Councilor Aldrin Soriano: IBA-IBANG HAMON AT MGA MAGAGAWA NG KABATAAN SA GITNA NG PANDEMYA*

 IBA-IBANG HAMON AT MGA MAGAGAWA NG KABATAAN SA GITNA NG PANDEMYA*

Sa kabila ng ating mga pinagdaraanan ngayon, magandang araw pa rin po sa ating lahat at sana ay maayos ang inyong kalagayan ngayon.

Maligayang pagdiriwang ng pandaigdigang araw ng kabataan.

Sa tala ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan kahapon, pumalo na sa abot isandaan at apatnapong libo ang kabuaang kumpirmadong kaso sa Pilipinas…

Dito sa atin sa Pangasinan, ayon sa Pangasinan Provincial Health Office kahapon, mayroon nang naitalang dalawandaan at walumpong kumpirmadong kaso ng COVID, kung saan limampo dito ang aktibong kaso.

Ayon sa ASEAN post kahapon, ang Pilipinas na ang nangunguna sa pinakamaraming kumpirmadong kaso at pinakamaraming aktibong kaso ng COVID-19 sa Timog SIlangang Asya.

Magpipitong buwan na nang ipatupad yung quarantine measures sa bansa.

Marami ang apektado nito- mga buhay at kabuhayan.

Ang ating mga malilit na negosytante na napipilitang magsara dahil sa natamong lugi.

Ang ating mga kaanak na nawawalan ng trabaho.

Ang ating mga kapwa kabataang napipilitang huminto sa pag-aaral dahil sa kawalan ng pambili ng gadget.

Ang ating mga kapwa kabataang biktima ng pang-abuso o rape sa loob mismo ng kanilang tahanan.

Ang ating mga kapwa kabataang napipilitang pumasok sa iligal na trabaho o pagbebenta ng mga malalaswang larawan para lamang maitawid ang gutom.

Ang ating mga magulang na hindi mapanatag sa kasiguraduhan ng kalidad ng edukasyon na makukuha ng mga estudyante ngayong pasukan.

Hindi malayo ang kanilang sitwasyon sa sitwasyon natin. O baka mayroon tayong kakilala na isa sa mga nabanggit kong sitwasyon.

Sa kabila ng mga hamon na ito, marami ang nagpakita ng determinasyon para makatulong sa kanilang kapwa sa gitna ng pandemya.

Malaking porsyento ng mga nagpasimula ng proyektong pantulong sa ating mga kapwa Pilipino ay mga kabataan.

Maraming mga opisyal ng SK ang nanguna sa pagbibigay tulong sa ating mga kapwa kabataan.

Sa ating kinakaharap na hamon sa kalusugan at kabuhayan dulot ng pandemya,huwag nating maliitin ang magagawa ng kabataan.

Ngayong taon, hinihimok ng United Nations ang lahat ng kabataan na maging bahagi, makilahok sa global action. Ayon sa inilabas na pahayag ng UN, nais nito na paganahin o i-enable ang pakikilahok ng mga kabataan sa pormal na mekanismong politikal.

Paliwanag nila, kung mas maraming kabataan sa politika, mas marami ang maiaambag na mga bago at sustainable na mga pulisiya. Sabi pa ng UN, maibabalik daw ng mga kabataan ang tiwala sa pamahalaan at pamamahala ng gobyerno.

Sisimulan natin sa local o community, saka tayo hahantong sa national o pambansa, at panghuli yung global o pandaigdigang aksyon.

Pero marami siguro sa inyo magtatanong kung paano natin magagawa yun. Iyon ang dahilan kung para saan ang webinar na ito, para maihanda tayo.

Kailangan nating maging mas malikhain para magbigay ng serbisyo sa ating bayan.

Gamitin natin ang ating social media sa pagbibigay ng makabuluhan, tama, at napapanahong impormasyon o balita sa ating kapwa kabataan.

