CAYRA JANE C. ABARCA IV- GALILEO

EDITORIALEditorial, also called as the voice of the newspaper, is defined as an article in a newspaper consisting of opinions,

beliefs and policy of the editors. It is typically about current issues and interest of the public. The editorial pages usually contain the editorial cartoon, editorial columns, and letters to the editor from the members of the public.

Other definitions of editorial: An expression of fact and opinion in concise, logical, pleasing order for the sake of entertaining, or influencing

opinion, or of interpreting significant news on public issues or policies in such a way that its importance to the average reader will be clear. It is usually written in elegant but understandable language. – M. Lyle Spencer

The editorial page of the paper should begin where the rest of the paper leaves off. -- Vermont C. Royster Pulitzer Prize winning editorial writer

An editorial is an article in a newspaper giving the editor’s view or those of the person or persons in control of the paper. – A. Gayle Waldrop

Usually a brief article written by an editor that expresses a newspaper's or publishing house's own views and policies on a current issue. -- http://www.businessdictionary.com

COMPONENTS INCLUDED IN EDITORIAL PAGEA. Staff Editorial – it is the stand of the paper. It is written by any member of the editorial team that gives the

opinion of the staff as a whole.B. Editorial Column – where the personal opinion of individual writer explain the stand on issues relevant to the

papers and readers.C. Editorial Cartoon – an illustration which contain a commentary about the issue. It is not correlative to the staff

editorial. D. Letter to the Editor – a letter written by the readers regarding his personal view on a particular issue or topic.E. Opinion Features – a short quoted statement that can be read at the end of the editorial column that leaves a

message. F. Masthead – also called the staff box. A box that contains the logotype, names of the staff members and their

position.EDITORIALS MUST HAVE:

1. Like any other news stories, editorial must have introduction, body and conclusion2. An unbiased explanation of the issue3. A current news4. Opinions from both sides.5. Write professionally. Avoid name-calling or be too affected by the persons involve.6. A good editorial should take a positive approach to make the situation better by using constructive criticism and

giving solutions.7. Give it some punch.

POINTERS ON WRITING AN EDITORIAL1. Pick a topic that is current and would interest readers.2. Collect information and facts.3. State your opinion briefly in a thesis statement.4. Expound the issue objectively and tell why this is important.5. Give the opposing viewpoints with evenhanded.6. Develop your case base on facts.7. Allow a point of the opposition — they must have some good points so that you would look rational.8. Repeat key phrases to reinforce an idea into the reader's minds.9. Give a realistic solution(s) to the problem.10. Conclude it with a punch that restates your opening remark (thesis statement).11. Keep it to 200-750 words and never use "I"

TYPES OF EDITORIAL1. Editorial of Information -provide information on facts unknown to the reader. It could restate the news stories or

describe terms and people.2. Editorial of interpretation- explain the meaning of the controversial subject. The writer provides information for

both side and leaves the readers with their own conclusions. For school papers, for example, may explain new school rules.

3. Editorial of criticism- criticize the good and/or the bad attributes of action or problems which provides solution at the end.

4. Editorial of praise – gives praises or pays tribute to a person or organization for doing something that is worthy or sensible.

5. Editorial of argumentation- also called editorial of persuasion where the editor argues in order to convince his reader.

6. Editorial of entertainment – aim to tell the truth while entertaining the readers 7. Mood editorial –usually the writer gives his viewpoint instead of an argument or explanation. 8. Pooled editorial – usually an issue of great public interest is published in different newspapers with their

respective editors taking a common stand issued at the same time.SAMPLE EDITORIALS

1. EDITORIAL OF INFORMATIONRate of memory loss may predict stroke, stroke survival

YOUR DOSE OF MEDICINE By Charles C. Chante, MD (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 2, 2014 - 12:00am

Memory is already impaired years before a stroke occurs, declining most rapidly in people destined to suffer a fatal stroke, according to a population based study of more than 11,000 people.

“For every year that passed [after age 50 years], those who survived a stroke lost their memory at twice the rate as controls. And for those who didn’t survive, their annual memory loss was 3-4 years faster than the controls,” the Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston said.

