April 2, declared holiday in Bulacan

MALOLOS CITY –  It’s a long weekend for Bulakenyos due to the declaration of Monday, April 2, 2012 as a special non-working holiday in Bulacan in observance of the 224th birth anniversary of the prominent poet and orator Gat Francisco Baltazar also known as Balagtas.

The said announcement is pursuant to the Provincial Ordinance No.C-004 also known as “An Ordinance Enacting the New Provincial Administrative Code of Bulacan”, Chapter II, Section 27, The Provincial Legal Holidays and Proclamation No. 355, signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. by authority of President Benigno Aquino III dated March 27, 2012.

“Sama-sama nating gunitain ang araw ng kanyang pagsilang sa pamamagitan ng pagkilala sa kanyang mga kontribusyon hindi lamang sa lalawigan kundi sa buong bansa," Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said.

Baltazar was born in Panginay, Balagtas (formerly Bigaa), Bulacan on April 2, 1788 to Juan Baltazar, a blacksmith, and Juana de la Cruz.

Called Prince of Tagalog Poets for his impact on Filipino Literature equivalent of William Shakespeare, he became famous on his epic Florante at Laura.

The popular Filipino debate form Balagtasan was named after Balagtas and he was recognized and became the front cover for two weeks of the Pahayagang Kastilyano, a Spanish publication.  (PPAO)

DESPITE CHURCH WARNING:5 devotees to join crucifixion rites

MALOLOS CITY—The Church maintained its position over reenactment of Christ’s crucifixion saying it is just a “popularized religiosity.”

As this developed, local tourism groups in Bulacan are gearing up for influx of tourists and pilgrims for the annual crucifixion rites in Paombong where at least five devotees are expected to join on Good Friday.

Bishop Jose Oliveros of the Diocese of Malolos said Christians were not asked by God to imitate what Jesus Christ had done over 2,000 years ago.

He said that Jesus Christ’s teaching is very clear as stated in the Bible.

“The Lord taught us to come carry our cross daily and follow him.  He did not say come and reenact My crucifixion,” Oliveros said.

He also said that the cross is a symbol of every suffering that Christians can bear for Jesus Christ.

“During the Lenten season we are given the opportunity to mortify ourselves and mortification means sacrificing or dying to one self,” the bishop said.

He added that reenactment of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion is just an expression of popularized religiosity.

“We were asked by Jesus Christ to be a good Christian,” Oliveros said and asked if those doing reenactment of the crucifixion has become good Christians by coming to church every Sunday.

Oliveros also said that what is important during the Lenten season is for people to come and renew their relationship with God.

Meanwhile, the Bulacan Tourism Convention and Visitors Bureau (BTCVB) initiated rehabilitation of the crucifixion site at Barangay Kapitangan in Paombong town.

Jose Clemente, chair of the BTCVB, said the rehabilitation was meant to improve facilities of the Sto. Cristo Chapel in Barangay Kapitangan which draws tourists every year.

He described the annual crucifixion rites as the only tourism attraction in the province that gained followers even without promotion.

Meanwhile, Michael Katigbak, one of the devotees who joined the rites last year said he will join again this year for the sixth time.(DB)

Balagtas interchange opening hailed, Sta. Rita toll plaza decongested

PLARIDEL, Bulacan—Every morning, spouses Bernardo and Tess Vicente rushes to get to their work places in Quezon City from their house at Rocka Village at Barangay Tabang here.

This is to avoid usual traffic jam that clog the Cagayan Valley Road (CVR) from the Plaridel public market to the Sta. Rita toll Plaza along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

At night, the same traffic greets them as they go home.

But not on the night of March 20, or at least six hours after the inauguration of the Balagtas Interchange and the subsequent opening of the 6.87 kilometer Plaridel By-pass road which is part of the still to be completed 24.61 kilometer arterial road project that will link the NLEX to Barangay Maasim in San Rafael town, just west of the boundary of San Rafael and San Ildefonso towns.

“Maluwag na, mabilis pa ang biyahe,” said Bernardo in a text message sent to Business Week.

As an engineer of the Maynilad Water Services Inc., (MWSI), Bernardo said he and his wife Tess, an instructor at the University of the Philippines, hopes that decongestoon of the CVR will continue.

Their hope is the same with the purpose for the construction of the arterial toad project.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said it was meant to reduce travel time to and from eastern Bulacan and Central Luzon NLEX.

He said more travel time will be reduced once the 24.61 kilometers arterial road project that will link the NLEX with the Philippine Japan Friendship Highway or the old Maharlika Highway is completed.

Singson said it will also boost economic activity in eastern Bulacan and Central Luzon.

Based on date released by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the 6.87 kilometer Plaridel by-pass road is under the contract package 1 of the Phase 1 of the project funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA).

The Plaridel by-pass road which straddles Barangay Borol 1^st in Balagtas town to Barangay Bulihan in Plaridel town was completed last November 25 amounted to P1.570-Billion.  It has one 60-meter bridge and 2.40-kilometer access road.

The 7.75-kilometer contract package II of the project which is also under the Phase I will extend the contract package I to Bustos town.  Jica is readying P543.326-Million of the said project.

Singson said that it is projected to be completed by next year, but contractors said it will be completed by June this year.

