Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco Cities, and Albay Province - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 2

olineil

October 19th, 2005, 06:05 PM

I've recently learned that one of my cousins back home is working for AT&T's call center in Legazpi City. I was actually surprised to know that the city is also keeping up in terms of IT-related enterprises.

I've come across an article a couple of years ago that some US-based company set up shop in Legazpi. (see article and link below)

But I'm actually glad to know this. It's definitely good news.

Olineil, what can you add to this subject?

::::::

Big on Service
A big student population, shopping and service establishments drive business in Legazpi City
Published in Philippine Business Volume 9 No. 1

Need a place to launch a fast food empire? You don’t have to set up in Manila right away – not if you want to do like what Legazpi City’s homegrown Bigg’s – touted by Entrepreneur magazine as the next Jollibee – did it. Despite the presence here of McDonald’s and Jollibee’s four outlets, Bigg’s remains a popular 24-hour hamburger deli in Legazpi City. Perhaps its round-the-clock service is proof that this city (population: 157,010) in fact may be in the league already of those that no longer sleep.

It also appears that youth brings dynamism to a region virtually unknown for many years except for its typhoons and Mayon Volcano’s eruptions. The city is old, and traces its foundation to the Spanish era – but it has a predominantly young population. In particular, thousands of college students study in its universities and spend, shop, eat and drink, bringing good business to a lot of establishments.

The newly-elected City Mayor, Noel Rosal, at 37 years old is also young and appears not to be sleeping at his job, too. He’s fired up with plans. He relates he’s just been to Manila to meet with the Chair of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on talks to improve the city port – an ambitious P500-million undertaking. And before nine o’clock in the morning, Rosal has started to meet with people pitching a P12-million Geographical Information System (GIS) that he says in serious tones would help the city efficiently gather taxes and revenues. With this, City Hall, he says, targets P300 million in annual revenues.

Legazpi City At a Glance

Population
157,010 (as of May 2000)

No. of households:
30,612

Annual growth rate:
2.63

Air transport:
Daily flights between Manila and Legazpi City; airport can accomodate medium range jet planes and light planes for commercial, military, and cargo operations

Land transport:
Regular bus trips to and from Metro Manila (approximately 10 hours); bus and ferry trips from Mindanao and the Visayas via a ferry terminal at Matnog, Sorsogon

Rail tranport:
State-owned Philippine Railway operates regular trips to and from Manila

Water:
Commercial vessels regularly to lock and unload cargoes at Legazpi port

Telecommunications:
Bayantel and Digitel are the two major phone companies; cable and internet services are widely available

Financial institutions:
26 banks, 9 investment/financing firms, 47 insurance companies, 148 lending institutions, 67 registered cooperatives

EDUCATION
Elementary:
40 public and 11 private schools
Secondary:
2 public (with 5 annexes) and 11 private
Tertiary:
1 public and 12 private

“We want to be known as a service city” volunteers Rosal. Legazpi City has no large scale industries or manufacturing facilities. Instead, in this city (534 kilometers south of Manila) surrounded by rolling hills and guarded coolly by the beautiful Mayon Volcano, big business spells the 3S: shopping, studying, and spending.

Mall and Business Park
In December 2001, Pacific Mall — the centerpiece of Landco Pacific’s Landco Business Park in Legazpi — opened to enthusiastic response from residents not only from the city but from towns in surrounding provinces as well. Mall retailing and its attendant services such as dining and entertainment in Legazpi have a ready and huge market potential of almost four million from the surrounding towns in the province of Albay, as well as other provinces such as Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte.

Developer Landco, a Metro Pacific company, took a gamble in the city when it launched its Landco Business Park-Legazpi in 1995. Today, almost 80% of the prime lots within the planned business park is sold. Landco is converting the area into a classy commercial hub, housing retail stores, wholesales stores, showrooms, and service establishments. A zoning plan keeps a special area for hotels and designated row for restaurants and bars.

Before Pacific Mall, Legazpi already had its homegrown Legazpi Commercial Center or LCC, now a huge retail giant with branches in Naga City and Tabaco City. Shopping taps the consumerist bent of the youth population, all the more fired up by the advent of cable television and the Internet.

Schools and Brainpower
Legazpi City is home to two universities. One is the state-owned Bicol University, one of the country’s biggest, acknowledged as an engineering powerhouse and also known for its agricultural/fisheries research. Another one is the Catholic-run privately-owned Aquinas University.

Together with about a dozen other colleges, the city is virtually kept alive, economically by thousands of students coming from the different provinces of the Bicol region. Boarding houses, fast food outlets, clothes shops, and service establishments thrive because of the high demand from students and the young people.

“We produce more than 30,000 graduates a year,” says Rosal, mostly in the field of Information Technology, Engineering, and the professions. Don Bosco Technical and TESDA have recently put up branches here to meet the high demand for education.
This rich minefield of brainpower made New York-based, multinational firm Innodata put up a data conversion center in the city last year – employing 600 local graduates of the city. The center currently operates in three shifts, seven days a week, and thirty days a month.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/innodata.jpg

In 2001, New York-based Innodata set up in Legazpi city, employing 600 locals residents

Areas for Investments
Tourism is another area where Legazpi City and the province of Albay can further benefit from. Mayon Volcano is of course famous, but the city may need to improve the packaging or promotion of its tourist attractions which could include the province’s beaches and caves, as well as its festivals such as the Ibalong Festival held every October and the Magayon (meaning “beauty / beautiful”) Festival held every May. “We also want to build a world-class golf course here,” adds Rosal.
The City government is accelerating improvements so that the “service city” will be true to its name. Among these is the improvement of airport facilities.

To further boost the image of a shopping capital in the region, Legazpi will build another mall which will cater to the lower-income bracket and will be patterned after the successful Tutuban Mall at Divisoria in Manila.

http://www.philippinebusiness.com.ph/geographics/legazpicity.htm

::::::::

Keep in mind that this article was written probably a couple of years ago, so some details might've already changed...

Yup ive seen this article long time ago. Innodata actually set up shop in Legazpi when I was still there a few months after I graduated. I actually applied for a Job there but didnt pursue it. Last time i went home there were big Talks of a call center settiing up shop in Legazpi city. So I guess that would be AT&T now. I acknowledge the IT liberation of Legazpi city. When I was there I had a friend who owns a (24 computer) Internet Cafe and tell u, the Cafe is almost open 24/7 that is almost. The place is always jampacked. Alot of students using the internet may it be for pleasure or just plain research for school work and that was 1999. Now Wireless broadband is in Albay being served by smart communications and smart said Albay has the Highest Demand in all its franchises. Satellite TV is also widespread now in Legazpi city.

FYI: internet rate in Legazpi last time I was there was P20-30/hr for a leased broadband enabled internet Cafe. Compare that to Laoag City when I visited same year I went home P50/hr for a snail 33.3Kbps connection. Goodness me.

Matteo

October 19th, 2005, 06:47 PM

Yup ive seen this article long time ago. Innodata actually set up shop in Legazpi when I was still there a few months after I graduated. I actually applied for a Job there but didnt pursue it. Last time i went home there were big Talks of a call center settiing up shop in Legazpi city. So I guess that would be AT&T now. I acknowledge the IT liberation of Legazpi city. When I was there I had a friend who owns a (24 computer) Internet Cafe and tell u, the Cafe is almost open 24/7 that is almost. The place is always jampacked. Alot of students using the internet may it be for pleasure or just plain research for school work and that was 1999. Now Wireless broadband is in Albay being served by smart communications and smart said Albay has the Highest Demand in all its franchises. Satellite TV is also widespread now in Legazpi city.

FYI: internet rate in Legazpi last time I was there was P20-30/hr for a leased broadband enabled internet Cafe. Compare that to Laoag City when I visited same year I went home P50/hr for a snail 33.3Kbps connection. Goodness me.

Wow. That's just great news. Providing jobs.

tyronne

October 19th, 2005, 06:49 PM

Banquerojan Falls (near Legazpi)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/bangkerohan_large.jpg

[/IMG]

wow! this is the most symmetrical (almost) falls i have ever seen so far. beautiful!

drfeelgood17

October 19th, 2005, 10:43 PM

wow! this is the most symmetrical (almost) falls i have ever seen so far. beautiful!

Thanks Tyrone, I only recently found out about this place myself! :)

olineil

October 20th, 2005, 02:02 AM

wow! this is the most symmetrical (almost) falls i have ever seen so far. beautiful!

Oh yeah...nice observation there. Maybe we can call Albay now as the "Land of the Almost" e.g. Almost perfect cone shaped MAYON, Almost symmetrical Banquerojan falls. LOL

olineil

October 20th, 2005, 02:32 AM

Initially rolled out in Bicol, Some part of Visayas and Mindanao. Now apparently they are rolling out nationwide. Good news. Not as fast as land based broadband but for the price and its unlimited and @ 128 Kbps thats good enuf for the average filipino.

http://www.smart.com.ph/NR/rdonlyres/873D2192-BAAF-45E4-B83C-205CDFEC2D46/3308/wifi_content1.jpg

Introducing Smart WiFi. The revolutionary high-speed broadband internet service of Smart, the leader in wireless innovation. Smart WiFi brings broadband internet into your home by using the nationwide cellular network of Smart to wirelessly connect your computer to the Internet! So now you can surf the Net at broadband speed even if you're beyond the reach of a phone line.

The service works by simply installing a Smart WiFi antenna at your home which is directed to the nearest Smart cellsite to give you the strongest connection signal possible. And once the antenna is cabled to your home computer, you're instantly connected and ready to chat, e-mail & surf up to 2x faster than the speed of dial-up!

Get Smart WiFi now! You can also apply at your nearest PLDT Business Office, Smart Wireless Center or through any accredited Smart or PLDT sales agent.

HOW IT WORKS

http://www.smart.com.ph/NR/rdonlyres/F87711B2-CA20-4EC8-AEC2-F6152EE92286/3309/wifi_connection.jpg

Smart WiFi is the latest service of Smart, the leader in wireless innovation. It is a high-speed broadband internet service covered by the nationwidest cellular coverage of Smart Communications.

The service is made possible by installing a Smart WiFi antenna at your home with a direct "line-of-sight" to the nearest Smart cellsite offering the strongest possible radio frequency transmission. As the service is now available from Smart cellsites nationwide, more households can enjoy a high-speed internet broadband connection without the need for a physical cable or a phone line.

With speeds that are up to 2X faster than any dial-up internet connection, it makes surfing and chatting so much faster and easier! Now you can research for your much needed school projects, chat with your friends on any instant messaging program or even play on-line games at speeds you can only dream of on dial-up!

Unique features:

* Speed! Smart WiFi is more than 2x faster than your regular dial-up connection.

* Wireless Connection from the Smart Base Station to your home.

* Outdoor Installation - Can be installed anywhere there is a strong signal association.

* Phone Not Busy - This service allows you to use your landline simultaneously. Dial-up internet services keep your phone line engaged and busy.

* You actually don't need a phone line. No need to wait for cables or phone lines to be laid out.

* Anytime, Always-on, unlimited Internet Access.

* No need to Dial-up to an ISP.

* And, you get the best value for your money because of its affordable rates.

What do I need to get connected (Requirements)?

The system requirements are:

* Pentium II or higher.
* 128 MB of RAM or higher.
* Ethernet/LAN Card
* At least 10GB of Hard Disk Space.
* Operating System: Windows 98, 2000, XP, Linux and Macintosh.

More details @ www.smart.com.ph

Matteo

October 20th, 2005, 04:12 AM

Matteo

October 20th, 2005, 05:06 AM

i'm bored

tigidig14

October 20th, 2005, 05:08 AM

^:lol:here's for you, just enjoi it
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=271024
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=269447

drfeelgood17

October 20th, 2005, 05:33 AM

hey how about schools?

Aquinas University of Legazpi.
Proposals, I thought the structures look good:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/aquinasunivproposals.jpg

www.aquinas-university.edu

Wow - it would be really great if these plans really materialize. The last time I checked their website's gallery - the buildings were still pretty much the same as when I was there - i,e, 1960s structures - although I noticed an enormous new chapel which wasn't there when I was a student. I think it's high time they renovate the buildings, they're looking worn-out. My brief stint at Aquinas was during the late 80s, in the Science High School. For non-Filipinos, Philippine Universities very often have high schools incorporated in their campus. Students at these schools often have priority in admission to the University. It was a fun time for me, my last year in the Philippines before leaving for London in '88. I remember our flooded campus after super-typhoon Sisang struck on my birthday!!! That was one nasty storm - I think Katrina pales in comparison. I'm sure lots of people remember it.

Matteo

October 20th, 2005, 05:17 PM

^:lol:here's for you, just enjoi it
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=271024
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=269447

i didn't see you post anything here...

your posts are funny

Matteo

October 20th, 2005, 06:51 PM

:booze:

Matteo

October 20th, 2005, 07:27 PM

where the heck is everyone.....? :sleepy:

Matteo

October 21st, 2005, 12:57 AM

hey olineil,

were you still in PI when pacific mall was being built?

if yes, have you got any construction pics?

olineil

October 21st, 2005, 02:36 AM

hey olineil,

were you still in PI when pacific mall was being built?

if yes, have you got any construction pics?

Yes I was there. unfortunately I dont have Pics of the construction. I also left the country before it was finished. Sorry for being AWOL for a while. Was outside the office for the whole day. I usually post something on my short breaks. Hehehehe.

olineil

October 21st, 2005, 02:23 PM

http://www.sei.dost.gov.ph/images/exh2004_2.jpg

http://www.sei.dost.gov.ph/images/exh2004_3.jpg

http://www.sei.dost.gov.ph/images/exh2004_4.jpg

http://www.sei.dost.gov.ph/images/exh2004_5.jpg

http://www.sei.dost.gov.ph/images/exh2004_6.jpg

olineil

October 21st, 2005, 02:39 PM

Legazpi City Hall & Albay District Cathedral on Background
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/hkbk/pixbk2/17.JPG

Typical Road condition in Bicol (Very good conditoin)
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/hkbk/pixbk/12.JPG

Somehere in the City Center
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/hkbk/pixbk2/14.JPG

City center (Look at those terrible wires)
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/hkbk/pixbk2/15.JPG

Albay Capitol
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/hkbk/pixbk2/18.JPG

Albay Capitol and Graceland Albay branch in the Background
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/hkbk/pixbk2/30.JPG

Albay Capitol Annex
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/hkbk/pixbk2/30.JPG

* This Pictures are actually a rally but I dont give a freak...all I want is their Photos HEHEHEHEHE!!!!

drfeelgood17

October 21st, 2005, 04:04 PM

Legazpi City acts to curb smoking

First posted 06:53am (Mla time) Oct 17, 2005
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on page A18 of the Oct. 17, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay -- A "smoke-free Legazpi," is the newest battle cry galvanizing all sectors from the city so the Albay capital would become a healthful environment.

Over the past months, billboards and other signages in transportation terminals, commercial establishments, government and private offices and stickers in public conveyances such as buses, jeeps and tricycles have sprouted cautioning the citizens against the hazards of tobacco smoking.

