Zamboanga City News December 2016

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Zamboanga City - Archived News

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.
Limpapa Beach.JPG
Limpapa Beach

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.

Zamboanga City joins the nation in remembering Dr. Jose Rizal’s martyrdom

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 30 (PNA) -- The city government on Friday joined the nation in remembering the 120th year of Dr. Jose Rizal’s martyrdom.

Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde led the commemoration rites representing Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar at Rizal Shrine in front of city hall, which kicked off at 7 a.m. with a flag-raising ceremony.

It was followed by a wreath-laying and a simple commemorative program spearheaded jointly by the local government and the Order of the Knights of Rizal - Zamboanga City Chapter.

In attendance during the ceremony were local government officials, national agencies, the academe, and multi-sectoral groups.

The death anniversary of the martyr is observed all over the country, marking the day when Rizal was executed by Spanish soldiers in Bagumbayan, now Luneta Park, 120 years ago.

Rizal was executed by Spanish soldiers on Dec. 29, 1896 due to his writings that authorities claimed incited rebellion that led to a revolution.

“Year after year, we commemorate the life and death of Rizal. I sincerely hope that such commemorations also give us a true sense and desire to get to know our history and our heroes. Let us take time to understand the struggles that have shaped our country,” Salazar said in a statement read by Iturralde.

“In this digital age, I hope our youth would continue to learn and emulate the examples of our national hero and become the true hope of our country. I hope his memory will live on in the mind and burn bright in the heart of all Filipinos,” she added.

Hidilyn is PH’s sports star of 2016

By Ding Marcelo

It was, it turned out, the shortest time taken by an athlete to enter people’s hearts.

Unlike other athletes who had to jump, run, swim, bike and box for hours, and others for many days, to achieve their goals, Hidilyn Diaz took less than one minute to get hers.

Her lift during the finals of the 52 kg division of women’s weightlifting competition in the Rio Olympic was over in less than a minute, but it was perhaps both the longest and shortest minute of her life. When the powder on her hands had all but disappeared, she had achieved something no one had. She became the first woman athlete to win an Olympic medal for the Philippines. As an added bonus, she had broken a 20-year medal drought for the country in the Olympic Games.

She thought she had won a bronze, and was jumping for joy. But by some quirk of fate, which she said was helped by God’s intervention, she ended up with a silver when the gold medal winner was disqualified and all those below her moved one rung higher, Hidilyn included.

No matter the circumstance, the 26-year-old Zamboanguena had become the toast of Philippine sports. From humble beginnings as the daughter of simple folks from Mindanao, she became an instant millionaire, a dramatic jump for a girl whose first foray in her sport was lifting barbells fitted with hard cement on both ends.

Next February she will be the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s Athlete of the Year.

No one else came close to challenging her for the accolade.

Yet, weightlifting hardly creates a buzz in a country foolishly crazy about basketball, a sport where winning an Olympic medal is not only impossible, but is as remote as an asteroid hitting earth. But with her triumph, Hidilyn pushed the sport of weightlifting into the national consciousness.

Many Filipinos are now thinking that maybe this sport is on the road to an Olympic gold medal which the country has been chasing – futilely – for nearly a hundred years.

The sport may lack the glamor and fan fanaticism associated with basketball, it may not have the skill set related to track and field, swimming and boxing, but it is still a sport that requires discipline, stamina, strength, and character.

Hidilyn has competed in three Olympics already, having debuted in Beijing in 2008 and then also lifted in London in 2012, but there seemed to be no stopping her from chasing the Olympics’ ultimate glory.

She is being urged to go for gold in Tokyo in 2020 when she will be 29 years old. The event is four years away and many things may happen by then such as getting married and having children, injuries or adding body weight.

No matter what happens, though, whether she retires or not, we join the nation in expressing our gratitude and pride to Hidilyn who has made 2016 a year to remember in Philippine sports.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE RIO
• Received P8 million (P5 million from government, P2 million from President Duterte, P500,000 from Zamboanga City government, P500,000 from Philippine Senate, undisclosed amount from Manny Pacquiao. ) House and lot from Deca Homes, free plane tickets for five years from AirAsia.
• Met with President Duterte after her arrival from the Rio Olympics.
• Lives at her own condo unit near Rizal Memorial.
• Shelved momentarily plans to build a weightlifting gym in her Zamboanga City near her home after deal fell through.
• Resumed light training for the Southeast Asian Games.
• Received commendations from Congress
• Philippine Sportswriters Association’s Athlete of the Year.
• Did not enter showbiz.

SEC-Zamboanga advises public to be prudent in buying shares of stock in hospitals

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 24 (PNA) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) here has advised the public to exercise prudence in dealing with any individuals or groups of persons selling shares of stock in hospitals.

Lawyer Jesus Salvador Uro, SEC-Zamboanga Extension Office director, issued the advised after his office was informed about several individuals or groups of persons have been offering or “pre-selling” securities to the public in the form of shares of stock in hospitals currently under construction in this city.

Uro said the information further showed that these shares of stock allegedly grant the purchaser certain hospital benefits to attract investors.

These include but not limited to waived or discounted operating Room fees; free or discounted private room, ward and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) accommodations; discounts on use of ICU equipment, medicines, medical supplies and other merchandise; and, discount on hospital services as well as Out-Patient and In-Patient cases rates.

Uro said these shares of stock being offered are within the definition of “securities” under Section 3.1 of the Securities Regulation Code (SRC) and are required under Section 8 of SRC to be registered with the SEC before being offered or sold to the general public.

He urged the public who has knowledge or information about any transaction involving securities to report to the SEC so that appropriate measures can be taken.

BSP-Zamboanga reiterates reminders on demonetization of NDS currency

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has reiterated its reminder to the public on the demonetization of the old currency otherwise known as the New Design Series (NDS).

Vicente Celestial, BSP-Zamboanga deputy director, on Wednesday said that the NDS banknote would be fully demonetized or without monetary value starting January 1, 2017.

Celestial said the holders of NDS banknotes have only until December 29 to surrender or exchange the old currency, since that day is the last working day for 2016.

Celestial said the public may continue to use the old banknotes up to December 31 in paying and buying of goods and services and other business or financial transactions requiring the use of cash.

