Loboc Youth Ambassador Band adds color to the inauguration of Casiguran Gymnasium

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, SEPTEMBER 22, (PIA)..... The P30 M Casiguran Gymnasium, the first biggest gymnasium in the province of Sorsogon was inaugurated yesterday, September 21 with Hon Krisel Lagman Luistro, city mayor of Tabaco , former governor Sally Ante-Lee and Mr. Rene EJe, Vice President of Land Bank of the Philippines , Legaspi Branch cutting the ceremonial ribbon to usher the thousand of spectators  to witness the first concert offered by the local government of Casiguran, featuring  the famous Loboc Youth Ambassador Band of Bohol (LYABB).

Most Rev. Bishop Arturo M. Bastes officiated the blessing and inauguration rites and the thanksgiving mass as main celebrant and with an additional 15 more visiting-invited priests as co celebrants.

Housing a total of almost ten thousand spectators filling the whole building, comprising of the students and pupils of Casiguran, invited provincial heads of offices of Sorsogon, local government officials, members of the Philippine Army and other prominent persons from the province, the first official concert was witnessed featuring the Loboc Youth Ambassador Band  of Bohol whose appearance yesterday was also made possible by Bishop Bastes who hails from the said place,  a well-known tourism destination.

"We, the local government of Casiguran would like to give our people a feel of cultural maturity , we would also like to provide the constituency an atmosphere of something that only can be seen in cultural centers in Manila aside from venturing into a private enterprise making government financially capable to have a return of investment out of the money we have loaned", Mayor Maria Ester E. Hamor explained.

"We will be bringing  to Casiguran local and nationally acclaimed performers of world class category also. We will also provide opportunities to hone the local talents of our young people as one of my flagship programs is the "Oo sa Kaakian" (Yes, to Children) and we have been recognized already nationally as a Child Friendly Municipality ", Mayor Hamor said.

"With this gymnasium,  another component of good governance will be provided which is the the development of culture and arts. We will also strengthen our sports activities, open this gymnasium in hosting conventions so that the local government of Casiguran will inspire the young generation to excel and know that  government is alive ", Mayor Hamor also explained.

"We in the church, would like to complement government in making our young people develop their talents so that they will not be swayed to do things that are not contributing to the development of their community'', Bishop Baster said in his homily.

"The LYABB as you will witness today here in the Casiguran Gymnasium comes from Bohol, the place where I was born and I was honed too to play different musical instruments, they will be performing here to show us that young people if properly guided by government and church combined can become their pride, bring honor to one's place and parents" Bishop Bastes also stressed.

The LYABB comprising of  40 members, mostly teenagers, wowed the audience with a one and a half hour performance. Rendering famous international and local musical band repertoire complete with dancing . The audience  was truly  very amazed and entertained with their presentation showing flawless synchronized choreography, truly eye catching and breath taking.

"The LYABB will have also a second performance after this 3:00 PM presentation, it will be at 7:00 PM and this will be opened to the whole community of Casiguran, mostly the senior citizens and those from other municipalities whom I have invited" Mayor Hamor also explained. (PIA-SORSOGON)

Contingency Planning Trainor’s Training para sa mga DRRMO isinasagawa

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

Lungsod ng Sorsogon, September 22 (PIA) – Sinimulan na noong Lunes, Setyembre 19, sa bayan ng Irosin, Sorsogon ang Trainor’s Training on Contingency Planning para sa ikalawang batch ng mga tauhan ng Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) na magtatagal hanggang sa Huwebes, ika-22 ng Setyembre.

Ayon kay Sorsogon Provincial Disaster Risk Management Office (SPDRMO) Public Information Officer (PIO) Von Labalan, una nang sinimulan ang pagsasanay para sa 1^st batch ng mga trainors para sa apatnapung DRRMO ng probinsya, municipal at barangay sa Sorsogon noong nakaraang linggo.

