FortMag sends troops to Mindanao

FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City: The Army's 7th Infantry Divsion based here sent a total of 428 soldiers to help in the fight against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front lost command, a ranking military official said on Wdenesday.Major Gen. Ralph Villanueva, 7ID commander, said the troops from its unit, 69th Infantry Battalion, was led led by ed by its Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Cesar D De Mesa.Loaded in a six by six trucks, the soldiers were brought to the Villamor Airbase, Pasay City where they boarded the C-130 plane bound to Mindanao, Villanueva said.“The Mindanao deployment of 69th IB is a part of the government’s effort for national peace and security and end the on-going armed conflict,” he added.“Discipline, training, and experience will be the weapon of the 69IB troopers to surpass the challenges in pursuing their mission. Our soldiers are at all times ready to risk their lives but we always observe force protection in our operations. However, it is better that our soldiers continue to live to protect the people and preserve our territory,” said Villanueva.

CABANATUAN CITY - Ipinagmamalaki ng mga kandidata sa Bb. Nueva Ecija ang mga lugar sa lalawigan na bahagi ng kasysaysayan at natatangi para sa turismo.Sa ginanap na press presentation noong Lunes ng gabi sa Microtel In and Sites sa lunagsod na ito, inisa-isa ng mga kalahok sa Bb. Nueva Ecija pageant ang mga anila'y "pride ng Nueva Ecija."

Kabilang dito ang makasaysayang Plaza Lucero kung saan pinalsalang si Antonio Luna, Ninoy Aquino Freedom Park na ipinagalan sa martir na dating Sen. Benigno Aquino at moog para sa mga di-kilalang bayani, (kapwa nasa Cabanatuan City), Pantabangan na kinaroroonan ng kauna-unahan at pinakamalaking earthen dam sa Souteast Asia, Palayan City bilang sports tourism capital.

Inihirit din ng isang kalahok ang Sciece City of Munoz sapagkat naroroon ang mga scientific institution na tulad ng Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Bureau of Post Harvest Research Institute (BPRE), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) at Philippine Carabao Center (PCC).

Para naman sa kandidata mula sa bayan ng Laur, pinaka-dapat bigyan ng pansin ang pagiging onion basket ng Bongabon sapagkat ddoon nagmumula ang pinakamalaking bahagi ng kinukunsumong sibuyas ng bansa.

Ang Pangatian Shrine and Sundial Monument kung saan naganap ang kilala sa buong mundo na "The Great Raid", o pagliligtas ng magkasanib nga puwersang Amerikano at gerilyang Pilipino ang dapat isang maipagmamalaki ng Nueva Ecija, ayon naman sa Bb. Nueva Ecija candidate mula sa bayan ng Llanera.

Ang Bb. Nueva Ecija ay isang bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng "Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija" na ang kulminasyon ay sa Sept. 2, ayon kay Board Member Edmund Abesamis, pangulo ng Araw ng Nueva Ecija 2008.

Ang Bb. Nueva Ecija ay inorganisa ng Provincial Tourism Office sa pangunguna ni Carolina de Guzman-Uy at Wyzminds Event and Productions.Ayon kay Uy, bukod sa P50,000 piso na cash prize sa magwawagi, magkakamit din ito ng scholarship grant mula sa isang technical school.

Ang kaibhan, gayunman, ng pageant na ito sa mga naunang edisyon ay bibigyan din ng gantimpala tulad ng cumpoter set at iba pa ang munisipyo na kinakatawan nanalo, at bawat barangay sa nasasakupan ng naturang bayan ay bibigyan ng maliit na regalo.

Ang Grand Coronation ng Bb. Nueva Ecija ay gaganapin sa Aug. 31.

Recall move vs. Umali dead

PALAYAN CITY - The Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (Balane), the political party led by the influentrial Joson clan, has finally dropped the idea of seeking a recall elections against Gov. Aurelio Umali.

First District Rep. Eduardo Nonato Joson, party chair, said the idea which was floated as early as December last year, could have been best way to remove Umali from office owing to the governor's "failure to deliver," good governance."But the party decided not to go with it," Joson said, saying the decision was reached during the recent meeting among party officials and members in Cabanatuan City.

He maintained a recall election was all for the advantage of a party candidate.

"Una, maliit ang gastos dahil one on one ang laban," he said. The campaign could be conveniently carried by party members since they are not in a fight. "Ikaw lang ang ikakampanya nila," Joson added, pertaining to whoever the party will field against Umali.

He also believes that Iglesia Ni Cristo, a powerful religious group that effectively endorses some candidates during elections, would take a neutral side this time.

The INC reportedly favored Umali during the 2004 gubernatorial elections over Joson's younger brother , former Vice Gov. Mariano Cristino Joson.

Umali said he was not in a position to comment of the "wisdom and efficacy" of the decision to "recall the recall" but vowed an un-distracted discharge of duties and Nueva Ecija's chief executive.Being not a member of Balane, he said, he would not know the reason behind the move.

He said the reports of a drive to subject him to a recall elections cropped up even he was only a few months from office.

Joson also said the party has yet to decide on the who will be it's standard bearer for the 2010 elections. This amid reports that former Gov. Tomas Joson, his elder brother, would be the strongest bet.