July 20,2010
Lightning Hits Viper FM’s Transmitter?
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A lightning bolt allegedly hit Viper FM’s transmitter at a time when one early morning thunderstorms and lightnings roared and jolted sleeping people in Maasin and Macrohon areas.
This was disclosed by one of the workers at the Saludo Ice Plant in brgy. Ichon, Macrohon according to a salesboy friend at one of the beach resorts here when I went there one Sunday morning.
The lightning strike happened on the same morning a cogon-roofed resthouse in brgy. Maria Clara here was burned by a passing fireball before hitting a coconut tree nearby that cracked into halves.
Three or four days after I have posted a news story about the newly-launched Viper FM in brgy. Ichon,Macrohon(see factsopcribbler section here in my blog) which is 6 kilometers away from Maasin where series of thunderstorms and lightnings roaringly shaken and jolted the surroundings one early morning like big rolling balls creating a sense-surround effects that jolted sleeping people in the vicinities of the city and the nearby places.
The following day Viper FM radio listeners could no longer hear its variety of songs being played on the airwaves. Speculations started cropping up particularly from the listeners that it was probably hit by a lightning like what happened to a resthouse in brgy.Maria Clara.
Other listeners who knew that former Congressman Anecito Saludo,Sr. has lost in his bid for the congressional seat during the first automation polls on May 10,2010,alleged that the disappearance of Viper FM songs/music on the air has something to do with his defeat.
However, many music lovers did not believe in the allegation because the Congressman and his son who managed the music station have another purpose why the family has decided to open a radio station where songs and music programs have a huge part of its existence.
That is to provide variety of songs and instrumental pieces to radio listeners in Southern Leyte and to its neighboring places of Surigao, Bohol, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin Island, part of Northern Leyte and probably part of Cebu province for musical entertainment of music lovers.
On the other hand, this is the first time that I heard a radio transmitter hit by a lightning strike. In Alaska, Mambaling, CebuCity where I have resided for about two years in the past, there were 5 or 6 AM radio transmitters erected on the shallow part of the seabed. These transmitters were protected by elevated concrete foundations that would be soaked during high tide, almost reaching the transmitters’ bases. This condition was also similar to DXDD’s transmitter in Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental (my second home-hello! To my cousins, kith and kins there)) that was also erected on a shallow seabed in brgy.Malaubang which is less than two kilometers away from the city proper.
The main reason why most radio transmitters are placed or constructed on shallow seabeds,is because, according to the information/explanation that I’ve gathered, it will increase the transmitters’ powerful signals and can reached farther places. In contrast, a radio transmitter or transmitters that were erected on low dry grounds have lesser distance of coverage. That’s why the more technical men who managed radio stations have preferred to construct their towers (transmitters) on wet and higher grounds.
There were also some occasions when thunderstorms and lightnings have manifested in Cebu’ s vicinities that similarly roared and jolted some folks creating fear of the nature’s wrath, that might strike anytime.
But I have not seen or witnessed a radio transmitter in Alaska, Mambaling that was hit by a lightning during bad and gloomy weather.Yes; it’s always possible that a tree, a house or a lone man in the open field was hit by its powerful electrical discharge, particularly if he was carrying steel or wearing a watch.
One stormy gloomy afternoon with the sky covered with thick black clouds hovering on the horizon of brgy.Molicay,Ozamis City ,4 field workers riding on carabaos in the open ricefield suddenly dropped on the ground when a lightning strike passed by them.
Folks nearby who saw them like dead rushed the victims to the hospital for an emergency treatment. NO-one has died. They all survived.
The attending physician who received and treated them explained to the victims’ close kins that the lightning’s electrical discharge had just passed near them.”Hitting them directly with a lightning will make them all dead”, the doctor declared.”They are still fortunate that it’s not a direct hit”.
Which regards to a radio transmitter, is it true that there is such an invention as an anti-lightning rod? If this gadget or device really exists, did not Congressman Saludo and his son Chito consider installing it on their FM’s transmitter? Did the management of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) forget to advise Viper FM’s owner to install an anti-lightning rod on their radio transmitter?
How about an existing AM radio station here in Maasin, the DYDM, which is owned by the Catholic’s Diocese of Maasin (covering under its jurisdiction from up in Baybay, Leyte and down to Southern Leyte’s last town of Silago) has existed for almost 20 years now, but I did not hear any news report that its transmitter erected on the low dry ground near the radio station has been hit by a lightning strike.
This despite of the fact that there were already more occasions during bad weather when thunderstorms and lightnings have manifested their powerful roars and jolts with accompanying heavy rains.
Because of this occurrence that wrought havoc to a music station in brgy. Ichon, Macrohon including allegedly its modern equipments installed inside the radio booth, I was urged to ask a licensed radio operator who was working at DYDM during the previous years, but is now working at the Saint Joseph College.
According to Jun Saratan, a copper with wire connection on the ground, when attached at the highest point of a radio transmitter would become an anti-lightning rod, which would protect it from lightning strike. However, installing the anti-lightning rod is not enough. Another invention that needs to be installed in wire connections are the so-called “pyrite soap”. (isingsing ra na ,a Cebuano statement uttered by the licensed radio operator on how a “pyrite soap” should be placed along the wire connection), from near the power source towards the transmitter, and from near the power source towards the direction to the radio station,
He explained that the “pyrite soap” installation in two or three wire connections is very essential, as this invention will block the flow of destructive electrical discharge from a lightning strike in either ways-if the power source was hit by lightning bolt during inclement weather, thus minimizing the damage brought about by the lightning strike.
When asked if “pyrite soaps” are available in the Philippines, he said that this invention is only available in Germany and in the USA. He said he knew the primary importance of including this blocking gadget or device in all AM and FM stations from a German expert who conducted a seminar about “pyrite soap” at radio station DZRH in Manila several years ago. The German lecturer stressed on the importance of installing “pyrite soap” in wire connections in all existing radio stations in the country.
Saratan further implied his new acquired knowledge has helped him in protecting DYDM where he was previously employed as a licensed radio operator for several years before transferring to SJC, from any lightning strike that might hit DYDM’s source of power.
Luckily, when I went to the provincial hospital lately, I saw him (Chito Saludo) hurriedly opening the door of the hospital’s private room with two heavy bags full of personal belongings slung on both of his shoulders. He was there, he told me, because his pregnant wife was under labor and has just given birth to their baby. They were leaving the hospital at the time we’ve met.
I asked him how true that Viper FM’s transmitter was hit by a lightning. He informed that the music station’s transmitter was safe and that what was hit by the lightning strike was the power source (transformer) installed by SOLECO’s linemen.
He clarified that the lightning’s destructive electrical discharge ran through the connecting wires and towards the transmitter erected atop a hill, not far from the station, and damaged some of its parts. The equipments inside the radio station itself, he said, were not affected by the lightning strike. He said that they have planned to repair the damaged transmitter next month, that is sometime in August. How many weeks will it takes to repair the damaged transmitter? Chito did not give me the approximation. But before he would decide to repair the damaged transmitter, it would be prudent for Chito Saludo to talk to Jun Saratan at the Saint Joseph College in Maasin for more details on the importance of installing also “pyrite soaps” on FM’s wire connections to prevent a repeat of the sad incident.Jun Saratan further said that the damaged transformer can still be repaired thru rewinding procedure to economize buying a new replacement. Music lovers shall have just to try to tune in their radios sometime in September or October to see if Viper FM on 106.1 MHz is already back on air. If not yet, maybe the ordering of the “pyrite soaps” in either the USA or Germany will take a long time to accomplish (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Surveys On Candidates During Elections Should Be Banned
July 20,2010
Surveys On Candidates During Elections Should Be Banned
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
When was this so-called survey on candidates started in the Philippines? Who initiated it? As long as I can remember since I became a voter, it was only during the recent years that survey on the popularity of a candidate or candidates have began. However, this kind of survey that survey agencies have utilized is not satisfying if any person would look at its procedure in collecting “specimen” for interviews. With respondents of less than three thousands gathered from various places to gauge a presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates’ popularity rate could not really represent the bulk of majority of the 50M plus Filipino voters. Yet this was the way we were led to believe by the survey agencies that conducted the surveys of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates during the recent and the first automated polls on May 10,2010 national and local elections.
How can such popularity rate results of percentages taken from the selected respondents for the two highest positions of the Republic of the Philippines represents the voices, the minds and the sentiments of the rest of the 50M plus Filipino voters in the country? There are still many municipalities and cities in the entire archipelago that were not covered by the survey agencies. The surveys cannot make me believe on the explanations, equations and ratios in survey results. I have the belief and the conviction that logical and analytical thinkers could not also believe nor accept their kind of report or explanations regarding their system.
However, this scheme has pre-conditioned some voters’ mind with a “lean on decision” out of convenience and have stopped using their brains to really analyze and evaluate the given survey results which were based only on a very small fraction of the entire population. This is the reason that survey results could not be relied upon. It has only provided a mindset that has no firm grasp on the real condition of those candidates running for either the presidential or Vice-presidential seat.
The better ways to anchor on our personal choices of candidates running for the highest down to the lowest positions in the government service is to dig deep on their family background, characteristic traits, academic side, track records and the agenda or programs of government if they will be elected in the positions they are aspiring for. These are the most effective ways that every wise voter must take into consideration during elections. Let us not allow ourselves to be influenced by survey results even if such kind of measure on the candidates popularity is branded as “survey science” or science survey” whatever that means.
Is the conduct of surveys on candidates’ popularity in selected areas a voluntary job? Or is a presidential or Vice-presidential candidate/s pay for it? If a candidate or candidates seeking for the highest position of the Land have paid for the conduct of surveys, how are they paying it? Conducting of political surveys with payments is disadvantageous to candidates who have limited funds to spend. But more serious is that only a few places were subjected to surveys while huge chunks of the country’s population remain untouched by the survey agencies. Hence, this system is considered as unfair and unjust to other candidates and also to the voters themselves who need to be properly informed. Because of this, I would like to suggest to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) that surveys on candidates running for president and Vice-president and other government positions should be banned or abolished.
On the other hand, we can have nationwide surveys (in every cities and municipalities in the whole archipelago)on the health conditions of our people, population rate, nutrition, employment, migration, diseases, and breastfeeding of babies and non-breastfeeding of babies, agriculture, educational system, poverty level, among other things.
If a law is necessary to effect the banning or the abolition of political surveys, our legislators in Congress should consider enacting such kind of law. In other words, let us go back to the most basic measures in choosing and electing competent candidates who run for public offices. Let us also stop selling our votes for a thousand or several hundred of pesos come election time. Our politicians in turn should also stop buying votes. Who were those politicians in the past who initiated the buying of votes from the electorate during elections? They should realize that what they have done is a great disservice to the country. It was also reportedly revealed on TV that two of the provinces that were allegedly higher spenders during the first automation polls on May 10, 2010 elections were Sarangani and Southern Leyte. The buying and selling of votes has become a bad habit. Some voters who used to receive money during elections from some politicians would not go anymore to the precinct to cast their ballots, if not a single politician or candidate has given them money, three, two or one day before voting time. I have stated this because some voters by their own volition have revealed this to me.
Nevertheless, if each and every one of us, voters, would resolve to really stop selling our votes by refusing to accept money from the politicians during elections, we can do it. Yes, we can do it. If we give more importance to our right of suffrage and keep our dignities intact, considering that our right is sacred and priceless, then we can stop now selling our votes. Accepting money from any politician or candidate during elections-that is three, two or one day before voting time, means that you are selling your vote and you lose half of your dignity as a voter.
Do you not know that politicians who have spend millions and millions of money during elections to buy votes are not happy after all? Let us pity and be kind to the politicians.Yes, let us pity and be kind to them, also. Much more let us pity and be kind to ourselves, too. They are only force to do it because they want to win in the elections. They want to serve the Filipino people for some purpose that they themselves know, coupled with personal interest of course, which is but natural for every person in any kind of endeavour.They want to build names for themselves to be remember well after their passing by the following generations. We only hope that they choose to build good names rather than bad names that can reap for themselves blessings instead of curses. We also hope that trustworthy service to the nation is the topmost part of their intentions and priorities in seeking for elective positions in the Government.
But this kind of business activity (vote buying and vote selling) between the politicians and the voters are both bad and deplorable. If we really need real change, genuine change, let us discourage the politicians to buy our votes. What is three or four days pleasure and enjoyment after casting your votes? This is just short term and temporary relief but not a solution to our poverty and the ills of our society as a whole. It is quite enough that some of us can approach some incumbent politicians who are kind and generous and have granted our requests for financial assistance for our hospitalization problems, and in some occasions, to buy medicines we badly needed. We should not add burden to them anymore by allowing them to spend millions and millions of pesos to buy our votes during election time. This is a bad practice and should be eradicated now in our system and character as a people. Enough is enough .If they have good track records /good performances during their office tenures and they would run for re-elections, then we should re-elect them. It is much better, appreciable and meaningful if the millions and millions of money spent by the politicians to buy votes during election time will be used instead to buy plenty of the most needed medicines for our hospitals nationwide so that all confined patients, particularly the indigents and the admitted PhilHealth and non-PhilHealth members, including us (in case we get sick), can be provided with the intended prescribed medicines for theirs and our sicknesses and diseases. We should stop selling our votes now starting these coming barangay elections to be conducted before the end of this year. As well as the next election of 2013 and the rest of the elections to come. We must do it now until the end. And we can if we will.
You might ask:”You are so daring in admonishing us to stop selling our votes. Did you do it yourself? My answer is YES, I’m doing it myself. Since I became a voter, I could not remember selling my right to vote for a few hundred pesos even once during elections. Although there were two occasions during elections that my name was included in the list of voters who were going to receive a few hundred pesos from a moneyed politician. However, I told my distant relative to tell his older sibling to delete my name in the list. He told me:”Sayang, kuarta na na.Maayo nalang na para nimo. Anugon nga imong guibalibaran”, he said in Cebuano.(What a waste, it’s money already. That’s good for you. Why do you have to refuse it?)
Candidly speaking, if any politician will give me money outside election period, I will accept it with great thankfulness because I’m a poor man. It only means that he/she wants to help me even in small way. Matter-of-factly,until now I don’t own a house and is always renting and don’t even have my own computer/laptop for my own use until this very moment since I have a very low income. My article-based honorariums are very small. I’m very glad that a certain businessman in good standing has generously allow me to use his computer where I can encode, correct and store my articles for future needs and referrences.But I know without even telling me to do so that I will just voluntarily stop using his computer, if only I have the money now to buy my own laptop. Nonetheless, how can I stop using it(even if I like) when I cannot buy my own? Editors of newspapers here in region 8(Leyte and Samar) and I believe also in other places of publications, will no longer accept type-written articles but encoded ones and to be emailed. Unlike before, nowadays Editors and other members of newspapers or magazines personnel do not want anymore to encode submitted articles. They just want to copy and paste, which is much easier and faster. I hope that I have a well-to-do relative or a philanthropist who can read this article and can well afford, and has the magnanimity to buy me as a gift a laptop for my personal use so that I can start weaning myself from the reliance on my benefactor’s computer. But when this will happen? I do not know. Only time will tell. I hope it will come soon.
Where can you find in the Philippines a writer who also sells community and national newspapers in the streets? That’s a rare and unusual thing. But that is actually happening to me due to my being a poor man. When I was living in Metro Manila for the past several years, I have also experiences working in private companies. But, as we all know, jobs are not permanent and often subject to changes, lead offs and other causes, either reasons of incompatibility in mutual relationship with co-workers or health reasons. Nonetheless, during election time, if any politician will give me money through his/her leader, which is an obvious sign or act of buying my vote and your votes, I will strongly refused it despite of whatever kind of explanation and persuasion he/she will utterly do. Since I was able to do It myself with patience and determination and will continue to do it, I know for sure that you can also do it if you will.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Surveys On Candidates During Elections Should Be Banned
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
When was this so-called survey on candidates started in the Philippines? Who initiated it? As long as I can remember since I became a voter, it was only during the recent years that survey on the popularity of a candidate or candidates have began. However, this kind of survey that survey agencies have utilized is not satisfying if any person would look at its procedure in collecting “specimen” for interviews. With respondents of less than three thousands gathered from various places to gauge a presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates’ popularity rate could not really represent the bulk of majority of the 50M plus Filipino voters. Yet this was the way we were led to believe by the survey agencies that conducted the surveys of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates during the recent and the first automated polls on May 10,2010 national and local elections.