Aniya, ang capability building support activities na ibinibigay nila ngayon sa mga bayan ng Juban at Irosin, Sorsogon ay bahagi ng teknikal na tulong ng World Food Programme (WFP) katuwang ang Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

Layunin nitong palakasin ang mga local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatupad ng WFP ng kasalukuyan nilang proyektong “Technical Support to the Government of the Philippines for Disaster Preparedness and Response Activities”. Maliban sa pagbibigay ng kaukulang pagsasanay, nagbibigay din ang WFP sa ilalim ng proyektong ito ng tulong pinansyal, mga kagamitan at aktibidad ng paghahanda para sa anumang mga kalamidad.

Matatandaang ang WFP ay isang sangay ng United Nations para sa food aid programme nito at sa pagtugon sa lahat ng uri ng emerhensya. Habang ang PBSP naman ay kilala sa pagpapatupad ng programang corporate citizenship at kinukumbinse nito ang iba’t-ibang mga kompanya na isabay ang responsibilidad sa komunidad bilang sentro ng kanilang negosyo at pagtaguyod sa produktibong pamamaraan ng pagtugon sa kahirapan. (PIA Sorsogon)

Casiguran gymnasium pinasinayaan na

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

Lungsod ng Sorsogon, September 22 (PIA) – Pinasinayaan  na ala-una ng hapon kahapon ang bagong Gymnasium sa bayan ng Casiguran, Sorsogon.

Ang Casiguran Gymnasium na may 6,000 sitting capacity ang pinakamalaking gymnasium sa lalawigan ngayon.

Ayon kay Casiguran Municipal Councilor Rico Hatoc, ipinasa niya ang isang resolusyon para sa konstruksyon ng gymnasium noong December 16, 2010 na tutuon hindi lamang sa pagiging profit-oriented nito kundi bilang isang service-oriented building. “Ang pagkakapasa ng ordinansa ang siyang sasagot para sa maintenance expenses ng gymnasium tulad ng bayaran sa tubig, kuryente at maintenance personnel nito,” sabi pa ni Hatoc.

Sa pagsisimula ng proyekto, marami ang nagsabing masyadong ambisyoso ang proyekto para sa isang 3^rd class municipality na tulad ng Casiguran, subalit pinatunayan ni Casiguran Mayor Ma. Ester A. Hamor na sa pamamagitan ng ‘strong political will’ at ‘development priorities’ ng mga lider sa kanilang bayan ay walang imposible sa kanilang naging balak.

Ayon kay Mayor Hamor ang P33 milyong proyektong ito ay dinisenyo para sa mga aktibidad pang-isports, convention/seminar, cultural show/stage play, charitable/religious activities, konsyerto, school activities, evacuation center sa panahong may kalamidad at iba pang mga malalaking kaganapan.

Abot kayang halaga lamang din diumano ang sisingilin bawat oras para sa mga ganitong uri ng aktibidad subalit magiging libre ito para sa lahat ng mga aktibidad ng Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) sa kondisyong dapat na may permit ito ng alkalde ng Casiguran.

Bubuksan din ang gymnasium sa mga araw ng Sabado at Linggo mula alas-sais hanggang alas dyes ng umaga ekslusibo sa publiko at walang ibang aktibidad na iiiskedyul sa mga araw at oras na ito.

Ang mga uupa sa gymnasium ay direktang magbabayad sa Municipal Treasurer’s Office (MTO) ng mas maaga sa nakatakdang iskedyul ng aktibidad at ang malilikom na halaga mula sa mga upa ay idedeposito naman ng MTO sa General Fund.

Labis namang ipinagmamalaki ng mga Casiguranon ang pagkakatayo ng bagong gymnasium at umaasa rin silang mapapangalagaan ito upang mas marami ang makabiyaya dito. (PIA Sorsogon)

Philippine Army to highlight , "Tarabangan sa Barangay Pandan", a local convergence initiative

by  Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, SEPTEMBER 20 (PIA)..... Dubbed "Tarabangan sa Barangay Pandan (TSBP)"  Col. Felix Castro, Brigade Commander of  the 903rd Infantry Brigade, 9ID, Philippine Army (PA), will highlight this local convergence initiative, today during the inauguration of the two-classroom school building at Barangay Pandan, Castilla , one of the projects that was accomplished through the Bayanihan spirit to alleviate poverty in Barangay Pandan.

