Reports from Kamille Anne C. Anarna, Mary Joie C. Cruz, Khrisma T. Soliven, and Licelle B. Varias

Earlier this evening, two male bodies were found in the Flatrocks natural pool in UP Los Baños.

As of 9:30 pm, the identities of the recovered bodies remain to be confirmed given their “advanced state of decomposition”. According to Councilor Janos Lapiz of Brgy. Batong Malake, the bodies will be brought to the PNP crime laboratory at Camp Vicente Lim in Canlubang, Laguna.

As of 10:30 pm, SOCO Representative Jerous Logronio said that the initial findings on the cause of death is drowning. Logronio explained that the identities, as well as the cause of death, will be confirmed after the autopsy.

by Mary Joie C. Cruz

Los Baños Centtro Engineer was stabbed by a construction employee in
the building warehouse yesterday at around 6:30 pm.

Engineer Richard Famanila, a licensed civil engineer, 48 years old and
a resident of  Bulacan, was stabbed by a construction worker named
Edgardo Algonza, 36 of Leyte.

Another Centtro employee, Edgardo Humilde, 33, was also stabbed by the
suspect after attempting to intervene. Rabi survived the stabbing
incident. Initial investigations report that the stabbing was caused
by personal conflict involving work relations and salary payouts.

“Ang sabi niya [Algonza] ay hindi daw siya pinapasweldo at sinasabihan
din ng masasamang salita,” crime investigator PO2 Jarvis Banasihan
said.

The suspect was immediately captured by the Los Baños Police after the
crime. The case is now for filing in the court and is relayed to the Laguna Provincial Intelligence Division and Management Branch.

A player from Brgy. Timugan (White) shoots the ball while players from Brgy. Lalakay (Pink) tries to do a rebound.

by Gumamela Celes Bejarin

At 3:30 pm today, the Timugan Basketball Court echoed of good humored laughter and screams as the crowd cheered for the basketball players in pink and white.

The Gay Basketball was organized by the Los Baños Group (LBG) and the BIG Basketball as a pre-fiesta event for Barangays Bambang, Baybayin, Lalakay, and Timugan.

“Ginawa ito para sa kasiyahan ng mga tao,” said Randolph Tolentino, LBG CEO and Vice President. Although this is their first time to organize the event, Tolentino said they may organize it yearly because of its success.

“We consider them as part of our community dahil tao din naman sila na nakakapagbigay ng saya sa lipunan,” Tolentino said when asked why they considered gays as the participants. “We respect their personality,” he added.

According to Mark Joseph Marti, one of the audience, he wanted to watch the event because it is not usual for gays to play basketball. He said that he enjoyed watching the game.

“I joined the game just for fun,” said Mike Nico Paner a player of Brgy. Timugan. He also said that the game was both tiring and fun.

Em-Em Mendoza, a player of Brgy. Lalakay said, “Masaya kami dahil as a gay, di namin naeexperience magbasketball talaga. Napatunayan namin na hindi lang mga lalaki ang nakakapagbasketball.”

For today’s game, Brgy. Lalakay won against Brgy. Timugan with the score of 16-12.

Tomorrow at 3:30 pm, gays from Brgy. Bambang and Brgy. Baybayin will also play at the Timugan Basketball Court.

According to Tolentino, the championship game for the gay basketball is not yet scheduled.