SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ - K-18 AND H-4.
They are the identifying tags for two of the super dairy water buffaloes at the gene pool of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) here.
They are among the herd of imported Bulgarian buffaloes maintained by the PCC for the improvement of the carabao breed in the country. Based on records, they produce from a low of 12 liters and a peak of 18 liters of milk a day during their lactation period. Decidedly, they are
very superior compared to the native carabaos which produce an average of 1.5 liters of milk a day.
Scientists of PCC have started the process of producing precise copies of K-18 and H-4. It is thru the cloning technology.
To be exact, this PCC’s project, according to Dr. Libertado Cruz, the agency’s executive director, is “cloning thru somatic cell nuclear transfer”. It is cloning thru the use of a body cell.
(Cloning is defined as a means of making copies of individual or the production of large number of dentical offspring. Cloning by nuclear transfer involves the transfer of genetic material from a donor cell (karyoplast) to the cytoplasm of a matured oocyte from which the nucleus, which contains the genetic materials, has been removed. This matured oocyte whose nucleus has been removed is known as the recipient cytoplast. Somatic means bodily or corporeal.)
Reproductive biotechnology
“Our aim is to develop an efficient system for the production of clones toward genetic improvement of the water buffaloes in the country,” Cruz said. “It is in addition to the
reproductive biotechnologies already successfully researched and now being used by the PCC,” he added.
The first major tool employed in reproduction by the PCC, Cruz said, were estrus synchronization and artificial insemination using frozen semen. This, however, required considerable time to attain a purebred animals thru a series of backcrossing.
This was followed by in vitro maturation-in vitro fertilization.
To date, he said, several buffalo calves had already been produced thru in vitro embryo production technique coupled with embryo cryopreservation by vitrification and embryo transfer.
Cruz added that these biotechnologies are needed as ways of hastening reproduction of water buffaloes as this large animal species are known to have very poor reproductive performance. Compared to domestic cattle, he said, the water buffaloes have smaller ovarian
follicular populations.
(Incidentally, water buffalo is the general name for the animal which is commonly called in the country as “carabao”.)
Comes now the cloning technology thru somatic cell nuclear transfer as another biotechnology being researched by PCC.
Dr. Edwin Atabay, team leader of the project, bared that cloned embryos were already transferred last September 23 to three surrogate buffalo dams (mother). He added that as their work progresses, more cloned embryos would be transferred weekly to selected dams. -Anselmo S. Roque
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Cabanatuan City: Umali, Vergara alliance forged
CABANATUAN CITY - It's now official, Cherry Umali, wife of Nueva Ecija's 3rd District Rep. Aurelio "Oyie" Umali, is Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party candidate for Nueva Ecija's third congressional district in the coming May 14 elections.
"I now hold the certificate attesting to that fact," Umali, the provincial Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats chairman told Manila Bulletin in an interview on Monday during the flag-raising ceremony at city hall.
On the same occasion, Umali has endorsed the candidacy of Alvin Vergara, cousin of incumbent Mayor Julius Cesar "Jay" Vergara and his anointed candidate to replace him at city hall.
The young Alvin Vergara, a virtual unknown general manager of Cabanatuan Electric Company or CELCOR, was propelled to instant household name here after Mayor Jay started building him up as his likely successor.
This move of Umali has bashed the hope of come-backing Rep. Pacifico "Rico" Fajardo of getting declared Lakas-CMD official candidate. - Magtanggol Vilar
"I now hold the certificate attesting to that fact," Umali, the provincial Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats chairman told Manila Bulletin in an interview on Monday during the flag-raising ceremony at city hall.
On the same occasion, Umali has endorsed the candidacy of Alvin Vergara, cousin of incumbent Mayor Julius Cesar "Jay" Vergara and his anointed candidate to replace him at city hall.
The young Alvin Vergara, a virtual unknown general manager of Cabanatuan Electric Company or CELCOR, was propelled to instant household name here after Mayor Jay started building him up as his likely successor.
This move of Umali has bashed the hope of come-backing Rep. Pacifico "Rico" Fajardo of getting declared Lakas-CMD official candidate. - Magtanggol Vilar
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Nueva Ecija hosts Central Luzon's agri-aqua trade fair
Nueva Ecija Gov. Tomas Joson III visits a booths at the Agri-Aqua trade far on going festivity of agricultural and fishery products from Central Luzon at the Ninoy Aquino Freedom Park in Cabanatuan City. (Photo by Jun Torres)
Monday, March 05, 2007
Fratmen attacked while in drinking spree
CABANATUAN CITY - Seven fraternity members were wounded when a hand grenade hurled by an unidentified suspect exploded on Mabini Street, Barangay Quezon, over the weekend.
