Province of Siquijor--The island province of Siquijor marked its 39th founding anniversary in a weeklong celebration filled with cultural events from September 14-17.
The province became independent on September 17, 1971 when it was separated from Negros Oriental by virtue of Republic Act No. 6396.
The founding day also served as the launch of the provincewide festival called “Pasiugda Siquijodnon” which retraces the rich and undiscovered culture of Siquijor.
The gathering also featured the municipal festivities such as San Juan’s Bugwas, Lazi’s Saging, Maria’s Lubi, Enrique Villanueva’s Pamukad, Larena's Canoan and Siquijor town’s Dilaab, as well as the traditional marriage ritual called Solili Festival.
Provincial Governor Orlando Fua Jr said the celebration is the best time to showcase the province’s heritage, natural wonders and the innate hospitality of the townsfolk.
Other activities include sports tournaments, an agro-industrial trade fairs, beauty pageant and various socio-civic events.
An emerging tourist hotspot in Central Visayas, the province boasts of a wide array of fine sand beaches and clear water in Salagdoong, Kagusuan, Candanay Sur and Dumanjug, Tubod, Solangon and Paliton.
Its natural attractions include Mount Bandilaan Nature Park, Cambugahay Falls, and Cantabon Cave.
Because of its lush underwater life, Siquijor was declared a marine reserve in 1978, with Tulapos Marine Sanctuary and Guiwanon Spring Park as showpieces of diverse aquatic life.
Its iconic historic spot is San Isidro Convent in Lazi town, reputed to be the biggest and one of the oldest in the country which also houses the Siquijor Heritage Museum. Across it is the San Isidro Labrador Church, built in 1884 in coral stone, which was named by the government as a National Cultural Treasure and among the country’s most outstanding heritage churches.
Other picturesque centenarian religious edifices are the churches of Maria, San Juan, Siquijor and the bell tower of St. Vincent Ferrer in Larena.
The province is also noted for its folk healers or “bolo bolo” which use natural and herbal medicines.
With only a land area of 343.5 square kilometer and 102- kilometer coastline, Siquijor is the country’s third smallest province. It can be reached via Dumaguete City where guests board a one-hour fast craft ride to Siquijor port.
For details, call the Provincial Tourism Office at (035) 344-2088 or 0905-3430176. (PIA/Rizalie Calibo)
Thursday, September 30, 2010
GSP NegOr-Siquijor concludes 28th encampment; marks 60th anniversary
(Dumaguete City, October 1, 2010) --- The Girl Scouts of the Philippines Negros Oriental-Siquijor Council recently concluded its 28th Encampment held from September 23 to 26 at Camp Lily Gamo, Sibulan, this province.
Around 1,775 girl scouts from Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces participated in the encampment which bannered the theme “Girls Worldwide Say, Empowering Girls Will Change the World.”
GSP local Council Executive Officer Rosario Rosales explained that the encampment theme’s message stressed that the change will start within the girl. “You cannot expect the world to change if you yourself cannot change,” she said.
Rosales said the camp aims to empower girls “so that they will start the change and another thing is, the youth, is easy to mold and nurture.”
The encampment was highlighted by the launching of the 60th anniversary of the council marked by the girl scouts forming the number 60 as they marched.
The GSP local council was chartered on February 21, 1951 under its first council president, Mrs. Genoveva Bernardez.
The council’s current president is Dr. Profetiza S. Lim.
Rosales said the four sub-camps were named after the four world centers of the World Association of Girl Guide and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), namely: Cabaña (Mexico), Shalet(Switzerland), Sanggam(India), and Pax Lodge (London) which held their act of commitment and were in line with the number 60.
She added that their programs are geared to make girl scouts follow what is in the mission-vision statement of the organization as she pointed it out one after the other: “patriotic, pro-active, dynamic, and God loving.”
In assessing the camp’s outcome, Rosales described it as “very successful, memorable and fruitful as the scout did not only learn about leadership but also with enhancing their potentials like in the side of arts and crafts from the camp.” (PIA/Klein Emperado for PIA Negros Oriental)
Around 1,775 girl scouts from Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces participated in the encampment which bannered the theme “Girls Worldwide Say, Empowering Girls Will Change the World.”