Colleagues examined the relationship between memory and stroke using data from the national Health and Retirement Study (HRS) cohort of people aged 50 years or older. Interviews with the study’s participants occurred every 2 years, starting in 1998. In their 10-year follow-up study the investigation focused on 1,456 people who had survived a stroke, 364 who died from a stroke and 9,994 who did not have a stroke. An immediate and delayed word list recall task, included in the HRS, served as the proxy working memory among the group.

As expected, found trajectories showing age related memory decline among all subjects after their baseline interview.

There were also baseline differences between the groups. People who had a stroke — both survivors and nonsurvivors — had significantly poorer memory function at the beginning of the follow-up period. “More than half of the memory gap between recent stroke survivors and stroke-free adults of similar age was evident before the stroke.”

“Really interested to know what’s going on in the brains of these people that seems to be related to having a stroke. Guess is that there is a physiology basis — that there might be some subclinical strokes that have already occurred that affect memory.

Another possibility could be memory related behavioral issues. “If people are already having trouble with memory, they might have a harder time controlling their stroke risks — for example, taking their blood pressure medications.”

2. EDITORIAL OF INTERPRETATIONA TALE OF HORROR; POPULATION EXPLOSION

Today, the Philippines has a population of 60 million. At the present rate of growth, this small country, within 35 years would have to support more than 100 million.

This means that most of our high school students now, who would only be in their early 40’s or 50’s at that time, will be the ones to be most affected by the evil effect of population explosion.

Even today, with our relatively small population, our best problems are food, water, housing, education and population.

Just imagine how these problems would be aggravated by the 100 million mouths to feed, back to clothe, head to shelter, and minds to educate.

Also, today, the world has a population of four billion. This would double in 35 years’ time the world population is increasing at the rate of an additional 100 million every eight years.

In six and a half centuries from now, there would be one person standing on every square foot of land on earth. By the time, men would be devouring one another, for there would be no more places for plants to grow.

The only ways to avoid these are mass starvation, political chaos and population planning.The first consequence can be seen in the faces of hungry men. One half of humanity is suffering from hunger at

this moment. There is less food per person on earth today than there was 30 years ago during the world-wide depression.Political chaos is death through world wars, revolutions, aggressions, rebellions and the like.

The third and the best remedy is population education done through family planning. Family planning simply means the planning of the size and spacing of one’s family by means of scientific knowledge and method.

SOURCE: The Torchbearer PNU Laboratory School Manila ( Basic Campus Journalism by Ceciliano- Jose B. Cruz)

3. EDITORIAL OF CRITICISM A True Follower

“It is hard to have leadership when you have a divided followership”.Gloria Resign! Oust Gloria! Impeached GMA! These statements have been avid visual flicks in our streets

nowadays. The day our President made a public statement and apologizes to the Filipino people has been a political and social turmoil. It did not only affect our economy but it also made us Filipinos barbaric in such a way that justice seems a far-fetched ignorance. Protests here, political rally there, and social activism everywhere. In effect of this social unrest cause by idealistic militants, the President humbled herself by quoting the second letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians for the Filipino people, “I cannot boast about myself except about my weaknesses.” But for the ordinary Filipinos who seemed pushed by political opportunists and economic saboteurs, this humbleness seemed not enough.

What has come to us? Have we not learned the lessons from the two previous mass-revolts we have launched? Are our streets the new place where we can seek justice? Or are we just bleak and hopeless followers in the verge of social downfall? The answer to this to this candid questions lies beneath the essence of a true follower. What is a true follower? What makes a good follower? Followership according to the pessimist’s point of view signifies subjection and execution of an order a leader makes. These characteristics beleaguer an attention that one must fully conceptualized and understand. A proactive follower also demonstrates a great respect and thinks a win-win solution, and at the same time gaining the trust and confidence of his leader. An abled follower thinks and works within a system; which in our present social case is our legalized Philippine constitution; based on a set of values that a society dictates for our own common good.

