When I was the NEDA Regional Executive Director of Region IX, Western Mindanao and the economic braintrust of Rear Admiral Romulo M. Espaldo, the SOUTHCOM Commanding Officer ,I joined the peace talks that were held in Muslim seccessionist-held areas. One of the features of the Peace Talks with the rebels was the briefing of those who attended such peace talks which invited not only the rebels but also the residents of the towns where the venue of the peace talks were to be held.
As NEDA boss, I structured a simple briefing with diagrams and audio-visual illustrations what public services the government is offering for free to all Filipinos. We underscore the services of Health, Social Services, Local Governance and Civil Service, the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, DILG, and the Education Department.
Awarding of Certificates of Attendance: Those who attended such briefings (meals and snacks provided, later followed by free medical and dental services) were given individual certificates of attendance with their names printed on the certificates by NEDA illustrators. For muslims who never attended any public or private school education, especially those who have not yet any Madrasa Training, the receipt of such a certificate with their own names printed on the certificates was a valued document. Even those who attended Madrasa Training were grateful to received such certificates with their names beautifully written inscript on the certificate. Some were even in tears for this is the first time they received a piece of paper with their own names printed on it. They were proud to display such document and encouraged others to join the peace talk briefings so that they too can receive such Certificate of Attendance beautifully printed in paper usually made for Collega Graduation Certificates.
Unfortunately when I was transferred to Region Eight my NEDA replacement did not follow the practice. So we lost the opportunity to foster a meaningful relationship with the rebels and their relatives in this gesture of imparting recognition of their valued personal identity and show that the government cares for them.
Lindy C. Morrell, Ph.D
Retired NEDA Regional Executive Director
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Crime Scene Investigations: Gunshot Residue Analysis On A Single Gunpowder Particle
ScienceDaily (Apr. 9, 2008) — Scientists in Texas are reporting development of an highly dependable, rapid, and inexpensive new method for identifying the presence of gunshot residue (GSR). The test fills a GSR-detection gap that results from wider use of "green" -- lead free -- ammunition.
It requires only a single speck of GSR smaller than the period at the end of this sentence and could boost the accuracy of one of the most widely used tests employed at crime scenes involving gunplay.
In a poster presented at the 235th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, graduate student Garrett Lee Burleson and his advisor, chemist Jorn Chi Chung Yu, Ph.D., of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, described their new method. It extracts almost all components of gunpowder residue from particles about 15 times smaller than the width of a human hair, without the use of chemical reagents. After extraction, gas chromatography coupled with a nitrogen phosphorus detector is used to separate and identify the analytes.
"Gunshot residue tests are done in almost every case where a shooting has taken place," Burleson said. "The main focus of our research is to develop a method that will help credibility of gunshot residue evidence in court. You can get results with this test in 30 to 40 minutes with the new test. In addition you only need small amounts of evidence to run the test."
Many of the current methods are susceptible to outside interferences that can produce false positive or false negative results. For example, most tests require the presence of lead for a valid reading, including two of the three mainstays of residue analysis -- the sodium rhodizonate test and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray detection.
But Burleson points out that lead is disappearing from ammunition. That potentially toxic metal poses environmental hazards at outdoor firing ranges, where it can leach into groundwater. In response, manufacturers have begun to create safer, environmentally friendly ammunition out of other metals, such as zinc and aluminum alloys.
This recent trend toward lead-free ammunition, Burleson said, has decreased reliability of gun shot residue analysis and created the need for smarter tests to identify more diverse components of residue in gunpowder, including elements like stabilizers and plasticizers, which are added in the powder during the manufacturing process for safety reasons.
"When a gun fires, the gunpowder explodes, producing gases at enormous pressure that propels the bullet out of the barrel of the firearm," explained Burleson, a graduate student in the Master of Science in Forensic Science Program at Sam Houston State University. "Some of the residue from that explosion is deposited on the hands of the shooter and the clothing of the victim." Burleson's new test, which uses a technology called solid phase micro-extraction combined with gas chromatography, focuses on chemical compounds present in that ejected material. "When you have a residue particle, no matter how small, it's going to contain signatures of every element in that powder."
These signatures offer a wider range of detection possibilities compared to traditional methods, he said. Using an alternative method with a scanning electron microscope, for example, a forensic examiner would perform a search for lead, passing up numerous powder constituents in the analysis. "You would just look for the one little piece of metal that might be there, so the analysis could take hours," Burleson said.
