By Samira Gutoc , YMPN (06-08-Jan-2010) 

It was refreshing to hear SHARON CUNETA say ASSALAMUALAIKUM at her Sunday show.

National Achievement Tests (NAT) for Grade 3 on March 3, Grade 6 on March 5 and second year highschool students on March 11 will be conducted by the Department of Education (Deped) to assess competencies in Math, English and Science among others.

SHABU druglords beware. Newly appointed Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairman Antonio Villar Jr said anti-narcotics agents with the International Police (Interpol) would be deployed in the country’s seaports and airports “for an up-close scrutiny of cargoes entering the country.” Some P 15 billion worth of high-grade shabu have been seized by the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and 112 millionworth of high-grade cocaine discovered by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at the Sasa Wharf in Davao City.

Narco-money (cash from the drug trade ) is a reality in LANAO DEL SUR where many mayors are suspected of coddling the “industry” having benefitted from campaign funds lent by druglords.
Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardees are invited to its Annual Reunion on January 23, 3 pm at the Gateway Suites, Level 4, Gateway, Mall, Araneta Center, Quezon City.

After ordering a TOTAL GUN BAN, the Commission on Elections has ordered a FREEZE on hiring, promotion, salary increase and transfer of government employees during election period. Elected local officials may also not be suspended unless under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Electric cooperatives in Leyte Island signed some $ 300 million worth of long-term supply contracts with
Iceland’s Envent Holding Philippine Inc. Envent is a renewable energy business dedicated to the exploration of geothermal resources.

Kudos to NAVOTAS, the country’s Fishing Capital on its 104th founding anniversary this January 16.

Bank DEPOSITS grew by 10.3 percent to 3.2 trillion as of end-September last year. Monetary authorities attributed the steady rise in the resources of the banking system to the continued RISE in holdings of debt securities particularly the universal and commercial banks.

I like this. The ASEAN has come up with an Action Plan and Declaration on Traditional Medicine. Having bonded with many Elders who have led a lifestyle away from pills and syrups provided by MERCURY DRUG, I appreciate the wellness strategies offered by Asian herbal and traditional systems. In fact, cellphone, telephone and computer stress can actually contribute a lot to aging. Traditional Chinese ginseng is being recommended for call center workers.

Calling it a marriage of form and function, GOOGLE launches its smartphone called NEXUS one. It also launched its on-line store.

Happily single and recent-ADEL TAMANO For SENATOR endorser ROBIN PADILLA wishes for parents of students ng Liwanag ng Kapayapaan Foundation (LKF) to have permanent jobs. LKF is the three-year old school that Robin founded which gives full and partial scholarships up until GRADE TWO to Muslim and non-Muslim girls living in depressed areas in West Fairview, Quezon City. The 70-plus parents recently attended livelihood seminars (on wellness massage etc) conducted by TESDA at LKF in November and December last year. “I want LKF to offer more adult-education seminars, including a course on catering ” said Robin. Robin’s long-term plan for LKF includes offering pre-school, elementary and high school levels.

Indian Jockin Arputham is named Reader’s Digest Asian of the Year for 2010. Arputham devoted his life to the campaigning of the rights of slum dwellers and marginalized in more than 30 countries.

State-administered Pag-IBIG Fund, the Home Development Mutual Fund is to proceed with its plan to issue 9 P – 12 billion in bonds next month. Pag-IBIG offers retail loans amounting to an average of roughly P 500,000, mostly those within the C-income bracket. Pag-IBIG has tapped Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines’ mother company, the Development Bank of the Philippines as an investment-banking arm of the Metrobank Group as arrangers for the deal.

The visit of Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to the predominantly-Muslim South’s Narathiwat province has been wracked by the detonating of bombs just a hundred meters away from where he was supposed to visit. More than 4,100 have died during a six-year anti-government insurgency across the three provinces led by a mix of Islam-espousing and separatists “who never publicly state their goals.”

BAWAL MAGDURA AT BUMASURA. Chinese residents who live in government-sponsored housing in the country’s southern province Guangzhou will be evicted if caught repeatedly spitting in public, littering, gambling, among other 20 misdeeds based on a point system.

Charito PLANAS, 79, is named one of the president’s deputy spokespersons. I remember Charito to be highly sympathetic of Muslims and their poverty. Having invited me several times with former ARMM’s Abraham Iribani and Zuraida Abbas Tamano to her TV program in Quezon City. She updated me two months ago on her passionate resolve to include Muslim historical contribution and arts in the NAYONG PILIPINO, which she headed as executive director.

Joint elements of the police and military have arrested one of the kidnappers of Irish priest Michael Sinnot who was freed last November after a month in captivity. Sawap was captured last month in Pagadian City initially for murder and a strong of charges issued by the Lanao del Norte regional trial court. However, police and military found that the suspect was involved in the kidnapping of Sinnot. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) had initially filed kidnapping charges against five alleged MILF leaders. Two of the suspects – Abdusalam and Jakaria have warrants of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention in the kidnapping of Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi in 2007 in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay (STAR) .

Good luck to the recently-formed commission overseeing the dismantling of private armies headed by former Court of Appeals Justice Monina Zenarosa. One member is Davao City-based radio announcer Aleem Mahmoud Adilao of the Ulama League of the Philippines.

A delivery boy from Paranaque City won 111,242,358 pesos for the Super Lotto jackpot draw last Dec. 29.

Despite bankruptcy, DUBAI celebrates the opening of its claimed tallest building in the world, a rocket-
shaped edifice that soars 2,717 feet and has a view that reaches 60 miles. At a time when several of Dubai’s newly built office towers stand empty, this new building called Burj Khalifa, is 90 percent sold, said its developer. It has the highest swimming pool at the 76th floor, the highest observation deck at the 124th floor and the highest mosque on the 158th floor.

Going BANANAS. A Davao exporter, SAGREX FOOD INC, says exports of saba (microwavable chips, fries and rolls) is expected to generate $ 12 million in revenue each year with ready markets such as the United States, Canada and the Middle East.

Ten giant panda CUBS all born after the deadly earthquake that hit Sichuan, China in 2008 will be on display at the WORLD EXPO. The Expo at the Shanghai Zook will run for 6 months beginning May 1 and is expected to draw some 70 million visitors. Pandas are threatened by loss of habitat, poaching and a low reproduction rate. Only 1,600 pandas live in the wild (AP) .

The Blas OPLE Policy Center is asking the Philippine embassy in Saudi Arabia to check out all JAILS and account for all incarcerated countrymen . The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, custodian of the Two Holy Mosques issued royal pardons for Filipino prisoners jailed for petty crimes on December 11, 2009 to celebrate the return of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz who underwent surgery in New York for an undisclosed illness.

Congratulations to THE OUTSTANDING FILIPINOS (TOFIL) for 2009 . The awards hosted by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Senate Philippine and Insular Life centered on the theme “Bayanihan, Bayani, Bayan.” Guest speaker Antonio Meloto of the Gawad Kalinga project was also a former TOFIL awardee for Humanitarian Service.

A new 500 peso banknote and coin with the face of former President CORY AQUINO may be issued within the year said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas if approved by President Gloria Arroyo.

Thank you to MINDANAO CROSS for welcoming me as one of its columnists . I am honored to be part of one of the longest-running and credible MEDIA institutions in Mindanao. Check out balitapinoy.net for its issues.