BARANGAY CAPTAIN EDGAR M. RICO

(Eulogy during the Funeral Service held by his former colleagues -- barangay captains and former sangguniang bayan members -- on August 19, 2011)

Mr. Rico; Mrs. Rico and children, members of the Rico Family; fellow mourners:

I feel honored to be here to say my final goodbye to a “fellow alumni” in community service – that is if we could regard our past services to our hometown then as our Alma Mater. We were not only “former classmates”, in the service of our hometown, but to add color and flavor of it, we were “glassmates”.

I realized that we don’t do this type of serious gathering very often, especially that most of us have already hibernated from active community service. At best, we usually do it more during our past meetings. Or we would gather as a group then for funs and celebrations. Now, this is different, because some things have to be deliberately done differently for a different kind of person and for a different reason. It is uniquely different because this is for Edgar!

Out there, Edgar was Wasing, just like that, simply like that. However, Kapitan Wasing left an impression upon us a different aura or personality. In our past meetings, whenever Wasing was around, whenever Wasing talked, almost always he had an influence upon us – how we decide, what were our decisions, individually or in group. Why, indeed? Was it because he was a barangay captain for some time? But position alone does not make a person a leader. Title may give some authority, but not influence. Influence comes from the person; it must be earned. Wasing had earned it.

Individually and separately, we could have come to pay our last respect and mourn with the family. But the influence of Wasing; our respect for Wasing, impelled us once more, gathered around him, as a group, not any more for fun, but a celebration - homegoing celebration . Wasing is now “going home” -- to the eternal home prepared by our Creator.

What is it that we remember when we think of Edgar? We all agree, I suppose, foremost, was his sense of humor. I was amused of his green jokes. But what made me laugh was the manner or how he shares a news: almost always accompanied by his both hands in rhythmic actions, as if a conductor of an orchestra; then, instantly, concluded by his brand of crispy laughs, as if overdosed by a pale of water, and suffers a choke or suffocated. Then, he would roll the sleeves of his shirts, as if parading some bulging muscles, which fortunately he has some and quite sexy ones.

He was fond of joining in socio-cultural and religious events. I observed that he was almost present as principal character of many entertainment presentations: be it in the plaza during fiestas, cultural shows of church, civic groups, community and schools, or even necrological services here and there, playing the guitar, with the dominant voice. Try to collect some videos or pictures of those events, most likely Wasing was there, singing, holding one of the microphones or playing the guitar.

We appreciated his courage and dedication when he played the character of Jesus in The Passion of Jesus Christ presentation in one of our Semana Santa observance. People claimed it was a very good portrayal. The people of San Roque were so gratified and appreciated him, and so he won as their barangay captain, rightfully. What came next was for San Roque to have a "father" who served them well for more than a decade.

His life was also spiced with some colorful happenings, we know that. He was just jolly-good-fellow, so to speak. Whenever there was a group of people and Wasing was there, be assured it would be lively interaction. I plead guilty: Sometimes, not all the times, I was part of some of those group “nocturnal adventures”, which, understandably, had caused some concerns of his family. They were just mere adventures anyway.

He was so considerate and helpful, especially for those who are in need. He drives his car, bring patients, victims, at any time of the day for assistance. But he can do only as much as he can; so he believes every civic-spirited constituents must likewise share. Thus, he established the Saranay, Inc., a non-profit organization, the primary purpose of which is to re-establish the value of cooperation and sharing among residents of San Roque. Together with Kapitan Charles, we registered it with the Securities & Exchange Commissions. I hope the organization still exist or continue to exist, as another legacy of Wasing. His virtue of being helpful was most certainly influenced by his loving wife, Auntie Amy, a certified social worker, our Social Welfare Officer.

I was a witness how persistent he was in improving farm-to-market roads in the middle of those farmlands, even if he was not a farmer. He initiated the donation of a portion of a road just to establish a San Roque Barangay Hall. He caused the establishment of the Day Care Center, and such others he managed to do by leading his barangaymates.

I dare say again: Paoay missed the opportunity to be served by one Edgar Rico as a supposed Sangguniang Bayan member. He has no ulterior motive except to serve. He attempted it, but the electorates were confused. Uncle Rene, his brother, advised him not to attempt anymore. Persistent as he was, he tried for the second time. But the electorates did not learned some lessons; they were confused even more. What else can we say: If there is a pattern of confusions among the people, such is a symptom of retrogression, if not exploitation; no human re-engineering, no human infrastructure.

