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The Philippines has Maletsky Mart to help propagate the Chavacano Language.
Zambonaga City News March 2011
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Red Cross opens “summer safety institute” for students
- Source: Philippine Information Agency: www.pia.gov.ph
- by Jocelyn P. Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 29, 2011 (PIA) –- The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)-Zamboanga City chapter announces the opening of its “summer safety institute” set on April 4, this year.
The summer safety institute is an annual undertaking of Red Cross here is open to all high school and college students.
Summer Safety Institute is a 43-day course-training where participants will be guided on the International Humanitarian Law; trained on Pre Hospital care, taught on ambulance management orientation course and basic life support.
Course topic will include nursing, disaster response, first aid, water safety, scuba diving, jungle survival and rappelling. All these will be handled and shared by highly competent Red Cross trainers.
PNRC Chapter Representative for Disaster Management Service Glen Barredo said some of the training activities will be done outdoor like the water safety, scuba diving, rappelling and the like, while classroom lectures will be done inside the red cross Youth Hostel.
Barredo said they are targeting some 75 student-participants to said training.
Registration fee for the training is P4,000. This is a meager amount in exchange for the opportunity to learn how to help save lives. “This is a package training that can help save lives of others” Barredo said. (NBE/JPA-PIA9 Zambo City)
200 bikers join ZATERS 'Earth Hour' bike run
- Sunday, March 27, 2011
- Source: Philippine Information Agency: www.pia.gov.ph
- by Jocelyn P. Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 27 (PIA) –- Close to 200 bikers from the various bikers association in the city showed strong support in the fight against global warming by riding on their mountain bikes during the world Observance of EARTH HOUR, Saturday night (Mar. 26).
Dubbed as "Earth Hour bike-riding beyond the Hour" the activity, organized and spearheaded by The Zamboanga Adventure Tourism and Eco Recreation Society (ZATERS) in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT) 9, Philippine Information Agency 9 (PIA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)9, SPELEO and Lacuachero outdoor shop was aimed at raising level of awareness on "biking" as an alternative means of transportation that is geared towards the preservation and conservation of the environment as well as lessen the effects of global warming or climate change.
Bikers started to “ride” their bikes 8pm last night starting at the Paseo Del Mar grounds when the city light was symbolically switched off in observance of the “Earth Hour.”
Bikers pedaled their way in “darkness” with only flashlights, head lights and bike blinkers serving as their light as they synchronically biked their way around the city thorough fare.
The bike route ended where it started, at the Paseo Del Mar where a short program was held.
Tourism Office- Officer In Charge Bernard Gregorio who joined the bike race himself thanked the bikers during the short program. “Thank you for responding to the call of contributing something to the environment” He said.
Gregorio also emphasized the importance of using bike to minimize effects of global warming.
The activity ended with distribution of certificate of participation to the participants. (JPA-PIA9 Zambo City)
70 young women bound for Malaysia rescued at Zamboanga Airport
- Friday, 25 March 2011 14:42
- Source: www.zamboangatoday.ph/
Over 70 young women including minors who were about to depart for Sandakan, Malaysia were rescued yesterday morning by the Anti-Trafficking Task Force inside the Zamboanga International Airport, this city.
The task force was spearheaded by the Department of Justice led by Atty. Ivy Damayo with members coming from the Police Women and Children’s Protection Division and Bureau of Immigration and Deportation.
Sketchy reports disclosed that the young women coming from different cities and provinces in the country have been recruited by still unidentified recruiter who chartered a 90-seater plane owned by the Lions Air. Inc., purposely to bring the victims to Sandakan.
According to a police officer who declined to be identified, the plane was scheduled to land at the Zamboanga City International Airport at dawn, however, it suspiciously landed last night.
He said the plane has a permit to land at the airport but has no permit to depart to Malaysia.
At least 16 of the women are minors coming from Cebu, Ilo-Ilo, Leyte, Davao, Surigao and other parts of the country.
The police officer also said the itinerary of the young women is Sandakan with connecting flights to the countries of Lebanon and Jordan.
They were all carrying passports with $200 as show money.
Immigration officer Sitti Lutian declined to be interviewed saying Atty. Damayo of DOJ is the only one authorized to give the details to the media.
However, media personalities who tried to get inside the airport’s departure area to talk with Damayo have also been prohibited to get inside.
By Nonong Santiago
Zamboanga Hermosa Chorale wins in Vietnam competition
- Source: www.positivenewsmedia.net
ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 24 (PNA) -- Zamboanga’s very own, “Zamboanga Hermosa Chorale” headed by choirmaster Virginia Angelita Constantinopla was adjudged grand winner in the recently held four-day 1st Vietnam International Choir Festival and Competition 2011.
