BAP NEWS MARK SISON

08/11/2025

ARTIST’S JOURNEY STARTS HERE | Young Talents Illuminate Swissôtel Clark Exhibit
By Mark Sison

Introducing art to children at an early age opens their eyes to beauty, discipline, and imagination lessons that shape how they see the world.

With barely seven weeks before Christmas, young artists brought color and imagination to Swissôtel Clark as Cups & Canvasses Art Studio opened “The Artist’s Journey Starts Here,” a visual art exhibit celebrating National Children’s Month.

The exhibit officially opened on November 8 and will run until November 30, following its weeklong preview that began on November 3.

The showcase, led by Cups & Canvasses founder Jennel Bodino, features the works of children whose creative journey began under her studio’s mentorship.

Held at Swissôtel Clark, the exhibit transforms the venue into a gallery of youthful expression each artwork reflecting a child’s world of wonder, discipline, and imagination.

The opening prayer was led by Olivia Miguelle Salom, among the talented artists whose first two paintings are also exhibited.

Swissôtel Clark Multimedia Assistant Kevin Dizon said the collaboration underscores the hotel’s advocacy for art and culture as essential to community development. He praised Cups & Canvasses for nurturing confidence and creativity among young learners.

In her message, Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera, President and CEO of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), linked art to nation-building, saying, “Art is where the child’s confidence begins.” She emphasized that supporting children’s creativity is part of strengthening both education and identity.

Architect and visual artist Jessica Julia Cariño, who opened the program, said art gives children a “language beyond words” that reveals emotion and imagination.

Brightwoods School Principal James Bryan Ronquillo and Coordinator Lovelle Maling also shared how early exposure to art builds empathy, curiosity, and focus in students.

Dodjie Aguinaldo, comic artist and winner of the Best Comic Story Category at the 47th Catholic Mass Media Awards, urged the young participants to “keep drawing their stories,” reminding them that every great artist begins with courage, imagination, and a love for storytelling through art.

Adding heartfelt inspiration, Penelope Cayabyab and Martina Noelle Abalos delivered messages that moved the audience. They spoke about how art taught them patience, confidence, and joy, lessons they promised to carry beyond the canvas.

The exhibit features artworks by Martina Noelle Abalos, Lorene Airelle Alamag, Kezzy Alexia Ambulan, Amanda Aquino, Carmella Louise Basilio, Rhia Therese Bitangga, Jyla Cassiopeia Cariño, Juris Cassidy Cariño, Cassey Cayanan, Demarcus Cruz, Tristan Custodio, Reithan Aizaac Flickinger, Eleina Yngrid Rose Galang, Alejandro Yñigo Galang, Sheina Marie Gonzales, Jericho Gonzales, Lucas Zhion Lee, Ardrin James Lising, Milena Beatrice Ruga, Olivia Miguelle Salom, and Ysha Reign Sumang whose ages range from three to 22 years old.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony capped the opening, unveiling a collection of paintings that captured the Christmas spirit through the eyes of children, proof that every masterpiece begins with a dream, and every dream begins with art.

06/11/2025

Pampanga Newsweek BapNews Mark Sison CLMA Pampanga Chapter BAP NEWS MARK SISON MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

Tourist-friendly El Mercado de Calumpit hailed as Huwarang Palengke 2025
By Shane F. Velasco

