Murder charges filed vs studentRoxas’ tutor wins Metrobank search for outstanding teachersRotarians urged to wage ‘war’ against povertyMurder charges filed vs studentThe incident happened July 25 inside the school premises in full view of several students. Frank was charged before the sala of Judge Joemer Delfin of the President Roxas-Pilar Municipal Trial Court. He remained under the custody of the President Roxas police station as murder is a nonbailable offense. This developed as tension between the Bansales' and Declarador's families rose after a member of the Declarador clan was overheard as saying "Nanay ang ginkuha, nanay man and kuha-on." Frank's brutal way of getting back at his teacher remains a puzzle to a number of Capiceños. They said that it sent a wrong signal to students who might use the incident to intimidate their teachers into giving them passing grades. Frank's case was quite unique because, if reports are to be believed, he was not a drug addict. He was said to be a quite and shy type. Noli Bansales, Frank's father, said it all started last year when Declarador asked her P.E class, of which Frank was her student, to bring pieces of bamboo as part of their project before passing the said subject. Frank was then a second year high school student. But Frank failed to comply with the requirement asked by Declarador. The latter reportedly scolded Frank by throwing invectives at him in front of his classmates. The elder Bansales said that Frank was so embarrassed with the way Declarador treated him. There was also a time that Declarador did not allow Frank to take an exam, the reason why the student allegedly failed in the third and fourth grading periods. In the morning of July 25, Frank tried to talk to his teacher about his failing grade in P.E. subject. But Declarador again reportedly threw unsavory words at him, prompting him to draw his 8-inch knife and stabbed her. The teacher sustained 18 stab wounds. She suffered fatal injuries in the neck and underarm. Roxas’ tutor wins Metrobank search for outstanding teachersShe received a gold medal and a P150,000 cash prize from the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. during ceremonies in Malacañang last week. The affair was graced by no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Tutica, of Block 5, Malipayon Village, this city, stood out from among 200 participants in the country. "My 32 years in service of enriching the young minds and my excellent performance as coach in literary as well as doing things beyond my duty made me stand out among the contenders," she proudly declared. Besides, Tutica said in an interview, without the encouragement and advice of her administrator Anita D. Laserna who qualified as semi-finalist in 1997 and finalist in 1998 in the same tilt, she could not have achieved success in her carrer. It will be recalled that pre-school supervisor Dr. Eveleth C. Gamboa of the Roxas City Division also won the award in 1995. Tutica said that more than prestige and honor, the award is a turning point in her career as a teacher. "It would mean greater challenges and responsibilities ahead," Tutica added. Schools Division Superintendent Artily D. Inocencio commended Tutica for giving honors to the Dep.Ed, Roxas City Division. Rotarians urged to wage ‘war’ against povertySpeaking before the club's induction of officers for 2002 led by its president, Councilor Mark Ortiz, Fuentebella lamented that "while we are making progress in the war against poverty, the job in winning the war is daunting because millions if our people are still poor." In the said affair which was held at the Nesta's Hilltop July 20, Fuentebella noted that since Rotarians belong to the upper class of our society, they have a vital role in addressing the poverty problem of the country. Through the Rotarians' various projects such as livelihood, skills training, scholarship, entrepreneurial, micro lending and other laudable projects, they are already helping in the war against poverty, Fuentebella stressed. According to him, the job of winning the war against poverty will require the determination of all concerned. "Our President is already working double time, working an average of 12 to 14 hours a day. We must also do our share. Let us work harder for the good of our people. Let us be more service-oriented. Let us be more efficient in our respective fields of endeavor because as we create more wealth, we help in improving the economy and give jobs to the unemployed…" Citing the result of last month's survey conducted by the Social Weather Station, Fuentebella said that 40 percent of our people are living below the poverty level. In a survey made by the SWS two months ago, Fuentebella said, 53 percent of our people still felt that they were poor. "While this is already a big improvement, compared to the survey last year, wherein 66 percent of our people felt that they are poor, there are still millions of our compatriots who are living below the poverty line. And 53 percent is 53 percent, which means that more than half of our population are convinced that they are poor," Fuentebella said. But slowly, Fuentebella said, the battle against poverty is turning "in our favor." Despite the downturn in the economies of the industrialized countries like the United States, Europe, and Japan, the Philippines was able to register a GNP (growth national product) growth of 3.4 percent in 2001, Fuentebella said, adding that for the second quarter this year, ending June 30 2002, our GNP went up to near 4 percent, higher than the forecast of 3.8 percent. For this year, it is projected that our GNP will register a growth rate of 4.0 to 4.5 percent.
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