Makibahagi tayo sa usapan, nang may respeto sa bawat isa.

Magdasal tayo sa Diyos. Para sa isa’t isa, para sa ating mga frontliners, para sa bayan.

Sa panahon kung kailan nakakawala ng pag-asa dulot ng isang iba-ibang pagsubok at pinakamalking hamon nga dito ay ang COVID-19, nawa ay mapaalab pa natin ang damdamin para mas maglingkod para sa ating kapwa kabataan at para sa ating bayan.

Bago ako magtapos, binabati ko ang mga organizers sa matagumpay na inisyatibo mula sa mga kabataan, para sa mga kabataan, at para sa bayan.

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*Bahagi ng talumpati ni Konsehal Aldrin Soriano sa Kalangweran Webinar Series 2020** na ginanap sa pamamagitan ng Zoom, 12 Agosto 2020.

**Inorganisa ng

Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Mangaldan

at

Mangaldan Youth Assembly

sa pakikipagtulungan sa

Pangasinan Youth for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

,

Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative

, at

National Youth Commission

.

Ka Felix Manalo's 132nd Birth Anniversary

Ginugunita ngayong araw ang ika-132 kaarawan ni Ka Felix Y. Manalo, ang unang executive minister ng Iglesia ni Cristo.

New bishop hails from Mangaldan

Congratulations and God bless to the new bishop appointed by Pope Francis, Bishop-elect Daniel Presto, a Mangaldanian. He was born in Barangay Maasin, Mangaldan, Pangasinan on April 7, 1963.

According to CBCP News, Bishop-elect Presto who is a priest from the Diocese of Iba in Zambales has been named as new bishop of San Fernando in La Union.

Bishop-elect Presto is the 4th bishop from Mangaldan, according to Sister Silvana de Vera. Other bishops from Mangaldan include Bishop Federico Limon, Bishop Jesus Cabrera, and Bishop Renato P. Mayugba.

Mangaldan is blessed to have you and is so proud of you, Bishop Presto!

Mangaldan's new OIC Chief of Police

Nakasama natin sa Regular Session ng Sangguniang Bayan ng Mangaldan ang bagong hepe ng Mangaldan PNP na si Police Superintendent Jay B. Baybayan noong Lunes ng umaga.

UPCAT 2018

Congratulations to our new Iskolar ng Bayan!!! 

Tag your friends who passed #UPCAT2018 

Results can be accessed here: https://upcat.up.edu.ph/results/

Mabuhay kayo mga isko at iska!

PSA: Walang Kuryente

Labor Day 2018

Mabuhay po ang ating pwersang manggagawa! Maraming salamat po sa inyong serbisyo.

Dad's second year in heaven

It still feels unreal that he is gone. Two years but the pain still lingers. Two years of his absence in our lives have made big impact and realizations- knowing genuine people who will be there for our family and for me is one.

Two years ago when our family decided to bring dad home after days of being in the ICU. It was a family decision after our doctors disclosed that his case was a very serious one and that an operation will not guarantee his survival.

It is still vivid in my memory when my sister Frelyn together with my wife Lyle and cousin April prayed over my dad inside his ICU room and told him that it was okay for him to rest, that we will be okay, and that we'll take care of each other.

It is so painful to see daddy be transported via ambulance with only an Ambu-bag as aeration. I still managed to drive for my mom and family despite their sob. When we went home, our relatives already prepared his bed. It was past three in the afternoon when dad left us.

My dad is the reason why I love being in public service. He supported me when I took my undergraduate course despite his and my dream of me being a medical doctor. He also supported me when I entered the media industry. He was proud of seeing his only son on TV.


Every year we commemorate this day by remembering his life and his life for others.

Earlier tonight we went to the cemetery together with the people he loved and who loved him back. He was a barangay captain for years in our community before becoming a municipal councilor. 

I can never equal his service nor him as a legislator, but I thank him for always inspiring and inculcating in me to love the people we serve unselfishly.

