The dawning of A Safe Twinville

Cong. Del de Guzman and Kap. Philip Urrutia of Nangka with new THAI President Paul Sison, Dir. Mar Ayala, and Sec. Sunny Pagaduan during the Induction Night last Dec. 27 at Twinville's Bong Davis Gym.

Cong. Del with former THAI presidents Gen. Ric Padilla, Righty Millan, and Sammy Santiago. Also in photo is Mike Miguel of Rosas St.

RARE FEAT! Would you believe that this was the first time for all 15 members of the AST team to be complete. Even during our weekly meetings prior to the elections, the highest number of attendees was 11. 

The 2009 THAI Board of Directors are: (L-R, front row) SUNNY PAGADUAN, secretary; PAUL SISON, president; ATTY. JASON MIGRINO, director for legal affairs; and SYNX ELMA, vice president. (Back) MAR AYALA, dir. for senior citizens; MANNY TABUZO, dir. for physical & technical services; FRED POLIG, dir. for sports; ED CONCEPCION, venue management; DEO PADILLA, peace & order; RODEL  BELLOSILLO, auditor; ED MALONZO, treasurer; ENGR. MARLON CAMBA, infrastructure; JUN DAGATAN, livelihood; and ALLAN LUMBO, public relations officer.

Former THAI president, Gen. Ric Padilla (ret), inducting the new THAI Board with former prexies Righty Millan and Sammy Santiago as witnesses. Earlier, Engr. Ed Parra, another former president was present and arrived on the dot but decided to leave after the ceremonies started way too late due to the late arrival of city officials.

The new board together with the children who expressed their desires and aspirations for a safe and pleasant Twinville. The directors in turn promised to be guided by 10 principles and values which they sealed via a covenant with the children as a white rose was given to the children every time a guiding principle was stated.

The big payloader goes into action

The real-sized payloader arrived today and immediately burst into action. This was made possible by Engr. Kennedy, the asst. city engineer, who promised that he would send the payloader and dumptrucks today ... and he did.

Thank you very much to Jimmy Perez and his team, the original demolition team of BF since 1992.

It was nice to see Jimmy after all these years and I told him, "ang tibay mo Jimmy ... buhay ka pa!?" Considering the dangers that go with his being the pointman for BF's "Disiplina sa Bangketa" ... it indeed is a miracle that he is still alive and kicking until now.

THE BEGINNING OF A SAFE TWINVILLE

The adopt-a-vacant lot is Team AST's version of then Mayor BF's "Disiplina sa Bangketa."

We are doing the hardest and most controversial things first. If only, to deliver the message that the common good or the greater good will always outweigh personal interests.

We will be steadfast in being guided by the greater good in everything that we do. Especially, since if this is what it will take for Twinville to be safe once again ... and become a model community in a year's time.
This is how this corner at Everlasting and Dama de Noche now looks like. Note that even the outpost will be cleared.
Same lot but taken from Hasmin Street. Gone are the rusty corrugated GI sheets and trees na "masukal".  The soil level will be scraped to that of the sidewalk. This way, the top soil will be the original fertile soil decades ago. Hopefully, carabao grass will grow naturally and with proper trimming it will look like a well-manicured grass lawn complete with landscaped surroundings, a barbecue pit, a native pavilion (no sidings), and park benches which can be used by residents for "lamyaan", picnics, and other wholesome activities.
This is the lot across which used to be a hang-out of undesirables from other surrounding communities and used allegedly for shabu sessions. Some even say that it was planted with marijuana. With gravel to be solicited from Unirock ... it will be converted into a lighted and guarded pay parking lot which will serve as a profit center for THAI.

We also envision the carpark to offer carwash services as additional source of revenue for THAI.
THAI director Fred Polig of Camia observing the operator and crew of the mini-bulldozer as they clear the track of soil. Behind them is a "KAAYUSAN" tarp of BF which reads "Pagbabago sa Kapaligiran ... Pagbabago sa Kaisipan." Very appropriate indeed for Twinville and the incoming team of A Safe Twinville.

The adopt-a-vacant lot is a project of THAI spearheaded by Allan Lumbo as Project Committee Head.

We really need all the help we can get from each resident ... and that includes YOU!

Inaasahan po namin ang inyong suporta at partisipasyon. (PS)

FIRST DAY OF CLEARING OF VACANT LOTS

It was just to be an ocular inspection of all 29 idle lots to be cleared the following day (Friday). 

But Jimmy Perez, head of city hall's demolition team decided to go ahead with the clearing operations today, December 11, Thursday.

At 9 a.m., the first rusty and dilapidated galvanized sheet of the perimeter fence of the property fronting the Davis residence along Dama de Noche corner Everlasting streets was torn off its equally rusty nail.

"Ang pakiusap ko lang ... kung puwedeng itira yung puno ng bayabas at santol kasi yan na lang ang natitira kong alaala ni Celia," Ed Davis requested. 

But this was something we had to politely decline because the development plan for this corner lot plus 2 more other lots beside it calls for all trees to be cut to make way for a pay parking lot.

Instead Allan Lumbo suggested, "ipapangalan na lang natin itong Celia Davis Carpark."

Fortunately, Ed Davis understood and intimated that what we are doing is good for the entire community.

While the bulldozer labored to move earth and clear the lot, the MCF volunteers transferred to the lots across and started stripping the GI sheets from the unsightly fence.

At the end of the day, it was a sight welcomed by the residents, "ang laki ng pagbabago ... ang aliwalas na ngayon. Sa Fairlane ka pa lang, kitang kita mo na."

It was heartwarming to see residents walking by or aboard their vehicles giving the THAI officers present at the site the "thumbs up" sign.

Nagsisimula pa lang tayo, mga kakambal kaya't "Panahon na para maki-isa at magmalasakit muli."

Inaasahan po namin ang inyong suporta at partisipasyon. (PS)

New THAI Officers for 2009 elected

President:  PAUL EDWARD P. SISON

Vice-President: SYNX ELMA

Secretary: SUNNY PAGADUAN

Treasurer: ED MALONZO

Auditor: RODEL BELLOSILLO

Committee Heads

Ways & Means: ED MALONZO

Asset Management: ED CONCEPCION

Infrastructure: ENGR. MARLON CAMBA

Beautification: SUNNY PAGADUAN

Physical & Technical: MANNY TABUZO

Legal: ATTY. JASON MIGRINO

Community Relations: ALLAN LUMBO

Peace & Order: DEO PADILLA

Sports: FRED POLIG

Livelihood: BITOY DAGATAN

Project Heads

Adopt-A-Vacant Lot: ALLAN LUMBO

Alternative Streetlighting: ED CONCEPCION