“Thereafter, these old banknotes will no longer be accepted for payment transactions,” he added.

Celestial said the holders of NDS can exchange their old banknotes with the New Generation Currency (NGC) in any of the universal and commercial banks, thrift banks, and rural as well as cooperative banks.

Celestial said they may also opt to exchange their old banknotes with the BSP or any of its regional offices or branches around the country.

He said the demonetization process of the old banknotes is in line with the provisions of Section 57 of Republic Act No. 7653, otherwise known as the New Central Bank Act, which authorizes the BSP to replace banknotes that are more than five years old.

He added that the old banknotes or NDS have been in circulation for almost three decades.

This means that the NGC banknotes, the new currency, introduced in December 2010 will result in the circulation of a single currency series in the country.

He said the NGC have more and enhanced security features to protect the safety of the public against counterfeiters.

Meanwhile, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) abroad, who have in their possession old banknotes which could not be exchanged within the prescribed period, may register online until December 31 through the BSP website.

Celestial said the old banknotes that are in the possession of OFWs may be exchanged with the BSP within one year from the date of registration.

Hospitals in Region 9 placed on ‘Code White Alert’

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/RGAAG/

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) here has placed all hospitals on “Code White Alert” to be ready to respond to cases of emergency during the yuletide season.

Dr. Agnes Mabolo, DOH regional coordinator for violence and injury protection, said the Code White Alert status took effect December 21 and will remain in effect until January 5, 2017.

Code White Alert means the hospitals are ready for any eventuality with complete staff and medicine.

Mabolo said the hospitals would not only focus on attending to firecracker-related injuries but to include other health needs of the public.

The DOH has recorded 12 cases of firecracker-related injuries here in Region 9 last year.

Here in this city, Dr. Romeo Ong, Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) chief of hospital, assured they are ready to respond to any emergencies that may arise.

Ong said the ZCMC medical staff is on standby equipped with surgical supplies and medicine.

Across the region, the DOH-retained hospitals included ZCMC, Mindanao Central Sanitarium; Labuan Public Hospital; Basilan General Hospital; Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital; Margosatubig Regional Hospital; and, Sulu Sanitarium.

Several private hospitals are also operating in different parts of the region.

Olympic silver medalist Diaz to join World Weightlifting Championship

By Jean T. Malanum [(PNA), CVL/JEAN T. MALANUM/SSC]

MANILA, Dec. 24 (PNA) -- Olympian Hidilyn Diaz will compete in next year's World Weightlifting Championship in Anaheim, California.

It will be Diaz's third time to join the tournament organized by the International Weightlifting Federation. The first was in Paris, France in 2011 where she finished sixth, and the second in Houston, Texas last year where she won the bronze medals in the snatch (96kg), clean and jerk (117kg), and total (213kg) events in the women's 53kg division.

Diaz's performance in Houston helped her qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games where she won the silver medal. She also won three golds at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Phuket, Thailand last year.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Weightlifting Association (PWA) are extending full support to the Zamboangueña's bid to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Aside from the US trip, Diaz will see action in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"Hidilyn Diaz is in top form. I am optimistic she can win the elusive Olympic gold in Tokyo," said veteran coach and PWA vice president Elbert Atilano.

Atilano, who heads the Universidad de Zamboanga Weightlifting Training Center, was responsible for molding Diaz into a world-class athlete.

For his part, PSC chairman William Ramirez said his agency is committed to support the training of Diaz.

“Diaz is a jewel in weightlifting. PSC will support her until she achieves the ultimate goal of winning the gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” said Ramirez.

Zambo City’s 11 islands start to attract tourists

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/RGAAG/

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 23 (PNA) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) is advising visitors, especially tourists, to coordinate with appropriate authorities if they wish to visit and explore the 11 islands in this city.

DOT Regional Director Antonio Fernando Blanco issued the advice following observation that the 11 islands had started to attract visitors, to include tourists, for the Christmas season.

The 11 islands have great tourism potential due to its beautiful corals, rock formation and pristine beaches. The place is good for swimming, snorkeling and diving.

The 11 islands composed of the following: Bisaya-Bisaya; Kabugan; Siromon; Baong-Baong; Buhbuh; Simadang; Salangan; Lambang-Lambang; Bagias; Lampinigan; and, Sibana.

Specifically, most of the visitors are interested to visit and explore the Siromon Island, which is known for its fine white sand and pristine beach.

“I know that several of our town mates including tourists are visiting the (Siromon) island. I advised them to coordinate with the barangay officials so they will be informed they have visitors,” Blanco said.

The island of Siromon fall under the political jurisdiction of Barangay Dita, some 42 kilometers east of the city proper.

Blanco said the city government should draw a tourism plan in order to promote the 11 islands.

The city tourism office has inspected last month the 11 islands to see the potentials of the place.

ZCWD, PrimeWater inaugurate PhP 742-M project in Zamboanga City

(PNA), TPGJR/PR/

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- A ceremonial opening of the multi-million bulk water supply metering house and bulk water transmission pipeline took place Wednesday at Barangay Pamucutan, this city.

After six years of undertaking the project amounting to PhP 742-million, the bulk water supply project through a contractual joint venture with PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation in 2014, is now ready to serve the public.

For the first five years the 50 million liters per day (MLD) facility would initially cater to 15,330 new water connections and 4,983 re-connections.

The facility would also supply in part 30 million liters per day to customers in the city’s west coast barangays currently being serviced by the Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD).

For water to reach the taps of the ZCWD customers, a 23-kilometer water transmission pipeline amounting to PhP 513-M was also undertaken by a private contractor, the Ecosystem Technologies, Incorporated.

By the first quarter of 2017, water supply from the facility would reach the city proper with the completion of the 23-kilometer pipeline.

The new pipeline is expected to increase water pressure and availability in the central business district (CBD).

With increased capacity brought about by the Pamucutan facility, the current water supply from the Pasonanca Water Treatment Plant distributed in the West coast can now be re-channeled to the CBD.

While this will bring positive developments in the city of Zamboanga, customers are also advised that due the increased water pressure, possible breaks in the service line and connections may result in burst pipes and leaks;

Turbidity issues will also occur as increased pressure could dislodge sediments and affect water clarity.

