By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:40:00 06/30/2010

Rene, the youngest among the children of the late "Sir Pinong & Ma'am Rosing" Almendras

The new faces in Aquino’s Cabinet are Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Secretaries Voltaire Gazmin (defense), Br. Armin Luistro (education), Proceso Alcala (agriculture), Enrique Ona (health), Alberto Lim (tourism), Mario Montejo (science and technology), Jose Rene Almendras (energy), and Virgilio delos Reyes (agrarian reform).

Also new are Julia Andrea Abad, Presidential Management Staff chief; Edwin Lacierda and Eduardo de Mesa, Aquino’s spokesperson and chief legal counsel, respectively; and Patricia Licuanan, Commission on Higher Education chair.

The others who have served in previous administrations are Secretaries Alberto Romulo (foreign affairs), Cesar Purisima (finance), Leila de Lima (justice), Florencio “Butch” Abad (budget), Cayetano Paderanga (socioeconomic planning), Jose de Jesus (transportation and communication), Gregorio Domingo (trade and industry), Corazon “Dinky” Soliman (social welfare), and Rogelio Singson (public works), and Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto Henares, and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita “Ging” Deles.

Aquino also chose two career officers to head their departments—Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

Aquino also announced that Maj. Gen. Ricardo David would succeed Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Delfin Bangit, and that Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Versoza would stay on until his retirement in December.

He was adamant about not appointing any of his relatives to posts in his administration, although he has a father-and-daughter team—the Abads—in his Cabinet.

          On behalf of our family, we would like to thank you for being with us here today and for your comfort and prayers during this difficult and painful time. Yes, he was my Tatay, but he was not only just my Tatay but a Tatay to so many of us here today. Tatay was a good man, a simple man and a humble man. While we mourn his loss, let us celebrate a life well-lived. God, in His great goodness, blessed our lives with Tatay’s presence as a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a grandfather, an uncle, a colleague and a friend. Each of us here  has a story to share about Tatay.
              One of the things I will miss most about Tatay was his inimitable sense of humor. He never failed, as I’m sure is the case for all of you here, to make me laugh. I’m positive that he wouldn’t want us to be sad, but rather to remember the happy times with him with a happy, nostalgic smile.
              His humor was only surpassed by his immense heart for others. I’m sure that Tatay has not only helped, not one, not two, but the entire community of Liloan. He never refused anyone who came to him for help. Tatay served the public diligently and honestly throughout his years in government, and armed only with his wit and genuine care for the people, he always delivered. In his own humble way, he has helped this town to be a better place and we are all the richer for having had him in our lives.
             While Tatay’s efforts went unnoticed, he was not to complain. He never complained. But it gives me great comfort and solace to know that during the wake, time and time again people have come up to me to relay how, in one way or another, Tatay has helped touch their lives. But that was the quintessential Tatay.
             A humble man who did not seek nor need recognittion. Truly Tatay was indeed valued and appreciated by so many and Tatay’s passing is not just the family’s loss, but the community’s loss as well.
             Tatay’s love was an unconditional love. He loved wholeheartedly, without any conditions nor reservations, no matter the consequences. Tatay did not have a mean bone in his body and was ever ready to forgive and let by-gones be by-gones. When he was hit by an overspeeding motorcycle driver, the driver was caught and put in jail. But Tatay decided not press charges because the driver has several children to support and he did not want to further burden the man.
             As my Tatay, he never failed me. More than a source of strength, he was my inspiration of love who asked nothing in return. I remember when I was in college in Manila, I fell ill and had to be hospitalized. I was admitted late at night and when I woke up he was the first person I saw the very next morning.
             I will also miss his cooking. He knew my favorite foods and everytime I came home to Liloan, he always had my favorite shrimps or ‘pasayan’ at every meal without fail. Though we will crave for his home-cooked meals in the days to come, we will be soothed by the knowledge that Tatay has already filled us up so many times over with his unconditional love and I take comfort in this knowledge that Tatay will live on in my children and in my children’s children.
            I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Ypil family for their outpouring of love and support. As you know, I did not grow up here and did not have the chance to know my uncles, aunts and cousins from my Tatay’s side of the family. But Tatay, in his own unique way, painful the circumstance may be, brought us all close together.
            I thank Tatay for giving me the chance to discover and appreciate the truly wonderful people that they are. Needless to say, my cousins from Nanay’s side of the family have been a pillar of strength during this difficult time as well.
            When I was a little child, Tatay used to sing the song “You are my Sunshine” to me. Tatay, I want you to know that “YOU” are my sunshine. As sure as the sun rises each day, I know that you will be watching over all of us to brighten our lives and comfort us in the days to come.
             I couldn’t be more proud to have you as my Tatay.