Mahal na mahal ka namin, daddy!

What makes hiking Koko Head memorable

Be determined in achieving your goals, fuelled by passion and sacrifice,
no matter how difficult it might look as long as you have perseverance
 there is nothing impossible. 

View from the parking when we arrived at the Koko Head Park.

Before you raise your brows and ask if I was able to really survive, let me just first state that it was difficult and it took me an hour and a half to hike Koko Head which has 1,048 "torturous" steps and this mountain is 1,200 feet above Hawaii Kai. The weather then was so fine and not sunny so the heat was bearable. 

Looks so minute from this view but
totally opposite when you're hiking it. 

It was almost 7 o'clock in the morning when we arrived and started our hike. We passed by these cables wherein these shoes are hanging onto. Some of the shoes are clean, do look like new ones, and what made it unbelievable is the fact that some shoes hanging here are all brand-new. Accordingly, those who were able to survive hiking Koko Head started a tradition of just throwing their shoes above and leaves it on these wires if it gets on to it.  

Ate Den-Den who was here during our hike on her 7th time at Koko Head, led the trail. She was prepared and got her belt bag on and got water tumbler.

On our first set of photos are fine- we can still put a smile on our faces and everything seems okay. 

Tito Rey walked this part of the trail which served as a bridge- totally no land but huge rocks on the bottom, but not for me. Auntie Belen took this photo as I literally crawled going up this part. Some tourists also crawled while others used some trail walking poles- just like that lady at my back with yellow walking poles. 

I have to stop for twenty or so times to rest because aside from the steepness of the trail, what made it more difficult is a number of people passing by. Some are fast and that they were going down already while others just started. Both though were fast except for us.  

 It took me an hour and a half to reach the top! While Ate Den-Den, Ate Pam, Robie, and Uncle Roland hiked for only 40 minutes! Perhaps, being a first-time hiker is a good excuse!  

Accordingly, Koko Head was used during the war to combat attackers. 

Train rails which we passed were used to deliver bombs and other artilleries for air-to-ground weapons. 

Overlooking Hanauma Bay.

The view from the top is breath-taking!

I am grateful to this Filipino family, Uncle Rey and Auntie Belen, Uncle Roland and Auntie Virgie, Ate Pam, Robby, and Ate Den-Den. This is also a chance to reconnect with them since the last they saw me was when I was still little. My mom grew up with Auntie Belen and their family as neighbors in our community.  

With Uncle Roland.

Uncle Roland, Uncle Ben, and Auntie Belen proved that they can still hike this far and this difficult despite their age! Salute! Note that we did not even have stretching first prior to hiking. (BUT for safety purposes, before going and doing physical activities please do stretching first.)

Auntie Belen and Uncle Roland

We stayed on top for 20 minutes to rest, drink water, take photos, and eat pandesal!

Pandesal! 

Check out this Facebook live video.

 Going down the mountain was easier! It took me only 30 minutes to trail down. Of course, this part which is the "bridge" still made me crawl though I tried walking I failed when my foot slip.

See this gap between the rails?

Yeah, that's my haggard face. LOL!

I think that this hiking journey does not only give us the view of nature. It gives us moments to ponder on our life goals. It teaches that no matter how difficult the problem or situation may look, as long as we are determined and passionate about the things we do, we can overcome every obstacle. We can take pauses, but we should never give up. 

  

Survived Koko Head!

Student Leaders to observe good governance at LGU Mangaldan for Nat'l Youth Week

Being an active student leader in elementary and high school, I always wanted to observe how governance works outside the realm of the school during those times. Albeit, in my four years in high school there were only two scenarios when I got to go inside the Sangguniang Bayan Hall and the Municipal Hall- when we solicited for financial assistance and when we were commended upon winning a national contest.

Together with the officers of the Supreme Student Government
of Mangaldan National high School with their
adviser Ma'am Jocelyn  Pascua during the Brigada Eskwela. 