Such occurrences are expected as part of “breaking–in” the new facility and the transmission and distribution lines.

Customers are enjoined to check their service connections even before water supply facility is injected into the system.

The opening activity was witnessed by top officials of ZCWD and other government officials.

Zamboanga City allocates PhP 49-M to pay CNA incentives of employees

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/RGAAG/

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- The city government has allocated PhP 49-million for the payment of the 2016 Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) to its employees this month.

Ferdinando Alvarez, city budget officer, said that a total of 1,960 city government employees are entitled to receive PhP 25,000 each under this year’s CNA.

Alvarez said they included department heads and regular rank and file employees as well as city councilors.

Alvarez said city government employees who have been employed and still in service as of October 31, 2016 are qualified to receive the CNA incentive.

The CNA is granted based on the savings of the city government coming from traveling expenses, communication expenses, repairs and maintenance, transportation and delivery expenses, supplies and materials, and utility expenses without hampering the operation of the office.

Alvarez said the payment of the CNA will be done by office and must not be released earlier than December 15.

Belen Sheila Covarrubias, city hall information officer, on Tuesday said that the release of the CNA started since December 16.

“The release (of the CNA) is ongoing,” Covarrubias added.

The payment of this year’s CNA by the city government to its employees is the third since it started in 2014.

Diaz to promote weightlifting in Metro Manila

By JEAN RUSSEL V. DAVID

Olympic silver medallist Hidilyn Diaz aims to discover new talents when she conducts weightlifting clinics in Metro Manila starting next year.

The 25-year Diaz hopes that many would pursue the sport that defined her as a person.

“That is my dream – for weightlifting to become popular because it molds me to become a better individual,” Diaz told The Manila Times in an interview on Tuesday.

Diaz is scheduled to conduct several clinics in Metro Manila to promote weightlifting.

“I really want to have a clinic in Manila then arrange a tournament to really promote weightlifting,” she said.

Diaz, who hails from Brgy. Mampang, Zamboanga City, was also proud of the achievement of her community during the 2016 Batang Pinoy National Championships held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte recently.

Players from her town won five out of the seven medals at stake in weightlifting.

Diaz bought a piece of land using the cash incentive she received after ending the Philippines’ 20-year medal drought in the Olympic Games.

She said that she would allot a portion of her property to be used as a weightlifting gym.

“I am hoping that it will be done by next year so we can use it to train our future Olympians,” she concluded.

ACE Medical Center to open branch in Zamboanga City

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO/

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 19 (PNA) -- The Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Center, a fast-growing chain of hospitals, is opening up a branch to provide quality medical services in this city and to the nearby provinces.

Dr. Amado Enriquez, ACE Medical Group president, said that entry of ACE Medical Center is to provide opportunity to medical specialists to serve their native place.

“What is happening now is that after the doctors undergo specialization in Manila, they stay there because the facilities where they can practice are there,” Enriquez explained.

Enriquez said the opening of the ACE Medical Center-Zamboanga would provide the needed facilities for medical specialists to serve their town mates.

“We will bring back the specialists to their localities,” Enriquez stressed.

He said the opening of the ACE Medical Center - Zamboanga would also provide the residents the opportunity of availing services of medical specialists and to lessen the lack of good and fully equipped hospitals.

He said the standards of the World Health Organization is one bed for every 500 Filipinos “but what is happening now is one bed is to 1,000 Filipinos.”

He said the benefits that ACE Medical Center - Zamboanga would grant to their clients will be honored by ACE sister hospitals in other parts of the country.

The ACE Medical Center operates hospitals in Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Pateros, and in Subic.

Here in Mindanao, ACE Medical Centers will be established in the cities of Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Dipolog and General Santos aside from Zamboanga City.

The ACE Medical Center that would be opened at Barangay Tetuan here is a one - basement, eight - storey fully equipped hospital to be manned by medical specialists.

Enriquez and Engr. Ibrahim Nuño, president of the Metro Stonerich Corporation, on Sunday led the signing of the construction contract in this city.

Nuño said the construction of the ACE Medical Center would commence on January 9, 2017 and expected for completion within a 10-month period although the contract is 18 months since the laying of the foundation has been completed.

Duterte visits wounded soldiers in Zamboanga City

By Noning Antonio (ABS-CBN News)

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The country should take care of its soldiers, because those left behind can have no peace after experiencing pain and suffering, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday, in a visit to wounded soldiers in Zamboanga City.

At least 18 soldiers are confined at the Western Mindanao Command’s (Wesmincom) Camp Navarro General Hospital for treatment of injuries they sustained in encounters with the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

Duterte spoke with the soldiers and handed a cash gift from the government.

The families of three soldiers killed in a recent firefight with the Abu Sayyaf received money and cellphones.

"We should take care of all soldiers. They are giving up their lives for this republic . . . and there's no peace after pain and suffering," he said.

"Magbigay ng kaunting pera at mga bagong cellphone, mas maganda pa (It's better to give them some money and new cellphones)."

Armed Forces spokesman Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said operations against the Abu Sayyaf will not let up.

Clashes between the military and the terrorist group continue in Sulu, with three soldiers and 10 ASG members reportedly killed in an encounter last week.

They recently released two Indonesian captives, which the group abducted in waters off eastern Malaysia.

NHA commits to allocate PhP29-M for Zambo siege victims

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- The National Housing Authority (NHA) has committed to allocate PhP 29-million to help the city government in addressing the needs of its thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs)during the 2013 Zamboanga siege.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar on Monday said the commitment was made by new NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada when they recently met.

Salazar said the PhP 29-M fund allocation would be used to purchase a lot to construct the permanent shelters for the IDP - families presently housed in different transitory sites.

There are still around 4,000 families housed in 12 transitory sites in this city. They are among the more than 100,000 people displaced by the 21-day Zamboanga siege in September 2013.

The siege started on Sept. 9, 2013 when hundreds of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members loyal to former MNLF chair Nur Misuari infiltrated and laid siege in four coastal villages of this city.

Salazar said the city government will purchase the Chiong property in Barangay Sta. Barbara where permanent shelters are to be constructed under the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R).

