Almost all units of the 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army are participating in the Brigada Eskwela campaign of the Department of Education (DepEd) which started Monday, May 20.

The army is one of the stake holders in this program which has been a consistent participant in cleaning and repairing the classrooms of public schools.

The 302nd Infantry Brigade led by Col. Francisco Patrimonio, com-manding officer, joined the Brigada Eskwela in the hinterland barangay schools like La Libertad, Negros Oriental.

Master Teacher Grace D. Carreon of ABES II supervises the members and families of the 4Ps joining the ABES II Brigada Eskwela 2013 yesterday.* (Jun de los Reyes/NDB photo)

The only academe that is deeply involved on environmental concerns is the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, Bacolod City. For one year now, the University Community Development Program Office that supervises the Heritage Tree Museum, it has transformed the university campus into a more cozy and soothing environment.

UNO-R Heritage Tree Museum Day

The Philippine Heritage Tree Museum and Sustainable Mini Eco-Park spreads 14 hectares within the school campus. It is a school-based reforestation project started on May 23, 2012 with 50 trees of 25 species to symbolize the University’s golden jubilee year celebration. Now, it has 63 trees from 28 species, a result of the school’s Tree for the future program, participated in by the employees of the school. They tend to the trees they planted until they grow, not only to restore Philippine biodiversity, but as living legacies and witnesses of UNO-R’s continuing journey to the Cradle of Excellence.

Personnel of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) headed by Police Senior Superintendent Edgardo O. Ordaniel, Acting City Director conducts "Brigada Eskwela" and feeding program at JR Torres Elementary School, Brgy. Singcang-Airport, this city on May 23. The activity is in preparation for the forthcoming "Balik Eskwela 2013".*

Out going mayor and congressman -elect Evelio Leonardia has denied reports that he junked his partymate mayoralty candidate Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson during the May 13 election. This issue circulated through text messages on election day.

He said, "let the figures speak for itself. That is impossible. In the first place, that is not my character, he said.

Leonardia, NPC-Grupo Progreso district chairman, pointed out that based on figures, 96 percent of the voters who voted for him also voted for Sayson.

Leonardia garnered 94,682 votes, while Sayson got 90,614 votes.

The elevation of Bacolod City to the status of Center for Excellence for Information Technology business process management is the most memorable moment to Congressman-elect Evelio Leonardia, because this has established Bacolod City further, as a growth center.

In the presence of DOST Secretary Mario Montejo, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Jocelle Batapa-Sigue receive the "Center of Excellence" award granted to Bacolod City as a premier destination for information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) by the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communication Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) and the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP). With them are City Administrator John Orola and Roy Balicas.*

It has also elevated the city to a stature that should make it much more competitive from what it was in terms of information technology.

Bacolod was declared a "Center of Excellence" for information technology and business process management operations during rites held at the Grand Ballroom of Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City, Monday.

[ DISCLAIMER: Opinions and reactions posted in this section do not necessarily reflect those of NDB and NDBers. - Arman Toga, moderator. ]

[7121] MANAPLA MISHAP. Vehicular incident occured here along Lumayagan Busay road, Manapla between double tire and a loaded truck of sugarcane. Heavy traffic cause of temper of commuters. (Texted early last night May 23 by 09282899191)

[7120] PNB ATM. To MR, MARIANO MAGBANUA. general manger of PNB. kami nga taga Binalbaganon. naga reklamo sang parti sa ATM sang PNB. Permi lang wala kwarta kag wala 100 bills. Kag offline permi. Suplada pa ang ... sang PNB Binalbagan. Pls. lang MR. MAGBANUA. (09103999...)

[7119] TO PRC. I just wanna express my feelings sa tanan nga staff sang PRC sa Bago City College, I am very much disappointed sa process sa filing para sa teacher’s board, tani gin organize man nila maayo para indi man kami mag wait 5 HOURS, before kami e entertain. (09185381080)

[7118] ABANG LINGKOD. Abang Lingkod will not hesitate to file a contempt case against (COMELEC Chairman) Brillantes and Comelec if they will proclaim partylists whose votes are lower than that of Abang Lingkod. We will only agree with the proclamation of partylists that have gained the 2 percent or more as mandated by the Partylist law. Brillantes being a lawyer himself is much aware of the stakes of the 12 partylists whose case still pending in the Supreme Court. Unfortunately the SC is right now on recess and will only resume this June. (Ben Solilapsi, Sec-Gen, Abang Lingkod. (09474882640)

[7117] BARANGAY ELECTION. Nga-a paisolon pa ang brgy. election? Ang iban da gasadsad ang BATASAN kay ara pa sila sa position! Upod sang mga LINTA nga mga expert sa KORAPSYON! (09072115359)

Dr. Napoleon "Nap" Cordova fondly is called by friends as "Dr. Nap", "Nappy", or simply "Mr. Happy Birthday". Every time you see his lovable smiling face, always be happy for it remembers your birthday.

Dr. Napoleon "Nap" Cordova and wife Lydia

Born on June 8, 1923, For-mer Councilor Nap Cordova is a native of Bacolod living at his very simple house in Sto. Niño Stop, Barangay 2, Bacolod City. He is the eldest son of the family of professionals of Mr. and Mrs. Salvacion Aguadaña, a housewife and Alfredo Cordova, aide-the-camp of Former Mayor Teofisto Cordova Sr. of Bacolod City with 5 lovable sisters and brothers-Amador, Lourdes, Diotay, Delfa and Nene.

He studied his Elementary years at the Bacolod West Elementary School, now Rizal Elementary School and took his Secondary years at Negros Occidental High School. He obtained his College Degree at MCU- Manila Central University in 1948 and Pre-Med at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental for two years 1948-19-49 until he became a full pledged Doctor of Medicine.

He was employed as a Resident Doctor in Silay General Hospital then as Chief of Hospital at Saravia Sugar Planters Clinic.

The local and regional NBI law enforcement agencies, are once more bedeviled with charges of being involved in irregularities, including carrying out lightning raids on business establishments and engaging in extortion, masked as part of its legal mandate. But highly-reliable sources who requested not to be named, have declared that those behind the large-scale scams have capitalized upon the agency’s fearless reputation to intimidate personalities and business establishments, in an effort to produce money, tainted with fraud, sources said.

The complainants include used clothes dealers in the city, who swore that for months on end, a man representing himself as a confidential agent of the bureau, has been the bagman of the extortion activities. But confidential agents have as early on last year, been eliminated by an order of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Southeast Asia, whose potentially-rich atolls and seas are among the most sought-after areas of the world, could also become one of the most likely flashpoints that could ignite a bloody naval war if the leaders of the richest and most powerful nations of the world fail to immediately resolve the potentially-explosive situation in the South China Sea.

This developed as Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario warned last Thursday that territorial rows in Asia are "causing considerable tension that could lead to conflict" as several countries face off with China over island claims.

Speaking at a Tokyo business conference, Del Rosario said China’s "nine-dash line claim encompassing almost the entire South China Sea is "excessive."

"In addition to the South China Sea, we have in Northeast Asia, home to Asia’s biggest economic powerhouses, several disputes that have adversely affected relations between and among Japan, China and the Republic of Korea.

"The competing territorial and maritime disputes are causing considerable tension that could lead to conflict," he warned.