summer 2015 issue

Page | 1

Saint Ignatius Village, Quezon City, Philippines

Issue 1____________ ____________________ _ ___ April 2015_

To All Members:

There will be a Special Meeting of Members of the St. Ignatius Village Homeowners Association, Inc. (SIVA)

on: MAY 23, 2015 (SATURDAY) AT 9:00 A.M. at the BARANGAY SOCIAL HALL for the specific purpose

of obtaining membership approval of certain amendments to the existing SIVA By-Laws.

The original SIVA By-Laws was adopted way back in 1964 when SIVA was incorporated under the old

Corporation Law, which was later repealed and superseded by the Corporation Code. In 2010, SIVA

became subject to Republic Act No. 9904 (RA 9904, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for

Homeowners and Homeowners’ Associations), which in Section 15 thereof prescribed the provisions that

must be incorporated in the by-laws of homeowners’ associations. Although RA 9904 recognized the

continuous existence of homeowners’ associations originally formed under the Corporation Code, such

as SIVA, Section 24 of the Act directed such associations to review and amend their by-laws in order to

conform to the requirements under the new law. The directive to amend SIVA’s By-Laws in order to

contain the provisions prescribed under RA 9904 was reiterated last year by the Housing and Land Use

Regulatory Board (HLURB), the regulatory agency charged with implementing RA 9904, when SIVA

applied for approval of the amendment to SIVA’s Articles of Incorporation extending its existence for

another term of 50 years.

The SIVA Board of Directors at its meeting held on March 12, 2015 unanimously approved amendments

to SIVA’s By-Laws needed to comply with the content requirements prescribed by RA 9904. In addition,

(Continued on Page 2)

Page | 2

the Board took advantage of the occasion to approve certain other amendments designed to clarify

ambiguities in the existing By-Laws, and improve the provisions dealing with the qualifications, term

of office and performance of members of the Board and officers of SIVA, the most significant of which is

the extension of the term of elected directors from one (1) year to two (2) years. Please study the text

and explanation of these amendments approved by the SIVA Board in the document entitled “Proposed

Amendments to the SIVA By-Laws” which will be sent to you by one of the SIVA directors or staff.

If you wish to have an advanced copy (hard or soft) of the Notice and Agenda of the Special Meeting you

may request it from the SIVA Office at 913-6177.

As required by RA 9904, the amendments to SIVA’s By-Laws must be approved by a majority of the

registered members of SIVA at a meeting called for the purpose of approving the amendments. Because

of this requirement, it is imperative that (a) more than 50% of all SIVA registered members must attend

the special meeting to be held on May 23, 2015 either in person or by proxy, and (b) more that 50%

of all SIVA registered members must vote either in person or by proxy for the approval of the

amendments during the meeting.

Because of the high percentage mentioned above that is required by RA 9904 not only for membership

attendance at the meeting (so that there will be a valid quorum at the meeting), but also for counting of

the votes approving the proposed amendments, we are constrained to request each of you to accomplish

and submit a Special Proxy, the form of which is also included among the documents attached to this

Notice, which will ensure that the percentage requirements under the the law are complied with. In

essence, the Special Proxy will authorize the person named as your proxy (or in his absence or if no

person is named therein, the Chairman of the meeting as substitute proxy) to attend the meeting on

your behalf AND to vote for the approval of the amendments to the By-Laws proposed by the Board of

Directors. Even in you intend to attend the meeting in person, we request you to submit the

Special Proxy nevertheless. As stated in the Special Proxy form, your proxy authorization

will not be valid and will be disregarded if you are personally present at the meeting, but we

want to ensure that if you do not or cannot the meeting for any reason, we can include you

in counting the number of membership attendance and the votes required under the law.

The following is the Agenda of the Special Meeting:

9:00 Registration

9:30 Call to order

9:35 Secretary’s report on attendance and certification of quorum

9:40 Introductory remarks by the President

9:50 Approval of amendments to SIVA’s By-Laws

10:50 Secretary’s certification of approval by majority of membership

10:55 Authority of Board of Directors to agree to and approve further amendments

as may be required by HLURB

11:15 Adjournment

FOR THE 2015 SIVA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(March 20, 2015):

Sgd. MICHELLE G. SOLLER

President

Sgd. BRANDON M. BULAHAN

Secretary

(Continued from Page 1)

Page | 3

Message from the President

My fellow villagers,

Happy Summer to all! Time really flies, it was just like yesterday when we were looking forward to the new year, now one quarter has passed and I am very pleased to share what kept the SIVA Board busy these past few months:

Security:

Replacement of security agency. Creation of the NO GATE PASS, NO EXIT Policy. Gates 1 and 3 improvement Purchase of spot lights for vulnerable areas along the

perimeter walls. Closure of Gate 3 from 12am to 5am Replacement of old Car and Visitor’s Passes. Maintenance of Alley and Gate lights. With the assistance of the BSI 2 minors from Libis were

apprehended for trespassing into a vacant house along Riverdale.

