BICOLANO WHIZ KID NOTCHES GOLD MEDAL IN INT’L. MATH CHALLENGE

LEGAZPI CITY — Errol John Suarez of the Bicol University Integrated Laboratory School (BU-ILS)has notched one of the gold of the 136 medals and merit awards haul of the Philippine team to the just concluded 2010 Singapore International Mathematics Competition (SIMC).

In an e-mail to PIA News Service, Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers' Guild (MTG) Philippines and head of the country's delegation, said Suarez joined the team young Filipino mathematicians who placed second overall, edged by China which won a total of 282 medals, in the 10-nation contest held August 6-10, 2010.

Suarez, a Grade 4 pupil of the BU-ILS), has been earlier chosen from hundreds of qualifier from different schools nationwide, to represent the country in the said international math competitions.

The BU-ILS pupil is also the lone Bicolano named to the elite group of young Pinoy math wizards.

Suarez, at his age of nine, also made it to the national limelight in February last year following his fete as the youngest Kumon Math completer in the country.

The entire Philippine team has tallied 12 gold, 26 silver, 54 bronze medals and 44 merit awards or runner-up certificates in the competition.

MTG, an organization of math experts, trains Filipinos for math competitions abroad.

China bagged 39 gold medals in the SIMC. South Korea was third with eight, followed by Hong Kong (7), Taiwan (6), Indonesia (5), Malaysia (4), Thailand (3), host Singapore (2), and India, which failed to get any medal, said Chua.

A total of 92 elementary and 44 high school students represented the country in the SIMC.

Chua and other MTG officials commended the Filipino math wizards for "another job well done." "They're among the world's best. No doubt about it," said Chua.

This year, MTG wards have so far won 91 medals, including four golds, in four international math competitions - the 13th Hong Kong Primary Math World Contest, 2010 Korea International Math Competition, 51st Math Olympiad in Kazakhstan, and the 2010 Canadian Math Competition.

Chua noted that this year's medal harvest increased compared to last year's contest where the Filipino math wizards won 102 medals. (MALoterte, PIA V)

AFP OPEN TO TALKS AND CEASEFIRE WITH COMMUNIST REBELS: DAVID

PILI, Camarines Sur — Gen. Ricardo David Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, on Saturday said the government armed forces will be open to peace talks with the communist movement and Muslim secessionist but continue with its military offensives to protect the people and the duly constituted government.

David said this was President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino's marching order to the AFP to ensure that peace and tranquility roles in the countryside and continue to fulfill its combat roles to protect communities from terrorist and lawless elements.

"The policy of the President is to talk with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the New People's Army (NPA) to put an end to the decades long arms struggle," he said.

He said the AFP under his stewardship, will always abide to whatever policies are laid down by President Aquino saying they are ready to talk and hold a ceasefire with the NPA's and MILF's.

David, however, said that if the peace talks with the insurgents fail, the AFP is prepared for any contingency.

He said "we are very ready to launch any offensive once the talks fail."

Quoting military intelligence, the AFP chief said the military offensive launch against the NPA's had bring down the communist movement to 5,000 armed regulars from the 25,000 strong rebel movement across the country.

Asked if the talks and military offensive are included in the AFP's three years deadline to end the war versus insurgency, David said, there is no three years deadline it is a self imposed timetable.

"Our President did not give us any deadline neither our Secretary of National Defense, what they like is to make good with our mandated functions and targets in the AFP to possibly see that the insurgency must end within three years," David pointed out.

He claimed that military offensive is not a solution to the insurgency problem what it needs is the support of local government officials to also workout measure in addressing the problem.

"To fight insurgency we need to end poverty with effective governance," Davis said

David flew in yesterday and had a command conference with the officers and men of the 9th Army Infantry Division in Camp Elias Angeles. (PNA Bicol/PIA)

ALBAY CIRCA TRAINS HEIs FOR CCA, DRR MAINSTREAMING IN CURRICULUM

LEGAZPI CITY — The Albay Center for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), in cooperation with the Joint Program for Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), has since Monday until August 21 conducting a five-day Trainors’ Training to finally integrate climate change concepts in higher education institutions in the province.

CIRCA Executive Director Manuel "Nong" Rangasa said the training of educators focuses on Albay institutions to awaken the students’ awareness of the importance of adaptation to the unavoidable as well as avoidance of the unthinkable impacts of climate change.

“Unthinkable refers to total disregard, lack of knowledge, lack of preparedness, and complacency while unavoidable is the natural phenomena,” Rangasa said.

Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, United Nation’s senior champion for Climate Change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR), said “climate change is not purely a governmental matter."

"It is equally a concern of education, the school, business sectors, religious, public intellectuals, tri-media, non-government organizations, civil society and individuals with a heart for fellowmen. It is practical and philosophical to admit that integration was a better start for climate change education than none at all,” he said.

