2 entries from Eastern Visayas are national Gawad Kalasag winners TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct. 21 -- Two entries from Eastern Visayas grabbed places in the 2013 Gawad Kalasag Awards of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), according to the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) here. The Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) bested other nominees from across the country in the hospital category (regional and training hospital) to land on the top spot. Meanwhile, St. Bernard of Southern Leyte was adjudged second place for the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) in the fourth to sixth class category. It was learned that it is the first time for the EVRMC to join the search while St. Bernard has been consistently included in the top three national winners of the annual search. The Gawad Kalasag (Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan ng Sariling Galing para sa Kaligtasan) was initiated in 1998 to give recognition to local disaster councils, civil society organizations, individuals and institutions that display excellent disaster reduction and management and in humanitarian assistance. National winners will be aptly recognized this October 25 in Manila. They will receive cash prizes that will be spent in disaster risk reduction management-related projects. (PNA)  No extravagant celebration for 69th Leyte Gulf Landings anniversary TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct. 10 -- A simple celebration will mark the 69th year of the Leyte Gulf Landing this Oct 20, instead, expect a grandiose one in 2014, according to provincial administrator Vincent Emnas. The historic landing is commemorated annually by the Leyteños in remembering the day when Gen. Douglas McArthur made good his promise to return to the Philippines and liberate the country from the Japanese Imperial Army. McArthur’s return caused what was dubbed as the biggest naval battle in history that commenced at the Leyte Gulf. Emnas said that they expect a guest from the Defense Department to represent Benigno S. Aquino III who could not make it this Sunday. Ambassadors of New Zealand, Australia and United Kingdom already confirmed their attendance while another invitation was sent to the United States Embassy, he added. The celebration to be held at the McArthur Shrine or Leyte Landing Memorial in Palo town will be led by Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla. The shrine, located five kilometers away from Tacloban City, was constructed at the Red Beach named after the U.S. military color-coding scheme during the World War II. It was named as Imelda Park during the Marcos regime in honor of former first lady and now Ilocos Norte second district Rep. Imelda Marcos who hails from Leyte. Its name was reverted to MacArthur Park when the Marcos family left the Philippines after the People Power Revolution. Thereafter, it was officially declared as a national historic landmark in 1994, during the 50th anniversary of the Leyte Landing. It prominently features 10-feet tall bronze statues of Gen. MacArthur, President Sergio Osmeña Jr., Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, Gen. Richard Sutherland and other key players wading through knee-deep waters, depicting their much-awaited return to Philippine shores. Now developed into a park, it also houses a bronze cast of the general’s footprints and a copy of his speech. A bronze statue of the 50th Leyte Landing Anniversary Commemorative Rock Garden of Peace is also located inside McArthur Park. (PNA) Walk-for-a-Cause heightens breast cancer awareness TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct 14 -- A “Walk-for-a- Cause” added color to the month-long breast cancer awareness celebration here facilitated by the Rotary Club (RC) of Kandaya on Sunday. Caroline “Caycay” Andrade, president of the RC Kandaya said proceeds of the event “will go to indigents who need mammogram procedure.” “The Rotary Club raises breast cancer awareness and prevention. Through proper education on symptoms and detection of the disease, we can help these girls and women. Finding breast cancer early, patients will also have better chances of surviving,” Andrade said. RC Kandaya also partnered with Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) main campus and the EVSU Rotaract Club for a month-long exhibit on breast cancer awareness held at the university’s lobby. Aside from the exhibit, there is also series of lectures on cancer awareness and sharing of stories from breast cancer survivors. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign, which is focused on breast cancer and the impact of those affected by the disease. Meanwhile, Andrade extended her gratitude to all the Rotary Clubs which joined the walk selflessly to include RC of Tacloban, Leyte Gulf, San Juanico and the Cebu Fort San Pedro. Also a huge number of participants came from students and faculty members from EVSU also from the Sacred Heart School. The members of the Tacloban City Police, Bureau of Fire and employees from private companies like Dettie Panis Salon and Spa; Akio Mercantile, Carbert Marketing, Mc Donald’s and Bayantel came in full force. Philippines has highest breast cancer rates in Asia. Three out of 100 women will contract the disease before the age of 75 according to Philippine Society of Medical Oncology in 2012. It is the most prevalent cancer in the country, overtaking lung cancer. (PNA) DTI
to confer seal of excellence to 6 business establishments in Leyte ORMOC CITY, Philippines, Oct. 10 -- Six establishments from Leyte will be conferred the Bagwis Bronze Seal Award by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in a ceremony to be held in Tacloban City this Oct 17. The conferment of award to accredited business establishments that are compliant with the fair trade laws is one of the activities lined up in the province in celebration of the Consumer Welfare Month this October. Two of the awardees are from this city namely Gaisano Riverside for cateogy 1 and CITI Hardware for category 4, Araceli Larraga, chief of DTI-Leyte’s Consumer Welfare Division, disclosed. The four others are based in the cities of Tacloban and Baybay and towns of City, Carigara and Leyte . The Bagwis Award “aims to promote the highest level of business ethics and uphold a fair and honest marketplace through a voluntary self-regulation and service excellence,” she said. It encourages more institutions to abide by the laws and regulations in “upholding consumer rights and ethical business practices,” Larraga added. Larraga said that the awardees are chosen based on their compliance to fair trade laws like setting up of a welfare desk to attend consumers’ complaints with speedy resolution, observance of proper price tagging, commodity standards and many others. Numerous business establishments in Ormoc City have been confered the same award in previous years. Business establishments are classified into five categories namely supermarket (category 1), department store (category 2), appliance center (category 3), hardware and service (category 4) and repair (category 5). DTI will also host a consumer education seminar at the Ama Computer Learning Center and monitoring of Christmas lights that are being sold in various establishments in the province. Meanwhile, this year’s celebration has for its theme “Health Product Quality, Efficacy, Safety and Transparency-Everybody’s Concern.” (PNA |
 World War ll veterans join the commemorative parade during the 69th Leyte Gulf Landings anniversary at the MacArthur Landing Memorial Shrine in Palo, Leyte, October 20. (Vino R. Cuayzon)
PVAO awards war medals, releases wheelchairs to WWII veterans in Leyte PALO, Leyte, Philippines, Oct 21 -- The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) awarded World War II medals to veterans who are 94 years old and above and wheelchairs to those in need of the equipment here. This is part of the activities to usher in the commemoration of the 69th year of the Leyte Gulf Landings. PVAO administrator Ernesto G. Carolina explained that after the war the veterans are entitled to medals, depending on the order given to them. His office and the Defense Undersecretary for Civil, Veterans and Reserve Affairs office have toured the country to award the veterans their medals, he explained. “It is better late than never,” he said. Carolina said of the 12 recipients from Leyte only six were able to attend the ceremony. These are veterans who are more than 94 years old and are already at the “departure” area, he said. Aside from medals, 10 wheelchairs were also released to veterans. Among the recipients was 98-year old Marcelo Gatela of Tacloban City. (PNA) Tacloban honors WWII veterans TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct 20 -- Tacloban City honored its surviving World War II veterans in a simple sunset ceremony over the weekend that served as a prelude to the 69th anniversary of the historic Leyte Gulf Landings this Sunday held at neighboring Palo town in Leyte. The ceremony marked the local Veterans Day declared by this highly urbanized city through Ordinance No. 2007-965. M/Gen. Raul Caballes, from the Philippine Veteran’s Affairs Office (PVAO) said that the ceremony is “a testimony to the commitment of the city of Tacloban in supporting our veterans.” “It gives meat and meaning to Republic Act 7696 