Sorsogon News

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Sorsogon - Archived News

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

903rd Brigade chosen as 9ID’s Best for 2011

by MAL/BAR-PIA5/903rd Bgde, PA)


SORSOGON CITY, April 26 (PIA) -- The 903rd Infantry (Fight and Defend) Brigade was recently chosen by Philippine Army headquarters as the best Infantry Brigade (Inf Bgde) of the 9th Infantry (Spear) Division for the year 2011 receiving the Award of Merit by the Commanding General of the Philippine Army and the Command Plaque by Commander, 9ID.

Commanding Officer of 903rd Inf Bgde Col. Felix Castro Jr. said that considering the imperatives of IPSP “Bayanihan” and its emphasis on both combat and non-combat dimensions of military operations, the Brigade pursued efforts to link with agencies that could help in the development of the communities in Sorsogon and Masbate. It has opted to focus its efforts in a certain area rather than have projects in many dispersed barangays.

"By pouring in development projects in a selected focus area, the improvement could easily be felt by the people and there is a higher chance of success. Neighboring communities will eventually also benefit from the improvement economic environment," he said.

The first Brigade focused area is Brgy Pandan in Castilla, Sorsogon which used to be influenced by the NPAs before the area was cleared in 2009. The “Tarabangan sa Brgy Pandan” Project started with the construction of a two-classroom building sponsored by ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. Sagip Kapamilya for Pandan High School.

Other projects soon followed after the initiative of ABS-CBN: one classroom building funded by Cong. Salvador Escudero III; another classroom building funded by DepEd; two-classroom (two-storey) building funded by DepEd; 5 road improvement projects programmed for this year; ongoing cementing of the irrigation canal (P30M) funded by DA; the recently concluded six-month feeding program by ABS-CBN; and the introduction of abaca growing by FIDA. The Brigade also has six Bayanihan Iskolars sponsored by ABS-CBN and The Lewis College in Sorsogon City.

Another two-classroom building in Cabancalan Elementary School in Aroroy, Masbate also sponsored by Sagip Kapamilya was inaugurated last January.

Mayor Enrico Z. Capinig of Aroroy, Masbate committed funds for the cooperatives of the women’s organization and the Barangay Defense System or BDS. He also promised to build a high school next year. Two scholarship slots will also be given by ABS-CBN aside from the feeding program. Funds are now being sourced for the concreting of the road.

Col. Castro further said that the Brigade has been active in the programs of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA). The two provinces in its area have received funds for development- Sorsogon got P30 million for its seven focus municipalities and Masbate received P50 million for its three focus municipalities.

The PAMANA Convergence Unit for Sorsogon which involves representatives from the different government agencies has been a good venue for us to recommend projects and target areas for development.

"Also, we have been able to bring medical services to far-flung barangays. Worth mentioning is a medical mission conducted by the Spanish NGO Asociacion Valenciana de Asistencia Sanitaria y Social Voluntarios (AVASSV) in Barangays Pandan and Amomonting of Castilla and San Pascual in Casiguran, Sorsogon. The television program Alagang Kapatid of TV5 also had a medical mission in Brgy Calintaan, Matnog, Sorsogon," explained Col. Castro.

"We support the School of Peace Program of the Bicol Consortium for Peace Education and Development (BCPED) which is funded by OPAPP. Soldiers are always involved in the activities of San Isidro Elementary School in Castilla which is a pilot School of Peace. We have convinced Dr Herbert Rosana Ph.D, BCPED Director and Head of the Department of Peace Studies of Bicol University, to include the public schools in the municipality of Castilla in the School of Peace Program. A proposal has been made for this to happen," he further said.

The official also said that in addition to their active partnership with the stakeholders towards the development of these provinces, the Brigade also gave equal efforts in meeting the threats posed by those who hinder development. "Last year, we were able to recover 68 assorted firearms in several encounters including a cal .30 light machine gun, two AK47 rifles, and M16 rifles. Sixty-seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were also recovered. We were able to repulse the attack by the NPAs against some police stations and military detachment," he said.

The exemplary performance of the 903rd Infantry se accomplishments have led to Looking back, the Brigade has been able to perform exceedingly well in its combat and non-combat operations. This could be attributed to a pool of well-motivated, well-trained and experienced personnel who gets the job done.

Meanwhile, the municipality of Castilla led by Mayor Olive Bermillo has recently donated a 2-hectare lot for the brigade headquarters. Another hectare will be given this year. The Deed of Donation was signed last 17 November by Gen Eduardo SL Oban Jr, CSAFP, and Mayor Bermillo. "We intend to build a “green camp” where our soldiers could contribute to the environment," said Col. Castro.






Poor folks in Sorsogon taught how to make a living from ‘hilot’

by Tarra Quismundo

Philippine Daily Inquirer


MANILA, Philippines—For a poor community in Sorsogon, the traditional “hilot” home remedy will soon become a source of livelihood. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) is introducing the old-school Filipino massage method as a career option to residents of Prieto Diaz town in Sorsogon, a community raring to venture into eco-tourism and wellness services. Tesda partnered with the local government to train selected residents in several courses, including food and beverage services, hairdressing, cooking and the traditional Filipino tough therapy in efforts to “mainstream” hilot and develop it into a means of living. A total of 100 students—25 in each course—started training on April 20 at Sorsogon’s Bulusan Vocational Technical School. Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva said the agency would shoulder the training cost. “Through this partnership with the local government, we hope Tesda can breathe life into this town by tapping its human resources for the development of its wellness and eco-tourism potentials,” Villanueva said in a statement. Tesda said that while the fifth-class town is rich in potential tourist attractions, most of some 20,000 residents in Prieto Diaz have an average P100 daily income from fishing and farming. Through the program, Tesda and the local government aim to give Prieto Diaz residents a break at the health and wellness and food and beverage industries, where skilled workers are of high demand, said the agency. “The people recognize the urgent need to get its acts together with national agencies and indigenous communities to develop significant market niche in beauty and wellness of body, mind and spirit, to create new jobs, alternative employment and business opportunities for its people particularly the new entrants to the labor force,” the agreement said. Those who will graduate from the program will undergo Tesda assessment for certification.






‘Manghihilot’ to go mainstream

by Alvin Murcia


THE traditional masseurs will become go mainstream once the training of those practicing it in the neighborhood is finished.

This was the assurance of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva.

He said at present training of masseurs is being held in the town of Prieto Diaz in Sorsogon.

Aside from the masseurs, training for food and beverage services, commercial cooking and hairdressing started last April 20.

"Through this partnership with the local government, we hope TESDA can breathe life into this town by tapping its human resources for the development of its wellness and eco-tourism potentials," said Villanueva.

He explained that the training pushed through after an agreement was signed with Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee.

Under the agreement, TESDA will conduct the training in Bulusan Vocational Technical School along with the assessment.

The program was implemented in consonance with the aim of giving job opportunity in Sorsogon because of its growing eco-tourism.






Gubat town launches reading program for kids

by (MAL/BAR-PIA5 Sorsogon)


SORSOGON CITY, April 23 (PIA) -- Gubat municipal government, the Sangguniang Kabataan, the Department of Education and the Gubat Parents Teachers Association Federation have launched a reading program for children.

Named after one of Gubat’s famous writers, the Delfin Fresnosa Reading Recovery Program was conceptualized by the local government of Gubat which started on the third week of April and which will end on May this year.

“We would like to make the program sustainable, targeting as our clientele those non-reader children and those children who would want to enhance further their reading skills,” said Gubat Municipal Mayor Ronnel Lim.

“Reading skills are very important. Without a solid ability to read, children will be unable to make use of whatever improvements in our local school system,” he said.

According to Lim, selected incoming Grade 2 pupils will each be assigned a reading partner. The reading partners are volunteer Gubatnons who have intended to spend laudably their vacation in Gubat town this summer by volunteering as tutors to the children in their respective barangays. The reading partner will visit the pupil at his own home three times a week, 30 minutes to one hour per meeting, during the entire duration of summer vacation.

“The municipality provided the training and instructional materials to be used for the program,” he added.

The young local chief executive also said that they have opened the reading recovery and enhancement program not only for Gubatnons who are currently residents of the town, but even to those Gubatnons who plan to spend their summer vacation in the town and are willing to voluntary render their services and tutorial skills for free in order to help develop the reading abilities of children in their respective areas.

Lim said that the program is also part of giving tribute and recognition to the contributions made by one of Gubat famous writers, Delfin fresnosa. Born on May 23, 1915 in Barangay Bulacao, Fresnosa taught at the National Teachers College and at the University of the East, and served as the editor of “Boy's World,” the official organ of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

Fresnosa was part of the group of thirteen writers who called themselves the Veronicans (named after Veronica who mirrored the true face of Christ). Fresnosa's short stories regularly appear in anthologies of the Best Philippine short stories. He died on December 19, 1988.

Mayor Lim further said that they still welcome more volunteers and that interested Gubatnons may just visit his office at the Gubat Municipal Building.






Nora, Vilma Rivalry Dividing Bishops

by LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO


MANILA, Philippines - Catholic prelates are split on the proposal to make Nora Aunor or Vilma Santos as national artist.

Out of the six prelates that were informally sur¬veyed, one bishop – Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes – vot¬ed for “Nora.” “I select and en¬dorse Nora as na¬tional artist now!” he said in a text message.

Bastes, mem¬ber of the Perma¬nent Council of the Catholic Bish¬ops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said he was particularly impressed with the performance of the “superstar” in the movie “Himala”.

He said “Vilma” could be declared as national artist years later.

Two prelates, on the other hand, are in favor of making both as national art¬ists.

“Honor them both. They repre¬sent the divide be¬tween the Filipino crowd. The ‘bakya’ and the ‘sapatos’ crowds,” Baguio Bishop Carlito Cen¬zon said.

Malolos Bish¬op Jose Oliveros agreed with Cen¬zon, saying both artists are deserv¬ing of such title.

“Both can be made as national artist. Perhaps, this will not require an act of Congress. An Executive Order would do should President Aquino agree with it,” he said.

The three re¬maining bishops, however, chose not to comment on the matter, saying it is not their expertise.

The three bish¬ops were retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, and Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutier¬rez.

Earlier, House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo “Erin” Ta¬ñada initiated calls to declare Vilma Santos as a national artist after Bacolod City Rep. Anthony Golez filed a reso¬lution seeking the proclamation of Nora Aunor of the same title.

Tañada said Santos equally deserves to be a national artist for her contribution in lifting the film in¬dustry by captur-ing the hearts of Filipino moviegoers when she competed against Aunor dur¬ing the 1970s.

Donsol's Butanding Festival reels off May 18

by (MAL/DCA, Legazpi City)


DONSOL, Sorsogon, April 20 (PIA) -- All roads lead to this far-flung coastal municipality as townsfolk celebrate the yearly Butanding Festival and the feast of their patron, St. Joseph the Worker, on May 18.

