Monday, December 23, 2013
'Paskonswelo sa K-Village' runs until Dec. 29
By: Bennie A. Recebido
SORSOGON CITY, December 22 (PIA) – It is not yet late for Sorsoganons to enjoy the fun and cost-saving December Market at the Kasanggayahan Village at the Capitol Compound.
The 'Paskonswelo sa Kasanggayahan Village' will last until Dec. 29, 2013, and Sorsoganons who haven’t visited yet can still enjoy the fun and buy locally produced products and gifts for the new year.
“Even late Christmas gift-givers can still find best presents for their loved ones,” said Provincial Tourism Officer Cris Racelis.
The “Paskonswelo sa Kasanggayahan Village” is a week-end activity for the whole month of December that started on Dec. 13 set to end on Dec. 29. It starts every Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon.
Included in the activities to be enjoyed by the Sorsoganons is the “Saud sa K-Village” where various locally farm produced and other goods are sold on an affordable price. One can also find different uniquely crafted handicrafts which are best used at home or as gifts.
Series of “Project Angel Smile” sponsored by various sectors are also held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday where children enjoy the gifts from the sponsoring group. The Sorsogon Chamber of Commerce, Media and Capitol Employees are the daily sponsors respectively for the last week-end of December.
Other activities scheduled on December 27 are Handicraft Making Demo, Fireworks and firecrackers Bazaar until December 31.
On December 28, there will be Recycling Demo on Eco-Bricks, Finals of Vocal Solo, and “Pasine-sine” film showing.
While on December 29, there will be another Handicraft Making Demo, Hip-Pasko Dance Showdown and Final Round of the Singing Duet.
There is also a nightly band concert and food fest that will surely be enjoyed by night trippers and music lovers.
The “Paskonswelo sa Kasanggayahan Village”, which is on its second year, is an initiative of the Provincial Government under the auspices of Governor Raul R. Lee through the Provincial Tourism Office. (AAN/BARecebido-PIA-5/Sorsogon)
Sorsogon’s mentor is Saceda’s Most Inspiring Teacher of the Philippines for 2013
By: Bennie A. Recebido
SORSOGON CITY, Dec 23 (PIA) – Six seems to be a lucky number for Teacher Chona
B. Reyes, Saceda’s one of the Ten Most Inspiring Teacher of the
Philippines this year.
Reyes, a faculty member of Sorsogon National High School (SNHS) in Sorsogon City, received the recognition together with nine others from the different parts of the country as the 2013 Saceda Youth Lead (SYL) Most Inspiring Teacher of the Philippines
on December 6.
“Why did I say six is my lucky number? I started as a full time teacher in one private school here in Sorsogon, the St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon formerly Colegio de la Milagrosa in 1996, then transferred to public school where I am now connected and became permanent in 2006. And have received such this prestigious
national award in December 6,” said Reyes who is still elated of the
award she got.
Saceda Youth Lead, a youth serving institution of the Philippines under the auspices of the National Youth Commission NYC), builds leadership through education and action for 16 years now. It empowers students in all levels and professionals, as well, to become most effective citizens in the Philippines and in the ASEAN region.
Reyes said there were 28 nominees in all from the Philippines and two others from Singapore. “Sorsogon is lucky to have two nominees coming from the City Schools Division of Sorsogon, Mrs. Divina Diaz, our Social Studies Education supervisor and me" she said.
Reyes who was the last to be called from among the list of Top 10 winners said the award speaks a new beginning in her life to inspire more what she called her VIPs (Very Important Persons) – her family, students, co-workers and parents of
her students – whom she also considers her inspiration as a teacher.
“I feel proud having received the award on behalf of the people I serve and deal with. I may have inspired others, and I owe this recognition most to the parents of my students who are ‘my inspiring others’. When I reprimand students and their parents take side on me and support me, I become more inspired because it is an affirmation that the discipline I give my students has real meaning and better impact on them,” she said.
“When I was informed I am nominated and is invited to the awarding, I wasn’t
able to decide right away and had second thoughts of attending the
affair,” said Reyes.
The schedule coincides with the City Meet whom she serves as the Softball Team Coach aside from her being coach to school’s regional contests and attendance to seminars.
“Besides, super typhoon Yolanda has just ravaged the Visayas area where the awarding ceremony will be held,” she also added. Reyes, the only unmarried in the family, is also a caregiver to her mother with Alzheimer’s disease.
But perhaps, it was really her destiny to be chosen as Most Inspiring Teacher of the Philippines for 2013 just as she considers her being a teacher as “destiny”. According to her she never dreamt she would become a teacher someday, but destiny brought her to the field.
“My presence during the convergence of nominees in Dumaguete City was a destiny. Having lot of concerns in mind, I decided not to attend anymore, but my supportive co-teachers, Ms Aurora Caguia, who voluntarily rushed my 10-slide power point presentation, Mr. Dundee Lanuza and Mrs. Pamela Abecia, from SNHS English Department who patiently edited my narrative portfolio, and our softball trainer, Mr. Jose Credo, who persuaded me up to the last hour to attend the affair assuring me of the safety of my softball players, are more than enough inspiration to change my mind in the end,” Reyes recalled.
“Along the process of screening the nominees for the final awards, I really got too emotional thinking of my sick mother and the city meet which I left worried about the welfare and safety of people under my care. Despite the assurance of our trainer, still being their coach, I have the full responsibility over my player’s welfare. This maybe the reason why I was called by the judges as the ‘emotional’ nominee,” Reyes narrated.
Asked by the panel of judges about the principles she hold on in life, she answered without hesitation that the Spirit of Volunteerism is her principle. Being a volunteer herself, she could easily inspire others to become volunteers themselves.
Considered highlight of her achievement was her passion for the care of the environment and Solid Waste Management applied not only inside SNHS but also seen in her actions wherever she is.
Reyes got knowledge about the SYL in April of 2010 when she was still the adviser of SNHS Supreme Student Government (SSG) in Mindanao when she participated upon invitation the SYL’s sponsored international leadership training.
In 2012, for the second time, she again got the chance to attend the SYL sponsored
leadership training in Legazpi City bringing along with her the SNHS students. In 2013, SYL was invited by DepEd Sorsogon to conduct the Division Leadership Training for SSG and Supreme Pupil Government (SPG) in Sorsogon.
“An inspiring teacher is rare to find and this award is a symbolic commitment to meet aside from develop Inspiring Teachers of the Philippines who do not only teach but guide and navigate our kids for stronger families, safer Filipino communities and a more robust Filipino nation,” said Dave Saceda, chair and founder of SYL.
This year’s Search for SYL Most Inspiring Teachers of the Philippines was held in Dumaguete City, Negros Occidental with the theme: “Through our Teachers We See the Future of our Country and through their Good Deeds We Prosper as a Nation.” (AAN/BARecebido-PIA-5/Sorsogon)