A vehicular accident that happened along Third Street was resolved.

Community Development:

Office renovation and purchase of office furniture. Installation of bulletin board outside the SIVA Office. Barracks improvement (repainting, installation of

septic tank).

Others

Adjustment of outsider’s car sticker price from ₱500 to ₱1,500.

Adjustment of resident’s car sticker price in excess of 7 car stickers from ₱300 to ₱1,500.

Induction of 2015 SIVA Directors on January 24, 2015. Publication of first issue of the Clarion for 2015 in

January. Purchase of computer peripherals, cordless phone. Purchase of staff uniform. Preparation for the amendment of the SIVA By-Laws.

I would like to acknowledge Architects Dodi Madrid and Paul Peña for their assistance in the office renovation, Directors Edwin Yee and Arnold Tan for the gate improvements and BSI for working harmoniously with us.

This is just the start of a bigger plan. May I ask for your understanding and cooperation as we continue to work for the improvement of our village?

On behalf of the 2015 SIVA board who volunteer their time and service for the betterment of our community, I promise to continue working hard for a better Saint Ignatius Village.

Thank you.

Michelle G. Soller

SIVA's New Guards

By Lilian Ramos-Yeo

Have you noticed the new faces of our guards lately?

Yes, SIVA after a long contract with our previous agency has decided to refresh our security system under a new agency. Under the new agency, guards will be stricter in enforcing entry and exit rules for vehicles and pedestrians.

Vehicles with no SIVA sticker will be flagged prior to entry.

As such, all residents are asked to secure our village sticker in order to avoid hassle when entering the village. If the guard flags you down because you don't have a sticker, please be reasonable and don't reprimand the guard, they are just doing their duty to secure our safety.

For guest vehicle entry, all guests will have to inform the guard of their destination inside the village and the guard will have to call the resident to confirm prior to entry. For smooth entry of your guests, you may call the guard in advance and give the plate number of your guest. All residents are also requested to provide the guard with their land line where the guards can call them to verify entry and exit concerns.

Residents are encouraged to call their own taxi service. This is to ensure the guards can focus on manning the entry and exit of vehicles and pedestrians. In the pipeline is a lighted Taxi sign to flag a taxi down for residents.

Gate at Libis will continue to be closed from 12 midnight to 5am to all vehicles and pedestrians. The 2 guards stationed at those gates will be the ones doing the rounds in the village at night.

All kasambahays including drivers and house boys are required to secure a gate pass from the SIVA office. The employers will hold the gate pass and give the gate pass to the helper when they are leaving St. Ignatius. The helper will then surrender it to the guard before exit. Prior to entry, the same gate pass left with the guard will serve as their entry pass. They must get it back from the guard and return the pass back to their employer.

Last Holy Week, the new SIVA guards were commended by a villager when a man posing as an electrician was intercepted at the gate by the guards.

Cheers to a good beginning from our new guards!

SIVA Corner

Page | 4

SIVA Corner

Page | 5

Barangay Projects

Page | 6

Barangay Projects

Page | 7

Fallen But Not Failed! by Marivi R. Octaviano

hy does fate love to play tricks on us, Pinoys?

What a twist of fate it was when just a few days after

Pope Francis left the Philippines, Villamor Airbase –

the place that welcomed and sent him off with

smiles, chanting and merriment - suddenly

transformed into a lonely, creepy ground as the

remains of the forty-four fallen Special Action Force

(SAF) of the Philippine

National Police (PNP)

were greeted with

irrepressible

weeping and

inconsolable grief

by their families.

These SAF, as we

all know now,

were slain in a

battle at

Mamasapano,

Maguindanao against

the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or

MILF that pinned the blame to the Bangsamoro

Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF), the insurgent or

breakaway group of the MILF. Watching the gloomy

cavalcade of coffins carried by fellow troopers taking

slow and protracted steps was like having a

dreadfully disconcerting nightmare - a nightmare

that continues to haunt the whole nation.

Over two months have already slipped away since

then yet it remains in the news. The MILF finally

released its own version of report after the BOI

(Board of Inquiry) of the PNP released theirs,

implicating President Noynoy or Pinoy for his

accountability as Commander-in-Chief. Certain

sectors of society even clamoured for Pinoy’s

impeachment for his transparent leaning to already

suspended (because of a corruption scandal) PNP

Chief Alan Purisima to rule over SAF Commander

Getulio Napeñas in the SAF’s plan to arrest

Malaysian terrorist alias Marwan who was killed in

the encounter while his Filipino deputy Abdul Basit

Usman remains in hiding.