"On the first week of September, Legazpeños became wary of lighting a cigarette in public places when the city started to enforce ordinance 0006-2005 regulating the use, sale, distribution and advertisements of tobacco products," said Mayor Noel E. Rosal.

Rose Olarte Orbita, chair of the Smoke-Free Committee and representative of the Adventist's Community Services, said the ordinance has a "heart for the minors" as it makes it unlawful for those under 18 years old to sell or buy tobacco products.

Establishments selling tobacco products are required to post statements to this effect.

She said a unique feature of the "Legazpi Smoke-Free" campaign is the smoking cessation program whereby violators are given lectures and counseling.

Telephone counselors-volunteers also man the "Smoke-Free Hotline" and the "Friends on Line" for those who wish to kick the habit.

Marlene Manaya, City Social Welfare and Development Officer, said non-government groups, schools and city departments as well as law enforcement teams pooled their resources and regularly meet to ensure information dissemination and enforcement of the ordinance.

"The Albay Medical Society and the Rotary supported the campaign through production of 'no smoking' stickers for distribution to the public," added Manaya.

The ordinance prohibits smoking in public places such as hospitals, schools, churches, shopping malls, buildings, movie houses, hotels, restaurants, parks, public transportation terminals and other enclosed public and private buildings and areas.

"I have given night club owners three months until December to comply with this provision," said Rosal.

The ordinance provides penalties for smoking in airplanes, ships, buses, light rail transits, jeepneys, taxis, tricycles and other public conveyances.

A P500 fine is imposed for a first-time offense, P1,000 or a smoking cessation counseling for the second offense, and P5,000 and a smoking cessation counseling for the third and subsequent offenses.

Rosal approved the ordinance on May 12. Gina V. Rodriguez, PDI Southern Luzon Bureau

drfeelgood17

October 21st, 2005, 04:18 PM

Sorry if this is old news, but I just found out that Miss International 2005 is half-Bicolana! :cheers:

RP BET IS MISS INTERNATIONAL 2005

MANILA, September 27, 2005 (STAR) By Ricky Lo - Precious Lara Quigaman, a stunning 22-year-old beauty, was named 2005 Miss International at glittering ceremonies last night in Tokyo, beating 53 other contestants.

She is the first Filipina to win the title after Gemma Cruz (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970) and Melanie Marquez (1979).

First runner-up was Miss Dominican Republic and second runner-up was Miss Finland.

Lara has a national vocational qualification in media productions and communication) graduate from Filton College in Britain where her mother worked as a nurse.

She first studied for one year at UST, and continued her schooling wherever her mother worked (first in Bahrain then in the UK). Her father is a native of Bicol.

In 2001, when she was 17, Lara competed in the Bb. Pilipinas contest, though she never reached even the semifinals.

Somebody encouraged her to join again this year and she finally won the crown.
http://photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/th_sdsdsd.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/th_congratslara.jpg

Matteo

October 21st, 2005, 05:25 PM

Matteo

October 21st, 2005, 05:33 PM

Matteo

October 21st, 2005, 06:53 PM

dude the photos aren't showing up... :cry:

thanks much olineil.

Matteo

October 21st, 2005, 07:07 PM

dude the photos aren't showing up... :cry:

looking at the old capitol facade (before the facelift) these pics are from 3-4 years ago huh?

i noticed that graceland changed their logo from that scripty font to this sans serif one...

and looking at the direction of traffic (fronting the city hall), how do you get to daraga now?

i kinda like that park now...

olineil

October 21st, 2005, 08:36 PM

looking at the old capitol facade (before the facelift) these pics are from 3-4 years ago huh?

i noticed that graceland changed their logo from that scripty font to this sans serif one...

and looking at the direction of traffic (fronting the city hall), how do you get to daraga now?

i kinda like that park now...

This is actually a 2005 Photo. Cox the Rally is anti-gloria hehehe...I hate this peple who has nothing to do. Pero at least napakinabangan Pics nila.

Rgarding traffic flow... If u are legazpi Bound> from Albay Cathedral thru the City hall will become one-way (LEFT lane for Vehicles Headed for Washington Drive, RIGHT LANE for vehicles headed to Legazpi prt district) then return to two-way at graceland area. If u are from Legazpi going to Daraga> @ capitol facade area u need to turn right in fornt of the Capitol then go in front of the Legazpi Police station then RIGHT to daraga.

This are the Routing Sytem of Jeepneys now in Legazpi-Daraga Area:
1. Daraga-Legazpi (the oldest route)
2. Daraga-Legazpi-Rawis A (route: Daraga>Legazpi via Rizal street>Rawis>Legazpi>Daraga via washington drive
2. Daraga-Legazpi-Rawis B (route: Daraga>Legazpi via washington drive>Rawis>Legazpi>Daraga via Rizal street
3. Daraga-Legazpi Loop Serveice A (route: daraga>legazpi>daraga via Bonot road thru near Doña Maria subd.
4. Daraga-Legazpi Loop Service B (route: daraga>Legazpi via Bonot>Daraga via Rizal street
5. Daraga-Legazpi via Tahao Road (route: Daraga>Legazpi via tahao, will turn Left after Saint Agnes Academy trhu Vel-Amor subd. and pass thru the sattelite Market and in front of Pacific Mall the Vice-versa)

Thats as far as i can remember...i dont know if there are changes or if im still 100% correct.

Matteo

October 22nd, 2005, 12:15 AM

I'm not sure if this is from the same site:

but here's a pic of protesters, in the background you see the Darage Market and the pedestrian overpass/walkway. The market looks clean...

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/protest1.jpg

and here in downtown Legazpi

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/protest2.jpg

man, these folks know how to stage a protest rally!

Matteo

October 22nd, 2005, 12:48 AM

olineil

October 22nd, 2005, 03:30 AM

^^^^ Yeap, corek ka dyan Padi. How long have you outside the country. When was the last time u went home and visit our beautiful Bicolandia?

drfeelgood17

October 22nd, 2005, 05:43 AM

hmmm i kinda like this.
gone would be the days when 14 and 15 year old kids would be buying cigarettes off a street corner vendor and smoking in an alley behind a hotel downtown hiding from his parents, AND always carries a bottle of cologne in his pocket.... :cool:

hehe but seriously, i think this is good. i mean if it works in the US and other places, (isn't davao the first one to do this in PI?) then why not our town as well, right?

Yup, exactly, and no more sending the kids to the sari-sari store to buy your cigarettes for you - which is what me and my sister had to do for our aunt - and we must have been only 8 or 9!!

drfeelgood17

October 22nd, 2005, 05:50 AM

drfeelgood17

October 22nd, 2005, 05:56 AM

anyway, olineil check this one out:

see if i still got this right:

1 Bayantel Building

2 St. Agnes Academy

3 Ibalong Centrum for Recreation

4 Pacific Mall - under construction??

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/Legazpi-view.jpg

Now, I can (almost) understand cables in the city centre, but do we really need 10 lines of them among coconut and other trees on what looks like a hill-side? Maybe the Albay goverment is trying to say something here: we are one of the biggest sources of geothermal power in the country - so let's flaunt what we've got - electricity!!

Matteo

October 22nd, 2005, 06:48 PM

^^^^ Yeap, corek ka dyan Padi. How long have you outside the country. When was the last time u went home and visit our beautiful Bicolandia?

7 years ago

olineil

October 23rd, 2005, 06:32 PM

^^ ^^ Wow! thats long. Whew, I dont know if i can last that long w/o goin home at leat 1's a year. Anyway heres news about Mayon activities:

Fresh warning up for restive Mt. Mayon

by AB Calleja

LEGAZPI CITY (21 October) —- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) station here, aired fresh warming on Tuesday as Mayon Volcano in Albay province manifested increased level of restiveness.

Phivolcs resident volcanologist Eduardo Laguerta specifically cautioned the mostly farming residents living near the Bonga channel on the slopes of Mayon against massive rock avalanches that might occur in said area due to significant enlargement of the volcano’s dome and continued intrusion of lava file in the crater.

Laguerta said the lava file, one of the main indicators of an upcoming eruption, has increased to 7 meters in height during the first week of October.

He said that lava file has reached up to 11 meters at the later part of the month.

The Phivolcs had maintained alert level number two, the second of a four-level warning system where level four means that an actual eruption is in progress.

Other indicators of an impending eruption are the volume of sulfur dioxide gas emissions and the frequency of low intensity volcanic quakes.

Laguerta said that gas emissions remained high ranging from 700 tons to 2,000 tons per day, which is an evidence of a high volume of sulfur dioxide exiting from the crater.

He said that such activities are already visible to the naked eye from downslope, thereby advising residents anew to be extra watchful.

The Phivolcs observatory at the Lignon Hill here, received reports of minor ramblings of the volcano from residents of villages on the lower slope but did not register in the Phivolcs seismographs.

Laguerta said such ramblings might be of shallow geological sources since they were not detected by any of the three seismic equipment in the upper slopes of the volcano.

Other Phivolcs scientists from its main office in Manila are currently installing additional seismographs at Mayon Volcano’s upper northwest slopes facing Tabaco City to be able to detect micro-quakes and other subtle activities of the volcano. (PIA)

olineil

October 25th, 2005, 02:48 PM

Ive, been bz for this past few days...Where are u guys?

olineil

October 25th, 2005, 05:12 PM

http://www.globalpinoy.com/images/newtravel/maps/albay_map_bg.jpg

HISTORY

The PROVINCE OF ALBAY is located between the provinces of Camarines Sur on the north and Sorsogon on the South. It is bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the northeast by the Lagonoy gulf, and on the west and southwest by the Burias Pass. The island in the north under the jurisdiction of the province are Rapu-rapu, Batan, Cagraray and San Miguel.

Albay has a land area of 2,552.6 square kilometers, consisting of 14 towns, and a population of 904, 382. The important products of the people are hemp, coconut, sugar cane, pineapple, vegetables and rice.

The mountains of the province are Mayon, Masaraga and Malinao in the northeast and Catburaun in the west. Its forests are sources of timber, rattan, pili nuts and gum elemi. There are also vast grasslands for pasturing horses, cattle, carabaos, goats and sheep.

In 1569, Luis Enriques de Guzman led an expedition from Panay to the Islands of Masbate and Ticao, and to the region named Ibalon. The Augustinian missionary, Father Alonzo Jimenez, Christianized the first inhabitants of Ibalon, camarines and Burias. He learned the Bicol dialect and composed a Bicol catechism.

In July 1573, Juan de Salcedo, with 120 soldiers, explored Ibalon and founded the town of Santiago de Libong. Jose Maria Peñafrancia, a military engineer, was made “ coregidor “ of the province on May 14, 1834. He constructed public buildings and built roads and bridges.

Governor and Captain General Narciso de Claveria issued a decree in 1846 separating Masbate, Ticao and Burias from Albay to form the Comandancia of Masbate. Albay was then divided into four districts: Iraya, Cordillera or Tabaco, Sorsogon and Catanduanes.

Glicerio Delgado, a condemned “ insurecto,” started the revolutionary activities in the province. With headquarters in the mountain of Guinobatan, he joined the revolutionary government of Albay as lieutenant of the Infantry.

A unit of the Philippine Militia was then organized by the Spanish military authorities Mariano Riosa was appointed major of the Tabaco Zone which comprised all the towns along the seacost from Albay to Tiwi, while Anacleto Solano was also appointed as major for the Iraya Zone which was made up of the towns from Daraga to Libon. Each town was organized into sections of fifty men under the command of a lieutenant.

On September 22, 1898, the provisional revolutionary government of Albay was formed with Anacleto Solano as provisional president. Major General Vito Belarmino, appointed military commander, reorganized the Filipinos Army in the province.

During the Filipino-American War, Brigadier General William Kobbe headed the expedition that landed on the ports of Sorsogon, Bulan and Donsol. From there, the Americans marched to Legazpi and captured the place.

Although a civil government was established in Albay on April 26, 1901, Colonel Harry H. Bandholtz, Commanding Officer of the constabulary in the Bicol region, attested that Simeon Ola, with a thousand of men, continued to defy American authority after the capture of Belarmino in 1901. Ola was later captured with about six hundred men.

During the Second World War, the Kimura Detachment of the Japanese Imperial Forces occupied Legazpi on December 12, 1941. The region was defended only by the Philippine Constabulary unit under Major Francisco Sandico.

By December 19, the Bicol Peninsula up to Sipocot, Camarines Sur, with patrons towards Ragay gulf and Daet, was already under the enemy.

Albay, a progressive province with the capital city of Legazpi, has a large reservoir of steam deposits in Tiwi, according to geothermal experts G.W. Gridley of New Zealand. On August 14, 1970, Presidential Proclamation No. 739 authorized the National Power Corporation to exploit and develop the Tiwi power plant project.

Mayon Volcano, major tourist attraction of the province, is known for its symmetrical, almost perfect cone that rises over 7,500 feet above sea level. It erupted 15 times, with the catastrophe of February 1, 1814 as the most destructive. Its lava buried the town and church of Cagsawa.

GEOGRAPHY

Located at the southern tip of Luzon Island and about 550 kms. From Manila, Albay is approximately 13 to 13.5 degrees north latitude and 123.25 to 124.25 degrees east longtitude. It is bounded by Lagonoy Gulf and the province of Camarines Sur in the northwest, the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Province of Sorsogon in the south, and the Burias Pass in the southeast. It has a total land area of 2,552.6 kms., a total coastline of 354 kms. Albay is composed of 3 cities and 15 municipalities grouped into 3 congressional districts.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS

Albay has fourteen (14) municipalities and three cities (Legazpi, Tabaco, Ligao). Legazpi has been officially designated as the site of the regional offices.

The municipalities are politically subdivided into three districts: namely, first district (Bacacay, Malinao, Malilipot, Sto. Domingo, Tabaco City and Tiwi), second district (Legazpi City, Camalig, Daraga, Manito and Rapu-rapu), third district (Guinobatan, Jovellar, Libon, Ligao City, Oas, Pio Duran, and Polangui).

CLIMATE

Albay has 3 types of climate. The eastern areas experiences no dry season with a very pronounced maximum rain period from December to January, the western areas have more or less heavily distributed rainfall throughout the year and the central areas have no pronounced maximum rain period with a short dry season from November to January. The province has a yearly average of2 20 typhoons ranging from 60-180 kph. Average rainfall is 233 millimeters with a lowest at 130 millimeters in April and the highest at 389 millimeters during December. Average temperature is 33.15 Celsius high and 22.60 Celsius low.

POPULATION

As of May 1, 2000, the Census of Population shows that Albay had reached 1,090,907 million inhabitants. The urban population constitutes 19.6% of the entire population, proving that Albayanos are predominantly living in rural areas.

LANGUAGE/DIALECT

Bicol is the local dialect. Surprisingly, it constitutes a strange variety inwords and in diction among the seventeen municipalities compromising the province. In some towns, there are clear distinctions of variable terminologies in their use of words to convey their messages as compared with the nearest neighboring towns. What puzzles visitors and tourists are the amazing variations of many words of the same meaning for one object or concept among the people in every town.

Generally, the Bicol dialect spoken in Legazpi and Albay District is the common tongue used. The big alteration of tone and of words arises as one travels away from the city proper.