"If you're looking for powder, however, there's a lot more of it. You're getting more of the residue to analyze. It makes it a much more efficient method of detection." For example, a distinctive combination of certain chemicals, such as diphenylamine, ethyl centralite and nitrodiphenylamine, is typically found only in explosive mixtures and therefore allows for a simple analysis of gunplay at a crime scene.
In contrast, another traditional test for finding gunshot residue, the modified Griess test, often fails because it lacks such specificity. Its analysis is based on the detection of Nitrogen-based compounds called nitrites, which are gunpowder byproducts. But these compounds are also found elsewhere, leading to possible ambiguity in testing.
"Many chemical cleaners -- anything that can be used to take off motor oil or freight dust -- will test positive for gunshot residue using the Griess test," Burleson said.
That would make the reading a false positive, which opens the door in court cases for reasonable doubt and possibly incarcerating an innocent person. "The worst thing you can possibly say is, 'There's a chance I'm wrong.' Our preliminary results indicate you can determine the presence of gunshot residue with a high level of confidence."
More efficient testing also would reduce the need for extraneous tests that require time and money while draining resources from a criminal justice system that cannot afford it, Burleson said.
The research was funded by the College of Criminal Justice and Department of Chemistry at Sam Houston State University.
Burleson's test could be used as a preliminary or confirmatory one. "As far as a stand-alone test, it's an excellent, reliable and cheap test to do," he said. "But for the sake of clarity and thoroughness, examiners will usually run multiple tests, such as the sodium rhodizonate test at the crime scene, and they could then confirm the findings with my method."
It requires only a single speck of GSR smaller than the period at the end of this sentence and could boost the accuracy of one of the most widely used tests employed at crime scenes involving gunplay.
In a poster presented at the 235th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, graduate student Garrett Lee Burleson and his advisor, chemist Jorn Chi Chung Yu, Ph.D., of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, described their new method. It extracts almost all components of gunpowder residue from particles about 15 times smaller than the width of a human hair, without the use of chemical reagents. After extraction, gas chromatography coupled with a nitrogen phosphorus detector is used to separate and identify the analytes.
"Gunshot residue tests are done in almost every case where a shooting has taken place," Burleson said. "The main focus of our research is to develop a method that will help credibility of gunshot residue evidence in court. You can get results with this test in 30 to 40 minutes with the new test. In addition you only need small amounts of evidence to run the test."
Many of the current methods are susceptible to outside interferences that can produce false positive or false negative results. For example, most tests require the presence of lead for a valid reading, including two of the three mainstays of residue analysis -- the sodium rhodizonate test and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray detection.
But Burleson points out that lead is disappearing from ammunition. That potentially toxic metal poses environmental hazards at outdoor firing ranges, where it can leach into groundwater. In response, manufacturers have begun to create safer, environmentally friendly ammunition out of other metals, such as zinc and aluminum alloys.
This recent trend toward lead-free ammunition, Burleson said, has decreased reliability of gun shot residue analysis and created the need for smarter tests to identify more diverse components of residue in gunpowder, including elements like stabilizers and plasticizers, which are added in the powder during the manufacturing process for safety reasons.
"When a gun fires, the gunpowder explodes, producing gases at enormous pressure that propels the bullet out of the barrel of the firearm," explained Burleson, a graduate student in the Master of Science in Forensic Science Program at Sam Houston State University. "Some of the residue from that explosion is deposited on the hands of the shooter and the clothing of the victim." Burleson's new test, which uses a technology called solid phase micro-extraction combined with gas chromatography, focuses on chemical compounds present in that ejected material. "When you have a residue particle, no matter how small, it's going to contain signatures of every element in that powder."
These signatures offer a wider range of detection possibilities compared to traditional methods, he said. Using an alternative method with a scanning electron microscope, for example, a forensic examiner would perform a search for lead, passing up numerous powder constituents in the analysis. "You would just look for the one little piece of metal that might be there, so the analysis could take hours," Burleson said.
"If you're looking for powder, however, there's a lot more of it. You're getting more of the residue to analyze. It makes it a much more efficient method of detection." For example, a distinctive combination of certain chemicals, such as diphenylamine, ethyl centralite and nitrodiphenylamine, is typically found only in explosive mixtures and therefore allows for a simple analysis of gunplay at a crime scene.