The most important characteristic of a follower is the willingness to tell the truth. A truth that speaks the voice of the majority. A truth that coincides with fair justice. A truth that leads to the uplifting of a unified nation under the guidance of the moral values we have. But be reminded that the truth hurts. It’s a complex word full of power and pain. It can shutter ones mind and aura to the extent of one’s downfall and seizure. However, followers who tell the truth and leaders who listen to it are an unbeatable combination. But this does that not include the “extra-constitutional means” of forcing down a duly elected public official to resign against not only to her well but also to the mandate of the Filipino majority.

However, there is one thing that totally confuses my young and arable mind. In the principles of ideal followership, one must recognize the authority a leader possesses. A recognition that requires great respect given to the leader itself. Now then, can we be both an upbeat follower at the same time tailoring our actions and beliefs to accord with the leaders’ position? Or can we be just like the bamboo tree, able to change its side to the strung of the winds? Whatever is your answer, one thing is for sure, leaders need its followers; followers too need their leaders. It’s a symbiotic process that is proven and tested since time immemorial.

The present social and political crisis we Filipinos currently face needs constant attention both from our leaders and we as their followers inorder to attain our vision. A vision to bring moral enrichment for our ailing nation! A vision to achieve an end to political bickering that is causing us much harm!

We are not experiencing a leadership crisis but a follower’s predicament. Indeed, inorder for us to step forward, we must be a true follower first!

Source: http://www.thefinestwriter.com/EditorialWriting.htm4. EDITORIAL OF PRAISE

Information: Wetlands Day celebration in PhilippinesFebruary 1, 2014

February 2 of every year is celebrated in the Philippines and globally as Wetlands Day to highlight the value of wetlands to human beings as well as to mark the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian City of Ramsar. The event is organized by the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, with this year’s theme, “Wetlands and Agriculture: Partners for Growth,” in conjunction with the United Nations declaration of 2014 as International Year of Family Farming, with focus on the need for wetland, water, and agricultural sectors to work together for nature and man’s protection.

Wetlands are areas that are permanently or seasonally saturated by water to support vegetation. The basic function is conserve and provide water for economic, scientific, cultural, and recreational value for people. The act as water purification systems to regulate flow and precipitation, for flood control, provide shoreline stability, and serve as

reservoirs of biodiversity. Wetlands are natural or man-made – natural wetlands are swamps, marshes, lakes and rivers, deltas, oases, estuaries, peatlands, mangroves and coral reefs, while man-made wetlands are fish ponds, rice paddies, dams or reservoirs, and salt pans.

In the Philippines, there are five sites identified as “Wetlands of International Importance” or Ramsar Sites by Swiss-based Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. These are Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Mindanao, Naujan Lake National Park in Oriental Mindoro, Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu, Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park, and Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan. There are now 2,062 Ramsar Sites.

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance or Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Each Year since 1997, the Ramsar Secretariat has provided materials so that government agencies, non-government organizations, conservation groups, and citizens can help raise public awareness about the importance and value of wetlands. Activities to celebrate Wetlands Day worldwide include lectures and seminars, nature walks, children’s art contests, community and shore clean-up drives, boat races, photo contests, mountain climbing and tree planting.

We congratulate the Department of Environment and Natural Resources headed by Secretary Ramon J. Paje, Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau Director Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim, United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Achim Steiner, Ramsar Conservation Secretariat Secretary General Dr. Christopher Briggs and Deputy Secretary General Dr. Nick Davidson, and other Officers and Personnel, for their coordinative efforts to highlight the importance of wetlands for the Filipino people in our Republic of the Philippines and worldwide. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY!

5. EDITORIAL OF ARGUMENTATIONMyths behind blue skies

Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 04:51:00 12/10/2010

Filed Under: Air Transport, Tourism, Travel & Commuting

The turmoil in Philippine Airlines aside, it really is time to ramp up the implementation of the so-called ?open skies? policy for air transportation. It has been over 15 years since the landmark Executive Order 219, issued by President Fidel Ramos in January 1995, called for the liberalization of the air travel industry in the Philippines.