We saw how politics reared its shameful head again

as Pinoy excluded PNP Deputy Director General

Leonardo Espina from the decision-making. What for

was Espina’s position as OIC … in name only like so

many so-called leaders? Pinoy and Purisima were

obviously BFF (Best Friends Forever) bound by a

wrong construal of “utang na loob” that

originated during

Pinoy’s late mother,

former President

Cory’s term.

Purisma’s failure to

inform Espina caused

the lack of

coordination that

deprived the SAF of

immediate

reinforcement. It was an

outright disregard for

Espina’s position and the

safety of Napeñas and his men. Did Purisima suffer

from memory gap or did he just take the SAF

operation “lightly” yet hoped for a reinstatement

should Napeñas succeed? DId Pinoy share this hope?

And did Napeñas keep the operation secret from the

military so he could gain credit if he arrested

Marwan though he claimed that previous plans were

foiled whenever the military was involved because

of a leak of information?

Obviously, God thwarted their hopes. Napeñas lost

many of his men and his position while Purisima

resigned to save face. Hasn’t he lost it when he was

accused of corruption? And Pinoy - he is getting

W

Insight


Page | 8

more infamous each day! No matter his self-

defence, the Filipinos still think of him and Purisima

as the “culprits”, obdurate in facing guilt for the

SAF’s tragic end. In fact, some people jested it was

the NPA that caused the forty-four SAF’s death. NPA

humorously stands for Napeñas, Purisima and

Aquino.

Like in previous senate scenarios, we were treated

to another brazen spectacle of finger pointing and

washing of hands - the most salient was Purisima’s

claim that he only advised Napeñas and did not

order him not to inform Espina. What Filipino

birdbrain would buy that? And what paradoxes and

sarcasms did we hear from Pinoy?

The 44 SAF might have fallen but they certainly did

not fail. They became sacrificial lambs to get rid of

a foreign terrorist like Marwan and expose the

“ugly truth” in their midst as well as the “true

colour” of some leaders of this country to whom

they offered their lives.

Their death unveiled the many problems that faced

the SAP that included the ineptitude and mendacity

of some high-ranking officers. They showed us how

politics could destroy even the most noble of

intentions, sacrifice the lives of innocent victims

and their families, and endanger this country’s

future.

Their ruthless death made the entire country aware

of the BBL or Bangsamoro Basic Law and drove the

Senate to seriously review it before granting the

MILF the right to autonomy. Will its ratification

really end the violence in Mindanao or spell more

troubles for our government? Many senators doubt

the MILF’s sincerity and fear that the BBL might only

strengthen their force over Mindanao? Yet, Pinoy is

resolute on having it passed, even tapping some

well-respected names like Cardinal Tagle and

business tycoon Jaime Augosto Zobel de Ayala to

help dissect the BBL and “explain” it to the ordinary

Filipinos. We were also reawakened to the sad

plight of our Muslim brothers whose cultural

difference made them suffer from prejudices and

unfairness. Had they been afforded a more decent

life by our previous leaders, they wouldn’t seek for

independence nor be ensnared by foreign terrorists

who converted their young into hardnosed killers.

Many of us still do not know the history of the MILF

or how it differs from the MNLF (Moro National

Liberation Front), its rival and first armed group that

began in the sixties under Nur Misuari with whom

our government first signed the Final Peace

Agreement in September 1996, giving the MNLF

autonomy over fourteen provinces and nine cities. It

was not implemented so Misuari resorted to more

terrorism. Those against Misuari seceded and

formed the MILF which strengthened itself and

became recognized by the OIC (Organization of

Islamic Cooperation) as the sole legitimate

representative of the Bangsamoro people but a new

armed and terrorist group - the BIFF that wants full

independence and not just autonomy separated

from the MILF. How many more “bukod” armed

groups will there be?

Insight

Fallen But Not Failed! (Continued from Page 7)


Page | 9

Our Dearly Departed Maluz By Luz P. Corpuz, MD

I praise God for the friendship and opportunities the Lord gave me to know Maluz Lejano in the Village.

She was one of the ladies who helped in establishing the Buklod ng Panginoon. Since she is very likeable

person, with quiet ways and a ready smile for

everyone, she readily can integrate with the group. She is ever willing to accept assignments and

harmoniously work with others. Maluz joined me in

other groups I organized in the Village such as the

Bible Study that we had for weekly meetings for a

good two decades thereby deepening our knowledge of the Holy Book and its subject the Lord

Jesus Christ.