According to town Mayor Jerome Alcantara, the celebration will be both solemn and ultimately festive this time because they will put together the yearly town fiesta in honor of Sorsogon's patron saint and the Butanding Festival to welcome the reappearance of the whale sharks, which usually come in droves during this time of the year.

The festival used to be held in April but local officials decided to move it to May 18 in time with the town’s fiesta celebration, so that it would be more fun in Donsol during the day, the mayor added.

The town fiesta marks the homecoming of Donsolanos who are now living elsewhere of the country and abroad to take part in the traditional revelries while the festival officially signals the opening of another high adventure season of underwater interactions between humans and the enormous but gentle sea mammal.

“Dual celebrations in a day,” the mayor said. “During the town fiesta, we cater not only to our returning town mates but also to thousands of visitors from nearby places who have been accustomed of celebrating with us.”

“In the butanding season, we play host to another thousands of tourists coming in for whale shark interactions,” Alcantara said.

With two festivities rolled into one, the merrymaking will be certainly fabulous, he added.

There will be holy masses to be capped by mass baptismal of babies at the town’s century-old church in the morning, followed by the traditional food offerings in every house until nighttime and holy procession in the evening, apart from other church activities in honor of the patron saint.

Also part of the fiesta activity is a civic-military parade.

It will be followed by the parade of whale shark replicas to be presented by street dancers in colorful native attires in honor of the butandings in the afternoon.

Another highlight of the festivities is the fluvial procession at the mouth of the long and winding Donsol River where a large pod of butandings usually converge at his time of the year.

It will be participated in by an armada of outrigger boats decorated with whale shark replicas and festive colorful buntings.

In the evening after the holy procession, ballroom and disco dancing will be held at the sprawling town plaza.

Tourists will be offered tours along the Donsol River for firefly watching, which serves as another spectacular attraction.

There will be games and stalls put up at the town plaza all night long while music continually plays until the wee hours of the next morning. People would be in the streets talking with each other and having fun.

“Butanding Festival is the way how we give thanks to the Lord of giving us the gentle butanding. It may not be as glamorous compared to other festivities in the Philippines, but we consider it the most important part of the year as it is the best way we express our thoughts as people and nature-lovers,” Alcantara said.

The presence of whale sharks in the coastal waters here was known to the local residents for over 100 years. But they believed these gentle giants were dangerous.

This wrong notion changed when in January 1998, a group of scuba divers discovered its presence and interacted with the whale sharks.

Even the members of the diving group were having second thoughts if the giant creature was docile, they came in contact with it and found out it is indeed harmless.

The municipality then was categorized only as fourth class for being very poor and known only a part of the geography and national statistics.

Copy of video footage taken by the diving group was passed on to the media, the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF)-Philippines, and the Discovery Channel.

It became a word of mouth passed on to every tourist exploring the Philippines and by March of that same year, the municipality started to become a world-class tourist destination. It is now known as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”.

Now, this town is officially listed as first class earning an annual revenue of nearly P100 million mostly from its tourism industry that plays host to an average of over 60,000 foreign and local tourist yearly.

These gentle giants arrive from as early as November but the official season starts from February and runs until the end of May, when the local waters is at its clearest and calmest.

Local tourism officials and professional divers have established guidelines on proper whale shark watching intended to maintain safety and to defend the creatures from over exploitation.

“As long as we protect the habitat of these sea creatures and avoid antagonizing them, they will continue to be here." Alcantara said.

“WWF findings say that whale sharks that are migratory in nature do not actually leave Donsol and they stay here all year-round. They just go deeper into the sea during some months of the year,” the mayor added.

Oslob’s tuki tour operators to visit Donsol

by Carmel Loise Matus

Cebu Daily News


Oslob and Cebu tourism officials will go to Donsol in Sorsogon province next month to see for themselves “best practices” in whale shark tourism. “Although they have different activities in Donsol, the operators here will learn something from the procedures there. What is common for Donsol and Oslob will be seen,” said Rowena Montecillo, regional director of the Department of Tourism. Oslob is now calling their boat paddlers “interaction officers,” like Donsol that has “Butanding Interaction Officers”. An increase in visitor rates that took effect April 15 in Oslob, especially for diving and snorkeling, has not affected sales much, said Oslob tourism officer Elizabeth Tabasa-Benologa. But she said they are still monitoring the trend. About 200 to 300 visitors came on weekdays for whale shark watching, the usual crowd, but there were fewer divers and swimmers, said Oslob Mayor Ronald Guaren. Guaren said this was the purpose of the price increase—to control the influx of visitors and reduce chances of direct contact with the whale sharks. “People who want to go snorkeling and diving have decreased,” said Guaren. The DOT conducted a week-long training for boatmen and Bantay Dagat personnel for 50 participants.

NGCP Launches Line Safety Campaign, Announces 10-hour Brownout In Tarlac

by ELLSON QUISMORIO and MARK ANTHONY MANUEL


MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has begun enlisting the help of local media in various provinces particularly in southern Luzon to disseminate information on its transmission line safety and security campaign.

The line safety campaign is aimed at achieving public awareness and cooperation in curbing pilferage of tower parts and avoiding damage to life and properties as a result of unsafe and unscrupulous practices.

Regional Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Officer Nelson Bautista said up to 60 local radio stations in Quezon, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, and Sorsogon pledged support to NGCP’s advocacy for safe and secure power lines.

Bautista already started the information campaign by being a guest on radio shows and discussing NGCP’s anti-pilferage law and anti-electrocution initiatives.

The hazards of kite flying, installation of antennas, hanging of flaglets and construction of buildings underneath the transmission lines were also highlighted in the interviews. He also cited safety tips to avoid electrocution from highvoltage lines.

NGCP also appealed to all listeners and residents to cooperate with the company in protecting the transmission facilities, which remain under government properties.

The power transmission company likewise reminded the listeners that as Filipinos, it is their inherent duty and responsibility to take care of the properties of the state.

It was further stated that violation of Republic Act 7832 is punishable by 12 to 20 years of imprisonment or a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 pesos.

Meanwhile, the NGCP announced that the first and second districts of the province of Tarlac will go through a 10-hour power interruption tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Affected towns are Anao, Camiling, Mayantoc, Moncada, Paniqui, San Manuel, Gerona, Moncada, Pura, Santa Ignacia, San Clemente and Ramos.

The North Luzon Corporate Communication Division of the NGCP disclosed that “affected distribution utility are the Tarlac Electric Cooperative I (TERELCO I) and Tarlac Electric Incorporated (TEI).”

NFA told to open buying stations, start purchasing farmers’ fresh palay

by Virgil Lopez/Sunnex


MANILA -- Farmers' organizations in various parts of the country said that local traders are manipulating the market price of freshly harvested palay as they called on the government to immediately open its buying stations to stop the said practice.

According to watchdog Task Force Food Sovereignty (TFFS), the National Food Authority must also start purchasing fresh palay from marginalized farmers and let them access the NFA Procurement Program without the farmers' passbook requirements.

In Irosin, Sorsogon, TFFS lead convenor Arze Glipo said farm gate price of fresh palay was pegged between P13 and P14 per kilogram but this has declined to P11 per kilogram.

The lower price is said to be a result of heavy rains that battered the province recently.

"This is also happening in areas which experienced heavy rains in the past days. Local traders know that there is not enough time to dry the grains and farmers need the money badly, hence they are delaying procurement which reduced the price of fresh palay," Glipo said.

To arrest the further decline of farmer's income, TFFS asked the NFA to expand their buying stations in remote areas to save transportation cost for farmers who have to travel to key cities and municipalities just to avail of the service.

"One way that government can help farmers build resiliency and recover from the worsening impacts of climate change is to ensure that they get a fair price for their produce. In this case, NFA should step in and buy fresh palay from farmers at P14 per kilogram and dried palay at P17 per kilogram," Glipo noted.

Moreover, the group urged the NFA to relax or, if possible, cancel the requirements for revalidation of accredited individual farmers who own or does not own the land they till.

For instance, if the farmer is a land owner, he only needs to submit a certified photocopy of the transfer certificate of title (TCT) from Register of Deeds and certificate of land ownership award (CLOA) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), among others.

By comparison, a farmer who is not a land owner will have to present numerous documents such as the management take-over contract, written proof indicating farm/lot possession, leaseholder agreement/contract, barangay chairman or barangay agrarian reform council (BARC) chairman certification, and location of map.

With so many requirements, the NFA, Glipo said, is already denying the right of smallholder farmers, especially those who are not land owners, to sell their produce to the agency.

NFA told to establish more buying stations

by Othel V. Campos


A group of food security advocates on Friday urged the state-run National Food Authority to open more buying stations nationwide and lift the tedious documentary requirements in purchasing palay or unmilled rice from marginalized farmers.

Task Force Food Sovereignty lead convenor Arze Glipo said they had received reports from farmers’ organizations in various parts of the country that local traders were manipulating market prices of freshly harvested palay.

“In Irosin, Sorsogon, farmers told us that local traders are manipulating the market price of fresh palay. At the onset of harvest, farm gate price of fresh palay was pegged between P13 and P14 per kilogram. Now, it has declined to P11 per kilogram,” said Glipo.

She said local traders had stopped buying palay from farmers after heavy rains battered the province of Sorsogon, pulling down the buying price to P11 per kilogram.

“This is also happening in areas which experienced heavy rains in the past days. Local traders know that there is not enough time to dry the grains and farmers need the money badly, hence they are delaying procurement which reduced the price of fresh palay,” said Glipo.

Prelates happy with failure of North Korea rocket launch

by (FP/Sunnex)


SEVERAL bishops were happy that the rocket launched by North Korea (NoKor) has failed.

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said he is glad to hear reports that the launching was not successful.

“I am happy. Our prayers to the Lord are heard,” he said.

However, he is also saddened that the money used by North Korean government for the launch was wasted.

“I pity the NoKor people because their leaders wasted millions of dollars for a failed project while millions are hungry,” Bastes said.

Marbel (South Cotabato) Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez also expressed the same concern as the money should have been given to hungry people.

“The money should be spent to feed the people,” the prelate added.

Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said what happened should serve as a reminder that man does not have complete control of everything.

“Man is only a steward. Let us ask the Lord that we may always be good stewards,” he said.

Earlier, bishops urged the people to pray that the rocket launch will not push through.

On Friday, it was reported that Unha-3 rocket failed to reach the orbit.

With this, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) lifted the no-fly, sail and fish zones off Northern Luzon.

The rocket was launched before 7 a.m. Manila time but crashed into the Yellow Sea after about five minutes in flight.

Awareness sought on whale shark interaction in Cebu

by Virgil Lopez/Sunnex


SAYING tourism should co-exist with the protection and conservation of marine animals, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said local government units must undergo awareness training on whale shark interaction at the increasingly popular town of Oslob, Cebu.

Tourism Director Rowena Montecillo said they have partnered with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Central Visayas in conducting an "Awareness Caravan" in May aimed at raising consciousness on marine protection and conservation, and promoting a culture of tourism.