In contrast, another traditional test for finding gunshot residue, the modified Griess test, often fails because it lacks such specificity. Its analysis is based on the detection of Nitrogen-based compounds called nitrites, which are gunpowder byproducts. But these compounds are also found elsewhere, leading to possible ambiguity in testing.
"Many chemical cleaners -- anything that can be used to take off motor oil or freight dust -- will test positive for gunshot residue using the Griess test," Burleson said.
That would make the reading a false positive, which opens the door in court cases for reasonable doubt and possibly incarcerating an innocent person. "The worst thing you can possibly say is, 'There's a chance I'm wrong.' Our preliminary results indicate you can determine the presence of gunshot residue with a high level of confidence."
More efficient testing also would reduce the need for extraneous tests that require time and money while draining resources from a criminal justice system that cannot afford it, Burleson said.
The research was funded by the College of Criminal Justice and Department of Chemistry at Sam Houston State University.
Burleson's test could be used as a preliminary or confirmatory one. "As far as a stand-alone test, it's an excellent, reliable and cheap test to do," he said. "But for the sake of clarity and thoroughness, examiners will usually run multiple tests, such as the sodium rhodizonate test at the crime scene, and they could then confirm the findings with my method."
MORRELLISMS BLOG ON PRIMITIVE CRIME DETECTION PROCEDURE
It is time for our Crime Scene Investigator to drop the Jurassic practice of pouring hot parafin wax on the hands of unfortunate suspects the police authorities suspect to have fired a gun in a crime scene. Just look at Cable TV's CSI series. You will see how the CSI agents merely dab the hand of the suspect with a chemically-treated material to reveal any trace of gun powder residue. In our case we treat the the suspects cruelly.
It is also time for our Cebuano Congressmen to emerge from the twilight zone of Cebuano politics and enact a law that will modernize our crime detection system. Are our Congressmen listening? HELLO! Why wait until your own kin will be subjected to the hot, melted parafin test?
It is also time for our Cebuano Congressmen to emerge from the twilight zone of Cebuano politics and enact a law that will modernize our crime detection system. Are our Congressmen listening? HELLO! Why wait until your own kin will be subjected to the hot, melted parafin test?
Saturday, October 3, 2009
DISASTER MISMANAGEMENT
The Disaster Management System in the Philippines is a disaster by itself. There is no conept papert to identify, classify, categorise, the degree of destruction and man-killing areas of concern. Everybody has its own idea of how it should be crafted, executed by somebody not identified by proper academic and technical study, both on the national and local government levels. Why is the Academe not involved in crafting situational papers involving various areas of dangerous areas and concerns. The magnitude of each danger zone should be spelled out and the appropriate funding institutionalized in each proposal.
Here everybody thinks he knows what a disaster is according to his myopic vision. Everbody wants to control the planning, the management, the manning, the equipment requirements. They are so control-oriented that cannot control themselves.
The concept paper should be instructional to the presidency and Congress itself.
Unless a new orientation is adopted we will have more of the same disaster.
lindymorrell
Oct. 3, 2009
Here everybody thinks he knows what a disaster is according to his myopic vision. Everbody wants to control the planning, the management, the manning, the equipment requirements. They are so control-oriented that cannot control themselves.
The concept paper should be instructional to the presidency and Congress itself.
Unless a new orientation is adopted we will have more of the same disaster.
lindymorrell
Oct. 3, 2009
Thursday, September 25, 2008
A Critique On The Consultative Commission's Faulty Protocol *
Click on the image to view it in full size.
Click on the image to view it in full size.Wednesday, September 17, 2008
How the Patria de Cebu was Built
Circa 1954
“What man can imagine, man can do.” – John F. Mee
The site of the Patria used to be a squatter settlement not even the Archbishop of Cebu, the Knights of Columbus, and the Daughters of Isabela were able to persuade the squatters to move out of the Church ground. The squatters were backed up by the local political officials which made them a formidable force to contend with. The squatter site became a crime den.
Prohibition Against YMCA Patronage by Archbishop Rosales
Around this time the Cebu Catholic Hierarchy was strict in its mandate that no Catholic youth should patronize the YMCA Recreation Center in Jones Avenue. The Catholic youth were at a lost on where to play bowling, play billiards and learn swimming. This representation had already graduated from U.P. Diliman with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and was strengthened in his faith by the U.P. Chaplain, the late Father John Delaney, SJ. and was pursuing a Master’s Degree in English at the University of San Carlos. With the help of Reverend Father Bernard Wrocklege, SVD (Society of Divine Word). of the University of San Carlos they motivated the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu to undertake the construction of a Catholic Recreation Center in Cebu City.