As far as domestic travel is concerned, liberalization was an unqualified success. The most obvious proof is the rise of Cebu Pacific, which now has fair claim to being the country?s leading airline. When it comes to the international sector, however, the record has not been very encouraging.

President Benigno Aquino III, following through on a long-held commitment, has said he wants to implement EO 219 fully. At the private-public partnerships ?summit? last month, he vowed to take the necessary next steps to implement the EO?s provisions on international aviation. ?Our national development requires promoting an open and competitive international aviation sector that enables Philippine and foreign air carriers to expand their operations, maintain a strong Philippine-based aviation industry, and ensure international connectivity in order to allow Philippine and foreign air carriers to plan and make long-term investments in the Philippine market.?

Open skies will have its biggest impact on Philippine tourism; it is seen as one crucial stage in the development of a world-beating tourism industry. Even the Aquino administration, however, despite its high approval ratings, will face great resistance in implementing the policy. It will be up against three persistent, pernicious myths.

It is obvious that the open skies policy, even in the ?pocket? version that the Aquino administration wants to try first, cannot work by itself. No advocate has ever said that it is the silver bullet that will slay the vampire of lower-than-deserved tourist arrivals. However, quite a number of critics of open skies argue as though the policy were a stand-alone initiative. This, then, is the first myth: open skies will be characterized as putting the cart before the horse. But in fact efforts are under way to decongest airport terminals, build new roads, create more support systems, train more tourist workers and (as we have seen in the botched Pilipinas Kay Ganda campaign) create a new, more attractive marketing drive.

The second myth is present market demand. It is an argument offered by Philippine Airlines management, and has been echoed by an official of the Civil Aeronautics Board. Foreign airlines have seat entitlements they do not use, said Porvenir Porciuncula, CAB deputy executive director. ?It is really a function of the market. Open skies will not guarantee foreign airline flights to the country,? he said. This is the kind of thinking that, under its old management, allowed PLDT to monopolize the telephone industry for many years. It is a bureaucrat?s view, not an entrepreneur?s perspective?and would have been incapable of imagining the growth in the number of phones in the country after deregulation.

Opponents of open skies are insisting on reciprocity, wrapping this particular argument with the mantle of nationalism. Of course reciprocity is fundamental to any open-skies agreements but, we hasten to add, reciprocity must be understood in a broader sense, the better to serve the public interest. This, then, is the third myth: The idea that open skies must mean strict equality, seat for seat, route for route, airport for airport. But, just to give one example, wouldn?t we want more tourists from Singapore? How many points of entry can that tiny but rich island-state offer us? EO 219 defined the criteria for the exchange of travel rights and routes right: It should be a combination of reciprocity, defined as ?the exchange of rights, freedoms, and opportunities of equal or equivalent value,? and the national interest, including ?value for the Philippines in promoting international trade, foreign investments and tourism.?

We should not leave the definition of national interest to airlines or bureaucrats alone.6. EDITORIAL OF ENTERTAINMENT

Collecting quotationsby Alex M. Eduque

January 31, 2014

As an avid reader and certified bookworm, many have been quick to label me the ultimate nerd. Do I mind? Not at all – because in this day and age where Kindles, iPad’s, and e-books have made their debut, I still very much prefer to hold the actual book. Why? I find something so charming with the old school way of reading books. I’m not sure whether it’s the fulfillment I get with every page I turn, but I can somehow relate with it in much more depth that way. From novels to poetry anthologies, to newspaper and magazine articles, I feel like reading feeds my soul.

One of my favorite things to do when I read is to collect quotations that strike me, which I write down in my ever trusty Moleskin, so that I can look back and browse through it at my fancy. For whatever reason, these three quotes, from three of my all-time favorite books, have a special place in my heart. Maybe it’s because I’m able to relate to them and apply them in my life, or perhaps it could be because as I grow in years, I realize that whatever situation and condition I find myself in, the way I interpret them evolves with time and experience. They’re timeless, to say the least. Allow me to share these with you:

“Life, with its rules, its obligations, and its freedoms, is like a sonnet: You’re given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself.” — Madeleine L’Engle from A Wrinkle In Time

This quote has grown on and with me. Admittedly, when I first read this novel in grade five, I was lost, and besides the basic plot of the story, was not able to appreciate its beauty. As I read it again in high school, and then once more in college, I saw past the story line, and in between the lines – which metaphorically is also how one is able to make the most out of life, in its purest essence. This line from the book particularly strikes me because I’d like to think it’s the way I was raised, and says a lot about the person I have become. I was brought up with rules, obligations and responsibility, but am also given the privilege of enough trust and freedom to make my own unique mark in this world.

