Dec 16, a special holiday for Sorsogon City

By: Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, Dec 13 (PIA) – City Mayor of Sorsogon Sally A. Lee declared December 16, 2013 as a special non-working holiday for the City of Sorsogon in commemoration of the city’s 13^th foundation day.

Executive Order Number 22 signed by the City Mayor and issued on December 11, 2013 stated the declaration of December 16 as local and special non-working holiday in Sorsogon City.

Republic Act 8806 otherwise known as the “Charter of the City of Sorsogon” created Sorsogon City by merging the municipalities of Sorsogon and Bacon in the Province of Sorsogon.

Republic Act 8806 was enacted on August 16, 2000 and was consequently ratified in a plebiscite on December 16, 2000 by the affirmative vote of the people who desire the creation and development of a new local government.

According to City Mayor Lee, December 16 is a historic day for the people of Sorsogon City and therefore must be remembered as the ‘Day of the Establishment and Founding Anniversary of the City’.

She further added that the declaration recognizes the importance of the day when the two municipalities merged and became the City of Sorsogon. “This will also give the whole constituents of the city the chance to commemorate and celebrate the occasion,” she said. (BARecebido, PIA-5/Sorsogon)

Bicolano Artists to launch Benefit Concert for the ST Yolanda Survivors

SORSOGON CITY, - Almost one month after supertyphoon Yolanda hit the Philippines, survivors are just starting to rebuild their lives. Help came and are still coming. But it will take time before they can get back on their feet especially the children. They still need help.

 The Musikerong Sorsoganon, a collective group of musicians from Sorsogon founded in August 2011 by local musician Ram Lanuza, is raising funds for these survivors through a benefit concert called “Tugtugan para sa mga Biktima ni Yolanda”. This will be held in Sorsogon Provincial Gymnasium on December 13, 2013 at 6:00 PM.

 Both as a fundraising and cultural event, booths for souvenir T-shirts, donations, and tattoo/ inking will open before the concert starts. This concert-for-a-cause is in partnership with S.T.A.T.E. (Sorsogon Tattoo Artists and Tattoo Enthusiasts), a group of artists with passion for tattoo as a cultural practice and medium for self-expression, and KURIT-LAGTING (the newest accredited member of Sorsogon Arts Council) co-founded by local artist Geri Matthew Carretero, is a multi-disciplinary art group advocating a collective artistic collaboration of individuals through art practice. Together we can make a difference in the lives of Yolanda victims. See you all there. # # #

For More Info:

Jap Ariola (09305814951)

Musikerong Sorsoganon

Geri Matthew Carretero(09158779491)

Art, Director Kurit-Lagting

Sorsogon Governor leads rescue of hundred stranded passengers in Donsol

Sorsogon Gov. Lee leads Disaster Rescue Team in Donsol town.

    

CASTILLA, SORSOGON, Dec 4 (PIA) – Over 130 passengers stranded along a flooded highway in Donsol, Sorsogon were jointly rescued by the members of the Army Disaster Response Team, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office (SPDRRMO) on Sunday, Dec 1.

The flooding was caused by continuous heavy rains over the past two days which climbed to as high as three meters.

Upon the directives of Sorsogon Governor Raul R. Lee Colonel Joselito E. Kakilala, Commander of 903^rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army immediately deployed the Disaster Response Team of the Brigade and the 31^st Infantry Battalion together with six members of the Cafgu Active Auxiliary (CAA) of the Alpha Company.

“Prior to this, the 22^nd Infantry Battalion was immediately dispatched at 8:00o’clock in the morning, following the receipt of an information from the Sorsogon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (SPDRRMO) about the flooding at P-5 Barangay Gura, Donsol, Sorsogon,” Col Kakilala also said. 

Aside from the directives given to the responders, the governor himself went to the area to personally see the situation, lead the response and rescue team, and do the first hand supervision of the rescue operations until dusk.

Residents of Donsol town including the teachers and students were caught by surprise upon seeing Governor Lee leading the members of the Disaster Response and Rescue Team.

“We thought the governor is a physically weak old man as we hear it from our barangay folks, but his presence and the way he led the rescue operations proved them wrong,” one of the rescued students remarked.

The team rescues stranded passengers.

Captain John C. Babia who led the 903^rd Infantry Brigade and the 31^st Infantry Battalion Rescue Teams said that the three-meter high rise of water which caused the flooding trapped the vehicles coming in and out of Donsol proper unable to cross the 500-meter stretch of the flooded highway and resulted to hundreds of stranded passengers.

He said the Army swam in pushing rubber boats during the transport of the passengers. The rubber boats used were dispatched by the SPDRRMO to ferry the stranded passengers across the flooded highway. 

Captain Babia also said that there was no reported casualty in the flooding incident. “The presence of the governor waiting until the water subsided making the bridge passable to vehicles and traversing persons was an additional inspiration to the rescuers,” he added.

It can be noted that Captain Babia’s team also assisted the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Pilar, Sorsogon on Saturday, Nov 30, in evacuating at least 120 families at Brgy Putiao, Pilar Sorsogon after the said barangay was also flooded.