The photo of a girl riding a whale shark along the shoreline of Granada village in Boljoon, Cebu suffered an online backlash last week, prompting the Municipal Government to hike fees for swimming or diving with the marine creatures.

Reports said the whale shark was trapped in the net of local fishermen. It was brought near the shore because the fishermen had difficulty in freeing the endangered animal while in deeper waters.

Those involved in the incident were already reprimanded and warned of being penalized if caught again while the whale shark was later released into the open sea.

"We need to heighten people's awareness and capacitate the community to effectively manage the interaction, so that it will not cause undue harm or disturbance to the normal behavior of the sharks," Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said.

Last February, the DOT said local officials in Oslob will be invited to an observation visit to the popular whale-shark viewing destination in Donsol, Sorsogon to learn about best practices in handling whale shark interaction and community organization.

The DOT is part of the technical working group, created by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, which is in charge of formulating guidelines and monitoring systems to ensure that the budding eco-tourism enterprise remains beneficial to the communities.

Measures are also being undertaken to conduct further research on the migratory pattern of the whale sharks.






Do Not Panic

by MADEL R. SABATER and LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO


Malacañang and an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday called on the public to stay calm and not to panic amid the rocket launch of North Korea scheduled between April 12 and April 16.

This developed as the United States urged anew North Korea not to conduct a nuclear test or launch a satellite and called on China to exert its influence over its neighbor to try to ward off such "provocative actions."

But Ryu Kum Chol, deputy director of the Space Development Department of the Korean Committee for Space Technology, said, "All the assembly and preparations of the satellite launch are done," including fueling of the rocket.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda assured that preparations are being made should North Korea push through with the satellite launch.

"We are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best and it will be irresponsible for the government not to take the necessary precautions," Lacierda said in a press briefing yesterday.

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, member of the CBCP Permanent Council, said people should pray instead of panicking, saying it’s still possible that the launch will not affect the country such as what happened during the 1970’s when the US satellite Skylab disintegrated in space with its debris falling in Western Australia.

At that time, people panicked because everybody thought that the debris from the Skylab was going to fall on their backyard.

"Many times such fears are not founded. Remember the Skylab many years ago? Nothing fell," he said in an interview.

Still, Bastes urged the people to pray that North Korea will change its mind about the launch and instead focus on feeding their hungry people.

"Pray that the leaders of North Korea will rather feed their hungry people than show a false military might," he said.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo also appealed for prayers from the people.

"Let us pray that North Korea would change its mind because we don’t really know what damage it will bring to us – we don’t know where it will hit that’s why we should be careful and we should pray to prevent a crisis in the world," he said over Church-run Radyo Veritas yesterday.

Lacierda said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already been directed to make the necessary preparations for the launch.

Notices, Lacierda said, have already been sent, particularly on the no-fly zone while the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

(NDRRMC) will monitor probable sites where rocket debris may fall.

Earlier, the NDRRMC warned parts of the rocket may fall on Philippine territory after the launch between April 12 and April 16.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government already instructed officials in six regions – Regions 1 (Ilocos), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), 4-A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), 5 (Bicol), and Cordillera – to implement contingency plans for the rocket launch.

North Korea, which is pressing ahead with plans for a satellite launch despite US and regional appeals that it desist, is also preparing a third nuclear test, South Korean news reports said Sunday.

Another nuclear test is bound to scare neighbors and infuriate the West, which has long sought to curb the North’s nuclear ambitions.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency quoted an unidentified intelligence source as saying North Korea was "clandestinely preparing a nuclear test" at the same location as the first two.

The State Department repeated its advice to the North not to launch a satellite, saying this would violate UN Security Council resolutions and a February 29 denuclearization agreement.

"Our position remains: don’t do it," said spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. "North Korea’s launch of a missile would be highly provocative, it would pose a threat to regional security and it would be inconsistent with its recent undertakings to refrain from any kind of long-range missile launches."

Nuland told reporters a third North Korean nuclear test "would be equally bad if not worse."

She declined comment on whether the United States also had reason to believe that the North might be preparing a nuclear test, saying she could not discuss intelligence matters.

North Korea, which three years ago pulled out of six-party disarmament talks on its nuclear program, agreed in February to stop nuclear tests, uranium enrichment and long-range missile launches in return for food aid, opening the way to a possible resumption of the negotiations.

But that has all unraveled with the North’s rocket launch planned for this month, probably between Thursday and the following Monday. The North says it is merely sending a weather satellite into space, but South Korea and the United States say it is a ballistic missile test.

The United States has called on China, the closest that North Korea has to an ally, to exert such influence as it has with Pyongyang, a point Nuland made again on Monday.

"We believe, in particular, that China joins us in its interest in seeing a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and we are continuing to encourage China to act more effectively in that interest," she said.

20 Flights Rerouted

With the scheduled rocket launch, several airlines will reroute flights over the Philippines, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said yesterday.

About 20 flights including Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, and Delta Airlines will be rerouted between Thursday and Monday, when North Korea says it will launch a satellite. The exact timing depends on weather.

Floramel Joy Songsong, spokeswoman for the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said the agency will temporarily close three northeastern air corridors, which will result in an additional 20 minutes of travel time for the airlines.

Japanese carriers JAL and ANA will change flight paths on routes connecting Tokyo to Manila, Jakarta and Singapore, while domestic flights will not be affected.

JAL has four flights a day on the expected rocket launch dates. Airline official Norio Higashimine said each flight will carry more fuel in case of an unexpected route change.

ANA is making similar route changes on five flights.

Philippine officials also told ships and fishing boats to avoid northeastern territorial waters where rocket debris may fall.

Meanwhile, Aurora province is now preparing for the rocket launch as the towns of Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan, Baler, and Dingalan are among the places identified by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) as "spots" where debris may fall.

Other places include Bugey, Gonzaga, and Santa Ana towns in Cagayan; Palanan, Maconacon, Divilacan, and Dinapigue towns in Isabela; Real, Infanta, and General Nakar in Quezon.

People in Batanes, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte are also advised to take precautionary measures. (With reports from Reuters, AP, and Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

Sorsoganons peacefully celebrate “Semana Santa” 2012

by Benilda A. Recebido


SORSOGON CITY, April 10 (PIA) -- Assessment of the Philippine National Police Sorsogon Provincial Office (PNP-SPPO) bared that aside from the electrocuted 16-year-old male in one of the beach cottages in Bacon District, Sorsogon City, the celebration of “Semana Santa,” a Spanish term for the Holy Week, was generally peaceful.

Devotees and Catholics in general were in their prayerful mood especially during the Visita Iglesia and processions on Good Friday. Priests in their Lenten homilies reiterated Pope Benedict XVI’s call for Charity which is the very heart of Christian Life.

According to PNP Sorsogon Director PSupt John CA Jambora, they attribute the success of the activity to the full support and cooperation shown by Sorsoganons, “that is why we are thankful to them that no untoward incidences were noted all throughout the entire observance of the Holy Week,” he added.

Meanwhile, passengers bound for Manila and Legazpi City were irritated with the insufficient number of bus and vans. According to some commuters departing for Manila, they had to wait for about six hours or more to be accommodated.

Philippine Coast Guard Sorsogon Station through PO2 Rico Gabion reported that their assessment of the observance of “Semana Santa” in Sorsogon this year was very successful since there were no problems and negative incidences noted. He admitted however, that fewer passengers in three major ports here were recorded compared to that of last year.

Latest data reported from Matnog station stated that there were 1,535 passengers in Matnog port. There were no reports yet from Pilar and Bulan stations as to the number of their passengers during Holy Week.

However, PCG and PNP both said that they will keep on strictly monitoring major ports and terminals in the province as part of their “Oplan Summer Vacation” since tourists and vacationers will continue to flock for the summer season.

Aside from terminals, the PNP has also deployed their personnel including police trainees to areas frequently visited by tourists such as the town of Donsol for the whale shark inter-action, Bulusan for Bulusan Lake activities, Sorsogon City for its Paguriran Island, Pto. Diaz for mangrove tour, Casiguran for the famous freezing Orok Spring, Barcelona for its breathtaking and huge corals, as well as the province’s prime beach resorts in Bacon District, Sorsogon City, Gubat, Sta. Magdalena and Matnog towns, among others. (MAL/BAR-PIA 5, Sorsogon)

Sorsogon Police Office bags major award in “Takbokasyon 2012”

by Marlon A. Loterte


SORSOGON CITY, April 9 (PIA) -- Personnel of the Sorsogon Police Provincial Office has proven anew their agility and prowess, garnering the major award in two categories during the fun run activity dubbed as “VAMOS SEMINARIO: TAKBOKASYON 2012” held in Sorsogon City in March 31, 2012.

Topping the five-kilometer(km) fun run were PO2 Jayie Encinares, PO1 Geraldine Dave, and PO1 Kwencie Ann Fortuno, while PO1 Mariel Esquiros bagged the first place for the 10-km run.

Said fun run activity was sponsored by Batch 1987 Seminarians of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Seminary in Sorsogon City.

Meanwhile, SPPO Provincial Director PSupt John CA Jambora said that SPPO personnel does not only excel in running but even in dancing competition where policewomen of SPPO also got the second place award in the Ballroom Dance Competition during the Women’s Night, a culminating activity of this year’s women’s month celebration with the theme: “Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance and Accountability Everyone’s Responsibility,” held at the Multi-Purpose Building at Camp Simeon Ola in Legazpi City last March 30, 2012.

Ten contestants from different Provincial and City Police Offices of the Police Regional Office V (PRO5) were bested by the women of SPPO during the said dance competition.

