Aral sa pagbitay sa tatlong pinoy sa China – isang paalaala sa mga OFW

Kamakailan lamang ay nagluksa ang Pilipinas sa pagkabitay ng tatlo nating kababayan na sina Sally Villanueva, Elizabeth Batain at Ramon Credo. Masakit man sa pamilya ng tatlong OFW ang kanilang sinapit ngunit bilang Pilipino ay may mahalagang leksiyon na makukuha sa pangyayaring ito.

Ayon sa estadistika, umaabot sa isang milyon ang umaalis ng bansa upang makipagsapalaran kada taon. Sa kabuuan, halos 8.2 milyong mga Pilipino ang nasa ibang bansa. Sa bilang na yan, humigit kumulang na 7,000 na Pinoy ang nasa kulungan sa ibat ibang panig ng mundo na sangkot sa iba’t ibang kaso – at 125 na pinoy ang napipintong bitayin – 85 sa mga pinoy na ito ay sangkot sa kasong droga.

Sa ngayon, maraming mga pamilya ng mga OFWs ang nababahala sa kalakaran ng drug trade sa Pilipinas. Sa Rugao na lang, maraming mga kababayan natin ang natatakot para sa kanilang mga kapamilya na nasa ibang bansa. Natatakot silang sapitin din ng mga taga Rugao na OFW ang nangyari sa tatlo na naging biktima ng West African Drug Syndicate (WADS). Kaya naman naisip kong isulat ang artikulong ito.

Ayon sa balita, hindi alam ng mga nabitay na may dala pala silang droga. Sa kaso ni Sally Villanueva, siya ay napakiusapan lamang umano na dalhin at iabot ang isang bag sa isang tao sa China. Hindi niya ito inakalang droga pala ang laman. Kaya sa mga miyembro ng ROC, lalo na ang mga umaalis palabas ng Pilipinas siguraduhin na HINDI KAYO PAPAYAG NA KUMUHA NG ANO MANG PADALA NA IPINAPAKIUSAP SA INYO NG KAHIT NA SINO.

Sa kaso naman na alam ng mga biktima na may dala silang droga, siguraduhin na huwag kayong pasisilaw sa laki ng bayad at tamis ng mga pangako ng sindikato. Napag alaman na malaki ang perang kapalit ng pagiging ‘drug mule’ at pinapangakuan ang sinumang pumapayag na maging carrier. Pinapangakuan nila ang mga nabibiktima na kapag nahuli sila ay aayusin ito ng sindikato para makaalis din sa kulungan. Ito po ay puro pangako lamang. Kaya HUWAG KAYONG PASISILAW SA KAHIT NA ANUMANG ALOK NA MAY KAPALIT NA MALAKING HALAGA.

Ang ilan naman ay inakalang may trabaho  na inaalok sa kanila sa China o sa Middle East na walang placement fee at direct hiring. At pag pumayag, ay ipapadala ang biktima sa bansa ayon sa pangako at pagbibitbitin  ng bag na may lamang droga na hindi alam ng biktima. Kaya SIGURADUHIN NA ANG TRABAHONG PAPASUKAN SA IBANG BANSA AY DUMAAN SA LEGAL NA PROSESO. Wag dapat padadala sa madaliang pangingibang bansa dahil maari itong maging mitsa ng kalbaryo at kamatayan.

Naway makatulong ang paalalang ito sa mga taga ROC. Hangad natin na iwasan ang ganitong kaso lalo pa’t buhay ang kapalit.

ROC will hold the First-ever Rugao’s Got Talent

About the Search

Rugao Online Community is launching the first-ever talent search in Rugao dubbed as “Rugao’s Got Talent.” Rugao’s Got Talent aims to showcase, discover and develop the talents of the people of Rugao.

The said talent search will be part of the two-day Patronal Fiesta of Rugao on April 29 – 30, 2011. However, if finalized and approved, the search will be held on a separate night tentatively slated on the 28^th of April this year. The search is open to all ages. Each Purok will field a minimum of two (they may field as many as they can) contestants. The contestants (group or solo) will be given 2-3 minutes to showcase their talents. Three judges will determine the first-ever Rugao’s Got Talent winner and two runners-up who will receive cash prices and trophies.

Barangay Captain Judy Bermudez said that it was a brilliant idea when he was informed about it.

ROC Vice President Nhor Esteban said that a personalized and wood carved trophy will be handed to the winners. The trophy shall represent the “Mammamangi Festival” of Ilagan, Isabela.

Call for Support

Rugao’s Got Talent is the 2^nd major project of Rugao Online Community however this is not as big as “Rugao Gives Back.” To ensure the success of this project, we would like to seek support from all our members. These are the things that we still need:

Cash/Kind Donation – We are raising 10,000 pesos for the prices and other expenses. (We initially have donors but the amount is not sufficient)

Manpower – Members of the ROC who are in Rugao or are planning to go home on the 28^th of April must notify the President or Vice President to help in the preparation and in carrying out the event.      