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bulacan Consumer Affairs Council (BCAC) have recognized the newly constructed El Mercado de Calumpit as the Huwarang Palengke 2025 in the large market category.
Calumpit Mayor Glorime Faustino received the award during the extended celebration of Consumer Welfare Month held at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Cultural Center in this city.
The market was likewise cited as the Most Improved Public Market in Bulacan.
The recognition came after the Municipal Government of Calumpit completed a massive three-year reconstruction of its public market, which had long been prone to flooding and had become undersized following the upgrading of the Manila North Road.
With the reconstruction, the new facility is now more spacious, cleaner, and elevated above road level.
The Development Bank of the Philippines supported the project through a P399-million loan, enabling the construction of the new building.
A key feature of the market is the sculpture of a giant freshwater prawn (ulang), a species abundant in the Calumpit stretch of the Angat River.
El Mercado de Calumpit has also emerged as a tourism attraction under the growing trend of “Palengke Tourism,” being promoted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) through the Central Luzon Tourguides’ Association (CLTA) and Orante’s Catering Services, which pioneered floating restaurant operations in the town.
DTI Central Luzon Regional Director Edna Dizon lauded the winners for championing consumer rights and welfare.
She noted that the awardees went beyond BCAC compliance standards, demonstrating strong implementation of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Paleng-QR digital payment program and DTI’s Market Modernization Program.
Trailing Calumpit in the large market category were the public markets of San Ildefonso and Hagonoy.
In the medium market category, the newly-reconstructed Pulilan Public Market, funded through a P300-million loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines, was elevated to the Hall of Fame, followed by the public markets of San Rafael and Angat.
For the small market category, Bustos Public Market placed first, with Pandi Public Market securing second place.
Special awards were also conferred, including Most Digital-Ready Market for the public markets of Angat and Plaridel; and Eco-Friendly Market for the Doña Remedios Trinidad Public Market. (MJSC/SFV, PIA Region 3–Bulacan)

06/11/2025

JBLMGH faces public outrage as journalists defend fact-based reports exposing alleged neglect. Blaming the media won’t hide incompetence. The war for...

06/11/2025

JBLMGH STATEMENT MALIGNS JOURNALISTS

It is deeply disturbing how the management of Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) tries to deflect accountability by maligning journalists who merely reported facts, facts backed by documents, testimonies, and the hospital’s own records.

Our reports were not exaggerated, sensationalized, or fabricated. They were anchored on verified accounts and the public’s clamor for transparency.

If the hospital now finds itself under fire, it is not because of the media. It's because of its own failure to deliver quality public health service. The outrage comes from the people they are sworn to serve, not from the pens of reporters.

Blaming the press for exposing systemic neglect is a cowardly attempt to silence scrutiny. Journalism is not the enemy. Incompetence and indifference are.

Our steadfast advocacy remains, THE WAR FOR TRUTH!

And in this battle, no amount of press statement can sanitize the stench of inefficiency.

Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital BapNews Mark Sison Pampanga Newsweek BAP NEWS MARK SISON MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

05/11/2025

Quest Plus Clark Lights Up the Holidays
By Mark Sison

Festive lights and joyful melodies filled the air as Quest Plus Conference Center Clark ushered in the holiday season with its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 5, themed “Let the Quest Holiday Begin.”

General Manager Michael Gapin led the celebration joined by partners, guests, and members of the media. The Systems Plus Choral Group serenaded the crowd with timeless Christmas tunes, setting a warm and festive tone as the tree illuminated the evening sky.

Clark Development Corporation President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera graced the ceremony and proudly shared Clark’s latest milestone, its recognition as “Asia’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination” at the 32nd World Travel Awards held in Hong Kong. She commended the strong collaboration between CDC, the tourism sector, and its partners in elevating Clark as a global destination for business and leisure.

Department of Tourism Region III Director Dr. Richard Daenos also joined the occasion, emphasizing the importance of unity in promoting the region’s tourism brand.

A touching highlight of the night was the symbolic turnover of a teddy bear by Quest Plus to representatives of the indigenous people, representing the spirit of giving and compassion this Christmas. The evening culminated in a festive dinner at Mequeni Live, where guests shared food, stories, and the joy of the season in the heart of Clark.

BapNews Mark Sison CLMA Pampanga Chapter Pampanga Newsweek BAP NEWS MARK SISON MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

03/11/2025

Designer Mich Viray Cries Negligence, Files Complaint vs. JBLMGH Surgeon
By Mark Sison

ANGELES CITY — Pampanga fashion designer Michelle "Mich" Viray, owner of Casa Moda by Mich Viray, has filed a formal complaint against a surgeon at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, over alleged medical negligence involving her employee who claims she was misdiagnosed after a vehicular accident.