Likewise, on March 26-30 members of the SWAT TEAM of Sorsogon Police Provincial Office got the second place during the SWAT competition and Hand Gun Classification Marksmanship Test at the PRO5 Grandstand in Villa Hermosa, Daraga, Albay and in Brgy. Padang, Legaspi City. (MAL/BAR/PCI NFMarquez-PPO-PIA 5, Sorsogon)

Confessions of a materialist

by Elmer A. Ordoñez

Philippine Daily Inquirer


At UP High in Padre Faura, after the war, we read Shakespeare, notably Hamlet, which, like all the bard’s plays, teems with memorable passages like the soliloquies and lines from the dialogue, as when Hamlet tells his stoic friend, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” This, after the ghost scene. It has become a favorite comeback, albeit hoary with age, to doubting Thomases, and one feels smug at having quoted Shakespeare in the face of a non-believer. Sometimes, though, I, a professed materialist, have been on the receiving end of this repartee, but I would say, “What philosophy?” and thereby engage the person in a friendly debate. I wonder, however, why lately (the past 15 years or so) I have lost my fascination for antiquaria, like old houses and furniture. I still like to visit the bahay-na-bato in cities and towns, and marvel at the antique tables, chairs, cabinets made in the last two centuries here and abroad, and acquired by the ilustrado families, the nouveau riche at the time. I remember my childhood vacations in the town of Juban, where I was born. I didn’t grow up there, so I missed the steady company of the elders who had lived in bahay-na-bato built for managers of the Ynchausti company tending the abaca and coconut plantations in Sorsogon. My maternal grandfather (Capitan Lino Alindogan) himself owned tracts of these lands, including a portion of friar lands in the foothills of Mt. Bulusan, and lived in a house whose ruins (mainly stone and huge rotting logs) could still be seen in his poblacion compound before the war. The other old houses can still be seen along Maharlika highway. Turn of the century My memories are of the vacations spent with tio Miguel (half Andalusian) and tia Loleng in the house built at the turn of the century. It was finally blown down by a typhoon. Juban is noted province-wide as an aswang town. Why so, I asked historian Luis Dery (who comes from Gubat). He said that Juban in pre-Spanish times was a center of babaylan. It seems that with the coming of the Spaniards, the friars demonized the faith healers and shamans as witches or mangkukulam, as the Church did to the “pagan” priests and priestesses in Europe. I have since associated old houses with dark rooms lit at night with a candle or petro-max lamp, and the call of the resident tuko. When the lamp hissed out at night at my tio Miguel’s house in Juban, my brothers and I would huddle or snuggle together with pillows (abrazador) on a large mat under a mosquito net in the sala, where we boys were banished at bedtime. Dead ancestors in ornately framed pictures looked at us from the walls of the living room. One morning after, older brother Jim swore that he woke up at night because he heard our tio Miguel talking to some people in the camarin below, where bales of abaca were stored. Jim ventured down the staircase and saw no one in the darkened bodega. He ran back to us as fast as he could. On a trip to Ilocos not too long ago, a friend, Emily Tiongco from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, offered her ancestral house, Villa Fernandez, for us to stay in while in Vigan. The caretaker told us the big chalet-type house, with its stairs dividing in two in the patio, had been used earlier for the shooting of a film with Tom Cruise. We were given the master bedroom, and had the run of the living room, like the one in Juban with fading black and white pictures of the family on the walls . The four-poster bed had a capacious mosquito net hung from the canopy and cascading down the other end of the bed. We kept the light on in the adjoining toilet so we wouldn’t trip on the way to it in the middle of the night, in spite a street light filtering into the bedroom. My wife Elenita said the next morning that she felt presence in both the bedroom and bathroom. I said I felt the same way. Back in Manila, Emily asked if we had met her grandmother. We could only smile weakly and thank her for the hospitality, but we vowed to ourselves never again to sleep in an ancient house doubling as a pension. Original owners Now, long empty houses give us the creeps. I even suspect the old table sold to us by antique dealer/writer Pete Daroy may be visited by wraiths of its original owners. At the UP writers workshop in Baguio in the mid-’90s, we housed three resource persons/writers—Sedfrey Ordonez, Gemino Abad and Roger Sikat—at a prewar chalet on Quezon Hill. The UP Baguio dormitory was already full of loud writing fellows, and not suitable for our distinguished latecomers. We had stayed a night in the chalet (owned by Elenita’s relatives) earlier, and we experienced what we later had in the Vigan house, so I told Sedfrey if he didn’t mind staying in a haunted house. Oh no, he said. The following day we learned that sleeping arrangements for two rooms were changed into one room. One workshop wit suggested that all three be commended for valor. Another writer, rumored to be clairvoyant, claimed the “presence” in the house by pointing them out to our group, taking turns to visit the john. We didn’t see a thing, but I did have again that eerie feeling as I walked along a narrow corridor. The caretaker living in the basement with his family said that skeletal remains had been dug up below the house, which was used by the Japanese before the war. Nowadays Elenita and I can no longer savor new travel experiences. The last one in October last year was a China/Vietnam cruise from Hong Kong. The immediate members of the family were with us on this sea voyage. But my wife and I spend much more time together in our sylvan retreat in Cavite, with well-wishers visiting her in bed. A few weeks ago, a healing priest came and gave solace to both of us. One of the healing rites that he performed was a procedure that has kept me in deep thought. The young Redemptorist priest asked me to cup my hands behind me. He pressed down hard on my cupped hands and I fell on my knees. As I stood up, he put in my shirt pocket what he calls a healing patch, a square-inch cloth patch in blue with a red cross on it. He asked me again to cup my hands behind me. He bore down hard on them this time, with his 75 kilos of weight. I saw him lift his feet for a second or so, and I, at 82, held, panting a bit. He then did the procedure on Elenita, who already wore the healing patch pinned on her front blouse, and she did not fall. Not his full weight was used, but in her frail condition, how could she do it?

Cebu Pacific shells out P798.8M for new aircraft, adds more summer flights

by gmanetwork.com


Cebu Air Inc. drew P798.84 million from the proceeds of its initial public offering (IPO) to make pre-delivery payments for seven aircraft last January and February, the operator of the Cebu Pacific airline revealed to the investing public Wednesday.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), Cebu Air said the net balance of proceeds from the IPO stood at P380.09 million on March 31 as per accounting procedures applied by SGV & Co.

The pre-delivery payments, in dollar terms, amounted to $18.32 million. The payments were channeled through Citibank N.A. and Banco de Oro.

More summer flights

In an earlier disclosure, Cebu Air said it will add 22 percent more Cebu Pacific flights in the summer months of April and May.

"Because of this increased seat capacity, passengers can take advantage of CEB's trademark low fares for travel this April and May. Plan your family or friends' exciting summer vacation by checking out the low-fare options on www.cebupacificair.com," said Candice Iyog, Cebu Air vice president for marketing and distribution.

Cebu Pacific will have more flights on these routes: Cebu-Dipolog, Cebu-Legazpi and Cebu-Pagadian (daily flights, February 8 to June 15); Cebu-Puerto Princesa (3 added flights to raise total to 10 flights, March 17 to June 4); Manila-Legazpi and Manila-Puerto Princesa (total of 4 daily flights each); Cebu-Bacolod (total of 17 weekly flights); Cebu-Caticlan (3 daily flights), Cebu-Davao (5 daily flights); and Cebu-Siargao (4 weekly flights).

“Legazpi is the gateway to whale shark encounters in Donsol, Sorsogon,” the airline noted.

“CEB remains the largest airline operating to and from Puerto Princesa, which is world-renowned for its Underground River. CEB is the only airline flying direct to Siargao, an international surfing destination,” the flag carrier also said.

The airline also decided to extend to June 4 its flight frequency additions for Manila-Cebu (total of 99 weekly flights), Manila-Bacolod (40 weekly flights) and Manila-Iloilo (7 daily flights).

Joint venture of LGU Sorsogon City with LKY Dev’t. Corp. to create 500 jobs

by Felix ‘Boy’ Espineda, Jr.


SORSOGON CITY (BicolToday.com/3-April-2012) – The agreement and understanding of LGU Sorsogon City with LKY Development Corporation is expected to create five hundred jobs for Sorsoganons. It will materialize after the completion and full occupancy of the renovated Sorsogon Shopping Center now in its finishing stage of construction and the on-going Sorsogon Bay City project. The projects are hubs for fast food chains, drugstores, supermart, gas station and the Bay City will host condotels and marinas offering the view of the sunset of Sorsogon Bay. Both offer commercial leasing spaces. The renovation of the old shopping center became one of the focal points during the first term of Mayor Leovic Dioneda, to attract and create job opportunities, doubled-up by the investment of Wilbert Lee, Chief Executive Officer of LKY Development Corporation, the biggest construction concern in Sorsogon, who foot the bill for the renovation. When the project was tossed to the Sorsogon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Wilbert Lee took the opportunity and the challenge to prove that Sorsogon City is a good investment area, thus a roadmap for domestic investors was created.

This is not the first time that LKY took a giant step, back in the late eighties, the construction firm responded to the offer of then Municipality of Sorsogon when it built a commercial building in a government lot fronting the public market, then another foothold when the diocesan leadership offered the development of the back portion of the cathedral lot which now stands as a landmark in the city proper. This time, the response of Lee’s firm was a class act for Sorsogon City. It was a silent statement that private-public partnership can design, build and offer new landscape for business opportunities. It started way back in 2009 during Dioneda’s first term, when the third city council was challenged by him to come-up with a resolution to attract investors for built-operate, built-lease, and built transfer scheme offering safety nets for investors. LKY responded with a grand proposal not only to boost Sorsogon economy but put on record that the traffic problem of the city center be corrected. Thus the renovated Sorsogon Shopping Center when completed will host the tricycle integrated terminal and the Sorsogon Bay City project at Barangay Balogo will house the integrated bus, jeepney and van terminal. Rolling up its sleeves when the projects were given the green lights, LKY never look back. It was committed and it was proving to all that it is not lost in Sorsogon after all. Both Mayor Dioneda and Wilbert Lee of LKY are sort of visionaries, they have the knack of what can be done and how can it be done. Dioneda created an investment climate, Lee responded in ways never imagined by Sorsoganons. Simultaneously starting the project created employment to skilled workers and tap the labor force not only of the city but from the other towns of the province. Masons, carpenters, plumbers, welders, pipe fitters, steel fabricators and many more who for sometimes were not employed are now having a week pay to look-up. At its peak LKY was employing close to three hundred workers in the two projects pumping a large sum of money in the local economy. This was an indirect contribution of the construction firm in prime-pumping the local economy. The construction lessened the number of employment seekers at city hall. The two projects are now the center piece of construction in the city. It’s because, Mayor Dioneda made a big difference and LKY of Wilbert Lee nurtured the big difference. BicolToday.com

Firms vie for 38 coal prospects

by Amy R. Remo


The Department of Energy on Friday received 69 bids for contracts to explore and develop 38 highly prospective coal blocks across the country, considered an “overwhelming” number that proved investors’ unwavering confidence in the Philippines.

At the sidelines of the opening of bid offers Friday, Energy Undersecretary Jose M. Layug Jr. said the Philippine Energy Contracting Round 4 for coal attracted a lot of potential investors, of which about half were new players in the local coal industry.

Among the companies that submitted bids were Benguet Corp., Semirara Mining Corp., PNOC Exploration Corp., South Davao Development Co. Inc., SKI Mining and Empire Asia Mining Corp.

Layug said the DOE was targeting to award contracts within 150 days from the bid opening date yesterday, or by August 2012 at the latest. The coal blocks that had only one bidder will be processed faster than those that had six to eight bidders. For the coal blocks that did not have bidders, the DOE is set to re-offer these areas in future PECRs.

The offered coal blocks were in Quezon, Camarines Norte, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Bohol, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Initially, the DOE offered 30 coal blocks when it launched the PECR 4 for coal in December last year. Should all the 30 contracts be awarded, the DOE is expecting initial investments to run up to P2.4 billion within a two-year exploration period.

The number of areas, however, were increased to 38 blocks in anticipation of a huge number of bidders.