By Malou Guanzon-Apalisok
Cebu Daily News First Posted 05/24/2010

Rene Almendras

How does Cebu figure under a Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III presidency?

One answer might be forthcoming in the shape of the Noynoy Aquino Cabinet. The names of possible appointees are currently making the rounds of text messages. The list reminds me of the stuff that a bride customarily brings to her wedding for good luck: “something old and something new.”

Former members of the Arroyo Cabinet Dinky Soliman, Cesar Purisima, Avelino Cruz and Florencio Abad are in the list. Members of the so-called Hyatt 10, they turned against President Arroyo in 2005 at the height of the Garci tapes controversy. Dinky is said to be a shoo-in for the Social Welfare and Development Department, Purisima as Finance Secretary, Cruz as Justice Secretary and Abad as Education top honcho.

Also included is Philip “Popoy” Juico, former Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary during the early days of the Cory administration. Online reports say Popoy will be going back to the Agrarian office while his wife Margie, who once served as Cory’s appointments secretary, will be appointed chair of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The inclusion of the Juico couple in the new Cabinet has triggered the resurrection of issues against the so-called Kamag-anak, Inc. This has incensed former Tarlac congressman Jose Cojuangco and rightly so. The issues are unsubstantiated, rehashed and sound like a broken record. Critics pointing a finger against Noynoy’s relatives better put or shut up.

New names in the incoming Aquino Cabinet include lawyer Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa as Executive Secretary, Bong Naguiat as chair of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and Cebuano Jose Rene Almendras as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways. One of their shared qualities is a long-standing friendship with the incoming president.

Last week’s banner story about Rene Almendras immediately sent ripples in the political circle but especially in the corporate world, where he is held in high esteem.

Almendras is currently President of Manila Water Company, Inc. He also sits in the Ayala Corporation as managing director. Before this, he held top positions with Ayala Land Inc., and was also president and CEO of two listed companies managed by the Ayala Land Group, Cebu Holdings, Inc. and Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corp. He was also Chairman of the Ayala Land Group Bidding Committee and head of the Strategic Procurement Division. Among top 100 business executives in the Philippines, I would say Rene would be in the upper 20 bracket.

Pressed for a reaction, Almendras’ elder sister, Provincial Board member Agnes Magpale said her brother is not likely to accept the offer because “maayo ang iyang pagkabutang” (he is comfortable where he is now). The reactions of Ma’am Agnes though would qualify as the understatement of the year because according to a good friend of mine who happens to be Rene’s co-worker in ALI, “super maayo ang pagkabutang ni Rene.”

Rene’s ability and talent in bringing about success to a number of Ayala big-ticket projects is almost legendary. It is a fact that as one goes up the corporate ladder, one finds himself alienated from ordinary workers, but I gathered that Rene is not only well-respected by his peers but also loved by the workforce of the Ayala group.

Stories about Almendras popping up in the workplace to invite mid-level supervisors for coffee abound, as well as his tendency to join the ‘commoners’ during major corporate events when Fernando, Jaza, etc. descend from the virtual Mt. Olympus. Thus when it was time for Rene to leave Cebu to assume the top position of Manila Water Company and make Makati his home base many workers were teary-eyed.