In a letter addressed to Medical Center Chief III Dr. Monserrat Chichioco dated October 30, 2025, Viray cited negligence on the part of the attending medical team led by resident physician Dr. Leonil Anthony Bais Arante for allegedly overlooking multiple pelvic fractures in her staff, Ruby Ann Lazaro, following a crash along MacArthur Highway in Brgy. Baliti on October 21.

Viray stated that Lazaro underwent several diagnostic tests including X-rays, ultrasound, and a CT scan. Despite her repeated complaints of severe hip pain and immobility, she was discharged two days later with a diagnosis of contusion and given pain medication.

A later review of her Pelvis AP X-ray reportedly showed complete displaced fractures in both superior and inferior p***c rami, findings that were not communicated during her confinement. The injury was confirmed after Lazaro sought a second opinion at Makabali Hospital under Dr. Tedd Allen Calma, who recommended pelvic surgery to install a metal plate.

“This serious oversight placed Ms. Lazaro’s health and recovery at significant risk,” Viray wrote, stressing that the delayed diagnosis caused undue pain and distress that could have led to lasting complications.

In her complaint, Viray requested a formal investigation, a written explanation from those involved, and a review of JBLMGH’s diagnostic protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

As of press time, efforts to reach Arante and the JBLMGH administration for their side of the story have been made but received no response.

According to Viray, Lazaro is now recuperating after undergoing pelvic surgery. She was reportedly in pain and had difficulty speaking for an immediate interview but has signified her intent to share her experience once she feels better.

Viray emphasized that public hospitals have an obligation to uphold accuracy and accountability in patient care, expressing hope that JBLMGH will act promptly on the complaint.

📸 Lazaro (center, seated) in a photo taken during her birthday celebration at Casa Moda.

BapNews Mark Sison CLMA Pampanga Chapter Pampanga Newsweek BAP NEWS MARK SISON MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

03/11/2025

VIEWPOINT | Deals, Death, & Silence in Our Hospitals
By Mark Sison

In the Philippines, filing a medical malpractice case remains an uphill battle. Official data show that between 1980 and 2002, 586 malpractice cases were filed yet only 11 ended in penalties.

The rest were dismissed or left unresolved. These numbers expose a healthcare and justice system that often protects the erring instead of the injured.

Even public hospitals are not immune; negligence and mishandled cases have been reported in both private and government facilities, leaving victims’ families with little recourse. In a country where healthcare is both a need and a privilege, accountability remains the rarest medicine.

Reports and complaints from patients and families suggest that even some Department of Health (DOH)-run hospitals face similar problems such as delayed treatment, unaddressed errors, and questionable settlement practices.

There are also accounts that truck operators allegedly send “negotiators” to hospitals after road accidents to broker cheap settlements with victims’ families.

These backroom deals, if proven, exploit the poor’s desperation while quietly absolving those responsible. It is a system that thrives on silence and the absence of strong oversight, where tragedy can easily be converted into transaction.

If the DOH is serious about protecting public trust, it must confront this culture of complacency head-on. Doctors and hospital personnel found guilty of malpractice or corruption should face suspension, revocation of licenses, or even criminal prosecution.

The DOH must establish an independent investigative body to monitor and act on malpractice and collusion allegations free from influence, delay, and internal protectionism.

Until the state enforces real accountability within its own hospitals and the wider healthcare system, every patient entering an emergency room remains one mistake away from becoming another forgotten statistic.

BapNews Mark Sison CLMA Pampanga Chapter Pampanga Newsweek BAP NEWS MARK SISON MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

02/11/2025

DICT PUBLIC WARNING | Possible Cyberattack on November 5
By Mark Sison

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has issued a public advisory on a potential coordinated cyberattack, a “traffic flood” or DDoS, that may disrupt websites and online services on November 5, 2025.