How can such popularity rate results of percentages taken from the selected respondents for the two highest positions of the Republic of the Philippines represents the voices, the minds and the sentiments of the rest of the 50M plus Filipino voters in the country? There are still many municipalities and cities in the entire archipelago that were not covered by the survey agencies. The surveys cannot make me believe on the explanations, equations and ratios in survey results. I have the belief and the conviction that logical and analytical thinkers could not also believe nor accept their kind of report or explanations regarding their system.
However, this scheme has pre-conditioned some voters’ mind with a “lean on decision” out of convenience and have stopped using their brains to really analyze and evaluate the given survey results which were based only on a very small fraction of the entire population. This is the reason that survey results could not be relied upon. It has only provided a mindset that has no firm grasp on the real condition of those candidates running for either the presidential or Vice-presidential seat.
The better ways to anchor on our personal choices of candidates running for the highest down to the lowest positions in the government service is to dig deep on their family background, characteristic traits, academic side, track records and the agenda or programs of government if they will be elected in the positions they are aspiring for. These are the most effective ways that every wise voter must take into consideration during elections. Let us not allow ourselves to be influenced by survey results even if such kind of measure on the candidates popularity is branded as “survey science” or science survey” whatever that means.
Is the conduct of surveys on candidates’ popularity in selected areas a voluntary job? Or is a presidential or Vice-presidential candidate/s pay for it? If a candidate or candidates seeking for the highest position of the Land have paid for the conduct of surveys, how are they paying it? Conducting of political surveys with payments is disadvantageous to candidates who have limited funds to spend. But more serious is that only a few places were subjected to surveys while huge chunks of the country’s population remain untouched by the survey agencies. Hence, this system is considered as unfair and unjust to other candidates and also to the voters themselves who need to be properly informed. Because of this, I would like to suggest to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) that surveys on candidates running for president and Vice-president and other government positions should be banned or abolished.
On the other hand, we can have nationwide surveys (in every cities and municipalities in the whole archipelago)on the health conditions of our people, population rate, nutrition, employment, migration, diseases, and breastfeeding of babies and non-breastfeeding of babies, agriculture, educational system, poverty level, among other things.
If a law is necessary to effect the banning or the abolition of political surveys, our legislators in Congress should consider enacting such kind of law. In other words, let us go back to the most basic measures in choosing and electing competent candidates who run for public offices. Let us also stop selling our votes for a thousand or several hundred of pesos come election time. Our politicians in turn should also stop buying votes. Who were those politicians in the past who initiated the buying of votes from the electorate during elections? They should realize that what they have done is a great disservice to the country. It was also reportedly revealed on TV that two of the provinces that were allegedly higher spenders during the first automation polls on May 10, 2010 elections were Sarangani and Southern Leyte. The buying and selling of votes has become a bad habit. Some voters who used to receive money during elections from some politicians would not go anymore to the precinct to cast their ballots, if not a single politician or candidate has given them money, three, two or one day before voting time. I have stated this because some voters by their own volition have revealed this to me.
Nevertheless, if each and every one of us, voters, would resolve to really stop selling our votes by refusing to accept money from the politicians during elections, we can do it. Yes, we can do it. If we give more importance to our right of suffrage and keep our dignities intact, considering that our right is sacred and priceless, then we can stop now selling our votes. Accepting money from any politician or candidate during elections-that is three, two or one day before voting time, means that you are selling your vote and you lose half of your dignity as a voter.
Do you not know that politicians who have spend millions and millions of money during elections to buy votes are not happy after all? Let us pity and be kind to the politicians.Yes, let us pity and be kind to them, also. Much more let us pity and be kind to ourselves, too. They are only force to do it because they want to win in the elections. They want to serve the Filipino people for some purpose that they themselves know, coupled with personal interest of course, which is but natural for every person in any kind of endeavour.They want to build names for themselves to be remember well after their passing by the following generations. We only hope that they choose to build good names rather than bad names that can reap for themselves blessings instead of curses. We also hope that trustworthy service to the nation is the topmost part of their intentions and priorities in seeking for elective positions in the Government.
But this kind of business activity (vote buying and vote selling) between the politicians and the voters are both bad and deplorable. If we really need real change, genuine change, let us discourage the politicians to buy our votes. What is three or four days pleasure and enjoyment after casting your votes? This is just short term and temporary relief but not a solution to our poverty and the ills of our society as a whole. It is quite enough that some of us can approach some incumbent politicians who are kind and generous and have granted our requests for financial assistance for our hospitalization problems, and in some occasions, to buy medicines we badly needed. We should not add burden to them anymore by allowing them to spend millions and millions of pesos to buy our votes during election time. This is a bad practice and should be eradicated now in our system and character as a people. Enough is enough .If they have good track records /good performances during their office tenures and they would run for re-elections, then we should re-elect them. It is much better, appreciable and meaningful if the millions and millions of money spent by the politicians to buy votes during election time will be used instead to buy plenty of the most needed medicines for our hospitals nationwide so that all confined patients, particularly the indigents and the admitted PhilHealth and non-PhilHealth members, including us (in case we get sick), can be provided with the intended prescribed medicines for theirs and our sicknesses and diseases. We should stop selling our votes now starting these coming barangay elections to be conducted before the end of this year. As well as the next election of 2013 and the rest of the elections to come. We must do it now until the end. And we can if we will.
You might ask:”You are so daring in admonishing us to stop selling our votes. Did you do it yourself? My answer is YES, I’m doing it myself. Since I became a voter, I could not remember selling my right to vote for a few hundred pesos even once during elections. Although there were two occasions during elections that my name was included in the list of voters who were going to receive a few hundred pesos from a moneyed politician. However, I told my distant relative to tell his older sibling to delete my name in the list. He told me:”Sayang, kuarta na na.Maayo nalang na para nimo. Anugon nga imong guibalibaran”, he said in Cebuano.(What a waste, it’s money already. That’s good for you. Why do you have to refuse it?)
Candidly speaking, if any politician will give me money outside election period, I will accept it with great thankfulness because I’m a poor man. It only means that he/she wants to help me even in small way. Matter-of-factly,until now I don’t own a house and is always renting and don’t even have my own computer/laptop for my own use until this very moment since I have a very low income. My article-based honorariums are very small. I’m very glad that a certain businessman in good standing has generously allow me to use his computer where I can encode, correct and store my articles for future needs and referrences.But I know without even telling me to do so that I will just voluntarily stop using his computer, if only I have the money now to buy my own laptop. Nonetheless, how can I stop using it(even if I like) when I cannot buy my own? Editors of newspapers here in region 8(Leyte and Samar) and I believe also in other places of publications, will no longer accept type-written articles but encoded ones and to be emailed. Unlike before, nowadays Editors and other members of newspapers or magazines personnel do not want anymore to encode submitted articles. They just want to copy and paste, which is much easier and faster. I hope that I have a well-to-do relative or a philanthropist who can read this article and can well afford, and has the magnanimity to buy me as a gift a laptop for my personal use so that I can start weaning myself from the reliance on my benefactor’s computer. But when this will happen? I do not know. Only time will tell. I hope it will come soon.
Where can you find in the Philippines a writer who also sells community and national newspapers in the streets? That’s a rare and unusual thing. But that is actually happening to me due to my being a poor man. When I was living in Metro Manila for the past several years, I have also experiences working in private companies. But, as we all know, jobs are not permanent and often subject to changes, lead offs and other causes, either reasons of incompatibility in mutual relationship with co-workers or health reasons. Nonetheless, during election time, if any politician will give me money through his/her leader, which is an obvious sign or act of buying my vote and your votes, I will strongly refused it despite of whatever kind of explanation and persuasion he/she will utterly do. Since I was able to do It myself with patience and determination and will continue to do it, I know for sure that you can also do it if you will.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Provl Govt. Hands Over Plaques Of Recognition To Former Provl Officials/Awards MOSL
July 20,2010
Provl Govt. Hands Over Plaques Of Recognition To Former Provincial Officials/Awards MOSL
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The provincial government with the assistance of the private sector has handed over recently 16 plaques of recognition to former Provincial Governors and Vice-Governors and 17(plaques) Rajah Kolambu Awards to most outstanding Southern Leyteños in 5 different fields of endeavors and a posthumous award during the 50th golden year anniversary of the province of Southern Leyte.
The eligibility requirements for the nominees of the most outstanding Southern Leyteños are that he/she must be a bona fide Southern Leyteño whether residing in the province or outside the province. This means that he or she was a natural born Southern Leyteño, said Provincial Planning Development Office head Virginia Lim-Cruz whose office is in-charged of the project. And that one or both parents were born in Southern Leyte.
The PPDO head informed that the nomination plan was first announced during the April 2010 Provincial Development Council meeting held at the Ruperto Kangleon Function House. In that said meeting, nomination forms were distributed to all municipal Mayors who were part of the attendees, she said, and it was also announced in the local radio station DYDM for additional information to the listeners.
She said that Lilies Mercado Kapili, a US citizen, also informed UCCP members to recommend well-known Southern Leyteños whom they know in various field of specialization. Kapili also contacted all Southern Leyteños she know who were residing in different states of the USA to send their entries of Southern Leyteños they have come to know who are well-known in their field of specializations.
There were 5 categories of specializations among the Rajah Kolambu awardees and one posthumous award to the most outstanding Southern Leyteños. 1) Agriculture (Research and Development):Dr. Julieta Rodas-Roa-Director,Philippines Rootcrops Research & Training Center,Visayas State University,Baybay,Leyte.
2)Culture and Arts: A)Salvador Compendio Abiera-present-Artist and Architect,Curator,Abiera Museum of Arts,Maasin City;B)Nemesio Vasquez Betanio-present-Curator Anthropological Museum Center, Mindanao University,Bukidnon; C)Wilfredo Olayvar Justimbaste-present-Dramatist,Scripwriter,writer,Public Relation Officer 4,City Hall,Maasin City; D)Sal’my Neo Dadap Malaki-represented by his College of Maasin teacher Beverly Espina Navarette-member,Los Angles Opera Company,USA,Concert artist,flutist,world-class tenor, educator; E)Sherwin Mole Casepe-present-(young achiever category)dance choreographer,G4-Force dance company, ABS-CBN’s ASAP.
3)Education: A)Maro Blauta-present-retired School Division Superintendent,Lucena City; B)Margarita Germo Gabriel-present-Teacher 3,DepEd,Sindangan Elementary School,Macrohon,leading her co-teachers in coaching schoolchildren to be the number one in National Achievement Test nationwide in 2009; C)Dr. Juanito Acero Lao-present-President,Fr. Saturnino Urius University,Butuan City.
4)Government Service: A)Commissioner Violeta Ortiz-Bantug-present-Presiding Commissioner 4th Division of the National Labor Relation Commission, Cebu City(highest Career executive position currently occupied by a Southern Leyteño); B)Wilfredo LIgtas Madrona-present-Doctor of Medicine, municipal councilor, environmentalist; C)Engr.Rito Lopez Monte de Ramos-present-Assistant Regional Director,DPWH,Region 7,Cebu Province; D)Engr.Daisy B. Toledo-present-DPWH-Cebu District Engineer, Second District Engineering Office.
5)Science and Technology: A)Dr. Rico Obligado Cruz-present-President and Consultant, co-Energy international-Idaho,USA-a leading international expert in biofuels research,development,production,evaluation and characterization; Terrestrial Ecologist Manager,Oregon,USA.Office-Dept of Science and Engineering,Pendleton,Oregon,USA; B)Dr. Roberto Cariño Guarte-present-Professor 3,Visayas State University,Baybay,Leyte,Inventor.His inventions: biodiesel processor, portable solar dyer for Abaca, biomass furnace, automated laboratory dryer, greenhouse-type solar dryer. His food products: virgin oil, maccapuno strips, maccapuno macaroons,macapuno sweet potato jam. He has 29 publications and 26 technical papers prepared and presented during conventions, lectures and seminars; C)Dr. Prisco Duarte Nilo-represented by a cousin-Professorial Lecturer,Dept. of Meteorology and Oceanography,UP,Quezon City(1997-2003)Deputy Administrator for Operation and Services,PAG-ASA(2004-07); Technical Advisor for EWS,Maldives Tsunami Recovery Program,UNDP-funded project; D)Dr. Lyndon Duarte Segales-represented by his mother-Naval Officer, US Navy Submarines(1990-95)Teaching Assistant, University of Hawaii,Dept. of Physics and Astronomy(January 1997-98);Research Assistant, University of Hawaii(Jan. 1998-Dec. 2000);Lead author of the publication “Stressed Induced Electrical Noise in Stainless Steel” Applied physics, October 2000;Lab Instructor for modern physics,E&M and Mechanics Lab.
6) Posthumous Award-Leon K.Markines-represented by his daughter Gloria Markines Reyes, Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) President.
Former Provincial Governors: 1)Alfredo K. Bantug(July 1,1960-Dec. 31,1967); 2)Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez(Jan. 1,1968-Aprsil 20,1986); 3)Gaspar V. Tagalo-(April 21,1986-Nov. 25,1986,Jan. 1,1987-Feb. 19.1987); 4)Ernesto D. Labastida,Sr.-(Nov.26,1986-Dec. 3,1986); 5)Agustin L.Climaco-(Dec. 1,1987-Jan.31,1988); 6)Oscar K. Tan,M.D.-(Feb. 20,1987-Nov. 30,1987,Feb. 1,1988-June 30,1998); 7)Rosette Yñiguez-Lerias-July 1,1998-June 30,2007).
Former Vice-Governors: 1)Graciano H. Capili-(1960-1963); 2)Alberto Napuli-(1964-1967); 3)Isabelo D. Kaindoy-(1968-1971); 4)Valeriano P. Tomol,Jr.-(1972-1975); 5)Oscar K.Tan,M.D.-Mar. 1,1980-Feb. 15,1987); 6)Ernesto D. Labastida,Sr.-(Feb. 20,1987-Nov.30,1987); 7)Cesar Piedad,Sr.-Dec. 1,1987-Jan. 31,1988); 8)Asisclo G. Munda,Sr.-(Feb.1, 1988-June 30,1995); 9)Eva L.Tomol-(July 1,1995-June 30,2004).
During the anniversary program, Governor Damian Mercado assisted by his older brother Congressman Roger Mercado handed over the plaques to the awardees .It was received either by the recipients themselves or their representatives. Each awardees individually posed for a souvenir photo flanked by the Mercado brothers and Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo,11 before exiting(leaving) the stage.
Educator Juanito Acero Lao, speaking in behalf of the awardees delivered his acceptance response. Thankful of the recognition and the Rajah Kolambu awards by the provincial government, he stressed the importance of every individual to get a good quality education. That every family head should send their children to school up to college until they can finish a course or courses. He also confirmed with the statement of former Education Secretary Jesli Lapuz that education is the only solution to poverty.Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Provl Govt. Hands Over Plaques Of Recognition To Former Provincial Officials/Awards MOSL
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The provincial government with the assistance of the private sector has handed over recently 16 plaques of recognition to former Provincial Governors and Vice-Governors and 17(plaques) Rajah Kolambu Awards to most outstanding Southern Leyteños in 5 different fields of endeavors and a posthumous award during the 50th golden year anniversary of the province of Southern Leyte.
The eligibility requirements for the nominees of the most outstanding Southern Leyteños are that he/she must be a bona fide Southern Leyteño whether residing in the province or outside the province. This means that he or she was a natural born Southern Leyteño, said Provincial Planning Development Office head Virginia Lim-Cruz whose office is in-charged of the project. And that one or both parents were born in Southern Leyte.
The PPDO head informed that the nomination plan was first announced during the April 2010 Provincial Development Council meeting held at the Ruperto Kangleon Function House. In that said meeting, nomination forms were distributed to all municipal Mayors who were part of the attendees, she said, and it was also announced in the local radio station DYDM for additional information to the listeners.
She said that Lilies Mercado Kapili, a US citizen, also informed UCCP members to recommend well-known Southern Leyteños whom they know in various field of specialization. Kapili also contacted all Southern Leyteños she know who were residing in different states of the USA to send their entries of Southern Leyteños they have come to know who are well-known in their field of specializations.