We had had few, minor differences too in perspectives with Kapitan Wasing, politics or otherwise. But he always found his way to talk. At one point, together with SBM Umeng then, he was convincing me then to reconsider my decisions in order to maintain so-called unity. I explained: “It has been said that Unity is not synonymous with Uniformity. Definitely, we are united in purpose towards progress, but it does not follow that we are uniform in approach all the time, because, after all, we are all separate individuals”. He tightly hugged me, and laughed aloud. From that moment, I was so sure that respect reigned between us, both in good times and in adversity.

What happened to Kapitan Wasing was an instant. I would say he was surprised. So, he had to recuse himself, in solitude with his family, because sooner than soon, he might be called to “go home”. Anytime. And it happened.

True, some among us were not able to see and talk to him lately, especially when we heard of the news about his problematic health. . But we have been with him not a year, 2 years, 3 years ago? We have been friends and trusted allies, we were classmates, we were “glassmates”, for more than a decade or 2 already, wasn’t it? Moreover, we must be comforted of the fact that we look forward to that glorious day when we will see him again, smiling, or with those crispy laugh. There, all weariness gone, simply because we are all at “home”, our “eternal home”, prepared by the Almighty Father for us. It has been said, “at death, you won’t leave home – you’ll go home.”

As Kapitan Wasing goes his way “home”, we are left behind. May God bless Edgar Rico and the barangay he loved and served well.

Adios, Kapitan Edgar! Adios, Uncle Wasing! Adios, “classmate”! Adios, “glassmate”!

POOR FARMERS

In the past, when we were already in the month of March, farmers, through their sanjeras, have to be busy already in repairing and rehabilitating their respective communal irrigation canals, water impounding dams, dikes, etc. Those  must be prepared before the onset of rainy days because, by then, almost all of them were so busy in their actual  farming operations. 

Last year, I observed that a lot of  farmers  were bit luckier. It  was an election year. There were  sponsors and donors in aid of their election or re-election. In fact, when an election period is nearing,   a lot of politicians  suddenly  declare and claim that they are pro-farmers.

As election day draws closer, more and more construction materials, water pumps, farm tractors and other farming inputs are given  to farmers as baits.  Worse, they claim that those "goods" came from their personal money. They regard farmers as recipients of dole outs.  Those concerned politicians think that farmers are stupid breeds of human beings people who can always be fooled by faked generosity.  

Others have to mobilize the local agriculture offices as part of their political campaign machinery; thus those agricultural technologists deployed even in far-flung areas at the pretext of  organizing or reorganizing farmers groups, or implementing special projects. Were those assistance given to farmers  during  election periods  be sustained in the succeeding years or every year as a matter of policy? No. “Far far away soup!”

In the campaign trail, I personally heard complaints of farmers in some  areas, as well as witnessed the deplorable conditions of several irrigation facilities, access roads, etc. I  also heard  about those reports as to how funds that were supposedly intended for agriculture, like the RA 7171 Fund and calamity funds, were either used or re-aligned into other purposes, such as purchase of monobloc chairs, umbrellas and the like for distributions come election campaign period.  Note that a re-alignment of agriculture-oriented budgets do not need public hearing or consultation anymore, so the tendency is to ignore the farmers. 

Relatedly, I remember of a reported ADB study which revealed that “rich and middle classes grab subsidies for the poor."   

In short, farming was obviously not really a serious priority, notwithstanding the fact that a given locality is primarily an agricultural place. I can only infer that when it comes to funds and resources for farmers, they are the first to be whimsically prejudiced, compromised or manipulated. So, every election is an “opportunity” to exploit. 

Farmers predicaments 

Towards the later part of May each year, an ordinary farmer has to deal with serious  money problem. The month of  June is the start of rice planting season and, at the same time, opening of school classes. Hence, the “triple whammy” which an ordinary farmer has to confront with: (1) start of rice planting season, (2) opening of school classes, and (3) the dangers of natural disasters such as typhoons and floods. These are not ordinary problems.

They are the primordial justifications of the supposed Farmers Summit we were then pushing at this time of the year regularly in order to devise realistic action plans to assist ordinary farmers in confronting the “triple whammy.”  Note that that the local governments budget cycle starts in July. By then, the outputs from such  supposed summit  would have been  inputs in the budget process. 

At most, meetings are held when farmlands were already eroded, or when  crops were already perished by calamities. Or meetings were held when there were already alarming statistics about  increasing drop outs of schoolchildren of  families of poor farmers. 

Similarly, during summer, seemingly,  some if not most local governments are more preoccupied (or is it a habit already) with those fiestas and festivals, lakbay aral[1]  as well as conferences that would eat much of our local funds.  Thus,  funds have to be  focused more for the expenditures of those celebrations and recreational travels, while the expected needs of farmers are, well, again put as a least  priority.