The Offered Site
When Archbishop Julio R. Rosales learned of their plan he offered to provide a lot where the Catholic Recreation Center would be built. But the site the Archbishop had in mind was the squatter settlement in front of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. He challenged the Student Catholic Action to moved out the squatters from the church grounds. Catholic Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell informed the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu about the Archbishop’s offer and the challenge. Archbishop Julio Rosales wrote to the Vatican for permission to allow the Student Catholic Action to use the area as the site of the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action recreation and service center to be called the Patria de Cebu. The Vatican gave its permission.
The Quest for Relocation Venue for Patria Squatters
With Cebu Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action President Bartolome de Castro, SCA’s leaders Francis Zosa, Anastacio Fabiania, Jr., Felix Matugina, Fe Mendoza, Azucena Derecho, Hermenia Florido, Jess Solon, Jess Hernandez, Leon Gonzaga, Jr., Augusto Go and Lindy C. Morrell, and Rev. Fr. Wrocklege, the team scoured Cebu City to look for a relocation site for the squatters. They spotted the empty sprawling grounds of the Cebu City Hippodrome or racetrack where racehorses used to engage in Sunday racing. At once they lost no time in trying to persuade some of the squatters to relocate to the new site. Unfortunately one of the leaders of the squatters refused to move. USC Law student Augusto Go offered his flatbed truck to haul the squatters’ houses to the relocation site providing that the SCA would furnish the driver.
The Death Threat by Squatters
This representation being a professional driver offered to do the driving chore. Just as the SCA students were about to move the first house for relocation, the hostile leader of the squatters named Tasio from Leyte drew his bolo to hack this representation. Reverend Father Wrocklege stepped into the picture and told Tasio “If you are going to kill this young man, kill me first!” Tasio’s hand shook in anger but he could not strike the priest. Lindy C. Morrell and Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. bargained with Tasio to go with the team to inspect the site so that he would have the first pick of the relocation site. Tasio cooled down and agreed to go with the team to the site to see for himself where he could relocate his house. Upon seeing a spot that he liked he agreed to have his house to be moved to the site ahead of the others. Thus the intended site for the Patria was cleared of squatters.
Drawing the Patria Blueprint
Two young architects of Cebu City, Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado (the younger brother of journalist Johnny Mercado) drew the blueprint for the Patria de Cebu making it one of the strongest structure in Cebu City at that point in time because of the special features that they have incorporated into the building plan – installing tie beams in the foundations of the building. This design is capable of taking the seismic shocks of earthquakes giving the Patria the distinction of being the first structure in Cebu City to enjoy this feature. Teddy Trinidad and Pepe Mercado crafted the blueprints for free. Patria construction boss was Dionisio Licaron.
Hand-Made Ave Maria Hollow Blocks
Each Student Catholic Action volunteer would make a hollow block with his own hands using the iron mold provided by Rev. Fr. Ernest Hoerdeman, SVD of the University of San Carlos. When the hollow block took shape and was removed from its mold the SCA volunteer would pray one Hail Mary over the hollow block. Lindy C. Morrell named the hollow blocks made by the SCA volunteers as the “Ave Maria Hollow Blocks”. The entire Patria Building is made up of Ave Maria hollow blocks. This is possibly the only structure in the Philippines made by students and prayed for with ‘Hail Mary’s. The SCA volunteers who made the hollow blocks were fed by meals cooked by female USC SCA volunteers in the field headed by USC student Luz Adolfo who later became Mrs. Luz Morrell. Rev. Fr. Veronico Salvador, brother of Archbishop Manuel Salvador, was one Diocesan priest who helped support the SCA project by regularly donating bags of cement for the hollow block-making project of the SCA volunteers.
Operation Red Hat
To help generate funds for the Patria project the SCA leaders wrote an appeal to cardinals and bishops all over the world appealing to them to donate funds to finance the Patria construction. Each time a solicitation letter was mailed to a cardinal or bishop one “Hail Mary” was prayed over each letter before dropping it to the mailbox. Contributions from local, national, and international sources were being received by Archbishop Julio Rosales as a result of SCA’s Operation Red Hat.
A Special Appeal
This representation humbly appeals to His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the Archbishop of Cebu to name a room in the Patria de Cebu Building after the late Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD who was the spiritual leader of the SCA Patria builders. Also this Lay Leader recommends that another room be named after the two young architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado for crafting the blueprints and supervising the construction of the Patria de Cebu Building for free.
