Zamboanga City News August 2012

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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.

FNRI-DOST conducts Nutricomnet media forum

By Jocelyn P. Alvarez (JPA/PIA9-ZBST)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 31 (PIA) -- The Food and Research Institute of the Dept. of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) conducted this morning a media forum for the Nutrition Communicators’ Network (NutriComNet) where Government information officers including representatives from the academe actively participated.

Representatives from the FNRI, who came all the way from Manila, presented to the participants the 2011 Nutritional Status Of Filipino Children.

The media forum was attended not only by government information officers, but also by health/nutrition specialists, faculty members of some state colleges and universities as well as those who are involved in food, nutrition and health promotion.

The said forum provided the participants with data and information on the recent results of the 7th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) particularly giving updates on the Nutritional Status of the Filipino Children and other population groups.

The discussion also included basic messages on the promotion of vegetable consumption and complementary feeding.

FNRI is an attached agency of the DOST, mandated to undertake research that defines the citizenry’s nutritional status, with reference particularly to the malnutrition problem, its causes and effects and identify alternative solutions for them.

FNRI is also mandated to develop and recommend policy options, strategies, programs and projects and disseminate research findings and recommendations.

NUTRICOMNET is a network of provincial and regional media men as well as information officers of various agencies and institutions involved in food, nutrition and health promotion.

It is established to create a favorable interactive promotion program between the FNRI-DOST and the local media in the region. It also aims to provide and update the public about the latest news on nutrition in the country.

Zambo City readies for Fiesta Pilar celebration

(PNA), LAP/TEOFILO P. GARCIA/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 30 (PNA) -– The local government through the City Tourism and Investment Office is now finalizing the calendar of activities for the 2012 Zamboanga Hermosa Festival marking the Fiesta Pilar celebration in Zamboanga City in October.

As this developed, City Tourism Officer Sarita Hernandez calls on all private groups and individuals who wish to include their activities in this city’s Fiesta calendar of events to immediately coordinate with her office on or before Friday, August 31.

Every year, the city government lines up a series of activities from October 1-12 to fittingly commemorate the feast of Nuestra Señora de la Virgen del Pilar, Zamboanga City’s patroness.

Private groups or individuals also hold their own activities in celebration of the Fiesta and are included in this city’s calendar of events.

The Zamboanga Hermosa Festival is the grandest festival in Zamboanga every year.

It is also being celebrated by Zamboangueños all over the country and in other parts of the world.

Among the famed activities sponsored by the city government during the Fiesta Pilar celebration are the Regatta, a sail boat race at the R.T. Lim Boulevard; Mascota competition, a contest of beautiful Zamboanga made gowns; agri-trade fair; dance sport competition; Pesca Kita, a fishing competition at the Paseo del Mar; Wow Sardinas, a sardine-eating spectacle at the R.T. Lim Boulevard; float parade and the street dance competition among others.

The festival is also packed with sports activities such as golf, table tennis, dart, basketball and others as well as art exhibits and beauty pageants for both adults and children.

The whole day of October 12, the feast day of Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar, is relegated to religious activities with the Fort Pilar Shrine as the center of activities.

From October 1-11, novena masses and processions are also scheduled.

Two Zambo youth to represent RP in 36th SSEAYP

(Press Release)

MANILA, Philippines – The National Youth Commission has chosen Ms. Normelyn A. Gallardo and Mr. Ronald Cszar F. Villano of Zamboanga City, Region IX as two of the 28 young Filipinos to represent the country as Youth Ambassador of Goodwill in this year’s Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP).

Ms. Gallardo and Mr. Villano successfully passed through a series of competitive selection process and received orientation and training in diplomatic affairs, youth leadership and culture and the arts, among others, so that (he/she/they) may embody the best of the Philippines’ values, culture and vision during the international program from October 22 until December 14 this year.

Specifically, they will have the rare opportunity to interact with fellow international youths and discuss relevant issues affecting the youth in the regional association and the world. (He/she/they) will join courtesy calls with dignitaries, help showcase the country’s traditional culture and arts, and immerse with other cultures.

Now on its 39th year, the SSEAYP is sponsored by the Japanese Government and supported by member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). On board Japanese Liner Fuji Maru, the chosen 28 Philippine delegates and more than 300 other youth from all over Southeast Asia shall visit six countries, namely Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and Japan for an exchange program that will foster diplomacy, culture understanding cooperation between and among youth leaders in the ASEAN and Japan.

TESDA allocates P85-M for cash-for-training project

(PNA), LAM/TPG/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 28 (PNA) -– The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has allocated P85 million fund for the implementation of its cash-for-training project here in the region.

The project will be implemented in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) since its target beneficiaries are the disadvantaged youths assessed as eligible under the DSWD’s Expanded Government Internship Program (EGIP).

TESDA Regional Director Lorenzo Macapili said each beneficiary will receive training, tool kits, and allowance worth P20,000.

Macapili said that a total of 4,250 individuals are set to benefit from the program.

So far, Macapili said the DSWD has identified more than 3,000 beneficiaries.

He said the cash-for-training project has two parts -- the training for wage employment and the training for self-employment.

He said the training for wage-employment will prepare beneficiaries for employment through skills training.

TESDA, after completion of wage-employment training, will conduct job-bridging activities to facilitate employment to the graduates of the training, he said.

He said the program for self-employment, which is aimed to help beneficiaries to engage in entrepreneurship, will be conducted on-site, school-supervised, or through partner non-government organizations (NGOs).

He said they will immediately implement the program once the budget will be released to the regional office by TESDA central office.

The implementation of the program is in support to the national government’s thrust of providing a sustainable intervention to improve the plight and condition of the youth and empower them through skills training and assistance.

Zambo solon confers 2012 TESDA Regional Kabalikat Award

(PNA), GHG/TEOFILO P. GARCIA/RSM

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 27 (PNA) -– The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has conferred the 2012 Regional KABALIKAT Award, legislative category, to Deputy House Speaker for Mindanao Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar.

TESDA Director-General Joel Villanueva presented the award to Salazar, the city’s first district congresswoman, during TESDA’s 18th Anniversary on Friday at TESDA Women’s Center in Taguig City.

The Regional KABALIKAT Award was given to Salazar in grateful recognition to her exemplary contribution in the advancement of technical education and skills development in the country.

Salazar’s office has accomplished many of its priority programs and projects aimed at uplifting the lives of her constituents.

Among these programs are providing technical education and skills development that helped many families augment their income or land jobs that improved their life.

From 2009 to 2011, Salazar’s office has allocated more than P4 million for scholarship programs benefiting thousands of individuals.

The programs further complemented by other livelihood initiatives such as the Beng (Salazar’s nickname) Entre-Negosyo Caravan which promotes business opportunities within the barangays under her district.

Salazar’s office covers 98 barangays including the 37 west coast barangays of Zamboanga City.

The Kabalikat Award of TESDA is conferred to outstanding individuals, institutions and private firms for their contribution to the promotion and development of the country’s middle level manpower in terms of skills, abilities and proper work attitude.

Zambo City gov't, water firm build new water system

(PNA), SCS/TPG/RSM

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 26 (PNA) -– Some 40,000 residents in eight barangays in this city’s west coast are set to benefit from the P64.8-million water system project being implemented jointly by the city government and Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD).