The competition was held from March 16 to 20 in Hoi An, Quang Nam Province of Vietnam.
The Zamboanga group received a Golden Diploma and trophy for its magnificent performance in the Category B1--Mixed Choirs--Difficulty level-II.
Constantinopla said they garnered a total of 20.95 points, based on the Musica Mundi grading system--a 30-point system being used in the Olympic Games scoring protocol.
Constantinopla said the choir’s splendid performance qualifies the Zamboanga group to join in the next succeeding World Choir Games--the Champions Competition and World Choir Championships--Championship Round.
The 1st Vietnam International Choir Festival and Competition 2011 formed part of the celebration of the Moon Festival in Hoi An City.
It was participated by 33 choirs representing different nations from all over the world that included the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Hongkong, China, Vietnam, Estonia and Singapore.
Contantinopla said the Zamboanga Hermosa Chorale also had the opportunity of presenting an all chabacano performance on the third day of the competition to the delight of foreigners and locals present during the fantastic celebration of the Moon Festival in the ancient city of Hoi An
The Hermosa Chorale, which was one of the Zamboanga Achievers in 2010 is composed of the following members: Carmela May Marcial, Trina Marie Ledesma, Jessel Ebrahim and Rosemarie Lim, Sopranos; Marjorie Reyes, Sarah Jane Baul, Janice Canada and Jenny June Bondoc, Altos; Gregorio Lim, Richard Minoza, Dionand Alvarez, Anson Atilano and Jovic Guevara, Tenors; and, Jeffry Julian, Bryan Ber Bondoc, Rovic Lamberte, Brian Alfie Constantinopla and Chester Bryan Barretto, Bass. (PNA) DCT/TPG/mec
Climaco, Fabian vote to impeach Ombudsman
- Source: www.zamboangatoday.ph/
- Wednesday, 23 March 2011 16:12
Zamboanga Districts 1 and 2 Representatives voted in favor of the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Mercedita Gutierrez during Monday’s plenary session at the Batasan Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.
Congressman Erbie Fabian, in an interview over Radio Mindanao Netwrok (RMN), disclosed that he and Congresswoman Isabelle Climaco Salazar have voted in the affirmative calling for the impeachment of Gutierrez based on the complaints of betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption.
Fabian and Climaco were among the 212 Congressmen who voted for Gutierrez’ impeachment while 46 others voted No and four abstained.
“We are living in a democratic society and at the same time, the Ombudsman herself had disclosed in a committee hearing that she believes Congress has railroaded the process of the impeachment and stressed she would rather go straight to the Senate. So to fast track everything, I voted in favor so she could already explain her side in the Senate,” Fabian explained.
The District 2 representative emphasized Gutierrez will have a fair trial in the Senate and will have all the opportunity to explain her side.
Fabian pointed out the Senate will be converted into an impeachment court to hear the impeachment protest sponsored by Congressmen Gil Topaz, Rudy Fariñas, Paul Daza and others.
“It is now the Senate’s ballgame and the congressmen who sponsored the complaint will have to prove the allegations against Gutierrez. The sponsors are very confident they will be able to prove all allegations that the Ombudsman betrayed public trust,” Fabian said.
He expressed apprehensions that the legislative agenda and many of the bills he passed in Congress which were elevated to the Senate like the Pasonanca and Sta. Cruz bills which are now in second and third reading will be pending since the impeachment complaint will take a longer time to tackle.
By Nonong Santiago
US forces will stay in Mindanao - Thomas
- Source: www.zamboangatoday.ph/
- Tuesday, 22 March 2011 13:05
The Joint Special Operation Task Force (JSOTF) will continue to stay in Mindanao "as long as the Philippine government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would like us to be here," US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas said yesterday."Remember, we are here on temporary basis and we have emphasized that and we'll continue to emphasize that we are guests as temporary here," said Thomas, who performed a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the Joint Fusion Cell at the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) headquarters.Ambassador Thomas was joined by WesMinCom chief Lieutenant General Raymundo Ferrer and Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) Commander Captain Robert Gusentine during the ceremony, at which the ambassador stated the center is a symbol of US-Philippines decades old alliance, cooperation, commitment and friendship.
"And in this case bringing end to violence in the southern Philippines...through this (center) we will be able to share information on threats to peace and security...we will also develop a greater understanding of the concerns of the local populace," Thomas said.