The Z3R is the blueprint for the permanent shelters intended for the siege-displaced families.

Meanwhile, Salazar also met with officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) primarily to review all Z3R projects.

She said DPWH Secretary Mark Villar called for the meeting upon receipt of the information that thousands of IDPs still do not have permanent houses, three years after the siege.

PhP23-M weightlifting training center to rise in Zamboanga City

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO/

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- The national government is allocating PhP 23-million to finance the construction of a weightlifting training center in this city.

Councilor Elbert Atilano, who is the Philippine Weightlifting Association vice president, said on Wednesday that the training center would be built inside the Joaquin F. Enriquez Jr. Memorial Sports Complex.

Atilano said a two-storey building will be constructed to house the weightlifting training center with complete equipment including a dormitory that could accommodate at least 32 athletes at one time.

“The training center will enhance the performance of the (weightlifting) athletes since we will have a good facility,” Atilano said.

He said the construction of the training center would start on the first quarter of 2017.

He said the training center, once completed, will benefit more or less 100 Zamboangueño weightlifters.

At present, the weightlifters from this city train at the weightlifting gym of a private university, the Universidad de Zamboanga.

DOH, NNC confer CROWN Award to Zamboanga City

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) on Tuesday conferred the city government the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) Award for its exemplary performance in the implementation of nutrition programs.

Dr. Rodelin Agbulos, city health officer, said the CROWN Award is conferred to a city after winning consecutively the outstanding city in the region for three years.

Zamboanga City was able to get the CROWN Award in 2006, 2012 and now for 2015.

Agbulos said the CROWN Award is based on the recommendations by the inter-agency Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team approved by the Regional Nutrition Committee and favorably endorsed to the NNC-Manila.

He said there is a bench mark at least a city has to reach a score of 90 percent in its accomplishments as against targets set in its action plan.

City Hall Information Officer Belen Sheila Covarrubias said over the phone from Manila that the city government, as a CROWN Awardee, received PhP500,000 cash prize and a plaque from DOH and the NNC.

Covarrubias said the city government will use the PhP 500,000 cash prize to implement nutrition programs in this city.

Covarrubias said the award was received by Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, Agbulos and other city government officials during the awarding ceremonies held Tuesday afternoon at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila.

TESDA sets Dec. 16 summit in Zamboanga City

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 13 (PNA) -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is holding a one day summit on comprehensive reform and development agenda (CRDA) in this city.

The summit, which is scheduled to be held on Friday, December 16, is for partners of TESDA and other stakeholders from this city and the nearby province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

TESDA Regional Director Lorenzo Macapili on Tuesday said the summit is to firm up and concretize the specific structure and economic program and projects that will be implemented from 2016 to 2022 to uplift the peoples’ socio-economic conditions in the region.

Macapili said the summit would be attended by at least 200 representatives from the local government units, civil society organizations, people’s organizations, national government agencies, industry groups, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) associations, academe, regional and provincial Technical Education and Skills Development Committees, media partners and other stakeholders are expected to participate the one-day summit.

Macapili said the daylong activity would be held at the city government-owned Centro Latino Convention Center in Paseo del Mar, this city.

He said that TESDA Director-General Guiling Mamondiong and other TESDA officials will grace the summit.

Zambo siege IDPs undergo livelihood training

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 12 (PNA) -- A total of 120 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are set to complete a two-month livelihood training on Thursday, December 15, as being conducted by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in partnership with the International Labor Organization (ILO).

CSWDO Chief Socorro Rojas said the IDP-beneficiaries of the livelihood training, which started last October 15, are among the more than 100,000 people who were displaced during the 21-day September 2013 siege.

They are presently housed in the different transitory sites and home-based IDPs.

The transitory sites are temporary shelters while home-based are those staying with their relatives.

Rojas said that of the total number of IDP-beneficiaries, 25 underwent training on masonry, 25 on carpentry, 25 on housekeeping, 25 on food and beverage services and 20 on food processing.

Rojas said they are assured of work after the graduation.

Other training development included values formation and life skills training, partnership meeting with stakeholders for job placement and safety and hazard seminar and proper food handling.

Costing a total of PhP 2.322-million, Rojas said the project is intended to ensure employment placement under the Public Employment Service Office referral system and networks for local and overseas.

She said the funding, provided by ILO, covers training cost, allowances of beneficiaries, starter kits and other values formation and life skills training.

She said the training was also in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Zamboanga Polytechnic School Incorporated.

Zamboanga athletes bag medals in 2 int’l competitions

By Bong Garcia

ZAMBOANGUEÑO athletes brought pride and honor to Zamboanga City and the country anew, as they reaped medals in two international competitions recently.

Dr. Cecilia Atilano, city sports development officer, said Heiddychloe Miguel Angeles harvested a gold medal in the Dutch Karatedo Tournament Friendship Game 2016 held on Saturday, December 10, in Holland.

Beverly Mahusay and April Joy Alarcon won third place in the women’s doubles in the International Pencak Silat Festival held from December 2 to 8 in Bali, Indonesia.

Another Zamboangueno, Abdul Naseef Ismael, with a team mate from General Santos City, likewise won third place in the Men’s doubles of Pencak Silat.

Pencak Silat is a kind of martial arts originating from Indonesia.

Atilano said the Zamboangueño athletes are expected to return home anytime and will be formally recognized by Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar as a show of gratitude for their efforts.

Just recently, Zamboanga City athletes bagged medals in the Asian Weightlifting Championships held in Tokyo, Japan courtesy of three young women lifters.

DTI - Zambo holds 2-day Noche Buena Diskwento Caravan

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 10 (PNA) -- As a present to residents this Christmas season, the Department of Trade and Industry - Zamboanga City Office (DTI - ZCO) is holding a two-day “Noche Buena Diskwento Caravan” in this city.

Engr. Rolando Acuña, DTI-ZCO director, said the caravan kicked off Saturday, December 10, at the Tetuan Plaza and would end Sunday, December 11.

Acuña said the “Noche Buena” products sold at discounted prizes include ham, fruit cocktail, cheese, sandwich spread, mayonnaise, queso de bola, pasta, macaroni, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, and creamer, among others.