Why November 5?
This date traces its notoriety back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes and his group attempted to blow up England’s Parliament. The failed attack led to annual commemorations known as Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Day, a symbol of rebellion that, in modern times, has been adopted by hacktivist groups for symbolic cyber actions.

DICT’s Reminder
While no personal data breach is confirmed, the public is advised to prepare for possible online slowdowns or temporary inaccessibility of websites and apps.

DICT, through Oplan Cyberdome, assures that government cyber response teams are on full alert to protect critical digital infrastructure.

What Internet Users Should Do:
1. Use only official websites and verified apps.
2. Be patient if services slow down avoid suspicious or “mirror” links.
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on all accounts.
4. Use strong, unique passwords and update your devices regularly.
5. Avoid public Wi-Fi for financial or sensitive transactions; use mobile data or a trusted VPN.
6. Don’t post real-time locations or personal details on social media.

Let’s stay informed, alert, and responsible online.


BapNews Mark Sison CLMA Pampanga Chapter Pampanga Newsweek BAP NEWS MARK SISON MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

01/11/2025

EXCERPTS FROM "CONVERSATIONS WITH MAYOR JON LAZATIN | In His Own Quiet Way, He Leads With Purpose"
By Mark Sison

The Sigma Mayor

"Observing him (Mayor Carmelo "Jon" Lazatin II) that evening, calm, methodical and unmoved by noise, one begins to understand why some call him "The Sigma Mayor".

In a field often ruled by theatrics, he governs by logic, not sentiment. His decisions are firm, even when unpopular, such as refusing to suspend classes for every weak typhoon or light rain, believing that constant disruptions weaken learning in a country already facing a serious education crisis.

He points to the latest international assessments placing the Philippines at the bottom in reading, science and mathematics, alongside Cambodia, Guatemala and Morocco, a sobering reminder that time lost in classrooms is time stolen from the nation’s future. He welcomes critics and bashers, seeing them not as threats but as part of public service.

He prefers order over applause, work over words, conviction over convenience. Leadership, to him, is not about noise but about standing firm when it matters most."

BapNews Mark Sison CLMA Pampanga Chapter Pampanga Newsweek BAP NEWS MARK SISON MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

01/11/2025

CONVERSATIONS WITH MAYOR JON LAZATIN | In His Own Quiet Way, He Leads With Purpose
By Mark Sison

It was a pre-Fiestang Apu dinner with Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II that set the story, held at Ikebukuro Japanese Resto Bar far from microphones and ceremonies, surrounded only by the hum of casual conversation and the scent of grilled beef, soy and wasabi.

Over shared plates of salad, enoki beef rolls, gyoza, and sashimi, Mayor Jon spoke not of power or politics but of purpose. The setting was simple, sincere talk, a rare moment that revealed the man behind the title. Disciplined, grounded and driven by quiet resolve.

Born on June 4, 1970, he's the 35th Mayor of Angeles City. Before assuming the mayoralty, he represented Pampanga’s First District which includes Angeles City, Mabalacat City and Magalang for three consecutive terms from 2016 to 2025. His entry into public life began much earlier as a city councilor from 1995 to 1998, a period that shaped his understanding of grassroots governance and everyday needs.

Across the table, he spoke with calm precision, measured tone and focused. "Change doesn’t have to be grand,” he said. “What matters is that it’s real, that people can feel it.”

His mornings begin with a trip to a home-based gym, a daily ritual that mirrors his approach to leadership which is disciplined, consistent and deliberate. “You have to take care of yourself to take care of others,” he said plainly.

Those who train with him admit it's not easy. His workouts are intense, his routine strict. “It’s hard to keep up,” one trainer shared, noting how Mayor Jon rarely cuts corners, every set and repetition done to form. “He doesn’t stop until it’s done right,” another said. The discipline that shapes his mornings is the same one he carries into governance, firm, measured and uncompromising when it comes to results.