The project, located in Barangay Baluno, 28 kilometers west of this city, broke ground Thursday and is expected to supply four million liters or 4,000 cubic meters of safe and cheap potable water daily.

Mayor Celso Lobregat said the project, known as Baluno water system, is just one of the biggest among the 13 joint undertakings of the city government under his administration and the Zamboanga City Water District in an effort to bring not only potable but cheap water to villages outside the existing ZCWD service areas.

Lobregat said the system will tap water from a spring in Sitio Dumalon, Baluno, which is about 800 meters above sea level, and impound it in a concrete dam, from where potable water will be distributed down to the service areas covering the villages of Baluno, Capisan, Malagutay, San Roque, Calarian, Cawit, Sinunuc and Maasin, with combined households of 7,423 or about 37,000 to 40,000 people.

The Baluno water system costs a total amount of P64,861,077, of which the city government shared P33,744,412 for the purchase of water pipes measuring 54 kilometers long to bring the potable water from the spring in Sitio Dumalon, Baluno down to the nearby eight barangays.

The ZCWD, on the other hand, shared the amount of P31,116,665 for civil works and other project components to include the construction of the intake facility and the ground tank or impounding dam.

The implementation of the project will also provide livelihood to the people in the service barangays as they will be hired for the project.

TESDA turns 18 today

By Joy Wee / TESDA IX

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), created through Republic Act 7796 otherwise known as the “Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994” on August 25 1994, turns 18 today.

With the theme, “Akmang Kasanayan Tungo sa Tagumpay,“ the regional office planned for a simple celebration beginning with free competency assessment in selected qualifications for workers on August 20-31, 2012. Under its Gender and Development (GAD) Program, TESDA employees will attend training programs on baking and pastry production and needlecraft. They will also have the opportunity to have a sample of free services usually offered to the public on special events.

The highlight of this year’s regional celebration is the conferment of institutional awards which include the Kabalikat Award and TESDA Idol on August 31 at Grand Astoria Hotel, this city. This year’s regional awardees are the 1st Congressional District of Zamboanga City represented by Congresswoman Maria Isabelle G. Climaco under the Kabalikat Award and Mr. Jerry L. Bentulan, proprietor of Your PC Works, Co, under the TESDA Idol-Self Employed Category Award.

The Kabalikat Award is conferred to outstanding individuals, institutions and private firms for their contribution to the promotion and development of the country’s middle level manpower in terms of skills, abilities and proper work attitude. The 1st Congressional District of Zamboanga City has been a major partner of TESDA in providing training scholarships to thousands of students, women, and out-of-school youths since 2008. For five years now, it has allocated scholarship funds from its Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) which benefited over 5,000 people. Its advocacy activities have always included TESDA programs thus allowing more people to avail of its services.

The TESDA IDOL gives recognition to graduates of technical vocational programs who have attained skills excellence and success in their chosen occupation and contributed to the economic growth in their communities. Mr. Bentulan, equipped with a number of technical vocational skills, was able to put up a computer repair business, Your PC Works, Co., and employ tech-voc graduates. He is now expanding his business and recently opened one branch in Vitali, this city. An automotive mechanic graduate of MEIN College in 1994, he continued to acquire new skills and enrolled at the Basic Electronics Course at the Western Mindanao State University. He also took advantage of the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) of TESDA and enrolled again at MEIN College to take Computer Hardware Servicing NCII in 2001.

The creation of TESDA in 1994 was meant to reduce overlapping in skills development activities initiated by various public and private sector agencies, and provide national directions in varied programs of the different educational and training institutions that comprise the country’s technical-vocational education and training (TVET) system. After 18 years, TESDA has not only provided directions to the TVET system but has also successfully implemented programs and projects for middle level workers that significantly helped decrease the country’s unemployment and underemployment figures.

400 villagers benefit from YMPN-WM medical mission

(Mindanao Examiner)

Some 400 poor villagers in Zamboanga City have benefited from a medical mission conducted by members of the Young Moro Professionals Network in Western Mindanao.

The medical mission over the weekend in the coastal village of Sangali coincided with last day of the holy month of Ramadan and on the eve of the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr.

Dubbed as “Ramadan Medical Mission,” the YMPN-WM brought together 10 medical doctors and dozens of nurses and volunteers.

Amir Mawallil, the group’s chairperson, said the medical mission was a combined effort of various stakeholders and organizations. “This is our second time to conduct a medical mission during the fasting month and we hope to do this every year,” he said.

Mawallil said that last year’s medical outreach was held in Kampung Islam, also in Zamboanga City, and it served about 700 mostly poor residents.

“As Muslim professionals, this is our way of giving back to the community and it feels so special since we are doing this during the holy month, to be exact at the last day of Ramadan,” said Dr. Abdul Javar Esturco, the group’s project manager.

Dr. Titina Loong, YMPN-WM vice-chairperson, said the mission served patients with different health problems ranging from hypertension, heart problems, cough, fever, and skin diseases. Hundreds of children with different medical problems were also diagnosed.

Residents, who benefited from the medical outreach, praised the YMPN-WM for the humanitarian project.

“We are very happy and thankful that there is an outreach like this,” said Babuh Aldiya, 39, whose five-year old daughter suffered from recurring cough.

“This is a big help for us here in Sangali given the high cost of medical consultations and medicines we have now,” she said.

Medzar Hajiri, head of Scintilla Juris, a fraternity organization in the College of Law of the Western Mindanao State University, and a partner organization of YMPN, said the medical mission was able to convey the real message of Ramadan. “Aside from fasting and constant praying, Ramadan also encourages us to practice charity,” he said.

PINOYcare, BHCI conduct feeding program in Putik

By Monch L. Follosco

PINOYcare Visa and Review Center (PVRC) in coordination with the Brent Hospital Colleges,Inc., (BHCI) conducted yesterday a feeding program for the less fortunate residents at the Covered Court in Barangay Putik, this city.

They will be celebrating their second year anniversary at a local hotel on August 31, 2012, with free orientation for the “Lipat Bayan” project in the processing of documents for the application of visa for Canada, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and other parts of the countries.

PVRC Marketing officer and Instructor Katrina Wee said the occasion is part of their second year anniversary. “This is part of our social responsibility by sharing the blessings to the community especially the less fortunate ones.”

Prior to the feeding program, BHCI Clinical Instructor Sherad Lee and 2nd year Nursing Students conducted Mother’s Class by lecturing young and old mothers in the said barangay.

Voulunteers and students lectured the participants on “dengue” cases, family planning, nutrition, environmental sanitation and hygiene as related learning experience under the programs of BHCI.

PRVC has local and international branches and guarantees seven months time process for Filipinos.

For inquiries, interested applicants may contact Katrina Wee with cellular number 0917-7055293 and landline number (062) 991-9853 or visit their office at Unit 1,G/F Fairland properties building, Nuñez extension, Zamboanga City.