Layug stressed the need for the country to harness its own coal resources given an increasing demand for the commodity, which now stood at about 12 million metric tons a year. Local production averaged 7 million MT, of which 3 million tons are exported to various Asian markets. Coal imports remained huge at 7 million tons a year, he added.

It is expected that over the next 20 years, coal will remain the major fuel for power generation and the government continues to encourage the private sector to explore and develop the country’s prospective coal blocks to find additional reserves that can be used to address growing local demand.

By harnessing its own resources, the government believes that it will be able to push for energy independence that will allow it to reduce its fuel imports as well as lessen its vulnerability to global price fluctuations.

TEAM ASIA TAKES 4-3 SERIES LEAD OVER TEAM PHILIPPINES AS CHANG BEATS ALCANO

by Marlon Bernardino


TAIWANESE cue artist Chang Yu Long defeated Filipino Ronato "Volcano" Alcano bagging the top prize of the Philippine Bigtime Billiards Face-Off series on Saturday at the Airport Pagcor Casino in Paranaque City.

Chang won two straight racks to edged Alcano, 9-7, in the race-to-9 event backed up by Sorsogon Province Sports Patron Philip Escudero, Malungai Life Oil, Mandarin Sky Sea Food Restaurant, Servo Marketing, Hermes Sports Bar, Golden Leaf Restaurant, Bugsy Promotions, Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), Airport Casino Filipino and The Philippine Star as official media partner.

The win was worth $5,000 for Chang while Alcano settled for $2,500 in the winner's break format, dubbed as Philippines versus Asia, jointly organized by the Mega Sports World and BRKHRD Corp and aired live over Solar Sports, Sky Channel 70 and Destiny Channel 34, and also aired worldwide through the Internet, live streaming at www.megasportsworld.com and www.philippinebigtimebilliards.com. The win allowed Team Asia takes 4-3 series lead against Team Philippines.

Chang saw his big lead, 5-2, by winning three straight racks before Alcano fought back from the grave to cut the lead at 5-4 in favor of the former (Chang).

However, Chang won two of the three racks to go up, 7-5. Alcano managed to level the match at 7 in the 14th frame but the Taiwanese took the last two racks for the win.

“Luck played a part in my victory." said Chang through an interpreter. " Ronato (Alcano) is a very tough opponent." he added.

It shall be recalled that last March 24, Filipino Francisco "Django" Bustamante toppled Taiwanese Yang Ching-shun, 9-3, to lift Team Philippines series tied 3-3 against Team Asia.

Earlier, Ko Pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei downed Filipino pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, 9-4, last February 18. However, Bustamante pull off a come-from-behind win against Ko, 9-7, last February 25 to avenged the loss of his fellow Puyat Sports player Reyes. Chang Jung-lin of Chinese-Taipei, on the other hand beat Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, 9-7, last March 3, then edged Dennis "Robocop" Orollo, 9-8, last March 10. But Carlo " The Black Tiger" Biado downed Taiwanese Yang Ching-shun, 9-3, last March 17 to cut the lead of Team Asia into a 3-2 score against Team Philippines in the Philippine Bigtime Billiards introduces a fresh new format for 2012.

Meanwhile, the PBB Face Off series resumes with a match pitting Liu Hai Tao of China against Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan on April 14, Liu then face Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo on April 21 and Fong Pang Chao of Chinese-Taipei opposite Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza on April 28.

March 31st: Firms vie for 38 coal prospects…………March 31st: Nowhere in the mining map…………..March 31st: New Philippine Mining Rules Likely This Summer..

by Amy R. Remo, Philippine Daily Inquirer.


The Department of Energy on Friday received 69 bids for contracts to explore and develop 38 highly prospective coal blocks across the country, considered an “overwhelming” number that proved investors’ unwavering confidence in the Philippines. At the sidelines of the opening of bid offers Friday, Energy Undersecretary Jose M. Layug Jr. said the Philippine Energy Contracting Round 4 for coal attracted a lot of potential investors, of which about half were new players in the local coal industry. Among the companies that submitted bids were Benguet Corp., Semirara Mining Corp., PNOC Exploration Corp., South Davao Development Co. Inc., SKI Mining and Empire Asia Mining Corp. Layug said the DOE was targeting to award contracts within 150 days from the bid opening date yesterday, or by August 2012 at the latest. The coal blocks that had only one bidder will be processed faster than those that had six to eight bidders. For the coal blocks that did not have bidders, the DOE is set to re-offer these areas in future PECRs. The offered coal blocks were in Quezon, Camarines Norte, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Bohol, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga Sibugay. Initially, the DOE offered 30 coal blocks when it launched the PECR 4 for coal in December last year. Should all the 30 contracts be awarded, the DOE is expecting initial investments to run up to P2.4 billion within a two-year exploration period. The number of areas, however, were increased to 38 blocks in anticipation of a huge number of bidders. Layug stressed the need for the country to harness its own coal resources given an increasing demand for the commodity, which now stood at about 12 million metric tons a year. Local production averaged 7 million MT, of which 3 million tons are exported to various Asian markets. Coal imports remained huge at 7 million tons a year, he added. It is expected that over the next 20 years, coal will remain the major fuel for power generation and the government continues to encourage the private sector to explore and develop the country’s prospective coal blocks to find additional reserves that can be used to address growing local demand. By harnessing its own resources, the government believes that it will be able to push for energy independence that will allow it to reduce its fuel imports as well as lessen its vulnerability to global price fluctuations.





DOLE gives Sorsogon ex-cons a break in livelihood

by Danny O. Calle


SORSOGON CITY, March 29 (PNA) – After walking back to freedom, 10 former inmates from the city jail here are now back to the mainstream of the society gainfully earning a decent living out of the assistance especially provided to them by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

These 10 are among the parolees and probationers selected for the Kabuhayan Starter Kit (KSK) project being implemented by the DOLE as part of the Aquino administration’s desire to make every Filipino, regardless of his or her standing in life a productive and self-sustaining member of the community.

“Reborn”. This is how these people commonly called ex-convicts describe themselves now as one of them, Eugenio Canal Jr. of Barangay Bibincahan here on Thursday told the PNA in dialect, “this livelihood assistance awarded to us by the DOLE gave us an opportunity to start a new life after practically losing it behind bars”.

Canal said he tried to get employed after his release from the jail on parole two months ago but every employer he approached turned him down on knowing that he is an ex-convict. He was convicted of illegal gambling and meted a six-month to six-year jail term but was granted parole after his good character showing inside prison.

“I really wanted to start a new life and rise again as a man of dignity but it seemed no one would open a door for me to get into it until the DOLE came in and placed me under its KSK project. That made me realized that in times of social seclusion, the government under President Noynoy is there to help me,” he added.

Under the project, Canal, a certified aluminum and glass fabricator, was awarded by the DOLE a set of tools including an electric drill that he is now using in accepting small work contracts in line with his skill.

Each of the other nine beneficiaries has his own skills like in carpentry, plumbing, mobile phone repair and troubleshooting, furniture making and house painting, among others and they were given the appropriate tools and portable equipments.

One of them, Rose Pamaloy, a lady “ex-con” who was once a beautician was given a steamer ceramic iron and other related paraphernalia while Roberto Francisco was awarded with a sewing machine for his sandal making venture.

The livelihood kits were personally awarded to them by DOLE regional director Nathaniel Lacambra during a simple rite done here over the week in coordination with the Provincial Parole and Pardon Office (PPPO) under the Department of Justice (DOJ).

During the affair, the DOLE regional chief said the 10 parolees and probationers who were carefully selected from among the hundreds of other ex-convicts in the city were given kits of tools in-line with their skills which they will use to put up their own source of livelihood without having to beg for mercy from local employers who are not really inclined to hire ex-convicts.

“Being an ex-con is very difficult. My driver before is an ex-con and nobody, even my wife, wanted to hire him as she found it hard to trust a criminal. But still, I gave him a chance in life so I still hired him. Well, I have proven most people, including her wrong as we found that driver the most trustworthy person we have ever met in our entire life,” Lacambra narrated.

“That fellow formally left us recently, more than eight years after serving us because he was able to save out of salary some amount to buy a passenger jeepney that he now drives. From time to time, that guy would drop by us to repeatedly express his gratitude for giving him the chance for the dignified life he and his family is now enjoying,” he said.

The livelihood kits given to the 10 ex-cons here, were worth a total of P65,000, according to Lacambra.

“These wares will save them from suffering the pain of rejection that often times ends to depression until they come to a point of committing another crime just to survive or out of anguish,” he said.

Case records of PPPO disclosed that the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness in dealing with daily life after being released from prison is the main reason why ex-convicts re-commit crimes.

The KSK intervention of the DOLE regional office will serve the backbone in realizing the full correction and re-integration of the convicts to the community as it will give instant hope in reclaiming their lost lives and livelihood, Lacambra said.

This goes through in partnership with the parole and probation office as “while we provided the funding and materials, the PPPO on the other hand will provide a simple business training to the beneficiaries and conduct regular guidance, monitoring and assessment to ensure that the tools given are put to good use”, he added.

The DOLE KSK project is a livelihood formation strategy that brings about improved socio-economic well-being of workers in the informal economy, in groups or sectors with special concerns and displaced local and overseas workers and their families by providing a package of services that enable them to start quickly a livelihood undertaking and become self-employed. (PNA) dct/RSV/LQ/DOC/cbd

Seek Enlightenment, Bishop Urges President

by LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO


Manila, Philippines - President Benigno S. Aquino III has been advised by an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to go on retreat this coming Holy Week for him to be “enlightened.”

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, member of the CBCP Permanent Council, advised the Chief Executive, following a report that Aquino and his Cabinet’s annual Lenten retreat has been scrapped due to their busy working schedules.

Catholics will mark the start of the observance of Holy Week on April 1, Palm Sunday.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President and Cabinet members are likely to hold separately their Lenten recollections this year since the Chief Executive is set to travel to Cambodia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit early this month.

“He should take time to be with the Lord especially this Holy Week so that he will get more enlightenment,” said Bastes over Church-run Radyo Veritas yesterday.

“They should not only rely on their intelligence or prudence, but as leaders of the nation, they have to ask the guidance of the Holy Spirit to enlighten their minds because it is not easy to govern the Philippines,” he added.

Bastes said there is no reason for the President and his Cabinet not to go on retreat since they can do it even after the Holy Week.

“If he can't do it during Holy Week, he can do it after Easter, because Easter is also a time for rejoicing as Our Lord has risen.

Sorsogon City Central Fire Station conducts Tree Planting activity

by (BFP/BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)


Personnel of Bureau of Fire protection Sorsogon City headed by City Fire Marshal SInsp Walter Marcial conducts tree planting activity together with the pupils of Bacon East Central School as a way of mitigating effects of climate change as well as raising the public’s awareness of protecting water sources. The activity is part of the observance of this year's Fire Prevention Month.