Salceda noted that “many scientists, experts, media practitioners and teachers still ask: "What is Climate Change education?’ Isn’t it taught in science?”

Dr. Ma. Victoria O. Espaldon, dean of the School of Environmental Science and Management of UPLB, said the integration being pioneered by Albay is very useful and now forms part of the schools curriculum not only in the basic education but up to the college level.

Participants, most of them science teachers and especially devoted faculty members, shared their potential role in zero-casualty plans of Salceda. They admitted the need to cope up with climate change issues and disseminate them to their students.

The training program includes discussion by experts on general meteorology and climatology concepts that explain climate change occurrences as well as the impacts of weather and climate variability on agriculture and food security, on health and population and mechanisms to mitigate climate change impacts on the global, national and local economy.

Meanwhile, Rangasa shared the provincial government’s initiatives on disaster risk reduction, its success stories, inspirations and challenges.

Rangasa added that the climate change integration will enter the fields of Arts, Sciences, History and even physical education subjects. (PNA Bicol/PIA)

PPA HOLDS SRNH INVESTORS’ FORUM

LEGAZPI CITY – The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) management office here of Legazpi has slated today (Wednesday, August 18) the Strong Republic Nautical Highway Ports Investors’ Forum to promote the 10 SRNH ports identified as potential commercial hubs to prop-up the central and eastern seaboards of the Philippine Archipelago.

Atty. Francisquiel Mancile, PPA Legazpi City port manager, cited the 10 ports include Pantao and Pio Duran in Albay; Aroroy, Cataingan, Cawayan, Claveria, Esperanza, and San Pascual, all in Masbate province; Caramoan in Camarines Sur, and Castilla in Sorsogon.

Mancile furthered that these ports were built from the corporate funds of the PPA in the amount of P833.79 million to harbor maiden and regular voyages of vessels.

“Definitely, they will serve as intermediaries of inter-island ad international trading,” he added.

He also noted that these ports will also serve as potential tourism destinations with emphasis to some very significant but untapped/unfamiliar historical landmarks; provide the host towns the needed access to larger markets ad future identification of bigger agribusiness ventures that will boost the local economy.

Likewise, with the roll-on-roll-of (RoRo) features already established in most of these ports, the PPA management looks forward to moving people and goods through a seamless and integrated transport infrastructure system to link the country’s many islands.

The interfacing was participated in officials of local government units (LGUs) and national government line agencies concerned, potential investors from shipping, arrastre and other port-related business sectors. (PPA Bicol/PIA)

CAMSUR RED CROSS LEADS OBSERVANCE OF IHL MONTH

NAGA CITY — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Camarines Sur Chapter leads the launching over the week end at Plaza Quezon here of the month-long awareness and advocacy drives in communities to popularize the International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

Nanette Rodrigazo, PRC Camarines Sur chapter administrator, elucidated the significance of raising the community’s awareness on the law of war or the law of armed conflict, noting that IHL seeks to ensure the full protection of non-combatants, respect for the use of the Red Cross protective emblems and guarantee that all principles stipulated in the Geneva Convention will be implemented, thus explained

“This is the essence of our celebration of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL),” she stressed.

Clamrence Racquel S. Abada, PRC IHL and Red Cross Youth (RCY) coordinator, said that the organization has also invited PRC volunteers and youth members from various universities in the region to participate in the observance of the IHL month.

“We are happy that our youth, especially RCY members, are very enthusiastic in being a part of this momentous occasion - and this is what we really need, believing in the context that our students can help us in effectively disseminating the importance of IHL and other services that Red Cross is offering.”

Lt. Col. Erwin De Asis, G7 CMO of the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, reiterated in gracing the launching rites that the AFP’ support to the endeavors of the PRC has been attested by army’s constant participation during blood letting activities, medical missions and other community services.

Atty. Gilbert Morandarte, PRC IHL Committee chairman, also emphasized that medical and religious military personnel, wounded, shipwrecked and sick combatant, prisoners of wars, and most specifically the civilians are being given full protection under this law.

“The law also states that women and children are given additional protection since they are the most vulnerable members of our society,” he stressed.

IHL is “a set of rules which place restrictions on the use of weapons and methods of warfare. “ It also protects those innocent persons or civilians who are not, and who are no longer participating in an armed conflict or hostilities as a result of armed struggles.

IHL also seeks to protect human dignity and to limit sufferings during times of war.

Also present during the occasion were members of PRC Camarines Sur Chapter Board of Directors, including PIA Camarines Sur ICM Lizel Macatangay, Secretary; Eudeza Racagad, Treasurer; Mely De Guzman, Auditor; and Eng. Cornelio Abesa, chair of the Committee on Disaster Management Service (DMS). (LSMacatangay, PIA CamSur)