That is why I brought with me this dream as a former student leader and now as a councilor: what if the current student leaders represented by their student government president with his or her adviser, go and visit the municipal hall and the Sangguniang Bayan and observe how their government works for its people. 

The Philippine Constitution clearly provides that the State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social-well-being. Furthermore, the State shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.  

Together with my co-officers when I was the president of the
SSG in MNHS and our advisers and principal. 

Moreover, Section 30 of Republic Act No. 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 states that every barangay, municipality, city, and province shall conduct an annual activity to be known as the Linggo ng Kabataan on the week where the 12th of August falls to coincide with the International Youth Day. 

After the flag raising ceremony last Monday, knowing that our mayor fully supports activities and programs of the youth sector, I asked Mayor Bona if we could conduct an activity in line with the International Youth Week and Linggo ng Kabataan (Youth Week) in cooperation with the Local Youth Development Coordinator Sir Noel De Guzman, and the mayor immediately approved the activity without any hesitation. 

With the officers of the Supreme Student Government of
Gueguesangen Integrated School with their adviser Ma'am Donna Clata
during the Brigada Eskwela.

This is why last Tuesday during the regular session, I passed Sangguniang Bayan Resolution Number 2017-105 which enjoins Honorable Mayor Bona Fe De Vera Parayno in inviting all Supreme Pupil Government and Supreme Student Government President in all public and private schools and their adviser in the municipality to attend the flag raising ceremony, municipal hall education tour, and the regular session on Monday, August 7. 

Together with SSG Officers of David National High School and their
principal Sir Jeremy Maningding during their Brigada Eskwela
closing program.

We opted to choose the Supreme Student Government as it is as defined by the Department of Education, the umbrella organization in schools- meaning that it is the highest governing student organization in school. However, we are hoping that in succeeding activities we could also invite other school organizations. 

The objective is clear, for the student leaders to have a clear picture on how good governance works at the Local Government Unit of Mangaldan by visiting every department offices, to be acquainted with worker in the government, be informed of their services, to have a courtesy call and interact with the mayor. The last activity will be the observance in the regular session of the Sangguniang Bayan. Students will be able to observe how Parliamentary Procedure is conducted. 

I am so excited for these young student leaders in our town to be exposed in such activity. I am also hoping that they could apply whatever learning that they could get out of the said activity on Monday.  We do not know if one of these young student leaders will be next department heads, councilor, vice mayor, mayor, or even the president of the Republic. 

Mangaldan LGU welcomes its new doctor

Cool and brilliant. This is how I would describe Doc Larry, who happened to be our doctor when I was still a news reporter in ABS-CBN News Regional Network Group. It was during this time when I first met him as a doctor and introduced himself as a Mangaldanian, which made me very proud.

Honorable Mayor Bona Fe De Vera-Parayno inducts Dr. Larry Sarito
as the new Municipal Health Officer of LGU Mangaldan on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of Mangaldan Sweethearts updates.

During the flag raising ceremony of the Local Government Unit of Mangaldan, Doc Larry was officially inducted by Honorable Mayor Bona Fe De Vera-Parayno. Doc Larry will replace the position of one of the best and most compassionate doctors I know Dr. Ophelia Rivera who is now the City Health Officer of Dagupan City.

Doc Larry Sarito faces the members of the Sangguniang Bayan during
 the regular session held yesterday.

During the Sangguniang Bayan session held yesterday, the members of SB got the opportunity to meet and ask some questions to Doc Larry.

Being in the office for the first three days, I asked him on what he thinks is the main concern he would like to address as the new health officer. He answered that he would like to address health care delivery system wherein he plans to go to various barangays health centers and conduct check-ups thereat. He also said that he plans to conduct inventory of medicines to check what are other medicines that could be added into the current medicines that we have in the Rural Health Unit.