In the civil society aspect, Maluz was an eager participant. She ran for Kagawad in 1997 and won,

serving up to 2007. In the Barangay Council where

we both served, she was chairperson of the Livelihood Committee and another time the

“Sunshine Committee” where she brings cheer to

sick members of the Village, the families who lost a loved one and others who might need some

consolation. These works were dear to Maluz as she enjoyed helping people and sharing of herself. The

Village would have mandated her a third term had

she not developed “macular degeneration” in both eyes rendering her “legally blind.”

We miss Maluz with her pleasing personality and an

ever ready helping hand when needed. With her devotion to our Lord borne of her knowledge of

Jesus Christ, God’s great Love and compassion, and

her readiness to help others, we are confident that

in the other life, where she now is, she was

welcomed by Jesus Christ and the Blessed Mother she sought to serve in the Praesidium, Mary Queen

of Peace in Christ the King Parish. All I can say as parting words for her is “Maluz rest in Peace and

enjoy fellowship with the angels and saints you

prayed to and served especially Mama Mary. Remember those of us you left behind to the Lord

you love. Amen.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------- Our sympathies to the families of other recently

deceased villagers:

TOMAS PRUDENCIO VICENTE ROMUALDO

TOMAS TEMPROSA

May the Perpetual Light Shine upon them!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What can we do ordinary citizens? Let us BE CONCERNED and PRAY that God guide our senators

in their decisions regarding the BBL; that our Muslim

brothers finally find peace and be freed from exploitation by both the terrorists in their midst and

their own government leaders; that Filipino voters

be enlightened to choose good leaders and

distinguish empty promises or false appearance of

service; that our leaders be truly honest and sincere

instead of self-serving. And that our leaders learn to detach “utang na loob” and “barkadahan” from

professionalism. Many of our leaders are

emboldened to go astray because majority of Filipinos are simply “walang paki” or indifferent.

Hence, we get the leaders we deserve!

Let us do our own act of valour that the SAF’s death may not be in vain. Let us help save our country’s

future!

Village People

Fallen But Not Failed! (Continued from Page 5)

Page | 10

Acknowledgements

Page | 11

Teaching Filipino to our English Speaking Filipino Kids: Lunes ay Araw ng Wika By Lilian Ramos-Yeo

Walk through a private school in Manila nowadays and you won't think you are in the Philippines because not a single Filipino word is spoken. My kids can barely follow my words when I speak Filipino. Filipino is their hardest subject in school. And, they find it very awkward and difficult to converse in Filipino. And with any difficulty comes disdain. My daughter hates it, yes "hate," when we speak Filipino. She finds it difficult and burdensome to deal with the language.

Admittedly, it has been my fault and my husband's because we highly promoted the use of the English language in our home. We feel proficiency in English is a key tool to our children's success. Bad as it may sound, and I think other parents will agree with me, there is that feeling of superiority bestowed on the English speaking dude.

So here I am with a set of kids, whose sense of patriotism goes just as deep as the Philippine Social Studies paper they must write. In retrospect, the roots of love for country begins with our love for our native tongue. If I want my children to love their home country to the core, I should begin by teaching them to love its most basic offer, its language.

Teaching Filipino to our English Speaking Filipino Kids

• Read Filipino Books. To teach Filipino to my kids, I introduced them to a lot of wonderful Filipino books. I have a whole library of Filipino books that I have been reading to them since they were babies. Maybe one day, I’ll do a review of our favorite Filipino books.

• Watch Filipino. Now that my kids are bigger, I let them watch primetime Philippine news delivered in Filipino. Too bad "Batibot" is no longer around to provide a fun, educational experience for them.

• Sing and Play Filipino. I introduce them to fun Filipino music and teach them unique Filipino games like patintero and agawan base. My 3 year old, loves the song "Sampung mga Daliri" and he likes the melody of "Mamang Sorbetero"

of Celeste Legaspi. Maybe I'll introduce my elder kids to some Eraserheads :-)

• Speak Filipino. I read that it is best to assign one person to consistently and purely speak the language to avoid confusion. I assigned it to our yaya (nanny). Unfortunately, our yayas (nannies) find it difficult to keep on translating from Filipino to English so they just end up speaking to them in English as well (plus, just like us they feel English is the superior language and jumps at the opportunity to practice it). Which brings me to assign a national language day every week for everybody in the house!

Ang Lunes ay Araw ng Wika!

