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HTA LEGISLATIONS & EARTH DAY @ 50 Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano 22 April 2020 Twenty-four years ago, on my first month working at the Philippine Senate, under the Office of Senator Heherson T. Alvarez, I joined the team tasked to prepare for the Earth Day 1996 celebrations. The couple-environmentalist Heherson and Cecile Guidote-Alvarez spearheaded the event in coordinated efforts with the City Government of Marikina headed by Mayor (1992-2001) Bayani F. Fernando, now Representative of the 1 st District. Together with foreign environmentalists, we graced the opening ceremony at the Heroes Hall in Malacañang led by President Fidel V. Ramos and the event culminated at the Marikina River Park, now a system of parks, trails, open spaces and recreation facilities along an 11 kilometer stretch of the  Marikina River  in Marikina City. From then on, I involved myself in the annual celebrations either joining the National Secretariat or having my own personal or loc

MY JOURNEY WITH THE SENATOR FROM ISABELA Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano 20 April 2020   In the middle of our regular class at the Ateneo Grade School, we were interrupted by the GLC (Grade Level Coordinator) who informed our class adviser that we have a new classmate, a transferee from the United States (US). I did not get his name right since it was a rare one. It was only the family name that remained in my thoughts. At home, I informed my parents that I have a new classmate and tried to utter the name which started with the letter “H” and ended with the surname “Alvarez”. My mom was amazed of the news and informed me that he might be the son of his former fellow activist in Santiago, Isabela by the name of “Heherson Alvarez”. I was informed later that my new classmate’s name is Hexilon and his sister is Herxila, both names derived from the root word “exile” since Heherson and wife PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association) founder and Ramon Magsaysay awardee,

BOBBY ANASTACIO, AN A1 DOCTOR Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano 13 April 2020   This day was about to end when my mother, Lily Gozum-Miano who is in New York, U.S.A., sent me a message through Facebook (FB) Messenger informing me that our family cardiologist, Dr. Roberto V. Anastacio, joined our Creator last Friday, April 10. I have known Dr. Anastacio for over three decades now since the time I would chauffer my mom whenever she had an appointment with the great doctor at the Makati Medical Center (MMC) in Makati City. Three years ago, it was the other way around, Mom together with my wife, Jasmin, brought me to Dr. Anastacio in an ambulance to undergo an angiogram procedure because of a probable cardiovascular disease. During the numerous visits at the turn of the millennium, Dr. Anastacio would seek my presence towards the end of the check-up to indulge in an hour of exchanges of opinions and ideas on national issues. The doctor was a Marcos loyalist and would

PRESIDENTIAL MONUMENTS IN ISABELA Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano 23 March 2020   Five presidents of the Republic of the Philippines have their own monuments in the Province of Isabela even though none of them were from the province. They are His Excellencies Emilio Aguinaldo, Manuel L. Quezon, Manuel A. Roxas, Elpidio Quirino and Ramon Magsaysay. Today, exactly 119 years ago, President Emilio Aguinaldo was treacherously captured in the remote town of Palanan in Isabela province by the American forces led by General Frederick Funston. He arrived in Isabela the previous year, January 8, 1900, particularly in the town of Oscariz in the south-western part of the province. He then trekked his way to coastal Palanan via Tierra Virgen in Naguilian town until he reached the coast of Isabela. After 35 years, President Aguinaldo made his second visit to the province particularly in the capital town of Ilagan. In 1962, the first Aguinaldo monument, a concrete bust, was erecte

FIRST MASS IN 1521 AND NO MASS IN 2020 Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano 15 March 2020   As long as I can remember, Catholic Masses has been celebrated every Sunday.   Today, however, the third Sunday of Lent, was an exemption. A friend, who is the parish priest of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang in Gamu, Isabela, Rev. Fr. Gregorio Marvic Castañeda Uanan, JCD, posted in his Facebook account the letter of Diocese of Ilagan Bishop David William V. Antonio, DD to the people of God in the diocese. Furthermore, Fr. Uanan posted: “NOTICE TO ALL ROMAN CATHOLIC FAITHFUL IN THE PROVINCE OF ISABELA (DIOCESE OF ILAGAN) ON THE TEMPORARY CANCELLATION OF MASSES FROM MARCH 15-22: In line with the Executive Order of the Governor of Isabela regarding the precautionary measures against the spread of the Covid 19 Virus, the memoranda of LGUs, and the recommendation of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), ALL PUBLIC MASSES IN THE DIO

WOMEN POWER IN ISABELA Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano 1 March 2020   In the last quarter of 2014, I was chosen to chair the Committee on Women, Family and Social Welfare in the 19 th Sangguniang Bayan of Cabatuan, Isabela after a controversial election. As I assumed my post, I convened the different women’s group and decided later to hold a Christmas party for all the members of the federation of women’s organizations at the Cabatuan Social Hall. Taking this chance, I delivered a speech focusing on the role of women in nation building and here I was tagged as an "honorary woman". After five years, a seat in the Sangguniang Bayan of Cabatuan was reserved for the sectoral representative for women. This March, we celebrate Women’s Month and I decided to gather the names of Isabeleños who were either appointed or elected in the national, provincial, city and municipal posts. Aside from this, numerous Isabeleñas hold posts and sensitive positions in the natio