Unforeseen Problem
When the Patria de Cebu Building was finished the builders awaited the shipment of the bowling alleys, billiard tables and other equipment by a supplier from Manila. Unfortunately the Puyat Manufacturing Facility caught fire. The suppliers refused to honor their contract to ship the entire sports equipment to the Patria (which was supposed to be paid in several installments over a three-year period) but insisted that the entire shipment be paid in cash. The Student Catholic Action of the Archdiocese of Cebu were preparing to file a legal suit against the Puyat Company to compel the firm to honor their contract with SCA. The advisers of Archbishop Rosales counseled the prelate to incorporate the Patria de Cebu and secure a bank loan to pay for the sports equipment.
Planned Student Protest
The SCA students objected to the plan to incorporate the Patria and to secure a loan to pay for the sports equipment because they felt that once the equipment were installed the patrons of the Patria de Cebu movement who were very generous in giving contributions to finance the Patria project would no longer feel obliged to continue giving their contributions. The students were overruled. The Patria was incorporated. Archbishop Rosales told Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell that he follow the counsel of his advisers because they were older and more knowledgeable in life. But Lindy Morrell replied: “Your advisers say I am young and know no better. Your Excellency I am glad that I am young for But Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD and Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell were not included among the list of incorporators. The students were aggrieved and were planning to demonstrate before the Archbishop’s Palace. Rev. Fr. Wrocklege and Lay Leader Lindy Morrell were able to pacify the disgruntled students telling them that in building the Patria they were also building themselves as responsible citizens and that although they were not named among the list of incorporators their named were listed in each hollow block that they made which would be honored by Jesus Christ Himself. After all the two leaders reminded the SCA volunteers that their noble work was aimed to restore all things to Christ. These words calmed the students.
Rev. Fr. Wrocklege Assigned Back to the U.S.
But Archbishop Rosales did not know of this act of pacifying the students and had Rev. Fr. Wrocklege transferred back to the United States in Techny, Illinois without the knowledge of the students who were not able to say goodbye to their beloved spiritual adviser. This is why naming a room in the Patria of Cebu in honor of Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD would help sooth the hurt that the SCA volunteers felt.
The After-Years
The career paths of the SCA leaders who built the Patria de Cebu proved to be colorful and impressive. Bartolome de Castro, Archdiocesan SCA President became an executive with the United Nations in New York. Law student Augusto Go is now the President of the University of Cebu. Francis Zosa became a congressman and is now a successful practicing lawyer in Cebu City. Felix Matugina is a successful businessman in Mandaue City. Leon Gonzaga, Jr. became a labor judge in Cagayan de Oro City. Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. became a marketing supervisor. Jess Hernandez became a marketing executive for a pharmaceutical company. Azucena Derecho joined the Pink Sisters and later became the head of a Mother House of the Pink Sisters in India. Fe Mendoza became a high-ranking nun of the Good Shepherd Order. The last news heard is that she was in Rome studying Islam and Arabic for possible assignment to the Middle East. Jess Solon became a Provincial Development Officer of PACD now known as DILG. Lindy C. Morrell went on to become a Regional Executive Director of the National Economic and Development Authority and later earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Management from Stratford International University in Wyoming State, U.S.A., and a Doctor of Letters Degree in Journalism from St. Clements University of the British West Indies Islands of Turks and Caicos near the Bahammas; and the former Ms. Luz Adolfo earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from USC and married her childhood sweetheart Lindy C. Morrell.
It is suggested that if ever Cardinal Vidal will follow the recommendation that Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege , SVD and architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado be honored by having rooms in the Patria de Cebu Building named after them that appropriate ceremonies be held in such an undertaking.
Inter-Generational Heritage
This story of the Patria should be told and retold to inspire other young people of future generations that the youth have their own building prowess.
-LCM
“What man can imagine, man can do.” – John F. Mee
The site of the Patria used to be a squatter settlement not even the Archbishop of Cebu, the Knights of Columbus, and the Daughters of Isabela were able to persuade the squatters to move out of the Church ground. The squatters were backed up by the local political officials which made them a formidable force to contend with. The squatter site became a crime den.