Sam Enesando to Beng: ‘Let democracy work’

By By Hader Glang

Says let Jalosjos run, it’s the people who will decide not the Comelec

Not all local members of the Liberal Party (LP) in Zamboanga City have favored the petitition by District I Congresswoman Maria Isabelle Beng Climaco-Salazar against former Zamboanga del Norte congressman Romeo Jalosjos, describing the move as ‘’unhealthy”.

Congressional aspirant Samuel “Sam” Enesando, a former council president Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party Zamboanga City chapter, said Congresswoman Climaco should not pursue with the petition against former Zamboanga del Norte congressman.

Salazar, chairperson of LP’s Zamboanga City Chapter, and Jomar Lobregat, head of the Adelante Zamboanga Party, filed a separate petition asking the Comelec to restrain Jalosjos from registering as a voter on the basis of the latter’s conviction for rape and acts of lasciviousness.

Enesando said: “That is not the issue in the election. So let democracy works and let the people decide...anyway, it’s the people’s choice as to whether they will select Beng, Nonong Jalosjos and other candidates like Congressman Erbie Fabian for mayor.”

The congressional aspirant of district 2 also urged Salazar to diassociate herself from the controversy because she does not belong to Adelante Zamboanga and the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), whose leader in Zamboanga City is Mayor Celso Lobregat.

Besides, Enesando continued what the move of congresswoman of district 2 against Jalosjos is not sanction by the ruling administration party and that never the LP, especially its leaders, advised her to file petition to disqualify Jalosjos from seeking post.

“Filing a case, petition against her (Salazar) rival in politics maybe is not the way to do. Let the guy (Jalosjos) run and let the people decide as to whether he is qualified or not. It is the people who will decide, not the Comelec,” he stressed.

Enesando, accompanied by some supporters wearing yellow T-shirts with markings “the Filipino is worth dying for” and images of the late Senator Ninoy Aquino and President Cory Aquino, trooped to the Comelec district office yesterday morning to follow up the identification cards of registered voters under district 2.

“I’m here in Comelec district 2 registrar office to request,” Enesando said referring to the IDs. “Why until now they have not released the IDs, it is already long overdue?” he asked.

When asked about why he wore a yellow T-shirt, Enesando replied: “This is a celebration in honor of the 29th anniversary of Senator Ninoy Aquino’s martyrdom day, August 21, 1983, and I’m wearing this signature T-shirt to send a message that I belong to the party (LP) of President Noynoy Aquino.”

Enesando shifted his party affiliation from PDP Laban to the ruling LP last May. In 2007 and 2010, he unsuccessfully ran as an independent under Lakas and PDP-Laban candidate in the congressional race, respectively.

His oath-taking as new member of LP last May 6, 2012 during a convention in Bacolod, Western Visayas was witnessed by President Benigno Aquino III and Secretary Mar Roxas, the party’s president.

BIR-Zamboanga City exceeds 7-month collection target

By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao (JPA/MVC-PIA9 ZBST)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug 22 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Zamboanga City has exceeded its seven months collection target.

“We are on track of meeting our target for this year,” BIR-Zamboanga City District (93-A) Assistant Revenue District Officer Rolando C. Ompoc said in an interview.

Ompoc’s optimism is based on the seven-month cumulative collection of the Bureau where it collected P1.057 billion.

“Our cumulative collection from January to July is P27 million higher than our target and P231 million more than our collection for the same period last year. For July alone, we collected P153, 345,891.48, P8.9 million higher. Except for April, we overshot our monthly target for the last seven months,” Ompoc said.

Ompoc said the bulk of the tax collected from January to July came from the local government taxes, letter of notice, business sector and income tax of the working public.

BIR-Zamboanga’s target collection for this year is P1.8 billion and with five months to go, the target is very achievable.

“We really cannot say that it’s a sure thing, but with more hard work, we really are in the right direction,” Ompoc said.

As in the previous years, tax collection in the city surges during the last quarter of the year where public spending increases due to the holidays.

Ompoc said they will also be conducting tax mapping activities this September to help ensure that they meet the target.

“This is one of our means to monitor all tax-paying entities to ensure that they pay their proper taxes,” he said.

OFWs may file claims online for hospital bills incurred abroad

(Mindanao Examiner)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 21, 2012) - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) said it plans to install a system that will allow Filipinos working abroad to receive immediate financial relief in the event they become ill and seek hospitalization in their host countries.

The new system, which is expected to begin next year, would cover those who are members of the Philhealth and they can easily file their claims on the Internet so they may obtain quick reimbursement of hospital bills incurred abroad.

“We want covered OFWs to receive immediate financial relief in the event they become ill and seek hospitalization in their host countries. Our plan is to install by next year a system that will allow Overseas Filipino workers to simply submit online their individual claims for repayment,” Dr. Eduardo Banzon, Philhealth president and chief executive officer, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

He also said Philhealth is considering the possibility of contracting primary care physicians abroad to attend to Filipino workers abroad. “We hope to start doing this in selected foreign cities with large concentrations of OFWs,” Banzon said.

At present, covered OFWs hospitalized abroad may file claims for reimbursement only by submitting hard copies of the necessary paperwork inside six months to the Philhealth office nearest their Philippine residence.

The papers to be submitted are Philhealth Claim Form 1; a photocopy of the claimant’s latest Member Data Record, or contribution payment receipt; a medical certificate with complete diagnosis, period of confinement and services rendered; and a hospital statement of account and/or official receipts with itemized charges and other supporting documents in English.

Banzaon said Philippine-based dependents of overseas works may readily avail of benefits via accredited local hospitals and outpatient service providers.

Philhealth helps pay for the room and board, medicines, laboratory exams, as well as operating room and professional fees for every hospital confinement of not less than 24 hours of Filipino worker’s spouse and other dependents.


ZCCCIFI won’t stop promoting the city as an investment hub

By: R.G. Antonet Go

The business sector will not stop promoting the city as an investment hub despite the continues shooting incidents and the bombings that happened in this city last Thursday night.

This was declared by businessman Pedro Rufo “Cholo” N. Soliven, President of the Zamboanga City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (ZCCCIFI), even as he said that the recent incidents were unfortunate events.

“But this will not stop us from helping and promoting the city as an investment hub even if this will affect the scorecards in terms of other considerations that investors are looking,” Soliven asserted.

Hoping that the unabated incidents especially the bombings will not send a wrong signal again, Soliven said the business sector has always been doing their initiatives parallel to the Local Government Unit’s initiatives in bringing in investors.

Soliven believes that instead of pinning the blame on the administration, “this is one time wherein we can unite as a community and there are so many angles and motives that are now taken into consideration as to the possible objective of the bombing.”

Saying this is about a whole of the city approach, he appealed and called on the community including the military and LGU to look at the situation holistically where everybody as Zamboangueños have the responsibility to make the city safe.

“This is not only the responsibility of the LGU, this is not only the responsibility of the police and law enforcers this is our responsibility we want to see a peaceful city,” Soliven stressed. Soliven had earlier appealed to give more focus on the peace and order situation of the city. He said a good peace and order situation is one of the criterias being looked into by the investors to include a stable power supply so they can put up in this city.

Muslims celebrate end of Ramadan

By Amir Mawallil (Rappler.com)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Muslims all over the country are set to celebrate Sunday, August 19, the annual Eid'l Fitr, a day that marks the end of the month-long fast or Ramadan.

