by Eunese Irish A. Garcia

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Los Baños is all set with the preparations for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Barangay Elections 2013 on October 28.

According to Elections Officer Randy Banzuela, COMELEC has already created the project of precincts that will handle the election period. With 56, 856 registered voters in Los Baños, COMELEC is also reviewing the voters’ list to determine the active and inactive voters and the ones who are really registered in the barangays.

“Kasi may mga nagrereklamo na nawawala ‘yung pangalan nila sa listahan sa mga designated precincts sa barangay nila, kaya ngayon pa lang inaayos na namin dito,” Banzuela added.

With the 56,856 registered voters to date; 54,984 of which voted during the the last elections; COMELEC expects an increase of voters’ turnout given the 3,099 newly registered voters.

Manual voting will be used during the elections since the P-COS (Precinct-Count Optical Scanners) machines will be kept again for the next national elections. The elections officer also explained that since there are only a small number of voters during SK and Barangay elections, it is more appropriate to use the manual voting.

“We are hoping for more improvements during the elections so that we may serve our residents better,” Banzuela explained. He also encouraged residents to volunteer and help out during the elections. “May pinadadala rin naman ang PPCRV at NAMFREL during those times, but their primary concern is the total number of votes,” he added.

Aling Imelda Banyares, 43, a fruit vendor from Brgy. Timugan, said that she and her daughter, who registered last month, are going to vote. “Kahit ganito lang sa ngayon ang buhay namin, gusto naming bumoto para may magbago at may ikaunlad sa lugar namin,” she said.

Age is not a matter of concern in exercising the right to vote as with the case of Mang Roger Maningas, 75, a canteen concessionaire in Brgy. Timugan. Mang Roger shared that all of members of his family are going to vote because they want their voices heard. “Sa awa naman ng Diyos, laging payapa ang lugar namin, kasi magaling naman ang mga nabobotong kapitan [ng barangay],” the old man replied.

Some residents however, will not be able to cast their votes this October. Aling Merlinda Limco, 43, a housewife will not be able to vote because she was reached by the cut-off last registration. “Kung pinaabot sana ako, makakaboto sana ako, gusto ko rin naming bumoto. Eh siyempre, sa ganoong paraan ko lang masasabi yung gusto kong sabihin,” she said.

Diane Pombo, 18, was also reached by the cut-off and was not also able to register. Pombo will however, volunteer during the elections. “Okay lang kahit di ako naabutan basta gusto ko makatulong ako sa eleksyon sa October. Sayang kasi pagkakataon para mapakita ko na residente talaga ako ng Los Baños,” Diane said. She also encouraged others to volunteer for their rcommunity. “Minsan lang naman ‘to, di ba?”

The local government of Los Banos is preparing for “Banamos Fun Run 2013” to be held on September 21 as part of the celebration of Banamos Festival this month.

The run is divided into four categories: 3 km, 5 km, 10 km, and 15 km. The planned route starts from the new LB municipal hall in Barangay Timugan and ends at the University of the Philippines Open University in Barangay Maahas.

Registration is Php 200 for the first two categories, and Php 300 for the last two. Councilor Jonjie Oliva, project head, said that proceeds will benefit the scholars of the municipal government of Los Banos.

“This event will not only benefit our scholars but will also promote brotherhood and friendly competition among citizens of Los Banos,” said Renee-vic Villanueva, legislative staff of Councilor Oliva.

Cash prizes await top finishers: Php 3,000 for the first placer; Php 2,000 for the second placer; and Php1,000 for the third placer. Interested runners may register at the office of Councilor Oliva until August 31. (with reports from Earl Gio Manuel)

by Myrrh Caithlin L. Gutierrez

BAY, LAGUNA – Brgy. Puypuy vermifarmers harvested about 200 kg of worms on August 26, 2013 with the help of the Green Wrigglers Enterprises (GWE). The harvest was transported to Tarlac for the opening of a new community development project.

Bay, specifically Brgy. Puypuy, is GWE’s largest source of vermicompost. The company also sources worms from Sta. Cruz, Nagcarlan, Pagsanjan, Calauan, and Baguio. “This community developmental project aims to create jobs and promote social equity through symbiotic relationship between vermiculture, organic farming, and solid waste management,” GWE owner and Laguna native Michael Cagas explained.