Acuña said at least 10 percent discount is being given by participating stores and distributors in the two-day caravan.

“The conduct of Diskwento Caravan is DTI’s way of bringing discounted products easy and more accessible to low income earners in time for the celebration of Christmas,” he stressed.

He said the caravan event is one of the mechanisms of the government to augment income and provide relief to workers through non-wage benefits.

He said that it is a public service conducted by DTI in partnership with big retailers and distributors.

Aside from the Noche Buena Diskwento Caravan, the DTI-ZCO also regularly holds Balik Eskwela Diskwento Caravan, Hariraya Diskwento Caravan, and Fiesta Pilar Diskwento Caravan here.

DPWH favors creation of 2nd engineering district in Zamboanga City

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/RGAAG/

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) here is backing the creation of an additional engineering district as it will result to additional benefits for this city.

The DPWH engineering district supervises the implementation and maintain the infrastructure projects of the national government in a particular place.

Eng’r. Cholie Roble, DPWH district engineer, on Wednesday said that the creation of an additional engineering district would create more job opportunities, projects, and fund allotment.

More so, she noted that the creation of another engineering district would also boost the monitoring here of infrastructure projects implemented by the national government.

Roble said the new engineering district, once created, would have jurisdiction over the first congressional district.

“It’s high time to create two engineering districts because we have two congressional districts. Considering that we have so many projects, the responsibility of one engineering district is big,” she said.

She said requirements for the creation of an engineering district includes 100 kilometers length of national road; 100 square kilometers land area, and 250,000 population.

At present, Zamboanga City has 86 kilometers length of national road in the east coast and 59.56 kilometers in the west coast.

This city has a population of 861,799 people as of the 2015 census of the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Tourism chief steers PHL to compete with best in Asia

By Roger Pe (RP/Special to the BusinessMirror)

WHEN asked on how the Philippines is preparing for its 6th, 7th or 8th million foreign visitor, Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo gave a visionary answer: “I want to compete with Bangkok and the best of Asia.”

“I want to take the Philippines to where it has never been,” Teo said in a news conference and thanksgiving dinner for all tourism supporters in Region 9 in Zamboanga City over the weekend.

She said people should see the big picture and not take tourism on a piecemeal or per-million basis.

In order to be competitive, she wants the Philippines to be ready, regardless of the number, and that means meeting global standards and continuously improving our tourism product.

Thailand and Malaysia are currently locked in the battle for No. 1 ranking in tourist arrival among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Meanwhile, China is way, way ahead of the pack, taking the world’s No. 2 position behind France.

MasterCard ranking

ACCORDING to MasterCard’s 2015 Asia-Pacific Destinations Index, Thailand dominated as the most popular regional travel destination last year, with three of its cities making the top 10. Bangkok was the most popular city by arrivals, total nights stayed and total amount spent, based on findings sourced primarily from national tourism boards.

The survey was based on 167 destinations from 22 countries across the Asia Pacific.

It also represents 90.1 percent of all international overnight arrivals in the region, according to MasterCard. The Thai capital saw 21.9 million international overnight visitors in 2015, a 28.6-percent increase from the previous year.

China, on the other hand, is the top travel destination in Asia for world’s tourists, according to the latest figures published by the World Bank. Eighty-three million tourists visited China in 2014, making the country the first among 10 most visited countries in Asia. Since the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, tourism has become a national priority in China and the country acknowledges its importance as a driving force for economic development.

The World Bank ranked Malaysia as second-most visited country in Asia, with 29,437,000 tourists. “Malaysia has identified tourism as a key growth area to transform the country into a high-income nation by targeting of 36 million tourist arrivals in 2020,” it said.

Thailand is ranked third destination with almost the same figure as that of Malaysia, generating around $31.2 billion in 2014. South Korea is fourth, with 14 million; Japan is fifth, with 13 million; Singapore is sixth, with 11 million; Indonesia is seventh, with 9 million; and Vietnam, eigtht, with 7,874,000.

Spread the good news

TOURISM now is like a Facebook relationship, according to Teo: “It has become complicated.

“And the world instantaneously knows an experience, good or bad. That impacts any place in the world,” she said. “We should all be purveyors of good news about our country’s tourism attractions.”

Teo said tourism has also become a channel for peace and removing barriers that set people and countries apart.

“We should remove all these barriers.” Born in Kidapawan, Cotabato, the pride of Mindanao knows what she is talking about. After all, she spent most of her professional life in the country’s tourism industry—first, as a stewardess of Filipinas Orient Airways, Philippine Airlines’s main competitor a couple of years back, and Air Niugini, (Papua New Guinea’s national airline), and second, as a travel operator herself.

As president and CEO of her own company (Mt. Apo Travel and Tours Inc.), Teo pioneered in promoting Davao City as a leading tourist attraction, eventually becoming president of the Davao Association of Tour Operators (Dato) and the Davao Travel Agencies Association (DTAA).

An achievement-laden career followed this alumna of Saint Theresa’s College Quezon City. Teo also became president of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas), the biggest travel agency organization in the Philippines with more than 400 members and 13 chapters. The Business Administration degree-holder also became chairman of the Network of Independent Travel Agencies-Davao and second vice president of the National Association of Travel Agents.

Teo was the brains behind the Naitas Travel and Trade Show, still considered today as the Philippines’s liveliest travel, tourism technology and trade fair.

She also participated in various tourism conferences abroad, like the Corporate Travel World Asia Pacific in Bangkok, Internationale Tourismusborse in Berlin and the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga) Trade Tourism and Investment Forum in Malaysia.

Zamboanga as home

TEO flew to Zamboanga to personally show to everyone that “Asia’s Latin City” is safe just like any peace-loving city in the world.

More than that, she pitched for Zamboanga and encouraged people to dwell on its beauty and undiscovered places rather than talk about things that will not enhance our country’s tourism growth.

She, likewise, mentioned Zamboanga’s historic and culturally rich Spanish and American heritage that should never be forgotten by new generation of Filipinos, a cultural heirloom that is heartening just as it is enriching.

