Bulacan made fireworks are safe and of high quality--DTI

Engr. Celso Cruz of the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc.,

MALOLOS CITY—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) made assurances that fireworks manufactured in Bulacan are safe and of high quality.

This came as 475 different types of fireworks manufactured in the province secured the DTI product standards (PS), while 75 others are being processed by the Bureau of Product Standard.

Zorina Aldana, director of DTI-Bulacan said that PS license is one of the guarantees that a product is safe and of high quality.

“Those that applied and secured PS licensees are following the provisions of Republic Act 7183 of the firecracker law,” Aldana said noting that legal limit chemical content of pyrotechnics products is .2 grams.

However, she stressed that following the legal limit on the chemical content of a pyrotechnics products is not enough.

She said that the secure a PS license from the DTI, a manufacturer must foloow strict manufacturing process and quality management system (QMS) that follows international stands and the Philippine standards on fireworks.

Aldana added , “there are also requirement on packaging and labeling. The manufacturer’s name and contact details plus safety labeling must be written on the product.”

She said that the above requirements are meant to ensure accountability among manufacture and assure buyers that products are safe.

Aldana said that 475 fireworks products in the province that secured PS license includes different types of fountains, aerial fireworks, sawa, judas belt, trompillo, roman candle, luces, Mabuhay fountain, Pagoda fountain and others.

 The said products varies in sizes and design.

Based on DTI-Bulacan records, manufacturers that secured PS license are Dragon Fireworks based in San Rafael town, and Diamond Fireworks from Pulilan town.

Both companies have secured PS license for 100 different products each.

Others include LF Fireworks in San Ildefonso town (80 products), Nation Fireworks based in Baliwag (25 products), SPM General Merchandise in Bocaue (40 products) Pyro Kreation Fireworks based in Sta. Maria town (30 products), Platinum Fireworks from Sta. Maria (50 products), and Phoenix Fireworks, also from Sta. Maria with 50 products.

Others that have applied for PS license which are still being process by the DTI-BPS are Z & N Nicolas Fireworks (20 products), ERCY Fireworks (20 products), A. Santiago Fireworks (10 products), and Purity Fireworks (10 products) which are all based in Baliwag town; and Double L Fireworks from Pandi town with 15 products. (Dino Balabo)

NCCA feted 21 cultural masters

2012 Dayaw Festival awards

MALOLOS CITY—The National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) feted 21 master craftsmen on from different indigenous groups as part of the culminating activity of the 2012 Dayaw festival here on Thursday night, November 29.

The 21 master craftsmen received their awards during a banquet sponsored by the provincial government of Bulacan and the city government of Malolos at the historic Barasoain church yard here.

 The banquet, according to Dr. Joycie Dorado-Alegre of the NCCA sub-commission on cultural communities and traditional arts (SCCTA) is reminiscent of the opening of the Malolos Congress which drew representative from across the country 114 years ago.

“This is historic and symbolic event because it happened 114 years after the opening of Malolos Congress,” said Dorado-Alegre noting that about 600 indigenous peoples representing 47 tribal groups were present in Thursday night’s event.

Banquet at Barasoain

Long applause followed her statement and comments from participants who likened the banquet into a national tribal council except for the lack of politics involve.

With regards to the awardees, Dorado-Alegre described them as the few who are part of the country’s school of living traditions.

“Their skills and craftsmanship are unparallel and a testament of our creativity and colorful traditions,” she said.

Earlier, Dr. Felipe De Leon, the chair of the NCCA stressed that Filipinos have so much to learn from IP groups.

He cited the speech of President Benigno Aquino which was read by former Senator Jamby Madrigal on the opening day of the festival which stated that from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao, IP culture have influenced the larger Filipino culture.

De Leon added that IP groups must be considered as teachers saying that “they preserved their culture while we lowlanders assimilated news culture to the extent that we forgot where we came from.”

With regards to the 21 awardees, De Leon said they are not only master craftsmen but cultural masters and purveyor of school of living traditions of their communities.

Francisco Eligio

The awardees are Micahel Dexter Aliguyon of Kiangan, a cultural (CM) on Ifugao performing arts; Emilia Alindayo, a CM on Ifugao textile weaving and clothing, Ellenera Aliguyon,  a CM on Ifugao performing arts, loom weaving, textile weaving and clothing.

Amparo Mabanag of Mountain Province (Ga’dang cloth weaving and accessory making), Rebecca Reyes of Abucay, Bataan (Ayta Magbukon performing arts), Cenia Lastrilla of Calinog, Iloilo (Panay-Bukidnon epic narration with chanting, Binanog dance and Panubok hand embroidery), Aurelio Damas of Calinog, Iloilo (Binanog dance), Nedemio Badac of Brooke’s Point, Palawan (Pala’wan dances and songs).