Agriculture neglected

Sometime last month, I came across with an interesting article, Agriculture neglected, written by certain Mr. Ricky Poca in his column Think Bits[2]. It is interesting for me because it confirms my observations which I have been articulating all along. Partly, it reads:

Is it surprising the Cebu provincial government spent more for fiestas than for agriculture in pork barrels of its legislators? The Philippines is an agricultural country but little attention is given to the agriculture sector. The children of rice farmers have lost the passion to produce rice. They do not want to experience the hardship of their parents by remaining poor though they tilled the land and produced food for other people for the many years.

To encourage our farmers and their children to continue farming, the government should prioritize the agricultural sector in the budget. x x x

We appreciate the advocacy … to fight graft and corruption, but the government should give new hope to our agricultural sector by treating our farmers well.

While the article was  obviously referring to his observations in Cebu, I believe such is also true or somehow happening in several other places.

Food crisis

Previous to that, I also read a published press release of Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Pangilinan Sees Food Crisis as Farmers Getting Fewer[3]. Reproduced hereunder is part of his statement which I underscore some portions for purposes of emphasis:

Filipino farmers are growing old and the young people are not replacing them in the fields. Sen. Francis Pangilinan, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, said this was an “unseen crisis” in the industry which could affect the country's food supply in the next few years.

The Philippines has about 4.3 million farmers, tilling an average of 2.5 hectares of land each, Pangilinan said in a media briefing. Their average age is 57, much too old to till the fields. “This is reaching crisis level. If we don’t correct this in three years, we will have a problem getting our output,” he said.

Pangilinan said the demographics indicated that younger Filipinos were not enticed to enter in the agricultural sector. For them, farming is not a way out to poverty, he said.

“Their grandfathers were poor, their fathers were poor,” he said. “Why don’t they come in? Because they don't find it viable,” he added.

Pangilinan said the key to encouraging new blood in the agricultural sector was to improve support to farmers so that they could increase their income. He favored the strengthening of the local government’s role in agricultural productivity because the local executives know the needs of their farmers.

“I am more partial to the idea of just letting the [Department of Agriculture] set the policy direction and then let the local governments implement [that policy],” Pangilinan said.

The local governments’ capacity building should be improved so that they can provide the right agricultural extension services to farmers, he said.

Economists and experts said the Philippine government's weak extension service is one of the reasons for the low yield in the farm sector.

Unseen crisis?  True. Our farmers are growing old and the young are not replacing them  simply because they don’t find it viable; thus, as he prescribes, the need to (1) improve support to the farmers, and that the (2) government should prioritize the agricultural sector in the budget. 

Nice formula.  maybe  the Senator might have already realized that the situation had  ripened into “unseen crisis”. But he who prescribes a formula should prove it that it is right, otherwise it remains to be a theoretical formula or another political gimmick. 

DA policy-making, LGU implementor

According to the Senator, he favored the strengthening of the local government’s role in agricultural productivity because the local executives know the needs of their farmers. Really?

His assumption needs to be extensively reconciled with the degree of performance of every LGU about those devolved responsibilities despite that a number of years already gone by. Farming iss not viable in most places simply because some local officials do not prioritize agriculture or farming. They  prefer to concentrate in tourism, mining, or other programs like social celebrations because such are favorable to the business interests of their families or allies. This can be confirmed by examining their  local development plans, budgets and actual performance reports. We can  discover the share of farming in their over-all performance.

The senator should visit public markets and see personally  the situations of vendors of farm crops. Most of those vendors belong to marginal farmers. Instead of using more decent display racks for their vegetables,  vendors are using sheets of plastic or paper spread out on the ground of directly on market floor.  The spaces allocated for them have no adequate shed to protect them from the sun or rain. Maybe that is what they deserve in the eyes of their supposed leaders or public servants. Truly,  many politicians do not know  the realities of farming and farmers. 

I am not saying that tourism or mining or other programs should not be developed. They should be equally looked into if indeed they are strengths or assets of a place. But in so doing, farmers or farming programs must not be taken for granted. Those devolved funds and resources of agriculture should not be channeled or realigned to non-agricultural uses, or  should not be used  to subsidize celebrations. Tourism and cultural programs should now be more of public-private-business partnerships. 

Modify devolution

LGU as implementor while DA formulates policy directions? I doubt if there has been an LGU that was sanctioned  for  not supporting or implementing DA-formulated policies and programs, notwithstanding the fact that certain agriculture-related responsibilities and funds were already devolved to them. 

I suggest that the better idea is to revert the  agricultural programs and devolve only to a LGU that is particularly ready and capable to assume such responsibilities.  Why devolve agricultural responsibilities, funds and personnel to a LGU that has no plans or serious actions to assume and pursue them? 