She called Zamboanga “my home” (she lived in the city for over five years) and was happy to announce that the Department of Tourism (DOT), in cooperation with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, will help improve one of its star attractions, the Santa Cruz Island.

“Tourism facilities will have to be upgraded here to make them attractive and on a par with more developed tourist destinations,” she said. “Part of scaling up is improving these facilities to ensure that tourism activities are also managed sustainably.”

Santa Cruz Island

SANTA Cruz Island is a Zamboanga gem, just a 20-minute native speedboat ride from the city proper.

The island boasts of a long stretch of white beach, sprinkled by nature with red grains of sand. The beach appears pink under the glistening sun, a natural phenomenon and reputedly one of only three of its kind in the world.

Nature lovers would definitely love the island’s raw beauty.

On a boat trip around the island’s vast mangrove forests, one would see century-old trees, covering a beautiful lagoon that is home to migratory birds, teeming marine life and edible lato seaweeds that carpet the seabed.

One should look under when paddling a boat snaking through the winding brackish water vegetation. See those little creatures escorting your fluvial trip? They are thousands and thousands of stingless jellyfish, as if saying, “Bienvenido de Zamboanga, buen dia.” (Chavacano for “Welcome to Zamboanga and have a nice day”).

How is Teo tackling threats to tourism, especially modern-day hazards, like security?

She emphasized that even the world’s most visited city, Paris, has encountered real threats, but one thing is sure—the government is very much aware of it and is working for peace. She reiterated that the Philippines “should be promoted properly.”

“We should do it aggressively in order to increase our country’s tourist number at a faster rate.”

Blooming Zamboanga

ONE could see that urban developments are sprouting beautifully around the City of Flowers, adding colors to the city’s “Zamboanga Hermosa” brand name. The new ones are a joy to see—clean, better designed and with emphasis on the aesthetics. It is also heritage-conscious, notably, when you stroll back in time along historic Calle Madrid, now Valderosa Street.

Assistant Tourism Secretary Frederick M. Alegre amplified Teo’s sentiments. “The best way to neutralize negative stories is to positivize.”

“Why would the best people in the country’s tourism industry want to promote Zamboanga? Because of many wrong perceptions,” he said.

“There are many good stories about Zamboanga than bad stories,” Alegre said. “We should be focusing on them rather than trying to bring them back.”

For one, he mentioned the spirit of the Filipino, which is also the spirit of the Zamboangueños.

“That spirit makes us different compared to other Asians. We are one of the world’s friendliest and welcoming people. We are the most hospitable, even smiling during difficult times,” Alegre said. “That spirit we hope to capture when we launch the new Philippine tourism campaign in the coming Miss Universe beauty pageant.”

At the center of it all will be the Filipino, Alegre added. “It will not be biased to a particular destination but will sell the whole Philippines with an emotional hug.”

When asked if the Level 3 alert will affect tourism traffic, Alegre took it as a very positive sign for the tourism industry. “It means tourists are secured and peace and order is in place,” he said. “Then, we have nothing to fear.”

At the Region 9 Stakeholder’s Meeting and Forum, Alegre made an impassioned appeal: “We are all stakeholders of this country. We have a stake in promoting it, including those that are not too familiar. We are all ambassadors of the Philippines. We all have to work together.”

Alegre noted that, while Thailand is a borderless country, like Malaysia, Vietnam and, in a way, Singapore, (tourists can easily pass through in and out by land), 99 percent of tourists come to the Philippines by air.

“It poses a great challenge to us, but then again, we need to positivize. All it takes is to promote strategically, aggressively and put in the best advertising—more good stories about the Philippines,” he said.

Rich history

ZAMBOANGA was a settlement established by the Subanon ethnic group before the Spanish came, documents from the Zamboanga DOT Tourism Office said. The peninsula that it belonged to was also the homeland of the ancestors of the Yakans, the Balangguinguis and the Sama-Badjaos.

The Tausogs from Sulu and islands further south started migrating to Zamboanga at the beginning of the 13th century. They became the dominant ethnic group after they were Islamized in the 14th century.

The name Zamboanga came from two theories. The Spanish pronunciation and spelling of the word Sinama (“mooring place”) and what etymologists say it came from the word samboangan (from the word jambangan, a metaphor for a “place of flowers” that also means a melting pot for all ethnic Malay groups). Spanish explorers arrived in Zamboanga in 1569 after discovering the archipelago in 1521. It served as a military outpost against foreign invaders and Moro pirates. Latin American armies from Peru and Mexico, as well as recruited troops from Pampanga, Bohol, Cebu and Iloilo protected the area.

Upon the declaration of King Philip IV of Spain, Zamboanga rose as the main headquarters of Spain in Mindanao on June 23, 1635, subsequently emerging as one of the Philippines’s main trading ports to most of Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America for centuries.

After that, more Spanish troops came, headed by a governor general from Spain, and built the first Zamboanga fortress (now called Fort Pilar). The fortress witnessed a number of battles between Moros and Spanish soldiers while Spain ruled the region from 16th to 18th centuries.

When the Chinese Koxinga army threatened to invade the Philippines in 1662, Spain was forced to temporarily abandon Zamboanga, withdrew its soldiers and retreated to Manila.

As the region was being drawn to Catholicism, Muslims kept its struggle against Spanish colonizers. More foreign invaders, likewise, came, a British naval squadron among them. It raided the settlement in 1798 but was driven off by Zamboanga’s strong army resistance. By 1831, Zamboanga was an established port and became an important center for direct communication and trading hub to most of Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

American rule

AFTER Spain ceded the Philippines to the US in 1898, Americans started arriving in Zamboanga, the local DOT office said. It found a Republic of Zamboanga established by General Vicente Alvarez in 1899. It was a shortlived government, however, and dissolved in 1903 as authorized by Gov. William Howard Taft, leading to the creation of Moro province (whole of Mindanao, except Palawan and eastern portion of the northwest peninsula of the island).

Zamboanga hosted a number of American regional governors during this period, including the famous General John Pershing. By 1913, Pershing advised that the Moro Province needed to transition to civil government (until 1911, every district governor and secretary had been a military officer).

