A tree-planting activity for the launching of the Agro-Forestry Project dubbed "Trees for Life: ATC’s Reforestation Project" was held spearheaded by Alter Trade Corporation at Nakalang-Padilla in Brgy. Mailum, Bago City, Negros Occidental.

The project - which is aimed at helping agrarian reform beneficiaries increase their productivity and contribute to improving the environment and ecosystem — was attended by Pur Project manager Pierrec James, together with GEPA manager Robin Roth, as well as

Nakalang Padilla Farm Workers’ Association chairman Sandrico Cornelio (left) and GEPA manager Robin Roth at the ceremonial planting of seedlings.*

Community Development Service, and Dionesio Sanchez, chairman of NAFPWA.

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

[7112] MADING ADORIO IN GUIMARAS. Ginapahibalo sa mga paryente kag kakilala ni lola Magdalena "Mading" Gamusa-Adorio sang Alibjon, Jordan, Guimaras nga sya nagtaliwan kag yara nahaya sa ila puluy an sa Alibjon, Jordan. Sa Mayo 26 ang lubong ala una sa hapun. Contact kamo sa iya bata nga si Bella Adorio De Juan sa 09089015430.

[7111] POWER PLANT. Power plant gid ang kenanglan para madayun na tanan nga planu ni Monico kag Marañon. Wala power plant, wala progress kag wala development ang Bacolod kag Negros. (09207242552)

[7110] ATTENTION DEPED. Call ko lang attention sang DEPED. Ang MAIHS indi magpirma clearances ang mga teachers kung wala ka ibigay nga goods. Pwerte no. Thanks have a nice day. (09095800396)

[7109] ALACAPA. I know NONOY ALACAPA very well, he won’t be doing a thing if he thinks this will ruin his reputation. Baw LT sang Purok Bayanihan, Villamonte, ang insakto lang bala ang isugid because I was there. (09067262849)

[7108] PUENTEVELLA. Congratz kay Mayor Monico, tani makarekober na ang Bacolod sa mga kautangan, transparency indi tulad sang past administration, proud to be a "newsboy", congratz again mayor. (+966559766934)

GASATAYA WAXES BUT REALITY SAYS OTHERWISE. Vice-Mayor elect Greg Gasataya, and other Grupo Progreso officials elected in the recent May 13 elections are guaranteed to experience bad trips in the Bacolod City Council, once the sessions start.

The councilors of Grupo Progreso who won, namely Caesar Distrito, Roberto Rojas, Alex Paglumotan, Em Ang and Carl Lopez would surely labor as if going upstream against strong currents.

The Grupo Progreso councilors, have been charged with many complaints along with Mayor Evelio Leonardia, in alleged irregularities including the NGC building construction, garbage dump purchase in Brgy. Felisa, purchase of the Arao property and development, alleged scams and many more filed by a slew of whistleblowers who have now been vindicated, in their persistency in filing the complaints.

My family was busy last week. Our only daughter who lives in New York was on her vacation and asked the whole immediate family time for bonding before she leaves.

She was busy here and there as if catching for every minute she had so that she can cover the best she has to cover bonding with the family.

Partially she asked some of us to be with her, and sometimes the whole family. She wanted to see Balay nga bato of Mr. Rusty Biñas at Marapara Heights in Bata Bacolod, but due the fact that to she has to be in Iloilo she failed to see it. Only Norma and I were able to see it with the able help of Junjun Mojica of the Green Alert. Since Rusty is a U.N. employee, he and his family were not there as the staff headed by Art opened the house for us to appreciate it. And we are very much impressed. Mr. Biñas wanted to simulate nature in his way of living. It is one place in Bacolod Bacoleños must or ought to see. Only that it is a private place unlike the now famous The Ruin in Talisay. I think I am fortunate enough to first put it in print as I have not come across Rusty’s Balay nga bato in the local newspaper. If you haven’t seen it, it’s high time you should know what some of us Negrenses are doing without blowing our horns.

We also went to see the cartwheel chapel of Msgr. Gaston at Manapla. Although the place is a regular destination of my wife and her Cedar College students during their yearly trip, it’s the first time for me and my daughter and we are impressed.

Eight members of the Philippine Army and a civilian were injured in a road accident after their canter truck fell about 11AM, Friday along the national road at Sitio Moog, Brgy. Vista Alegre, Ilog town.

Traffic report said the green-colored canter truck 47th Infantry Battalion of Philippine Army based in Brgy. Tiling, Cauayan with plate number SHL 769 driven by Private Gerald Pulviras, 24, was moving towards Kabankalan City when it swerved and accidentally fell on the right side of the road. Pulviras with Capt. Glenford Libre; PFC’s Lawrence Parreño, Julius Araneta, Joemar Andal and Dario Tolentino; Corporals Jerome Punsalan and Hane Charl Tureta and Sgt. Ronilo Aguacito with civilian Ma. Fe Gallardo.