Very capable, dedicated, a track record for honesty and integrity and a heart that holds a soft spot for the ordinary man are attributes that should put Rene on top of the Aquino Cabinet list but especially in the DPWH. I will not bore readers with the background of the department to explain the urgency of the problem. Suffice it to say that even the World Bank weighed on the issue by exposing the bid rigging of WB-funded road projects in 2009. The report exposed how deep and embedded is the system of graft and corruption in the department. By Noynoy’s own calculation, some P280 billion was lost to graft in 2009 alone.

Will Rene bite? Many think he will not and they understand. Someone gave me a picture of the kind of compensation and perks that a man in Rene’s position receives and my eyes almost popped out. If he decides to stay in the corporate world, it will be on account of his family who wish for him a life of peace and contentment.

However, I think Rene also realizes the challenge of the moment. To be called to the task of helping put the country on the road to moral recovery is the chance of a lifetime. Without a doubt, Rene is in the pinnacle of professional success, but among great men and women, one’s purest possibility can only happen if he goes to battle for a cause bigger than his own.

       Then on May 12, 2010, two days after the election, Sunstar Cebu reports:  “The Duranos, who dominate politics in Danao City and virtually the entire fifth district, endorsed Teodoro. But even in Danao City, Aquino won.”

      Aquino got 24,299 votes, compared to Teodoro?s 21,287 votes in Danao City.  In the fifth congressional district, the tally showed 148,675 votes for Rep. Ramon Durano VI, compared to 22,784 for Jesus Durano Jr.

      Danawanons all over the world must be happy, knowing their brothers and sisters back home have started to experience without fear a freedom of choice – and no more goons, guns and hopefully, no more vote-buying also next election.    

       For the record I was hoping and rooting for Gibo Teodoro to win, but the Filipino people have spoken, so we must respect, support and pray for our new President to succeed.

      Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.  (R. Barriga)

They were the young “WW II Vets” when they finished 6th grade at the Danao Central School – Upland (now D.T. Durano Elementary School in 1950.  They survived the ravaged of war as young kids and their schooling got disrupted for over 2 years.

The Class of 1950 will celebrate their 60th Elementary Graduation Anniversary sometime this year; final date and activities will be announced in due time as the leaders of the class headed by Msgr. Pascual Ypil are still finalizing their plans for a big celebration.

Some of the graduates in this photo were as young as 5 years old when the war broke out.  Their schooling were disrupted few days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor when the Japanese Imperial Army  also invaded the Philippine Islands, being an American territory at the time.  Classes were immediaely suspended when the Japs started bombing Cebu shortly before Christmas in 1941. 

The Poblacion residents of Danao evacuated to the mountains and children tagged along.  The came down back to the town proper two years later when the American liberators came to Danao driving the Japs away from the poblacion into the hinterlands of Cebu.  Elementary school re-opened after the the Japanese invaders surrendered sometime late 1945.

 Because of the nearly 3-year  “long vacation”, the Danao Central School was overwhelemed with new enrollees when the school re-opened in 1945.  This resulted in a large class size in each section according to Nick Gonzalez, a member of this class.

Nick said there were not enough classroom to accommodate returning and new students.  Also, during the American occupation, schooling was mandatory; if a child was of school age and was not in school, parents could end up in jail. 

Among the prominent member of this class are Msgr. Pascual Ypil, Fr. Mariano Batucan, Dr. Leonara Barriga-Philipps, City Councilor Alice Barriga-Durano, Nick Gonzalez, Ben Durano, among many others. Since they celebrated their 50th anniversary, the class regularly holds a reunion in the month of December. 

(Photo is courtesy of Pamela Mayhew-Dos Santos who emailed the 1950 Graduates Class Photo to DAUSA.  Pam is not a member of the class, she just found this in the “kaban” of her Lola (2nd wife of the late Cesar Gorre, one of the teachers of the Graduates)

CEBU, Philippines – The invincible Cebu City contingent begins its quest to assert its lofty billing as the region’s undisputed sports superpower as action in the 2010 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet goes full blast today at separate venues in Danao City.