We hope that we will help each other in carrying out this activity.

41 pupils march during SJRES graduation rites

After spending six grueling and exciting years in San Juan Rugao Elementary School, 41 children received their diplomas in yesterday's graduation ceremony in San Juan, Ilagan, Isabela.

Pastor Zaldy Diaz, San Juan Brgy Captain Bermudez, Mr. Jayson Salvador and SJRES Principal Mr. Beltran award certificates to the graduates

The ceremony was attended by hundreds of proud parents, faculty members and Guest Speaker Mr. Jayson Salvador - 1997 Alumnus.

In his speech, Mr Jayson Salvador thanked all the teachers who never get tired of mentoring the children in SJRES. He also encouraged parents to do everything to send their kids to school. He said that poverty should not stop the graduates and their parents from dreaming.

The graduates of SJRES Batch 2011

The Graduation ceremony was followed by the awarding of meritorious pupils and achievers from the different grade levels. Then, concluded with a parade and coronation of the school's King, Queen, Princesses, Prince and Muses.

The King and Queen and their entourage

ROC member Gladys Morf and husband Stefan spearhead charity work; reach out to indigents in Rugao

With great desire to help the needy, Stefan Morf and wife, ROC member Gladys Bermudez Morf spearheaded a charity work in Barangay Rugao, Ilagan, Isabela.

Stefan and Gladys Morf distributed goods to more or less one hundred indigents in Rugao on Friday, April 01, 2011. The beneficiaries received assorted goods like coffee, sardines, noodles, soap, etc and a bag of rice, aside from the snacks that were served to them during the informal event. One of the recipients rendered a song, to the delight of the crowd to show her gratitude to the Morfs.

The almost 100 recipients of the Morfs' charity event

In his short speech Stefan said that they’ve always wanted to reach out to the needy people. He said that the people of Rugao are close to his heart. “We always remember you and I know that you always remember us too.”  

Stefan Morf speaking to the people during a charity event.

Gladys said that the idea of reaching out to the people of Rugao was conceived after she showed the pictures of the wrath of typhoon Juan that were uploaded in Rugao Online Community Facebook account to Stefan’s family (Mr. Emmanuel Morf) in Switzerland.

Gladys and Stefan were in cloud nine after the event. Gladys said that the feeling is different when you’re sharing a part of your blessings to your fellowmen. Stefan, on the other hand was smiling all throughout and shared the same feeling with her wife.

The charity event was also attended by the barangay officials of Rugao who helped in packing and in the distribution of the goods.

more photos at Rugao Ilagan Isabela Facebook Page

 CHARITY – the ROC Way

Upon hearing from our Vice President Nhor Esteban, that Gladys and Estefan Morf and their Families in Switzerland are doing a charity work in Rugao, I immediately “invited myself” to be at the event. It has always been my dream to help the needy so whenever I have a chance to be a part (directly or indirectly) of such work, I always grab the opportunity.

The charity event brought back memories of our first charity work (Rugao Gives Back). The genuine smiles, the warm embraces, the tight handshakes and the endless “thank yous” from the people… totally nostalgic.

Anyway, I would like to commend Stefan, Gladys and the Morf Families in Switzerland for reliving the spirit of charity. Charity is not only about helping people. The most important lesson that we can learn from “charity” is “sharing our blessings.” I remember a text message which I received a few weeks ago. It says, “God increases our blessings not because HE thinks we need it but because HE believes that we can be a blessing to more people.” And that is what charity is all about.

Judy Bermudez wins Regional Gawad Saka 2011 Award; Region 2’s representative in the national level

Barangay Captain Judy Bermudez bested 2 nominees from Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya in the REGIONALGawad Saka Award 2011 (Corn Category) of the Department of Agriculture.

Bermudez qualified for the Regional Level after beating 11 Provincial nominees and earned the right to represent Isabela in the regionals.

Elated and surprised by the news, Bermudez said that he is so proud of his achievement. He said that he is dedicating the award to his fellow farmers in Rugao.

“Hindi ko alam na ako pala ang napipisil na kakatawan sa Ilagan noong provincial competition kaya nagulat ako noong may mga taong pumunta sa bahay at nagtatanong tungkol sa aking mga karanasan sa pagtatanim ng mais,” recalls Bermudez.

When asked about what made him win the award, Bermudez replied, “siguro dahil napatuyan ko na pwede tayong umunlad sa pagsasaka ng mais. Isa pa, gumagawa rin ako ng sarili kong pataba sa lupa (organic fertilizer) at nag eexperiment ako ng variety ng mais na pwede kong itanim.”

Bermudez will represent Region 2 in the National Level. He said that the local officials and the DAR’s support are overwhelming both during the Provincial and Regional search. He hopes that he will receive the same support now that he’s competing nationwide.

“Gagawin ko lahat para manalo sa national level,” he said.

Meanwhile, the people of Rugao including the members of Rugao Online Community expressed their happiness on their leader’s achievement and wished him success in the national search.