Eid'l Fitr is celebrated by Muslims for three days after the end of the month of fasting. President Benigno Aquino III issued an executive order declaring Monday, August 20, as a regular holiday to celebrate the Muslim feast.

“To promote cultural understanding and integration, the entire Filipino nation should have the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in the observance and celebration of Eid'l Fitr,” Aquino said in a statement.

Titina F. Loong, 34, a doctor, said that Eid'l Fitr serves as an occasion for every Muslim family to gather and bond.

“Aside from its religious significance, the day also becomes a reunion for everyone, families and friends. It is a special day for all us,” she said.

Special day

During Ramadan - the ninth month of the lunar calendar beginning with the sighting of the new moon - Muslim families gather around simple feasts, pray and converge to eat only at 6:00 p.m.

Fasting starts at daybreak.

Eid’l Fitr, which is locally known as Hari Raya Puasa, starts with an early morning prayer in mosques that lasts for about an hour.

“Eid’l Fitr for me is a cleansing and recognition of old and new ties… a fresh start from this day onwards knowing that you have been given another chance in life,” said Amer Yap Mitmug, 22, who works for an Islamic bank.

Munir N. Arbison Jr, a college student said that Eid’l Fitr brings back all his good childhood memories in his home province Sulu.

“As a tradition, a new set of dress, attire is a requirement during the feast,” he said.

For most, it is an opportunity to celebrate life.

“It’s the best time to have a reunion among family members. I usually pay visit to my Dad's grave after the prayer and celebration,” said Aleem Guiapal, a 35-year-old public servant and entrepreneur.

Alternate celebration

Muslims find more than one way to commemorate the end of Ramadan, albeit with the same spirit of celebration.

Members of the Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN), a growing organization of Muslim professionals in the country, marked the end of the month-long fast with a medical outreach on Saturday, August 18 that catered to over 400 indigent residents in Sangali village here.

“This is our way of giving back to the community as Muslim professionals and it feels so special since we are doing this during the holy month, to be exact at the last day of Ramadan,” said Dr. Abdul Javar Esturco, 25.

YMPN is a non-government organization composed of young Muslim professionals that advocate peaceful means to improve the socio-economic well-being of the Filipino Muslims.

Sharing the tradition

The group also plans to hold an Eid’l Fitr gathering in Metro Manila on Sunday, August 26 at StarMall Alabang.

“Our group will be holding the historic Moro Youth (MY) Hari Raya 2012 which is anchored on the recognition of Muslim youth in the society to advance positive paradigm on Islam, and bridge harmony among different cultures and religions in the country,” said group’s convener Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, 26.

Usman said that the event will be an avenue to gather children, youth and other sectors of the society to celebrate peace and unity.

“It will provide an opportunity for Muslims and non-Muslims to come together and enjoy the traditions of Ramadan.”

“MY Hari Raya celebration is a platform to enhance better understanding on Muslims and Islam, recognizing the need to address negative connotations and misperceptions on the beautiful Islamic faith,” she said.

PAZ, IRSMP, GCCPBA ink MOA with DepEd for “Peace Education”

(Albert F. Arcilla/Peace Advocates Zamboanga)

In a fine sunny morning of August 7, at least 100 School Administrators coming from the public secondary and elementary schools in the city convened at Zamboanga City High School-Main Library for the “Administrators’ Gathering” where they had witnessed the historic signing of Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) that entered between the Department of Education-Division of Schools, Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ), Interreligious Solidarity Movement for Peace (IRSMP) and the Golden Crescent Consortium of Peace Builders and Affiliates (GCCPBA).

The agreement is said to “re-enforce” the earlier Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) entered between DepEd-Division Office and PAZ and IRSMP last November of last year where PAZ and IRSMP serves as their partner in the implementation of Executive Order Number 570 or the “Institutionalization of Peace Education” in basic education and teacher education in various elementary and secondary schools in the city.

“The presence of the School Administrators in this activity is a sign of “full support” for the promotion of peace in the different public schools in the city” as described by Mr. Pedro Melchor M. Natividad, CSEE, the Officer-in-Charge- Superintendent of the Division of School during the short program.

Present during the historic signing were Dr. Felisa I. Munar, the Principal of the ZCHS-Main, Dr. May-Belle Bautista-Tee, the School Division’s Peace Education Coordinator and Prof. Ali T. Yacub, Al-Hj, the President of GCCPBA and Muslim Convener of IRSMP and Hadji Abdu Rahim Kenoh, Retired School Superintendent and the Peace Education Coordinator of the IRSMP.

For past many years, PAZ and IRSMP had been partnering with the city’s Division of School Office in the implementation of the peace-related activities in at least 36 secondary schools were PAZ and IRMSP is giving sessions of culture of peace and seminar-workshops for the students and the Teachers’ Training on the integration of peace education in the school’s curriculum. As a result, secondary school teachers were able to developed own modules and lessons plans where peace is being integrated.

The City’s Division of Schools had partnering PAZ and IRSMP for years already in the implementations of the culture of peace program in the different public secondary schools in the city.

The MOA says that DepEd, PAZ and IRSMP “agrees to consolidate their effort in the following programs highlighting peace and governance, advocacy, education and interreligious and interfaith dialogue and strengthen networking between and among peace oriented individuals and groups as well as institutionalizing the effective mechanism for conflict-free, safe and disaster-resilient communities with local government units and other stakeholders.”

PAZ and the leading interfaith group in the city, IRSMP together with the GCCPBA will partner with DepEd-Division Office will conduct a special program entitled Golden Crescent Achievement Awards and Young Peace Weaver Awards for secondary schools as an important engagement in recognition significant contributions of students in the cause of peace and bridging leadership.

Also in the MOA it says that DepEd-Division Office through a “special division memorandum” will inform all the school heads/principals of both elementary and secondary public high schools in the city about the terms and of engagements with PAZ, IRSMP and GCCPBA and will call all the schools for the active participation and involvement in the various programs of the said organization and further establish a partnership with this organization in the journey for the culture of peace.

A culture of peace training for the students is scheduled on September this year, where all student leaders of the 36 public secondary schools will participate.

The historic signing of the MOA was capped with the inauguration of the Japanese funded peace crane center in the said school. The peace crane center is the first to inaugurate in the city, where it consists of peace reading materials and other peace materials.

Open Zambo fire hydrant brings cheers to villagers

By Greggi Leano and Third Mendoza(Mindanao Examiner)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 17, 2012) – Villagers rushed to get water on a fire hydrant left open in downtown Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.

Residents rushed and took turn in fetching potable water in Camino Nuevo. One villager said the fire hydrant was left open by an unidentified personnel allegedly working with the Zamboanga City Water District.

“They left it open and so we rushed to fetch water,” the villager told the Mindanao Examiner.

It was not immediately known how long the hydrant was left unattended. (Mindanao Examiner. Greggi Leano and Third Mendoza)

One Mindanao marks 1st year of e-service across the globe

By Jocelyn P. Alvarez (JPA/PIA9-ZBST)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- One Mindanao (1M)- the first ever electronic magazine (e-mag) produced by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) – celebrates its first anniversary today as it also gives cognition to the men and women behind it for their selfless service and dedication in bringing national and Mindanao news across the country and around the globe.