2 drown in Sorsogon amid rains

by Mar Arguelles, Inquirer Southern Luzon


LEGAZPI CITY—Two people died in separate drowning incidents on Wednesday and Thursday in Sorsogon amid heavy rains in Bicol, the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol said Friday. Bernardo Alejandro, Bicol OCD director, identified the victims as Jomar Gordolo, 19, of Barangay Obrero in Bulan town, and Aida Fusana, 61, of Barangay San Francisco in Bulusan town. Alejandro said Gordolo was swimming with his friend at around 3:10 p.m. Wednesday at Sabang Beach when he suffered muscle cramps and was carried away by strong sea currents and drowned. The town’s search and rescue team recovered Gordolo’s body and brought it to the Pantaleon Gutladera Memorial Hospital in the town on the same day but was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physicians. Fusana drowned while trying to cross a flooded spillway in their village at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, said Alejandro. Rains also triggered a landslide at Barangay G. del Pilar in Bulan on Thursday burying in a mudflow a house owned by a village councilman, Alejandro said. No casualty was reported, he said. A low pressure area forecast east of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan brought low to moderate rainfall in Albay and Sorsogon over the past four days, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Matnog imitates CCT scheme to preserve environment

by Danny O. Calleja


MATNOG, Sorsogon, March 23 (PNA) – The local government here is adopting a conditional cash transfer (CCT) scheme of preserving the municipality’s remaining forest and marine resources that are vital to its tourism and investments.

Under the scheme, residents who derive their income from cutting forest trees and illegal fishing will be given cash subsidies by the municipal government to provide them an alternative source of income.

“This scheme will draw them away from further destroying the town’s remaining forest and spoiling its rich marine resources,” Mayor Emilio Ulbaldo on Friday said.

Ulbado said the municipality had some 5,000 hectares of land classified as forest but only about 1,000 hectares of this remains forested.

“The status is alarming that is why we arrived at this CCT pattern given the fact that the municipality urgently needs its natural resources for its development anchored on tourism and trade investments,” the mayor explained

Under the scheme, he said local upland and coastal dwellers engaged in activities that are disastrous to the ecology will be given regular compensations by the local government on condition that they stop with their illegal sources of livelihood.

“These upland people cut trees for charcoal making, timber poaching and kaingin (slash and burn) farming while those in the coastal villages oftentimes use trawl, cyanide, dynamites and fine-meshed nets in their fishing activities. They are our target in this CCT program”, the mayor said.

While implementing the compensation scheme, Ulbado said those who would be caught violating laws on forest and marine resources conservation will be harshly penalized.

The penalties, apart from those provided under the law, Ubaldo said violators would be required to plant a thousand new trees for every cut full-grown tree while illegal fishers would be banned from the local waters and made to perform community services like coastal cleanup and mangrove planting.

“Preserving what is left of our forest and restoring what have been lost is our ultimate intention because we have investors putting up huge capital to establish ecology-based projects that would help our town become fully developed in terms of trade and commerce,” Ubaldo said, referring to the “Ecological Model City” a Japanese consortium is establishing here.

The US$ 100-million model city will be constructed on a 20-hectare land that would provide a retirement village for Japanese retirees with a hospital and clinic, hotel, resort, fish port, agro-tourism and marine parks and an international airport, according to Ubaldo.

“Undoubtedly, this sleepy town is blessed with ecological wonders just waiting to be discovered while being continually protected and nurtured. We hope that preserving and protecting its environment though our CCT scheme of preventing more man-made destruction will help its boost its ailing economy,” he said.

CCT is a banner program of the national government with P34 billion budget to promoting health and social upliftment of the poor by subsidizing the indigent families on condition that they avail of health and basic education services being provided by the government. (PNA) RMA/ jfm/DOC/cbd

(Weather) Low pressure area churns off Palawan -- PAGASA

by (PNA)

scs/CLTC


MANILA — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has warned the people of Palawan of possible flashfloods and landslides due to the low pressure area (LPA) churning off Puerto Princesa City. In its synopsis issued on Thursday, PAGASA said that as of 2 a.m., the LPA was estimated to be at 160 kilometers east-southeast of Puerto Princesa City (9.5°N, 120.3°E). Weathermen said they expect the LPA to be over Palawan within Thursday, causing widespread rains, including in some areas in the Bicol region, where Sorsogon had experienced heavy rains in the past days. In it 5 a.m. weather forecast, PAGASA said that Southern Luzon and the Visayas will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, becoming widespread rains over Palawan, Central and Western Visayas which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of Luzon and Western Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Some portions of Metro Manila may also experience light to moderate rains, PAGASA said. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to east will prevail over Luzon and the Visayas and coming from the southeast over Mindanao. Coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough. The weather agency also advised owners of fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.

“Flavors of Science” savored at the 11th Philippine Food Expo

by Eunice Charis B. Mendoza, S&T Media Service


Flavors of Science, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development’s (PCAARRD) brand of its TechnoMart-supported products, was once again sampled by the public at the 11th Philippine Food Expo on February 23─26 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

This time, the TechnoMart products showcased were bongulan banana chips, coconut sugar, organic Arabica coffee, and pili nut pulp and kernel oils.

TechnoMart is PCAARRD’s program that bridges research and development results from the lab to the market. Participating in trade fairs is one of the Council’s strategies in bringing agro-based products from the community to a wider market. Incidentally, PCAARRD’s participation to the expo is its fourth already.

Through the expo, Magsasaka Siyentistas (MS)/entrepreneurs of the exhibited products were able to meet and talk with interested producers, retailers, and exporters. Inquiries, booked orders, and deals were closed during the four-day event.

Participating MS included Victoria Motril of the Cotabato Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium and Ben Lao of the Southern Mindanao Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium. Also, Sorsogon City entrepreneur Minda Yee represented the Bicol Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development, while the San Ramon Cooperative represented the Western Mindanao Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium. Finally, representing the Highland Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium and the Arabica coffee, the Council brought the Cordillera Heirloom Coffee, Benguet Coffee Arabica, Tuba Coffee, Sagada Gold, and Benguet State University Green Mountain.

The Philippine Food Expo is an annual event organized by the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization, Inc.






Sorsogon mourns homegrown journalist, cultural worker, artist, activist, 66

by (PNA)

hbc/LQ/DOC/cbd/


SORSOGON CITY, March 19 (PNA) – At age 66 and after a long bout with paralysis due to a stroke, Reynaldo Jamoralin has succumbed to multiple internal organ malfunctions.

Survived by his wife Ella, sisters Mercia and Millet, daughter Suyin, adopted son Ian and grandson CJ, Jamoralin died in a local hospital last March 12.

His body was laid to rest at the Sorsogon Memorial Park last Saturday.

Founder and president of the Sorsogon Arts Council, Jamoralin was a journalist, artist, book writer and activist rolled into one.

The appelations have helped make him one of the few respected key media personalities in Sorsogon.

He was the editor and writer of the two editions of the book “Tracing: From Solsogon to Sorsogon,” published by the SAC and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in 1994.

He was a member of the board of editors of Letra, a Bicol magazine, the first regional cultural and literary magazine and Centro, another local magazine.

A playwright and folklorist, Jamoralin wrote the dance-drama in the Bikol language, Si Bulusan nan si Agingay, based on the local legend of Lakes Bulusan and Agingay, which received several production and tour grants from the Cultural Center of the Philippines and NCCA.

He was also author of Kantada ni Daragang Magayon and Mandirigma, adopted from Bicolano artist Merlinda Bobis’ epic poetry of the same title.

This was brought around the country and presented at the CCP Little Theater in 2000.

Jamoralin also rewrote, revised, and adapted Sorsogon Sarswelista Asisclo Jimenez’s Pagkamoot sa Banuang Tinoboan, under a production and tour grant from the NCCA in 1994.

A long-time cultural worker, he was a founding member of the Kasanggayahan Foundation, Inc. and responsible for the institutionalization of Pantomina sa Tinampo every Kasanggayahan Festival in October.

He was the brains behind the establishment of the Sorsogon Museum and Heritage Center which involves the adaptive re-use and restoration of the old Sorsogon Provincial Hospital building built during the American occupation in the 1920s.

Jamoralin was also a member of Sorsogon Heritage Society chaired by PDI Founder Eugenia Duran-Apostol and publisher of Sarabihon, a journal of Sorsogon studies where he wrote several articles.

As a member of the Kapisanan ng Mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP), Jamoralin co-anchored the public affairs program “Damayan” over DZGN-FM during the late 80s till early 90s.

A journalist from the 1970s, he edited local weekly community newspapers including the Sentro Sorsogon, which he himself published.

For a time he was correspondent and feature writer for the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) and credited for exposing the slaughter of whale sharks in Donsol and initiated an early advocacy for its protection even before the giant sea mammals were discovered to be a tourism treasure.

He was also one of the organizers of Pagsurat, the first gathering of Bicolano writers in 2000 at the Aquinas University of Legaspi attended by over 100 participants including a septuagenarian chanter from Albay and New York-based poet Luis Cabalquinto.

As an activist, Jamoralin was among the local key personalities that organized groups against the Marcos administration.

He edited and co-authored Pulang Hamtik, a collection of biographical sketches of Bicolano youth martyrs during the Martial Law years up to 1990s, published by the Bicol Agency for Nationalist and Human Initiatives, Inc. (BANHI).

He earned his academic degree from the University of Santo Tomas, B.S. Major in Psychology.

He taught at the Mass Communications Department of the Aemilianum College, Inc. in Sorsogon City.

Bill Addressing Cable Tapping Approved

by CHARISSA M. LUCI


MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives Thursday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to address the snowballing cases of signal or service theft of cable television (CATV) and Internet connections.

Under House Bill 709, principally authored by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his brother Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., individuals who are found to be illegally tapping CATV systems shall face imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine ranging from P50,000 to P100,000 or both.

The House Committee on Rules, chaired by Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales, said HB 709 or "The Anti-Cable Television and Cable Internet Pilferage Act of 2012 was approved on March 5.

Rodriguez said the approved measure seeks to protect the general public and legitimate operators of CATV systems and/or networks and cable Internet services from unauthorized connection or tapping into existing facilities through wire or electromagnetic means.

"Unfortunately, providers of CATV and Internet are threatened by high incidence of theft through unauthorized interception of CATV programming or Internet services. This has become a serious issue that cable television and Internet providers face today," he said.

HB 709 provides that only subscribers duly authorized and/or registered with the CATV and/or cable Internet service operator shall be allowed to receive any service or benefit offered and/or operated over a CATV or Internet system or network.

Another author of the bill, Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III, expressed confidence that passage of the bill would address the “growing problem” of CATV or cable Internet pilferage

He said the measure also prohibits the introduction of unauthorized importation, sale, lease, distribution or possession of electronic equipment that will be used to access or decode unencrypted or encrypted satellite program signals or other electromagnetic signals.

Those who wantonly, maliciously or willfully destroy or remove CATV and cable Internet facilities and accessories of authorized CATV and cable Internet service operators that results in the disruption of system or network degradation shall be slapped with penalties under the measure.