Vermicast production has been of great help to the community. Robert Villegas, one of the vermifarmers said “Basta hindi maarte dito, may pera. Madumi nga ang kamay pero marangal na trabaho naman ito. Malaki pa ang kita.” This was confirmed by Daisy Arandia, another vermifarmer, “sa isang pa-harvest, nakabente kilos na kami mahigit. Malaking pera na ‘yon.”

Vermiculture is the practice of culturing worms, specifically African nightcrawlers, to gather organic fertilizers called vermicast. It is done by first making beds where the worms can live and multiply. The worms are fed with animal manure and other biodegradable wastes at most once a week. This low-capital business can be profitable given the increasing demand for  organic fertilizers.

Puypuy farmers help one another in the preparation their vermibeds.

“I want to help my kababayan,” Cagas said. Through GWE, Cagas linked his community with various agencies that need vermicast. He explained that it was challenging to establish the vermicompost business. Cagas started with one-fourth kilo of African nigthcrawlers and within a year, his company was able to produce tons of earthworms.

The earthworm prices range from Php 400 – Php 1,000 depending on the bulk of order. Cagas coordinates with different agencies and links these agencies with vermicompost-producing communities. He also conducts seminars in different areas to propose the vermicast production as a profitable source of income.

GWE is a company consolidating the harvests of different communities. It is a member of the Philippine Vermi Society, Vermicology of the Philippines, and Rare Fruit Society of the Philippines; all of which are community development organizations involved in vermicast production for organic fertilizers.

ni  Zarrel Gel M. Noza at Elsie E. Reyes

Nanguna ang Paaralang Elementarya ng Lalakay sa pandistritong paligsahan ng sabayang pagbigkas na ginanap sa Paaralang Elementarya ng Mayondon sa Los Baños, Laguna noong Agosto 16, 2013. Ang paligsahan ay bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wika na ngayong taon na may tema na “Wika natin ang daang matuwid.”

Ang nasabing patimpalak ay nilahukan ng anim na mababang paaralan sa bayan ng Los Baños. Dito ay ginamit nila ang piyesang “Tuwid na Daan ang Wika Natin” na isinulat ni Erico Memije Habijan.

Ang Paaralang Elementarya ng Lalakay ay nirepresenta ng tatlumpung mga estudyate na sinanay ng tatlong guro na sila Fe Huinda, Michelle Calalo, at Hilma Fucio. Ang pangkat ay binubuo ng tigsasampung studyante mula sa ikaapat, ikalima, at ikaanim na baitang. (Larawan mula kay Fe Huinda)

Ayon sa kanilang punungguro na si Ginoong Anatacio, ang pagsali sa paligsahan ay hindi naging madali para sa kanila. Isang problemang kinaharap nila ay pampinansyal. Ayon sa punungguro, ang mga kasuotan ng mga kalahok ay gawa sa sako ng mais na ginawa at pinagtulung-tulungan mismo ng mga guro.

“Natuwa po kami kasi kami na po yung pinakamaliit na school. Lahat po kasi ng nakalaban namin ay malalaki. Malaki ang resources, malaki ang population ng mga teachers na magtutulong-tulong. Natuwa po kami kasi habol lang po talaga kami na sumali,” ani Anatacio.

Ang eskwlehan naman ay nagkamit ng sertipiko ng pagkilala dahil sa kanilang pagkapanalo sa pandistritong paligsahan.

Bukod pa dito, kanila ring nirepresenta ang bayan ng Los Banos sa pangklaster na paligsahan na ginanap sa Paaralang Sentral ng Calauan (Calauan Central School) noong Agosto 28. Sa paligsahang ito, limang bayan ng Laguna ang nakilahokkabilang ang Bay, Calauan, Pila, Los Baños, at Victoria.

Nanguna ang Calauan sa pangklaster na paligsahan, pumangalawa ang Los Baños, at nagkamit ng pangatlong pwesto ang Pila.

Maliban sa sabayang pagbigkas ay nagkaroon din ng ibang paligsahan sa pagtula, pag-awit, at pagsulat ng sanaysay.