They also speak Tagalog fluently. English is not difficult for them to communicate with liberal stature.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

Like in recent years or even in the early seventies, the province of Albay has continued to direct its efforts toward the development of its industries. Agriculture, however, still accounts for the largest share in the total production and employment.

Of the total 6,369 manufacturing establishments of varied sizes in the Bicol Region, half is located in Albay.

On large-scale manufacturing industries, 48.6 percent are operating in Albay. Among them are the export-oriented establishments like Isarog Pulp & Paper Mills and Albay Industrial Development Corporation.

Handicraft is the major source of rural income. It continues to provide fairly large share in the small scale industries of the province.

On Agriculture, coconut, rice, abaca and corn are its major crops.

POWER

Albay is a major supplier of geothermal energy to the Luzon Grid with its Tiwi Geothermal Plant in Tiwi, Albay with an energy generating capacity of 330 megawatts and the Bacon-Manito (BacMan) Geothermal Plant at the boundaries of Manito, Albay and Bacon, Sorsogon with an energy generating capacity of 210 megawatts.

Local electrification is provided by the Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO). All of the municipalities and city of the and cities of the province are energized for a 100% electrification coverage.

The province also boasts of its coal resources in Batan Island now being tapped by private firms.

olineil

October 25th, 2005, 05:17 PM

By FLORENCIO NARITO

LEGAZPI CITY -- A seven-storey building, which will house the Bikol Regional Museum, will soon rise at the Locsin Park here.

This was announced by City Mayor Noel E. Rosal during a press conference held in his office shortly after the project launching last Dec. 11.

Mrs. Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, Presidential Assistant for Culture and the Arts and wife of former Sen. Heherson Alvarez, was the guest of honor and speaker.

Other local government officials present at the launching included Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzalez and his lady, Mayor Linda Gonzalez of Ligao City, and Tabaco City Mayor Alex Burce, who also represented Rep. Edcel Lagman of the first district of Albay. Also present were Antonio Tan, president of Bikol Economic and Cultural Organization (BECO) and lawyer Oliver Olaybal of the same office.

Mayor Rosal said the initial funding for the project will come from a grant from the Spanish government.

He explained that Legazpi City and the City of Manila are close to the hearts of Spaniards because Manila was founded by Don Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the Spanish conquestador, while Legazpi City is the only city named after him.

In fact, the Spanish ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Ignacio T. Sagaz, had already visited this city twice, the mayor said.

"In February 2005, we will have a visitor from Spain," Rosal said. "The purpose of this visit is to launch special economic projects in Albay and Legazpi City."

Rosal said this city is expecting to get an initial $2 million from Spain for the rehabilitation of Kalayaan Park (formerly Imelda Park) Barangay Bariada to be renamed Plaza de Legazpi and the putting up of the Legazpi City Museum, Library and Auditorium. He revealed that the twin project will cost about P35 million.

But the construction of the Bikol Regional Museum (BRM) will cost about P50 million, he added.

"The BRM is an ambitious project with six columns representing each of the Bicol provinces. Each province will have an office and a mini-museum where historical records and artifacts can be stored or exhibited," the mayor said.

The building will also house the Bikol Hall of Fame, a library, theater for the performing arts, showroom for each province and convention center, among others.

Mrs. Alvarez said that President Macapagal-Arroyo wants to use culture as "a weapon for fighting poverty by giving art education to the marginalized groups." Culture, she said, is the catalyst for many economic activities including tourism.

Matteo

October 25th, 2005, 05:25 PM

olineil

October 25th, 2005, 05:31 PM

Venezia Hotel Website (http://www.hotelvenezia.ws/index.asp)

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/BANNER.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/9.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/8.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/7.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/6.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/5.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/4.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/3.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/2.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/1.jpg

olineil

October 25th, 2005, 05:36 PM

what's up olineil!
sorry man, just got busy sa work din today.
hey how long ago was this article written?

hehe drfeelgood should be happy to hear about this. i think he likes this park.

Reading the Article...Should be around early this Year. Still new. Great things are happening for our city. Good thing Noel Rosal won the Mayor position in Legazpi, Young Blood really has its advantages. Uragon!

olineil

October 25th, 2005, 05:39 PM

Mines & GeoSciences Region 5 (http://www.globalink.net.ph/~denrmgb5/)

Legazpi City - Prospects are bright for Bicol to be stricken-off from the list of impoverished regions in the country buoyed by two major mining projects in two Bicol provinces expected soon to commence operation involving $148 million in investments.

Reynulfo A. Juan, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Bicol regional director said two pipeline mining projects are about to start operations within the one-and-a-half years-Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project of Lafayette Philippines, Inc., in the island town of Rapu-Rapu in Albay and the Aroroy Gold Project of Filminera Resources in Aroroy, Masbate

The Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project (RRPP) with an investment amounting to $48 million will start commercial operation late this year. “Once operational annual production is estimated to be at 10,000 metric tons for copper concentrates, 14,000 tons of zinc concentrates and 50,000 ounces of gold, and 600,000 ounces of silver. Mining operations would last for seven years.”

The RRPP initial development phase was started in September last year and completed the construction of accommodation houses, geological hazard and administrative building, warehouse, mess hall and the hydrological study for the project.

Phase II of the RRPP project which will commence by February this year will cover the construction of a mini seaport, power plant, mills, staff houses, and the initial development of the open pit mining activities.

Phase III which involves the full mining operations would start by October this year.

The mining facility sits on a 180 has. of land that cover two villages, Barangays Binosawan and Pagcolbon, where the firms waste dump, tailings pond area, staff houses, mill, power plant, pier and the open pit area would be located.

The mining project which would employ some 400 residents of the island town, was issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on July 12,2000. The issuance of the ECC subjects the mining firm to a number of conditions that would safeguard the environment and the health of residents.

The Aroroy Gold Project involves the rehabilitation of a gold mine previously owned by Atlas Mining Corporation according to the MGB regional head who also said that the developer has completed the feasibility study and it is expected to become operational early next year.

Juan said the two mining projects in Bicol is among the five major mining projects being implemented in the country that include the Palawan Nickel Processing Project of Coral Bay Nickel Corp., the Dipidio Copper-Gold Project of Climax-Arimco Mining Corp., and the King Copper Gold Project of Benguet Corporation. (MGB5/PIA5 1-31-04 issue)

olineil

October 25th, 2005, 06:01 PM

Publishing date: Apr. 27, 2005 (1:40 PM)

Legazpi City – Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Michael T. Defensor said the mining project in Rapu-Rapu, Albay can “make or break” the mining industry in the country.

The mining project, run by the Lafayette Pollymetallics Mining Company, an Australian firm, is the first to be opened in Bicol and in the country under the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Defensor said during a recent dialogue with local officials here, that he wanted the Rapu-Rapu project to be successful and to “prove to our people that responsible mining is possible.”

“Rapu-Rapu is the showcase of the Philippine government in the initial testing or the gauge of international investors in coming into the country, he said, adding that there are 10 more Australian firms in the country looking at Rapu-Rapu whether it will be successful or not.

The DENR top official said these firms are watching how the Philippine government will handle the coming of the mining investment.

“If something goes wrong with Rapu-Rapu, this would affect the entire mining investment in the country”, Defensor pointed out.

He said the projected initial mining investment in the country is $6 billion.

In Rapu-Rapu, the total investment of Lafayette is US$42 million, US$39.12 million of which have been infused into the area, Defensor said.

During his Bicol visit, Defensor also signed a memorandum of agreement with Albay Governor Fernando Gonzalez, extending an earlier agreement between the DENR and the local government of Albay for the management of a portion of the Mayon Volcano Natural Park for 25 years.

The agreement, first signed in August 2002, is set to expire this coming August. It placed a portion of the Mayon Volcano Natural Park located at Barangay Buang in Tabaco City under the management of the provincial government of Albay.

olineil

October 25th, 2005, 06:25 PM

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/bicolmail.jpghttp://www.bicolmail.com/index.html (http://)

Just thought id share this... :nocrook:

olineil

October 25th, 2005, 06:30 PM

By ITCABANES

LEGAZPI CITY - The 9th Orgullo kan Bikol Regional Trade Fair now dubbed OK Bikol, will be held on October 20-23, 2005 at Hall 3, 5th Level, Bldg. B. SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

This is an annual marketing event spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that aims to showcase the distinct products, ethnic goods and delicacies of the Bicol Region.

DTI Bicol regional director Jocelyn L.B. Blanco said by way of this trade fair, domestic and foreign buyers are enjoined to take a closer look and become more aware of what the homegrown SMEs produced. "We assist our small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in marketing their fine products."

For this year, a total of 84 manufacturers will join the OK Bikol Trade Fair. Of this number, 29 will come from Albay, 21 from Camarines Sur, 11 each for Catanduanes and Sorsogon, 6 from CARP be-neficiaries (1 booth per pro-vince) and three each from Camarines Norte and Masbate.

Five institutional exhibitors will also join the fair. These are: Department of Agriculture Region V (DA-5), PhilExport Bicol chapter, Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, Provincial Government of Camarines Norte and Haciendas de Naga Enjoy Realty Development Corporation.

Blanco said out of 84 exhibitors, 24 are new. "These new exhibitors will now be given full marketing as well as managerial assistance by DTI via the OK Bikol Trade Fair until they finally become direct exporters."

Products focus includes gifts and holiday decors (boxes, picture frames, stationeries, desk accessories, souvenir items, Christmas, Easter and Holiday decors), home furnishings (furniture, housewares, home decor, garden articles), foods (fresh and processed foods, dried and processed fish), organic and natural products (organic food, natural personal care, food supplements and medicinal pro-ducts) and wearables (fashion accessories including jewelries, leather goods, footwear-e.g. bags, garments, hats, gloves, synthetic hair).

The fair will also highlight products under the One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) program of the DTI and local government units. OTOP is a priority program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs in the countryside.

With the valuable support of DTI's usual partners (CITEM, LGUs, line agencies, PhilExport and APTFI), Orgullo kan Bikol has become a milestone, as Bicolanos puruse aspirations for globally-competitive enterprises from the region. "We endeavor to continue our heritage and transcend tradition. As we promote our various crafts and ethnic foods, we affirm once more, our urgullo our pride," Director Blanco stressed.

OK Bikol 2005 is a project of the Department of Trade and Industry Region V, Center for International Expositions and Missions (CITEM), Philippine Exporters Confederation (PhilExport), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region V, and Advocate of Philippine Fair Trade, Inc. APFTI).

olineil

October 25th, 2005, 06:33 PM

http://www.atenista84.net/sb/images/news/rroco.jpg Plans are afoot for a meaningful Raul S. Roco Day on October 26, 2005, the late senator’s 64th birthday.

Naga City Vice Mayor Gabriel H. Bordado who is spearheading this year’s first celebration honoring the former education secretary and senator said that an executive committee was formed upon the order of Naga City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo to make the occasion a truly memorable one where every Bicolano must take pride in emulating the legacy left behind by Roco, endearingly referred to by many Filipinos as the “best president the country never had”.

The celebration takes off from Resolution No. 2005-247 collectively passed by the Naga Sangguniang Panglunsod last August 8, 2005 “conferring on the late former Senator Raul Sagarbarria Roco the honorific tile ‘The Pride of Bicolandia’ and declaring October 6, 2005 and every year thereafter, the ‘Raul S. Roco’ in Naga City.”

Bordado said the special day will be ushered in by a Holy Mass at the Peñafrancia Basilica Minore at 7 a.m., to be followed by wreath-laying at the senator’s tomb at nearby Sto. Niño Memorial Park.

At 9 a.m. at the City Hall Compound, all the guests, city and barangay officials and members of the Roco family will witness the ceremonial renaming of the Naga City Public Library as “Raul S. Roco Library” and the blessing of the Roco Memorabilia on the ground floor of the library.

The memorabilia will include photos, newspaper and magazine articles, commemorative items, election material, personal effects, notes, journals and awards that will highlight Roco’s childhood, his school days at the NPS, high school at the Ateneo de Naga and college years in San Beda in Manila; his life as a young lawyer, and as congressman, senator, and secretary of the Department of Education.

In the afternoon, at about 4 pm, a program will be opened by a military street parade and fancy drill by participating schools and a cultural presentation, capped by a fireworks display at Plaza Quezon.

Roco as a government official was competence and integrity personified, breathing new life in a government structure long mired in profligacy, mediocrity and outright ineptitude.

As a lawyer and the youngest president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the late senator underscored the fact that “the law is not a business but a noble profession.”

Throughout his lifetime, Raul consistently brought honor and recognition to his beloved Naga City, where he was born on October 26, 1941.

Matteo

October 25th, 2005, 07:15 PM

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/bicolmail.jpghttp://www.bicolmail.com/index.html (http://)

Just thought id share this... :nocrook:

they usually contain just camarines sur/naga city stuff though...

drfeelgood17

October 26th, 2005, 04:22 AM

what's up olineil!
sorry man, just got busy sa work din today.
hey how long ago was this article written?

hehe drfeelgood should be happy to hear about this. i think he likes this park.

Hey guys, sorry I've have a busy few days but now am back. Hehe I do have fond memories of that park, I admit, but I'm also excited about this new Plaza Legazpi and the Bicol Museum - sounds exciting!! I'm surprised we don't have any major museums here in Bicol (or none that I could think of), so hopefully this will redress the balance.
I can't wait to stay at the Venezia for my next trip back home! :) :)

Matteo

October 26th, 2005, 05:04 AM

Hey guys, sorry I've have a busy few days but now am back. Hehe I do have fond memories of that park, I admit, but I'm also excited about this new Plaza Legazpi and the Bicol Museum - sounds exciting!! I'm surprised we don't have any major museums here in Bicol (or none that I could think of), so hopefully this will redress the balance.
I can't wait to stay at the Venezia for my next trip back home! :) :)

HMMMMM... I wonder what those fond memories are... :poke:

heheh. anyway, yea as far as museums, I guess the region doesn't have any major ones. well, before this Bicol Museum thing. Hopefully, they continue with this project.

There's a gallery though, but I suspect it's not a very big one...

MAGAYON ART GALLERY

The only contemporary art gallery in the Province of Albay located at the lobby of the Albay Provincial capitol. It houses changing exhibitions, particularly in the field of visual arts.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/magayonartgallery.jpg

tigidig14

October 26th, 2005, 07:59 AM

^nonetheless, still nice

Matteo

October 26th, 2005, 05:22 PM

I can't wait to stay at the Venezia for my next trip back home! :) :)

and when's your next trip back home?

Matteo

October 26th, 2005, 05:23 PM

^nonetheless, still nice

yea i guess.
looks very modern and contemporary, that i'd say.
never been there myself, but would love to...

Matteo

October 27th, 2005, 01:07 AM

olineil

October 27th, 2005, 02:15 AM

didn't know cars can get halfway up the steps leading to the church...
or maybe I just can't remember...

anyway, i thought it was interesting to note...