There were 5 categories of specializations among the Rajah Kolambu awardees and one posthumous award to the most outstanding Southern Leyteños. 1) Agriculture (Research and Development):Dr. Julieta Rodas-Roa-Director,Philippines Rootcrops Research & Training Center,Visayas State University,Baybay,Leyte.
2)Culture and Arts: A)Salvador Compendio Abiera-present-Artist and Architect,Curator,Abiera Museum of Arts,Maasin City;B)Nemesio Vasquez Betanio-present-Curator Anthropological Museum Center, Mindanao University,Bukidnon; C)Wilfredo Olayvar Justimbaste-present-Dramatist,Scripwriter,writer,Public Relation Officer 4,City Hall,Maasin City; D)Sal’my Neo Dadap Malaki-represented by his College of Maasin teacher Beverly Espina Navarette-member,Los Angles Opera Company,USA,Concert artist,flutist,world-class tenor, educator; E)Sherwin Mole Casepe-present-(young achiever category)dance choreographer,G4-Force dance company, ABS-CBN’s ASAP.
3)Education: A)Maro Blauta-present-retired School Division Superintendent,Lucena City; B)Margarita Germo Gabriel-present-Teacher 3,DepEd,Sindangan Elementary School,Macrohon,leading her co-teachers in coaching schoolchildren to be the number one in National Achievement Test nationwide in 2009; C)Dr. Juanito Acero Lao-present-President,Fr. Saturnino Urius University,Butuan City.
4)Government Service: A)Commissioner Violeta Ortiz-Bantug-present-Presiding Commissioner 4th Division of the National Labor Relation Commission, Cebu City(highest Career executive position currently occupied by a Southern Leyteño); B)Wilfredo LIgtas Madrona-present-Doctor of Medicine, municipal councilor, environmentalist; C)Engr.Rito Lopez Monte de Ramos-present-Assistant Regional Director,DPWH,Region 7,Cebu Province; D)Engr.Daisy B. Toledo-present-DPWH-Cebu District Engineer, Second District Engineering Office.
5)Science and Technology: A)Dr. Rico Obligado Cruz-present-President and Consultant, co-Energy international-Idaho,USA-a leading international expert in biofuels research,development,production,evaluation and characterization; Terrestrial Ecologist Manager,Oregon,USA.Office-Dept of Science and Engineering,Pendleton,Oregon,USA; B)Dr. Roberto Cariño Guarte-present-Professor 3,Visayas State University,Baybay,Leyte,Inventor.His inventions: biodiesel processor, portable solar dyer for Abaca, biomass furnace, automated laboratory dryer, greenhouse-type solar dryer. His food products: virgin oil, maccapuno strips, maccapuno macaroons,macapuno sweet potato jam. He has 29 publications and 26 technical papers prepared and presented during conventions, lectures and seminars; C)Dr. Prisco Duarte Nilo-represented by a cousin-Professorial Lecturer,Dept. of Meteorology and Oceanography,UP,Quezon City(1997-2003)Deputy Administrator for Operation and Services,PAG-ASA(2004-07); Technical Advisor for EWS,Maldives Tsunami Recovery Program,UNDP-funded project; D)Dr. Lyndon Duarte Segales-represented by his mother-Naval Officer, US Navy Submarines(1990-95)Teaching Assistant, University of Hawaii,Dept. of Physics and Astronomy(January 1997-98);Research Assistant, University of Hawaii(Jan. 1998-Dec. 2000);Lead author of the publication “Stressed Induced Electrical Noise in Stainless Steel” Applied physics, October 2000;Lab Instructor for modern physics,E&M and Mechanics Lab.
6) Posthumous Award-Leon K.Markines-represented by his daughter Gloria Markines Reyes, Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) President.
Former Provincial Governors: 1)Alfredo K. Bantug(July 1,1960-Dec. 31,1967); 2)Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez(Jan. 1,1968-Aprsil 20,1986); 3)Gaspar V. Tagalo-(April 21,1986-Nov. 25,1986,Jan. 1,1987-Feb. 19.1987); 4)Ernesto D. Labastida,Sr.-(Nov.26,1986-Dec. 3,1986); 5)Agustin L.Climaco-(Dec. 1,1987-Jan.31,1988); 6)Oscar K. Tan,M.D.-(Feb. 20,1987-Nov. 30,1987,Feb. 1,1988-June 30,1998); 7)Rosette Yñiguez-Lerias-July 1,1998-June 30,2007).
Former Vice-Governors: 1)Graciano H. Capili-(1960-1963); 2)Alberto Napuli-(1964-1967); 3)Isabelo D. Kaindoy-(1968-1971); 4)Valeriano P. Tomol,Jr.-(1972-1975); 5)Oscar K.Tan,M.D.-Mar. 1,1980-Feb. 15,1987); 6)Ernesto D. Labastida,Sr.-(Feb. 20,1987-Nov.30,1987); 7)Cesar Piedad,Sr.-Dec. 1,1987-Jan. 31,1988); 8)Asisclo G. Munda,Sr.-(Feb.1, 1988-June 30,1995); 9)Eva L.Tomol-(July 1,1995-June 30,2004).
During the anniversary program, Governor Damian Mercado assisted by his older brother Congressman Roger Mercado handed over the plaques to the awardees .It was received either by the recipients themselves or their representatives. Each awardees individually posed for a souvenir photo flanked by the Mercado brothers and Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo,11 before exiting(leaving) the stage.
Educator Juanito Acero Lao, speaking in behalf of the awardees delivered his acceptance response. Thankful of the recognition and the Rajah Kolambu awards by the provincial government, he stressed the importance of every individual to get a good quality education. That every family head should send their children to school up to college until they can finish a course or courses. He also confirmed with the statement of former Education Secretary Jesli Lapuz that education is the only solution to poverty.Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Southern Leyte Province Celebrates Its 50th Golden Year Anniversary
July 20,2010
Southern Leyte Province Celebrates Its 50th Golden Year Anniversary
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The province o Southern Leyte which was part of the mother province of Leyte in the past, has celebrated its 50th Golden Year anniversary on July 1, 2010,50 years after it became as a separate province on July 1,1960.
The provincehood of another part of Leyte Island known as Southern Leyte was worked out by the late Congressman and Speaker Nicanor Espina Yñiguez during his incumbency with the late President Carlos P. Garcia signing the law.
Seven-Day Activities
The seven-day activities in conjunction with the Golden Year celebration started on June 25,2010 up to July one. Some of the series of widely covered activities were 6 sports events like cycling competition, inter-town boxing and inter-town basketball,airsoft fest, lawn tennis,motorcross,shoot fest,barangay contest, unveiling of legislative marker,cookfest,adventure race,socio-cultural night, Sinugdan Festival, ad search for Ms. Southern Leyte and awarding of most outstanding Southern Leyteños.
Newly-sworn and re-elected Congressman Roger Mercado in his speech said that “we are fortunate that we were able to reach the 50th golden year anniversary of the province of Southern Leyte’”. This is rare, he said, since some of us have not made it to celebrate with us in this eventful occasion.
The Congressman also expressed his great thanks to all people in the province who supported him and his party during the recent first automation Polls on May 10, 2010.His coalition party won by landslide against their main rivals.
He urged the people in the province to give their cooperation and support and help them in their works as public servants.
He also enjoined all government employees to act in most legal ways, be efficient in their respective jobs and lead modest life.
Mayor Maloney Samaco gave his welcome address to the huge crowd at the sunken garden during the anniversary program.Re-elected Governor Damian Mercado for his part read the introduction of the guest speaker Buenaventura Go-Soco, Regional NEDA Director.
In his long speech G0-Soco narrated in details Southern Leyte’s humble beginnings and its gradual rise to development since it become a province in terms of infrastructures, eco-tourism, business and trade and other related endeavors that make the place what it is today.
Dying State
However, his talk about Southern Leyte’s abaca industry was somewhat ironic. It projected a healthy abaca production, which was true in the past years, but is currently in its dying state due to the past plague of bunchy top disease that wipe out its several hectares of abaca plantations throughout the province.
The chemical sprays costing millions of pesos used by the agriculture technicians and abaca farmers in affected areas became ineffective in preventing and eradicating the dreaded disease in the municipalities where abaca plantations have existed.
The airborne and contagious disease can be transmitted thru cutting instruments like scythe and bolo if used in cutting the diseased abaca and use it also on cutting the healthy abacas. This mute but destructive mode of transmission was later discovered only after it contaminated huge hectares of abaca plantations in various barangays including Maasin’s.
Bulks and bulks of abaca plantations affected by the disease were uprooted and burnt. The reported sprouting of sparse abaca suckers found lately in some barangays, nonetheless, is not yet a guarantee that the dying abaca industry will be revived.
Morning Mass
Earlier during the Golden Year anniversary, a morning Mass was held at the Maasin Catholic Cathedral officiated by Bishop Precioso Cantillas with the assistance of some priests. It was attended mostly by the city, national and provincial officials and employees and some sympathizers, supporters and some folks.
It was followed by a parade that started at the Anatalio Gaviola plaza and participated in, among others, by all government offices’ heads and their personnel including DENR,DA,Post office, Provincial Hospital and Rural Health Unit personnel,banks,NSO,PNP,DepEd,city enforcers,muslim community, city and capitol employees,re-elected provincial, city and municipal Mayors,17 Sinugdan Festival contingents,STI,SJC,MCC,CM,Maasin Christian Academy, winners to Ms. Southern Leyte 2010 and her court.
Sinugdan Festival
The Sinugdan Festival participants showed their dancing skills during the less than three-hour long parade towards the Capitol Site where the provincial capitol and the sunken garden were located.
While all the participating public officials and personnel and employees of all government offices were in marching and walking pace, the contingents did theirs in different ways. Clad in decorative and colorful attires they danced their way with grace and in various styles that became the center of attraction by onlookers and kibitzers.
The dancing contingents seemed oblivious of the distance from the public plaza down to the Capitol Site g that they continue their dancing movements until the long parade reached sunken garden where they huge throng of participant have converged.
At the stage, among others, were Congressman Roger Mercado, Governor Damian Mercado, Maasin Mayor Maloney Samaco, some municipal mayors,SP members, some visitors,Ms. Southern Leyte and her court, representatives of the posthumous awardees of the Most Outstanding Southern Leyteños.
Dancing Competition
Less than three hours later, after the anniversary luncheon, dancing competitions dubbed as Sinugdan Festival has started which lasted until past 7:00 p.m.A Fifteen-minute fireworks display followed after the hosts of the Sinugdan Festival have announced the winners: Festival Queen who was the focal point of attraction who danced with grace went to Liloan (with their lilo-lilo festival). 1)Grand Champion-Maasin City contingent with its presentation of “Paghimugso Festival”; 2)First Runner-up Anahawan;3)Second Runner-up-Padre Burgos; 4)Third Runner –up -St.Bernard; 5)Fourth Runner-up-Silago. Prizes for the winners in the aforesaid competition were: P75, 000.00; P50, 000.00; P40, 000.00; P30, 000.00.
It was announced that according to the Governor, the Maasin contingent shall be sent as participant to the Cebu Sinulog Festival to be held in the upcoming January 2011.
Invited Sinugdan Festival judge Dario Ballesteros, non-Southern Leyteño, stressed that the concept of a contingent’s dance should be relevant to the theme, and that there should be a clear storyline. He hinted that the dancers themselves and their respective choreographers should attend a workshop on such topic at the Silliman University to acquire more knowledge and to improve their skills. Another Judge of the dance competition was Rev. Arniel Borromeo.
Winners of the Ms. Southern Leyte 2010 beauty and brain contest were: 1)Ms. Southern Leyte 2010 winner-Sarah Bihaibah of San Juan; 2)First Runner-Up- Rhea Isabel Palima Conato of Maasin City; 3)Second Runner-Up -Quency Jusay of Macrohon; 4)Third Runner-Up-Jasmin Amper Salvador of Tomas Oppus; 5)Fourth Runner-Up-Janice Portia Q. Uy of Sogod.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Southern Leyte Province Celebrates Its 50th Golden Year Anniversary
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The province o Southern Leyte which was part of the mother province of Leyte in the past, has celebrated its 50th Golden Year anniversary on July 1, 2010,50 years after it became as a separate province on July 1,1960.
The provincehood of another part of Leyte Island known as Southern Leyte was worked out by the late Congressman and Speaker Nicanor Espina Yñiguez during his incumbency with the late President Carlos P. Garcia signing the law.
Seven-Day Activities
The seven-day activities in conjunction with the Golden Year celebration started on June 25,2010 up to July one. Some of the series of widely covered activities were 6 sports events like cycling competition, inter-town boxing and inter-town basketball,airsoft fest, lawn tennis,motorcross,shoot fest,barangay contest, unveiling of legislative marker,cookfest,adventure race,socio-cultural night, Sinugdan Festival, ad search for Ms. Southern Leyte and awarding of most outstanding Southern Leyteños.
Newly-sworn and re-elected Congressman Roger Mercado in his speech said that “we are fortunate that we were able to reach the 50th golden year anniversary of the province of Southern Leyte’”. This is rare, he said, since some of us have not made it to celebrate with us in this eventful occasion.
The Congressman also expressed his great thanks to all people in the province who supported him and his party during the recent first automation Polls on May 10, 2010.His coalition party won by landslide against their main rivals.
He urged the people in the province to give their cooperation and support and help them in their works as public servants.
He also enjoined all government employees to act in most legal ways, be efficient in their respective jobs and lead modest life.
Mayor Maloney Samaco gave his welcome address to the huge crowd at the sunken garden during the anniversary program.Re-elected Governor Damian Mercado for his part read the introduction of the guest speaker Buenaventura Go-Soco, Regional NEDA Director.
In his long speech G0-Soco narrated in details Southern Leyte’s humble beginnings and its gradual rise to development since it become a province in terms of infrastructures, eco-tourism, business and trade and other related endeavors that make the place what it is today.
Dying State
However, his talk about Southern Leyte’s abaca industry was somewhat ironic. It projected a healthy abaca production, which was true in the past years, but is currently in its dying state due to the past plague of bunchy top disease that wipe out its several hectares of abaca plantations throughout the province.
The chemical sprays costing millions of pesos used by the agriculture technicians and abaca farmers in affected areas became ineffective in preventing and eradicating the dreaded disease in the municipalities where abaca plantations have existed.
The airborne and contagious disease can be transmitted thru cutting instruments like scythe and bolo if used in cutting the diseased abaca and use it also on cutting the healthy abacas. This mute but destructive mode of transmission was later discovered only after it contaminated huge hectares of abaca plantations in various barangays including Maasin’s.
Bulks and bulks of abaca plantations affected by the disease were uprooted and burnt. The reported sprouting of sparse abaca suckers found lately in some barangays, nonetheless, is not yet a guarantee that the dying abaca industry will be revived.
Morning Mass
Earlier during the Golden Year anniversary, a morning Mass was held at the Maasin Catholic Cathedral officiated by Bishop Precioso Cantillas with the assistance of some priests. It was attended mostly by the city, national and provincial officials and employees and some sympathizers, supporters and some folks.
It was followed by a parade that started at the Anatalio Gaviola plaza and participated in, among others, by all government offices’ heads and their personnel including DENR,DA,Post office, Provincial Hospital and Rural Health Unit personnel,banks,NSO,PNP,DepEd,city enforcers,muslim community, city and capitol employees,re-elected provincial, city and municipal Mayors,17 Sinugdan Festival contingents,STI,SJC,MCC,CM,Maasin Christian Academy, winners to Ms. Southern Leyte 2010 and her court.
Sinugdan Festival
The Sinugdan Festival participants showed their dancing skills during the less than three-hour long parade towards the Capitol Site where the provincial capitol and the sunken garden were located.
While all the participating public officials and personnel and employees of all government offices were in marching and walking pace, the contingents did theirs in different ways. Clad in decorative and colorful attires they danced their way with grace and in various styles that became the center of attraction by onlookers and kibitzers.
The dancing contingents seemed oblivious of the distance from the public plaza down to the Capitol Site g that they continue their dancing movements until the long parade reached sunken garden where they huge throng of participant have converged.
At the stage, among others, were Congressman Roger Mercado, Governor Damian Mercado, Maasin Mayor Maloney Samaco, some municipal mayors,SP members, some visitors,Ms. Southern Leyte and her court, representatives of the posthumous awardees of the Most Outstanding Southern Leyteños.