“1M is being read not only by Mindanaoans but also “netizens” from other countries around the world,” said PIA9 Regional Director Noemi Edaga who shared that she received an email from White House (USA) thanking and commending PIA’s One Mindanao, as White House is one of the hundreds of thousands of recipients of the e-mag being sent thru email for free.


Edaga commended all the PIA writers and technical staff from the Mindanao region who continuously share their time and efforts to make every issue of One Mindanao better than its previous.

“All have shared a portion of their lives for 1M, be it in news writing, gathering, research, layout, and technical expertise and even working beyond the hours and extending duties and services, all for the purpose of bringing good news about Mindanao, and the Philippines,” Edaga said.

Edaga said netizens can be assured that “1M people” will continuously work to make an improved One Mindanao at par with international e-mags.

1M contributors include PIA writers from Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and the ARMM.

Zamboanga City conducts artworks for art party 2012

(Zamboanga Today)

In a recently concluded ARTWORKS: AN Art that Works program by a concerted effort of partner youth institutions to include the Philippine Youth Leadership Program (PYLP), Youth Solidarity for Peace (YSP) and Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ) last August 8, 2012, twenty students from both Zamboanga East and West Central School actively participated in the said event.

The Student Artists who represented the school in the said event were officially endorsed by the School Administrators respectively. It was further supported by the Schools’ Division of Zamboanga City-Department of Education.

In a DEPED Division Memorandum, Endorsement Letters were forwarded to the participating schools for the said ARTWORKS. The event was organized by Mr. Arwald Candido, Alumnus, PYLP Scholar as his community response initiative after the PYLP Training held at Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, State of Illinois and Washington last Summer, this year.

He initiated the program to provide the students and artists an avenue to integrate the Culture of peace through visual arts workshops. He believed that through paintings, students can be motivated to explore and discover more messages to the cause of peace.

The paintings were grounded on the Idea of having an Ideal Peaceful community. Mr. Nelvert Anino, one of Zamboanga’s rising Artists mentored the children in their chosen specializations- poster making and painting.

The paintings will be used for two respective exhibitions. One is for the PYLP Exhibition as a Follow-On Activity of the PYLP Scholars set later the month. Secondly, the twenty paintings will be representing the Philippines in the ART PARTY 2012 set December 2012 at Hiroshima, Japan.

Art Party is a program, co-sponsored by ANT-Hiroshima and Art Party Hiroshima, that invites children's orphanages, shelters, and other children’s groups to take part in an annual art exhibition in Hiroshima, Japan.

The artwork created by children from these organizations is sold at the exhibition and 100% of the money raised is returned to support the children involved.

Art Party seeks to raise donations for children's organizations while raising awareness of children in need. At the same time, the Art Party exhibition—with artwork created by children from countries around the world—is designed to be an interesting and educational event for the Hiroshima community.

This year marks the 10th Art Party exhibition. Exhibitions held from 2003~2011 were all quite successful. Art Party 2012 will take place at a large art gallery in a community center in downtown Hiroshima, from December 11~17. Proceeds from the exhibit will be given back to the children artist and recipient school next year that will be used for schools projects or community engagements. Thus, Zamboanga City has to be very proud about the engagement.

Local Coordinator of Ant-Hiroshima Mr. Aldrin Bucoy-Abdurahim, IRSMP Executive Coordinator of PAZ and PYLP Alumni Association Board Member enlightened the children about the said engagements. He mentioned about the students representation in Japan and inspired them to continue and always improve the craft of painting.

The stories of our communities are the fundamental ingredient in the craft for beautiful paintings in the country. As we seek to further encourage more international friends to help our country, discipline and commitment to work for peace is but very necessary to start from within. Peace is a way of life. Aldrin Bucoy-Abdurahim

Manticorp Technologies puts up main headquarters in Zamboanga; to hire thousands of call center agents

(Mindanao Examiner)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 14, 2012) – A new company called Manticorp Technologies Global Network Solutions, Inc. which caters to call center training and employment, has set up its main office in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.

Chief Executive Officer Francois Karl Louis Pilay said the company offers English proficiency training, among other modules, to applicants that eventually would lead them to employment on various call centers based in Cebu province and Manila.

“We chose Zamboanga City to establish our main operations because of its vast human resources. Zamboanga is a great place to invest because it is one of the highly urbanized cities in the country and has the facilities needed in our kind of business,” Pilay said in an interview over the Mindanao Examiner Tele-Radyo on Tuesday.

He said the company, which is into knowledge process outsourcing, has signed up a contract with 8 call centers to train and hire new employees for their operations in the Philippines.

“This is a very good opportunity for those who are looking for a high-paying job, and of course the Manticorp Technologies Global Network Solutions shall take care of their training and when they are ready we can provide them the work because we have 8 clients all wanting to hire new call center agents for Cebu and Manila. We are looking at training and hiring thousands in Zamboanga Peninsula to work for call centers,” said Pilay, who is also the company’s Senior Business Development Manager.

He said the training would last up to one month and the company can train as many as 30 people all the same time at their headquarters at 35 Crispin Atilano Street.

The company’s Chief Finance Officer Charlie Tugao said Manticorp Technologies Global Network Solutions is also establishing a branch in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province, and is looking into putting up more in the cities of Ozamiz, Iligan, Dipolog and Cagayan de Oro.

“We hope to contribute to the local economy and at the same time provide jobs for college graduates and even undergraduates who are willing to undergo intensive training and prepare themselves for call center jobs,” Tugao said.

“We have no preference here. Everybody is welcome in the company as long as they are between 18 to 42 years old, and can speak English and we shall teach and train them everything they need to learn in this industry,” he added.

He said attractive compensation and benefits await those who will be hired by the company.

Tugao said those who are interested in the training and employment in call centers can contact their Zamboanga headquarters at telephone number 062-9842038 and 0905-6130612, and those in Zamboanga del Sur and other parts of Western Mindanao can also call up 0927-6669194 for inquiries.

‘Greening’ program will improve water supply of Zamboanga

(Press Release)

The successful “greening” of Zamboanga City’s watershed on July 27-28, 2012 by ZCWD is running on its second year with the planting of 1,500 dipterocarp trees seedlings of Bagtikan and Mayapis species on the area that was used for kaingin in Sitio Sta. Clara at Cabonegro, part of the protected area zone of Pasonanca Natural Park.

The newly planted trees is part of the total targeted seedlings of 30,000 for this year. As of July 2012, a total of 17,500 trees have already been planted in different areas of the watershed.

The endemic species introduced were composed of one-year old seedlings of 0.6meter to 1 meter in height that will eventually develop as natural forest cover in the areas, thus regenerating the watershed. The seedling materials came from nurseries managed by the water district.

One hundred office employees took part in the tree planting activity which was in line with EO No. 26, “The National Greening Program of the Philippines”.

Implementing the greening program inside Zamboanga’s watershed, not only increases the water yield of existing springs inside the forest but also returns natural biodiversity condition with the planting of more species endemic to the areas. Presently, 80% of ZCWD’s water sources comes from surface water.