The entire household will be speaking purely in Filipino every Monday.* I talked to my elder kids and they grunted and did their argghhs but sorry they have to follow the rule. Everybody will speak to them in Filipino. They will try their best to speak back in Filipino. If they have difficulty saying it, they can say it in English understanding the language is good enough for me, for now. I talked to my household helpers and got their support as well.

I'm not an educator, but I think learning language is best experienced more than taught. For my 3 year old, I try to be more hands-on during Mondays so we can go through his day to day experiences like taking a bath, eating, playing all in Filipino. He is a clean slate and is eager to learn the language unlike his elder siblings. That said, as different sources say, language is best taught to kids age 5 years old and below.

Hope you can join me in my new advocacy in helping Filipino kids discover the beauty of the Filipino language by re-posting this post and adding the hashtag #WikaKoMahalKo.

Umpisahan ang linggo,

Sa Wikang Filipino!

*Our Araw ng Wika used to be on a Tuesday and then I always forget about it. I moved it to Friday but then the kids are too tired by the end of the week they don't always cooperate. So I thought, why not Monday? I won't forget about because it is the first day of the week. Plus everybody is rested from the weekend and it's a good way to start the week.

Lifestyle

Page | 12

Vacation Mode:

It’s now the middle of April! It’s not too late if you

haven’t made travel plans yet. Below is a list of

long weekends for the rest of 2015 based on the

National Holidays declared under Proclamation No.

, s. 2014. 831

LABOR DAY LONG

WEEKEND MAY 1 (FRIDAY) TO MAY 3

INDEPENDENCE DAY

LONG WEEKEND

JUNE 12 (FRIDAY) TO

JUNE 14

NATIONAL HEROES

DAY LONG WEEKEND

AUGUST 29 TO AUGUST

31 (MONDAY )

BONIFACIO DAY LONG

WEEKEND

NOVEMBER 28 TO

NOVEMBER 30 (MONDAY )

CHRISTMAS DAY LONG

WEEKEND (4 DAYS!)

DECEMBER 24

( THURSDAY) TO

DECEMBER 27

NEW YEAR’S DAY

LONG WEEKEND (5

DAYS!

DECEMBER 3 O

WEDNESDAY) TO (

JANUARY 3

Article by Bibet Rosales

Photo credit to Bingle C ustodio

Lifestyle

Page | 13

The Young Once By: Jorge L. Banal, Sr.

Fellow “Young Once” and Friends: The joy and peace of the Lord be always with you and your loved ones! And warmest greetings to the officers, directors and members of our St. Ignatius Village Seniors Association whose continuing kind encouragement and support afforded this Villager the opportunity to serve the SIVISA as president for some ten years now.

Our sincere appreciation and thanks to all Senior Citizens who shared off themselves, got involved and actively participated in SIVISA meetings, events and projects, with special mention to the Board of Directors: VP- Kagawad-Chair of Bgy. Senior Citizens Committee, Dr. Luz Corpus (initiates projects like anti-flu vaccination, estate planning and elderly-related seminars and activities which are financed by the 1% Bgy. IRA due SIVISA); Secretary Myrna Deleña (takes care of telephone brigade and campaigns for attendance and participation); Treasurer Cream Teaño (as successor of Jean Villanueva, who was in-charge of SIVISA’s coffers for many years, has preserved a bank balance of P55,000); and our Directors IPP Lulay de la Cruz, Founding President Amading Astudillo, Fe Reyes, Lory Mantaring and Gaudy Rayo, among other SIVISANS who have made time to be ONE with us!

The ever-supportive SIVA Board and the Barangay Council deserve our thanks for their yearly financial assistance to SIVISA’s worthy undertakings. And likewise, our thanks to SIVISA Past President Luz Rodriguez for having hosted SIVISA overnight outing at her Imperial Resort in Bataan several years ago and Palm Sunday Passion Play in Amadeo, Cavite, March, 2013.

In response to requests of some Villagers as relayed to us during our meeting last March 22, kindly allow me to look back and recall a good number of activities and events undertaken by SIVISA, among which were as follows:

April 16, 2006 General Membership Meeting, 8:30am, SIV Community Center/Chapel

June 22 General Assembly & Election, 4:30pm, Bgy. Conference Room

July 3 SIVISA “Walk for Health”, 6:30am; Breakfast at Something Fishy, Eastwood

Oct. 1-7 Elderly Filipino Week

January 12, 2007 Sunday TV Mass “Taped”, 3pm at SIV Community Center/Chapel

July 7 SIVISA “Growing Old Gracefully”, a forum on diabetes and cardio vascular diseases in celebration of St. Ignatius Village Fiesta 2007, 2-5pm, SIV Community Center/Chapel


Oct. 2 Coronation of 84-year old Leonor “Irog” Sevilla, an active SIVISA member, as MS. FSCAP QC Elderly Queen 2006 at QC Hall Main Lobby in celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week.