Dancing Competition
Less than three hours later, after the anniversary luncheon, dancing competitions dubbed as Sinugdan Festival has started which lasted until past 7:00 p.m.A Fifteen-minute fireworks display followed after the hosts of the Sinugdan Festival have announced the winners: Festival Queen who was the focal point of attraction who danced with grace went to Liloan (with their lilo-lilo festival). 1)Grand Champion-Maasin City contingent with its presentation of “Paghimugso Festival”; 2)First Runner-up Anahawan;3)Second Runner-up-Padre Burgos; 4)Third Runner –up -St.Bernard; 5)Fourth Runner-up-Silago. Prizes for the winners in the aforesaid competition were: P75, 000.00; P50, 000.00; P40, 000.00; P30, 000.00.
It was announced that according to the Governor, the Maasin contingent shall be sent as participant to the Cebu Sinulog Festival to be held in the upcoming January 2011.
Invited Sinugdan Festival judge Dario Ballesteros, non-Southern Leyteño, stressed that the concept of a contingent’s dance should be relevant to the theme, and that there should be a clear storyline. He hinted that the dancers themselves and their respective choreographers should attend a workshop on such topic at the Silliman University to acquire more knowledge and to improve their skills. Another Judge of the dance competition was Rev. Arniel Borromeo.
Winners of the Ms. Southern Leyte 2010 beauty and brain contest were: 1)Ms. Southern Leyte 2010 winner-Sarah Bihaibah of San Juan; 2)First Runner-Up- Rhea Isabel Palima Conato of Maasin City; 3)Second Runner-Up -Quency Jusay of Macrohon; 4)Third Runner-Up-Jasmin Amper Salvador of Tomas Oppus; 5)Fourth Runner-Up-Janice Portia Q. Uy of Sogod.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Monday, July 5, 2010
Southern Leyte Province Celebrates Its 50th Golden Year Anniversary
July 5,2010
Southern Leyte Province Celebrates Its 50th Golden Year Anniversary
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The province o Southern Leyte which was part of the mother province of Leyte in the past, has celebrated its 50th Golden Year anniversary on July 1, 2010,50 years after it became as a separate province on July 1,1960.
The provincehood of another part of Leyte Island known as Southern Leyte was worked out by the late Congressman and Speaker Nicanor Espina Yñiguez during his incumbency with the late President Carlos P. Garcia signing the law.
Seven-Day Activities
The seven-day activities in conjunction with the Golden Year celebration started on June 25,2010 up to July one. Some of the series of widely covered activities were 6 sports events like cycling competition, inter-town boxing and inter-town basketball,airsoft fest, lawn tennis,motorcross,shoot fest,barangay contest, unveiling of legislative marker,cookfest,adventure race,socio-cultural night, Sinugdan Festival, ad search for Ms. Southern Leyte and awarding of most outstanding Southern Leyteños.
Newly-sworn and re-elected Congressman Roger Mercado in his speech said that “we are fortunate that we were able to reach the 50th golden year anniversary of the province of Southern Leyte’”. This is rare, he said, since some of us have not made it to celebrate with us in this eventful occasion.
The Congressman also expressed his great thanks to all people in the province who supported him and his party during the recent first automation Polls on May 10, 2010.His coalition party won by landslide against their main rivals.
He urged the people in the province to give their cooperation and support and help them in their works as public servants.
He also enjoined all government employees to act in most legal ways, be efficient in their respective jobs and lead modest life.
Mayor Maloney Samaco gave his welcome address to the huge crowd at the sunken garden during the anniversary program.Re-elected Governor Damian Mercado for his part read the introduction of the guest speaker Buenaventura Go-Soco, Regional NEDA Director.
In his long speech G0-Soco narrated in details Southern Leyte’s humble beginnings and its gradual rise to development since it become a province in terms of infrastructures, eco-tourism, business and trade and other related endeavors that make the place what it is today.
Dying State
However, his talk about Southern Leyte’s abaca industry was somewhat ironic. It projected a healthy abaca production, which was true in the past years, but is currently in its dying state due to the past plague of bunchy top disease that wipe out its several hectares of abaca plantations throughout the province.
The chemical sprays costing millions of pesos used by the agriculture technicians and abaca farmers in affected areas became ineffective in preventing and eradicating the dreaded disease in the municipalities where abaca plantations have existed.
The airborne and contagious disease can be transmitted thru cutting instruments like scythe and bolo if used in cutting the diseased abaca and use it also on cutting the healthy abacas. This mute but destructive mode of transmission was later discovered only after it contaminated huge hectares of abaca plantations in various barangays including Maasin’s.
Bulks and bulks of abaca plantations affected by the disease were uprooted and burnt. The reported sprouting of sparse abaca suckers found lately in some barangays, nonetheless, is not yet a guarantee that the dying abaca industry will be revived.
Morning Mass
Earlier during the Golden Year anniversary, a morning Mass was held at the Maasin Catholic Cathedral officiated by Bishop Precioso Cantillas with the assistance of some priests. It was attended mostly by the city, national and provincial officials and employees and some sympathizers, supporters and some folks.
It was followed by a parade that started at the Anatalio Gaviola plaza and participated in, among others, by all government offices’ heads and their personnel including DENR,DA,Post office, Provincial Hospital and Rural Health Unit personnel,banks,NSO,PNP,DepEd,city enforcers,muslim community, city and capitol employees,re-elected provincial, city and municipal Mayors,17 Sinugdan Festival contingents,STI,SJC,MCC,CM,Maasin Christian Academy, winners to Ms. Southern Leyte 2010 and her court.
Sinugdan Festival
The Sinugdan Festival participants showed their dancing skills during the less than three-hour long parade towards the Capitol Site where the provincial capitol and the sunken garden were located.
While all the participating public officials and personnel and employees of all government offices were in marching and walking pace, the contingents did theirs in different ways. Clad in decorative and colorful attires they danced their way with grace and in various styles that became the center of attraction by onlookers and kibitzers.
The dancing contingents seemed oblivious of the distance from the public plaza down to the Capitol Site g that they continue their dancing movements until the long parade reached sunken garden where they huge throng of participant have converged.
At the stage, among others, were Congressman Roger Mercado, Governor Damian Mercado, Maasin Mayor Maloney Samaco, some municipal mayors,SP members, some visitors,Ms. Southern Leyte and her court, representatives of the posthumous awardees of the Most Outstanding Southern Leyteños.
Dancing Competition
Less than three hours later, after the anniversary luncheon, dancing competitions dubbed as Sinugdan Festival has started which lasted until past 7:00 p.m.A Fifteen-minute fireworks display followed after the hosts of the Sinugdan Festival have announced the winners: Festival Queen who was the focal point of attraction who danced with grace went to Liloan (with their lilo-lilo festival). 1)Grand Champion-Maasin City contingent with its presentation of “Paghimugso Festival”; 2)First Runner-up Anahawan;3)Second Runner-up-Padre Burgos; 4)Third Runner –up -St.Bernard; 5)Fourth Runner-up-Silago. Prizes for the winners in the aforesaid competition were: P75, 000.00; P50, 000.00; P40, 000.00; P30, 000.00.
It was announced that according to the Governor, the Maasin contingent shall be sent as participant to the Cebu Sinulog Festival to be held in the upcoming January 2011.
Invited Sinugdan Festival judge Daio Ballesteros, non-Southern Leyteño, stressed that the concept of a contingent’s dance should be relevant to the theme, and that there should be a clear storyline. He hinted that the dancers themselves and their respective choreographers should attend a workshop on such topic at the Silliman University to acquire more knowledge and to improve their skills. Another Judge of the dance competition was Rev. Arniel Borromeo.
Winners of the Ms. Southern Leyte 2010 beauty and brain contest were: 1)Ms. Southern Leyte 2010 winner-Sarah Bihaibah of San Juan; 2)First Runner-Up- Rhea Isabel Palima Conato of Maasin City; 3)Second Runner-Up -Quency Jusay of Macrohon; 4)Third Runner-Up-Jasmin Amper Salvador of Tomas Oppus; 5)Fourth Runner-Up-Janice Portia Q. Uy of Sogod.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Southern Leyte Province Celebrates Its 50th Golden Year Anniversary
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The province o Southern Leyte which was part of the mother province of Leyte in the past, has celebrated its 50th Golden Year anniversary on July 1, 2010,50 years after it became as a separate province on July 1,1960.
The provincehood of another part of Leyte Island known as Southern Leyte was worked out by the late Congressman and Speaker Nicanor Espina Yñiguez during his incumbency with the late President Carlos P. Garcia signing the law.
Seven-Day Activities
The seven-day activities in conjunction with the Golden Year celebration started on June 25,2010 up to July one. Some of the series of widely covered activities were 6 sports events like cycling competition, inter-town boxing and inter-town basketball,airsoft fest, lawn tennis,motorcross,shoot fest,barangay contest, unveiling of legislative marker,cookfest,adventure race,socio-cultural night, Sinugdan Festival, ad search for Ms. Southern Leyte and awarding of most outstanding Southern Leyteños.
Newly-sworn and re-elected Congressman Roger Mercado in his speech said that “we are fortunate that we were able to reach the 50th golden year anniversary of the province of Southern Leyte’”. This is rare, he said, since some of us have not made it to celebrate with us in this eventful occasion.
The Congressman also expressed his great thanks to all people in the province who supported him and his party during the recent first automation Polls on May 10, 2010.His coalition party won by landslide against their main rivals.
He urged the people in the province to give their cooperation and support and help them in their works as public servants.
He also enjoined all government employees to act in most legal ways, be efficient in their respective jobs and lead modest life.
Mayor Maloney Samaco gave his welcome address to the huge crowd at the sunken garden during the anniversary program.Re-elected Governor Damian Mercado for his part read the introduction of the guest speaker Buenaventura Go-Soco, Regional NEDA Director.
In his long speech G0-Soco narrated in details Southern Leyte’s humble beginnings and its gradual rise to development since it become a province in terms of infrastructures, eco-tourism, business and trade and other related endeavors that make the place what it is today.
Dying State
However, his talk about Southern Leyte’s abaca industry was somewhat ironic. It projected a healthy abaca production, which was true in the past years, but is currently in its dying state due to the past plague of bunchy top disease that wipe out its several hectares of abaca plantations throughout the province.
The chemical sprays costing millions of pesos used by the agriculture technicians and abaca farmers in affected areas became ineffective in preventing and eradicating the dreaded disease in the municipalities where abaca plantations have existed.
The airborne and contagious disease can be transmitted thru cutting instruments like scythe and bolo if used in cutting the diseased abaca and use it also on cutting the healthy abacas. This mute but destructive mode of transmission was later discovered only after it contaminated huge hectares of abaca plantations in various barangays including Maasin’s.
Bulks and bulks of abaca plantations affected by the disease were uprooted and burnt. The reported sprouting of sparse abaca suckers found lately in some barangays, nonetheless, is not yet a guarantee that the dying abaca industry will be revived.
Morning Mass
Earlier during the Golden Year anniversary, a morning Mass was held at the Maasin Catholic Cathedral officiated by Bishop Precioso Cantillas with the assistance of some priests. It was attended mostly by the city, national and provincial officials and employees and some sympathizers, supporters and some folks.
It was followed by a parade that started at the Anatalio Gaviola plaza and participated in, among others, by all government offices’ heads and their personnel including DENR,DA,Post office, Provincial Hospital and Rural Health Unit personnel,banks,NSO,PNP,DepEd,city enforcers,muslim community, city and capitol employees,re-elected provincial, city and municipal Mayors,17 Sinugdan Festival contingents,STI,SJC,MCC,CM,Maasin Christian Academy, winners to Ms. Southern Leyte 2010 and her court.
Sinugdan Festival
The Sinugdan Festival participants showed their dancing skills during the less than three-hour long parade towards the Capitol Site where the provincial capitol and the sunken garden were located.
While all the participating public officials and personnel and employees of all government offices were in marching and walking pace, the contingents did theirs in different ways. Clad in decorative and colorful attires they danced their way with grace and in various styles that became the center of attraction by onlookers and kibitzers.
The dancing contingents seemed oblivious of the distance from the public plaza down to the Capitol Site g that they continue their dancing movements until the long parade reached sunken garden where they huge throng of participant have converged.
At the stage, among others, were Congressman Roger Mercado, Governor Damian Mercado, Maasin Mayor Maloney Samaco, some municipal mayors,SP members, some visitors,Ms. Southern Leyte and her court, representatives of the posthumous awardees of the Most Outstanding Southern Leyteños.
Dancing Competition
Less than three hours later, after the anniversary luncheon, dancing competitions dubbed as Sinugdan Festival has started which lasted until past 7:00 p.m.A Fifteen-minute fireworks display followed after the hosts of the Sinugdan Festival have announced the winners: Festival Queen who was the focal point of attraction who danced with grace went to Liloan (with their lilo-lilo festival). 1)Grand Champion-Maasin City contingent with its presentation of “Paghimugso Festival”; 2)First Runner-up Anahawan;3)Second Runner-up-Padre Burgos; 4)Third Runner –up -St.Bernard; 5)Fourth Runner-up-Silago. Prizes for the winners in the aforesaid competition were: P75, 000.00; P50, 000.00; P40, 000.00; P30, 000.00.
It was announced that according to the Governor, the Maasin contingent shall be sent as participant to the Cebu Sinulog Festival to be held in the upcoming January 2011.
Invited Sinugdan Festival judge Daio Ballesteros, non-Southern Leyteño, stressed that the concept of a contingent’s dance should be relevant to the theme, and that there should be a clear storyline. He hinted that the dancers themselves and their respective choreographers should attend a workshop on such topic at the Silliman University to acquire more knowledge and to improve their skills. Another Judge of the dance competition was Rev. Arniel Borromeo.
Winners of the Ms. Southern Leyte 2010 beauty and brain contest were: 1)Ms. Southern Leyte 2010 winner-Sarah Bihaibah of San Juan; 2)First Runner-Up- Rhea Isabel Palima Conato of Maasin City; 3)Second Runner-Up -Quency Jusay of Macrohon; 4)Third Runner-Up-Jasmin Amper Salvador of Tomas Oppus; 5)Fourth Runner-Up-Janice Portia Q. Uy of Sogod.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
MCA's Palermo Wins In On-The-Spot Painting Contest
July 5,2010
MCA’s Palermo Wins In On-The-Spot Painting Contest
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Abby Dyanne Daclan Palermo, an elementary student of the Maasin Christian Academy in brgy.Mantahan has won in the provincial on-the-spot painting contest held recently at the Provincial Capitol building here.
The young painter, who is a daughter of a seaman, bested other 21 contestants from different school s of the province. Her winning streak of the contest was not that easy. It passed a two-hour long meticulous evaluation from the three-men team judges composed of undefeated third termer councilor Salvador “boy” Abiera,Francisco “Frankie” Lim and SJC instructor Ed Garino Tabinas.
Abiera, who is also an artist and architect himself, disclosed that the paintings judgment were based on 4 creteria:1)Relevance to the theme-Southern Leyte at 50-35%; 2)visual impact-30%; 3)rendering and proportion-20%; 4)originality-15%. He implied that Palermo’s works has met the 4 criteria in higher percentage compared to her competitors.
Gerson Destora of the College of Maasin reaped the second place. Manny Vincent Carbonilla of Asuncion Elementary School got the third place.Palermo,Destora and Carbonilla all received cash prizes of P3,000.00, P2,000.00 and P1,000.00 respectively. Like the Quiz Bee winners, each amateur painter also received trophy and a medal.
There were two fourth placers in the person of Jomer Roa of the College of Maasin and Audessa Avellanosa of St.Jospeh College. Rod James Royeras also of SJC was the fifth placer.
POPCOM’s Kangelon announced to the audience during the awarding ceremony that as a contest rule, the winning paintings will become the properties of the Provincial Government, the main sponsor of the event.
In earlier quiz bee contest also participated in by 22 secondary students from various school s in Southern Leyte, Jason Tuang-Tuang of Bontoc National High School bested other contestants as the first placer. He received P3, 000.00, a trophy and a medal. ST.Thomas Aquinas College’s Pepito Manlunas, 111, bagged the second place. He got P2, 000.00, a trophy and a medal.Janin Faye Tomol of the St. Joseph College pocketed P1, 000.00,a trophy and a medal.