On July 23, 1914, the Moro province was officially replaced by an agency named Department of Mindanao and Sulu. It was dissolved in 1920 and Zamboanga became an independent province, and the town center inaugurated as a city in 1936.

Tourism ambassadors

ZAMBOANGA has a vibrant local tourism industry. Zamboangeños’ innate welcoming nature can be felt the moment one steps into the city.

Tourism foot soldiers abound, proud about their history, culture, food, people, natural beauty and many more. No one can be as passionate as Errold Bayona, our tourist guide, who, at some point in our trip, literally walked us through fascinating places in the city.

There is no day that Bayona does not enrich visitors with knowledge about Zamboanga and Mindanao. Seeing visitors enjoy a wonderful Zamboanga experience already makes his day.

The founding president of the Associacion del Guia Turistico del Zamboanga (AGTZ, or Association of Tour Guides of Zamboanga) faced a tough and lonely challenge when he was starting to make a name in Zamboanga’s tourism firmament.

“I want to help change the outside world’s perception of Zamboanga. I don’t want my children to entertain negative thoughts about my city,” Bayona said. “There’s no reason to fear because my home is just as safe as the safest place in the world.” No wonder he has received a number of token of appreciation, among them from Zamboanga’s provincial governments (Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay).

Being a wide reader, Bayona once found himself looking at the Philippine map and asked, “Where am I and how will I impact and inspire my young generation?” He found Zamboanga and told himself: “Information is vital to education, and education is the answer to ignorance.”

Bayona hated everything that was not being taught in school. He was young, ambitious and, at the same time, called himself, a patriot. He often asked himself, “How can I make this work?”

In wanting to make a difference and for people to have a better perception of Zamboanga, he found his calling. He found tourism.

“I write my citizenship in every document as a Filipino. Though I sometimes feel otherwise, it does not stop me from believing that I am,” Bayona said. “I was born a Filipino and, in my own little way, as long as I live and as much as I can, I will pursue that path to be a Filipino, and make Zamboanga part of me. Tourism is my key to that.”

Spanish speakers

PEOPLE of Zamboanga speak Chavacano, a language that is 70-percent Spanish and 30-percent Ilonggo, Cebuano and Tagalog. The only Spanish-based creole language in Asia, it is one of the oldest creole languages in the world.

Chavacano is based on Mexican, Spanish and Portuguese languages. Most words are common with those spoken in Andalucia, Spain, but there are many words borrowed from Nahuati, a language native to Central Mexico.

Although the vocabulary is largely Mexican, its grammar is mostly based on other Philippine languages. Chavacano is also spoken in the town of Semporna, eastern coast of Sabah, Malaysia, not surprising because it is close to Sulu and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Ateneo de Zamboanga University

THE school began in 1912 as Escuela Catolica, a parochial school run by Spanish Jesuits. It expanded in 1916 and became Ateneo Elementary School and renamed Ateneo de Zamboanga when its high school opened in 1928.

The first high-school students graduated from Ateneo in 1932, among them Roseller T. Lim, who would become the first Zamboangueño senator of the Philippines. It was officially declared a university on August 20, 2001, and granted autonomous status.

Pacman as tourism ambassador

MEANWHILE, the DOT welcomed the offer of Sen. Manny Pacquiao as Philippine tourism ambassador to help boost international visitor arrivals in the country.

“Pacquiao is a living hero who has earned the world’s admiration and given honor to the country,” Teo said. “He personifies the Filipino’s resiliency and our people’s genuine hospitality.”

She lauded Pacquiao and encouraged every Filipino, especially the youth, to emulate the boxing icon’s sense of volunteerism in promoting our world-class destinations.

“This is a great Christmas gift to the DOT, especially as preparations are now in full swing for the country’s hosting of the Miss Universe pageant,” Teo said.

The DOT head said she foresees a knockout win with Pacquiao and Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach leading as Philippine tourism ambassadors to the world.

“We can probably triple our visitor arrivals,” Teo exclaimed.

Pacquiao, among other lawmakers, reportedly noted that the DOT has had a significantly low budget for tourism promotion compared to neighboring countries, like Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and even Vietnam.

DPWH extends Zambo sports complex rehab works deadline

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/RGAAG/

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 9 announced that the deadline for the completion of rehabilitation of the sports complex has been extended for three months from January to March 2017.

A private contractor is undertaking the rehabilitation works of the sports complex under the supervision of the DPWH.

The project cost is PhP187 million and to be finished within 297 calendar days.

The sports complex was destroyed since it has served as the biggest evacuation center for the more than 100,000 people displaced during the September 2013 siege.

Engr. Shadimar Jalaidi, DPWH-9 project manager, said there are several factors that caused the delay of the rehabilitation works at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex.

Jalaidi said the factors included weather disturbance, variation of orders and rocessing as well as the delivery of needed materials like rubber and artificial grass, which come from Germany.

The imported rubber will be used in playing fields and track oval while the artificial grass for the soccer football field.

Jalaidi said the imported rubber and the artificial grass are set to arrive on January since it take two months for the processing and delivery of the materials.

He said the rehabilitation works at the sports complex is now more than 30 percent completed.

The private contractor has employed more than 100 workers to undertake the rehabilitation works of the sports complex.

DOT Region 9 eyes formulation of tourism road map

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/RGAAG/

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) is eyeing the formulation of a tourism road map for Region 9.

Newly-installed DOT Regional Director Fernando Blanco made the announcement on Saturday citing that the formulation of a tourism road map is his priority.

Blanco said he would meet with all stakeholders including city and provincial tourism officers to get inputs in the formulation of the tourism road map for the region.

Blanco said the region has great potentials as far as the tourism industry is concerned since there are several beautiful places but are still unknown to tourists both domestic and international.

He said the region also enjoys relatively good climate, which is good for hiking and mountaineering and other tourism-related activities.

He said they would also embark on promotional activities to promote the pink sand beach of the Greater Sta. Cruz Island in this city and the Malawai Beach in Isabela City, Basilan.

He said Barangay La Paz, which is known as the “Little Baguio” of Zamboanga City, would also be developed to lure tourists into the area.

Blanco, who once served as then Philippine Tourism Authority operations manager for Mindanao, has replaced Maryjune Bugante as the new DOT regional director.