Bantay Dagat steps up preservation, pursues sustainable development of local tourism

by (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


SORSOGON CITY, March 14 (PIA) -- Bantay Dagat adhoc committee in Donsol town has organized the Bantay Dagat Federation to preserve and develop the rich marine resources and sustain ecotourism industry of their municipality.

In a meeting Tueday (March 13), Salvador P. Adrao Jr., former tourism officer of Donsol, now a councilor and lead convenor of the Donsol Bantay Daga, said that the measure is an offshoot of the Bantay Dagat’s previous meetings to come up with the different strategies to protect and conserve the whale shark , thus improving the existing guidelines in its protection and their other rich marine resource.

"The whale shark is our 'money- generating provider' ” that even led to the tremendous development in our municipality in terms of world exposure, and which change our life in our once before unknown town, Donsol,"Adrao said.

"Our town is now truly famous because of the whale shark ( rhincodon typus) the biggest known fish in the world, that thrives here in our municipal waters and have made Donsol as one of the world’s best ecotourism destinations today in our country," he said. 

Adrao also  said starting January of this year, although there were rains, this situation did not stop the coming of tourists in Donsol from different places the world over.

“The whale shark of Donsol is now a world renown phenomena in terms of tourism destinations, and tourists who go for adventure for an up close and personal thrill have made Donsol the prime ecotourism destination here in the Philippines,”Adrao said.

The plan in preserving the Donsol marine resources with organizational structures involving other agencies mandated to assist in the conservation of the environment and promotion of tourism.

"Now that the summer season is on, we have to be more vigilant in implementing the presrvation of our marine resources and adherence to our tourism rules," Adrao underscored.

The Bantay Dagat Municipal Federation zeroed in on the commitment to have a sense of urgency in showing how tourism in their locality should be valued with discipline, how tourists should be provided security, treated with respect, and how the implementation of tourism rules, particularly in the conservation and preservation of their marine resources, will be given importance to sustain their place as a prime ecotourism destination.

SORSOGON MOURNS DEATH OF CULTURAL WORKER, ARTIST

by (JJPerez, SAC/PIA Sorsogon)


SORSOGON CITY, March 13, 2012 – After more than four years bout with paralysis due to stroke, Reynaldo “Tootsie” Jamoralin died past four o’clock in the afternoon of March 12, 2012 at the age of 66. Founder and President of the Sorsogon Arts Council (SAC), he is considered as one of Sorsogon’s “Provincial” artists. His body lies in state at their residence in Monreal corner Rizal streets in Sorsogon City.

Jamoralin was the editor and writer of the two editions of the book ‘Tracing: from Solsogon to Sorsogon’, published by the SAC and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in 1994. He also edited and co-wrote Pulang Hamtik, a collection of biographical sketches, of Bikolano youth martyrs during the Martial Law years up to 1990s, published by the Bikol Agency for Nationalist and Human Initiatives, Inc. (BANHI).

As a member of the Kapisanan ng Mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas, he co-anchored the public affairs program “Damayan” over DZGN-FM during the late 80s till early 90s. A long-time journalist from the 1970s, he edited several local weekly community newspapers, notably the Sorsogon Times, Balangibog and Sorsogon News Service including Sentro Sorsogon, which he himself published.

For a time he was correspondent and feature writer for the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) and credited for exposing the slaughter of whalesharks in Donsol popularly known locally as Butanding that initiated the advocacy for its protection in his front page article on March 23, 1998. He was a member of the board of editors of letra, a bikol magazine, the first regional cultural and literary magazine and Centro, a Bikol magazine.

A playwright and folklorist, he wrote the dance-drama in the Bikol dialect, Si Bulusan nan si Agingay, based on the local legend of Lakes Bulusan and Agingay, which received several production and tour grants from the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and NCCA, and Kantada ni Daragang Magayon, Mandirigma, adopted from Bikolano artist Merlinda Bobis’ epic poetry of the same title, which was toured around the country and presented at the CCP Little Theater in 2000. He also rewrote, revised and adapted Sorsogon Sarswelista Asisclo Jimenez’s Pagkamoot sa Banuang Tinoboan, under a production and tour grant from the NCCA in 1994.

A long-time cultural worker, he was a founding member of the Kasanggayahan Foundation, Inc. and responsible for the institutionalization of Pantomina sa Tinampo every Kasanggayahan Festival in October. He was also a member of Sorsogon Heritage Society chaired by PDI Founder Eugenio Duran-Apostol, the publisher of Sarabihon, a journal of Sorsogon studies where he wrote several articles. He was also one of the organizers of Pagsurat, the first gathering of Bikol writers in 2000 at the Aquinas University of Legaspi attended by over a hundred participants including a septuagenarian chanter from Albay and New York-based poet Luis Cabalquinto.

He was the brains behind the establishment of the Sorsogon Museum and Heritage Center which involves the adaptive re-use and restoration of the old Sorsogon Provincial Hospital building built during the American occupation in the 1920s.

He earned his academic degree from the University of Santo Tomas, B.S. Major in Psychology. He taught at the Mass Communications Department of the Aemilianum College, Inc. in Sorsogon City.

He is survived by his wife Ella, sisters Mercia and Millet, daughter Suyin, adopted son Ian and grandson CJ.

Sorsogon's Liga ng mga Barangay commits to "Good Housekeeping"

by Irma A. Guhit


SORSOGON CITY, March12 (PIA) -- A series of trainings will be conducted by the Sorsogon provincial Liga ng Mga Barangay to assist the 541 barangays of the province to come up with a program for good governance in the implementation of the social basic services.

According to Nelson Marana, provincial president of the Liga, this traning for barangay officials will provide them development in forging effective partnership with the national government in the attainment of the national goals and policies, and the Liga’s advocacy to strengthen gradually the barangay governance and administration.

Marana also explained that these officials will be trained along in the key areas of transparency, accountability and efficient performance, particularly in implementing the programs in the barangays especially in the delivery of basic social services like health,education, infrastructure development, environmental protection and others.

The "Seal of Barangay Good Housekeeping" will be the standard of services to be delivered and will also guage each municipal Liga chapter on their capability and performance in four recognized areas of local governance namely 1) good planning and participatory governance; 2) sound fiscal management; 3) transparency and accountability; and 4) valuing of performance monitoring, and ultimately, the recognition and giving of awards for those Liga Chapters and barangays found to have excelled in these areas.

He also explained that the call of the national government through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is for full disclosure and accountability of the local government units and the firm intent to be involved and to support the "Daang Matuwid" campaign of the present administration of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino.

The training further will enhance the improve delivery of services by the barangays to their constituency, Marana explained. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

3 drug dealers arrested in Sorsogon, Davao

by ABS-CBNnews.com


MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has arrested a member of a notorious drug group in Bulan, Sorsogon, and two other drug dealers in Davao City this week.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose Gutierrez Jr. said 41-year-old Ruel Servando of the Sumalinog drug group was arrested after selling one plastic sachet of shabu to a poseur buyer in Purok Lukban, Zone 2, Bulan on March 7.

His arrest came months after authorities nabbed another member of Sumalinog, identified as Lemuel Gayoso, in Zambales.

"The arrest of Servando is a clear message to the public that PDEA is determined to arrest drug personalities and to cripple the operations of the local drug syndicates as part of our mandate to rid our communities of dangerous drugs and their ill-effects," Gutierrez said.

"For the year 2011, PDEA was able to neutralize a total of 227 drug groups nationwide," he added.

In Davao City, meanwhile, two drug personalities were arrested by PDEA during a buy-bust operation.

They were identified as Carlos Sumaylo, 35, and Oliver Rodrigeuz, 29.

Recovered from the suspects were two plastic sachets of shabu and the marked money that was used during the illegal transaction.

DOLE Sorsogon holds Career Coaching Seminar

by (MAL-PIA V/DOLE V)


LEGAZPI CITY, March 6 (PIA) — Sorsogueños are looking forward to better employability and career path in the coming years after the field office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here led the Capability Training in Career Coaching for stakeholders held last week.

DOLE V was able to train 18 managers of Public Employment Services Office and 11 guidance counselors from Sorsogon province; they will eventually guide graduating students in deciding what career path to take.

DOLE V was assisted by the Bicol Career Guidance Network (BCGN) and PESO Federation of Sorsogon (PESO Sorsogon) in holding said training event.

DOLE V regional director Nathaniel V. Lacambra explained that career coach is a well trained officer responsible in determining the talents and skills of a client, whether a student, a job seeker, or an employee, needing advice in choosing a career or helping students in trying to figure out the right college course.

The two-day training equipped the participants to become career coaches on career pathing, latest employment trends, recruitment and placement, illegal recruitment, overseas opportunities, cultural employment attitude orientation, entrepreneurship skills, and personality development.

“ Career coaches are very much needed since the region has a high 38.4 percent underemployment rate,” he noted.

Lacambra said the unemployment rate in the region entails that the career choices or the courses being taken by Bicolanos do not match the skills needed by the local industries here.

He added that in the U.S. and other developed countries, career coaches are employed by the government to align the skills demand of that country and this has given these countries an edge in placing workers to specific jobs.

In Sorsogon, concerns on skills mismatch and unemployment incidence of four-year courses graduates have prompted DOLE Sorsogon, headed by provincial director Imelda E. Romanillos, to intensify its campaign in establishing more career coaches in order to guide high schools and college students, in choosing their college courses or career paths so to speak.

“We have seen youngster in Sorsogon taking up courses because their friend took it or because their parents wanted them to take it. Later these youngsters would realize that they are nor really inclined to it and this is the reason why they perform poor and more often drop out from school. Waste of time, money, effort,” Romanillos said.

The training is the first BCGN activity this year and is in-line with the Project Jobs Fit (PJF) and Skills Registration System (SRS).

10 hurt as quake jolts Masbate

by Cet Dematera


LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – At least 10 people – mostly minors – were injured when a 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit Masbate and the nearby provinces of Albay and Sorsogon in Bicol at 7:06 a.m. yesterday.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Renato Solidum said the quake was felt at intensity 6 in Masbate City; intensity 4 in Roxas City and in Irosin, Cabid-an and Sorsogon City in Sorsogon; intensity 3 in Sigma, Capiz; Catarman and Capul Island, Northern Samar; Almagro and Tagapul-an, Western Samar; intensity 2 in Iloilo and Legaspi City; and intensity 1 in Kalibo and Numancia, Aklan.

Classes were suspended in all levels in Masbate and portions of the province were plunged into darkness, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) at Camp General Simeon Ola here.

OCD-Bicol director Raffy Alejandro identified the injured as Rex Devida, 8, of Barangay Bantique; Jinky Azares, 16, and Cesar Garapan, 31, of Barangay Nursery; Leonard Dimetellar, 3, and Christine Decos, 17, of Barangay Centro; Jeho Emilio Antonio, 2, of Barangay Bagumbayan; Liza Tidon, 34, of Barangay Tugbo; Victoria Dumas, 10, and Andrew Mortega, 3, of Barangay Batuhan; Jamnor Boungan, 2, of Barangay Bapor.