“So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s a great balancing act.” – Dr. Seuss from Oh, the Places You’ll Go

Ignore the fact that it’s from a children’s book, but as a fan of Dr. Seuss, I find the true beauty of his work to be its timeless aspect – its applicability regardless of age. This quote doesn’t only remind me to see past the obvious, and look deeper into things, but also to approach life with zest and zeal; to take risks, with the right amount of caution.

“Here is my secret. It’s quite simple: One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes… It’s the time that you spent on your rose that makes your rose so important… People have forgotten this truth.” – Antoine de Saint-Éxupery from The Little Prince

This quote has been cited time and again, but to me, it’s a classic I will always hold near and dear. Besides the fact that The Little Prince is my all-time favorite story because of the substance, the symbolism, and I could go on and on… this quote to me is a constant reminder to appreciate the smallest things in life. That true happiness and worth doesn’t take much to express. In this case, how valuable time is. It’s a constant reminder that what you choose to spend your time on is an investment you’ll reap the harvest of later in life. So whatever choice that is, make it count! But always remember one thing (and as an excuse to squeeze in another favorite of mine): “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go” (Dr. Seuss).

7. MOOD EDITORIALMoving to higher ground to survive

POSTSCRIPT By Federico D. Pascual Jr. (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 2, 2014 - 12:00am

MT. ARAYAT (PLDT/WeRoam) — To survive in this age of tidal waves, massive flooding, sinking reclaimed and alluvial soil — not to mention medical and spiritual depression — it may be a good idea to move to higher ground.

The lessons of super typhoons Yolanda in the Visayas and of Ondoy in the national capital region are graphic enough to validate the thought that it may be time to consider moving to higher ground, if only to survive.

The sea and the rivers flowing to it have always been a source of life. But, reacting to centuries of neglect and abuse, Nature turns once in an angry while into a monster exacting vengeance or moving to restore the balance, the status quo ante so to speak, of the ecosystem.

Seeking relief for ailing body and mind, some of us go back to Nature for cures or we elevate our minds to the higher climes of transcendental meditation.

* * *HOLISTIC HEALING: Just a little over an hour’s drive from Manila is another wellness garden tucked on the

slope of this mystical mountain of Pampanga for those tired of body and spirit, or those who simply want a nature retreat far from the madding crowd.

The 2.2-hectare garden in barangay Ayala in Magalang town, offers a relaxing regimen of diet and therapy for patrons in need of total healing as well as for visitors pining for a haven and a vegetarian cuisine.

“Ayala” is not to be confused with “Bunduc Alaya”, a name that older folk use to refer to this extinct volcano watching over the Central Plain. Instead of their weekly Balitaan in the Clark Freeport, members of the Capampangan in Media Inc. (CAMI) visited Orissa over the weekend.

* * *SELF-HEALING: Orissa President/CEO Riza L.Lim, a licensed and certified clinical master herbalist, is a

product of the Natural Healing and Naturopathy in Encinitas, California, and the Inner Mind Institute. Besides being a REIKI Master, she is a yoga and holistic healing practitioner and a clinical nutrition consultant.

She says that Orissa operates as a “self-healing” center, where visitors or “students” are guided through a healthy diet and regimen to overcome their spiritual and physical illnesses.

Lim explains: “While our facilities and services appear to cater to so-called ‘lost souls and tired bodies,’ we also welcome ordinary visitors in search of new experiences to spend their weekends for physical and spiritual benefits.”