Thomas hoped that they will continue to find many ways to work with the AFP and the government of the Philippine to help the people in Mindanao to reject violence.
"I understand that this is the emphasis of the AFP's internal peace and security plan, a wise approach that takes a long term view and recognize that security is base to a more and just prevailing over one enemy battle," he added.
According to him, the Fusion Cell will also serve as a space for Philippine security forces to plan and implement programs that benefit the residents of Mindanao, such as free medical, dental, veterinary, and engineering projects.
Asked to react on the Senate investigation on alleged corrupt practices in the AFP, Thomas replied: "We have great confidence in the AFP as I wads privileged to be at he change of command, where General Oban promised that they would have an open and transparent process."
On the issue about the no -fly zone to prevent air raids from both rebels and the camp of Col. Moammar Gaddafi in Libya, he said they have to "wait and see" on what the Philippine government would like to do and say.
"What I would like to say is that President Obama and Secretary Clinton are acting with our international allies at the request of the Arab league under UN security council authorization. This is the largest international effort since the Gulf War, which is aimed at protecting the Liberian people," he said.
Meantime, Ambassador Thomas and former Senator Santanina Rasul, chairman of the Magbasa Kita Foundation, signed a $1.3 million U.S. grant in support of the Literacy for Peace and Development Program (LIPAD) for adults in the Sulu Archipelago.
By Hader Glang
P30-million worth 400,000 porno pirated DVDs & CDs seized
- Source: www.zamboangatoday.ph/
Sunday, 20 March 2011 20:41
More than 400,000 pieces of pornographic and pirated DVDs and CDs worth P30 million were confiscated Friday afternoon led by agents of the Manila-based Optical Media Board (OMB) in coordination with the local police and the office of the city administrator in this city.
The raid was conducted in at least ten establishments mostly owned by Muslim and Korean traders within the city proper at around 2 p.m.
Mayor Celso Lobregat said the City Council through a resolution authored by Councilor Percival Ramos last January had requested the OMB in Manila to lead the raid because of the rampant display and selling of the pirated materials which is in violation of the property rights of the movie industry, local and national artists.
The mayor said the resolution which was addressed to his office had been forwarded to the office of OMB chairman Ronnie Rickets who immediately sent a team of OMB agents to conduct the raid.
OMB agent and team leader Manuel Mangubat said the selling and displaying of pirated materials is in violation of R.A 3239 otherwise known as illegal selling of pirated materials or violation of property rights.
Mangubat said this is one of the biggest haul of pirated DVDs and CDs they raided in Mindanao. He said the raid they conducted in General Santos City netted only 136 sacks as compared to what they seized here which is more than 400 sacks.'
The OMB team leader said suspected owners and dealers of pirated materials could be fined from P25 to P50,000 depending on the judge’s discretion and imprisonment from six to nine years.
Lobregat said he has already invited Rickets to come to the city to lead in the destruction of the pirated materials.
“I am happy that OMB chairman Ronald Rickets has accepted my invitation for him to come to this city anytime so he can lead in the destruction of these pirated materials,” Lobregat said.
Councilor Percival Ramos thanked his colleagues in the City Council for supporting his edict which he filed last January 25, 2011 calling the OMB and the police to conduct the raid because of the rampant display and selling of pirated DVDs and pornographic materials in this city.
By Nonong Santiago
Zamboanga forms task force to check on buildings
- www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news
- Thursday, March 17, 2011
- MAYOR Celso Lobregat has ordered the creation of a task force that will check infrastructures in Zamboanga City, following the magnitude-9.0 earthquake that hit Japan last week.
- Lobregat said the City Government has to be prepared to mitigate the effects of natural calamities in the city.
- The task force will be headed by the City Engineers Office, he said. Targets of the inspections are malls, school buildings, and other structures with high human traffic.
- The task force is expected to come up with recommendations while results will be used to review the city’s disaster and risk reduction plans.
- Zamboanga City’s long coastline puts the city at risk of tsunamis, especially with houses and other structures built near shorelines and even on the sea.
- “We will really have to rethink the situation and, maybe, we will have to make very hard decisions. If we want to avoid having a lot of casualties in case there is a tsunami, we really have to rethink the settlements near the shoreline,” Lobregat stressed.
- The City Government has been strictly following instructions from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regarding shoreline settlements following the 2007 storm surge that displaced many citizens.
- However, Lobregat admitted that even the best disaster plan cannot prevent damage.
- Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology regional head Allan Labayog said Zamboanga City is vulnerable to quakes citing that it is located near the Sulu trench. (Bong Garcia)