Gloria Emag of Aborlan, Palawan (school of living traditions on Tagbanua music, songs and dances), Richard Impil of Bagong Silang, Don Salvador Benedicto (Ati language, music and dance), Marleta Mahinay of Sagay City, Negros Occidental (Ata pandan mat weaving), Rodrigo Panganiban of Nabas, Aklan (Ati traditional baskets and crafts), Delia Pauden of Hamtic, Antique (Ati languages, songs, dances  and literature).

Janeth Hanapi and Kamaria Sabturani of Sofronio Espanola, Palawan (Jama Mapun mat weaving), Tirso Serdena of Gasan, Marinduque (Kalutang playing), Francisco Eligio of Hagonoy, Bulacan (master craftsman in Singkaban making),  Abbay Tacabil  and Solaw Duca, both of Sanggani, Davao Del Sur (Sangir dances & musical instruments playing; and mat weaving, respectively), Florita Umilos of Zamboanga Del Norte (Subanen basket weaving), and Datu Josefino Gonlibo of Maramag, Bukidnon (Manobo beads and accessories making).  (Dino Balabo)

7th oblation run:Students called for non-violence and safe 2013 elections

MALOLOS CITY—For the seventh straight year, members of the of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) fraternity and sorority of the Bulacan State University (BulSU) conducted their oblation run.

Like in the past, they have a theme for the  annual oblation run, and this year, it’s a call for non-violence and clean elections.

“Eto ‘yung way na ine-express naming, ‘yung mga nangyayari sa sitwasyon. Karahasan ay Iwasan para sa malinis na halalan. Kasi nga, malapit na ‘yung eleksiyon sa 2013,” said Marvin Valera, the auxiliary chancellor of the fraternity.

He said that before the annual oblation run, APO officers met and decided on the said theme.

He said, “napag meetingan naming, kasi nakikita ng mga mag-aaral ‘yung napapanood nila sa TV sa mga eleksiyon. Siyempre bata tayo, dapat iwasan natin tumulad sa eleksiyon na nangyayari sa mga matatanda.”

At least 30 Apo members joined the annual oblation run which started in 2005.

The runners were joined by APO members from its other chapters, namely Valenzuela City, Baliuag University, Our Lady of Fatima University, and the Cabnas Garden Mall in this city.

All participants ran naked with a mask to hide their identity.

Like in previous years, the annual run drew thousands of students, many of whom screamed while looking at the participants.

The oblation run is part of the weeklong celebration of the 108^th founding anniversary of the Bulacan Stater University. (Jerica Santos, BulSU-BAJ 3)

End Impunity 2012 images

Dayaw 2012: A Grand Celebration of Indigenous Cultures in Bulacan

Dayaw 2012: A Grand Celebration of Indigenous Cultures in Bulacan

Overview of impunity related incidents in 2012 in Southeast Asia

Overview of impunity related incidents in 2012 in Southeast Asia

Invitation to join silent march

Dear Friends,

This coming Friday, November 23, journalists’ groups and press freedom advocacy organizations will commemorate the third year of the Ampatuan Massacre and second International Day to End Impunity. The groups agreed to hold a dramatic mock funeral procession with 153 coffins bearing the names of slain members of media since 1986. Relatives of massacre victims and media practitioners will carry the coffins from Welcome Rotonda, Quezon City to Mendiola. The objective is to stress the continuing attack against journalists and the prevailing culture of impunity.

The activity however will be more effective and significant if many journalists will help carry the coffins. It will be an effective way of showing our unity in the face of so many challenges facing the Philippine press, among them the death of the Freedom of Information bill and outright endorsement by President Aquino of the extremely restrictive right of reply bill in Congress.

We thus invite you and your staff/employees to join the march. Some media networks and groups have already pledged to carry at least 4 coffins per news organization. The coffin is made of light cardboard material but we are requesting that two persons be assigned to carry it.

Assembly time at Welcome Rotonda is 3:00 pm. Please refer to the attached draft program for details.

Kindly assign a point person with whom we can coordinate details of the November 23 procession. The “pallbearers” are requested to be at the Welcome Rotonda (near KFC) by 2:30 PM for briefing. Please send contact details to the undersigned by 5pm today. We also request everyone joining the event to wear black.

Thank you for joining us in this campaign.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinong mamamahayag.

For the convenors:

PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM (PCIJ)

NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES (PPI)

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE (PPI)

CENTER FOR COMMUNITY JOURNALISM AND DEVELOPMENT (CCJD)

FREEDOM FUND FOR FILIPINO JOURNALISTS (FFFJ)

CENTER FOR MEDIA FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY (CMFR)

Weng Paraan

NUJP Secretary-General