Velma P. Kangleon, also the Quiz Bee Committee Chairman, whose members were mostly from the Integrated Provincial Health Office( IPHO)technical team, said that the questions raised during the contest were all about Southern Leyte’s historical backgrounds.
Pictures for posterity were taken together with their respective families from each winner of the two contests, as they received their prizes, trophies and medals from the chairmen of the two committees.
Abiera, who announced the painting winners, admonished the young contestants to continue practicing and participating in the contest whenever it will be held in the province. He revealed that in the past he also participated in painting contests held in this province and had won during the Marco regime.
A friend of the first placer’s mother who congratulated Palermo, advised her to take up Fine Arts. The course is the proper and the right venue for artists to improve and hone their talents to the fullest.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
MCA’s Palermo Wins In On-The-Spot Painting Contest
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Abby Dyanne Daclan Palermo, an elementary student of the Maasin Christian Academy in brgy.Mantahan has won in the provincial on-the-spot painting contest held recently at the Provincial Capitol building here.
The young painter, who is a daughter of a seaman, bested other 21 contestants from different school s of the province. Her winning streak of the contest was not that easy. It passed a two-hour long meticulous evaluation from the three-men team judges composed of undefeated third termer councilor Salvador “boy” Abiera,Francisco “Frankie” Lim and SJC instructor Ed Garino Tabinas.
Abiera, who is also an artist and architect himself, disclosed that the paintings judgment were based on 4 creteria:1)Relevance to the theme-Southern Leyte at 50-35%; 2)visual impact-30%; 3)rendering and proportion-20%; 4)originality-15%. He implied that Palermo’s works has met the 4 criteria in higher percentage compared to her competitors.
Gerson Destora of the College of Maasin reaped the second place. Manny Vincent Carbonilla of Asuncion Elementary School got the third place.Palermo,Destora and Carbonilla all received cash prizes of P3,000.00, P2,000.00 and P1,000.00 respectively. Like the Quiz Bee winners, each amateur painter also received trophy and a medal.
There were two fourth placers in the person of Jomer Roa of the College of Maasin and Audessa Avellanosa of St.Jospeh College. Rod James Royeras also of SJC was the fifth placer.
POPCOM’s Kangelon announced to the audience during the awarding ceremony that as a contest rule, the winning paintings will become the properties of the Provincial Government, the main sponsor of the event.
In earlier quiz bee contest also participated in by 22 secondary students from various school s in Southern Leyte, Jason Tuang-Tuang of Bontoc National High School bested other contestants as the first placer. He received P3, 000.00, a trophy and a medal. ST.Thomas Aquinas College’s Pepito Manlunas, 111, bagged the second place. He got P2, 000.00, a trophy and a medal.Janin Faye Tomol of the St. Joseph College pocketed P1, 000.00,a trophy and a medal.
Velma P. Kangleon, also the Quiz Bee Committee Chairman, whose members were mostly from the Integrated Provincial Health Office( IPHO)technical team, said that the questions raised during the contest were all about Southern Leyte’s historical backgrounds.
Pictures for posterity were taken together with their respective families from each winner of the two contests, as they received their prizes, trophies and medals from the chairmen of the two committees.
Abiera, who announced the painting winners, admonished the young contestants to continue practicing and participating in the contest whenever it will be held in the province. He revealed that in the past he also participated in painting contests held in this province and had won during the Marco regime.
A friend of the first placer’s mother who congratulated Palermo, advised her to take up Fine Arts. The course is the proper and the right venue for artists to improve and hone their talents to the fullest.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
City Govt. To Construct LGU-owned Port In Guadalupe
July 5,2010
City Govt. To Construct LGU-owned Port in Guadalupe
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Maloney Samaco,the newly-re-elected second termer Maasin Mayor disclosed in his “acceptance speech” after his oath-taking ,that a plan to construct an LGU-owned port in brgy. Guadalupe (formerly Can-iwan) is welcomed by its residents.
Samaco informed that the area is conducive for docking ships and boats even during habagat season(eastwest moon wind) because of its natural barrier preventing strong winds to hit it. Unlike the Maasin port which is being subjected to constant lashing of huge waves during habagat season.
He said that barangay officials of Guadalupe even offer to convert their gymnasium into a terminal provided the City Government would build similar structure for their use.
“If other businessman is interested to construct another port in Guadalupe”, he said, “I will welcome it as well. The more we can have ports in Guadalupe, the better because I t will provide additional income to its residents and the city”.
He said that the said barangay is a good alternative in port constructions since it’s nearer to Bato and Hilongos.”Travelers and students of the city bound for Cebu City would no longer be going to farther places”, he said.
The Engineer-Sportswriter Mayor also divulged that the shipping managements of Kinswell, Gabisan and Roble have expressed their willingness to dock in Guadalupe once the port construction will be realized and completed.
He said that two of the main reasons why other small shipping companies have avoided docking at Maasin pier is because of its vulnerability to the habagat winds that would create huge waves whipping the pier. Another reason is that it will allegedly take an estimated one barrel of crude oil from Hilongos to Maasin.”But the Maasin port will remain operational for cargo ships and big passenger ships, if other shipping company is interested to dock”, he clarified.
He said that the Guadalupe port once it will be completed will connect Ubay port in Bohol.
Other things tackled during a presscon at his office were the problem on water supply. He revealed that barangays Gawisan and Cagnituan would be another sources of additional potable water for the City residents and business establishments because these two places have plenty of water. He said the inhabitants of both areas also expressed their willingness for the City Government or the Maasin Water District to tap it.
On Gaisano’s plan to conduct business here, he confided that after the first automation polls Edward Gaisano has revived his interest to open a branch in Maasain.He said he will be going to Cebu to talk and present his proposal with the businessman and to clarify and finalize whatever kind of negotiations that they are going to agree.
He further informed that construction of a sanitary landfill in Bactul 1 is underway and that the Maasin City College which he founded will continue to operate. This is in contrast to the allegations of some people, he said, that the school will be closed.”The Maasin City College will continue to operate”,he said.” In fact, our enrollment has exceeded and some students were not able to enroll”.
Class rooms are now constructed at the second floor of the buildings for additional enrollees, he said. He also confessed that students from the neighboring towns including Matalom wanted to enroll at MCC,but were refused because of lack of classrooms at this time. What he will do,he said, is to complete their submission of requirements to CHED.”There will be no increase in tuition fees as long as I’m the Mayor of Maasin”, he stressed.
He said that the projects that he has talked about were part of the 13-point agenda for the next six years. That is, he said, if you continue to give your support and the rest of the electorate shall continue to manifest theirs during his running for the third term. However, he admitted that six years are not enough to accomplish his programs due to lack of funding availability.
Earlier, an oath-taking among the City officials was held at the city gymnasium. First to take their oath of office were the City Councilors in a reverse style. It started from the 10th rank down to the number one councilor. The individual oath-taking ceremonies included Vice-Mayor Maria Effie Abiera-Sabandal were accompanied by their respective family members and relatives. All of them have taken their oath of offices before a City Judge.
Nevertheless he incumbent Mayor has taken his oath of office before the younger Abgao Barangay Captain Nacional “Nikko” Mercado. He unfolded that barangay Abgao was where he garnered the highest number of votes compared to the rest of Maasin’s 69 barangays.
In an earlier interview, he said that it’s his personal choice and” a due recognition to the efforts of the barangay officials during the recent election campaign period”.
In the same event, outgoing municipal and city councilors Conrado Galeon and Maria Essie Espina Garvez delivered their short speeches and thanked the employees and city officials for their camaraderie and good mutual relationship during their incumbency as municipal and city officials.
Galeon first served as a municipal employee for several years and later ran as municipal and as city councilor and won.Garvez has served the local government since the mayorship of Damian Mercado, now the incumbent Governor of Southern Leyte. Both councilors remained undefeated until their last terms.
Two days later a joint oath-taking of all 18 municipal, a city and provincial officials took place at the Provincial Capitol building inside the Capitol Site, a day shy from the 50th Golden Founding Day anniversary celebration of the province of Southern Leyte.
Provincial joint oath-taking was composed of all re-elected municipal Mayors, municipal councilors, city councilors, Governor, Vice-Governor, Board Members and Congressman. Re-elected Governor Damian Mercado and re-elected Congressman Roger Mercado both took their oath of office before Judge Bethany Kapili.The rest of all the re-elected officials have took their oath of office before Judge Daisy Gonzales.
Picture taking with members of the respective families among the public officials have followed after individual oath –taking and signing of the oath of statement written in Tagalog were done.
Both events were attended by some city and provincial employees, heads of offices, barangay officials, members of their respective families, relatives, friends and the press.Marinduque Governor Bong Carreon was one of the visitors who attended the joint oath –taking ceremonies.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
City Govt. To Construct LGU-owned Port in Guadalupe
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Maloney Samaco,the newly-re-elected second termer Maasin Mayor disclosed in his “acceptance speech” after his oath-taking ,that a plan to construct an LGU-owned port in brgy. Guadalupe (formerly Can-iwan) is welcomed by its residents.
Samaco informed that the area is conducive for docking ships and boats even during habagat season(eastwest moon wind) because of its natural barrier preventing strong winds to hit it. Unlike the Maasin port which is being subjected to constant lashing of huge waves during habagat season.
He said that barangay officials of Guadalupe even offer to convert their gymnasium into a terminal provided the City Government would build similar structure for their use.
“If other businessman is interested to construct another port in Guadalupe”, he said, “I will welcome it as well. The more we can have ports in Guadalupe, the better because I t will provide additional income to its residents and the city”.
He said that the said barangay is a good alternative in port constructions since it’s nearer to Bato and Hilongos.”Travelers and students of the city bound for Cebu City would no longer be going to farther places”, he said.
The Engineer-Sportswriter Mayor also divulged that the shipping managements of Kinswell, Gabisan and Roble have expressed their willingness to dock in Guadalupe once the port construction will be realized and completed.
He said that two of the main reasons why other small shipping companies have avoided docking at Maasin pier is because of its vulnerability to the habagat winds that would create huge waves whipping the pier. Another reason is that it will allegedly take an estimated one barrel of crude oil from Hilongos to Maasin.”But the Maasin port will remain operational for cargo ships and big passenger ships, if other shipping company is interested to dock”, he clarified.
He said that the Guadalupe port once it will be completed will connect Ubay port in Bohol.
Other things tackled during a presscon at his office were the problem on water supply. He revealed that barangays Gawisan and Cagnituan would be another sources of additional potable water for the City residents and business establishments because these two places have plenty of water. He said the inhabitants of both areas also expressed their willingness for the City Government or the Maasin Water District to tap it.
On Gaisano’s plan to conduct business here, he confided that after the first automation polls Edward Gaisano has revived his interest to open a branch in Maasain.He said he will be going to Cebu to talk and present his proposal with the businessman and to clarify and finalize whatever kind of negotiations that they are going to agree.
He further informed that construction of a sanitary landfill in Bactul 1 is underway and that the Maasin City College which he founded will continue to operate. This is in contrast to the allegations of some people, he said, that the school will be closed.”The Maasin City College will continue to operate”,he said.” In fact, our enrollment has exceeded and some students were not able to enroll”.
Class rooms are now constructed at the second floor of the buildings for additional enrollees, he said. He also confessed that students from the neighboring towns including Matalom wanted to enroll at MCC,but were refused because of lack of classrooms at this time. What he will do,he said, is to complete their submission of requirements to CHED.”There will be no increase in tuition fees as long as I’m the Mayor of Maasin”, he stressed.
He said that the projects that he has talked about were part of the 13-point agenda for the next six years. That is, he said, if you continue to give your support and the rest of the electorate shall continue to manifest theirs during his running for the third term. However, he admitted that six years are not enough to accomplish his programs due to lack of funding availability.
Earlier, an oath-taking among the City officials was held at the city gymnasium. First to take their oath of office were the City Councilors in a reverse style. It started from the 10th rank down to the number one councilor. The individual oath-taking ceremonies included Vice-Mayor Maria Effie Abiera-Sabandal were accompanied by their respective family members and relatives. All of them have taken their oath of offices before a City Judge.
Nevertheless he incumbent Mayor has taken his oath of office before the younger Abgao Barangay Captain Nacional “Nikko” Mercado. He unfolded that barangay Abgao was where he garnered the highest number of votes compared to the rest of Maasin’s 69 barangays.
In an earlier interview, he said that it’s his personal choice and” a due recognition to the efforts of the barangay officials during the recent election campaign period”.
In the same event, outgoing municipal and city councilors Conrado Galeon and Maria Essie Espina Garvez delivered their short speeches and thanked the employees and city officials for their camaraderie and good mutual relationship during their incumbency as municipal and city officials.
Galeon first served as a municipal employee for several years and later ran as municipal and as city councilor and won.Garvez has served the local government since the mayorship of Damian Mercado, now the incumbent Governor of Southern Leyte. Both councilors remained undefeated until their last terms.
Two days later a joint oath-taking of all 18 municipal, a city and provincial officials took place at the Provincial Capitol building inside the Capitol Site, a day shy from the 50th Golden Founding Day anniversary celebration of the province of Southern Leyte.
Provincial joint oath-taking was composed of all re-elected municipal Mayors, municipal councilors, city councilors, Governor, Vice-Governor, Board Members and Congressman. Re-elected Governor Damian Mercado and re-elected Congressman Roger Mercado both took their oath of office before Judge Bethany Kapili.The rest of all the re-elected officials have took their oath of office before Judge Daisy Gonzales.
Picture taking with members of the respective families among the public officials have followed after individual oath –taking and signing of the oath of statement written in Tagalog were done.
Both events were attended by some city and provincial employees, heads of offices, barangay officials, members of their respective families, relatives, friends and the press.Marinduque Governor Bong Carreon was one of the visitors who attended the joint oath –taking ceremonies.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Surveys On Candidates During Elections Should Be Banned
June 15,2010
Surveys On Candidates During Elections Should Be Banned
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
When was this so-called survey on candidates started in the Philippines? Who initiated it? As long as I can remember since I became a voter, it was only during the recent years that survey on the popularity of a candidate or candidates have began. However, this kind of survey that survey agencies have utilized is not satisfying if any person would look at its procedure in collecting “specimen” for interviews. With respondents of less than three thousands gathered from various places to gauge a presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates’ popularity rate could not really represent the bulk of majority of the 50M plus Filipino voters. Yet this was the way we were led to believe by the survey agencies that conducted the surveys of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates during the recent and the first automated polls on May 10,2010 national and local elections.
How can such popularity rate results of percentages taken from the selected respondents for the two highest positions of the Republic of the Philippines represents the voices, the minds and the sentiments of the rest of the 50M plus Filipino voters in the country? There are still many municipalities and cities in the entire archipelago that were not covered by the survey agencies. The surveys cannot make me believe on the explanations, equations and ratios in survey results. I have the belief and the conviction that logical and analytical thinkers could not also believe nor accept their kind of report or explanations regarding their system.
However, this scheme has pre-conditioned some voters’ mind with a “lean on decision” out of convenience and have stopped using their brains to really analyze and evaluate the given survey results which were based only on a very small fraction of the entire population. This is the reason that survey results could not be relied upon. It has only provided a mindset that has no firm grasp on the real condition of those candidates running for either the presidential or Vice-presidential seat.
The better ways to anchor on our personal choices of candidates running for the highest down to the lowest positions in the government service is to dig deep on their family background, characteristic traits, academic side, track records and the agenda or programs of government if they will be elected in the positions they are aspiring for. These are the most effective ways that every wise voter must take into consideration during elections. Let us not allow ourselves to be influenced by survey results even if such kind of measure on the candidates popularity is branded as “survey science” or science survey” whatever that means.
Is the conduct of surveys on candidates’ popularity in selected areas a voluntary job? Or is a presidential or Vice-presidential candidate/s pay for it? If a candidate or candidates seeking for the highest position of the Land have paid for the conduct of surveys, how are they paying it? Conducting of political surveys with payments is disadvantageous to candidates who have limited funds to spend. But more serious is that only a few places were subjected to surveys while huge chunks of the country’s population remain untouched by the survey agencies. Hence, this system is considered as unfair and unjust to other candidates and also to the voters themselves who need to be properly informed. Because of this, I would like to suggest to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) that surveys on candidates running for president and Vice-president and other government positions should be banned or abolished.