If the plans are viable and actually benefit agricultural productivity, and they are sustainable, then I am quite certain young farmers are enticed because they can foresee a bright future of farming. On the other hand, the devolved agricultural officials and personnel would be motivated to put into practice their skills rather than doing administrative works. 

If there is a formulated plan we can monitor the progress of the component projects and strategies, and determine those who are responsible for their failures or successes.   There should be  funds and resources intended for farmers be squandered or misused. Up until now, I maintain that what we have is a devolution with no accountability.

Local agricultural offices have to be reverted to DA and be re-structured to provide package of services, such as the provisions for research and laboratory services, marketing and financial services, livestock production and protection services, fishery and aquatic resources management, regulatory and enforcement services. Some local agricultural offices organizational structures are obsolete already. An agricultural officer should be made accountable if targeted programs and plans are not met. 

Evaluate  local agricultural offices and we will find out that most have no  basic laboratory equipment,  like soil test kits, basic machineries that may be availed of by farmers etc. Maybe acquisition of  farm tools and equipment is not really a priority. 

Agricultural extension service

We have a weak agricultural extension service? Why don't we just enlist certified farmers, especially the younger ones, as agricultural extension workers in their respective areas. Just equip  them with periodic training  under a government institutionalized skills training curriculum. Thereafter,  they shall be assessed and granted with equivalent course or eligibility. In this case, a trained farmer is equipped with multiple skills and thus be conferred with corresponding recognition, from TESDA perhaps,  which they may use for other employment. They  shall also be provided with packaged of benefits,  such as PhilHealth  coverage, outreach educational exposures and other incentives.

Farmers Support Fund

Senator Pangilinan said that “the key to encouraging new blood in the agricultural sector was to improve support to farmers.” That is long overdue.  This was in fact the rationale of the  Farmers Support Fund which I integrated in an ordinance I introduced during my incumbency.  Unfortunately, this has been one of the "sleeping provision" or repeatedly ignored benefits intended to our farmers.   

If only this should be implemented, maybe Senator Pangilinan  can contribute his pork barrel into the Fund. Basically, the Fund was intended to be a source of soft loans  for  small farmers. It may also serve as guarantee fund for  loans  from  willing financial institutions or lending entities. But the key there is to remove chronic political considerations in the selection of recipients.

The “triple whammy” really drubs a small farmer, especially if he is only a tenant. He needs seed capital to rehabilitate his disaster-mangled farm crops, or to replace or repair a basic farm equipment like water pump, sprayer or even carabao. He needs money for the tuition fees of his children. The  Fund could be a good source of assistance.  Banks need collateral and understandably a small farmer-tenant has none.

It  has been long overdue to elevate farmers as true and principal characters of our society. Farming should be  a decent and competitive livelihood. Especially in the rural barangays, it is the small farmers and not professionals and businessmen who are serving as barangay tanod and fire volunteers. Still,  they have to be in the farm at day time enduring the heat of the sun or risking themselves against thunders and lightning, and then obliged to do patrolling or peacekeeping duties at night time just to ensure a safe and peaceful community. 

One more point: Farmers are voters too.

Real and actual farmers are now "endangered species."  Younger Filipinos are not enticed to go into farming because their parents will, understandably,  never encourage  them. No parent will encourage his child to be a farmer if the feel that their government is inept and passive about their needs and their future.  Worse, if their government has the propensity to exploit and manipulate them.

---

[1] Lakbay Aral: Is it? August 2009 blog,

[2] (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/opinion/view. February 1, 2011.

[3] http://www.agriculture-ph.com/2011/01/senator-pangilinan-sees-increasing-food.html. January 17, 2011

AMBIENTE PAOAY! PILIPINAS KAY GANDA

Although the famous (or infamous?) Pilipinas, Kay Ganda! logo of our tourism department was already shredded, it was only recently when (one early evening while I was at the church yard) the said logo, together with the theme or logo officially adopted in the Master Plan for the Paoay Heritage District, crossed my mind. 

 The theme of the Master Plan is:

Paoay Impressions!

Ambiente Paoay

History, Culture, Arts and  Crafts

The original and official text font was set in Prose Antique and Garamond, but the word processor of my computer does not have such font.

I heard that the Pilipinas, Kay Ganda! was supposedly adopted to propel the tourism programs of the Government, thus will effectively replace the Wow Philippines! But more controversies came about, I guess, when there were criticisms as to its layout itself which was reportedly lifted from the tourism logo of Poland! It was indeed infamous because it even caused to the resignation of a tourism official.