The victims were rushed to Don Lorenzo Memorial District Hospital in Kabankalan City for medical treatment while follow-up investigation of the incident was referred to SPO2 Rygie Pigar.

Ten of 12 senatorial candidates, two of three Bacolod City bets for the three top positions, and 10 of 12 city councilors supported by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) were elected during last week’s polls.

Of the 12 candidates for the Senate supported by INC members, only Dick Gordon and Jack Enrile did not make it.

Those supported by the church and who were proclaimed by the Commission on Election (COMELEC) were Sonny Angara, Bam Aquino, Nancy Binay, Alan Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Gringo Honasan, Loren Legarda, Grace Poe, Antonio Trillanes, and Cynthia Villar.

Ave which was also supported by the church also made it among top party-lists although Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes said the counting for the party-lists will resume only today (Monday).

Several sachets of suspected shabu were incidentally confiscated from a man with standing warrant of arrest for illegal gambling during a raid about 12:25PM, yesterday at Don Miguel Ossorio St., Lopez Subdivision, Brgy. VI in Victorias City.

PSupt. Santiago Y. Rapiz, police chief reported that three elongated and three small heat-sealed sachets of suspected shabu with P2,400 estimated market value were confiscated from Michelle Sumaria alias Paport, 31, of Sitio Pinanubol, Brgy. VI.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) should be transparent in its programs, including the grassroots cloud of doubts be erased on running the organization.

There are so many queries that need to be clarified. First and foremost is the recruitment of foreign players instead of tapping local players and also tapping foreign coach instead of local ones. Well, we know there are lots to explain by PFF under the leadership of Ilonggo Mariano "Nonong" Araneta, of all of these things and especially in its so-called programs in propagating football in the country. Last Friday, one PFF personnel answered a query from sportswriters in Dumaguete City where the subsidy of FIFA goes and he claimed it goes to grassroots football program and other educational programs including the direct assistance to the national team. PFF has commitment for football in the country. However, last Friday’s open forum, it was known that some football clubs in the country are not supported partially or wholly by PFF- that is if they have commitment for football.

When asked their preparations to the 2013 PFF Suzuki National Cup, most of the teams that participate have difficulty in assembling their players and most important is the support to their teams. Iloilo Football Club where Araneta came from confided they have a hard time looking for sponsors in going to Dumaguete City. Maybe, only one team has the much needed support and thanks to Yanson siblings, Ricky and Leo Rey for their love of football, providing a world class football field back home at Ayala North in Talisay City. Then where is that commitment for football goes?

DUMAGUETE CITY - Cebu Football Club posted its second straight win beating Iligan-Lanao, 1-0 in the 2013 PFF- Suzuki U23 National Cup at the Gov. Mariano Perdices Memorial football field in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental yesterday.

Ben Lorenzo Magbanua did the trick in the 53rd minute to upend close defense of one of three teams from Mindanao, which had a draw with Baguio-Benguet (1-all) in the inaugural match Friday.

Magbanua’s heroic followed teammate’s Rikko Cedric De Guzman goal after the latter connected in the 75th minute to beat North Cotabato, 1-0, also Friday.

The coaches of nine teams during the Media Thanksgiving Dinner at Bethel Guest House in Dumaguete City last Friday. Cyril Dofitas of PFF also attended with Suzuki Philippines Eiji Kobayashi, General Manager for Motorcycles.* (H. James G. Toga/NDB)

Also yesterday, Iloilo defeated North Cotabato, 2-0 with Stephen John Lavega having hit in 45th minute of the first half and Rudane Tamon followed in the 56th minute of the second half.

Oslo, Norway - A part of my one-month vacation was a side trip to visit my friend Deneb in Oslo for four days. On board Scandinavian Airlines flight SK4756, I left my home base Bonn, Germany and off I went from Frankfurt International Airport to Gardermoen Airport in Norway for a two-hour flight armed with a Schengen visa.

Behind me is the Stortinget or the Parliament Building. From 1866 the Stortinget is the seat of the Norwegian parliament and can be visited through a guided tour for approximately one-hour.

The Schengen Visa has made traveling between its 25 member countries - 22 of which are European Union states and three non-EU members, much easier and less bureaucratic. It means that the holder can travel to any (or all) member countries using one single visa avoiding the hassle and expense of obtaining individual visas when one wishes to visit several European countries on the same trip. The Schengen visa is a "visitor visa" issued to citizens of countries who are required to obtain it before entering Europe.

Spring comes later in Oslo than in some parts of Germany so it was a surprise that the day I arrived it was so cold. My friend and her husband fetched me from the airport and drove to their home near Oslo’s commercial center.