Since 1993, no other delegation has defeated Cebu City for the overall championship of the annual sports conclave that gathers the region’s based school-based athletes from the elementary and secondary level.

Even if the Department of Education (DepED) has changed its system in determining the overall winner of the multi-event spectacle, from medal count to points system, Cebu City was able to hold on its ground.

As usual, Cebu Province, Dumaguete City and Oriental Negros pose as Cebu City’s strongest opponents.  But instead of getting stronger, Cebu Province and Oriental Negros have somehow weakened with more divisions being added, while Dumaguete mainly banked on its swimmers and football players to deliver the goods.

CVIRAA Meet kicks of today in Danao City
By Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (The Freeman) February 08, 2010

CEBU, Philippines – The region’s premiere school-based sporting event, the 2010 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet, formally unfurls with an elaborate opening ceremony today at the Ramon Durano, Sr. Memorial Sports Complex in Danao City.

The kick-off salvo will be done early in the evening featuring a ‘Palabas’ from the host city and division of Danao spiced up with a spectacular fireworks display.

Over 10,000 athletes, coaches, and delegation officials are expected to converge for what was earlier promised by Danao City councilor Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez as “an affair to remember.”

Department of Education (DepEd) secretary Jesli Lapus and his Department of Tourism counterpart Joseph Ace Durano banner the long list of luminaries set to grace the grand opening bash.

They will be joined by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Danao City Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III, his son Rep. Red Durano and the strong force from DepEd-7 led by regional director Recaredo Borgonia.

“We would like to assure you that this will be the most attended opening ceremonies by the regional, provincial and LGU officials,” Rodriguez assured.

The traditional parade of athletes has been cancelled so as not to exhaust the athletes who are gearing up for a week-long battle on different fronts. They will just be lined up around the oval for the presentation of the different teams.

A total of 18 divisions will take part in the multi-event spectacle that serves as Region 7’s qualifying for the Palarong Pambansa. – THE FREEMAN

     A number of DAUSA members took a respite from a long Thanksgiving weekend to pay their last respect and attend the memorial service of a good friend and fellow member, Winston Misa held Saturday, November 30, 2009 at the St. Peter and St. Paul Catholic Church in Alta Loma, California.

    Winston was the husband of Pat Osmena-Misa, DAUSA’s first Educational Mission Coordinator. The Misa couple was the first to come forward when the Adopt-a-Student Project was initiated in 2000.  They readily volunteered to sponsor 10 DAUSA scholars who all graduated from a 4-year bachelor’s degree in Education from the Cebu State College – Danao City Campus.  Because of their admirable example others followed, and to date over 50 students have been helped and currently employed, mostly as public school teachers.

    Winston died in Malaga, Spain on November 13, 2009, on the 6th day of their 15-day European tour.   (Below is an article in the Freeman, written by Winston’s friend, and fraternity bro, Boy Regner Mercado)

CEBU, Philippines -  “Everybody dies…Nobody dies.” In deep pain, I write for the sudden passing of a friend of mine, Winston Escanilla Misa, president of the KMTri-E Foundation. He died on November 13, 2009 while on vacation in Spain with his wife, the former Pat Osmena, a close relative of the Almendras clan of Danao. He had a heart attack. Death came like a thief in the night. Pat lost a soulmate and their daughters Kim and Pearl lost a loving father. I lost a dear friend.  When death came, Winston was 66 years old.

     When my friend Joe Campo said to me a year ago, he was initiating a legal processs of adoption – for a twin toddlers –  my first reaction was “are you serious”!

     For sometime all we talked about was about our retirement – enjoy life as we get closer to our individual departure area.