What happened to our own? -- the Paoay Impressions! Ambiente Paoay. We used to have it as an accompanying theme of fiesta celebrations, the Guling-guling festival, and such other instances inscribed in streamers, posters and the like to spotlight the Paoay Heritage District conservation and protection efforts as well as the endemic traditions of Paoay.

To date, I believe, the Master Plan is still there. It has to be there, or if not, its replacement plan; otherwise it has an implication to the status of the Church as a World Heritage Site. Thus, if the Plan is still there and being pursued, then necessarily the said theme should also be used in order for us to be consistent. Consistency of plans, projects and activities must be ensured because we are dealing here with a cultural property inscribed in the prestigious World Heritage List.

Paoay town icon

The San Agustin Church, popularly known as Paoay Church, is really the foremost tourism asset and the top tourist attraction of our town. Remove or disregard Paoay Church, then tourism is practically dead in the place. Indeed, the church is the icon of the town.

As one of those who actually and dutifully did his expected roles then, it is thus naturally tempting for me to express my happiness while I merrily recall my participation, because I can see more the results of cooperative efforts. I was actively involved then in the activities and projects of the Paoay Task Force, like attending those Paoay Task Force meetings, planning sessions, trainings and workshops, and hosting other related activities.

Only recently, I was so happy to see beautiful pictures frequently posted in the various social networking sites in the Internet. Those pictures really show the majestic view of the Church structure enhanced by the newly installed lighting facilities and pathways improvement. The project is another component prescriptions of the Master Plan, and courtesy of Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA). 

The project cost was P8.3 million. I hosted PTA representatives when they did the legwork of planning and designing the lighting facilities. Then last March 2010, I received a text message from a Department of Tourism (DOT) national official informing me of the approval of the Paoay Church Lighting Project and its implementation soonest. I texted her back informing that I am not anymore connected with the Municipal Government, but the DOT official texted me again: “Yes. At least recognition should still go to you for your efforts even if the project did not materialize during your term.” She sent me, through the provincial tourism officer, a photocopy of the documents relative to the approval of the project. It is really heartwarming to see another fruit of participation. I saved in my cellular phone the text message as part of my remembrance.

Speaking of remembrance, I also remember those local legislative supports I managed to introduced. One is an ordinance establishing the Paoay Heritage District to provide the legislative requirements of institutionalizing the Master Plan, and to regulate certain activities thereat in furtherance to the conservation of the site. For example, there should be a Design Review Board to evaluate the building designs to be constructed in the Heritage District, so with designs of signages, be it institution or business, so that they will enhance the historic and aesthetic character of the site. This is just one of those unimplemented provisions, reason for which we sometimes see any design or any color used for those structures located in the site because of no functional review board.

Another is an ordinance establishing the Municipal Cultural & Tourism Council. I am so happy that until now it is the lead entity dealing with local cultural events, although I feel it needs some revisiting now, particularly its structure and basis of representations of some. I also proposed a Management Plan for the Heritage District to establish a system of responsibility to administer the site. There were also public consultations we had with residents and stakeholders purposely to educate each other about the status of the site and our shared responsibilities. I remember also those "minor frictions" because of certain issues between the church officials and some implementing agencies on one hand, between some officials and some residents on the other hand because of petty politics. 

But as I learned from others experience, such is natural menu in heritage conservation projects -- a lot of people are not that receptive at the beginning. And I can remember those annoying issues concocted by people who were ignorant of the components of the Master Plan, criticizing the installation of road barriers that will regulate the passage of heavy trucks near the church, because their vibrations might aggravate the tilting of the facade; relocation of parking or old terminals of tricycles because they obstruct the nice view; and regulate vehicle parking inside the church yard. I am sure others have also some stories to tell about their participation. Share them.

Conservation plan

The inscription of Paoay Church, or any natural or cultural property for that matter, in the World Heritage List presupposes the presence of a functional plan. Item No. (v) of General Principles in the Establishment of the World Heritage List, as stated in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, provides:

(v) “Inscriptions of sites shall be deferred until evidence of the full commitment of the nominating government, within its means, is demonstrated. Evidence would take the forms of relevant legislation, staffing, funding, and management plans, as described below in Paragraph 24 (b) for cultural properties, and In Paragraph 44 (b) (vi) for natural properties.” (underscoring supplied)

Pursuant further to that Operational Guidelines, the “Format and Content of Nominations” shall provide information and documentation on the following: (1) Identification of the Property, (2) Justifications for Inscription, (3) Description, (4) Management (5) Factors Affecting the Site, (6) Monitoring, (7) Documentation, and (8) Signature on Behalf of the State Party.

