Thursday, September 15, 2011

Intervida turns over community center to Sorsogon Prov'l. Government for management


by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITy,SEPTEMBER 13 (PIA).... In a simple ceremony held here this month at the Sorsogon Community Center, Country Delegate of Intervida, Restituto Ramos, formally turned over the management of this edifice to the provincial government  represented by former governor Sally Ante-Lee.

The Sorsogon Community Center was the extension of the old Sorsogon Provincial Hospital which has been unoccupied for so long  that Intervida through the initiative of former Board Member Rosario"Cherry"  Diaz  was renovated , refurbished and made as a skills and development center catering to grassroots communities and have been managed by the Intervida staff for almost 5 years.

"Now that Intervida is focusing more of its programs and projects in the municipalities of Castilla, Donsol and Pilar specifically along education and nutrition, we have made agreements  with the provincial government of Sorsogon to formally turn over the management of the Sorsogon community Center to them ", Ramos explained in his message during the turn over ceremony rites.

Receiving the key of responsibility from  Ramos , Lee explained that the center will be a training ground for culture and arts development which she believes should be an extension of the enrichment and enhancement activity of the Sorsogon Provincial Heritage Museum.

She explained that the provincial government has already provided the center with musical instruments, like guitars, electric organs , drums, percussion instruments, books and other materials  that can be accessed by students or those interested individuals who would like to hone their skills in music, poetry , drama and the like.

The center according to Lee  will be under the direct supervision of the provincial government with the assistance of the Department of Education, provincial schools division and counter-parting in the overseeing of the daily activities will be the Bukawel Performing Group Community Based Theater Group (CBTG) under the supervision of Dan Razo.

A special dance number was performed by the CBTG to provide entertainment in the ceremony called "Alay" which according to Razo is a dance that expresses gratitude specially offered to the Intervida  to show  appreciation for the assistance they have extended to the province of Sorsogon.

Meanwhile, Lee also expressed during the turn over ceremony that she hopes to see more culturally inclined individuals pursue their artistic inclinations through this center.

"Those who are willing to access the services of the center will just schedule their time to use the center and its  basic amenities with the current management", Lee explained.

She also said that arrangements will be done to have skilled mentors in the center who can share their expertise and will also provide the center their spare time especially those retired teachers and other individuals willing to voluntarily share their time and knowledge in contributing to the popularization and enhancement of local songs, music and  dances truly Sorsoganon or reflective of the Sorsoganon's culture and arts.

Department of Education assistant schools division superintendent, Danilo Despi who graced the occasion for and in behalf of Dr. Marilen Dimaano, provincial school division superintendent  who is on official  leave, said that the DepEd provincial office will also coordinate with the Sorsogon City DepEd so that both can access programs provided by the center and at the same time contribute to its sustainable development.

Despi had also expressed appreciation  to Intervida for the feeding programs provided to school children in their three pilot municipalities, Castilla, Donsol and Pilar which is under the provincial schools division areas.

With special participation, Lee also requested the Philippine Information Agency office here, together with the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters sa Pilipinas, Sorsogon Chapter, represented by its president Andy Espinar  to assist in training kids to do broadcast and other individuals who also like to undergo the same training.

Lee said that communication is the best form of art to better understanding and a culture that should be instilled in everyone to attain the culture of peace.

"In a positive note let us also provide the people of Sorsogon, the media mileage of the positive traits of the people of Sorsogon both in broadcast and in print', she said.

Present during the formal turn-over were members of the print and broadcast media in the province, DepEd personnel, staff from Intervida in Legaspi City and the head and staff of the Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council.
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Agnes Nan-Habla, Intervida Field Officer closed the ceremony by saying that ,"As adults teach children all about life and children should teach their elders what life is all about". (PIA-SORSOGON)

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