Meanwhile, Col Kakilala credited the immediate and concurrent response of the rescuers not only on this Donsol incident but in any forms of disasters happening in Sorsogon to the close coordination and collaboration they have established and maintained with the SPDRRMO and other Disaster Response Teams in the province. 

He further said that 903^rd Brigade has a fully organized and well equipped Disaster Response Team that is on alert round the clock to respond to any kind of eventuality. (BARecebido, PIA-5/Sorsogon with reports from BQCadungan, PA)

 Members of the 903^rd Brigade Rescue Team brave the 3 meter high flood water to ensure that the rubber boat ferrying stranded passengers can safely cross the flooded highway at Brgy Gura, Donsol, Sorsogon.  

The 903^rd Brigade Rescue Team prepares the nylon rope to be used as safety line along the flooded highway at Brgy Gura, Donsol, Sorsogon.

903rd Infantry Brigade joins the National Reading Month Celebration

CASTILLA, SORSOGON, Dec 4 (PIA) – For three years now, the 903^rd Infantry (Fight and Defend) Brigade, 9^th Infantry (Spear) Division, Philippine Army in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) Sorsogon has been actively joining in the celebration of National Reading Month by participating in a reading activity in a School of Peace in Castilla, Sorsogon.

The National Reading Month, an advocacy that aims to revive the love and interest for reading among the elementary and high school students is being observed every November pursuant to DepEd’s Memo Circular 244 of 2011.

Colonel Joselito E. Kakilala, Commander of 903^rd Infantry Brigade led the soldiers in telling stories to Grade I and V pupils of San Isidro School in Castilla, Sorsogon.

Colonel Kakilala read a story on Noah’s Ark.

San Isidro Elementary School has been under the School of Peace Program of the Bicol Consortium on Peace Education and Development (BCPED) as pilot school since 2000. Under this program, which is supported by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPPP), the school incorporates peace concepts in their lessons in most subjects based on the curriculum provided by United Nations Development Program (UNDP). 

“The 903^rd Brigade is indeed grateful and honored to be part of this annual advocacy that aims to develop the love and interest for reading of our young people.  We assure our educators that the Army here in Sorsogon will always be here to fully support them in molding the hearts and minds of our young people because we believe that they are one of the important catalysts in our quest for national peace and development”, Colonel Kakilala said.

The 903rd Infantry Brigade was also joined by students taking up Bachelor of Science in Peace Studies at the Bicol University in Daraga, Albay in the simultaneous reading activity.

Mr. Teddy C. Janola Principal 1 of San Isidro Elementary School was thankful to 903rd Brigade for their usual support to the various programs and activities of the School for Peace.

The 903^rd Brigade soldiers treated the pupils to light refreshments after the activity.  Toys were also distributed as early Christmas presents for the kids. (BQCadungan, PA/BARecebido, PIA-5/Sorsogon)

Grade I pupils of San Isidro Elementary School in Castilla, Sorsogon eagerly listen to Col Kakilala as he tells the story of Noah.

The Grade I pupils take a souvenir pose with Colonel Kakilala after the storytelling activity

Sorsogon on the cover of Starweek; features hidden treasures of the province

SORSOGON CITY, Dec 4 (PIA) – The Province of Sorsogon - as a place of interest was on the cover of The Philippine Starweek’s (Philippine Star’s Sunday magazine) December 1^st, 2013 paper edition. An article written by journalist Ida Anita Q. Del Mundo described Sorsogon’s tourist attractions by way of quiet elegance - “with surprises and treasures hidden around every corner.”

Provincial Consultant on Economic and Tourism Affairs, Milo C. Naval attributed to Del Mundo’s editorial which gave emphasis to Sorsogon’s rich natural resources “just waiting to be discovered.”

Naval, in his interview with Starweek – assumed that the province itself makes Sorsogon worth visiting, owing it to its distinct landscape and vegetation.

Correspondingly, Sorsogon has made its presence felt during the Kasanggayahan Celebration last October following a successful staging of the First Mass in Luzon which took place in Gibalon, Magallanes in 1569. Its reenactment down the city’s main streets was an effort to establish an icon for the yearly-celebrated festival.

Equally, the convergence of the provinces of Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon (ALMASOR) added force to the goal in making this annual event along with the province’s various potentials extensively recognized.

“Sorsogon’s Hidden Treasures” underscored the fine sand and pristine water of Gubat shores, alongside its up-and-coming reputation as a new hot surfing spot; island hopping in Matnog; the marine sanctuary and mangrove forest in Prieto Diaz; Bayugin Falls in Bulusan, the Bulusan Volcano National Park – where travelers can have the pleasure of paddling around Bulusan Lake, or hike Mount Bulusan; the hot and cold mineral springs of San Benon in Irosin; and the whale shark (Butanding) interaction in Donsol, among others.

With 70 percent of Bicol Region’s Pili supply coming from Sorsogon, Del Mundo’s article acknowledged the biggest and oldest Pili tree which can be found in Bacon District.