As a youth and chairman of the Committee on Youth in the Sanggunian, I asked him on his plan in addressing some health issues concerning the youth sector in the municipality such as the increasing number of teenage pregnancy. Doc Larry said that he plans to address it through education, particularly on informing the youth on the effects of teenage pregnancy and even the bad side of abortion.

When Councilor Atty. Joseph Cera asked Doctor Sarito if the RHU offers some contraceptive pills, the good doctor answered that he have not conducted inventory yet on the supply of medicines available in the RHU.

Doc Larry Sarito poses with the members of the Sangguniang Bayan
 headed by Vice Mayor Atty. Jojo Surdilla and the
SB Secretary Madam Dominica Marayag
 during the regular session held yesterday.

I am definitely sure that the health of our kabaleyans is in good hands, especially that our chief local executive Mayor Bona is also a health professional. She is actually the leader who activated the 24-hour Birthing Clinic in our municipality and has improved the services of the RHU in her first term. Currently, the RHU Building is under renovation for various improvement and to facilitate more clients, more kabaleyans. That is why I am so honored to be working with visionary, competent, and compassionate leaders in our town.

There are more accomplishment in the health sector of our good mayor, and that deserves another blog entry here on this site. I am more than excited to be working with this good doctor, too!

America, here I come

How can a single email which woke you up, ended up not letting you sleep at all.

It was not a typical morning when I woke up with message on Instagram coming from a friend stating that she was not accepted in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellows Program. I was saddened by her message and at the same time I was also worried that I might not have been accepted, too.

I opened my email nervously. Upon reading, I was greatly surprised to find out that I got in!

Photo screen grabbed from US Mission
to ASEAN website. Credit goes to the owner.

The email which I received informing me of my acceptance
 in the said exchange program.

HOW IT ALL STARTED. I read about young legislators having opportunities for exchange programs abroad on YL Chronicles, the official publication of the NMYL. Copies of the said magazine were given to each delegate during the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL) Provincial and Regional Assembly and Re-organization for Region I held at Vigan City on September 8-9, 2016. 

My co-fellow from the Young Legislators for Good Governance of the Jesse Robredo Foundation and International Republican Institute Councilor Sheina Marie Onrubia from Tabaco City, Albay wrote an article narrating her experience in the said exchange program (see the article below). Upon reading, I thought that for a newly-elected municipal official like me such opportunity will be very helpful. 

The following day I met the NMYL Program Director Ms. Fritzie Aguado at the hotel cafe during breakfast. At first I didn't have the courage to ask Ms. Fritzie about exchange programs but my desire to be able to learn more fuelled me to asked her. I really appreciated her warm response and smile. She said that we will be emailed on various programs by the NMYL even in the Facebook page of the said organization.  

Councilor Sheina Marie Onrubia's article on YL Chronicles (Volume 6)
narrating her experience in Washington DC
during her YSEALI PYF Exchange Program in 2015.

ONLINE APPLICATION FORM. The online form was long and tedious, so many questions needed meticulous answers. I thought that the application form was already a test of someone's determination in pursuing the program.  Moreover, it really checks one's advocacies and passion in his or her chosen track such as the economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, legislative process and governance or civic  engagement, and civil society or NGO development. Due diligence was needed in answering the online form.  

There is a part in the application wherein one will be asked about a certain program proposal that an applicant will pursue in the course of the fellowship. Something that could help or is aligned with the track an applicant has chosen. My advocacy was something very close to my heart, education. What I thought during the time when I was answering the form was that if you really know from your heart what you want to achieve and what you want to pursue, it will come out naturally. 

SEMIFINALIST. Honestly, I never expected to be chosen as one of the 10 semifinalists in the country. I thought that there might be more interesting programs and proposals from all the applicants all over the country who really wanted to join the fellowship. I even responded late in the email notifying me of my interview schedule since we just arrived from Masbate province. I only knew about it when Ryan of the US Embassy called me up and informed me that I was supposed to have the interview during that time when he called. I asked to be rescheduled and it was granted. 