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/daragachurch.jpg

Hehehehe...they can actually go higher to the driveway in front of the entrance itself. There are 3 driveways, the 1st one is right when u arrive at the place, the n the middle driveway (as seen on the Pic, and the upper most...mostly used when there is a Wedding and to park the Parish priests car.

olineil

October 27th, 2005, 02:20 AM

^^ ^^
Daraga Church (the parish church that replaced cagsawa church that was ruined by mayon volcano during the 1814 eruption) this church sits on top of a hill with a panoramic view of mayon, Daraga town, & Legazpi city
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/daragaChurch.jpg

Note this photo i posted way back. :eat:

olineil

October 27th, 2005, 02:22 AM

My 300th post...whew took me so long to reach 300. LOL :wallbash:

drfeelgood17

October 27th, 2005, 02:24 AM

drfeelgood17

October 27th, 2005, 02:33 AM

Me learning to surf in Catanduanes - lesson no 4 hehe

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/puru1.jpg

It does get easier after a few times.... :runaway:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/puru2.jpg

drfeelgood17

October 27th, 2005, 02:39 AM

I remember a few posts back Olineil wanted to inquire if there were any beaches in Bicol where he could go totally naked...well these look pretty secluded to me....

Golden beach, Catanduaneshttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/igangb01.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/puraran.jpg

Go Neil! Go! :tongue3:

drfeelgood17

October 27th, 2005, 03:34 AM

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20050927105635.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20050927105506.jpg

MISS BICOLANDIA

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20030827141849.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20030827135510.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20050927101404.jpg

AND MR BICOL!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20050927102935.jpg

have you noticed how everyone seems to be fair-skinned or mestizo/mestiza? colonial mentality?

INA surrounded by her fans - what are those guys doing climbing up the float?! somebody stop them!!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20050927102109.jpg

Brits in Bicol!! - Imagine how hot they are under those furry hats!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20050927104458.jpg

This is what Bicolanos do after a typhoon - binaha kasi ang Naga - so they organised a Regatta

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20050927104714.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/?action=view&current=5_20050927104714.jpg
I think this guy is a little out of step?
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20050927105015.jpg

hmmm lunch!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/7_20030903131623.jpg

drfeelgood17

October 27th, 2005, 03:53 AM

while we await pics of the brand new Legazpi public market here's one of Naga's very own - once the biggest in south-east Asia, oh yes...this was the mother of all markets!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/4_20030903162529.jpg

Naguenos do like their chicken
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/7_20040107192455.jpg

somewhere in downtown Naga- they also love telephone wires

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/7_20031216111312.jpg

dai man lamang tinapos anghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/7_20031216111312.jpg pagpintura kan tinampo, ubos na ang paint...

drfeelgood17

October 27th, 2005, 03:57 AM

Here's a better pic of the Penafrancia Shrine interior

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/4_20030903140049.jpg

tigidig14

October 27th, 2005, 04:48 AM

^ganda pala ng Bicol, puntahan nga next year pagumuwi ako

drfeelgood17

October 27th, 2005, 05:08 AM

Daraga church facade close-up

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/daraga.jpg

drfeelgood17

October 27th, 2005, 05:08 AM

^ganda pala ng Bicol, puntahan nga next year pagumuwi ako
Thanx tigidig - sige, punta kayo :)
I suggest going between March and May to maximize your chances of seeing Mayon (at other times, it is often covered in clouds). August is sometimes also good. Our rainy season is later than in Manila (October- January, instead of June-November).

olineil

October 27th, 2005, 05:13 AM

Lili

October 27th, 2005, 05:52 AM

Lili

October 27th, 2005, 05:55 AM

Lili

October 27th, 2005, 05:58 AM

MISS BICOLANDIA

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20030827141849.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20030827135510.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20050927101404.jpg

AND MR BICOL!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20050927102935.jpg

have you noticed how everyone seems to be fair-skinned or mestizo/mestiza? colonial mentality?

Kay gua-guapa and guapo! What's in the water there?

Hawayano

October 27th, 2005, 08:57 AM

Kay gua-guapa and guapo! What's in the water there?

Hey, Lili--I recall reading somewhere that Bikol has a high incidence of mestizaje because when the Americans were plotting the path and construction of the southern Luzon railway at the turn of the century, they not only camped out, but the left a little bit of their DNA behind as well. BTW, I remember in the 1960s the stereotype was that Bicolanas were "bailarinas" in the Manila cabarets...maybe because in those days that Eskinol look was more popular?

Lili

October 27th, 2005, 09:50 AM

^ Is that so? Interesting trivia.

olineil

October 27th, 2005, 11:23 AM

drfeelgood17

October 27th, 2005, 02:27 PM

That sounds very similar to my ancestry, Neil. My great-grandfather was a US serviceman, Albert Louis Ammen. He founded ALATCO, the country's first bus company and ancestor of present-day Philtranco. More on this from the Iriga website:

http://jo.ramos.tripod.com/irigacity/id23.html

My grandmother is also Spanish, from Milaor, near Naga - so that's why I'm also rooting for Naga as well as Legazpi. I also have chinese blood from my father. That's why I can usually sit next to Filipinos here in England and listen to their chatter without them ever suspecting I'm Filipino!

olineil

October 27th, 2005, 05:19 PM

Matteo

October 27th, 2005, 06:00 PM

Thanx tigidig - sige, punta kayo :)
I suggest going between March and May to maximize your chances of seeing Mayon (at other times, it is often covered in clouds). August is sometimes also good. Our rainy season is later than in Manila (October- January, instead of June-November).

i wanna go too hehehe

drfeelgood17

October 28th, 2005, 03:54 AM

Hey, Lili--I recall reading somewhere that Bikol has a high incidence of mestizaje because when the Americans were plotting the path and construction of the southern Luzon railway at the turn of the century, they not only camped out, but the left a little bit of their DNA behind as well. BTW, I remember in the 1960s the stereotype was that Bicolanas were "bailarinas" in the Manila cabarets...maybe because in those days that Eskinol look was more popular?

According to the version I heard, certain towns in Bicol, such as Sta Magdalena, Sorsogon, have a disproportionate number of mestizos, who are descendants of Spanish soldiers and priests who after invading the town raped local women. I'm not sure whether this is just myth or whether it has an element of truth. My uncle (who is from Laguna) used to tell me that the reason why Misa de Gallo (early morning Advent Mass) is so popular in Bicol is that during the colonial era it enabled Spanish priests to be intimate with married women while their husbands were still fast asleep!! Apparently, these friars also fathered a lot of children.

ThisFire

October 28th, 2005, 04:09 AM

According to the version I heard, certain towns in Bicol, such as Sta Magdalena, Sorsogon, have a disproportionate number of mestizos, who are descendants of Spanish soldiers and priests who after invading the town raped local women. I'm not sure whether this is just myth or whether it has an element of truth. My uncle (who is from Laguna) used to tell me that the reason why Misa de Gallo (early morning Advent Mass) is so popular in Bicol is that during the colonial era it enabled Spanish priests to be intimate with married women while their husbands were still fast asleep!! Apparently, these friars also fathered a lot of children.

Yes, this is a part of the country, and some of the people of the country. Not all were "scandalous" scenarios because of course, there were valid marriages as well. Our situations are like that of our amigos in latin america. Anyways, it's also not surprising that there would be mestizos or descendants of Spanish soldiers in Luzon, especially in southern luzon because this has been the island where everything was going on, and home to Manila, religious bases and the busy harbours. And it's no secret about what some of those friars had done, and some friars and priests even had secret relations with nuns with even some children being born out of it. And that's why we have that tagalog term that describes an illegitimate/bastard child of a priest of friar!

drfeelgood17

October 28th, 2005, 04:29 AM

Yes, this is a part of the country, and some of the people of the country. Not all were "scandalous" scenarios because of course, there were valid marriages as well. Our situations are like that of our amigos in latin america. Anyways, it's also not surprising that there would be mestizos or descendants of Spanish soldiers in Luzon, especially in southern luzon because this has been the island where everything was going on, and home to Manila, religious bases and the busy harbours. And it's no secret about what some of those friars had done, and some friars and priests even had secret relations with nuns with even some children being born out of it. And that's why we have that tagalog term that describes an illegitimate/bastard child of a priest of friar!

I guess the RP wouldn't be the same without all those horny nuns and priests!! :) :)

ThisFire

October 28th, 2005, 04:41 AM

I guess the RP wouldn't be the same without all those horny nuns and priests!! :) :)

Of course not! :) I think it's the heat.

Hawayano

October 28th, 2005, 05:41 AM

Im a Bicolano Mestizo myself, not that I look Good but if I remember it right "Mestizo" means mix breed.

My Grandpa in Mother side is Pure spanish who hailed from Miag'ao Iloilo
My father side has a chinese blood, then add to that a true blooded Bicolano genes so that means im Mestizo hehehe...Im quite fair compared to the general population.

I can also atest to the fact that there is alot of fair-skinned Bicolanos. Just try going to Legazpi or other major urban centers. You can see that they are everywhere.

Cool lineage--has some similarities to my own: somehow my family migrated from Iloilo to Legazpi back during the 19th-century abaca boom. So we still connect to both regions when discussing pedigree in detail. And yes, they were mestisong intsik who later intermarried with some part-kastila clans of Albay.

Matteo

October 28th, 2005, 09:18 AM

wasn't the chick who won this thing an albayano? from daraga, i believe.

nonetheless, all these girls and boys are good looking and hot

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20030827135510.jpg[/IMG]

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20050927101404.jpg

AND MR BICOL!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/5_20050927102935.jpg

have you noticed how everyone seems to be fair-skinned or mestizo/mestiza? colonial mentality?

Matteo

October 28th, 2005, 09:19 AM

well, maybe just the winners....

wasn't the chick who won this thing an albayano? from daraga, i believe.

nonetheless, all these girls and boys are good looking and hot

olineil

October 29th, 2005, 07:41 PM

A bit Late but just remembered that Ibalong Festival is October..LOL
By INQ7.net

THE IBALONG Festival will be celebrated from Oct. 25-31 in Legazpi City, Albay -- the Bicol region's center of commerce, industry and tourism. The festival takes its inspiration from the 18th century epic about life in the Bicol peninsula long before the Spanish colonizers came to our shores.

Adapted from "Ibalong," the book on Bicolano folk epic by Dr. Merito Espinas, the festival honors the exploits of three mythical Aryan heroes -- Baltog, Handyong and Bantong -- who came to a rich land called Ibalon, fought several ferocious monsters and wild beasts, safeguarded the mountain crops, brought joy to the villagers and transformed the rich land into what is now the bustling civilization of Bicol.

http://globalink.net.ph/~cpdoleg/ibalong.jpg
The Ibalong Monument

Mayor Noel Rosal invites everyone to come to Legazpi City and celebrate the Ibalong Festival every month of October. Started in 1992, the festival aims to instill among Bicolanos everywhere a sense of pride and identity in the rich cultural heritage of Bicol. More than the festival events, the Ibalong is a celebration of the resiliency and indomitable spirit of Bicolanos amid daily challenges.

According the Bicol Tourism Director Nini Ravanilla, the festival's highlight will be the street presentations to be held starting 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30 from Quezon Avenue to the Peñaranda Park Stage, according to a press statement from the Department of Tourism.

The street theater's theme is a recreation of the epic's important chapters including the arrival of the three mythical heroes, their conquests and the Ibalong folkways. Performers, mostly youth from the schools in the entire region and only from Legazpi City, will be clad in their indigenous, colorful abaca-inspired costumes and grotesque masks while doing choreographed dances along Legazpi City's main thoroughfares with the world's most perfect cone-shaped volcano, Mt. Mayon, as dramatic backdrop.

There were about twenty contingents from different schools in the Bicol region, which participated in last year's street presentations. Sorsogon's Donsol National High School was the champion for Best in Exhibition as well as in Costume and Props. Camarines Norte State College won for Best in Street Dancing. Albay's Matacon National High School got the Best in Music and Sound award.

Other events during the weeklong Ibalong Festival include band concerts, street parties, smart nights, fireworks, an ecotrek, drag race, ballet workshops, art shows and exhibits, golf tournaments, midnight madness and mallwide sale among others. There will be food fests and cooking demos of Bikolano cuisine like the pinangat, Bikol express and their own version of dinuguan as well as the making of the delectable pili desserts.

Ravanilla enthused that two of the much-awaited Ibalong events are the search for the Mutya ng Ibalong and Lakan ng Ibalong, which draws young Bicolanos from the region and other parts of the country. Mutya ng Ibalong 2003 winner Maria Lourdes Arevalo of Naga City with her court Mayjel Madaong of Daraga, Albay and Haven Marie Angelique Yuboco of Lagonoy, Camarines Sur will lead this year's candidates in the outreach activities. The Mutya candidates will participate in the talent, fashion, gown and swim wear competitions scheduled from Oct. 25 until the coronation night on Oct. 29. Lakan ng Ibalong 2003 winners Lakan Baltog Nel Calveria Jr. of Goa, Camarines Sur, Lakan Handyong Joseph Brimon of Sipocot, Camarines Sur and Lakan Bantong Ali Raza Ahmad of Dita, Legazpi City will relinquish their titles to this year's winners on Oct. 27 at the Peñaranda Park.

Last year, thousands of ibos (a staple Bicolano food of cooked glutinous rice individually wrapped in coconut leaves) lined up the city's Rizal Street for the ibos contests. Reynaldo Lozada of Daraga, Albay and Samson Ardales of Homapon, Legazpi City won the top prizes in the ibos eating contest by consuming nine ibos and eight and half ibos, respectively, for the required time.

For the "Paharalabaan ki Ibos" contest, the Baltog team of Bascaran, Daraga won by making 1,467 pieces of ibos for a total length of 223.63 meters. The Oryol team of Taysan and Bantong team of Mabinit settled for the second and third place by making 1,261 and 1,282 ibos with a total length of 192.22 meters and 195.43 meters, respectively.

ThisFire

October 29th, 2005, 07:49 PM

^ very rich festival

olineil

October 29th, 2005, 07:52 PM

^ very rich festival

I think this is the only festival in the Country that is not based on Religion (correct me if im wrong). It was baseb on an Epic which shows how colorful Bicol (Ibalon) history is.

Matteo

October 30th, 2005, 01:08 AM

Pics pics pics

hey, not great looking photos, but some street scenes in a section of the downtown area:

LEGAZPI CITY:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/legazpicity3.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/legazpicity2.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/legazpicity1.jpg

TABACO CITY:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/tabacocity3.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/tabacocity1.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/tabacocity2.jpg

NAGA CITY:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/nagacity3.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/nagacity2.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/nagacity1.jpg

Matteo

October 30th, 2005, 01:10 AM

and diving in Albay:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/dive1.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/diving.jpg

I would love to do this someday...

Matteo

October 30th, 2005, 01:51 AM

By the way, these are from Tommy Schultz's underwater pages. www.tommyschultz.com

Diving in Albay.

San Miguel Island, dunoo where that is, though...

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/sanmig1.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/sanmig2.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/sanmig3.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/sanmig4.jpg

Matteo

October 30th, 2005, 02:14 AM

Somewhere in Daraga town, I thought the new building looks alright...