For the past few years ZCWD, in coordination with Department of Agriculture (DA), Fiber Industry Development Authority( FIDA)and DENR, has also conducted Information Education Campaign (IEC) for settlers inside the watershed, as well as those living in buffer zone areas.

Settlers were taught and encouraged to pursue planting of high value crops like durian trees, lettuce and abaca aside from the common rotational crops like tomatoes and bell peppers as a means of livelihood, instead of going into logging activities.

Community involvement is highly encouraged by the water district in order for the greening program’s sustainability mechanism to succeed.

Zamboanga shipbuilding hub regains its lost glory

By Al Jacinto

ZAMBOANGA CITY: A coastal village in Zamboanga City once a notorious enclave of drug pushers and criminals is now slowly recovering from its bad image to a busy ship-building paradise in this part of Mindanao.

Boy Aminula, village chieftain of Recodo, said crimes had drastically dropped following intense police and military campaigns aimed at bringing peace back to the place where ship-building and repairs are now a common sight.

The village, popularly known as “Varadero de Recodo,” is back on its old and traditional trade, ship-building, and with the improved peace and order and full support of the local government, Recodo, is again a favorite destination of ship owners because of the high quality of ships and vessels being built in the village.

Recodo was known as the shipbuilding capital of Western Mindanao—at least a dozen ships were being built at any given day in the village in the past—but because of illegal drugs, crimes soared and affected the local trade.

But Aminula said the prevailing situation now is much different from the past and all these he attributed to the authorities and local government officials, who worked hard to bring peace in the village.

He said village officials cannot do all the jobs in Recodo without the help of the authorities and residents themselves. Criminals have fled out of Recodo because of the active police patrol and support of the community to the efforts of the local government.

Villagers are now volunteering to help the government turn Recodo back in its old glory. “Our village is now peaceful and we are slowly bringing back the old glory of Recodo as the ship-building capital of Western Mindanao,” Aminula said.

He said the Zamboanga City government also provided Recodo with a new two-storey building making it easier for them to run the daily affairs of the village.

Reptile terrifies Badjaos in Zamboanga

By Nonoy E. Lacson

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A five-foot-long reptile having sharp, snake-like teeth, powerful tails and claws that look like the sinister pendants of voodoo necklaces was rescued by terrified Badjaos in the sea barely few meters from Paseo del Mar on Wednesday morning.

Mayor Celso Lobregat, upon hearing the information rushed to Paseo del Mar and took custody of the reptile with well-developed limbs, which was later identified as a monitor lizard locally known as iguana, belonging to Veranus species.

Lobregat immediately called up City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Reynaldo Gonzales to take care of the lizard, which was believed to have escaped from a cage considering that it appeared domesticated and having a string.

The lizard was later taken to City Hall where Lobregat turned it over to an official from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for proper protection.

City Council helps flood victims in Manila, Luzon

By Nonong Santiago

The City Council on its regular session last Wednesday approved a resolution giving Mayor Celso Lobregat the authority to assist the flood victims in Manila and Luzon whether in cash or in kind.

Councilor Mike Alavar, who authored the motion, said Zamboanga City is consistent in its support to other local government units which had been devastated by typhoons in the past.

“If you recall, the city government has aided in terms of money and in kind to the people of Illigan, Cagayan de Oro and Jolo the past months when these LGUs have been ravaged by floods,” Alavar said in an interview.

The councilor said based from news report about 90 percent of the people in Luzon and greater Manila areas are affected and suffering from flood waters.

It is the discretion of the mayor where he will source out the funds to help the people in that locality, Alavar emphasized.

Alavar also stressed the need to help our neighbouring LGUs which are in distress and requires the assistance of other government units.

According to him, Zamboanga City is really blessed because “we are being watched and taken cared of by Nuestra la Virgen del Pilar, our patron saint.” He called on residents to plant trees in their vacant lots to help address the climate change at the same time cautioned residents living near river banks to be extra careful especially during heavy downpour.

Valesco’s eco-tourism directory almost done

By Nonong Santiago

Stressing the need to record all the natural wonders of Zamboanga City, Councilor Gerky Valesco is now on the verge of completing the comprehensive eco-tourism directory for the people to have a simple, trouble-free and easy to find listing of the city’s tourism attractions.

Valesco, who chairs the Tourism Committee in the City Council, said Zamboanga has a lot to offer in natural marvels and tourism potentials such as waterfalls, rivers, caves, lakes and sites for trekking, mountain and wall climbing in many parts of the city.

The councilor, a leading promoter of ecological tourism, is a segment producer of the weekly television show Vale el Zamboanga VEZ TV aired over Sky Cable channel 16, has pioneered the promotion of rural tourism where he and the TV crews go from one barangay to the other to record on video their discoveries of the beautiful sites and wonders at the same time show it to the tele-viewers who have expressed awe that they were able to learn such wonders exists and other positive things in the city.

For his consistency in the promotion of the city’s tourism potentials, Valesco had been awarded as the Most Outstanding Councilor of the Philippines for Region 9 by the Philippines Councilors League, Philippine Jaycees and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in 2009.

In 2007, when Valesco chaired the Commission on Tourism Culture, Arts and Foreign Relations, he immediately conducted an inventory of all the city’s landmarks including historical and potential sites.

The alderman from Sta. Maria was the first to post in the internet photos of new-discoveries and high valued eco-tourism destinations which paved the way for the city government to construct new roads leading to the said areas.

Aside from promoting the barangays, the councilor also allocated part of his Countryside Development Fund for non-invasive projects in the said locations which brought admirations by the residents for his efforts and vision to develop tourism potentials in the different communities in both districts.

Valesco has also authored several resolutions in the City Council calling for the further development of landmarks including the Sta. Cruz Island which if fully realized will bolster tourism in the city.

The District 1 councilor is one of the most loved public servant not only in the city but the region as well.

More village participation to Blood Council urged

By R.G. A A. Go

The City Blood Council is urging the participation of more barangays (villages) to the Barangay Blood Council to help the city and to fill blood needs of their respective constituents.

“Contigo ta atraka el maga hente. Si tiene constant blood donation hinde kita palta stocks," City Blood Program Coordinator Maria Christine M. Lim said, telling barangay captains about the blood supply.

According to Lim, out of the 98 barangays only 26 barangays are actively participating in the Barangay Blood Council.

The active barangays are Ayala, Baliwasan, Boalan, Bunguiao, Cabatangan, Cawit, Divisoria, Guiwan, Labuan, Lumayang, Lunzuran, Maasin, Manicahan, Pasonanca, Patalon, Putik, Sangali, San Jose Gusu, San Roque, Sta. Maria, Sinubong, Talabaan, Talisayan, Tetuan, Tulungatung and Barangay Zone II.

These 26 barangays conduct regular blood donation and have their respective barangay blood coordinator.

Ms. Lim said the barangay captain together with the health centers must closely be coordinated since they know the people in the community who might be blood donors.

She also said the barangay can also help in the pre-screening of possible blood donors so during the blood donation, the job will be easier where the blood facilities will only extract the blood.