On the other hand, Naval took note of the Provincial Government’s enthusiasm with its on-going plans and projects on Tourism, particularly Pilar - which is one of the latest areas being developed as a tourist destination.

Last November 26 and 27, 2013 – Sorsogon hosted the Miss Earth Resort Wear Competition and Naval earlier said that such event was just one of the things that the Provincial Government is doing for the local tourism industry, and one way of promoting Sorsogon’s prospective.

These sequential accomplishments were in timbre with Governor Raul R. Lee in his call to once again re-define “Development” in Sorsogon.

For this year's Regional Development Plan, the Governor called attention to the insight from the Province of Sorsogon – that it must not merely have a specific agenda, but answers, and stand on its own, constantly with a contingency plan. Aside from sustaining it with knowledge and technicality, it must subsist within the four walls of assurance.

Provincial Administrator Robert Lee Rodrigueza meanwhile substantiated this by stating that Tourism which is the quickest scheme to boost up economy will be a driving force of his focus as Sorsogon’s overseer. (VAELabalan/PIA-5, Sorsogon)

COASTAL REFORESTATION TATAWAN DOON KAN DENR

SYUDAD NIN LEGAZPI – DULO PANG PAPAKUSOGON KAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR) AN PAGPALANGUBO KAN MGA INAAPUD NA MGA "BEACH FOREST" O MGA MABAKHAWAN SA TAHAW KAN KALAMIDAD NA TUMINAMA SA EASTERN VISAYAS PARTIKULAR SA PROBINSIYA KAN LEYTE

TINAWAN NIN DOON NI DENR BICOL REGIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GILBERT GONZALES NA AN SIRING NA LAKDANG AN TATAWAN PRAYORIDAD KAN AHENSYA TANGANING MAPABASKOG AN PROTEKSYON KAN MGA BAYBAYON TUMANG SA MAKUKUSOG NA BAGYO BUDA SUBASKO O STORM SURGE ASIN IBA PANG KALAMIDAD.

SINABI NI RED GONZALES, NA MAY INSTRUKSYON NA SI ENVIRONMENT SEC. RAMON PAJE NA AN MGA PAGTATANOM NIN BAKHAWAN MAS TATAWAN NIN DALAN SA LINDONG KAN NATIONAL GREENING PROGRAM (NGP).

KASABAY KAINI, AN DENR MAGKAKAIGWA NIN INISYATIBA NA MATAMNAM NIN MGA BAKHAWAN AN MAABOT SA 380 KILOMETRO NA BAYBAYON SA SULNUPANG VISAYAS, ASIN IBA PANG MGA LUGAR NA NAPUHO KAN BAGYONG YOLANDA.

SA LINDONG KAN PROGRAMA, MATATAWAN NIN KABUHAYAN AN MGA BENIPESYARYO NA MATARANOM NIN MGA BAKHAWAN NA IYO AN MASERBENG "GREEN WALL" O PANAGANG LABAN SA MGA STORM SURGE. (Ruby M. Macasinag, DENR-V/PIA Sorsogon)

Miss Earth Int’l translates environmental action into recycling activities

Leis, medals and bouquet are all made of recycled materials.

SORSOGON CITY, Nov. 26 (PIA) – The staging of Miss Earth International competition demonstrated not only beauty and brain, but also the commitment of young women for the protection and preservation of the mother nature.

Sorsogon province, fortunate enough  to be chosen as one of the destinations of the 30 candidates out of the total ninety competing lads this year, provides the candidates an opportunity to translate their environmental actions and showcase their creativity and strong interest in taking responsibility for their immediate environment through the use of recycling technology.

“Dubbed as ‘Waste No More – A Recycling Competition’, the aspiring international beauties vying for Miss Earth title while in Sorsogon will be in a recycling challenge where they can freely express their thoughts and ideas about their respective masterpiece geared on environmental attributes and considerations,” said Sorsogon Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) and over-all coordinator for recycling contest Engr. Maribeth L. Fruto.
“The output will be one set of recycled paper accessories made of rolled colored and glossy pages from old magazines, junk mails, calendars, brochure or piece of gift wrapping papers, paper glue, wooden toothpicks, clear varnish, and beading cords, among others, to be made by the candidates in a 30-minute period time,” said Fruto.

Three best artworks will be adjudged based on the criteria set for Recycling Paper Accessories Competition – 30% originality; 30% creativity; 20% design; 20% visual impact/color combination.

The recycling competition will be held at the Kasanggayahan Village at the Capitol Compound, Sorsogon City in the afternoon of November 27, 2013.

Meanwhile, consistent of the advocacy on conservation and protection of the environment, the leis to be used and medals to be awarded to the winners are made up of old glossy calendars, beads and pili cubes while the bouquet is made up of plastics and old newspapers wrapped with ‘sinamay’, a type of natural fiber that is made from a plant called musa textilis which is abundant in Sorsogon.  (MAL/BAR-PIA5/Sorsogon)