where the local government unit may provide assistance to veterans in whatever way it can. We are thankful to the city of Tacloban for their generosity, for extending support to our veterans,” he said. Meantime, city administrator, Atty. Tecson John Lim said that the occasion sought to “give honor to war veterans.” “The Philippine Liberation could not have been done by the Americans alone,” he emphasized as personally he viewed that what was given “distinction” during the Leyte Gulf Landings is the arrival of the Americans. “While that is again important and of course we have to be grateful and we must recognize the fact that they did help, nevertheless, what we must not forget that Gen. Douglas McArthur and the Americans couldn’t have done it without the help of our veterans,” he added. Lim said that it is the Filipinos who “actually grabbed and gained our freedom” with the help of other countries. During the occasion Caballes also turned over three wheelchairs to three veterans from Tacloban. The three recipients included Marcelo Gatela, the oldest living WW II veteran in this city, now 98 years old, Fortunato Flores and Godofredo Capili. Other veterans present were provided certificates and gifts by the city government. The sunset ceremony held at the Balyuan Center here capped with the floral offering for other veterans who have already passed. (PNA) 2 nominees from E. Visayas join roster of PHL's outstanding gov’t employees By Perla Lena TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct 15 -- Two nominees from Eastern Visayas joined the roster of the country’s excellent public servants who will be aptly recognized in Malacañang this Oct 24. The recognition is part of the annual search for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees undertaken by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) under its Honor Awards Program (HAP). CSC named Reynato P. Dubongco of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Northern Samar and Pablo U. Amascual III of the Leyte Normal University (LNU) in Tacloban City as recipients of the Presidential Lingkod Bayan and Dangal ng Bayan awards, respectively. Dubongco joined 12 other awardees who will be recognized for the Lingkod Bayan Award from among the 97 qualified nominations nationwide. On the other hand, Amascual, chief administrative officer of LNU along with 10 others made it to the Dangal ng Bayan from out of the 47 qualified nominees. The Lingkod Bayan Award is extended to individuals and groups whose contributions have made a national impact while Dangal ng Bayan Award is conferred to any government official or employee who has exemplified the eight norms of conduct of public servants as mandated by Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Awardees of the Presidential Lingkod Bayan aside from cash prize will receive a gold-gilded medallion expertly crafted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)and a plaque containing the citation and signatures of the President of the Republic of the Philippines and the chairperson of the CSC. Dangal ng Bayan awardees will receive a trophy designed by National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva. They are also entitled to incentives such as directorships in government-owned or controlled corporations, local and foreign scholarship grants, and automatic promotion to the next higher position suitable to their qualification or commensurate salary. (PNA) Diocese of Calbayog’s Bishop Emeritus Cruz to be laid to rest Tuesday CALBAYOG CITY, Philippines, Oct. 14 -- Bishop Emeritus Maximiano Tuazon Cruz, who served the Diocese of Calbayog City for years, will be laid to final rest on Tuesday. Msgr. Max, as he was fondly called by most of the faithful in this diocese, died October 9 at the age of 90. His remains were brought to Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in this city for viewing from his residence in nearby Catbalogan City last Friday. Rev. Msgr. Francisco H. Cinco III of the Parish Pastor of Our Lady’s Nativity during the Funeral Reception Rite and Holy Mass held at the Calbayog Cathedral cited that Bishop Cruz “played a very important role as Bishop of the Diocese of Calbayog.” Msgr. Cinco served as Diocesan Chancellor during the time of Bishop Cruz. Bishop Emeritus Cruz was born on April 4, 1923 in Catbalogan. He was ordained priest of Calbayog on Nov. 30, 1947 and was appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Calbayog Nov. 10, 1987, installed as Bishop on Jan. 25, 1995 and retired on Jan. 13, 1999. Msgr. Cinco said that a large gathering is expected during the interment inside the cathedral as many bishops and dignitaries have already signified their presence, to include Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma. (PNA) Calbayog City to mark 65th Charter Day, October 16 CALBAYOG CITY, Philippines, Oct 9 -- The week-long celebration of the city’s 65th Charter Day or “Adlaw han Calbayog” kicked off here today. As tradition has it, the celebration normally started with a Holy Mass at 6 a.m. at the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral with the city mayor, other officials and department head serving as lectors. After the Eucharistic Celebration, all city officials, employees and residents gathered at the City Hall stage to sing the national and local hymn “Calbayog Ko” that signalled the formal observance of the Charter anniversary. This year’s celebration anchors on the theme “Respetuhan, Palanggaun ug Halakapahun: Calbayog Aton Ini!” similar to last year. Among the highlights of the celebration is the “state-of-the-city-address (SOCA)” or reports of accomplishments before his constituents by Mayor Ronald Aquino. Mayor Aquino, in his previous statements, said Calbayog is now a city “on the rise to progress” because of so many investors showing interest to put up businesses in the city. Quoting a feasibility study conducted by a bank company, “Calbayog has big potential for economic growth and for investments. And I believe peace and order situation is one big factor they considered,” said Aquino. Aquino further informed that the city’s effort to attract more investors and tourists are gaining because of their efforts to sustain the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibits) tourism. “Regional conventions and conferences are now being held in the city,” he said. Aside from the city continued tourism-related developments, a number of shopping malls, department stores, luxurious hotels, among other commercial establishments, are also becoming visible in the city. Mayor Aquino said that under his helm, Calbayog was able to attract new investors which only underscore the fact that the city is now within the radar of the country’s investors. “There are many more good things that can be said about Calbayog. The few things that I have enumerated were aimed at giving you an idea as to where Calbayog is going. Making Calbayog a haven of peace and prosperity has been a dream not only of the city officials but a dream of all of us,” the mayor stressed. Calbayog, which is composed of the districts of Calbayog, Tinambacan and Oquendo, has a total land area of 90,300 hectares inhabited by more than 157,700 people. It is considered to be one of the fast emerging cities in the country today. It was created as a city by virtue of Republic Act 328 mainly authored by one of its most prominent sons, Senator Jose Avelino, the country’s first Senate president during its First Republic. The other sponsor of the measure was Agripino Escareal. Calbayog is one of the two cities of Samar province. (PNA) 31 Tacloban City athletes to compete in Batang Pinoy national championship in November TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct. 8 -- Thirty one young athletes will represent this highly urbanized city in the upcoming 2013 Batang Pinoy national championship in Bacolod City on November 19-23, 2013. City Sports Office chief Joel Bugho said these athletes won medals in six events of the 2013 Batang Pinoy Visayas qualifying leg held in Maasin City last month. Around seven golds, eight silver and 34 bronze medals were garnered by the athletes from athletics, swimming, taekwondo, lawn tennis, badminton and karatedo. Bugho said the athletes will also be given due recognition by the city government in a simple ceremony during Monday’s flag raising ceremony. To receive plaques of recognition are Clark Anthony Mendoza, Hans Rommel Caminong, Izzhar Ian Vio Balbon, Arnold Benedict Embog, Rhyz Lazarte, James Francis Ranan, John Chistofer Appara, Clint Torrence Morales, Valerian Ernest Bengzon, Kurt Pajuelas, Klentvelley Gilbuena, Harvey Klein Gilbuena, Fenon Jay Pamenmiano, Kish Miguel Laboy, Oliver Isla, Rhode Russel Canillas, Zandra Ann Marie Empino, Jorie May Amistoso, Chelsea Joan Aragon, Kathleen Anne Montecillo, Christine Mae Stose, Ma. Lourdes Espina, Edyssa Lalaine Tiozon, Ma. Coleen Rose Alvarico, Mary Faith Verecio, Marie Nelle Valdevia, Beverly Flor Hidalgo, Ma. Felrose Duran, Ella Mae Espina, Ivy Rose Magcuro and Angelica Petronio. Tacloban City athletes also won bronze medals in taekwondo, athletics and swimming during the 2012 Batang Pinoy National Championship held in this city. An open tournament for children 15 years old and below, the annual Batang Pinoy or Philippine Youth Games, is spearheaded by the Philippine Sports Commission as mandated by Executive Order No. 44. (PNA) |