On the other hand, we can have surveys on the health conditions of our people, population rate, nutrition, employment, migration, diseases, and breastfeeding of babies and non-breastfeeding of babies, agriculture, educational system, povery level, among other things.
If a law is necessary to effect the banning or the abolition of political surveys, our legislators in Congress should consider enacting such kind of law. In other words, let us go back to the most basic measures in choosing and electing competent candidates who run for public offices. Let us also stop selling our votes for a thousand or several hundred of pesos come election time. Our politicians in turn should also stop buying votes. Who were those politicians in the past who initiated the buying of votes from the electorate during elections? They should realize that what they have done is a great disservice to the country. It was reportedly revealed that two of the provinces that were the highest spenders during the first automation polls on May 10, 2010 elections were Sarangani and Southern Leyte. The buying and selling of votes has become a bad habit. Some voters who used to receive money during elections from some politicians would not go anymore to the precinct to cast their ballots, if not a single politician or candidate has given them money, three, two or one day before voting time. I have stated this because some voters by their own volition have revealed this to me.
Nevertheless, if each and every one of us, voters, would resolve to really stop selling our votes by refusing to accept money from the politicians during elections, we can do it.Yes, we can do it. If we give more importance to our right of suffrage and keep our dignities intact, considering that our right is sacred and priceless, then we can stop now selling our votes. Accepting money from any politician or candidate during elections-that is three, two or one day before voting time, means that you are selling your vote and you lose half of your dignity as a voter.
Do you not know that politicians who have spend millions and millions of money during elections to buy votes are not happy after all? Let us pity and be kind to the politicians.Yes, let us pity and be kind to them, also. Much more let us pity and be kind to ourselves, too. They are only force to do it because they want to win in the elections. They want to serve the Filipino people for some purpose that they themselves know, coupled with personal interest of course, which is but natural for every person in any kind of endeavour.They want to build names for themselves to be remember well after their passing by the following generations. We only hope that they choose to build good names rather than bad names that can reap for themselves curses instead of blessings. We also hope that trustworthy service to the nation is the topmost part of their intentions and priorities in seeking for elective positions in the Government.
But this kind of business activity (vote buying and vote selling) between the politicians and the voters are both bad and deplorable. If we really need real change, genuine change, let us discourage the politicians to buy our votes. What is three or four days pleasure and enjoyment after casting your votes? This is just short term and temporary relief but not a solution to our poverty and the ills of our society as a whole. It is quite enough that some of us can approach some incumbent politicians who are kind and generous and have granted our requests for financial assistance for our hospitalization problems, and in some occasions, to buy medicines we badly needed. We should not add burden to them anymore by allowing them to spend millions and millions of pesos to buy our votes during election time. This is a bad habit and should be eradicated now in our system and character as a people. Enough is enough .If they have good track records /good performances during their office tenures and they would run for re-elections, then we should re-elect them.. It is much better, appreciable and meaningful if the millions and millions of money spent by the politicians to buy votes during election time will be used instead to buy plenty of the most needed medicines for our hospitals nationwide so that all confined patients, particularly the indigents and the admitted PhilHealth and non-PhilHealth members, including us (in case we get sick), can be provided with the intended prescribed medicines for theirs and our sicknesses and diseases. We should stop selling our votes now starting the next election of 2013.We must do it now. And we can if we will. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Surveys On Candidates During Elections Should Be Banned
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
When was this so-called survey on candidates started in the Philippines? Who initiated it? As long as I can remember since I became a voter, it was only during the recent years that survey on the popularity of a candidate or candidates have began. However, this kind of survey that survey agencies have utilized is not satisfying if any person would look at its procedure in collecting “specimen” for interviews. With respondents of less than three thousands gathered from various places to gauge a presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates’ popularity rate could not really represent the bulk of majority of the 50M plus Filipino voters. Yet this was the way we were led to believe by the survey agencies that conducted the surveys of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates during the recent and the first automated polls on May 10,2010 national and local elections.
How can such popularity rate results of percentages taken from the selected respondents for the two highest positions of the Republic of the Philippines represents the voices, the minds and the sentiments of the rest of the 50M plus Filipino voters in the country? There are still many municipalities and cities in the entire archipelago that were not covered by the survey agencies. The surveys cannot make me believe on the explanations, equations and ratios in survey results. I have the belief and the conviction that logical and analytical thinkers could not also believe nor accept their kind of report or explanations regarding their system.
However, this scheme has pre-conditioned some voters’ mind with a “lean on decision” out of convenience and have stopped using their brains to really analyze and evaluate the given survey results which were based only on a very small fraction of the entire population. This is the reason that survey results could not be relied upon. It has only provided a mindset that has no firm grasp on the real condition of those candidates running for either the presidential or Vice-presidential seat.
The better ways to anchor on our personal choices of candidates running for the highest down to the lowest positions in the government service is to dig deep on their family background, characteristic traits, academic side, track records and the agenda or programs of government if they will be elected in the positions they are aspiring for. These are the most effective ways that every wise voter must take into consideration during elections. Let us not allow ourselves to be influenced by survey results even if such kind of measure on the candidates popularity is branded as “survey science” or science survey” whatever that means.
Is the conduct of surveys on candidates’ popularity in selected areas a voluntary job? Or is a presidential or Vice-presidential candidate/s pay for it? If a candidate or candidates seeking for the highest position of the Land have paid for the conduct of surveys, how are they paying it? Conducting of political surveys with payments is disadvantageous to candidates who have limited funds to spend. But more serious is that only a few places were subjected to surveys while huge chunks of the country’s population remain untouched by the survey agencies. Hence, this system is considered as unfair and unjust to other candidates and also to the voters themselves who need to be properly informed. Because of this, I would like to suggest to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) that surveys on candidates running for president and Vice-president and other government positions should be banned or abolished.
On the other hand, we can have surveys on the health conditions of our people, population rate, nutrition, employment, migration, diseases, and breastfeeding of babies and non-breastfeeding of babies, agriculture, educational system, povery level, among other things.
If a law is necessary to effect the banning or the abolition of political surveys, our legislators in Congress should consider enacting such kind of law. In other words, let us go back to the most basic measures in choosing and electing competent candidates who run for public offices. Let us also stop selling our votes for a thousand or several hundred of pesos come election time. Our politicians in turn should also stop buying votes. Who were those politicians in the past who initiated the buying of votes from the electorate during elections? They should realize that what they have done is a great disservice to the country. It was reportedly revealed that two of the provinces that were the highest spenders during the first automation polls on May 10, 2010 elections were Sarangani and Southern Leyte. The buying and selling of votes has become a bad habit. Some voters who used to receive money during elections from some politicians would not go anymore to the precinct to cast their ballots, if not a single politician or candidate has given them money, three, two or one day before voting time. I have stated this because some voters by their own volition have revealed this to me.
Nevertheless, if each and every one of us, voters, would resolve to really stop selling our votes by refusing to accept money from the politicians during elections, we can do it.Yes, we can do it. If we give more importance to our right of suffrage and keep our dignities intact, considering that our right is sacred and priceless, then we can stop now selling our votes. Accepting money from any politician or candidate during elections-that is three, two or one day before voting time, means that you are selling your vote and you lose half of your dignity as a voter.
Do you not know that politicians who have spend millions and millions of money during elections to buy votes are not happy after all? Let us pity and be kind to the politicians.Yes, let us pity and be kind to them, also. Much more let us pity and be kind to ourselves, too. They are only force to do it because they want to win in the elections. They want to serve the Filipino people for some purpose that they themselves know, coupled with personal interest of course, which is but natural for every person in any kind of endeavour.They want to build names for themselves to be remember well after their passing by the following generations. We only hope that they choose to build good names rather than bad names that can reap for themselves curses instead of blessings. We also hope that trustworthy service to the nation is the topmost part of their intentions and priorities in seeking for elective positions in the Government.
But this kind of business activity (vote buying and vote selling) between the politicians and the voters are both bad and deplorable. If we really need real change, genuine change, let us discourage the politicians to buy our votes. What is three or four days pleasure and enjoyment after casting your votes? This is just short term and temporary relief but not a solution to our poverty and the ills of our society as a whole. It is quite enough that some of us can approach some incumbent politicians who are kind and generous and have granted our requests for financial assistance for our hospitalization problems, and in some occasions, to buy medicines we badly needed. We should not add burden to them anymore by allowing them to spend millions and millions of pesos to buy our votes during election time. This is a bad habit and should be eradicated now in our system and character as a people. Enough is enough .If they have good track records /good performances during their office tenures and they would run for re-elections, then we should re-elect them.. It is much better, appreciable and meaningful if the millions and millions of money spent by the politicians to buy votes during election time will be used instead to buy plenty of the most needed medicines for our hospitals nationwide so that all confined patients, particularly the indigents and the admitted PhilHealth and non-PhilHealth members, including us (in case we get sick), can be provided with the intended prescribed medicines for theirs and our sicknesses and diseases. We should stop selling our votes now starting the next election of 2013.We must do it now. And we can if we will. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Provl Govt. To Construct P380M Provl Hospital In Dungon
June 15,2010
Provincial Government To Construct P380M Prov’l Hospital In Dungon
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The Provincial Govt. of Southern Leyte thru the initiative of incumbent second-termer Governor Damian Mercado will construct in a one hectare lot, with additional financial assistance from Congressman Roger Mercado, a new P380M provincial hospital in brgy. Dungon here.Brgy. Dungon is less than 15 minutes drive by a four-wheel vehicle from the city proper.
This was revealed by the Provincial Administrator Crispin Arong,Jr. in an interview recently.
He disclosed that the use of the one hectare lot intended for the new provincial hospital has ample spaces for parking lot and for further expansion of other additional infrastructures when there’s the urgency. This is in contrast to the old provincial hospital in brgy, Manahan where any expansion of infrastructure would be difficult to achieve because it is constructed near a hill and houses.
He said that the provincial government has purchased 3.6 hectares worth P10M from the V&G Housing Corporation whose interest for the proposed housing units Subdivision in brgy.Dungon was aborted due to the previous economic slump when buying of real estate properties have lulled.
Arong said that the contractor of the project has now started to fence the lot and digging of holes will follow for the building’s foundations.
He said the project’s construction has two phases. Phase one work has a budget of P100M for the first floor with ward rooms. Phase two with a budget of P280M which is the second floor of the new hospital will house the allied health services, administrative offices and additional wards that can accommodate from 150 to 200 beds in its totality.
The Provincial Administrator said the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) has already submitted the plan to the Department of Health regional Office.However, the health office was asking for the blueprint of the 2 separate buildings for the laundry and the motor pool.
He said approximately a few days after IPHO could submit the other requirements, it would take less than a week to approve and grant them the permit to start constructing the new two-storey edifice.
He said that part of the budget was set aside for the Provincial Engineers Office personnel who will supervise and monitor the project’s construction until its completion.
Although he could not tell exactly how many months or years would it take to finish the construction of the new provincial hospital, he said. But once the entire construction of the two-storey building would be finished, some operating room’s equipments at the old ones would be transferred to Dungon.
He pointed out the provincial government want the tertiary level 2 hospital to reach level 3 by providing improved health services to the public in the near future .He implied that they shall also be hiring additional doctors who could help realized their goals and expectations to man the new provincial hospital.
He said the provincial government shall also be buying new medical equipments and will provide training for personnel to make them knowledgeable and competent in handling the equipments.
He emphasized that the old hospital will remain operational for patients of minor cases but major cases would be referred to the new provincial hospital which was located along the road.
Furthermore, he said that the remaining 2.6 hectares vacant lot are reserved for whatever projects the provincial government intends to do in the future.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Provincial Government To Construct P380M Prov’l Hospital In Dungon
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The Provincial Govt. of Southern Leyte thru the initiative of incumbent second-termer Governor Damian Mercado will construct in a one hectare lot, with additional financial assistance from Congressman Roger Mercado, a new P380M provincial hospital in brgy. Dungon here.Brgy. Dungon is less than 15 minutes drive by a four-wheel vehicle from the city proper.
This was revealed by the Provincial Administrator Crispin Arong,Jr. in an interview recently.
He disclosed that the use of the one hectare lot intended for the new provincial hospital has ample spaces for parking lot and for further expansion of other additional infrastructures when there’s the urgency. This is in contrast to the old provincial hospital in brgy, Manahan where any expansion of infrastructure would be difficult to achieve because it is constructed near a hill and houses.
He said that the provincial government has purchased 3.6 hectares worth P10M from the V&G Housing Corporation whose interest for the proposed housing units Subdivision in brgy.Dungon was aborted due to the previous economic slump when buying of real estate properties have lulled.
Arong said that the contractor of the project has now started to fence the lot and digging of holes will follow for the building’s foundations.
He said the project’s construction has two phases. Phase one work has a budget of P100M for the first floor with ward rooms. Phase two with a budget of P280M which is the second floor of the new hospital will house the allied health services, administrative offices and additional wards that can accommodate from 150 to 200 beds in its totality.
The Provincial Administrator said the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) has already submitted the plan to the Department of Health regional Office.However, the health office was asking for the blueprint of the 2 separate buildings for the laundry and the motor pool.
He said approximately a few days after IPHO could submit the other requirements, it would take less than a week to approve and grant them the permit to start constructing the new two-storey edifice.
He said that part of the budget was set aside for the Provincial Engineers Office personnel who will supervise and monitor the project’s construction until its completion.
Although he could not tell exactly how many months or years would it take to finish the construction of the new provincial hospital, he said. But once the entire construction of the two-storey building would be finished, some operating room’s equipments at the old ones would be transferred to Dungon.
He pointed out the provincial government want the tertiary level 2 hospital to reach level 3 by providing improved health services to the public in the near future .He implied that they shall also be hiring additional doctors who could help realized their goals and expectations to man the new provincial hospital.
He said the provincial government shall also be buying new medical equipments and will provide training for personnel to make them knowledgeable and competent in handling the equipments.
He emphasized that the old hospital will remain operational for patients of minor cases but major cases would be referred to the new provincial hospital which was located along the road.
Furthermore, he said that the remaining 2.6 hectares vacant lot are reserved for whatever projects the provincial government intends to do in the future.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Viper FM:An Alternative Music Station
June 15,2010
Viper FM: An Alternative Music Station
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A new franchised FM station has formally opened in barangay Ichon, Macrohon of this province sometime in March 2010 that will cater to some radio listeners’ entertainment needs of various songs and music. Brgy. Ichon is 6 kilometers away from Maasin’s city proper.
Before it was formally launched, it underwent a series of test broadcasts for several months last year 2009. Later on, an official of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) visited the place and inspected its facilities inside the Saludo Ice Plant compound. It passed the necessary requirements to operate on air.
It has a 135 feet tall steel transmitter erected atop a hill, a walking distance from the station. “Height is might”, owner/Manager Chito Saludo said.”It means that the transmitter has a great advantage of reaching farther places than if a transmitter was erected on the low ground.A transmitter of similar height constructed on a high hill with a 1,000 watts power can be compared to more or less 3,000 watts transmitter’s power by nearest estimate.”
The alternative music station dubbed as Viper FM on 106.1 MHz has a capacity of releasing a maximum of 5,000 watts power, revealed Saludo during our casual conversation. However, it needs to be replaced some of its paraphernalia and wires with modern state-of-the-art equipments to sustain such higher watts operation.
The owner further disclosed that at a time they released power of 1,900 watts, it reached the municipality of Hinunangan (about 6 hours travel by passenger bus from Maasin), the second to the last town under the jurisdiction of Southern Leyte. The last town is Silago, which is 18 kilometers away from Hinunangan.He said he received this information when he visited the place during the campaign sorties of his father, former Congressman Anecito G. Saludo, Sr., who ran again for the same position. Nevertheless, he loss to re-electionist Congressman Roger G. Mercado during the recently concluded first automation polls of May 10, 2010 national and local elections.
When asked for more details about his newly-opened FM station, Chito said he cannot yet tell me about other details since they were not yet in a regular programming.”Changes shall be made in the near future. We are still in the first phase of our operation”, he said.