A bank in its current location:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/cagsawaruralbank1.jpg

And its future site, which is under construction:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/cagsawaruralbank2.jpg

http://www.rbap.org/article/articleview/551/1/88/

Matteo

October 30th, 2005, 02:23 AM

TCGI engineers to undertake civil works for Bicol project
By Jun Vallecera
Tuesday, 08 16, 2005

In addition to very generous credit lines from some of the biggest and most profitable banks in the country, the P500-million Misibis Resorts and Estates has tapped the elite of the construction and engineering industries to help design, construct and landscape the 62-hectare property.

While the Philippine National Bank and the Bank of the Philippine Islands extended the funds that will guarantee completion of the project, Misibis Land Inc. president and chief executive officer Elizaldy Co hired nothing less than the best in the construction, design and engineering business to execute his plans.

For instance, Co hired TCGI Engineers to do the civil works on phase on of the Misibis project, the same engineering and consulting group that acted as construction managers to Ayala Land Inc.'s One Roxas Triangle project in upscale Makati.

RMJM Associates crafted the architectural design for the project, the same architects commissioned to design the development of Fort Bonifacio and the Beijing Olympic Green Convention Center.

The same architects designed Co's Sunwest Warf project in Legaspi City itself which will signal the start of the second phase of the ultimately P2 billion development plan.

Excore, a breakaway group from Landco Pacific Corp., the same firm that developed Terrazas de Punta Fuego and the Peninsula de Punta Fuego, were Co's financial consultants.

Internationally renowned ADI, whose masterfully crafted landscaping designs earn it global recognition, gave the Misibis project landscape details unmatched anywhere in the country.

“We've tapped some of the world's best architectural, engineering and landscape minds to bring about this project and we have been amply rewarded,” Co said.

Because only the best was chosen, the sale of residential lots at the Misibis estate on Cagraray Island attracted so much attention that only some 30 percent of the 279 individual lots available remain and Misibis has not even started full operations yet.

www.tribune.net.ph/business/20050816.bus08.html

olineil

October 30th, 2005, 03:16 AM

olineil

October 30th, 2005, 03:18 AM

I think this is the only festival in the Country that is not based on Religion (correct me if im wrong). It was baseb on an Epic which shows how colorful Bicol (Ibalon) history is.

Come to think of it, both major festivals in Albay are none religious. Ibalong and Magayon Festival. Even though its none sectarian origin it still draws one hell of a crowd during this festivities.

drfeelgood17

October 30th, 2005, 05:11 AM

[QUOTE=Matteo]By the way, these are from Tommy Schultz's underwater pages. www.tommyschultz.com

Diving in Albay.

San Miguel Island, dunoo where that is, though...

San Miguel Island is Tabaco gulf area. Its part of the Cagraray Group of Islands where Misibis is.

By the way, very resourceful padi, ive been lookin for street scences in Legazpi for so long but I found it very hard.

Thanx for the Pics man.
I agree totally, Matteo seems to have a gift for unearthing these city photos. I've practically googled Legazpi to death and can't find any more pics.
The underwater photos are superb!

Matteo

October 30th, 2005, 07:53 AM

Expansion of Forest Lake Memorial Parks

Capitalizing upon the success of Forest Lake Memorial Parks already operational in Iloilo, Zamboanga, and Davao, Landco will launch additional parks in Biñan, Laguna and Legazpi City during the second half of 2002.

http://www.metropacific.com/news/index.shtml

Anyone know whatever happened to this?

Matteo

October 30th, 2005, 07:55 AM

[QUOTE=olineil]
I agree totally, Matteo seems to have a gift for unearthing these city photos. I've practically googled Legazpi to death and can't find any more pics.
The underwater photos are superb!

thanks dr. :okay:
i feel the same way with both you and olineil.
your posts/pics are awesome

Matteo

October 30th, 2005, 09:29 AM

olineil

October 30th, 2005, 04:49 PM

Poor resolution pics:

In addition to Olineil's Legazpi City wharf photos, here's a rendering of what I believe is the second phase of it. I wonder what will happen to Vicroy Village...

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/LegazpiCitywharfrend.jpg
Wow, cant wait to see this happen and become reality. And where in the world of Google did you find all these? You're really a gifted researcher.

And here was a rendering for the first (?) phase. The one that is already completed:
Victory Village is actually the shanties on the right behind the wharf. So they should still be there once Legazpi Wharf is finished. I just hope the city government do somethi about them, maybe make an ambitious project in Making a Mid-rise commie block housing for them to improve the ambiance over in that area.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/blvdrend.jpg
New Legazpi City Public Market initial stages of construction…

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/market10.jpg
And halfway up to completion, I think:
So this is what happened to the supposed Mall to be built by LCC. So I guess they flunked the contract. I wonder how much they paid the City Government for not Honoring the contract. Last time I heard, they had to pay a few million pesos for every month of delay in the contract implementation. Though I admire how LCC became a giant retail store, theres just some questionable things Romy Tan has done to become what he has right now.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/market40.jpg
You guys remember Lapu-lapu Street?

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/lapu2st.jpg
Yep! Thats where the Old Saint Jude CHurch is and All Electronics Computer store.

olineil

October 30th, 2005, 04:53 PM

Lili

October 30th, 2005, 09:32 PM

Those renderings above look really good, almost like a Marbella Marina Club. :okay:

drfeelgood17

October 31st, 2005, 02:15 AM

Poor resolution pics:

In addition to Olineil's Legazpi City wharf photos, here's a rendering of what I believe is the second phase of it. I wonder what will happen to Vicroy Village...

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/LegazpiCitywharfrend.jpg

And here was a rendering for the first (?) phase. The one that is already completed:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/blvdrend.jpg

Rendering of a certain Bitano School…

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/bitanoschoolrend.jpg

And constructed:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/bitanoschool.jpg

New Legazpi City Public Market initial stages of construction…

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/market10.jpg

And halfway up to completion, I think:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/market40.jpg
You guys remember Lapu-lapu Street?

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/lapu2st.jpg

It's looking good so far! I hope they can pull this wharf plan off - it would be wonderful for the city! The design has a very Mediterranean feel to - I like the palm trees along the boardwalk - maybe they should combine elements of both plans. I also like the rotunda thing in the second pic - once again, a great find, Matteo! :)
I still can't figure out exactly where the new market is located - maybe they've simply rebuilt it on the old site?
Regarding the shanties by the wharf: they will probably "relocate" them somewhere out of sight, if you know what i mean - a common practice in the RP.

drfeelgood17

October 31st, 2005, 02:30 AM

Matteo

October 31st, 2005, 06:27 AM

It's looking good so far! I hope they can pull this wharf plan off - it would be wonderful for the city! The design has a very Mediterranean feel to - I like the palm trees along the boardwalk - maybe they should combine elements of both plans. I also like the rotunda thing in the second pic - once again, a great find, Matteo! :)
I still can't figure out exactly where the new market is located - maybe they've simply rebuilt it on the old site?
Regarding the shanties by the wharf: they will probably "relocate" them somewhere out of sight, if you know what i mean - a common practice in the RP.

I love the wharf.
But the guy building this is also the guy who owns Misibis Resort, right?
So I'm thinking this is gonna push through, hopefully.

Olienil, from reports that I read online, the new public market is in an area called Kapantawan. You know where that is?
So it's not the site of the old market that got torched years back...?

olineil

October 31st, 2005, 07:41 AM

I love the wharf.
But the guy building this is also the guy who owns Misibis Resort, right?
So I'm thinking this is gonna push through, hopefully.

Yup its Elizaldy Co - He owns Sunwest Construction, Rennaissance Gardens Exclusive Subd, Misibis Resort, Legazpi Wharf, Venezia Hotel and he is only 35 years old. Cool Huh!

Olienil, from reports that I read online, the new public market is in an area called Kapantawan. You know where that is?
So it's not the site of the old market that got torched years back...?

Ok, so its confirmed that its not the one that got torched. I always hear about kapantawan but it never occured to me to know where it is. ehehehehe!

olineil

October 31st, 2005, 09:28 AM

found this @ www.gobicol.com

http://www.gobicol.com/photos/AAC41C9C-62CB.jpg

http://www.gobicol.com/photos/64126C1F-0C44.jpg

Rendering of the Full resort
http://www.gobicol.com/photos/BEF0C9E8-30C7.jpg

Rendering of the Pool area
http://www.gobicol.com/photos/8DAE4DDA-C396.jpg

http://www.gobicol.com/photos/A92409C1-1A49.jpg

The Beach
http://www.gobicol.com/photos/5580A8AD-69C5.jpg

Matteo

October 31st, 2005, 05:30 PM

tyronne

October 31st, 2005, 06:20 PM

ang ganda, i like it especially the pool :okay:

sugbuanon

October 31st, 2005, 07:55 PM

whooaaaa!!! white sand beach and crystal clear water with the immaculate mayon volcano as backdrop... "pwede na pang wallpaper ng computer ko"

drfeelgood17

November 1st, 2005, 07:26 PM

I like the pavillons on the pool - can't wait to see it completed!

olineil

November 2nd, 2005, 01:13 AM

I like the pavillons on the pool - can't wait to see it completed!

I think their target Completion and full operation is 2007, that is according to the previous articles i have posted. The Legazpi wharf is also part of this as the 2nd phase of development coz it will be the stand-off point from Legazpi for easier travel to the Island. :)

drfeelgood17

November 3rd, 2005, 02:00 AM

Finally a pic of little-visited Masbate

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/masbate31qz.jpg

and Masbate's teeny-weeny airport :)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/masbateairport6rb.jpg

By the way, the guy in the pic is NOT me....just in case you're wondering :) :) - i'm much more handsome ahem!

drfeelgood17

November 3rd, 2005, 02:04 AM

a 19th century engraving of Daraga market:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/montanodaraga.jpg

olineil

November 3rd, 2005, 02:24 AM

a 19th century engraving of Daraga market:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/montanodaraga.jpg

Wow nice to see an artist impression of Daraga during the Hispanic era, nice find.

sugbuanon

November 3rd, 2005, 04:49 AM

^^ that pic reminds me of medieval europe.. its like a scene in Bram Stocker's Dracula.. Dracula in Daraga.. hehe

olineil

November 3rd, 2005, 05:01 AM

November 3, 2005

Two Australian mining companies are digging in in the Philippines under Manila's "open door" policy, writes resources editor Barry FitzGerald.

LAFAYETTE'S Andrew McIlwain is the first to admit that his group's new gold and base metals operation on Rapu Rapu island — the first funded by foreign capital in 30 years — was the "easiest" of Filipino mining projects to get under way under the country's open-door mining policy.

Reached by a 40-kilometre boat ride from Legaspi at the base of the smoking Mayon volcano in south-eastern Luzon, all-Christian Rapu Rapu is the closest thing you will find to a Club Med-style mining operation. But it has not all been easy: the boat trip out to the island is one of the fastest in the Philippines in case there is a need to outrun pirates.

Rapu Rapu started producing from the gold-only circuit in July after eight years of tenacious work. The base metals circuit gets switched on next month.

"I've got a few grey hairs and I am a few inches shorter as a result of it," McIlwain said of bringing the mine to production at a site briefing recently for Australian brokers and media.

Perched on a the side of hill that overlooks a surf beach and the Pacific ocean, the $US43 million ($A58 million) development is forecast to be a sweet one for Lafayette. The mine, whose life was recently extended to eight years, is expected to have a payback of just two years.

Lafayette wants to use Rapu Rapu (which means "distant island") as a springboard to other operations in the Philippines after testing more fully the exploration blue-sky on the island. "We see ourselves as the partner of choice in the Philippines," McIlwain said.

McIlwain is as popular man in the nearby villages, where his height gives those children game enough to take him on in a game of keepings off with a tennis ball a special challenge. The older folk acknowledge the company's efforts in piping in clean water and its support of educational and cultural activities.

INDOPHIL chief executive Tony Robbins is a seasoned campaigner when it comes to dealing with the challenges of operating in the Philippines.

Robbins, a straight-talking geologist, led the WMC exploration team that found the world-class Tampakan copper/gold deposit in southern Mindanao in 1992, only to pick it from his old boss in 2002 when then WMC chief Hugh Morgan culled all exploration in issue-challenged overseas locations.

Tampakan has certainly been issue challenged. Apart from its central role in the Supreme Court challenge over financial and technical assistance agreements (FTAAs), Tampakan's Mindanao location means Indophil is constantly questioned by the investment community about security issues, notably the presence of Jemaah Islamiah terrorist training grounds. That is despite the security hot spots on Mindanao being hundreds of kilometres to the west of Tampakan.

Rather than JI training camps, Tampakan's immediate neighbours are US-owned pineapple and asparagus plantations. Queensland cattlemen are also moving into the area, drawn by the more reliable rainfall and the proximity to South-East Asian markets.

About 50 kilometres north of the port city of General Santos City — the nearest point in the Philippines to Australia and the country's tuna and pineapple capital — Tampakan has no particular security fears for Robbins. It's all about relativities and managing the issues.

"I am nervous every time I go through airport security in Thailand or Bali. The world is not the same place it was 10 years ago," Robbins said at a mine site visit. He said the best protection against external threats was the strength of its relationship with the five animist tribal groups that occupied the valleys that drape off the mountain that is also home to the Tampakan copper/gold ore body, the biggest undeveloped resource of its kind in South-East Asia.

Tampakan is now the subject of an aggressive drilling program, the results of which will be fed to a pre-feasibility study due for completion in the second half of 2006. Expectations are that a $US600 million-plus go-ahead decision will be made at the end of 2007 for the development of a 50-year mine at Tampakan.

Well before then, Indophil will know whether Mick Davis at Xstrata will exercise an option it holds over acquiring a 62.5 per cent interest in the project at a cost of $52 million.

"If they (Xstrata) don't exercise, no doubt someone else will be in there in a flash," Robbins said. To that end, just about every big copper mining group has crawled over the deposit, the most recent party from Polish producer KGHM.

Like Xstrata and the rest of the global industry, the Polish are scrambling to line up the big new copper developments required to meet the China-led boom in demand. Tampakan is certainly big enough to meet the supply challenge.

The reporter travelled to the Philippines as a guest of the Australia-Philippines Business Council, Lafayette and Indophil.

Matteo

November 3rd, 2005, 09:05 PM

Olineil, aside from the golf course in Daet, are there any other golf courses in Bicol? or Legazpi? Naga? do you know?

Lili

November 3rd, 2005, 09:42 PM

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/masbateairport6rb.jpg

By the way, the guy in the pic is NOT me....just in case you're wondering :) :) - i'm much more handsome ahem!

Sige nga, drfeelgood17. You have to prove your claim.

Matteo

November 3rd, 2005, 10:11 PM

Sige nga, drfeelgood17. You have to prove your claim.

Lili, he's also got some photos of him surfing in Daet in here somewhere.

and he's shirtless... :D

Lili

November 3rd, 2005, 10:24 PM

I saw those already. Breaking the waves? But the shots are too far.

olineil

November 4th, 2005, 01:02 AM

Olineil, aside from the golf course in Daet, are there any other golf courses in Bicol? or Legazpi? Naga? do you know?