July 12, 2008 SIVISA’s Night of Fun “We Still Got What it Takes”, 7:30pm, Barangay Social Hall

July 23 SIVISA Officers and Members attended Halili-Cruz School of Ballet’s fine performance at Barbara’s Restaurant, Intramuros, in celebration of month-long Village Fiesta


Nov. 16 SIVISA Annual Election-Meeting, 9:30am, St. Ignatius Community Center

June 13, 2009 SIVISA Meeting, 8:30am, Community Center/Chapel. Agenda: Update on RA 9994; SIVISA Projects: Anti-Flu Vaccination, etc.

June 27 SIVISA Fellowship (Bingo, World Trade, Dinner, Resort World); Village Fiesta

Sep. 15 SIV “Young Once” visited the OSCA QC Hall to get FREE Movie Admission booklets


June 13, 2010 SIVISA Meeting, 9:30am, Community Center/Chapel


Nov. 21 SIVISA Special Meeting, 9:30am, Community Center/Chapel. Agenda: Update on RA 9994; Bgy. Pulung-pulong last Nov. 13 and SIVA General Assembly and Election schedule on November 29

May 9, 2011 SIVISA Meeting, 5pm, Bgy. Social Hall. Agenda: Update on RA 9994; Summer Activity: to watch Kaosa musical presentation at New Port, Resort World, May 15; Village Fiesta in July; Tea Party and Outing

May 15 SIVISA Board and members watched the Musical Play and Circus “Kaos”, 6pm, at Resort World; Dinner at Manila Yacht Club, Roxas Boulevard (President hosted)


March 20, 2012 SIVISA Despedida Party for Treas. Jean Villanueva at her SIV residence

Aug. 31 SIVISA Forum on “Active Ageing and Healthy Lifestyle”, 8-11:30am, CTK Formation Center, co-sponsorship of CTK Parish Pastoral Council and the

Vintage Perspective


Page | 14

United Lab. United Bayanihan Foundation; lunch followed at Old Spaghetti House, Libis

Sep. 12 SIVISA Officers and Members watched “Phantom of the Opera”, 8pm at CCP


Oct. 29 SIVISA General Assembly, 3pm, at St. Ignatius Bgy. Social. Agenda: Free Vaccination, SIVISA Board

for 2013; Philhealth Orientation; Update on RA 9994; Registration of Senior Citizens in the Village and 1% of Bgy. IRA financial assistance to SIVISA

Nov. 12 SIVISA together with FSCAP QC, NCR and Regional Board Fellowship Outing at Taal Imperial Hotel & Resort, Taal, Batangas

Feb. 15-16, 2013 SIVISA Educational Tour and Forum on RA 9994 at Fontana Resort, Clark Field, Pampanga Post Valentines Party and Fellowship (SIVISAN Lita Aguirre & Princess Banal-Russell hosted 1 villa each)

March SIVISA Founding Pres. Luz Rodriguez and other top officials and some active members were recipients of a Palm Sunday Treat: “The Saviour of the New City”, a 3-7pm passion play at the Banal na Pag-aaral (BNP) Shrine, Amadeo, Cavite.

July 11 SIVISA Meeting, 4pm, Bgy. Conference Room

Agenda: SIVISA Outing; Strengthening SIVISA; Elderly Filipino Week Celeb, Oct, 1-7

July 30 Young Once at Nat. Museum in celebration of the St. Ignatius Village Fiesta. And lunch thereafter at Emerald Garden, Roxas Blvd.


May 25, 2014 SIVISA Meeting, 9:30am, Community Center/Chapel; to watch play “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”, Resorts World

July 5 SIVISA participated in FUN RUN in celebration of Village Fiesta

July 13 SIVISA officials and members watched “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” Resorts World


February 16, 2015 SIVISANS watched The Platters Concert, with Matt Monroe, Jr. and Christian Bautista, 5pm, Resorts World

March 10 “Seniors at the Mall,” 10am-6pm, Skydome, SM North, Edsa, with Eddie Ilarde, Pilita, Marilou Blanco and Anthony Castelo, SIVISA in attendance

March 11 “I Love Tacloband,” 5pm, The Eye, 4/f, Green Sun Building, 2285 Don Chino Roces Avenue

Extension (formerly Pasong Tamo, Makati), hosted by Princess Banal-Russell

March 22 SIVISA Meeting, 9:30am, SIV Seniors’ Hall; Agenda included: Senior Citizens involvement and participation, Senior Citizens Directory, Payment of Dues, Senior Citizens Benefits, Philhealth Mandatory Coverage; Schedule of SIVISA election.