Prohibition Against YMCA Patronage by Archbishop Rosales
Around this time the Cebu Catholic Hierarchy was strict in its mandate that no Catholic youth should patronize the YMCA Recreation Center in Jones Avenue. The Catholic youth were at a lost on where to play bowling, play billiards and learn swimming. This representation had already graduated from U.P. Diliman with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and was strengthened in his faith by the U.P. Chaplain, the late Father John Delaney, SJ. and was pursuing a Master’s Degree in English at the University of San Carlos. With the help of Reverend Father Bernard Wrocklege, SVD (Society of Divine Word). of the University of San Carlos they motivated the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu to undertake the construction of a Catholic Recreation Center in Cebu City.
The Offered Site
When Archbishop Julio R. Rosales learned of their plan he offered to provide a lot where the Catholic Recreation Center would be built. But the site the Archbishop had in mind was the squatter settlement in front of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. He challenged the Student Catholic Action to moved out the squatters from the church grounds. Catholic Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell informed the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu about the Archbishop’s offer and the challenge. Archbishop Julio Rosales wrote to the Vatican for permission to allow the Student Catholic Action to use the area as the site of the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action recreation and service center to be called the Patria de Cebu. The Vatican gave its permission.
The Quest for Relocation Venue for Patria Squatters
With Cebu Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action President Bartolome de Castro, SCA’s leaders Francis Zosa, Anastacio Fabiania, Jr., Felix Matugina, Fe Mendoza, Azucena Derecho, Hermenia Florido, Jess Solon, Jess Hernandez, Leon Gonzaga, Jr., Augusto Go and Lindy C. Morrell, and Rev. Fr. Wrocklege, the team scoured Cebu City to look for a relocation site for the squatters. They spotted the empty sprawling grounds of the Cebu City Hippodrome or racetrack where racehorses used to engage in Sunday racing. At once they lost no time in trying to persuade some of the squatters to relocate to the new site. Unfortunately one of the leaders of the squatters refused to move. USC Law student Augusto Go offered his flatbed truck to haul the squatters’ houses to the relocation site providing that the SCA would furnish the driver.
The Death Threat by Squatters
This representation being a professional driver offered to do the driving chore. Just as the SCA students were about to move the first house for relocation, the hostile leader of the squatters named Tasio from Leyte drew his bolo to hack this representation. Reverend Father Wrocklege stepped into the picture and told Tasio “If you are going to kill this young man, kill me first!” Tasio’s hand shook in anger but he could not strike the priest. Lindy C. Morrell and Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. bargained with Tasio to go with the team to inspect the site so that he would have the first pick of the relocation site. Tasio cooled down and agreed to go with the team to the site to see for himself where he could relocate his house. Upon seeing a spot that he liked he agreed to have his house to be moved to the site ahead of the others. Thus the intended site for the Patria was cleared of squatters.
Drawing the Patria Blueprint
Two young architects of Cebu City, Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado (the younger brother of journalist Johnny Mercado) drew the blueprint for the Patria de Cebu making it one of the strongest structure in Cebu City at that point in time because of the special features that they have incorporated into the building plan – installing tie beams in the foundations of the building. This design is capable of taking the seismic shocks of earthquakes giving the Patria the distinction of being the first structure in Cebu City to enjoy this feature. Teddy Trinidad and Pepe Mercado crafted the blueprints for free. Patria construction boss was Dionisio Licaron.
Hand-Made Ave Maria Hollow Blocks
Each Student Catholic Action volunteer would make a hollow block with his own hands using the iron mold provided by Rev. Fr. Ernest Hoerdeman, SVD of the University of San Carlos. When the hollow block took shape and was removed from its mold the SCA volunteer would pray one Hail Mary over the hollow block. Lindy C. Morrell named the hollow blocks made by the SCA volunteers as the “Ave Maria Hollow Blocks”. The entire Patria Building is made up of Ave Maria hollow blocks. This is possibly the only structure in the Philippines made by students and prayed for with ‘Hail Mary’s. The SCA volunteers who made the hollow blocks were fed by meals cooked by female USC SCA volunteers in the field headed by USC student Luz Adolfo who later became Mrs. Luz Morrell. Rev. Fr. Veronico Salvador, brother of Archbishop Manuel Salvador, was one Diocesan priest who helped support the SCA project by regularly donating bags of cement for the hollow block-making project of the SCA volunteers.