In his report, Supt. Eliseo Cruz, city police chief, identified the victims as Jonathan Diaz, 25; Robert Jacinto, 32; Ariel Chavez, 27; Giovani Soriano, 22; all of Sapiandante Street, Barangay Quezon; Eliseo Manuel, 33, of Nabao; James Ganao, 20, of Barangay Dimasalang; and Joven Ordonia of Barangay Kapt. Pepe, all of Cabanatuan City.
Investigation disclosed the victims, who are members of Tau Gamma Fraternity, were having a drinking spree Sunday night when a suspect threw the hand grenade in their direction.
The victims were taken to a local hospital for medical treatment, police reported.
Meanwhile, elements of the police special operations group, led by Police Insp. Jose G. Cucal, netted 1.9 kilos of dried marijuana bricks in an operation in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, on Monday.
In a report to Senior Supt. Allen Bantolo, provincial police director, Cucal said the marijuana bricks were recovered from Peter Conoy, 53, and Francisco Pascual, 39, both of Barangay Galintuja, Maria Aurora, Aurora.
Also confiscated from the suspects was a tricycle with license plate EP 8617, which was used in transporting the illegal drugs. Cucal said the suspects and the confiscated items were brought to the crime laboratory for the necessary tests. --Armand M. Galang.
In his report, Supt. Eliseo Cruz, city police chief, identified the victims as Jonathan Diaz, 25; Robert Jacinto, 32; Ariel Chavez, 27; Giovani Soriano, 22; all of Sapiandante Street, Barangay Quezon; Eliseo Manuel, 33, of Nabao; James Ganao, 20, of Barangay Dimasalang; and Joven Ordonia of Barangay Kapt. Pepe, all of Cabanatuan City.
Investigation disclosed the victims, who are members of Tau Gamma Fraternity, were having a drinking spree Sunday night when a suspect threw the hand grenade in their direction.
The victims were taken to a local hospital for medical treatment, police reported.
Meanwhile, elements of the police special operations group, led by Police Insp. Jose G. Cucal, netted 1.9 kilos of dried marijuana bricks in an operation in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, on Monday.
In a report to Senior Supt. Allen Bantolo, provincial police director, Cucal said the marijuana bricks were recovered from Peter Conoy, 53, and Francisco Pascual, 39, both of Barangay Galintuja, Maria Aurora, Aurora.
Also confiscated from the suspects was a tricycle with license plate EP 8617, which was used in transporting the illegal drugs. Cucal said the suspects and the confiscated items were brought to the crime laboratory for the necessary tests. --Armand M. Galang.
Ocean to ocean highway to pass Nueva Ecija
FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City: The Department of Public Works and Highways formally unveiled on Wednesday the plan for the construction of an ocean-to-ocean road project, a part of the administration’s super regions scheme.
Ramon Aquino, DPWH assistant secretary, presented to the public, especially to soldiers, the blueprint of the Subic-Dingalan Port Highway that traverses this huge military reservation.
Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane who made his first official visit in this camp as top defense man, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon and Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, also viewed the giant road plan.
The road, Aquino explained, will link the port of Subic from the western port of Central Luzon to the Port of Dingalan in the east.
Mentioned during President Arroyo’s State of the Nation address in July last year, Aquino said the project is expected to spur development in the region. It passes by Tarlac and Nueva Ecija provinces. Subic areas are considered industrial while the other provinces involved in the project are mostly agricultural. --Armand M. Galang
Ramon Aquino, DPWH assistant secretary, presented to the public, especially to soldiers, the blueprint of the Subic-Dingalan Port Highway that traverses this huge military reservation.
Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane who made his first official visit in this camp as top defense man, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon and Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, also viewed the giant road plan.
The road, Aquino explained, will link the port of Subic from the western port of Central Luzon to the Port of Dingalan in the east.
Mentioned during President Arroyo’s State of the Nation address in July last year, Aquino said the project is expected to spur development in the region. It passes by Tarlac and Nueva Ecija provinces. Subic areas are considered industrial while the other provinces involved in the project are mostly agricultural. --Armand M. Galang
May 14, '07: Ecija giants stage comeback
CABANATUAN CITY – Two known political families in Nueva Ecija, which fell apart in the 2001 and 2004 local elections following a head-on collision with the Josons, are staging a comeback in the May 14 elections.
The Fajardo and Villareal clans, which were dismantled by the Josons –the acknowledged political kingpins in the province – are attempting to reclaim their old glory by fielding candidates in their former turfs.
Former three-term third district congressman Pacifico Fajardo is eyeing to regain his old seat in the House of Representatives in his district, which covers the cities of Cabanatuan and Palayan and the central towns of Sta. Rosa, Bongabon, Laur, Gabaldon and Gen. Natividad.