The general principle and format thus imply the necessity of formulating a Master Plan, plus those relevant pieces of local legislation. They suggest the necessity of a management plan to be carried out by able staff complement. They justify the constitution of the Paoay Task Force because the Philippines is the Nominating Government for its inscription. They provide the reasons why funding are to be allocated by the member- agencies in the Paoay Task Force for specific projects that will maintain its outstanding universal value, as well as to protect it from deterioration leading to the lost of the characterstics that determined its inclusion in the World Heritage List, otherwise the Paoay Church would be placed on the World Heritage in Danger List and for possible deletion from the World Heritage List.

The Master Plan for the Paoay Heritage District was adopted in 1999. It is the result of those series of consultations, prepared by technical experts, and adopted by the stakeholders.

The Master Plan has four major components: (1) Church Restoration and Rehabilitation; (2) Place Improvement, (3) Development Control, and (4) Enterprise Development and Revenue Generation.The expected results create, in a nutshell, a Paoay Impressions! Ambiente Paoay

A World Heritage Site

Paoay Church was nominated to the World Heritage List in 1992 and officially inscribed in 1993. Per the copy of the “Nomination Dossier and other UNESCO World Heritage information materials” sent to me then on November 5, 1998 by Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs and Acting Secretary General Rosario G. Manalo of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, after I attended the series of seminar-workshops on heritage conservation sponsored by UNESCO-NCP and DOT, the Paoay Church “is considered to be of outstanding universal value and is nominated to the World Heritage List under criteria (i), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)”.

The Paoay Church is a cultural property and based on the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, the said criteria to which the nomination was based were as follows:

(i)   represents a masterpiece of human creative genius; or

(ii)  x x x

(iii) bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a 
       civilization which is living or which has disappeared; or

(iv) be an outstanding example of a type of building or architectural or technological 

       ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history; or

(v) be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement or land-use which is 

       representative of a culture (or cultures), especially when it has become vulnerable 
       under the impact of irreversible change; or

(vi) be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or 

       with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance (the 

      Committee considers that this criterion should justify inclusion in the List only in 

      exceptional circumstances and in conjunction with other criteria cultural or natural);

 x x x

Based on the said Nomination Dossier, let me reproduce a significant portion of stated “Description and Inventory”, thus:

“b) Description and Inventory:

       x x x

The church of San Agustin was commenced in 1694 and partly completed in 1702, final completion in 1710. The coralstone bellower, standing at some distance from the church for earthquake protection, was finished in the second half of the eighteenth century. The belltower façade features the unusual arrangement of rusticated pilasters on the second level, the reverse of the usual order in Europe. Since normally Philippine belltowers awere constructed apart from the main church structure, at san Agustin this arrangement was exaggerated and the tower stands quite a distance from the side of the church, located in the next block. This church is the most outstanding variant of “earthquake Baroque” as first described by Pal Keleman in reference to Latin America. Its phalanx of buttresses are certainly the most massive of its kind in the Philippines. Fourteen are formed along the lines of a gigantic volute supporting a smaller one, surmounted in turn bu pyramidal finials. A pair of buttresses along the middle of the length of the nave are stairways probably used for roof access. The volute motif appears again in miniature along the stone wall enclosing the expansive church yard. The lower half of the apse and most of the walls were constructed of cut coralstone blocks. The upper level was finished in brick. Curiously, the order is reversed in the façade, with heavier coralstone blocks occupying the upper levels and finials. Irregularly shaped blocks with carved floral decorations flank some entrances and may be remnants of an earlier building. On the façade, the decorative carving is limited only to the uppermost levels, with the lower two-thirds a massive blank. The visual impact of the massive volute buttresses and the exaggerated distance of the pagoda-like belltower as further earthquake protection make this property the most outstanding example of a structure braced against natural occurrences, another Philippine variant in the world-wide development of the Periferal Baroque.”

Monitoring of World Heritage Site

As a World Heritage Site, the state of conservation of the Paoay Church is naturally being monitored of World Heritage Committee. According to the Operational Guidelines, it has a systematic monitoring and reporting, which means “the continuous process of observing the conditions of World Heritage Sites with periodic reporting on its state of conservation.”

It further states: “It is the prime responsibility of the State Parties to put in place on-site monitoring arrangement as integral component of day-to-day conservation and management of the sites. State Parties should do so in close coordination with the site managers or the agency with management authority. It is necessary that every year the conditions of the site be recorded by the site manager or the agency with management authority”.

It is noted that State Parties are invited to submit to the World Heritage Committee a scientific report on the state of conservation once every five years.