He said that he is looking forward for the early implementation of the contract package III and IV under phase II covering a total of 9.86 kilometers from Bustos to Barangay Maasim in San Rafael town.

The said segment of the project will also be bankrolled  by a loan from JICA.

For his part, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramoncito Fernandez said the Plaridel Bypass road and the Balagtas Interchange is a good manifestation of public-private partnership (PPP).

“In this PPP, the government provided the road infrastructure while the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) will operate and maintain it as the country’s newest tollway,” he said.

The MNTC installed the fixed and non-fixed equipment necessary for an efficient tollway system.

Rodrigo Franco, president and CEO of the MNTC said they allocated a total of P109-M for the said equipment, plus P22-M for operation and maintenance of the Balagtas interchange and portion of the by-pass road.

With regards to toll fee, Edmundo Reyes, the executive director of the Toll Regulatory Board said they approved its collection at the Balagtas interchange.

Reyes said that toll fees to be collected will be based on existing per kilometer collection of the Traffic Management Corporation, the operator of the NLEX. 

De Lima fetes outstanding Bulakenyas

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan, March 21 (PIA) – Justice Secretary Leila De Lima conferred yesterday the Gawad Medalyang Ginto 2012 to the most exemplary Bulakenyas at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center here, stressing the “immortal” achievements of heroines from the province.

Gracing as the guest speaker for the event in line with the observation of the

International Women’s Month, De Lima said she was reminded of history lessons which tell the accomplishments of Bulakenya heroines like Trinidad Tecson, the Mother of Biak-na-Bato, and the 21 Women of Malolos who braved putting up a

school to teach Spanish language.

“In Bulacan, through this award, we don’t need to remind the men for them to acknowledge the contributions of women. I want to impart to you my warmest salutation for the example you have been showing not only in words but more especially in actions,” said De Lima in Filipino.

She and Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado led the conferral of the Natatanging Babae award with P10,000 to Emelita San Pedro from Angat town for the Women Empowerment category, and to Marilyn Baldivas of Meycauayan City for the Resource Generation category.

The Natatanging Samahang Pangkakabaihan award with P20,000 was given to Soroptimist International of San Jose Del Monte City District III Club No. 170203 headed by Fidelina Mier.

Among the winners for the Gawad Medalyang Ginto sectoral categories were Rowena Francisco of San Rafael as Matagumpay na Ginang ng OFW; Florentina Salonga from Plaridel as Matagumpay na Babaeng Makakalikasan; Segunda Bartolome from San Jose Del Monte City as Matagumpay na Babaeng

Mangangalakal; and the Municipality of Obando headed by Francisca Mendoza as Matagumpay na Konsehong Pambayan para sa Kababaihan 2012.

“We are highlighting the contributions of women in our development in this time preceded by history like the Women of Malolos. Many say that behind every triumph of a man, the picture and spirit of a woman could be found,” said Alvarado in Filipino.

Eva Fajardo, chairman of the Panlalawigang Komisyon para sa Kababaihan ng Bulacan, said prior to the event, there were already 66 women and 14 organizations that had been awarded by this commission. (JMG/PIA 3)

Water park of extreme sports, to open in Bulacan

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan, March 22 (PIA) – Capitalizing on the province’s vast

river resource, the Bulacan government is now gearing to launch next month a

water park in Angat town that will be home to a variety of extreme sports.

The three-hectare environmental water sports complex located in Brgy. Sta

Cruz, Angat will be known as “Ganda Ko’y Silayan: Angat Water Park” which will

include amenities such as water skiing, jet skiing, boating, kayaking, zipline,

wakeboarding, floating restaurants, and fishing and picnic areas.

“We are hoping that the entire facility will be finished next year. Right now, we

already had roads constructed going to the area, nipa huts built, and water sports

equipment like water bikes, kayaks and jetski ready,” said Angat Mayor Gilberto

Santos.

According to Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado, the water park will be launched next

month as the environment and natural resources office and the tourism department

develop the Angat River into an environment water sports facility designed

to “provide a range of water sports and activities, and will serve as a wildlife

haven.”

Alvarado said Bulacan is blessed to have a river which flows from the Sierra Madre

mountain range, traverses 11 towns in the province, and drains to the Manila Bay.

“With this project, we are boosting the eco-tourism of Bulacan and providing a new

and complete adventure package for enthusiasts who want to enjoy sports and the

nature at the same time,” said Alvarado.

“If Camarines Sur has their man-made water sports attraction, come to Bulacan to

experience what real nature offers,” he added.

The other division of the water park will be established in Bustos Dam in Bustos

town that will also utilize fresh river water from the Sierra Madre.

Bustos Mayor Arnel Mendoza said the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone

Authority (TIEZA), which supervises and funds tourism projects nationwide, had

expressed support for the water park through its head Mark Lapid.

“TIEZA is willing to invest funds to realize this project. They already prepared the

blueprint and layout for this project. If all turns well, with the help of other LGUs,

the facility in Bustos Dam will be ready within two years,” said Mendoza. (JMG/PIA

3)

Visiting the forgotten Meyto Shrine

Years after constructing the a memorial for the Meyto Shrine in Calumpit, Bulacan tourism officials in the province still have to place directional markers to inform Bulakenyo where it is located.

Newly opened Balagtas toll gate

Balagtas interchange was opened to vehicular traffic 1PM on March 20.