Before entering politics, he managed his own water system business, serving private villages in Angeles City. “You don’t take water for granted,” he said. “People only notice it when it’s gone.” That hands-on experience, he added, shaped his management style. Practical, efficient and responsive to public needs.

When the conversation turned to family, his tone softened. He remembered his late mother, Ofelia Galang Bautista, whose deep Kapampangan roots introduced him to Pampanga’s enduring traditions of faith and devotion. As a young boy, he joined Holy Week processions in Betis, Guagua, clutching a candle amid the crowd. Their family still keeps a 300-year-old statue of Señor De La Pasiencia, an heirloom passed from one generation to the next, a quiet reminder of faith’s constancy and the strength of heritage.

At the Ateneo de Manila University, he learned another kind of discipline. Each day, he commuted from Project 6 to Katipunan, taking the UP ikot jeepney from Diliman and walking almost a kilometer from the main gate to class. “Those walks taught me patience,” he said with a grin, “and to always be on time.”

The Sigma Mayor

Observing him that evening, calm, methodical and unmoved by noise, one begins to understand why some call him "The Sigma Mayor". In a field often ruled by theatrics, he governs by logic, not sentiment. His decisions are firm, even when unpopular, such as refusing to suspend classes for every weak typhoon or light rain, believing that constant disruptions weaken learning in a country already facing a serious education crisis. He points to the latest international assessments placing the Philippines at the bottom in reading, science and mathematics, alongside Cambodia, Guatemala and Morocco, a sobering reminder that time lost in classrooms is time stolen from the nation’s future. He welcomes critics and bashers, seeing them not as threats but as part of public service. He prefers order over applause, work over words, conviction over convenience. Leadership, to him, is not about noise but about standing firm when it matters most.

Legacy of Quiet Men

His leadership reflects the Lazatin lineage, men who built reputations on results, not words. His grandfather former Pampanga Governor and Mayor Rafael Lazatin, and his father former Congressman and Mayor Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin, both led with quiet conviction.

“They were quiet men,” he said. “Not talkative, not loud. But when they acted, people noticed.”

Their enduring family creed remains, “Ditak salita, dakal a gawa,” which means less talk, more work.

Brothers in Service

In 2025, Mayor Jon and his brother, Congressman Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., switched paths. He assumed the mayoralty while Cong Pogi began his first term in Congress. It was not about power, he said, but purpose. “We may lead differently,” he admitted, “but our goal is the same, the welfare of our people.”

Quiet Confidence, Steady Leadership

As the plates were cleared and the evening drew to a close, what lingered was not the taste of soy or the salt of sashimi but the quiet steadiness of a man certain of his path. Mayor Jon may not be the loudest in the room, but his actions speak in their own frequency, deliberate, disciplined and enduring.

He does not chase grand gestures. He believes in doing simple things well every day, the kind of leadership that outlasts applause.

BapNews Mark Sison CLMA Pampanga Chapter Pampanga Newsweek BAP NEWS MARK SISON MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

01/11/2025

COMMUNICATIONS MONTH | Resource speaker on "War For Truth"

Thankful to CLARK DEV'T CORP. We need tighter collaboration between CDC communicators, journalists, and cybersecurity experts to ensure truth stands a fighting chance online.🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

BapNews Mark Sison CLMA Pampanga Chapter Pampanga Newsweek BAP NEWS MARK SISON MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories

01/11/2025

UNDAS | In Masantol and Macabebe, Pampanga our cabalens wade through floodwaters to visit their departed loved ones, their graves now submerged & blanketed in flithy, mossy water.

These haunting scenes reveal the failure of flood control efforts long promised but never delivered.

While billions are lost to corruption involving lawmakers and DPWH personnel in flood control projects, Pampanga’s low-lying towns continue to drown demanding not pity, but accountability.

📸Abigail Alcaire Cuellar

BapNews Mark Sison CLMA Pampanga Chapter Pampanga Newsweek BAP NEWS MARK SISON MAS Channel: Media, Affairs & Stories