Paoay Church Viewbook Project

Going back to those beautiful pictures posted in the Internet, I suggested to some of our concerned local officials that maybe it is good to come up with a Paoay Church Viewbook Project. The Viewbook is a compilation of even just 20 selected pictures, with captions, chosen from entries or contributions . We could print out or publish one Viewbook every 3 months.

This could be done through a sort of a contest, prizes be given to those selected pictures. The Viewbook could be printed and reproduced as an educational materials in our schools, souvenir, and even token for visiting friends and guests.

I hope they will consider my humble suggestion. Or I will not be surprised if someone will do it for business. If only I have the means.

But the Paoay Church is still our church. Fine if it is a tourist attraction, but it should and must be first a place of worship.

LAKBAY ARAL NA

The brouhaha about those infamous dinners of President GMA in her party in the US recently refuse to die down. After all, those were  legitimate issues that must not be simply ignored. If it has no leg to stand on for criminal prosecution, at least it should creates a public awareness or uproar in the hope that it will give some hard lessons to learn. But worthy to note that two party-list members of Congress have the courage and petitioned the Ombudsman to investigate them.

Relatedly, other than those lavish drinks and meals, the nature of a given travel of our officials need to be examined too. I want to share a piece of my mind on the natures of travel, whether foreign or local, because oftentimes they were  misused or abused. Some officials euphemistically term them as Lakbay Aral or educational tours, in order to put some legitimacy to it, thus  public funds and resources may be used to defray or subsidize most if not all of the expenses incurred.  More of these lakbay will soon be a favorite stratagems of moneyed tradpols because the elections are forthcoming. It is a mode of corrupting the minds of the intended participants to realize an ulterior motive. In so doing, it is a classic style of a transactional leadership.

Invitation
Take that President’s travel to US for instance: The invitation may not have told PGMA to bring a number of delegates because, in fact, only few of them were allowed inside to meet President Obama. Senator Lapid was not even one of them despite of his desire to have a photo-ops with Mr. Obama.  We have a custom that one must not go to a party if he was not invited. It  is gate-crashing. Similarly, the one invited may not bring a companion, moreso if it is already a crowd.

That brings now the issue of the nature of a given travel, whether it is official or personal, by our government local or national officials. If it is by invitation or formal notification from the host, then it maybe official. And even then, there are requirements to comply, such as request for travel authority and, where applicable, a designation of an officer-in-charge who will assume the responsibilities of such traveling official. If it is personal or private, one has to file a leave of absence and in like manner, where applicable, a designation of an officer-in-charge. In fact, an invitation is still invitation, which one will accede to or not. Duty first before pleasure, so to speak. 

Puro lakbay walang aral. Especially in times of under economic stress, the virtue of being prudent must be more observed. Such virtue must be more of, or supposedly possessed by, those who are in power because of the ethical command of public service: That a public servant must lead a simple life and no ostentatious display of wealth.   Even if one can afford to finance one’s own travel, or is so rich enough to treat others for free travels or tours with accompanying meals, drinks, and souvenirs, such financial capability is not enough reason to do it,  at will. All concerned must be sensitive enough to consider the various factors -- not only to satisfy personal fancies and luxuries of the junketeers on one hand, and the ulterior motives of the host on the other hand.

Among the various factors could be its necessity, or its urgency, or its significance, or its economic benefits, or even frequency of the lakbay aral. Should there be a necessity to proceed with the lakbay aral now or later? What are the economic benefits of the travel? Worthy to recall at this point of what a certain Governor did by disapproving a travel authority request of a Municipal Mayor. The Governor cited a prior travel permit granted by him in favor of the latter, rationalizing that travels should not be too frequent, otherwise constituents are prejudiced and regular delivery of services is undermined.

Those factors can be examined, initially, from the activity design which spells out the rationale, objectives, the participants, its significance, and then the itineraries and its budgetary requirements reflecting the source and usage of funds. In fact, the foregoing information are basic basis in the issuance or not of the corresponding travel authority.

Never the justifications will be made later just for purposes of liquidating expenses, or an excuse to be absent from official duties. After the travel, finally, the resultant benefit, or simply the aral component, can be measured from whatever action, project, plan, policy, proposal, recommendations, as the case may be, or anything tangible done or presented within a reasonable time after the travel as stated in the objectives. It cannot be none at all; otherwise, it is plain and simple lakbay, walang aral.

Post-travel reports
When I was still involved in the local government service, I initiated the issuance of a memorandum circular wherein the local chief executive directed all officials and personnel granted with a travel authority, particularly those attending conventions, seminars, trainings and the like using public funds and during official working hours to render a written post-travel/activity report. The report shall be made as integral part of the documentary liquidation papers of the expenses incurred.