Fajardo’s wife, former three-term mayor of Palayn, will also gun for her old post and will run against re-electionist Mayor Romeo Capinpin. The Fajardos used to be the second biggest political dynasty in the province after the Josons. Pacifico, a second cousin of President Arroyo, was OIC mayor of Palayan in 1986 and won the regular elections in 1988. In 1992, Fajardo defeated former Rep. Hermogenes Concepcion Jr. and was re-elected twice. Following the expiration of his third and last term in 2001, he challenged outgoing three-term Gov. Tomas Joson III but lost. He was later appointed by Mrs. Arroyo as administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) but was later replaced by Mel Robles.
Pacifico was replaced by his wife Leonora as city mayor in 1992 and also won three successive terms. In 2001, she ran for the House seat vacated by her husband but lost to the incumbent Rep. Aurelio Umali. She was succeeded by their eldest daughter, Lorelei, as Palayan mayor in 2001 but lost in her re-election bid against Capinpin.
On the other hand, the Villareals are seeking to recover lost ground with former two-term Rep. Julita trying to exact revenge in the fourth district against re-eleci nist Rep. Rodolfo Antonino, who defeated her husband, R ul, in 2004. Antonino is an uncle of Gen. Santos City Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, a potential rival of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
Former provincial board member Chris Villareal will also try to regain his old post in the district to be vacated by his brother, incumbent board member Jojo. Chris lost to his aunt, re-electionist San Isidro Mayor Sonia Lorenzo, in the mayoral polls in 2004. Lorenzo is the wife of Julita’s elder brother, former congressman Victorio Lorenzo who lost to Julita in 1992.
Chris is also contemplating on running for mayor of San Isidro in a return bout with Lorenzo but on condition that he wins his election protest before the polls. The Villareals, scions of the late former San Isidro mayor Maximino Lorenzo, replaced the Fajardos as the second most powerful dynasty in 2001, lording it over the fourth district for 10 years.
The district covers the towns of San Leonardo, San Isidro, Cabiao, Jaen, Peñaranda and Gen. Tinio and Gapan City. But it crumbled in 2004 when Julita lost to Tomas III in the gubernatorial elections, Raul to Antonino and Chris to Lorenzo. Only Jojo
The Fajardo and Villareal clans, which were dismantled by the Josons –the acknowledged political kingpins in the province – are attempting to reclaim their old glory by fielding candidates in their former turfs.
Former three-term third district congressman Pacifico Fajardo is eyeing to regain his old seat in the House of Representatives in his district, which covers the cities of Cabanatuan and Palayan and the central towns of Sta. Rosa, Bongabon, Laur, Gabaldon and Gen. Natividad.
Fajardo’s wife, former three-term mayor of Palayn, will also gun for her old post and will run against re-electionist Mayor Romeo Capinpin. The Fajardos used to be the second biggest political dynasty in the province after the Josons. Pacifico, a second cousin of President Arroyo, was OIC mayor of Palayan in 1986 and won the regular elections in 1988. In 1992, Fajardo defeated former Rep. Hermogenes Concepcion Jr. and was re-elected twice. Following the expiration of his third and last term in 2001, he challenged outgoing three-term Gov. Tomas Joson III but lost. He was later appointed by Mrs. Arroyo as administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) but was later replaced by Mel Robles.
Pacifico was replaced by his wife Leonora as city mayor in 1992 and also won three successive terms. In 2001, she ran for the House seat vacated by her husband but lost to the incumbent Rep. Aurelio Umali. She was succeeded by their eldest daughter, Lorelei, as Palayan mayor in 2001 but lost in her re-election bid against Capinpin.
On the other hand, the Villareals are seeking to recover lost ground with former two-term Rep. Julita trying to exact revenge in the fourth district against re-eleci nist Rep. Rodolfo Antonino, who defeated her husband, R ul, in 2004. Antonino is an uncle of Gen. Santos City Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, a potential rival of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
Former provincial board member Chris Villareal will also try to regain his old post in the district to be vacated by his brother, incumbent board member Jojo. Chris lost to his aunt, re-electionist San Isidro Mayor Sonia Lorenzo, in the mayoral polls in 2004. Lorenzo is the wife of Julita’s elder brother, former congressman Victorio Lorenzo who lost to Julita in 1992.
Chris is also contemplating on running for mayor of San Isidro in a return bout with Lorenzo but on condition that he wins his election protest before the polls. The Villareals, scions of the late former San Isidro mayor Maximino Lorenzo, replaced the Fajardos as the second most powerful dynasty in 2001, lording it over the fourth district for 10 years.
The district covers the towns of San Leonardo, San Isidro, Cabiao, Jaen, Peñaranda and Gen. Tinio and Gapan City. But it crumbled in 2004 when Julita lost to Tomas III in the gubernatorial elections, Raul to Antonino and Chris to Lorenzo. Only Jojo
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