* * *ZAP IT!: Visitors afflicted with cancer and other life-threatening diseases may opt for the “zapper” treatment that

involves the use of a German-designed electronic machine that diagnoses ailments and cures the sick organ.“Cancer, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, etc., stem from a person’s mental and spiritual imbalance,” Lim

explains, adding that “Orissa’s holistic regimen restores the balance of the mind, body and spirit.”She says Orissa is the fruition of years of research and travel around the world, particularly India and Tibet, where

she studied how monks and holy men achieve balance and enlightenment. This explains the choice of location on Mt. Arayat.

The garden offers overnight, weekend and week-long stays, including spa services (massage and scrub), vegan and vegetarian diet, herbs, natural vitamins, alternative healing, detox programs, yoga, meditation, life-coaching and counseling prayer and spiritual retreat.

* * *BAGUIO HOME: Up North in the Pines City, we have discovered a belter alternative to the usual air-cooled

Baguio box called a hotel room.Since opening some years back, Azalea Residences has become a holiday favorite, being the first hotel and all-

suite vacation residence with the full services and amenities of a serviced apartment. All rooms have living, dining, and kitchen facilities.

Azalea has well-appointed 46 deluxe hotel rooms, 16 one-bedroom suites, 33 two-bedroom suites, three three-bedroom suites, and a presidential suite. It is on Leonard Wood Loop near Teachers’ Camp.

Guests have remarked that the rooms and suites give them a feeling of home. There is a living area with a sofa bed and flat-screen television with cable connection, and toilet and hot-and-cold bath. The two-bedroom and three-bedroom suites have separate master bathrooms.

* * *AMENITIES: Azalea amenities include a dining set, crockery, kitchen appliances and utensils, coffee and tea-

making facilities, queen-sized beds with imported bed linen, plus a balcony in choice rooms.From their suites, guests can step out to enjoy Azalea’s other features: lobby lounge, playground, business center,

Wi-Fi internet connection, 24-hour medical assistance, and the in-house restaurant Tradisyon.After a day of exploring the outdoors, the sight-seeing leads back home to Azalea. One can choose to kick back at

the 8 Degrees Bar or dine at Tradisyon.General Manager Eliza Escobar told us that Azalea in Baguio was inaugurated in 2011 by Foghorn Inc., an

affiliate of 8990 Housing Development Corp.* * *

TRAVEL DETERRENTS: Sluggish traffic from Manila, squatter shanty eyesores, overcrowding and ill-managed growth have been among the deterrents to Baguio tourism.

But Manila-Baguio driving time has been reduced by one to two hours from the usual six hours, with the linking of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx).

The 89-km TPLEx which will go as far as Rosario, La Union -- before the climb to Baguio via Kennon Road or Marcos Highway — is complete only up to Pura town in Tarlac where traffic joins MacArthur Highway.

* * *FOUR LANES: The 23-km portion from Tarlac City to Paniqui of TPLEx was opened for the New Year holidays.

The part from Tarlac to Carmen in Pangasinan is expected to be ready in April, cutting the two-hour travel time from Tarlac to Carmen to 30 minutes.

The final stage 25.83-km part from Urdaneta inPangasinan to Rosario is scheduled to be completed by 2015.San Miguel Corp. top honcho Ramon S. Ang has ordered the original two-lane TPLEx widened to four lanes.

Once completed, it will cut travel time from Tarlac to La Union to an hour from the present 3.5 hours.8. POOLED EDITORIAL

Rice and circusesPhilippine Daily Inquirer

9:49 pm | Wednesday, February 5th, 2014For those watching, the Senate hearing on rice smuggling last Monday was a distressing experience. We do not

know which of the following occasioned the most wailing and gnashing of teeth: the fact that the identity of David Tan, the alleged central figure in rice smuggling, was finally resolved at the level of the Senate agriculture committee; the realization that the Senate was a much diminished institution in the wake of the so-called pork barrel scam; the visible (even visceral) proof of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s contempt for law-abiding officials, summed up in his assertion that he would “gladly kill” Tan, aka businessman Davidson Bangayan, if the opportunity presented itself; or the reality that rice worth billions of pesos continued to be smuggled in, despite all the ritual declarations that the country was finally on the right path, the “daang matuwid.”

