competency. I for my part don’t know. What I know is that I am so disgusted with the Province’s expanding thousand lakes and that for me is an enough.

What is my intention in writing this? Simple, I just would like to chisel out a fact that politicians can never be trusted. The events that I mentioned came into my consciousness as the world is in the “Obama-fever” seeing him as the man that would solve Global warming, Iraq war, Terrorism. et.al. The solution to one’s problem is not contained within the perpetual image of our
”kuracha dancing politicians”. Our problems can be resolved as long as we make the right decision of who to put into power. It’s too early to discuss about 2010 and too early to assume that the Senator from Illinois is one of them. I just wish that the “Obama-fever” unlike my examples would not die down and that the world would indeed see him as a leader. I sure do but hope no more…

Hinin akun dughan daw kamu bulawan

Nga dagus magranggat kun sinisiplatan –

Daw kamu burabod nga di hinuhubsan

Nga dagmit maghubad hadtun kapagalan.

Adtun iyo huring nga ha ak’ napukaw

Nga sugad han uran in’ nagpapabanhaw.

Ha ak kabidu-an an iyo lantawan

Dagus magpahuphup, hin lipay magliwan.

Kamu in naghatag hinin tulu-uhan

Hin ma-nga mag-anyag nga dire la butang.

Basta pagpiyungko kun nag-uusahan

Danay ak’ humiyon – hadtun guinda-anan.

Kun ak’ lilingi-on adtun guin-agi-an

Basta kay nabaskug inin akun dughan.

Aku in natapud nga ha kadidtu-an

Manta adtun buhat ha akun nagdandan.

Kun hain man kamu, kamu hinumduman

Hinumduman dagus, hinin akun dughan.

Dughan ko in labis adtun kalipayan

Kalipayan subra kay kamu natagdan.

john d simborios

taft e samar

9-4-1999

Hinarop ha ak mga palad

an talamhot nga imo iginhalad,

ginlanat ko ngadto ha may natad

nawara ha akon pangita, aadto na ada nagkalpad –

Hain naman, kay nawara adton hatag

bis balyu-an hin madamo pa nga sabrag,

diri ma it mapareho hin kaanyag

hadton syahan nga im hatag, nga im halad.

johndsimborios

11-9-2004; 3:08pm Manila

Mingaw la

An ak binabati, naaguninoong,

naaningal

Daw an ak balatian ginbubu-ong,

ginbubunal

Ngan adton ak mga butkon

gintutubal.

An akon gadla paglaom:

mahibasol

kun umabot nga matak-om

inin lambong.

johndsimborios

11-10-2004; 8:52am Manila

Inop

Tubtob diin an akos nga lupad han im mga pako?

Ngain diin adton akos han im mga sugbong?

Aadto pa ha igbaw adton bulawan nga im ginhihinangyo –

Aadto pa, naghuhulat nga hi ikaw makatungtong

Dit han balitang nga natugkad hadton dalan

Nga tikadto han im hangyo nga bulawan.

Lupad la, di maiha masangpot ka ngat ha igbaw,

Lupad la, hiaabtan gihap nimo an im tan-aw.

johndsimborios

1-10-2004; 3:44pm Manila

Katangpos

Natumba na

An gintayok nga kandila

Naparong,

Inagian

Han huyohoy

Nga malabyaw.

johndsimborios

11-10-2004; 3:48pm Manila

Likay

Nagbabaktas

Ngan naghihinay

Nga diri makalisang

Han iba nga napahuway

Tungod nakawat

Nga nalabay.

johndsimborios

11-10-2994; 3:50pm Manila

Salud

Adton tukod

‘Daw nasulod

Nalunod

Ngathan sulod

Hadton sag-od

Nga may lagud.

johndsimborios

11-10-2004; 3:51pm Manila

Tago

Tinukob hadton tukod

Adton siplat nga nakurog

Linmingiw la ngan kinmulob

Waray bakdaw nagpatudtod

An paagi, pagkamatuod

Danay lihis an ti-unob

johndsimborios

11-10-2004; 3:55pm Manila

Nag-iisog

An im sulang kay nahangad

Ngan an irong in nahungag

An im mata nanmumudlat

Nangungusog panmulagdat –

Inaano, nangungorog

Ungod ada, nag-iisog

Baa, mandaw kay ti-ungod

Kay an dara igpurolod –

Ayaw ga hit, mapatadog

Malikay ak ha im udog

Kay karuyag han pagtunod

Hadton adlaw di haupod.

johndsimborios

11-11-2004; 3:46pm Manila

Hangyo

Maupay gadla pagkinulaw

Ngan pagpinakiandulaw

Kun an gintitinan-aw

Hadton kalag napabanhaw

Waray sama, bisan ngahaw

Magdamlag la mag-inantaw

Labis pa gud kun an hang-aw

Bulson mandaw hin kalinaw

Kun hinabo ini, ba’daw

Sigurado uru-ukpaw

Adton dughan makaramsaw

Hadton hatag nga kaliaw

johndsimborios

11-11-2004; 3:58pm Manila