The pressure for the interview and making it to the program was high, especially upon knowing that there are three of us from the YLGG and one from its facilitators. I did not intend to inform everyone except those whom I asked for advise and prayers- I though that it will lessen the pressure, however, my name was already included in the FB conversation and everybody was wishing us good luck. My wife and my sister-in-law who helped me out prepare for the interview (like setting up the internet and the lighting in my study room), were the only ones at home who knew about it.

I really prayed hard that God will guide me during the interview. I even prayed that my father will help me out.  

INTERVIEW. I do not know whether or not there is reason behind my internet connection to be cut (even if you paid online, it will still be processed the next day) on the most nerve-wreaking night for me. So I merely relied on my mobile phone's internet connection. 

Representative from the US Embassy in the Philippines Ryan and an officer from the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) Skyler conducted the interview via Skype. The interview was held for 30 minutes. At first I was really nervous. It felt like having the same experience of being a news reporter doing a live report and an interview afterwards by the anchor. (I really thought this helped me out a lot!) 

I find the questions during the interview very helpful. Ryan and Skyler asked some questions which helped me out to clarify my project proposal. The two were very supportive and understanding. I really appreciate how they listen attentively. 

I was sharing with my wife Lyle about how I did during the interview. She was not happy about the thought of me leaving so she said that even if I get in, she won't allow me to. She also thinks of it as too imperialistic. I just told her that I am not even sure yet if I'd make it knowing the cut throat competition there is. 

ACCEPTANCE. I went to bed late the night before I received the email. I was preparing for a recitation in my law class the following day so I needed to sleep more. However, the message I received via Instagram informing me that results are already out woke me up. I was thrilled and was at the same time nervous. 

I could not believe that I made it to the fellowship program. So many ideas were going on my mind. I thought that I was still day dreaming or still asleep. I told my wife about it and she was still unhappy. I thought that she will understand, in time. I immediately prayed and thank God and my dad about it. 

Facebook screenshot from NMYL.

The night we were told that we were chosen, NMYL posted this on their Facebook page. Three delegates for this year's Professional Fellows are young legislators including Councilor LA of Infanta, Quezon and Vice Governor Kaye Revil of Masbate. I, being the youngest.

ACYPL Program Manager
Elliot Bell-Krasner shared on
his Facebook account his greetings.
Photo screen cap from Mr. Krasner's FB.

(UPDATE: As of 2: 12 this morning when I shared with Elliot my blog entry, he replied with this message below. Thanks, Elliot!)

I told my mom about it and she was teary-eyed during our conversation. She said that if only my dad was alive, he could have been very proud of me. I could not help but cry, not only because of happiness but because I miss my dad during such moment. My mom advised me to tell Mayor Bona the soonest. 

I was about to go to the municipal hall when I remembered that Mayor Bona has a scheduled meeting with the governor in the morning so I just went in the afternoon. 

I was nervous on how to share my happiness with the mayor. Mayor Bona was very busy when I arrived at her office but she still found time to meet me. I told her the good news and showed her the acceptance letter. She was so happy that I made it. She began telling some officers at her office about it and I was warmly greeted with congratulations. I told her that I will make our municipality and her proud in the said fellowship. I really appreciate the way our mayor supports every endeavour especially if it is for our development and for the goof our municipality.

GRAB OPPORTUNITIES. To those who are reading this entry, especially to students, I encourage you to take whatever learning opportunities that will come your way. Some opportunity never comes back, so you just have to grab it the first time. I am thankful to the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYMPL)  and to the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL) and the people behind these organizations for this great opportunity. Special thanks to Councilor Sheina Marie Onrubia for the tips and prayers, and to Ma'am Fritzie Aguado for all the information and support. 

Learning must never stop and developing yourself and your ideas for the greater purpose of serving and sharing to others whatever learning you have gotten. 

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To know more about ACYPL, NMYL, YSEALI, please check their website through the links here on my blog.