In a coordination meeting  with Ltc. Lenart R. Lelina here at the PIA office, he explained that the activity during the inauguration will also focus on the efforts done by the government and will showcase the interventions done from accomplished , on-going  and programmed projects  earmarked under the TSBP,

He said that the activity during today's inauguration  will be more of a" celebration of partnership", government being truly sensitive of the needs of the barangay and people likewise showing concern through their labor support and commitment to sustainably take care of these projects accomplished, the on going and those that are programmed.

The reported TSBP projects  accomplished,  first listed the two-classroom building donated by ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation Inc. through the support of the local government of Castilla.

Through the intervention of Secretaty Imelda Nicolas of the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) , 5 computers and 8 ceiling fans were donated to be used in the new two classrooms building to be inaugurated.

The donation of these equipments was made possible through the efforts of the Asociacion Valencia de Asistencia Sanitaria y Social Voluntarios (AVASSV) and in coordination with the National Development Support Command (NADESCOM)

On the end of the Asociacion Valencia de Asistencia Sanitaria y Social Voluntarios (AVASSV), a medical mission will also be conducted by doctors from the military and medicines are donated  by the   AVASSV , the Spanish non-governmental organization assisting in the development of barangay Pandan

According to the report provided by the Philippine Army  through Lelima, part of the accomplished project under TSBP was the improvement of Barangay Dinapa road funded by the national government and  accomplished through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

A one classroom building was also completed funded through the office of 1st district representative of Sorsogon , Salvador H. Escudero III and another one classroom unit was also completed, funds coming from the Department of Education.

For the on- going project , through the intervention also of the 903rd Infantry Brigade ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Inc. has sponsored six bayanihan scholars of Barangay Pandan . They are now studying at the Lewis College here in Sorsogon City.

Barangay Pandan will also be a recipient of a feeding program for four months which will also be launched, Sept 20 and will benefit the elementary pupils of Pandan Elementary School through the Bantay Bata program of ABS-CBN.

Under the  convergence program, on the pipeline will be the concreting of the Pandan Irrigation Canal worth P30M and this will come from the Department of Agriculture.

An additional  P500k repair of the Parent Teacher Association building of  barangay Pandan elementary school is now on the pipeline coming from the provincial government through governor Raul Lee to include the regravelling of the Pandan-Saclayan road and the repair of the Farm to Market Road of the Pandan-Tomalaytay / Pandan -Cogon worth P4.5M.

The repair of the 400m portion of Pandan -Dinapa road will also have a funding coming from the office of congressman Salvador H. Escudero III as already programmed

All these according to Lelima will be highlighted  during the visit of General Eduardo SL Oban Jr., Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines together with the key partners  and will be made more meaningful with the participation of all stakeholders in barangay Pandan. (PIA-SORSOGON)

Gen. Oban, Palma to inaugurate 2-classroom building in Castilla

By: Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, SEPTEMBER 19 (PIA).....General Eduardo SL Oban, Jr, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines together with Ms Tina Monzon-Palma, Program Director of the AFI Sagip Kapamilya of ABS-CBN will be the guests of honor to inaugurate the two - room school building at Barangay Pandan Castilla, Sorsogon here tomorrow, September 20 together with other key officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the local officials of the municipality of Castilla to be led by Mayor Olive Bermillo.

According to Col. Felix Castro, Commander  of the 903rd Infantry Brigade,9ID, Philippine Army, this 2-classroom building has been constructed though their initiative and had been made possible through the donation of construction materials provided by the ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. Sagip Kapamilya and the labor component provided by the people of Barangay Pandan instilling the Filipino value of the Bayanihan spirit.

Part I of the program will be a medical treatment where several government and military doctors will be at hand to provide needed medical assistance to pre -identified patients in the barangay  earlier pre-arranged by both the local government of Castilla and the 903rd Brigade, 9ID under Col. Castro.

Castro said that aside from the environmental conservation initiatives PA is extending to the barangays within Castilla, Pilar and Donsol , education , medical , health and disaster risk reduction efforts are also being undertaken by their unit to better the lives of people and make them aware also of their own empowerment by engaging them as pro-active members in any program and projects undertaken in the community.

According to Col. Castro, Major General Carlos B. Holganza AFP Commander of Nadescom will share the "Bayanihan Experience" and will acknowledge the people in the barangay for the efforts they have contributed through collaborative endeavor, giving free labor services together with the PA Engineering Brigade and the support provided by ABS-CBN family.