GSP local Council Executive Officer Rosario Rosales explained that the encampment theme’s message stressed that the change will start within the girl. “You cannot expect the world to change if you yourself cannot change,” she said.
Rosales said the camp aims to empower girls “so that they will start the change and another thing is, the youth, is easy to mold and nurture.”
The encampment was highlighted by the launching of the 60th anniversary of the council marked by the girl scouts forming the number 60 as they marched.
The GSP local council was chartered on February 21, 1951 under its first council president, Mrs. Genoveva Bernardez.
The council’s current president is Dr. Profetiza S. Lim.
Rosales said the four sub-camps were named after the four world centers of the World Association of Girl Guide and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), namely: Cabaña (Mexico), Shalet(Switzerland), Sanggam(India), and Pax Lodge (London) which held their act of commitment and were in line with the number 60.
She added that their programs are geared to make girl scouts follow what is in the mission-vision statement of the organization as she pointed it out one after the other: “patriotic, pro-active, dynamic, and God loving.”
In assessing the camp’s outcome, Rosales described it as “very successful, memorable and fruitful as the scout did not only learn about leadership but also with enhancing their potentials like in the side of arts and crafts from the camp.” (PIA/Klein Emperado for PIA Negros Oriental)
EDC allocates clean, affordable power to 3 Visayas provinces
(Dumaguete City, October 1, 2010) --- Three provinces in Visayas will benefit from clean and affordable power for the next 12 years after Green Core Geothermal, Inc. (GCGI), a subsidiary of Energy Development Corporation (EDC), signed a contract with three electric cooperatives.
GCGI assured clean and affordable power for the provinces Capiz, Iloilo and Aklan after it signed a contract with the Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO I), Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO) and Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO) guaranteeing both its residential and industrial of long-term power supply.
Based on the contracts, GCGI will supply AKELCO with 18 MW for 2010 and 10 MW from 2011 to 2020, while ILECO I is assured of 3 MW from 2010 to 2012 and 18 MW from 2012 to 2022.
Meanwhile, CAPELCO will get 12 MW for the next 10 years.
According to a statement from GCGI, the power will come from the 112.5MW Tongonan 1 in Leyte and 192.5-MW Palinpinon plants in Negros Oriental which GCGI won in a bidding by PSALM last year.
Officials from the three electric cooperatives reportedly agree that geothermal is the best option for them.
“We’re very happy with this deal primarily because of the low rates of geothermal compared with other sources. It’s good that we get 70 percent of our supply from GCGI’s geothermal plants and only 30 percent from more expensive sources. We are able to provide both our residential and industrial customers with clean, stable and affordable power,” CAPELCO general manager Edgar Diaz said.
ILECO 1 General Manager Wilfred Billena, on the other hand, is confident that the contracts “will also result in lower power rates for us in Iloilo.”
EDC President and Chief Operating Officer Richard Tantoco explained that the pricing of indigenous renewable energy resource such as geothermal in not only independent of any indexation to movements in global energy indices but is also VAT zero rated.
Tantoco said EDC’s long-term contracts with said cooperatives will support the growth needs of the respective provinces and their customers with clean, reliable and affordable power.
“Since the industry is leaning more towards clean energy, EDC, with its 34-year head start in the geothermal business, is well positioned to address the supply shortage in the Visayas grid,” Tantoco said. (PIA/Rachelle Nessia)
GCGI assured clean and affordable power for the provinces Capiz, Iloilo and Aklan after it signed a contract with the Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO I), Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO) and Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO) guaranteeing both its residential and industrial of long-term power supply.
Based on the contracts, GCGI will supply AKELCO with 18 MW for 2010 and 10 MW from 2011 to 2020, while ILECO I is assured of 3 MW from 2010 to 2012 and 18 MW from 2012 to 2022.
Meanwhile, CAPELCO will get 12 MW for the next 10 years.
According to a statement from GCGI, the power will come from the 112.5MW Tongonan 1 in Leyte and 192.5-MW Palinpinon plants in Negros Oriental which GCGI won in a bidding by PSALM last year.
Officials from the three electric cooperatives reportedly agree that geothermal is the best option for them.
“We’re very happy with this deal primarily because of the low rates of geothermal compared with other sources. It’s good that we get 70 percent of our supply from GCGI’s geothermal plants and only 30 percent from more expensive sources. We are able to provide both our residential and industrial customers with clean, stable and affordable power,” CAPELCO general manager Edgar Diaz said.