PTA is now known as the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprises Zone Authority.

Blanco, a real estate businessman, took his oath of office before DOT Secretary Corazon Wanda Tulfo - Teo last Nov. 28 in Manila.

He official assumed office on Dec. 1 in a simple turnover ceremony held at the DOT regional office here.

Zamboanga City lands 3rd in 2016 Philippine Youth Games-Batang Pinoy

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/RGAAG/

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- The Zamboanga City delegation landed third place in the just concluded week-long 2016 Philippine Youth Games-Batang Pinoy held from November 27 to December 2 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Cebu City grabbed the championship with 42 gold, 30 silver and 31 bronze medals while Baguio City won second place with 38 gold, 30 silver and 30 bronze medals.

Dr. Cecilia Atilano, city sports development officer, told the Philippines News Agency on Saturday that this city’s delegation bagged 34 gold 20 silver and 25 bronze medals.

Atilano said most of the medals the athletic delegation of this city came from the pencak silat, weightlifting, wrestling, and karatedo sporting events.

She congratulated the local athletic delegation despite they only grabbed the third place in the 2016 Philippine Youth Games-Batang Pinoy.

Zamboanga City has sent a 245-man delegation including 52 coaches and officials.

The athletes, who competed, were 17 years old and below.

They competed in the 26 sports events which includes the following: archery; arnis; athletics; badminton; baseball; basketball 3-on-3; boxing; chess; cycling; dancesport; gymnastics; judo; karatedo; lawn tennis; pencak silat; rugby football; sepak takraw; softball; swimming; table tennis; taekwondo; triathlon; volleyball; weightlifting; wrestling; and, wushu.

Task Force Zamboanga receives P6.75 million vehicles

By Bong Garcia (BG/Sunnex)

MAYOR Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar on Friday, December 2, turned over P6.75 million worth of vehicles to the Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ) as manifestation of her commitment to strengthen the security response in Zamboanga City.

The TFZ is the military unit in charge of the security of Zamboanga City.

Salazar said the vehicles she turned over included three pickups and a Ford Everest amounting to P6 million, and 10 motorcycles worth P750,000.

The vehicles will be deployed and utilized to ensure the safety and security of the Zamboangueños.

Salazar emphasized that the local government takes security very seriously, and the roll-out of the additional vehicles to TFZ will serve to strengthen the city’s security and safety response.

Zamboanga’s pink sand beach seen as next top travel destination

(PNA), JBP/ANP

MANILA, Dec. 2 (PNA) -- What do you get when you mix powdery white sand with fragments of red coral crushed by waves over many years? You get one of the only two pink sand beaches in the country -- Las Islas de Santa Cruz -- which the Department of Tourism (DOT) is looking at developing into a new tourist destination, particularly for backpackers.

Las Islas de Santa Cruz, is also known as The Great and Little Santa Cruz Islands Protected Landscape and Seascape or simply Zamboanga’s Pink Sand Beach.

The island is a 3,425-hectare marine reserve which is believed to be bigger than the country’s 24/7 party island, Boracay. It used to be operated by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) until it was turned over to the Zamboanga City government in 2011.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo herself visited the island on Friday to see the pink sand beach for herself and assure tourists that tourism in the Zamboanga Peninsula is safe regardless of the old stigma attached to its name.

“I personally came here because I want people to know that because ‘the Secretary of Tourism was here’, the more they should come here. I would like to show the world that Zamboanga is safe,” Teo said in a press conference.

Teo, with other members of the DOT and media, assembled in the Basilan Strait at around 8 a.m. and took a 15-minute motorboat ride to the island escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine National Police (PNP). The motorboat she was on was also, coincidentally, pink.

Upon arriving the island, Teo and company went shopping for accessories made of pearls and precious stones which were imported from Malaysia. Prices of freshwater pearl earrings start as low as Php50 and up.

The team was later taken to a lagoon tour via bangka driven by teenagers and kids who are beneficiaries of The Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation which started as a national movement to help children who used to swim to school in the mangrove village of Layag-Layag, Zamboanga City. There, Teo got to interact with jellyfish and taste fresh sea grapes.

After the tour, Teo vowed to spearhead efforts to develop the island seeking funding from an agency that used to handle operate it -- TIEZA.

“I would like to promote Santa Cruz as a new destination because of the pink sand. I have spoken to people in charge to coordinate with us for funding. We will help them through TIEZA,” Teo said.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Frederick Alegre, who also joined Teo in the trip, said that he had a “fantastic experience” visiting the island giving credit to its accessibility.

“It’s so accessible. This is what global tourists want nowadays. The Secretary was very happy to see the island and has instructed TIEZA to provide funding to help facilities. We feel that the time for Mindanao has come,” Alegre said.

“These are undiscovered territories as far as foreign tourists are concerned. We are confident that this will be properly promoted,” he added.

Alegre also assured that the DOT has coordinated with concerned law enforcement agencies to double up efforts in safety and security.

Zamboanga City to unveil ‘Small World Christmas’ decors

(PNA), NYP/TPGJR/

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 1 (PNA) -- The mayor here is set to unveil an adaptation of Disney’s Small World at the City Hall grounds as the local government shifts to full swing for the Christmas season on Friday, December 2.

In an interview, Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar explained that this year’s theme of the Christmas celebration stemmed from the simple request of a little girl for a Small World Christmas.

In bringing to the city replicas of the famous landmarks from different countries and continents, the theme is a representation of the local government’s desire to promote peace, unity, and friendship among all people in Zamboanga City.

Salazar extended her invitation to all Zamboangueños to witness the unveiling and official lighting of the City Hall Christmas installation, an annual Christmas tradition of the city, as it officially marks the beginning of the Pascua na Zamboanga activities.

She said the Grand Switch-On ceremony of City Hall will be held at 5:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Christmas decorations at the scenic Paseo del Mar are replicas of the different landmarks in the world.

These includes Opera House of Australia, Eiffel Tower of Paris, Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy and Big Ben of London.

The Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London.

Engr. Rene Dela Cruz, city general service officer, said the city government spent PhP2 million for this year’s Christmas decorations.

Electric lanterns are also place in the different parts of this city.

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