The 10 sustained injuries mostly in their hands and feet and were taken to the Masbate Provincial Hospital.

Senior Superintendent Heriberto Olitoquit, Masbate police director, reported cracks in some portions of the provincial police office as well as in the perimeter fence of Camp Boni Serrano.

Two buildings of the Kinamaligan Elementary School, the Masbate City Hall concrete perimeter wall, a pawnshop, a food chain outlet, and at least four private establishments in the city’s commercial district were also damaged, according to Alejandro.

Amy Danao, Masbate Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer, reported that the old house of one Vicente Lim partially collapsed after the tremor.

Bicol resident geologist Ed Laguerta said that the tremor’s epicenter was traced at 12.04 degrees north, 123.63 degrees east, or three kilometers north of Masbate City, with a depth of 23 kilometers.

At least five aftershocks were recorded until 8:30 a.m.

“But this earthquake is unlikely to generate tsunami because the shake was horizontal,” Laguerta told The STAR.

The earthquake occurred exactly one month after the deadly magnitude 6.9 tremor in Negros Oriental, which killed over 50 people.

Solidum said the earthquake was caused by a movement along the Philippine Fault Zone.

“It is not related to the Feb. 6 earthquake in Negros,” he stressed.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said it has activated its emergency operations center to respond to the needs of the affected areas. Disaster management personnel have also been placed on blue alert to ensure the availability of manpower in case of emergency.

Regional disaster management councils have been directed to alert residents living in coastal areas for possible evacuation.

They have also been ordered to spread earthquake advisories and to monitor developments in their area.

The OCD has requested an Air Force aircraft to assess the damage as well as meet requirements in affected areas.

“Our disaster response units are prepared for any task,” said Maj. Angelo Guzman, spokesman of the Army’s 9th Division.

Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) Undersecretary Romeo Momo said they are checking government buildings affected by the earthquake, but reported no major damage. – With Helen Flores, Celso Amo, Alexis Romero, Evelyn Macairan, AP

DOLE Sorsogon holds Career Coaching Seminar

by (MAL-PIA V/DOLE V)


LEGAZPI CITY, March 6 (PIA) -- Sorsogueños are looking forward to better employability and career path in the coming years after the field office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here led the Capability Training in Career Coaching for stakeholders held last week.

DOLE V was able to train 18 managers of Public Employment Services Office and 11 guidance counselors from Sorsogon province; they will eventually guide graduating students in deciding what career path to take.

DOLE V was assisted by the Bicol Career Guidance Network (BCGN) and PESO Federation of Sorsogon (PESO Sorsogon) in holding said training event.

DOLE V regional director Nathaniel V. Lacambra explained that career coach is a well trained officer responsible in determining the talents and skills of a client, whether a student, a job seeker, or an employee, needing advice in choosing a career or helping students in trying to figure out the right college course.

The two-day training equipped the participants to become career coaches on career pathing, latest employment trends, recruitment and placement, illegal recruitment, overseas opportunities, cultural employment attitude orientation, entrepreneurship skills, and personality development.

“ Career coaches are very much needed since the region has a high 38.4 percent underemployment rate,” he noted.

Lacambra said the unemployment rate in the region entails that the career choices or the courses being taken by Bicolanos do not match the skills needed by the local industries here.

LGUs, PAGASA to set up local weather station

by RRD/VS, GMA News


The local government units (LGUs) of Gerona in Tarlac, Irosin in Sorsogon, and Tubigon in Bohol on Monday signed a deal with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to set up their respective Automatic Weather Station (AWS).

Rice Watch and Action Network (R1) said in a report Monday the initiative will give farmers sufficient warning on extreme weather conditions so they can mitigate the impact of climate change on their lives and properties.

PAGASA will provide technical assistance in the operation of local weather instruments and relay climate information for the LGUs. The state weather forecaster will help install, maintain and calibrate weather instruments once the agro-meteorological stations are in place. It will also train people to man the stations.

The will set up the agro-meteorological stations based on World Meteorological standards, and shoulder the maintenance of the buildings and instruments, and salaries of observation and ground personnel.

Under the memorandum of understanding between the LGUs and PAGASA, the local governments of Gerona, Irosin and Tubigon must sustain the agriculture sector’s Climate Field School program for climate change mitigation.

R1 is urging other local governments to take on the example started by the three LGUs.

“With extreme weather conditions creating unimaginable damage to lives and properties in different parts of the country, we encourage other local governments to follow this example and put matters into their hands through planning of interventions,” said R1 convenor Jessica Cantos.

“We only need to tap the appropriate government agencies, break some of the bureaucratic layers, and identify ways of working together,” she added.

Sorsogon Initiatives beneficiaries urged to ‘own’ projects

by opapp.gov.ph/news


Gubat, Sorsogon, Mar. 4 – Local officials in this province urged communities to exert ownership and responsibility over development projects to ensure success in their implementation.

Sorsogon Congressman Deogracias Ramos, Jr. called on the beneficiaries of the Sorsogon Initiatives to treat the projects as their own. “Many projects have been provided by the government but some don’t take care of them. I hope you will not ignore your responsibility,” he said during the recent inauguration of several infrastructure projects held at the Sta. Ana Elementary School in Sta. Ana, Gubat, and at the Barcelona Development Cooperative (BADECO) Operation Center for Peace and Development in Poblacion, Barcelona.

Also present were Barcelona Mayor Manuel Fortes, Jr., Gubat Vice Mayor Sixto Estareja, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Assistant Secretary for Programs Howard Cafugauan, Agencia Española Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID) Deputy Coordinator General Norberto Gomez De Liaño, OPAPP Director Eileen Jose and Colonel Felix Castro, commander of the 903rd Brigade, among others.

Fortes, on the other hand, stressed the importance of partnership in the success of the projects that aim to boost peace and development conditions. “These will not be successful without the participation of the people."

The role of beneficiaries was also emphasized by Jose. “Since the projects are community-driven, the labor force comes from the barangay. In fact, the farmers themselves worked on the rehabilitation of the irrigation system, while others were hired for the road construction.”

A joint effort of OPAPP and the Department of Interior and Local Government-Local Government Agency (DILG-LGA), Sorsogon Initiatives aims to empower local communities through enhancing participation in local governance, and involving them in the preparation and implementation of peace and development projects. It is funded by Spain’s AECID.

Among the newly-completed projects in Gubat include the widening and concreting of road in Sitio Apgo, and rehabilitation and expansion of 1.5-km Sitio Puro communal irrigation system. In Barcelona, projects include banana production sustainable agri-based enterprise program and construction of the BADECO Operation Center for Peace and Development, among others.

Peace and development

Underlining the P-Noy administration’s efforts of negotiating a political settlement with rebel groups while addressing poverty and poor governance, Cafugauan stated that “peace and development should go together.”

“They should go hand-in-hand. We cannot separate one from the other,” he added.

Cafugauan expressed hope that the projects will serve as a legacy for the next generation. On this, he mentioned the government’s PAMANA or Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) program which is being implemented in conflict areas, as well as communities covered by existing peace agreements.

Big difference

Fortes said he believes that the Sorsogon Initiatives projects, which cost P 20.5 million, have made a big difference in the lives of the beneficiaries. He added that somehow it has also restored the faith of the people in the government

“The projects have given the people hope that the government is there to help. There is hope. Why should we fight the government?” he said, while touching on the longstanding problem of insurgency in their town.

In Sta. Ana, 84-year-old Rodrigo Felicia related that farming has become more convenient now that the irrigation canals have been concreted and individuals have been assigned as water tenders.

Councilor Vilma Espinida also said that the rehabilitated irrigation system has enhanced the relationship among community members. “There was too much water being wasted when the canals were not yet concreted. Due to the water shortage, people would get into dispute with each other. But now, everybody is happy because each has their own share.”

Sta. Ana Barangay Captain Romulo Epino, on the other hand, shared how the newly-developed concrete road in Sitio Apgo provided convenience to many residents, particularly students, who used to walk kilometers to reach the town center. “Travel time is much shorter now. Farmers are able to bring their produce to the market without having to spend big when commuting.”

In Barcelona, BADECO chair Lucy Bailon said that the construction of their operation center has freed them from the hassles of looking for a venue to accommodate 250 members during meetings and trainings. “Because of the project, we are able to hold meetings regularly,” she added.

Rodrigo Estipona, a 25-year-old beneficiary of the community-based training on motorcycle and small engine servicing, related how the project gave out-of-school youths opportunity to improve their financial lives. “In the past, I would ask money from my parents. But now that I use my skills to earn, I’m the one who gives,” he said. #






Gov’t inaugurates Spanish-backed peace & dev’t projects in Sorsogon

by opapp.gov.ph/news


Gubat, Sorsogon, March 2 - Several infrastructure projects that aim to boost peace and development conditions in the province were launched recently in Gubat and Barcelona towns, under the Sorsogon Initiatives Project, a joint effort of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Department of Interior and Local Government-Local Government Agency (DILG-LGA).

The completed projects, funded by the Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID), were symbolically turned over to the beneficiaries through a simple program at the Sta. Ana Elementary School in Sta. Ana, Gubat, and at the Barcelona Development Cooperative (BADECO) Operation Center for Peace and Development in Poblacion, Barcelona.

Present during the turn-over were Sorsogon Congressman Deogracias Ramos, Jr., Barcelona Mayor Manuel Fortes, Jr., Gubat Vice Mayor Sixto Estareja, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Assistant Secretary for Programs Howard Cafugauan, Agencia Española Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID) Deputy Coordinator General Norberto Gomez De Liaño, OPAPP Director Eileen Jose and Colonel Felix Castro, commander of the 903rd Brigade, among others.

The Sorsogon Initiatives Project aims to empower local communities through enhancing participation in local governance, and involving them in the preparation and implementation of peace and development projects.

In Sta. Ana, Gubat, the newly-completed projects include the widening and concreting of road in Sitio Apgo; construction of 1.5-kilometer Sta. Ana access road from Barangay Beriran to Carriedo; rehabilitation and expansion of 1.5-km Sitio Puro communal irrigation system; and repair of Sta. Ana Elementary School building. Ongoing is the cassava production livelihood project that will also benefit women and youth in four other neighboring barangays.

Barcelona, on the other hand, has four finished projects which include banana production sustainable agri-based enterprise program; rehabilitation of the Layug communal irrigation system; community-based training for out-of-school youth; and construction of the BADECO Operation Center for Peace and Development. Ongoing is the expansion of existing marine reserve and fish sanctuary in Brgy. Macabari to cover Brgys. Layug and Bangate.

Other efforts completed as of December last year are peace and conflict sensitivity training, human rights and peace education seminar-workshop, among others.

The inaugurated projects were undertaken through collaboration with the National Irrigation Association, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Municipal Agriculture Office, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office and Municipal Planning and Development Office of the local government units. #


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