Operation Red Hat
To help generate funds for the Patria project the SCA leaders wrote an appeal to cardinals and bishops all over the world appealing to them to donate funds to finance the Patria construction. Each time a solicitation letter was mailed to a cardinal or bishop one “Hail Mary” was prayed over each letter before dropping it to the mailbox. Contributions from local, national, and international sources were being received by Archbishop Julio Rosales as a result of SCA’s Operation Red Hat.
A Special Appeal
This representation humbly appeals to His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the Archbishop of Cebu to name a room in the Patria de Cebu Building after the late Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD who was the spiritual leader of the SCA Patria builders. Also this Lay Leader recommends that another room be named after the two young architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado for crafting the blueprints and supervising the construction of the Patria de Cebu Building for free.
Unforeseen Problem
When the Patria de Cebu Building was finished the builders awaited the shipment of the bowling alleys, billiard tables and other equipment by a supplier from Manila. Unfortunately the Puyat Manufacturing Facility caught fire. The suppliers refused to honor their contract to ship the entire sports equipment to the Patria (which was supposed to be paid in several installments over a three-year period) but insisted that the entire shipment be paid in cash. The Student Catholic Action of the Archdiocese of Cebu were preparing to file a legal suit against the Puyat Company to compel the firm to honor their contract with SCA. The advisers of Archbishop Rosales counseled the prelate to incorporate the Patria de Cebu and secure a bank loan to pay for the sports equipment.
Planned Student Protest
The SCA students objected to the plan to incorporate the Patria and to secure a loan to pay for the sports equipment because they felt that once the equipment were installed the patrons of the Patria de Cebu movement who were very generous in giving contributions to finance the Patria project would no longer feel obliged to continue giving their contributions. The students were overruled. The Patria was incorporated. Archbishop Rosales told Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell that he follow the counsel of his advisers because they were older and more knowledgeable in life. But Lindy Morrell replied: “Your advisers say I am young and know no better. Your Excellency I am glad that I am young for But Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD and Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell were not included among the list of incorporators. The students were aggrieved and were planning to demonstrate before the Archbishop’s Palace. Rev. Fr. Wrocklege and Lay Leader Lindy Morrell were able to pacify the disgruntled students telling them that in building the Patria they were also building themselves as responsible citizens and that although they were not named among the list of incorporators their named were listed in each hollow block that they made which would be honored by Jesus Christ Himself. After all the two leaders reminded the SCA volunteers that their noble work was aimed to restore all things to Christ. These words calmed the students.
Rev. Fr. Wrocklege Assigned Back to the U.S.
But Archbishop Rosales did not know of this act of pacifying the students and had Rev. Fr. Wrocklege transferred back to the United States in Techny, Illinois without the knowledge of the students who were not able to say goodbye to their beloved spiritual adviser. This is why naming a room in the Patria of Cebu in honor of Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD would help sooth the hurt that the SCA volunteers felt.
The After-Years
The career paths of the SCA leaders who built the Patria de Cebu proved to be colorful and impressive. Bartolome de Castro, Archdiocesan SCA President became an executive with the United Nations in New York. Law student Augusto Go is now the President of the University of Cebu. Francis Zosa became a congressman and is now a successful practicing lawyer in Cebu City. Felix Matugina is a successful businessman in Mandaue City. Leon Gonzaga, Jr. became a labor judge in Cagayan de Oro City. Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. became a marketing supervisor. Jess Hernandez became a marketing executive for a pharmaceutical company. Azucena Derecho joined the Pink Sisters and later became the head of a Mother House of the Pink Sisters in India. Fe Mendoza became a high-ranking nun of the Good Shepherd Order. The last news heard is that she was in Rome studying Islam and Arabic for possible assignment to the Middle East. Jess Solon became a Provincial Development Officer of PACD now known as DILG. Lindy C. Morrell went on to become a Regional Executive Director of the National Economic and Development Authority and later earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Management from Stratford International University in Wyoming State, U.S.A., and a Doctor of Letters Degree in Journalism from St. Clements University of the British West Indies Islands of Turks and Caicos near the Bahammas; and the former Ms. Luz Adolfo earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from USC and married her childhood sweetheart Lindy C. Morrell.
It is suggested that if ever Cardinal Vidal will follow the recommendation that Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege , SVD and architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado be honored by having rooms in the Patria de Cebu Building named after them that appropriate ceremonies be held in such an undertaking.
Inter-Generational Heritage
This story of the Patria should be told and retold to inspire other young people of future generations that the youth have their own building prowess.
“Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.” - Benjamin Disraeli
-LCM
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