To be sure, that both political branches of government now agree on Tan’s identity is a real advance, and we have the hearing partly to thank for that. But still, it was disconcerting to see so much Senate time spent on establishing facts that the government’s many prosecutorial or intelligence agencies could have done on their own. Does it really take a Juan Ponce Enrile to press Tan/Bangayan on his on-the-record inconsistencies?

But Senator Enrile’s active participation in the hearing reminded viewers that the Senate remains engulfed in a scandal of its own. When Enrile moved to cite Tan/Bangayan in contempt, a motion belatedly seconded by Sen. JV Ejercito, many viewers must have been struck by the irony of it all: Here was a man facing an actual plunder charge, moving to cite someone else in contempt of the Senate. Surely plunder is a greater affront to the Senate’s institutional integrity than perjury? The hearing drove home the point that the Senate was a casualty of the pork barrel scam.

But it was Duterte’s display of bravado that captured the public fancy, or at least the lion’s share of sound bites on TV. “If this guy would go to Davao and start to unload—if the commission will grant—I will gladly kill him and so, I’ll go to prison.” Remarkably, no one at the hearing, not the senators, not the Cabinet secretaries present, not Tan/Bangayan himself, objected to the mayor’s tough-guy posturing. In fact, in separate interviews after the hearing, Enrile, committee chair Sen. Cynthia Villar, and even Senate President Franklin Drilon excused away Duterte’s words. Depressing; their excuses only made the Senate look even more diminished.

The problem at the center of the hearing, however, remains a pressing one. According to the new Customs commissioner, John Philip Sevilla, the country lost some P8.4 billion to rice smugglers in 2012.

Part of the problem is that savvy rice traders had cashed in on the earlier confusion over the Philippine commitment to the World Trade Organization’s scheduled lifting (on June 30, 2012) of quantitative restrictions on rice imports. But as former agriculture undersecretary Ernesto Ordoñez explains in an Inquirer commentary: “WTO has given us the flexibility to extend this deadline. We have done so, and the import restrictions are now in effect. The 2,000 smuggled rice containers seized by [the Bureau of Customs] are therefore smuggled. This should not be released back to the smugglers, as what is happening today.”

Tan/Bangayan’s own explanation is more nuanced. “If we go back to the history of the system, in my opinion, because of the restrictions on import permits, this gave rise to operations like this. It’s common practice for permits to be sold.” In a previous hearing, he had admitted that he used farmers’ cooperatives and their permits to import rice.

Last Monday, Duterte (like Justice Secretary Leila de Lima before him) took direct aim at this industry practice: “What’s sad is the policy that cooperatives get permits. We all know that they don’t have any money, so they go to him.”

The proposal to limit all rice imports to the National Food Authority again seems newly viable, but will it solve the basic problem that rice from Thailand or Vietnam costs several hundred pesos cheaper than rice produced at

home? Unless that root cause is addressed, these recurring scandals will end up like expensive entertainment—rice and circuses for the masses.

Rice-less or less riceby Jullie Yap DazaFebruary 5, 2014Manila Bulletin

To celebrate the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, my friends and I chose to take lunch in a small Japanese restaurant known for its “bento” boxes. The meal, served on a large tray rather than in a lacquered box, came with a bowl of rice so big it knocked out the (imagined) poetry of a delicate Japanese meal.

As I was the only one who asked the server if I could have a smaller bowl, she looked askance at me, as if I had insulted her. My friends didn’t complain, if complain is the proper word to request for a reduced portion of food, but neither did they finish their rice. If we three had been served one and a half cups of rice, we would have been more than satisfied, what with the soup, salad, two kinds of aperitif, pickles, main course (beef, shrimp, or fish) and fruits to tackle – a meal more than enough without the weight of steamed, puffy rice.

With everyone suddenly so aware of the evils of smuggling rice, garlic, and onions, etc., one tiny morsel to which we can help ourselves is to eat without wasting food, drink without wasting water. During his heyday as a restaurateur, and in the midst of one very long, very hot summer, Larry Cruz of the LJC chain made it a policy in his restaurants – he had many, in Manila and out of town — not to serve water unless the customer asked for it. Larry had heard, and checked with the kitchen staff, that it took four to five glasses of water to clean and rinse one medium-size drinking glass.