ILECO 1 General Manager Wilfred Billena, on the other hand, is confident that the contracts “will also result in lower power rates for us in Iloilo.”
EDC President and Chief Operating Officer Richard Tantoco explained that the pricing of indigenous renewable energy resource such as geothermal in not only independent of any indexation to movements in global energy indices but is also VAT zero rated.
Tantoco said EDC’s long-term contracts with said cooperatives will support the growth needs of the respective provinces and their customers with clean, reliable and affordable power.
“Since the industry is leaning more towards clean energy, EDC, with its 34-year head start in the geothermal business, is well positioned to address the supply shortage in the Visayas grid,” Tantoco said. (PIA/Rachelle Nessia)
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
TOPWD search is on
(Dumaguete City, September 29, 2010) -- The Great Physician Rehabilitation Center Foundation, Inc. (GPRehab) in partnership with the province of Negros Oriental has now opened the 2nd search for the Ten Outstanding Persons with Disabilities (TOPWD) of Negros Oriental this year.
In a meeting of the Provincial Council on Disability Affairs (PCDA) recently GPRehab enjoined the local government units (LGUs) through the social welfare officers to nominate a maximum of three PWDs to represent their respective area. The nominee must be at least 21years old at the time of nomination.
The search is in recognition of PWDs’ talents beyond their disabilities that created various impacts in their respective communities.
According to Advocacy Coordinator of GPRehab Rolando Villamero Jr. the PWDs will be chosen base on some factors on good moral values, community involvement, leadership skills and personal excellence.
Villamero said this annual search also seeks to affirm PWDs who have made a significant difference in the province as well as empower all PWDs to do their part in effecting positive change in the community, Villamero said.
Lea Sicat of GPRehab also explained the criteria that nominees must be able to show evidence of honors and awards received from institutions, organizations, and contests for their personal excellence; activities involvement such as participation in programs and projects where the nominee has occupied leadership positions; and, civic and community activities done voluntarily as well as awards given due to exemplary achievement. (PIA/Jennifer Catan-Tilos)
In a meeting of the Provincial Council on Disability Affairs (PCDA) recently GPRehab enjoined the local government units (LGUs) through the social welfare officers to nominate a maximum of three PWDs to represent their respective area. The nominee must be at least 21years old at the time of nomination.
The search is in recognition of PWDs’ talents beyond their disabilities that created various impacts in their respective communities.
According to Advocacy Coordinator of GPRehab Rolando Villamero Jr. the PWDs will be chosen base on some factors on good moral values, community involvement, leadership skills and personal excellence.
Villamero said this annual search also seeks to affirm PWDs who have made a significant difference in the province as well as empower all PWDs to do their part in effecting positive change in the community, Villamero said.
Lea Sicat of GPRehab also explained the criteria that nominees must be able to show evidence of honors and awards received from institutions, organizations, and contests for their personal excellence; activities involvement such as participation in programs and projects where the nominee has occupied leadership positions; and, civic and community activities done voluntarily as well as awards given due to exemplary achievement. (PIA/Jennifer Catan-Tilos)
DOST holds science, technology advocacy writeshop in Dgte
 |
| The writeshop participants pose after the workshop. (PIA NEGOR PHOTO) |
(Dumaguete City, September 30, 2010) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) recently held a one-day writeshop on information, education and communication (IEC) campaigns for science and technology concerns here.
The writeshop, held in line with DOST’s 7th Visayas Islands Science and Technology Fair, was attended by local media members and key personnel from government-line agencies.
In his opening speech, Provincial Science and Technology Officer Atty. Gilbert Arbon said that the writeshop aims to foster closer ties between DOST and the media as well as the government-line agencies to help communicate the science and technology-related advocacies of DOST.
Arbon added that the activity also aims to equip local communicators with the ability to conduct effective IEC campaigns.
The writeshop was facilitated by Aristotle Carandang, chief of the Science and Technology Information Institute, which is the information and marketing arm of DOST.
Caranding in his discussion stressed the importance of local media in reaching the agencies’ intended audience.
He admits that most often than not, the local media is seen as “inferior” to the national media. “However, the real score is that people are more interested in what’s happening in their own street or town than what’s happening in the world and this is why the local media is very important,” said Carandang.