Please note that SIVISA has been inviting Senior Citizens to attend meetings, fellowship activities, outings, etc. thru telephone brigade call/text, notices (those who respond to our invitations benefit from their attending activities and events); SIVISA has been a regular participant during the

yearly SIV Fiesta July Celebration (SIVISA receives modest financial assistance from SIVA in support of Elderly activities, events in celebration of Village Fiesta); SIVISA gets entitled to 1% of the Bgy. IRA (₱17,000 is the 1% Bgy. IRA for 2015 but during the April 25 Pulong-Pulong, PB Edwin gladly reported that said amount was increased to P30,000), which the Barangay Committee on Senior Citizens keeps and uses to finance health care (anti-flu vaccination; Rep. Bolet jointly with QMMC sponsored anti-pneumo vaccination in several barangays of QC’s 3rd District with some of our less affluent Villagers availing of said Senior Citizens benefit; some vials will be available for free next month) and elderly-related activities like Estate Planning Seminar, etc; in the yearly celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week, October 1-7 (by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 470 signed by then president FVR in 1996), with week-long activities that start with “Walk for Life” and include “Dalaw Kalinga,” health care activities, TV mass and the like), FSCAP QC, headed by yours truly, is normally one of the lead organizations; and thru Clarion’s “Young Once” regular column, updates on Senior Citizens benefits and privileges (latest of which is mandatory Philhealth coverage), tips on “Active Ageing” and health care, and elderly-related concerns are shared to “those who read” said column.

Adhering closely to the wise saying “People find time, and make time, for the things they would like to do (and enjoy doing),” let me cite some of the highlights during my term of office as SIVISA president 2004 to the present, which upgraded this Villager, with God’s grace, to be the Senior Citizens Sectoral Representative in various local and national organizations and events which enabled him to make modest contributions via his active

Vintage Perspective

(Continued on )

The Young Once (Continued from Page 13)


Page | 15

participation and attendance to the important concerns, needs and benefits of the Elderly, as follows:

1. Elected president of the Quezon City Chapter, Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines (FSCAP) in 2004, with hold-over term of office up to 2016; elected FSCAP NCR president, 2007 to present; and, as FSCAP National President on a 2-year term without re-election (per mandate of its Constitution and By-Laws, with yours truly as Chair of Const. and By-Laws Committee), 2011 and 2012.

2. As SIVISA, QC, NCR and National President of FSCAP, this Villager has been one of the Elderly leaders tasked to spearhead, with DSWD as the lead government agency, the yearly celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week (per Presidential Proclamation 470 signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos in 1996), October 1-7, which starts with a “Walk for Life,” 5:30a.m. and 7:00a.m., Opening Program (with him normally as emcee), October 1, usually at Mall of Asia, Pasay City, or at Quezon Memorial Center, QC, which includes other activities like “Dalaw Kalinga” (Golden Acres, Luntiang Maynila, Muntinlupa Bilibid

Prison, etc.), Health Care events, Eucharistic celebration, etc.

3. With SIVA’s financial support, has led in outdoor activities (outings, national museum, concerts, etc.) during SIV Fiesta Celebration July of every year, as earlier reported. (happily, on a KKB agreement)

4. Thru the Village Clarion, writes regularly via “Young Once” column re benefits and privileges enjoyed by Senior Citizens under RA 9994, otherwise known as Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 (latest of which is “mandatory Philhealth coverage”) and QC Ordinances (Free movies Monday and Tuesday and Free parking for 1st 3 hours in QC), health care and growing old gracefully, and related articles (with photos, at times, on TV-radio interviews, etc.).

5. Spearheads the yearly “MS. FSCAP QC Elderly” which honored SIVISA’s very own “active” member, the late Leonor “Irog” Sevilla, who at age 84 was proudly crowned “MS. FSCAP QC Elderly” in 2006 and the holding of events on health care and benefit updates, with song-dance program and raffle at SM North and QC Bulwagan.