Establishing the Barangay Blood Council is mandatory under City Ordinance 336 which institutionalizes the provisions of Republic Act 7719, otherwise known as the National Blood Service Act of 1994.

The City Blood Council is targeting 1% of the total population of the barangay to donate blood which is required by the National Blood Council.

For those barangays who are interested to conduct bloodletting activity, they can get in touch with Maria Christine M. Lim, the City Blood Program Coordinator.

Ms. Lim said that during the bloodletting, the barangay will only spend for the snack of the blood donors.

Encouraging residents, she said donating blood will bring good to their respective health.

The requirements for one to donate blood are at least 50 Kilos, pulse rate of between 60 to 100 beats per minute, with blood pressure between 90 and 160 systolic and 60 and 100 diastolic, and hemoglobin level of 125g/L.

The Zamboanga City Medical Center Blood Bank and the Philippine Red Cross are the only accredited facilities where the residents can secure blood.

BFP IX gets fighting gears

By R.G. A A. Go

The Bureau of Fire Protection-IX (BFP-IX) received yesterday several fire fighting gears for the use of firefighters.

Zamboanga City Fire District (ZCFD) District Fire Marshall F/ Supt. Dominador Zabala revealed during an interview.

“Este dia ya sabe kame cay chene ya lega maga firefighting gears egual fire coat fire helmet fire boots y hose. Otro año pa este yan bidding ya liega este dia lang o hala dale na ZCFD," he said.

According to Zabala, as of present, he still does not know as to where these items will be distributed.

BFP IX Regional Director, F/Sr. Supt. Carlito B. Ocena will still have to decide where the new equipments will be given.

However, he hoped that ZCFD will be given because they lacked equipments as the office still needs 50 fire coat, 50 fire helmet, 50 fire boots and 50 hoses so the firemen can perform much better.

In case the ZCFD will be given, Zabala said he will distribute the equipments to those who needed it most especially in places, where there are several incidents of fire are recorded.

At present, the Zamboanga City Fire District has seven fire stations located in Sta. Maria, Tetuan, Ayala, Manicahan, Quiniput, Vitali, and the City Fire Station. Aside from these, they also have seven fire sub-stations Guiwan, Boalan, Sta. Catalina, Upper Calarian, Recodo, Talisayan, Mercedes.

Zambo City chamber cited for chartering ICT Council

By Albert Francisco

Taking cognizance on the urgency and importance of an organized ICT council, to harnessed the unlimited opportunities of a share in the pie of the $ 50 Billion industry by 2016, ZCCIFI President Pocholo Soliven initiated the creation of an ICT Council, a pre-requisite to qualify Zamboanga City as the next wave city in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) industry.

Soliven said that with the ICT Council organized, Zamboanga City is now in the radar and is qualified to take part on the whole gamut of ICT/BPO operations, a key driver of the Philippine Economy.

"The time is now for the Zamboanga City business community to stake its rightful share in the ICT/BPO $50 Billion pie...the opportunities is bright and limitless cutting across multi sectoral industries," he added.

Soliven further said that Zamboanga Chamber through the ICT council under the competent I.T. savvy President Louel Saavedra will address the lack of coherent strategy and sustained implementation, a stable power supply, interconnectivity and redundancy issues with Globe and Smart/PLDT, academic institutions as well as clearly define public private roles and initiative shall be rationalized and enhanced.

Meanwhile, ICT Council Charter President Louel Saavedra said that Zamboanga City possess a special value proposition, the special niche is the development of Bilingual Spanish- English service providers.

He also sees a potential high demand I.T. services, health care/medical services as well as accounting service.

For all of these efforts to jumpstart Zamboanga City in Information Communication Technology Industry, City Councilor Vincent Paul A. Elago sponsored a resolution which was carried unanimously highly commending the efforts of Zamboanga Chamber under the leadership of ZCCIFI President Pocholo Soliven and the Charter President of the ICT Council Louel Saavedra for the milestone in the ICT sector.

Trying to change the world with Zamboanga Hace

By CARMELA G. LAPEÑA (BM, GMA News)

At the southernmost tip of the Philippines, a revolution is brewing.

Armed with borrowed cameras, students from Western Mindanao State University shoot scenes in their hometown, Zamboanga City. In a classroom, they make intricate vernacular typeface inspired by folk typographies seen on the streets of Zamboanga. At the annual Zamboanga Hermosa festival, they gather the participants and capture them backstage.

Student artwork from Zamboanga Hace 1 taken by Roderick Cordura

For the past two years, around 80 students from WIMSU have been taking part in Zamboanga Hace, a series of contemporary art workshops organized by The Office of Culture and Design (TOCD). "It's about teaching them critical, creative, open thinking and trying to encourage them to think differently and challenge the kinds of boxes they've been educated to think inside," explains TOCD's Clara Balaguer.

The Office of Culture and Design in Makati. Photo by Carmela Lapeña

Since October 2010, Zamboanga Hace has invited five contemporary artists and designers to work with the students, and to do a body of work on the city. The series began with a digital photography workshop by Spanish photographer Biel Capllonch, where the students came up with a commissioned portrait series, which Balaguer describes as "surprisingly really good." Poster for Zamboanga Hace 1 by Miguel Figueroa (Puerto Rico) and Rita Lino (Portugal)

She explains that they make do with what they have, which is not that much. "It's not about the quality of the equipment, it's about what you put in to the equipment," she says. Even when things got a bit more complicated when Spanish filmmaker Carlos Casas held an independent film workshop, the resourceful students were able to make things work. "It can be a huge problem," says Balaguer, adding that she brought in her computer and a digital camera for the students to use.

"It's so easy to do things like this because the students are so willing to find solutions. I think a lot of people underestimate Filipinos in general but if you give them freedom to think of their own solutions they come up with really, really great ones. It's a place where they can be free to think differently," she says.

At the Zamboanga Hermosa festival, the participants gathered in an ancestral house instead of the students just going to the event and photographing them there. "We kind of decontextualized them. The idea was to turn them into paintings almost, play with the composition," recalls Balaguer.

At the end of the series, all the artworks will be published in a catalog and exhibited at a major cultural exhibition. "We're hoping that there'll be two exhibits, one here and one in Spain. So if any of them want to become contemporary artists, at the age of 19 or 20 they have two major exhibits at two major institutions which is huge for any artist anywhere in the world," says Balaguer. Final artwork of Biel Capllonch for the photo series we commissioned. Picture of Little Miss Zamboanga contestants

Even without the exhibits, the students are already accomplishing quite a lot. Apart from producing their own short films and coming up with portraits, they completed a commissioned editorial project in a workshop on vernacular graphic design by Miquel Polidano, a Spanish graphic designer and the founder of Triangulo Editorial.

In the next and last in the Zamboanga Hace series, The Institute of Infinitely Small Things will hold a workshop on performance and public art. Based mostly in Boston, the art collective incorporates human behavior experiments into artistic performances. "They're very much into participative art, and they like to involve innocent bystanders in their work. It's kind of like an exponentially growing social experiment," explains Balaguer.

Although this is the last series in Zamboanga Hace's first cycle, TOCD would like to keep on doing it. Like many other projects, it's just a matter of finding the supporters. "If you really want to change the world, it's a long process. It's not enough to just be there for a couple of years," says Balaguer. Carlos Casas with student of Zamboanga Hace 3 who won best film director prize.