While majority of FM stations in the Visayas and Mindanao with regular programming have their station IDs plugged every 10 or 15 minutes interval, Viper FM’s long hours full of various songs would only be interrupted with its station ID insertions only on measly occasions. Like:”This is Viper FM, Southern Leyte’s all hits music station”. The voice comes from an American national that Chito had tapped.
The music station dished out a wide variety of tunes, a wide variety of songs either in English or in Tagalog. Cebuano/Visayan songs from Max Surban and Yoyoy Villame are featured only during Sundays. The FM management can also consider playing the original song renditions and adaptation songs of Nora Hermosa,Taks Huguete dubbed as “the Crystal Voice of Cebu”, Jaime Salazar, Ben Zubiri,Al Commendador,Pauline Sevilla,Sergs De La Peña,Pelita Corrales, Carmen Camacho,Tres Rosas,Dos Compadres,Mabuhay Singers and the new breed of popular Cebuano singers. Susan Fuentes’ songs are mostly “copies” from that of Nora Hermosa’s original song renditions.
Currently, Saludo did not tell me how many watts power is he releasing regularly everyday. As revealed to me by the owner/Manager himself, the music station can be heard in the neighboring towns of the province and places like Limasawa Island, Camiguin Island, Surigao, Bohol and perhaps in some areas of Misamis Oriental. If you are a music lover who wants to listen to various sounds on the airwaves-from vocals to instrumentals-try including Viper FM in your list of music stations, aside from your other favorite FMs.
Other singers and bands whose songs were yesteryears favorites are also worthy of inclusion for Viper FM’s repertoire of songs and that of other FM stations in the Visayas, Mindanao and Luzon and music like: The Platters, Chubby Checker, Freddie Fender, Dusty Springfield,Lulu,Jerry Vale, Frank Sinatra, Matt Monroe, Patsy Cline, Johnny Nash, Julie Andrews, Johnny Mathis, Paul Anka,Niel Sedaka,Connie
Francis ,Timi Yuro,Brenda Lee, Anita Bryant, Elvis Presley, Nat King Cole, original English songs of Diomedes Maturan and Nora Aunor,Louie Levant(real name Luis Relevante-A Filipino singer with an American diction),Eddie Peregrina,Teddy Randazoo,Victor Wood,Niel Diamond, Steve Lawrence, Andy Williams, Sammy Davies ,Jr.,Merci Molina,Efren Montes, Celia Black,Beatles,Herman’s Hermits, instrumental number of Chit Atkins, Dave Clark Five,The Searchers, Rolling Stones, Freddie and the Dreamers, Gerry and the Peacemakers, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Freddie Fender, Credence Clearwater Revival, Cliff Richard,Peter and Gordon,The Hollies,The Spiral Staircase,The Fabulous Echoes,The Stylistics, The Beach Boys,TheAnimals,The Monkees,The Turtles, Johnny Tilotsson, The Reycard Duet, Bobby Gonzales, among others.Their songs can be suitably played side by side with the new songs because many young music lovers also like to listen to the popular songs of the past/yesteryears. In order that each of the abovementioned soloists’ and bands’numerous songs can be played on equal footing in the airlanes,a scheduled round-robin fashion should be regularly applied for more musical enjoyment among radio listeners in the Visayas and Mindanao areas.
For Tagalog songs: Cenon Lagman,Ric Manrique,Sylvia de la Torre, Ruben Tagalog,Pelita Corrales,Rico Puno, among other popular Tagalog singers in the past whose songs are still worthy of playing again and again on the airwaves together with the new Tagalog songs.
WE hope that a musically-inclined businessman in Maasin who has the means will buy a franchise for high-powered FM station that will provide music lovers with a wide variety of songs and music different from that of Viper FM’s so that we can switch from one music station to another for more musical entertainment.
At present there is not a single music station yet in this near 10-year-old Maasin City, except a sole AM radio owned by the Diocese of Maasin.
If we can have an FM station in Maasin that will initiate the playing of Cebuano/Visayan songs side by side with English and Tagalog,it could be a first and a much-needed start of a radical change from the discriminatory traditional musical programming done by majority of the FM stations in the Visayas and Mindanao. Playing Cebuano/Visayan songs side by side with English and Tagalog during daytime and night time musical programming should be the overall format that is a “must” for adoption by all music stations in the Visayas and Mindanao. For Luzon Island, where other major languages have also existed, playing of Bicolano songs, Ilocano, Pampanggo, Pangasinan songs or others songs, side by side with English and Tagalog must also be adopted as a sign of equality and fairness in the treatment of various song compositions from various predominant languages in the country.
Rejecting the playing of other songs of the predominant languages in the Philippines’ archipelago side by side with English and Tagalog songs during the entire musical programming, and relegating it to playing only on Saturdays or Sundays, or as opening sign on program of a music station, means that our disc jockeys still lack the respect and equality of treating other local songs with fairness. If they are promoting the English and Tagalog songs in music stations where they are working by playing it always on the airlanes, why can’t they not do it with their very own local songs? If they like English and Tagalog songs, why is it that they cannot like or love their very own local song compositions? If disc jockeys really Love their respective Mother Tongues’ songs, they should play it side by side with English and Tagalog songs on a regular basis. Playing it always on the airlanes during musical programming is the only way that our people will learn to appreciate and love our respective songs written in our various Mother Tongues of the country. This system or policy will also encourage our respective composers from different Mother Tongues to compose more and more songs with meaningful lyrics, melodious and beautiful tunes.
Again, we hope that our disc jockeys in the Visayas,Mindanao and in Luzon will come to realize now that if they are promoting English and Tagalog songs by playing it always on the airlanes,the more they must also equally promote the songs of their respective Mother Tongues(Cebuano,Hilligaynon,Waray-Waray,Bicolano,Ilocano,Pampanggo,Pangasinan,other songs of other Mother Tongues) by playing it side by side with English and Tagalog in equal footing during daytime and night time musical programming.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Viper FM: An Alternative Music Station
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A new franchised FM station has formally opened in barangay Ichon, Macrohon of this province sometime in March 2010 that will cater to some radio listeners’ entertainment needs of various songs and music. Brgy. Ichon is 6 kilometers away from Maasin’s city proper.
Before it was formally launched, it underwent a series of test broadcasts for several months last year 2009. Later on, an official of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) visited the place and inspected its facilities inside the Saludo Ice Plant compound. It passed the necessary requirements to operate on air.
It has a 135 feet tall steel transmitter erected atop a hill, a walking distance from the station. “Height is might”, owner/Manager Chito Saludo said.”It means that the transmitter has a great advantage of reaching farther places than if a transmitter was erected on the low ground.A transmitter of similar height constructed on a high hill with a 1,000 watts power can be compared to more or less 3,000 watts transmitter’s power by nearest estimate.”
The alternative music station dubbed as Viper FM on 106.1 MHz has a capacity of releasing a maximum of 5,000 watts power, revealed Saludo during our casual conversation. However, it needs to be replaced some of its paraphernalia and wires with modern state-of-the-art equipments to sustain such higher watts operation.
The owner further disclosed that at a time they released power of 1,900 watts, it reached the municipality of Hinunangan (about 6 hours travel by passenger bus from Maasin), the second to the last town under the jurisdiction of Southern Leyte. The last town is Silago, which is 18 kilometers away from Hinunangan.He said he received this information when he visited the place during the campaign sorties of his father, former Congressman Anecito G. Saludo, Sr., who ran again for the same position. Nevertheless, he loss to re-electionist Congressman Roger G. Mercado during the recently concluded first automation polls of May 10, 2010 national and local elections.
When asked for more details about his newly-opened FM station, Chito said he cannot yet tell me about other details since they were not yet in a regular programming.”Changes shall be made in the near future. We are still in the first phase of our operation”, he said.
While majority of FM stations in the Visayas and Mindanao with regular programming have their station IDs plugged every 10 or 15 minutes interval, Viper FM’s long hours full of various songs would only be interrupted with its station ID insertions only on measly occasions. Like:”This is Viper FM, Southern Leyte’s all hits music station”. The voice comes from an American national that Chito had tapped.
The music station dished out a wide variety of tunes, a wide variety of songs either in English or in Tagalog. Cebuano/Visayan songs from Max Surban and Yoyoy Villame are featured only during Sundays. The FM management can also consider playing the original song renditions and adaptation songs of Nora Hermosa,Taks Huguete dubbed as “the Crystal Voice of Cebu”, Jaime Salazar, Ben Zubiri,Al Commendador,Pauline Sevilla,Sergs De La Peña,Pelita Corrales, Carmen Camacho,Tres Rosas,Dos Compadres,Mabuhay Singers and the new breed of popular Cebuano singers. Susan Fuentes’ songs are mostly “copies” from that of Nora Hermosa’s original song renditions.
Currently, Saludo did not tell me how many watts power is he releasing regularly everyday. As revealed to me by the owner/Manager himself, the music station can be heard in the neighboring towns of the province and places like Limasawa Island, Camiguin Island, Surigao, Bohol and perhaps in some areas of Misamis Oriental. If you are a music lover who wants to listen to various sounds on the airwaves-from vocals to instrumentals-try including Viper FM in your list of music stations, aside from your other favorite FMs.
Other singers and bands whose songs were yesteryears favorites are also worthy of inclusion for Viper FM’s repertoire of songs and that of other FM stations in the Visayas, Mindanao and Luzon and music like: The Platters, Chubby Checker, Freddie Fender, Dusty Springfield,Lulu,Jerry Vale, Frank Sinatra, Matt Monroe, Patsy Cline, Johnny Nash, Julie Andrews, Johnny Mathis, Paul Anka,Niel Sedaka,Connie
Francis ,Timi Yuro,Brenda Lee, Anita Bryant, Elvis Presley, Nat King Cole, original English songs of Diomedes Maturan and Nora Aunor,Louie Levant(real name Luis Relevante-A Filipino singer with an American diction),Eddie Peregrina,Teddy Randazoo,Victor Wood,Niel Diamond, Steve Lawrence, Andy Williams, Sammy Davies ,Jr.,Merci Molina,Efren Montes, Celia Black,Beatles,Herman’s Hermits, instrumental number of Chit Atkins, Dave Clark Five,The Searchers, Rolling Stones, Freddie and the Dreamers, Gerry and the Peacemakers, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Freddie Fender, Credence Clearwater Revival, Cliff Richard,Peter and Gordon,The Hollies,The Spiral Staircase,The Fabulous Echoes,The Stylistics, The Beach Boys,TheAnimals,The Monkees,The Turtles, Johnny Tilotsson, The Reycard Duet, Bobby Gonzales, among others.Their songs can be suitably played side by side with the new songs because many young music lovers also like to listen to the popular songs of the past/yesteryears. In order that each of the abovementioned soloists’ and bands’numerous songs can be played on equal footing in the airlanes,a scheduled round-robin fashion should be regularly applied for more musical enjoyment among radio listeners in the Visayas and Mindanao areas.
For Tagalog songs: Cenon Lagman,Ric Manrique,Sylvia de la Torre, Ruben Tagalog,Pelita Corrales,Rico Puno, among other popular Tagalog singers in the past whose songs are still worthy of playing again and again on the airwaves together with the new Tagalog songs.
WE hope that a musically-inclined businessman in Maasin who has the means will buy a franchise for high-powered FM station that will provide music lovers with a wide variety of songs and music different from that of Viper FM’s so that we can switch from one music station to another for more musical entertainment.
At present there is not a single music station yet in this near 10-year-old Maasin City, except a sole AM radio owned by the Diocese of Maasin.
If we can have an FM station in Maasin that will initiate the playing of Cebuano/Visayan songs side by side with English and Tagalog,it could be a first and a much-needed start of a radical change from the discriminatory traditional musical programming done by majority of the FM stations in the Visayas and Mindanao. Playing Cebuano/Visayan songs side by side with English and Tagalog during daytime and night time musical programming should be the overall format that is a “must” for adoption by all music stations in the Visayas and Mindanao. For Luzon Island, where other major languages have also existed, playing of Bicolano songs, Ilocano, Pampanggo, Pangasinan songs or others songs, side by side with English and Tagalog must also be adopted as a sign of equality and fairness in the treatment of various song compositions from various predominant languages in the country.
Rejecting the playing of other songs of the predominant languages in the Philippines’ archipelago side by side with English and Tagalog songs during the entire musical programming, and relegating it to playing only on Saturdays or Sundays, or as opening sign on program of a music station, means that our disc jockeys still lack the respect and equality of treating other local songs with fairness. If they are promoting the English and Tagalog songs in music stations where they are working by playing it always on the airlanes, why can’t they not do it with their very own local songs? If they like English and Tagalog songs, why is it that they cannot like or love their very own local song compositions? If disc jockeys really Love their respective Mother Tongues’ songs, they should play it side by side with English and Tagalog songs on a regular basis. Playing it always on the airlanes during musical programming is the only way that our people will learn to appreciate and love our respective songs written in our various Mother Tongues of the country. This system or policy will also encourage our respective composers from different Mother Tongues to compose more and more songs with meaningful lyrics, melodious and beautiful tunes.
Again, we hope that our disc jockeys in the Visayas,Mindanao and in Luzon will come to realize now that if they are promoting English and Tagalog songs by playing it always on the airlanes,the more they must also equally promote the songs of their respective Mother Tongues(Cebuano,Hilligaynon,Waray-Waray,Bicolano,Ilocano,Pampanggo,Pangasinan,other songs of other Mother Tongues) by playing it side by side with English and Tagalog in equal footing during daytime and night time musical programming.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Lightning Burns P300,000.00 Worth Resthouse
June 15,2010
Lightning Burns P300, 00.00 Worth Resthouse
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A bursting-sounding lightning that roared the open sky and jolted sleeping people one gloomy early morning ,released a fireball that burnt a cogon-roofed resthouse as it passed by it before hitting a coconut tree nearby in brgy. Maria Clara here recently. The damage reached a total of P300, 000.00 including properties put inside the resthouse.
This was disclosed by a new Islam convert and Arson Investigator Achmad “Joel”Jarabe in an interview at the Maasin Fire Station.
Jarabe said that a certain Elementary school teacher by the name of Teresa Telen-Galos, 32 years old, married was the one who called up the fire station to inform about the incident.
He said that the three-bedroom resthouse, with dinning and kitchen burnt by the passing fireball, was owned by a certain Christopher Plateros whose permanent residence was in brgy. Tunga-Tunga.AT the time the house was burning, he said, they were not in the resthouse.They usually go there on weekends to relax and rest.
The Arson Investigator further informed that according to Maria Clara Chief Tanod Vicente Fernandez, he saw a fireball passing by atop the cogon-roofed resthouse then hit a coconut tree nearby.”Ang resthouse nasunog dayon paglabay sa bolang kalayo ibabaw sa atop ug mingkuyanap sa tibuok balay .Ang lubi nga naigo sa liti napikas sa tunga”, he said in Cebuano.(The resthouse after it caught fire was burned right away and it spreads quickly. And the coconut tree hit by the fireball was cut in half.)
Jarabe said that when they have arrived at the fire scene, the burning house could no longer be saved.”What we did instead was we aimed our hoses towards the nearby houses and sprayed it with voluminous water to prevent the fire from spreading”, he said.
Earlier in the morning prior to the incident, there were series of thunderstorms and lightnings that roared and jolted the heavens, somewhat creating a sense-surround effects before heavy rains have fallen.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Lightning Burns P300, 00.00 Worth Resthouse
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A bursting-sounding lightning that roared the open sky and jolted sleeping people one gloomy early morning ,released a fireball that burnt a cogon-roofed resthouse as it passed by it before hitting a coconut tree nearby in brgy. Maria Clara here recently. The damage reached a total of P300, 000.00 including properties put inside the resthouse.
This was disclosed by a new Islam convert and Arson Investigator Achmad “Joel”Jarabe in an interview at the Maasin Fire Station.
Jarabe said that a certain Elementary school teacher by the name of Teresa Telen-Galos, 32 years old, married was the one who called up the fire station to inform about the incident.
He said that the three-bedroom resthouse, with dinning and kitchen burnt by the passing fireball, was owned by a certain Christopher Plateros whose permanent residence was in brgy. Tunga-Tunga.AT the time the house was burning, he said, they were not in the resthouse.They usually go there on weekends to relax and rest.