    Joe Campo, a pillar of our association and always a generous supporter of the DAUSA Medical Mission is a U.S. citizen residing in Texas for over 30 years, happily married to Stella, a beautiful American-Mexican.  The couple has two married children and grandchildren.

    Soon, my good friend Joe will be a dual citizen – officially a senior citizen – as he turns 60 in a few m onths.  He is now entitled to some perks seniors enjoy, like a 10% discount at restaurants.

    But Joe is no ordinary 60 years old, as one having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis or suffering from backaches,  etc.   My friend does not have any of those.  

    Except for the hair that was gone many years ago, he’s fit, as if he’s only half his age, even bikes long distance.  He recently participated in a 80-mile cycling fundraiser – from Freeport to Houston.

    A mutual friend of ours voiced his belief the twins could be Joe’s own from another woman in Danao, perhaps from a young girl working at Mitsumi. 

    I said “that’s impossible.  Joe would never do anything stupid to hurt his wife and children.  I knew him well”. 

    Joe used to be an altar boy; we both studied at the San Agustin Seminary in Manila.  At first, he did want to become a priest, like his idol, Fr. Alfeo Manalili, but for some reasons he left after two years.

    He was looking for some adventures while still young and single; so became a seaman, a way he could travel and see the world.   Then he ended up in Texas where he met and married his wife, Stella.

    Joe narrated how the adoption thing happened and he laughed when I told him some of our friends believed he was the biological dad.

   “The twin boys were born Sept. 7, 2008, two days old when we arrived Danao on Sept. 9^th, for the DAUSA Medical Mission.

   “The biological parents were jobless, having 3 daughters: 18, 16 and 12 years old.    The twins were delivered by caesarian at the Vicente Sotto Medical Center.  Although it is a government hospital, and said to be a free for indigent patients, yet medicines, surgical supplies, blood transfusion, etc. are not free.

    “So, that’s where we came in, tried to help out and paid all the bills, so that mother and her twin boys could be saved and be home safe. The mother was 42 years old when she delivered two healthy boys. She is also blood related on my father’s side  (first degree cousin).

    “We thought our rescue effort was over when mother and the twins got discharged from the hospital and came home.  Unfortunately, that was not the case.   At 42 years old, the mother’s breast milk could not sustain two hungry infants with good appetite.

    “So, the Good Samaritan that I was, got into action again by providing them with powder milk to keep the infants nourished and as well as diapers. A month later the parents and grandparents asked us if we are interested in adopting the twins and without hesitation my wife agreed right away without even consulting me.

   “After knowing the facts I said to my wife, “don’t you realize that we are going to start raising kids all over again in our golden years?”

   “A year had passed, we never felt any regrets adopting those boys.  Really who can say no to those angels.  At their age – Joseph Anthony and Mathew Philipp have given us so much joy and made Stella and me feel like a young Mom and Dad again.

   “Now, we are just waiting for the US Immigration to give us the okay to pick them up and bring them home.  For us it is not a long process but just too many papers to fill out and submit, and frankly preparing those of immigration documents is far more hassles than changing diapers.”

    I have no doubt Joe will see his twin boys graduate high school, send them to college, and be at their wedding. 

    Then he’ll retire from raising more kids at 90.

She was approached a year ago to be Reyna Elena 2009 for the City Fiesta celebration in Danao City; Noemi Laurente-Seigrist, a longtime resident and citizen of Switzerland, knowing it was for a good cause readily agreed and made a commitment to come back.

A month prior to the fiesta Noemi called inquiring if she could mail to the DAUSA treasurer her donation to the Santo Tomas Parish Church for her participation on the Reyna Elena fund raising pageant. We advised her to give it personally to the President of the Pastoral Council upon arrival in Danao.

A week later our DAUSA liaison in Danao, Ms. Jade Batucan, relayed a message from the Pastoral Council stating that the church would not sponsor any longer or get itself involved in Reyna Elena pageant.