Comes now Senator Bongbong Marcos’ bill to reduce the volume of rice wasted by customers eating in restaurants and snack shops. By limiting servings to half the usual portions, he hopes we can begin to cut back on the P23 million worth of rice wasted daily, P8 billion annually. It’s funny that with so many people you and I know who are on a “rice-less” or “less rice” diet, we should need legislation to teach us how not to throw away those precious grains that came from the backbreaking work of farmers.

I have the highest admiration for people like Henry Lim and Mila How, whose obsession is to recognize farmers and make them rich, make them proud of their achievements in a country that is neither here nor there as an agricultural economy. If it’s not here and it’s not there, and we’re always, whatever the season, forced to import rice, by hook or mostly by crook, where are we going?ENGLISH EXPRESSIOHere are some English expressions you can use to show agreement:

Of course. You're absolutely right. Yes, I agree. I think so too. That's a good point.

Exactly. I don't think so either. So do I. I'd go along with that. That's true.

Neither do I. I agree with you entirely. That's just what I was

thinking. I couldn't agree more.

Here are some English expressions you can use to show disagreement: That's different. I don't agree with you. However… That's not entirely true. On the contrary… I'm sorry to disagree with

you, but…

Yes, but don't you think… That's not the same thing

at all. I'm afraid I have to

disagree. I'm not so sure about that.

I must take issue with you on that.

It's unjustifiable to say that...

Here are some English expressions you can use to show disgust: I don't think much of that. How apalling / dreadful! I'm utterly apalled /

disgusted. I'm dead against people

doing...

It shouldn't be allowed! What a rotten / mean thing

to do I take a very dim view of

people doing.

Who do they think they are?

How can people do things like that?

Whatever next…

Here are some English expressions you can use to show disappointment: What a pity / shame! How disappointing! That's too bad.

What a bummer! What a let-down! That's (just) so

disappointing!

I was so looking forward to..

We had high hopes for...

It did not live up to expectation.

What we had been led to expect was…

ACTIVITY #1DIRECTION: Cut out samples for each type of editorial then label it.ACTIVITY #2DIRECTION: Write an editorial using the following facts

a. The Department of Trade and Industry reported that 23 foreign firms with $200-million worth of investments are setting up operations in the country.

b. The Philippine government sent several trade missions to other countries in 2013.c. The biggest mission came from South Korea with 200 members.d. Japan had the highest visits.e. Three trade missions from United Kingdom will visit the Philippines in the first half of 2014.f. The Philippine Economic Zone Authority expects four trade missions in January 2014.g. The increase is also attributed to revival of interest of countries such as the United Kingdom, France and Canadah. Non-traditional markets like Russia, Turkey, Oman, Iran, Qatar, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi grow interest.i. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce And Industry expects more inbound missionsj. Two foreign business missions from Turkey, with more than ten firms engaged in various industries, Japan are

expected to arrive within the first quarter of 2014.k. Delegations from Myanmar and Iran are expected.

QUIZ #1DIRECTION: Write True if the sentence is true and False if it is false then change a word or a group of words to make the sentence true.__________1. Editorial is an expression of opinion.__________2. A good editorial need not have a formal conclusion.__________3. Don’t preach – persuade__________4. The editorial writer must make sure that the choice of topic will catch the interest and attention of the readers.__________5. The editorial writer can cite gossips.__________6. As the editorial writer, since you are the one writing, you can use the pronouns “I”.__________7. An editorial is not a single person’s idea but that of a newspaper’s.__________8. Exceptional knowledge of grammar is important.__________9. Attribution is absolutely necessary – to avoid plagiarism and to add credibility__________10. In writing an argumentative editorial, one needs to present clear and logical arguments and to use well-researched and accurately presented facts as supporting details.

Quiz #2DIRECTION: Clip at least 3 news articles you may list newsworthy school topics then choose which can be used as your bases in writing your own editorial.