Jay Andrew the Mesa, a student of Pandan High School (PHS) will deliver the message of gratitude for and in behalf of the students while Mrs. Lucila B. Villa, teacher -in-charge of (PHS) and Mr. Randy B. Bueno , barangay Captain of Pandan will also express words of gratitude.

Marjorie A del Ayre ,  a Bayanihan Scholar will also extend similar words of gratitude to the donors and to all the entities who have made the project a success.

Expected to grace the ocassion is Vice Governor Antonio H. Escudero Jr. MNSA, LTGen Roland M. Detabali, AFP Commander , Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM).

Highlights of the event after the blessing and inauguration of the building will be the messages of the two prominent personalities gracing the ocassion, Ms Tina Monzon -Palma, a well acclaimed television host of ABS-CBN and well known personality  extending projects for the development of rural communities through the Sagip Kamilya and the very pride of the province of Sorsogon Gen. Eduardo SL Oban Jr AFP chief of Staff who hails from the municipality of Castilla.

"We share the dreams of our nation, a country at peace and a people with freedom from want", this are the words printed under Gen. Oban's invitation program.

The event will commence with a ceremonial pandan planting activity that will be done within the school premises of PHS.

Expected too, to  be present and lend support to the occasion  are the member-agencies of the Bayanihan Eco-Park Project at  Barangay Sibago of Donsol town also, one of the assisted projects of the 903rd Infantry Brigade, 9ID PA. (PIA-SORSOGON)

Taking another Step Forward through Culture and History, iSchools trains NM and NHCP Reps

By: Angelo Kairos Torres Dela Cruz

The iSchools Project, an e-Government funded project that seeks to modernize Philippine education by integrating Information and Communications Technology (ICT), remains steadfast in bridging the digital divide amidst it nearing project turnover. 

The Supplementary Academic Philippine Online Treasury (SAPOT) is the project’s initiative in mapping available content for public high school students. SAPOT took another step forward with the iSchools’ sponsored trainings of representatives from the National Museum (NM) and National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). Twenty representatives from NM and NHCP attended the training last September 6-9, 2011 at the Laboratories 1 and 3 of the National Computer Center Bldg., Diliman, Quezon City. The training included modules on online writing, videography and photography. 

Elenita Alba (Ma’am Nec), NM Curator II and Museum Education Division Chief, initiated the training with iSchools Project Management Office (PMO) to fill their technical gap in documentation. Ma’am Nec shared during the preliminary SAPOT meetings that their office can contribute a lot in terms of cultural and historical items but they lack the technical knowledge in documenting it.

Antonette Torres, iSchools Project Manager, expressed her gratitude to NM and NHCP by saying “the (iSchools) Project will always be thankful to these offices (NM and NHCP) for sharing their time and resources in SAPOT. I can say that our offices found a common ground in answering the need in uplifting the present state of Philippine education. Their share in the work needed to be done in SAPOT transcend all subjects, everything we experience have history; they are the specialists on history and the project expects them to share this expertise. In return, we will provide the technical support they need such as this series of training”.

Chuck Baclagon, Greenpeace New Media Campaigner, discussed online writing by citing the importance and trends of utilizing the internet through effective search engine optimization, social networking sites and free platforms such as Google’s blogger. Chuck asked the participants to make their very own blogs to practice writing online.

Jimmy Domingo, a photojournalism lecturer of De La Salle University Manila and Ateneo de Manila University, engaged the participants through a photo shoot in the building premises, critiquing session of photos and a discussion on the latest  photo post processing techniques. 

Luis Liwanag, a multi-awarded filmaker, taught the basics of shooting videos. The participants then presented their final short flicks to cap off a well-received training.

“We (iSchools) hope that the participants will continue to develop the foundations of this training in their own fields. Personally, I believe that NM and NHCP line of work will provide enough venues for the full utilization of the training lessons. By the way, it will be very nice to see these people making better media materials for their office, especially in preserving our cultural and historical treasures. Our partnership with them allows iSchools to benefit from their new knowledge”, Torres added. (Sept. 15, 2011) #####