There used to be one right in the foot of Mayon near Magayon Beach Resort (the ones owned by the ever luxurious Marcoses) but it the whole Golf course was engulfed with Lava during the earlier eruptions.

During my College Days as an architecture student there were talks that Fil-Estate was supposed to develop a Golf course somewhere behind the Sleeping Lion hill. Dont know what happened to it. There is a Driving Range in Bonot thats for sure. Its in between Lignon Hill and the Airport Runway.

Lili, he's also got some photos of him surfing in Daet in here somewhere. and he's shirtless...

Hahahahahaha.... :hahaha:

Matteo

November 4th, 2005, 01:47 AM

I saw those already. Breaking the waves? But the shots are too far.

drfeelgood, Lili's talking to you... hehehe

drfeelgood17

November 4th, 2005, 02:09 AM

Lili

November 4th, 2005, 02:15 AM

Did I put you on the spot, Sir? Well, you can still graciously exit from the challenge. I wouldn't want to intrude into your privacy. ;)

olineil

November 4th, 2005, 06:31 AM

Hmmm I did think about that Lili and Matteo, but I don't think personal pics are suitable in this kind of thread....besides it would be way off topic, right? Baka magalit na saatin si Olineil, this is his thread after all, di ba? (oLIneil, HELP!!)
:hammer:
there's my excuse haha

Hahaha, i would like to help you...but I dont own this thread. This is our thread. But of course the Mods has the say when we are going off topic. Ok so lets go back to topic now...Cheers!

olineil

November 5th, 2005, 02:14 AM

http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2005/nov3/pictures/mutya-ng-ibalong.gif

Legazpi lass is Mutya ng Ibalong 2005. Shenna Kay Guevarra Perez, 21 of Legazpi City, the new Mutya ng Ibalong (center) poses for a souvenir photo with members of her court (from left), Maria Beatriz Imperial Saw, 19, of Naga City, 2nd Runner-Up, and Grace Razon Blazado, 18 of Bula, Camarines Sur, 1st Runner-up. The Beauty Pageant and coronation were held last October 28 at Ibalong Centrum for Recreation, Legazpi City. Perez was also adjudged best in long gown and model discovery of the year; Blazado was best in swim suit; Kharlyn Gayle Caroche, of Iriga City, Miss Talent; Jennifer Solares Arguelles, of Bato, Camarines Sur, Miss Photogenic; and Shiela Banastao Mendoza, of Lagonoy, Camarines Sur, Miss Festival, Travel and Tours. F.P. Narito. Photo by Ely’s Studio.

olineil

November 5th, 2005, 02:16 AM

70% nagfafavor sa parliamentry-federal

KUN masusunod an mga resulta sa consultacion sa manlaen-laen na region sa propuestong pag-enmienda kan 1987 constitution 70 por ciento an nagfafavor sa pagribay kan forma nin gobierno hali sa sistema presidential pasiring sa parliamentary-federal system.

An Consultative Commission (ConCom) na pigmukna ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa pag-adal kun arin na mga provisiones kan constitucion an puedeng ribayan asin maging an pagribay kan sistema kan gobierno an padagos na kan saindang mga ginibong consultacion.

Si dating Juez David Naval asin Dean kan College of Law kan University of Nueva Caceres miembro kan ConCom nagpahayag sa Bicol Mail na kabali sa saindang natapos na lugar sa mga consultacion sa charter change iyo an Cebu, Zamboanga, Puerto Princesa sa Palawan, Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro City, General Santos City, Zambales, Cotabato asin iba pang ciudad.

Saindang pigconsulta an manlaen-laen na sector sagcod sa lado nin mga paraoma, trabajadores, mga abogado, doctor, NGO asin dakul pang iba na naging mahiwas si discucion. Sa mga opinion asin panindugan na saindang natipon favor sa federalismo huli ta magkaka-igwa na sinda nin independencia habo nang magpasakop sa Imperialistang Manila. Kadakli kan arog kaining panindugan gikan sa Cebu asin Mindanao.

Sa mga vorotohan kulilat na an nagfafavor sa presidential system asin mayoria na an sa parliamentary-federal system.

Si Naval, iyo an natukahan sa pagkapot kan chairman sa pag-adal kan forma de gobierno nagsabi na huli kan nangyayaring crisis sa politica an mayoria na an nagfafavor sa pagribay kan sistema kan gobierno.

Alagad dawa na natukahan sinda ni GMA na mag-adal kan pag-enmienda kan constitucion puedeng maging entonsis an saindang kapagalan kun dai man sana ini fafavoran kan duwang Camara na iyo an final na madecicion mientras na sinda iyo sana an masumiter nin recomendacion.

Si Congresista Jaraula, chairman kan committee on constitutional amendments sa Camara-Baja nagsumiter sa ConCom kan mga propuesto sa charter change mientras na pigtawan sana sinda nin plaso asta sa Deciembre 15, 2005.

An ano man nindang mahahaman na mga recomendacion isusumiter ki Presidente Arroyo asin kun saiyang makursonadahan iyo an irerecomendar sa Congreso nganing iyo an i-adoptar.

Inako kan miembro kan ConCom na taga Calabanga, Camarines Sur na entonsis an saindang kapagalan kun dai man sana fafavoran kan ¾ kan mga miembros kan Congreso, alagad dedebatihan pa an isyung ini kun kaipuhan pagsaroon an duwang Camara sa vorotohan sa pag-aprovar na kan pagbago kan constitucion.

olineil

November 5th, 2005, 02:41 AM

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 3 - The Local Provincial Price Coordinating Council in Albay has intensified the monitoring of prices and enforcement of trade law in connection with the implementation of Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) Law. Albay Vice Governor Jesus Calisin, who is currently the acting governor called an emergency meeting among the members of the council to take necessary measures to prevent the jacking up of prices by unscrupulous business establishments. Albay Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial director Rodrigo Aguilar told the members of the council that there has been a price increase in the agricultural products, "but the EVAT has nothing to do with it." According to Aguilar, the hike was caused by the increase in the transportation cost and production. The DTI has assigned one personnel in all municipalities and cities throughout the province to respond to complaints and clarifications from consumers pertaining to products or commodities covered by the EVAT. Calisin also urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue to intensify its information campaign and monitoring in all establishments to prevent the possible abuse of the EVAT law. The council agreed to submit weekly reports to the office of the governor regarding the prices of basic commodities. Aguilar warned all business establishments that necessary penalty will be imposed if they will take advantage of the EVAT implementation.

ThisFire

November 5th, 2005, 06:36 AM

How is that EVAT tax going? I'd like to know.

drfeelgood17

November 5th, 2005, 04:38 PM

Nasabutan ko gayud an 90 porciento kan articulo mo.

There you go - did I pass my Bicol test, Olineil?
:) :runaway:
I'm not sure about a few words like "entonsis" - sounds like the Spanish entonces - but if we use its Spanish meaning (then) it wouldn't make sense in the context of this article. It's amazing how many Spanish words we have: mientras, propuesto, Camara, adoptar, enmendar. forma de gobierno...

Lili

November 6th, 2005, 05:21 AM

^ I'm surprised I also understand that article. Nakasabot pala ako ng Bicol. It's a mix of Spanish, Visaya, Waray and Tagalog.

tigidig14

November 6th, 2005, 05:29 AM

^ur a mutt or in taglish halo-halo

drfeelgood17

November 6th, 2005, 10:58 PM

olineil

November 7th, 2005, 05:46 PM

No wonder I sometimes understand Cebuano too - they use many similar words - they also say kakan for eat ...like in Naga! Whereas in Legazpi we say kaon. Also to play in Bicol is kawat - but this means something very different in Waray, apparently.... :)

Kawat in Bulusan, Sorsogon is Steal. I remember when I was a kid, everytime i go vacationing in Bulusan I always ask my playmates there "Makawat kita?" then nobody come with me...LOL :bash:

Lili

November 7th, 2005, 06:45 PM

Matteo

November 7th, 2005, 09:04 PM

^^ That's funny. 'Kawat' in Waray and Sorsogon is to steal but 'kawat' in bicol is to play. Interesting how the meaning had changed. Sorsogon is nearer Bicol than Samar isn't it? How about Masbatenos. I wonder what the meaning of 'kawat' is there?

In the word thread, 'kawatan' had entered the Tagalog lingo as magnanakaw.

It still amazes me that even the neigbouring communities of Legazpi City and Daraga town have very distinct differences in dialect even if they're about 20 minutes apart from each other.

For instance:

Tagalog: "Pupunta kami doon sa mall para maglaro."

Bicol Legazpi: "Maduman kami sa mall para magkawat."

Bicol Daraga: "Adun kami dito sa mall tanganing mag-amun."

How about that! nyeahhaha :hahaha:

Lili

November 7th, 2005, 09:28 PM

drfeelgood17

November 8th, 2005, 01:15 AM

Really interesting! Don't you find it curious that in Luzon, the languages are more distinct among the provinces/regions closer together than in the Visayas and Mindanao? Would you attribute that to the mountainous terrain and vast plains in Luzon, and that the Visayans are more seafaring people than in Luzon such that the Visayans are more linked linguistically and there is more homogeneity in the language in the Visayas than in Luzon? It may be that the proximity of Bicol and Sorsogon to the Visayas is the reason why the language there is closer to Visaya or Waray.

I find it really curious. For example, Pangasinan and Pampangga are just adjacent to each other but the languages are so different from each other and from Tagalog.

Yes - geography might have something to do it with. Another reason is that Tagalog, Bicol and the Visayan languages belong to the same sub-group of languages, known as 'Central Philippine languages". This explains why Tagalog has actually more in common with Cebuano linguistically (how ironic!!) :) than nearby Kapampangan - which belongs to the Northern subgroup. Ilocano, also belongs to the northern group but is only distantly related to Kapampangan. The same goes for the language of Pangasinan. This is why it is so difficult for other Filipinos to learn languages such as Ilocano. Bearing in mind that Northern Luzon is very mountainous this might be one explanation for the variety of languages found there.

Perhaps one of the most extreme cases of variety is within Bicol: the Bicol of Legazpi has more in common with Naga Bicol (despite minor differences in vocabulary) than with the neighbouring town of Daraga! Oas, Ligao and Libon all have their own dialects - in fact, almost every town in the 3rd District (or is it first??) has its own dialect.

olineil

November 8th, 2005, 01:21 AM

drfeelgood17

November 8th, 2005, 01:27 AM

It still amazes me that even the neigbouring communities of Legazpi City and Daraga town have very distinct differences in dialect even if they're about 20 minutes apart from each other.

For instance:

Tagalog: "Pupunta kami doon sa mall para maglaro."

Bicol Legazpi: "Maduman kami sa mall para magkawat."

Bicol Daraga: "Adun kami dito sa mall tanganing mag-amun."

How about that! nyeahhaha :hahaha:

I would also like to add the most famous difference between Naga and Legazpi:

Tagalog: Wala naman
Naga: Mayo man
Legazpi: Wara man

Oh yeah and in Naga they also say "mapuli na ako" instead of mauli na...

drfeelgood17

November 8th, 2005, 01:28 AM

Kawat in Bulusan, Sorsogon is Steal. I remember when I was a kid, everytime i go vacationing in Bulusan I always ask my playmates there "Makawat kita?" then nobody come with me...LOL :bash:

and if I'm not mistaken the Sorsogon word for kawatan is kanaman?

Lili

November 8th, 2005, 01:35 AM

I would also like to add the most famous difference between Naga and Legazpi:

Tagalog: Wala naman
Naga: Mayo man
Legazpi: Wara man

Oh yeah and in Naga they also say "mapuli na ako" instead of mauli na...

In Waray, it is "Waray man"

To go home is "Mauli na 'ko"

So the terms in Legazpi are similar to Samar (Waray).

Lili

November 8th, 2005, 01:37 AM

Yes - geography might have something to do it with. Another reason is that Tagalog, Bicol and the Visayan languages belong to the same sub-group of languages, known as 'Central Philippine languages". This explains why Tagalog has actually more in common with Cebuano linguistically (how ironic!!) :) than nearby Kapampangan - which belongs to the Northern subgroup. Ilocano, also belongs to the northern group but is only distantly related to Kapampangan. The same goes for the language of Pangasinan. This is why it is so difficult for other Filipinos to learn languages such as Ilocano. Bearing in mind that Northern Luzon is very mountainous this might be one explanation for the variety of languages found there.

Perhaps one of the most extreme cases of variety is within Bicol: the Bicol of Legazpi has more in common with Naga Bicol (despite minor differences in vocabulary) than with the neighbouring town of Daraga! Oas, Ligao and Libon all have their own dialects - in fact, almost every town in the 3rd District (or is it first??) has its own dialect.

Very interesting!!

olineil

November 8th, 2005, 01:37 AM

It still amazes me that even the neigbouring communities of Legazpi City and Daraga town have very distinct differences in dialect even if they're about 20 minutes apart from each other.

For instance:

Tagalog: "Pupunta kami doon sa mall para maglaro."

Bicol Legazpi: "Maduman kami sa mall para magkawat."

Bicol Daraga: "Adun kami dito sa mall tanganing mag-amun."

How about that! nyeahhaha :hahaha:

"I always have this Joke when people would talk about Bicol language and Dialects" - "I would tell them Dialects in Bicol are so numerous that even a P5 jeepney ride iba na ang dialect :tongue4: :laugh: :tongue4: "

Lili

November 8th, 2005, 01:38 AM

^ LOL! :lol:

drfeelgood17

November 8th, 2005, 01:44 AM

In Waray, it is "Waray man"

To go home is "Mauli na 'ko"

So the terms in Legazpi are similar to Samar (Waray).

so it seems....they'll love you in Legazpi Lili - you could run for Mayoress on a Bicol-Waray unity campaign hehe

olineil

November 8th, 2005, 01:47 AM

How about this...

(English) Pig...(Daraga) Orig...(Sorsogon) Babuy....ahahahaha

Lili

November 8th, 2005, 01:52 AM

^ Orig nga Babuy. At least orig. "The original is the best." :okay: nyek, nyek, nyek...

So, Nora Aunor in Minsang Isang Gamu-gamu could have said, "My brother is not orig."

Matteo

November 8th, 2005, 01:53 AM

I would also like to add the most famous difference between Naga and Legazpi:

Tagalog: Wala naman
Naga: Mayo man
Legazpi: Wara man

Oh yeah and in Naga they also say "mapuli na ako" instead of mauli na...

"Galit" in Naga is 'anggot', in Legazpi 'dagit', in Daraga 'ingut'...

Daraga Bicol is hard to spell.... like the Daraga term for "oo" or yes. It's 'awu, or ayu..

Try spelling that! nyahaha :rofl:

Lili

November 8th, 2005, 01:53 AM

Awuuuu.... :rofl:

Matteo

November 8th, 2005, 01:58 AM

Awuuuu.... :rofl:

oh look. me and lili rolling on the floor laughing, together. hehehe

drfeelgood17

November 8th, 2005, 01:59 AM

"Galit" in Naga is 'anggot', in Legazpi 'dagit', in Daraga 'ingut'...

Daraga Bicol is hard to spell.... like the Daraga term for "oo" or yes. It's 'awu, or ayu..