While the project may not be changing the world just yet, it certainly makes a difference in the lives of the students, and also of those who work with TOCD, Balaguer included. After the independent film workshop, they held a screening, and awarded one of the students. "We gave him best film and best director. Everyone was rooting for him to win because he's one of the kids who would always have to borrow the camera or exchange it for working on something," says Balaguer, who decided to give the student the camera they bought for students to use during the workshop.

"We didn't plan it but when we gave him the camera and everybody was cheering for him it was kind of like, I felt like I was on American Idol. I thought, this is what I should be doing with this money. There's nothing better that I could have done," says Balaguer, who left her advertising job to set up TOCD.

"When I turned 30 I kind of took stock of my life and what I had left behind and what I had in front of me and what I had in the present, and I realized that I had kind of turned my back on my roots. I felt like I had things to do here in the Philippines," says Balaguer, who returned after seven years when her mother fell ill. "I guess because you go through this whole process when you lose a parent or when anybody close to you dies, you there's this moment of illumination and you're like, what am I going to do with my life?" she says.

The answer, it turned out, was to move back to Manila and open TOCD, which she says is all about using contemporary culture to spark progress. Apart from Zamboanga Hace, TOCD has several other projects, including one founded with Canadian street artist Kaid Ashton called Homeschool, where volunteer teachers hold workshops for children on the streets of Manila.

To find out more about Zamboanga Hace and other projects of TOCD, visit their website.

Zamboanga City hires 234 new employees

By Joymarie Soler and Angelie Cahulugan)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 4, 2012) – The Zamboanga City government has hired some 234 new employees to provide them livelihood and working experience as part of its so-called “Government Internship Program” and “Cash for Training Program” aimed at providing livelihood and working experience to unemployed college and high school graduates and undergraduates, including out-of-school youth.

The programs are a joint project of the Zamboanga City Social Welfare and Development Office and Public Employment Service Office.

“The objective of this undertaking is to assist these people to earn a descent living so they can help their own family, and at the same time provide them the necessary job training which can help them in future employment,” Francisco Baredo, Social Welfare head, told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said the employees will be assigned to assist in health centers in the villages. “We shall assign one employee for each day care center and at least 24 of them will be working in various local government offices,” Baredo said.

He said the programs will start on August 6 and ran until August 17.

Baredo said the local government is also offering skills training in 94 technical courses in partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

“The purpose of this training is to provide technical and vocational skills to individuals and an opportunity for them to learn and gain knowledge which they use to start a small business or work in a company and even work abroad,” he said.

Baredo said the training’s duration depends on a chosen course.

“I am so thankful to the local government because I was one of those who were chosen in the program. This is a great opportunity for me to learn who it is to work in government and how to be responsible in the job,” said Isabelle Gonzales, a 24-year old high school graduate.

Zamcelco bares candidates' name for Aug. 5 special elections

(PR)

Zamcelco management released yesterday the names of the qualified candidates for board of directors in this special district election on Sunday, August 5, 2012.

Officer In-Charge Charito C. Mabitazan of Zamcelco said the qualified candidates have passed the screening committee of the cooperative created for the purpose of determining the candidate's qualifications to run for district board of director.

The qualified candidates are District II: Victor A. Liozo Jr., Ernesto A. Ong, and Roberto G. Saavedra, District V: Orlando D. Gregorio (unopposed), and District X: Alberto T. Abalos, and Leopoldo R. Toribio.

The said candidates met the qualifications and complied with the requirements set forth by the NEA Memorandum No. 2005-012 (Guidelines on the Conduct of EC District Elections) and NEA Memo No. 2009-011 (Additional Qualification Requirements for EC Board of Directors).

Meanwhile, Mabitazan appealed to bonafide member-consumers who are qualified to vote in their respective districts to go out and participate in the electoral process this Sunday.

The election will start at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m.. Coop members are advised to bring their Zamcelco Identification Cards or other valid identification credentials for registration and voting.

Mejia replaces Yanga as OIC City police chief

By Eugene A. Lasprilla

Senior Supirentendent James Buslig Mejia formally assumed Tuesday as officer in-charge (OIC) of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) replacing Chief Superintendent Mario Biong Yanga.

Mejia was appointed on July 31, 2012 by Chief Superintendent Atty. Napoleon Estilles, regional director Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9), to replace Yanga, the incumbent Deputy Director for Administration (DRDA).

Estilles said that Mejia’s new designation is pursuant to general order number 621 dated August 01, 2012 terminating his previous position as the commander of the Regional Public Safety company 9 (RPSB9).

He also said his standing guidance to the new OIC-ZCPO is the possible prevention of shooting incidents in the city wherein, the latest incident from January to present is 108.

“I ordered the new OIC-ZCPO to be efficient in stopping shooting incidents in Zamboanga City,” Estilles said.

The police general directed Mejia to conduct pro-active measures against criminality especially, campaign against loose firearms, illegal logging, carnapping, illegal drugs and etc.

Estilles told Zamboanga Today that Yanga will be reporting back to his office at Camp Romeo Abendan in Barangay Mercedes and can now focus on his administrative functions.

Police statistics shows that most of the local shooting incidents were perpetrated by riding-in-tandem motorcycle perpetrators.

The new OIC of the local police immediately conducted a staff conference yesterday morning and followed by the afternoon command conference with the different station commanders and Chief Directorial Staff (CDS) Sr. Supt. Cornelio Barrios.

Zambo mayor joins fight against malaria

(PNA), LAM/TPG/utb

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 1 (PNA) – Mayor Celso Lobregat has signed a manifesto, committing himself and the city of Zamboanga in the fight towards a malaria-free Philippines initiated by the Department of Health (DOH), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Fund Malaria through the Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc.

Lobregat signed the manifesto on Wednesday during the launching of “Byaheng Kulambo” (Traveling Net), a new advocacy campaign against malaria, at the city hall.

The campaign is anchored on the theme “Saving lives, preventing deaths and sustaining investments in the fight against malaria.”

The manifesto of support, which other mayors of chartered cities have also signed, calls for the formulation of local government Malaria Program Strategic Plan in sync with the national program policy direction, strategic thrusts and funding priorities and integrated into the province-wide investment plan for health, enabling localization and eventual ownership of the malaria program at the local government unit (LGU) level.

A survey showed that 57 out of 81 provinces in the country are affected by malaria.

In Zamboanga Peninsula, which includes Zamboanga City, 111,304 of its 3,410,452 population are at risk of malaria, with 18 endemic municipalities and two cities prone to malaria out of 67 towns and five cities.

People living or have been to a malarious area are advised to have their malaria blood smear done at the first sign of fever.

A 2007 epidemiology survey also showed that Zamboanga City had registered nine malaria cases.

Like dengue, malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease.

However, Lobregat clarified that not all mosquitoes are dengue or malaria carriers, only the females who have bitten an infected person.

Nevertheless, he stressed, the public should actively share in the effort not only to control malaria but eliminate the disease, as envisioned in the “biyaheng Kulambo” advocacy.

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