6. As QC Mayor’s representative to the LGU-DSWD-organized Regional Senior Citizens Federation, NCR, this SIVISA president was elected president in 2010

Vintage Perspective The Young Once (Continued from Page 14)

INAUGURATION OF QMMC MICU: DIRECTOR ANGELES DE LEON OF THE QUIRINO MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER HOSTED BREAKFAST LAST MARCH 20 DURING THE

INAUGURATION OF ITS MEDICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (THRU THE INITIATIVE OF CONG. JORGE "BOLET" BANAL, JR. WHO WAS CO-INTRODUCER OF RA 10345 “AN

ACT INCREASING THE BED CAPACITY OF QUIRINO MEMORIAL MEDEICAL CENTER FROM 350 TO 500 BEDS”). LED BY SIVISA PRESIDENT JORGE BANAL, PP LULAY DE

LA CRUZ AND BOARD MEMBER FE REYES, AMONG THOSE INVITED WHO GRACED THE OCCASION INCLUDED FORMER PUNONG BARANGAY BABY BANAL (PARTLY

SHOWN), SIVA PP JESS DE LA FUENTE, BOLET'S CHIEF OF STAFF BINGLE CUSTODIO, KGD. AGNES DE LA CRUZ, THE BANAL DAUGHTERS DRA. MA. JESUSA B. SILAO

AND MA. JETHRA B. PASCUAL, AND ALSO FSCAP QC PRESIDENTS OF BARANGAYS SOCORRO, E. RODRIGUEZ, MARILAG AND ESCOPA I AND IV.


Page | 16

which position he holds upto the present; he presides over meetings, jointly with FSCAP, NCR, an NGO.

7. With QC Mayor Herbert M. Bautista as Chairman and all six (6) District Congressmen and 142 Punong Barangays as members, this Villager was elected as Council Member of the City Development Council (CDC) representing the Senior Citizens, together with 49 other QC NGO Sectoral Representatives as members in 2010 to present; was, consequently, elected as Vice-Chair of the Council of Sectoral Representatives (CSR) composed of the 50 NGO leaders who are CDC members, also on same year.

8. Was also elected Senior Citizens Sectoral Representative to the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), 2007 to 2014 and re-elected 2015-2017, a total of 10 years, representing the Senior Citizens Sector.

9. Represented the Senior Citizens Sector in various meetings, fora, and related events in QC, NCR, and entire country (including attendance to DSWD, DOH, Congressional and Senate Hearings).

10. For implementation this year is the “Day Care Center Services for Senior Citizens” which has been recently approved with a P4 Million initial budget from the National Government thru a project proposal submitted by this SIVISA President who represented the QC Senior Citizens Sector in the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT). In coordination with QC’s Social Services Development Department, preparations are being worked out so that our Senior Citizens will have a place where they can avail of services (including facilities and equipments) that will promote “active ageing” thru proper health care and healthy activities, enhance camaraderie and friendship among older persons and, consequently, “add life to their years and years to their lives!”

Without being immodest, your SIVISA president would like to believe that he has performed his assigned functions and tasks as a “working” socio-civic-religious-professional leader to the best of his ability and capacity in line with the JCI tenet “Service to Humanity is the Best Work of Life!” On your request, a modest report of most of SIVISA meetings, activities and events have been cited, with a pledge for an orderly win-win turn-over of the SIVISA presidency in May-June 2016 and, consequently, honor his commitment to complete his term of office as FSCAP QC president on said year and month. Our grateful appreciation to SIVA PP Jess de la Fuente, Founding SIVISA President Amading Astudillo,

lawyers Ed Lejano and Lito Imperio, SIVA PP Rhoti Torres, former Punong Barangay Ernie Yap, Past SIVA Directors Orly Zorilla and Bert Pangan, Villager Art Sumbillo, and other concerned Senior Citizens leaders for their having joined hearts with this public servant and, TOGETHER, help ensure a friendly, healthy and united SIVISA!

Again, thank you very much and God bless us all.

Good News from the Buklod ng Panginoon By Lulay dela Cruz

Merry month of May is here. We will have the “Flores de Mayo” and we are inviting our residents especially young girls and boys to participate in reciting the Holy Rosary daily at 6 pm to be followed by the offering of flowers to our Blessed Mother. This will be in our Chapel.

We will start our outreach program of “Operation School Supply”. We are appealing for your support by donating notebooks, pencils, school bags, etc. The recepients are grade school pupils from Grade 1 to 6 of Barangay Libis.

Fe Reyes, our Mrs. Valentine and active member of Buklod will be away for vacation to visit her children and apos. Angie and Amading Astudillo are also in vacation to the USA.Welcome Summer – a long hot Summer!

The Clarion

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Brandon Bulahan

Associate Editor Marivi Octaviano

Layout Artist Brandon Bulahan

Writers Raissa Rosales Lilian Ramos-Yeo

Contributors Jorge L. Banal, Sr. Lulay dela Cruz

Staff Rhea Evangelista Russel Negrete

Publisher St. Ignatius Village Association Board

Email [email protected]

Email us your thoughts or reactions. We’d love to hear from you.

Vintage Perspective The Young Once (Continued from Page 15)

summer 2015 issue

Documents