Try spelling that! nyahaha :rofl:
oh my god thanks for reminding me Matt!! - I was scratching my head for that peculiar Daraga word for yes! It used to make me laugh when my schoolfriends used to say that - it's hard to pronounce as you have to twist your mouth in a certain way....a bit like the French "e" in petit peu....

drfeelgood17

November 8th, 2005, 02:00 AM

oh look. me and lili rolling on the floor laughing, together. hehehe

hmmm stop it guys you're making me jealous!

Lili

November 8th, 2005, 02:00 AM

At least it sounds French. :lol:

Matteo

November 8th, 2005, 02:01 AM

oh my god thanks for reminding me Matt!! - I was scratching my head for that peculiar Daraga word for yes! It used to make me laugh when my schoolfriends used to say that - it's hard to pronounce as you have to twist your mouth in a certain way....a bit like the French "e" in petit peu....

dude it still cracks me up to this day hehehe

Lili

November 8th, 2005, 02:02 AM

oh look. me and lili rolling on the floor laughing, together. hehehe

sounds nasty... ;)

drfeelgood17

November 8th, 2005, 02:05 AM

dude it still cracks me up to this day hehehe

just picture this a football stadium full of Daraguenos chanting Yes! yes! yes!....awuuuuuuuuu!

Lili

November 8th, 2005, 02:07 AM

Don't let my imagination go wild please. ;)

drfeelgood17

November 8th, 2005, 02:08 AM

Ok serious na....maybe we should just appreciate each others' rich diversity and contribution to Bicolano culture? :) we are all untied! How about that?

Lili

November 8th, 2005, 02:14 AM

Awu. :yes:

olineil

November 8th, 2005, 02:47 AM

Ok serious na....maybe we should just appreciate each others' rich diversity and contribution to Bicolano culture? :) we are all untied! How about that?

Isnt it Ironic...Dont you think? (Alanis Morisette) LOL. The Whole bicol peninsula + Catanduanes and Masbate has a slew of Dialects but we are one of the most contigeous(tama ba spelling?) Regions in the country. When People ask us where u from in Pinas? our basic instinct is Bicol no matter where u are from Bicol. Not until they ask where in Bicol from?, then we tell them. :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper:

drfeelgood17

November 8th, 2005, 03:00 AM

Isnt it Ironic...Dont you think? (Alanis Morisette) LOL. The Whole bicol peninsula + Catanduanes and Masbate has a slew of Dialects but we are one of the most contigeous(tama ba spelling?) Regions in the country. When People ask us where u from in Pinas? our basic instinct is Bicol no matter where u are from Bicol. Not until they ask where in Bicol from?, then we tell them. :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper:

Indeed Neil....Unity in diversity ! that should be our "state motto" - our very own ET PLURIBUS UNUM :)

Lili

November 8th, 2005, 03:16 AM

Yeah, a very timely motto at that! :okay:

sugbuanon

November 8th, 2005, 06:26 PM

Resort worth P1B rising in Albay

THE NEW Masibis Resorts and Estates in Cagraray Island is earning a reputation as Albay's rising star among the province's numerous destinations, with its upcoming masterplanned community, natural attractions and the P1 billion investment that its developer has earmarked for its 2015 completion.

Masibis Resorts and Estates is a 260-hectare property located at the southeastern part of the island, which is about 20 km northeast of Legazpi City.

"It will be a continuing development that will span 11 years. Last year, we started the first phase involving 60 hectares," reports Masibis Land Inc. president and CEO Elizaldy Co.

P500-M development

Within this P500 million development, Masibis Land is planning to build a 900-lot residential property that they hope would attract retirees and those looking for second homes.

"For now, we are completing the commercial portion of the development, which will be the centerpiece of the planned residential development," says Co.

He reports that they are now completing the boardwalk and gazebos, clubhouse with function rooms, restaurants and bars, infinity pool and deck, business center, 24 guest rooms and 28 cabanas, entry lounge and coffee shop, poolside sunken bar, spa and health clinic, recreational facilities and equipment in time for the soft opening on April 2006.

Also, Co shares that Masibis Resorts and Estates has built a P60-million sewage treatment plant to process its waste water.

"With the growing awareness of eco-tourism and the development of infrastructure attractions, it has become necessary to use best practices to reduce the impact of increased visitor numbers," says Co.

Because of the developer's efforts, Masibis Resorts and Estates was evaluated as a "Class AAA" resort by the Department of Tourism and the third Tourism Estate Zone resort after Boracay and Fort Ilocandia by the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

More developments

By April 2009, Co reveals they will add 30 more guest rooms, convention hall, spa, basketball and tennis courts, and even a helicopter ride.

"Hopefully, if things go as planned by 2010, we would have built a golf course, farm lots, marina yacht basin, canopy walk and many more within the remaining 200-hectare portion of the property," says Co.

He says Albay Gulf, where the property is located offers a myriad of attractions for their would-be residents.

"For example, the three-kilometer Sula Channel is nearly enclosed so it looks like a lake if you're in the middle. And because its water is calm, the channel is perfect for fishing, enjoying water activities, and diving [there are sunken galleon ships located in the area, too]," reveals Co.

He reveals that the islands surrounding Albay Bay provide a new investment environment for hotel and resort development companies interested in providing nature theme vacation destinations as well as home developers wanting to build residential communities.

drfeelgood17

November 9th, 2005, 02:52 AM

^ Orig nga Babuy. At least orig. "The original is the best." :okay: nyek, nyek, nyek...

So, Nora Aunor in Minsang Isang Gamu-gamu could have said, "My brother is not orig."

If pig is babuy in Waray then how do you translate lechon na manok in Waray? Babuy na manuk?! :crazy2:

olineil

November 9th, 2005, 02:52 AM

First posted 04:55am (Mla time) Nov 07, 2005
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on page A21 of the Nov. 7, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

LEGAZPI CITY -- Villagers living near the premises of Lafayette Mining Corp. in the Rapu-Rapu town of Albay province have claimed that cyanide found in mine tailings that spilled when the company's pump malfunctioned on Oct. 11 caused fish kills in their area since last week.

Jon Sarmiento of the environmental group Alamin said the fish kills on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 had angered the residents.

Jun Narvaez, Bicol area manager of Tanggol Kalikasan, said that when the tailings pump of the multibillion-peso Rapu-Rapu polymetallic project failed, tailing materials spilled from an emergency pond of the mill into the surrounding mill site, including the supposed fully protected "immediate drainage."

Rey Juan, Mines and Geosciences Bureau regional technical director, said an MGB team had already checked the situation and made sure that mitigating measures had been undertaken by Lafayette.

The damage and threat had been contained, he said.

Overflow

Juan said he had received a report that the tailings pond overflowed again due to continuous rains on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. He sent another team to investigate the matter.

"The cyanide content of the tailings pond is indeed heavy, so I immediately dispatched a team at the Binosawan area where the spill took place," Juan said.

He said he expected the team to submit its report today.

Inaccurate

Rapu-Rapu Councilor Eric de la Paz claimed that the MGB findings were inaccurate since several fish kills had already occurred in the villages of Binosawan, Pagcolbon and Malobago since the tailings pond overflowed.

"Right now, the majority of us in the Sangguniang Bayan [town council] are unanimous in passing a resolution to stop the mining operations and declare null and void the proclamation of the area as a special economic zone in Bicol," De la Paz said.

He said the council was closely coordinating with concerned sectors and "feel grateful for the initiative of the local parish headed by Fr. Felino Bugawisan in mobilizing the people of these barangays."

Measures

Narvaez confirmed that based on the inspection of their team in Rapu-Rapu, Lafayette had taken measures to contain the effects of the overflow.

He said Lafayette's technicians had immediately removed the dead fish.

Lafayette refused to comment on the issue, saying it stood firm on the findings of the MGB.

On Oct. 22, the bureau said the tailings spill was confined within the mine site, only about two kilos of marine organisms affected by the cyanide were gathered during the first day, and that toxic waste soon dissipated to standard level. Gil Francis Arevalo, PDI Southern Luzon Bureau

drfeelgood17

November 9th, 2005, 02:53 AM

Sounds very promising - I can't wait to have a "second home" over there hehe. Thanks Mr Sugbuanon!

Lili

November 9th, 2005, 03:30 AM

If pig is babuy in Waray then how do you translate lechon na manok in Waray? Babuy na manuk?! :crazy2:

Sounds very promising - I can't wait to have a "second home" over there hehe. Thanks Mr Sugbuanon!

Drfeelgood, you're funny ha! For cyanide poisoning, laughter is the best medicine. We can't eat fish so let's just have orig na manuk. :D:

drfeelgood17

November 9th, 2005, 03:53 AM

more Bicol phrases for Lili:

How to ask for pork chops in a Bicol market (saud):

manggurano tabi an kapirasung orig? Hoy, (you have to be assertive) abo ko kan manuk, may bird ploo baga an - orig na sana!

How to negotiate a safe tricycle ride in Legazpi:

Nonoy, luwaywayan daw an pagdalagan kan traysee - nailingin na nganing badus ako! :)

Lili

November 9th, 2005, 04:04 AM

How big is kapirasu? How many kilos?

The rest after "Hoy" sound funny to me. :colgate:

olineil

November 9th, 2005, 05:15 AM

PIA Press Release
11/09/2005

by AB Calleja

LEGAZPI CITY (9 November) -— The Department of Science and Technology in Bicol (DOST V) will conduct a Philippine eLibrary Orientation-Workshop on November 9 at the Bicol University (BU) College of Science Auditorium, here.

In cooperation with the BU, the workshop aims to familiarize researchers from all walks of life in the Bicol region, about the Philippine eLib project for them to be able to utilize the project fully and effectively.

The program will be carried out by the Phil. eLib Project team composed of Prudencia C. Cruz, National Library director and eLib project manager Dr. Lilia G. Bayabos, Training Team leader from the DOST-PCARRD, Dr. Carmelita F. Nobleza, Exert-at-Large on Library Matters from the DOST-OUST and Salvacion N. Ariante, UP Librarian.

The Philippine eLib is one of the eleven eGovernment-funded projects which the DOST initiated in collaboration with the National Library (TNL), the University of the Philippines (UP), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

DOST Bicol regional director Ma. Josefina P. Abilay said this project will provide a single portal for the combined library holdings and other information materials of the participating agencies and access to some international electronic databases.

Through this project we hope to cater to the information needs of all sectors of society in a convenient, affordable, and efficient way of delivery,” Abilay said.

The web shall be offering the following resources: 1) union catalog of the five partners (DOST, TNL, UP, DA and CHED), 2) Digitized Filipiniana materials including theses and dissertations, scholarly publications in the humanities, social sciences, and science and technology, and materials that represent the country’s cultural heritage, 3) special collection/researches of the 5 partners, 4) on-line resources/subscription to electronic databases.

Conceptualized in the middle part of 2003 through the efforts of DOST Undersecretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, the Phil. eLib project has a total fund of P166.77 million through the Information Technology and E-Commerce Council (ITECC) now Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT). (PIA)

ThisFire

November 9th, 2005, 06:14 AM

That is really great news, and it really fits for it to be in the Philippines.

olineil

November 9th, 2005, 06:11 PM

Hi Lili,

You are based in New York right? Me and my wifey has a big chance of moving to NY around next year or so. Any advices I can impart for us? Thanx. I know its a bit off topic, i just needed ask. Thanx again.

Lili

November 9th, 2005, 06:36 PM

Are you moving on a work visa/status or family-based petition? It is important to secure proper documents so that you will be able to fulfill your potential in NY and elsewhere in the US.

olineil

November 9th, 2005, 07:19 PM

Are you moving on a work visa/status or family-based petition? It is important to secure proper documents so that you will be able to fulfill your potential in NY and elsewhere in the US.

We will be under work Visa. We are concerned specially in accomodation (Where is a good place to reside? at least with substantial Filipino Community maybe but not necessary, or at least a safe area to reside in). See we are so used to the Peace and Order here in Singapore and not all that we are hearing about NY is that great specially in Security. Or are just miss-informed. Any tips para sa future bagong-salta...LOL. Salamat na dakulaon! ayan may bago kang Bicol word. :)

Lili

November 9th, 2005, 08:04 PM

Astoria, Queens and Jersey City, NJ have sizeable Filipino communities. There are also other places in New Jersey like Teaneck, NJ or Edgewater, NJ (but it's better to have cars if you are staying in these areas since they are quite a distance from NYC but still easily accessible via public transportation.)

The rental rates of spaces there are also comparatively less expensive than living in Manhattan. If you're so used to Singaporean neatness, let me warn you that New York is grungy. So brace yourself. Not everything here is neat and tidy. I feel safe in New York. Of course there are wackos out there but I still feel safer here than say shopping in Malls in Manila.

Matteo

November 9th, 2005, 11:10 PM

drfeelgood17

November 10th, 2005, 04:16 PM

and if you go on vacation, come to vegas. heheee

Olineil and his wife might also have to adapt to the winter chill - especially if you're from tropical Singapore...but hey that's part of the fun! Enjoy the snow and ice!! :)

olineil

November 10th, 2005, 06:07 PM

First posted 00:01am (Mla time) Nov 11, 2005
By Gil Francis Arevalo
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on Page A17 of the November 11, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

LEGAZPI CITY—Church and civic leaders of the island municipality of Rapu-Rapu are calling for a permanent stop to the operations of mining firm Lafayette Phils. Inc. following a mine waste spill that leaked cyanide into the town’s bodies of water.

Fr. Felino Bugauisan, Rapu-Rapu assistant parish priest and coordinator of the environmental group Sagip Isla, said the suspension by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of Lafayette’s operations came “a little too late.”

“It’s starting to bring not progress or economic growth ... but destruction to the rich and bountiful island of Rapu-Rapu and the lives of the local folk residing near the 180-hectare mining area,” Bugauisan said.

He said the island was no stranger to the effects of irresponsible mining.

In the 1980s, a Japanese mining firm left the area after 15 years of operations, leaving the municipality contaminated with mining wastes and three of four rivers biologically dead. same could happen to Lafayette.

Lafayette’s operations were suspended after Rey Juan, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) regional director, said there was unauthorized discharge of wastes from the mine’s tailings pond, which contained cyanide.

But Juan ordered only the milling, not the entire mining operation, stopped.

“The open-pit operation ... will still continue, as it is not suspended,” said Juan.

Bugauisan, however, said DENR officials may not be telling everything.

He said that on Oct. 11, the MGB described the spill as just a minor incident.

Clemente Bautista Jr., convenor of another environmental group Defend Patrimony, said in a phone interview that his group interviewed residents and found that the mining operation did not have their consent.

“What’s happening in Rapu-Rapu is similar in a way to the infamous Marcopper mining operation in Marinduque that resulted in destruction that was beyond imagination,” said Bautista.