During the workshop, the participants came up with their own strategic communication plans with emphasis on how developing effective communication materials and making use of the local media to increase positive media coverage. (PIA/Rachelle Nessia)
DOST bent on upgrading weather equipment
 |
| Aristotle Carandang of DOST's STIII being interviewed by DYEM-FM reporter Florence Baesa. (PIA NegOr) |
(Dumaguete City, September 30, 2010) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is pushing to improve the weather monitoring capabilities of the country’s weather agency following the agency’s earlier debacle involving inaccurate weather forecast on Typhoon Basyang that hit Metro Manila last July 13.
Aristotle Carandang, who heads DOST’s Science and Technology Information Institute, said the budget proposition presented by DOST during the recent budget hearing shows that the lion’s share of the budget is allotted for PAGASA and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
“The department is really planning to upgrade its weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities as it is necessary. This affects lives and properties,” said Carandang who was in town for the 7th Visayas Islands Science and Technology Fair.
Carandang stressed that the Aquino administration is likewise focused on implementing the necessary changes, particularly on installing early warning devices.
He disclosed that flood forecasting and monitoring sensors are already being set up along Marikina River. “With these sensors, the nearby residents are warned ahead of time, at least a two-hour lead time, once the water level starts to rise. This should give them enough time to prepare,” he said. (PIA/Rachelle Nessia)
FU turns over biomechanical goats to Manjuyod
(Dumaguete City, September 21, 2010) --- Foundation University (FU) recently turned over ten (10) biomechanical goats (BMG) to the local government unit of Manjuyod, a move aimed at boosting the agriculture sector in said town.
This developed after FU together with its Alumni Association struck a partnership with Manjuyod’s local government for a community-based solid waste segregation, the latter having been chosen by the university to be the pilot town for said program.
The BMGs will also be utilized in home gardening and entrepreneurship initiatives in the Manjyod community.
Bio-mechanical goats not only meet the fertilizer needs of farmers but they are also environmentally friendly as it utilizes domestic wastes and wastes from animals and farmers as its “primary ingredients” in producing organic fertilizers.
The turnover is in line with FU’s corporate social responsibility of giving back to the community.
Gov. Agustin Perdices has lauded the program as it jibes with the provincial government’s efforts to promote organic farming in the agricultural community in the province, particularly the use of organic fertilizers.
According to Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo, the provincial government has been seeking ways to advance the local agriculture sector.
Sedillo said the governor welcomes the support of the private sector in boosting the provincial government’s livelihood development programs.
The provincial government is bent on reviving natural farming practices in the province.
Perdices is hopeful that the use of BMGs will spread to other localities. (PIA/Rachelle Nessia)
This developed after FU together with its Alumni Association struck a partnership with Manjuyod’s local government for a community-based solid waste segregation, the latter having been chosen by the university to be the pilot town for said program.
The BMGs will also be utilized in home gardening and entrepreneurship initiatives in the Manjyod community.
Bio-mechanical goats not only meet the fertilizer needs of farmers but they are also environmentally friendly as it utilizes domestic wastes and wastes from animals and farmers as its “primary ingredients” in producing organic fertilizers.
The turnover is in line with FU’s corporate social responsibility of giving back to the community.
Gov. Agustin Perdices has lauded the program as it jibes with the provincial government’s efforts to promote organic farming in the agricultural community in the province, particularly the use of organic fertilizers.
According to Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo, the provincial government has been seeking ways to advance the local agriculture sector.
Sedillo said the governor welcomes the support of the private sector in boosting the provincial government’s livelihood development programs.
The provincial government is bent on reviving natural farming practices in the province.
Perdices is hopeful that the use of BMGs will spread to other localities. (PIA/Rachelle Nessia)
The Buglasan Fever is on!
PIA, as the lead agency of this year's Publicity Committee of the Buglasan Festival Directorate, facilitated the conduct of a press conference to drum up the publicity for Buglasan Festival 2010. PIA NegOr Infocen Manager Jenny Tilos likewise coordinated the presence of a team of travel writers from the national media who will help the province build up publicity at the national level.
This year's Buglasan promises to be the most exciting and fun-filled since it started eight years ago. To see more of the pics and details during the presscon, please check out (and press "like"!) the Buglasan Festival's Facebook page:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)