The report has the following purposes: (1) it must be circulated so others may know also or at least have a share about the subject matters which the traveling official had participated in; (2) to suggest others, especially superiors and peers, that said traveling official has a working knowledge about the subject of the travel and when a situation demands the application of such knowledge,  the records may be a reference; (3) the traveling official can be made as resource persons in echo-seminars on the subject because it is likely impossible that all persons in the workplace can attend at the same time; and (4) contents thereof could be potential reference in forthcoming development planning or decision- or policy-making processes.

In short, there is an aral that does not only to benefit the traveler but, directly or indirectly, to others who may use  the report. If one has nothing to report substantially, simply because he learned nothing and, to make matters doubly worse, the taxpayers money were squandered for nothing. In effect, the command of the circular is also to at least compel the concerned official to be attentive, and thus prevents him to just register then sleep, or get out and do some shopping, attend parties, or whatever.

Budget and expenditures for travels 
Indeed for every office or entity, it has its own approved allocation to finance official travel expenditures. However, applicable rules and regulations demand that one must operate within the budget.

There is no more prudence, no fairness and no sound fiscal management if:

(1) actual expenses already exceeded the approved allocation for travels; or
(2) travels benefited only one or few officials despite of the fact that such total allocation is 
      for the whole and entire complement of an office or entity; or

(3) the frequency of travel is so often and mostly of the same nature, such as Lakbay Aral, or

      simply for familiarization tours, which may not be urgent, or of utmost necessity, and

      questionable economic significance vis-à-vis the economic crisis; or 
(4) initiate seminars or conventions in a far and expensive venues where in fact it can be 
      done in the locality ; or 

(5) the budget supposedly covers fairly most of the officials and personnel in the workplace 
      or entity, yet benefiting only by one or few and the same favored ones.

What is more objectionable is, upon analyzing seriously of the agency’s funds utilization, the result of which would reveal that the office or entity spent a lot more public funds for such lakbay incurred by only one, or few, or the same concerned officials compared to what has been made actually available and spent for the repair and rehabilitation of damages left by calamities or for relief assistance to victims.

Consider this claim: A mere barangay captain, his barangay was compelled to spend P10,000.00 for his participation in a lakbay aral, compared to the meager P5,000,00 used for disaster relief operations because of of his reasons of inadequacy of funds for the latter.

Simply stated, the lakbay is more important than saving lives and properties. It is gross insensitivity to the plight of the needy. As expected, those junketeers do not tell it, or admit it.  If brought to discussion, they will just counter it as a politically motivated, or say curtly: inggit lang sila! They are  suggesting that: If you want easy tours, just become a government official.

Other foul practices
People should be more watchful and vigilant on the nefarious schemes employed by some notorious organizers and participants of these so-called lakbay aral. I have heard confessions from some participants. 

One. They impose considerable amount of registration fees yet there is a big chunk thereof that will be returned to the registrant intended for his or her private or personal use. So, the entity’s budget is subsidizing the private and personal needs of their traveling official. To carry this out, the organizers will make a complicated itineraries, or with seemingly substantive issues to be discussed, but in truth and in fact, such only exist in papers. Whether those were indeed done and completed, no one knows. The Commission on Audit doesn’t care about it because in liquidating expenses, it is generally limited in the basic documentary requirements, such as travel order, the certificate of attendance, and that listed itinerary of travel which auditors care less if true or not.


Second. There are some officials participating in seminars, conventions, etc will register in the attendance sheet but leaves the hall to attend instead to private social events, like wedding or birthday celebrations. And when he returns and liquidates expenses, he falsify or cause the alteration of the hotel receipts, or the itineraries, in order to bloat the reimbursable amount of expenses. Ginastusan na, kumita pa! 

Third. There are nasty reports where along their way, some delegates in the lakbay engage in gambling. The nasty part there is the report that the supposed government money advanced to him was instead used for betting. What is even nastier there is the behavior – as if proud to narrate of those experiences of gambling and drinking to the max, but no mention of the aral worthy to be translated into action, worthy to be shared with peers, superiors or subordinates. 

Fourth. A lakbay aral is almost always planned by top level officials. As such, and in most cases, it is designed to cater their own benefits. Seldom that there is lakbay aral for clerks, janitors and low-ranking officials or personnel, exclusively for them or at least includes them. Simply because, some are not really educational tours but a goodwill ones to gain political support, or to appease potential critics in the hope to silence or deadens their senses through luxury mode of transportation, lavish meals and caviars, with matching dances and singing in the bars.  Utang na loob daw yun?

Why not also plan and organize a Lakbay Diwa?