Upon our arrival and during the Balik-Danao Welcome Lunch we learned that in lieu of the Reyna Elena fund raising event, the Balik-Danao Queen pageant would once again be held during the Balik-Danao Nite and the committee had convinced Noemi to participate telling her the proceeds would be go to the Fiesta Committees various projects.

Ms. Seigrist agreed and even volunteered to have her beautiful daughter, a belly dancer and instructor in Switzerland, to perform at the event. Two other DAUSA members were gracious enough to play along and join the Balik-Danao Queen at the Balik-Danao Nite, Crosine Roble of Long Beach and Becky Mercado of Temecula, California.

Expectedly, the Swiss easily won as the 2009 Balik-Danao Queen and the audience at the Danao Civic Center got a double treat with an awesome performance of a real professional belly dancer, by Naomis daughter Lucijah, holding the audience so quite and breathless to the end.

I wanted to write more about Noemi, but I havent talked to her much on a more personal level, digging more into her family life, her struggles, how and why she ended up into that beautiful country.

To be on the safe side and not dishing out wrong information, I asked Dr. Jackson to write what she knew about our friend from Switzerland because she had hanged out with Naemi more than me.

From Dr. Anita Jackson:

I first noticed Noemi during one of our post mission lunches in Tita and Sani’s Guinacot farm, when Noemi served my husband Ben some food, drink and dessert while I was taking care of myself and not looking after my husband who was foreign to our customs at that time.

Right after the 2006 Medical Mission she went to Bohol with us for our Church wedding and made sure that she had pictures with Ben and me. She has been misunderstood as having flirted with some doctors. Poor Noemi! She is just caring to people, who she feels are deserving of her attention.

This year she assisted me when I was doing consultations and made it easy for priority patients who were truly sick to get prescribed medications. For example, she got a bottle of water for a

patient whose BP was extremely high (220/130) who I wanted to start medications right away and was observed and rechecked before he left. She gave her a year-supply of Ramipril.

Noemi pledged to donate not only to win the crown but to help (hopefully it was used for the benefit of the under-privileged.)

While not yet sure if she would win, she heeded to my advice to go to Ricky’s house and have her measurements taken for a gown. Darling and I were sneaking to the restroom behind the stage so we can check if Noemi wins. It took a little while to count the money; so we waited. As soon as the canvassing was over, I approached Mr. Toledo.

He pointed to Siegrist of the tally sheet as the winner. Darling and I immediately pulled her out from the waiting area and helped her change to her “instant” beautiful gown for the coronation.

Then she went with me to Tagbilaran to deliver the medications left from the mission for the Botika sa Katawhan of which the Tagbilaran Association of California is a major supporter. It was during this trip to Tagbilaran where I knew more of Noemi.

She is married to Herbert, a Swiss guy, who loves to visit the Philippines. In Switzerland at her employment, she was chosen to train to make delicate life-saving cardiac-related things like artificial heart valves. This is a special God-given gift!

I learned that she is a great wife and mother. She gave and is still giving the best care to her husband who has had two kidney transplants, and built him a house in Danao which he considers best place for his rehabilitation.

She has raised her three children with strong values in life. Her oldest is daughter Lucia, the middle is Robert who are both on their own now. The youngest is Jun who is still home with Noemi and Herbert as a full time student taking Law courses. Robert is serving the Military in the Air Force and has dual citizenship.

Noemi has been consistent as a generous provider of her family in the Philippines as well as her own three children in Switzerland. She has worked hard to be able to send her children to the best school, and invested for their future.

She has advanced herself in Switzerland by taking comprehensive lesson in the German language and learning the trade of Heart Valve production and now is a trainer.

Noemi has made a booking to visit us here in California from Dec 13 to Dec 29, and will spend the New Year with her husband and two beautiful children one of whom (Lucijah or Lucia) we saw perform professionally and gracefully the Belly Dance at the welcome-luncheon at Mayor Boy and Tita Durano’s home and Balik Danao Night.