The Arson Investigator further informed that according to Maria Clara Chief Tanod Vicente Fernandez, he saw a fireball passing by atop the cogon-roofed resthouse then hit a coconut tree nearby.”Ang resthouse nasunog dayon paglabay sa bolang kalayo ibabaw sa atop ug mingkuyanap sa tibuok balay .Ang lubi nga naigo sa liti napikas sa tunga”, he said in Cebuano.(The resthouse after it caught fire was burned right away and it spreads quickly. And the coconut tree hit by the fireball was cut in half.)
Jarabe said that when they have arrived at the fire scene, the burning house could no longer be saved.”What we did instead was we aimed our hoses towards the nearby houses and sprayed it with voluminous water to prevent the fire from spreading”, he said.
Earlier in the morning prior to the incident, there were series of thunderstorms and lightnings that roared and jolted the heavens, somewhat creating a sense-surround effects before heavy rains have fallen.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Friday, June 4, 2010
Former AFP-ISAF Member Shoot Dead By Unidentified Gunman
June 4,2010
Former AFP-ISAF Member Shoot Dead By Unidentified Gunman
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A former member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Intelligence Special Action Force(AFP-ISAF)was shoot dead at brgy .Tawid less than 10 kilometers away from here by an unidentified gunman on his way from Malitbog to Hilongos ,Leyte during the recent Tuesday.
The victim was indentified as Lito Cabasisi Figura, 41 years old, married and a resident of brgy.Binit, Malitbog of this province.
The victim’s wife Corazon Garces Figura, 48 years old, a secondary school teacher told Chief Investigator Rolando Mejares Paloma that she and her husband were riding on a single Kawasaki motorcycle. She said they were bound for Hilongos,Leyte .When they have reached brgy.Tawid after passing by Maasin,she said, she noticed that another blue-colored single motorcycle with two persons riding on was following them closely.
As they speed along the highway, the other single motorcycle likewise sped up until they were overtaken, she said. And the backrider started firing at her husband several times, hitting him in different parts of his body and died instantaneously, she told the police. Another police officer said that one of the bullets hit the victim’s head.
Earlier, a concerned citizen of the place called the Maasin Police Station to report the incident.Maasin new Chief of Police Hector Flores Enage, Chief Investigator Paloma and the responding police team rushed to the crime scene to investigate.
Discovered at the crime scene were 3 empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol. The wife informed police that she did not know personally the gunman. She described him as standing at 5 feet tall, medium built and was wearing a black jacket and a bull cap. After the shooting the overtaking motorcycle speed away.
The dead victim was later brought to St.Peter Funeral Homes in brgy. Pasay where its new office was located for embalmment. His remains were then brought by SPFH’s car to their residence in brgy. Binit, Malitbog.
The police investigator sad that the motive of the killing is unknown and they were still investigating the case.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Former AFP-ISAF Member Shoot Dead By Unidentified Gunman
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A former member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Intelligence Special Action Force(AFP-ISAF)was shoot dead at brgy .Tawid less than 10 kilometers away from here by an unidentified gunman on his way from Malitbog to Hilongos ,Leyte during the recent Tuesday.
The victim was indentified as Lito Cabasisi Figura, 41 years old, married and a resident of brgy.Binit, Malitbog of this province.
The victim’s wife Corazon Garces Figura, 48 years old, a secondary school teacher told Chief Investigator Rolando Mejares Paloma that she and her husband were riding on a single Kawasaki motorcycle. She said they were bound for Hilongos,Leyte .When they have reached brgy.Tawid after passing by Maasin,she said, she noticed that another blue-colored single motorcycle with two persons riding on was following them closely.
As they speed along the highway, the other single motorcycle likewise sped up until they were overtaken, she said. And the backrider started firing at her husband several times, hitting him in different parts of his body and died instantaneously, she told the police. Another police officer said that one of the bullets hit the victim’s head.
Earlier, a concerned citizen of the place called the Maasin Police Station to report the incident.Maasin new Chief of Police Hector Flores Enage, Chief Investigator Paloma and the responding police team rushed to the crime scene to investigate.
Discovered at the crime scene were 3 empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol. The wife informed police that she did not know personally the gunman. She described him as standing at 5 feet tall, medium built and was wearing a black jacket and a bull cap. After the shooting the overtaking motorcycle speed away.
The dead victim was later brought to St.Peter Funeral Homes in brgy. Pasay where its new office was located for embalmment. His remains were then brought by SPFH’s car to their residence in brgy. Binit, Malitbog.
The police investigator sad that the motive of the killing is unknown and they were still investigating the case.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Friday, January 29, 2010
JUnio Says Smarmatic Is Not Vulnerable To Election Stupidity
Jan.29,2010
Junio Says Smartmatic Is Not Vulnerable To Election Stupidity
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Is the common allegation, among some losing candidates during elections that fraud and cheating were allegedly committed, can totally be erased with the change in the voting system to computerization or automation? Can the claim Manila-programmed and configured computers that are going to be used in the upcoming national elections be tampered for re-programming and re-configuring by the computer experts in different places where elections are to be held under the alleged connivance in favor of any high ranking government officials who seek for re-elections?
Provincial assistance COMELEC officer Reuel Junio explained that the Smartmatic company has an independent connections not connected to any person or group with vested interest. “The computerization voting is not vulnerable to fraud and cheating since the computers to be used cannot be re-programmed or re-configured by just anybody who is skilled in computer operations”, he said.”Smartmatic will not gamble any kind of stupidity that will damage its reputation. The company whose main base is in Argentina has branches in Europe, Latin America, and USA that earns billions of dollars. It will not swap its good image to connive in committing fraud or cheating in the upcoming elections on May 10, 2010 by any re-electionist high ranking government official who has the clot with the current administration.”
He implied any aspiring candidate in the coming national elections either for president, senator, congressman or mayor should not imagine for themselves in fear or apprehension that fraud and cheating would be committed during the first ever held computer automation elections this coming May 10, 2010.
On the other hand, he said that the total number of voters in Maasin City alone at present, old and new, is 50,095 including new registrants.
He informed that the filing of certificates of candidacies has started November 20 and will end on Dec.1, 2009 at midnight.
He urged interesting and aspiring candidates for any government positions to file his/her certificate of candidacy as soon as possible. “They should not wait for the deadline when potential candidates would be crowding inside the COMELC offices”, he said.
Junio clarified that next year’s national elections cannot be postponed by any Congressional degree or resolution because the date itself in holding the scheduled elections is a constitutional mandate. “Only an amendment of the 1987 Constitution can change its schedule”, he said.
However, he pointed out that barangay elections are statutory and that its schedule can be changed if there’s a need for the postponement.
He further informed that next year’s national elections will involve the Presidency and its Vice, Senators, Congressmen, municipal and city Mayors.Barangay elections, on the other hand, has no schedule yet and its election schedule can be changed,Junio reiterated.
When asked about the total number of voters including the new registrants, he said that at present his office is still gathering some data send by election officers in different municipalities of the province. They are still in the process of consolidating all the data sent to them with only 2 municipalities that have not yet send their total voters list.
He said that most probably, the 2 municipalities which he did not mention its names will send theirs the following day or the next and that in less than 2 weeks time any media entity can get the total number of voters provincewide.”We have to re-check the data sent to us before releasing it to the media”, the assistant COMELEC officer said.
He added that COMELEC shall be sending its election results on May 10,2010 thru the telecom companies like Globe, Smart, Sun and the talk and text messages.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Junio Says Smartmatic Is Not Vulnerable To Election Stupidity
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Is the common allegation, among some losing candidates during elections that fraud and cheating were allegedly committed, can totally be erased with the change in the voting system to computerization or automation? Can the claim Manila-programmed and configured computers that are going to be used in the upcoming national elections be tampered for re-programming and re-configuring by the computer experts in different places where elections are to be held under the alleged connivance in favor of any high ranking government officials who seek for re-elections?
Provincial assistance COMELEC officer Reuel Junio explained that the Smartmatic company has an independent connections not connected to any person or group with vested interest. “The computerization voting is not vulnerable to fraud and cheating since the computers to be used cannot be re-programmed or re-configured by just anybody who is skilled in computer operations”, he said.”Smartmatic will not gamble any kind of stupidity that will damage its reputation. The company whose main base is in Argentina has branches in Europe, Latin America, and USA that earns billions of dollars. It will not swap its good image to connive in committing fraud or cheating in the upcoming elections on May 10, 2010 by any re-electionist high ranking government official who has the clot with the current administration.”
He implied any aspiring candidate in the coming national elections either for president, senator, congressman or mayor should not imagine for themselves in fear or apprehension that fraud and cheating would be committed during the first ever held computer automation elections this coming May 10, 2010.
On the other hand, he said that the total number of voters in Maasin City alone at present, old and new, is 50,095 including new registrants.
He informed that the filing of certificates of candidacies has started November 20 and will end on Dec.1, 2009 at midnight.
He urged interesting and aspiring candidates for any government positions to file his/her certificate of candidacy as soon as possible. “They should not wait for the deadline when potential candidates would be crowding inside the COMELC offices”, he said.
Junio clarified that next year’s national elections cannot be postponed by any Congressional degree or resolution because the date itself in holding the scheduled elections is a constitutional mandate. “Only an amendment of the 1987 Constitution can change its schedule”, he said.
However, he pointed out that barangay elections are statutory and that its schedule can be changed if there’s a need for the postponement.
He further informed that next year’s national elections will involve the Presidency and its Vice, Senators, Congressmen, municipal and city Mayors.Barangay elections, on the other hand, has no schedule yet and its election schedule can be changed,Junio reiterated.
When asked about the total number of voters including the new registrants, he said that at present his office is still gathering some data send by election officers in different municipalities of the province. They are still in the process of consolidating all the data sent to them with only 2 municipalities that have not yet send their total voters list.
He said that most probably, the 2 municipalities which he did not mention its names will send theirs the following day or the next and that in less than 2 weeks time any media entity can get the total number of voters provincewide.”We have to re-check the data sent to us before releasing it to the media”, the assistant COMELEC officer said.
He added that COMELEC shall be sending its election results on May 10,2010 thru the telecom companies like Globe, Smart, Sun and the talk and text messages.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Fourty Five Candidates File Their CoCs
Jan. 29,2010
Fourty Five Candidates File CoCs
Vice Mayor Effie Abiera Running Unopposed
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-As the deadline for the filing of Certificates of Candidacies has drawn to a close on December 2, 2009 the lists of aspiring candidates comprising the re-electionists in the province and in the capital city has revealed that re-electionist Vice-Mayor Effie Lamoste Abiera is running unopposed. She is the daughter of naturalist-artist Salvador “Boy” Abiera, the undefeated third termer councilor who is also an architect by profession.
Early filers at the COMELEC provincial office were: first-Board Member aspirant Gaspar V. Tagalo on Nov. 25,2009;second-re-electionist Congressman Roger G. Mercado on Nov. 28,2009 and the third-Congressional aspirant Jeffrey J. Roden on Nov. 30,2009.
A total of 45 candidates composing the re-electionists and newcomers in the provincial and city positions have flocked to the 2 COMELEC offices here in various hours of arrival since the filing of CoCs has started.
In the provincial level there are a total of 23 candidates. Four for the provincial position of a representative including re-electionist Roger G. Mercado (LAKAS).The 3 others are: Aniceto G. Saludo,Jr,(Puersa Ng Masang Pilipino); Jeffrey J.Roden(Independent); Vicente A. Geraldo(Independent).
Three are running for the position of Governor including the re-electionist Damian G. Mercado.1)Marisa Y. Lerias(National Peoples Coalition); 2)Jerome J. Roden(Independent).
For Vice-Governor:1)re-electionist Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo,11(LAKAS);2)Reuel V.Dumancas(Independent).
There are 6 re-electionists for SP members all from LAKAS and 9 newcomers for the same position constituting various party affiliations like the LAKAS, Independent, NPC and PMP.
Here in this new small city, LAKAS re-electionist, Mayor Maloney Samaco has an opposition in the person of former third-termer Governor Rosette Yñiguez Lerias of the National Peoples Coalition.
There are 8 re-electionists for the City Councilors and a newcomer Romeo R. Geniston joining the LAKAS group.
However, there are 10 newcomers under the National Peoples Coalition vying for the position of City Councilors. There are also 2 other Independent candidates running for the same position.
In an interview with Election Officer 2 Lawrence Irman Gelsano he said that submission of programs of government or their reforms or platforms of government is not required from among the aspiring candidates who filled up their CoCs for the coming May 10,2010 elections.
“Programs of government or reforms of each candidates running for any position in the government is not required”, he said, “It’s up to them to formulate their respective agenda or reforms during their campaign period”
Regarding the limitations of funds for expenditures during the election campaign among the aspiring candidate he said there’s no resolution yet send by the COMELEC Manila office.
Gelsano said that if they will receive a COMELEC resolution about the limiting of funds for the campaign sorties they will inform all the qualified candidates.
He said resolution on the limitation of campaign funds will also be published in several national newspapers, including the radio and TV stations before the start of the campaign period.
The Election Officer further informed that the start for the campaign period for the national elections is on Feb. 9 up to May 8, 2010. While for the local elections is on March 26 up to May 8, 2010.
Moreover, Provincial Assistant Election Officer Reuel Junio divulged that there are a total of 247,598 voters (old and new) in the entire province of Southern Leyte.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Fourty Five Candidates File CoCs
Vice Mayor Effie Abiera Running Unopposed
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-As the deadline for the filing of Certificates of Candidacies has drawn to a close on December 2, 2009 the lists of aspiring candidates comprising the re-electionists in the province and in the capital city has revealed that re-electionist Vice-Mayor Effie Lamoste Abiera is running unopposed. She is the daughter of naturalist-artist Salvador “Boy” Abiera, the undefeated third termer councilor who is also an architect by profession.
Early filers at the COMELEC provincial office were: first-Board Member aspirant Gaspar V. Tagalo on Nov. 25,2009;second-re-electionist Congressman Roger G. Mercado on Nov. 28,2009 and the third-Congressional aspirant Jeffrey J. Roden on Nov. 30,2009.
A total of 45 candidates composing the re-electionists and newcomers in the provincial and city positions have flocked to the 2 COMELEC offices here in various hours of arrival since the filing of CoCs has started.
In the provincial level there are a total of 23 candidates. Four for the provincial position of a representative including re-electionist Roger G. Mercado (LAKAS).The 3 others are: Aniceto G. Saludo,Jr,(Puersa Ng Masang Pilipino); Jeffrey J.Roden(Independent); Vicente A. Geraldo(Independent).
Three are running for the position of Governor including the re-electionist Damian G. Mercado.1)Marisa Y. Lerias(National Peoples Coalition); 2)Jerome J. Roden(Independent).
For Vice-Governor:1)re-electionist Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo,11(LAKAS);2)Reuel V.Dumancas(Independent).
There are 6 re-electionists for SP members all from LAKAS and 9 newcomers for the same position constituting various party affiliations like the LAKAS, Independent, NPC and PMP.
Here in this new small city, LAKAS re-electionist, Mayor Maloney Samaco has an opposition in the person of former third-termer Governor Rosette Yñiguez Lerias of the National Peoples Coalition.
There are 8 re-electionists for the City Councilors and a newcomer Romeo R. Geniston joining the LAKAS group.
However, there are 10 newcomers under the National Peoples Coalition vying for the position of City Councilors. There are also 2 other Independent candidates running for the same position.
In an interview with Election Officer 2 Lawrence Irman Gelsano he said that submission of programs of government or their reforms or platforms of government is not required from among the aspiring candidates who filled up their CoCs for the coming May 10,2010 elections.
“Programs of government or reforms of each candidates running for any position in the government is not required”, he said, “It’s up to them to formulate their respective agenda or reforms during their campaign period”
Regarding the limitations of funds for expenditures during the election campaign among the aspiring candidate he said there’s no resolution yet send by the COMELEC Manila office.
Gelsano said that if they will receive a COMELEC resolution about the limiting of funds for the campaign sorties they will inform all the qualified candidates.
He said resolution on the limitation of campaign funds will also be published in several national newspapers, including the radio and TV stations before the start of the campaign period.
The Election Officer further informed that the start for the campaign period for the national elections is on Feb. 9 up to May 8, 2010. While for the local elections is on March 26 up to May 8, 2010.
Moreover, Provincial Assistant Election Officer Reuel Junio divulged that there are a total of 247,598 voters (old and new) in the entire province of Southern Leyte.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
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