Dr. Domingo Vergara, Rapu-Rapu District Hospital chief, has advised residents to refrain from buying and eating fish and other edible marine products coming from the contaminated areas.

olineil

November 10th, 2005, 06:09 PM

olineil

November 10th, 2005, 06:25 PM

EDIT: Im takin it down first. Somethin is wrong wif the source site. Sorry. I try and repost later.

olineil

November 10th, 2005, 06:27 PM

EDIT: same reason. Sorry.

olineil

November 10th, 2005, 06:37 PM

http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/120700981.jpg

http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/120700991.jpg

http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/120701031.jpg

http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/120700941.jpg

B.S. Tambayology...
http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/120700921.jpg

http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/120700951.jpg

http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/120700961.jpg

http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/120700781.jpg

http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/120700841.jpg

http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/120700881.jpg

http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/120700901.jpg

http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/120700971.jpg

http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/12070077_11.jpg

Legazpi city Airport Terminal
http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/12070071_11.jpg

http://www.sam21phj.com/south/Legazpi/12070072_11.jpg

drfeelgood17

November 10th, 2005, 07:22 PM

That is vey worrying news about the mining spillage - I really hope that company cleans up its mess!!

Matteo

November 10th, 2005, 09:06 PM

dude some of the pics aren't showing up.... :(

Matteo

November 10th, 2005, 09:10 PM

Traysikol
http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/legazpitraffic.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/legaspihotel.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/legazpiportgate.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/legazpiportship.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/legazpiportshipside.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/legazpiportlion.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/legazpimetromall.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/legazpimovies.jpg

Look at those deformed Adverts...LOL
http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/legazpipublicmarketsign.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/monumentmall.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/monumentfullmt.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/monumentmt.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/monumentclose.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/ywamalbay/images/monumentplaque.jpg

i wanna see, i wanna see!! but i can't... :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Matteo

November 10th, 2005, 09:11 PM

hi lili

Lili

November 10th, 2005, 09:23 PM

Hi Matteo :)

I want to see the pictures, too, Olineil. ;)

olineil

November 11th, 2005, 04:43 AM

http://www.wetexpedition.de/bilder/walhaie/walhaibild.jpg

http://www.wetexpedition.de/bilder-2005/walhaie-norbert-probst/walhai2.jpg

http://www.wetexpedition.de/bilder-2005/walhaie-norbert-probst/walhai3.jpg

olineil

November 11th, 2005, 11:32 AM

First posted 03:39am (Mla time) Nov 10, 2005
By Gil Francis Arevalo
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on Page A15 of the November 10, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

SEVERAL HISTORICAL LANDMARKS have been destroyed in some parts of the country to give way for commercial, residential and infrastructure projects, but in Albay, people are trying to restore those that are threatened or abandoned in their communities.

Concerned architects are collaborating to identify the landmarks in Albay, conduct research on them, retrieve old photos, and take photos of their present conditions.

The sites include the Tabaco Cimborio in Tabaco City; centuries-old churches in Sto. Domingo, Bacacay, Daraga, Camalig, Oas and Ligao towns; the Colegio de San Buenaventura ruins in Guinobatan; Villa Encantada in Malinao; Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga; Budiao in Daraga; Sinimbahan in Tiwi; the Spanish bridges in the third district of the province; the burial ground of “Sarung Banggi” composer Potenciano Gregorio; the Mayon resthouse; and the mojones along national and provincial roads.

Old photos of these landmarks have been enlarged and displayed in museums,
and malls to create awareness and pride among Bicolanos.

The project aims to become a model and reference for other provinces in the region and elsewhere. Its productions will serve as a guide for architects and developers in reconstructing the landmarks and preserving their original structural designs.

Started early this year and expected to be completed in May next year, the project is being undertaken in collaboration with the Manila-based Instituto de Cervantes of Spain, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Heritage Conservation Society, Diocese of Legazpi, the provincial government and other concerned agencies.

The United Architects of the Philippines chapter in Legazpi and the Aquinas University College of Architecture and Fine Arts (Cafa) are spearheading the initiative. More than the retrieval and public display of old photos and the usual publication of historical writings, they seek to remind public and private institutions in the region of historical and cultural values in developing commercial establishments.

Reverse process

Eleven of the 16 identified heritage sites have already been documented. Information about them have been updated, while their architectural plans and sample outputs have been stored as computer-aided designs.

Architect Rino Fernandez, Cafa dean, said the project is being done in reverse, beginning with the existing conditions of the buildings—ruined, neglected, damaged, threatened or remarkably preserved—and ending with their plans and drawings.

It entails exhaustive field research and surveys of the sites so that accurate architectural plans that best represent the structures can be drawn.

The architects and students have already come up with at least 68 old photos and descriptions of history and technical constructions. They intend to measure and determine changes or damages in certain Spanish-era churches and other edifices.

Avoiding ignorance

National agencies responsible for preserving and restoring heritage sites in the country have lauded the project as vital in addressing problems of ignorance and neglect of the sites among government officials and the public.

They found the undertaking important for urban development planners so that they could avoid further damage or destruction of the historical landmarks and impart meaning to lessons of history and its continuity.

Anna “Bambi” Harper, an Inquirer columnist, said in a message during the first provincial conference and presentation of plans for architectural heritage projects on Aug. 29 that the endeavor focused not only on restoring old churches that are still being used, ancestral houses, old bridges, garrisons, mojones, cemeteries and numerous ruins in Albay, but also on the architectural drawings, which could bring up new pieces of information unearthed through historical and archival research.

Former tourism secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta, now president of the Heritage Conservation Society, noted that while there are many laws on preserving and restoring cultural and historical sites, these are hardly implemented or simply ignored.

“Historical sensitivity requires more than having so many laws; it must adhere to the very indispensable truth about our history, that is, continuity through unity and cooperation, by which we should be blessed for that’s what we’re doing now,” Araneta said.

Richard Bautista of the NCCA has pledged more technical support to raise public awareness about the use of the architectural plans through historical books or writings, in schools, government and private institutions, hotels, local museums, tourism offices and churches.

Spanish support

Javier Galvan, Spanish director of the Instituto de Cervantes, said the Spanish government was supporting the project.

“It is such a breakthrough that the local government of Albay has now shown more than just an interest in protecting and restoring landmarks here. They are in fact closely coordinating with the advocate-architects in making plans for urban development or future constructions,” he said.

The institute donated P400,000 to the AUL-Cafa for further research and fellowships. It vowed to continuously support the advocacy program.

The Spanish government recognizes Legazpi as one of two cities or places in the country (the other being Legazpi Village in Makati City) named after the Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.

Matteo

November 11th, 2005, 10:06 PM

drfeelgood17

November 12th, 2005, 01:01 AM

"Everyone has to experience the whale sharks at least once in their lifetime."

Albay's neighboring province to the south, Sorsogon, is host to one of the highest concentration of Whale Sharks in the world. These creatures have been frequenting the waters off Donsol, Sorsogon for generations and in 1998, the Philippine Department of Tourism declared this area an official sanctuary for the Whale Shark, thus protected this fascinating species.

Although Whale Sharks, or "Butanding" as they are locally known, are enormous in size and power, reaching lengths greater than 15 meters, they are remarkably gentle and docile enough that it is generally safe to swim among them. Swimming among the whale sharks is a captivating experience. If you are not comfortable swimming in the waters, then it is just as amazing to experience them from the boat. The Butanding swim along side the boat all the time.

Generally, the whale sharks at Donsol swim very close to the surface of the water. Some basic snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins and a water vest) are just about you'll need in the water to be able to experience swimming among them.

Getting there: Donsol, Sorsogon is approximately 1-hour drive away from Legazpi City. The roads all the way to Donsol are well-paved, scenic and very accessible. There are several Taxis available that make daily routes from Legazpi to Donsol, Sorsogon.

What to bring: Although food is available at a number of locations in Donsol, you can bring your own if you want to enjoy a picnic there. If you plan to eat at Donsol, check with the Donsol Tourism Office for accredited eating establishments. Bring plenty of water.

You can bring along your snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, fins and water vest) but if you don't have any, these are also available for rental at the Donsol Tourism Office. Bring your swimsuits, towels, camera, some sun screen, sunglasses, a change of clothes, slippers, as well as sealable plastic bags to keep valuables. You can bring your own Life Vest, but these are also available on the boat.

Arriving at Donsol, Sorsogon: Once in Donsol, proceed to the Donsol Tourism Office. If you drove in your own vehicle, there is plenty of space to safely park your vehicle there. If you took a public vehicle, make arrangements for your return trip to Legazpi. At the Tourism Office, you will be required to register and attend a brief orientation session prior to heading out to see the Whale Sharks. You will also be required to pay the fee for: Boat Rental and Crew, Registration, and snorkeling equipment rental (if needed). The maximum number of registrants per boat is 7 people.

After Registration: After a brief orientation period on the rules and guidelines, you are ready to head out to sea on a 12m (40ft) boat. Your group will be accompanied by a BIO (Butanding Interaction Officer) who will serve as your guide while you're out in the water, one Spotter, on the look-out for the Butanding, and two crew members to man the boat.

Out in the Water: While there are no guarantees of being able to see the Whale Sharks, you can count on it that if you are there in the right time and season, it can literally take only a few minutes after leaving shore before you come across the first Butanding! Generally, you do not need to be out in deep waters in order to interact with the Whale Sharks. Your BIO will point them out and educate you on how to spot them, as well as provide additional information you need to know during the experience. The BIO's are quite knowledgeable and friendly, and are willing to answer your questions. When the BIO feels that the situation is ideal, he will instruct the crew on the boat's approach to the whale shark, and take the lead in getting you ready for the experience.

Seeing the Butanding for the first time is an extremely exciting experience. It is very important to keep the safety procedures in mind, and always follow the lead and instructions of your BIO.

Duration: The whole experience can last anywhere from 1-4 hours, depending on how long you want to be out in the sea.

Season and Timing: Although Butanding are spotted year-round in the waters off Sorsogon, the season starts around November and goes on through May. The peak season is February through April. The best times to go are in the morning, as the waters are clearer and it easier to spot the Whale Sharks. According to the locals, the Whale Sharks are also more abundant before noon. On peak season, it is very common for each visitor to see more than a dozen different Butanding.

Contact Numbers:
Albay Provincial Tourism Office

Albay Tourism Bldg., Albay Astrodome Complex,

Capt. F. Aquende Drive, Legazpi City, 4500 Albay

Republic of the Philippines

Tel: (52) 820-6314 to 16 . Fax: (52) 820-6315

e-mail: tourism@albay.gov.ph

Donsol Tourism Office

Donsol, Sorsogon Province

Republic of the Philippines

Attn: Badong Adrao or Malou Avisado

Tel: (927) 233-0364

(927) 687-0592
Woodland Resort

(located a few minutes from Donsol Tourism Ofc)

Donsol, Sorsogon Province

Republic of the Philippines

Tel: (920) 863-0191

olineil

November 12th, 2005, 01:22 AM

drfeelgood17

November 12th, 2005, 02:17 AM

Donsol's small but prettytourism office

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/donsoltourismofc1.jpg

on the lookout for the sharkies

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/sharkhunt.jpg

CLOSE ENCOUNTER!! Someone has his JAWS moment!! :bash:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/Donsol_20040423-11_00_02.jpg

And look at what he saw...

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/whaleshark5.jpg

Size matters...
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/d11jf.jpg

too close for comfort!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/d10jf.jpg

I think this one's just a baby
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/butanding.jpg

The people of Donsol now have a Butanding (whale shark ) festival every March 11-14, to give thanks to the sharkies :) :)
papier mache replicas of the butanding are paraded on boats, Penafrancia-style, on the Donsol river

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/1009150.jpg

drfeelgood17

November 12th, 2005, 02:30 AM

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/donsol.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/cavedonsoll.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/covedonsol.jpg

Donsol marine life
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/aquadonsol.jpg

the other wildlife on Donsol's beaches...
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/dogs.jpg

I hope they don't become pulutan pretty soon!

ThisFire

November 12th, 2005, 06:09 AM

^ hahahahaha oh no

Sinjin P.

November 12th, 2005, 11:32 AM

@drfeelgood: Thanks for sharing those pics! :okay: Are those sharks within a resort or somethin'?

Matteo

November 12th, 2005, 11:33 AM

Photos from gobicol.com:

Mayon Planetarium:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/mayonplanetarium.jpg

Divine Word College of Legazpi:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/divinewordcollege.jpg

LCC Mall, night shot:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/lccmallatnight.jpg

Pacific Mall/Gaisano:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/pacificmall.jpg

Quezon Ave, building in center housing South Ocean Villa restaurant:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/quezonave.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/legaspist.jpg

Sinjin P.

November 12th, 2005, 11:43 AM

@Matteo: Which Mall is larger in size? Pacific or LCC? And which is more popular (more shoppers)? :D

Matteo

November 12th, 2005, 12:01 PM

@Matteo: Which Mall is larger in size? Pacific or LCC? And which is more popular (more shoppers)? :D

hey sinjin: i'm really not sure cause i haven't been to pacific mall yet hehee.
But I think it's just a humble 40,000 sq. ft...

let's ask olineil.

Olineil?

But I'm pretty sure they're not as big as the malls in cebu or davao.

I've read that Landco is also mulling to build another Pacific Mall in the other Bicol city of Naga which will be occupying 5.5 hectares of a 12-hectare business park. I don't know much about hectares so I'm not sure if that's big or not. But last I've heard, there were some delays with the plans.

LCC, on the other hand, has a branch in Naga City and a department store in Tabaco City - both in Bicol:

In Naga City:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/lccnaga.jpg

And in Legazpi City. unfinished paint project? hehee....
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/LCCmall.jpg

Lili

November 12th, 2005, 01:06 PM

Awesome pictures of nature and urban life in Bicol @drfeelgood and @Matteo!! :)
Swimming with the sharks must be spine-chilling and thrilling. The planetarium near Mayon must be an exciting place to visit. I like going to planetariums and to go one near the beauteous Mt. Mayon will be such a sensory experience.

Sinjin P.

November 12th, 2005, 01:12 PM

Hmmm... Maybe it's nice to visit those planetariums.. Huh, we don't visit planetariums, planetariums visit our schools. :)

Lili

November 12th, 2005, 01:59 PM

Sinjin P.

November 12th, 2005, 02:04 PM

You don't have a planetarium in Cebu? Planetariums visit your school? How's that? I love going to planetariums!! It's such a sublime experience for me just gazing at the stars and the magnitude of the universe. You should visit one @sinjin. I wonder if the planetarium in Manila is still open and operational.

Some planetarium companies from Manila come to our school with their INFLATABLE PLANETARIUM... I think the firm's called STAR LAB, Yes, Star Lab.

drfeelgood17

November 12th, 2005, 03:58 PM

@Matteo: Which Mall is larger in size? Pacific or LCC? And which is more popular (more shoppers)? :D
Hi Sinjin,
I'm pretty sure the Pacific Mall is bigger - though am not sure about the dimensions

drfeelgood17

November 12th, 2005, 04:00 PM

Sinjin P.

November 12th, 2005, 04:02 PM

okay, Thanks for the info!

drfeelgood17

November 12th, 2005, 04:03 PM

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/legaspist.jpg[/QUOTE]

I can't quite place this street....It looks like the beginning of Penaranda St and the junction of Rizal St, if I'm not mistaken they've just been repainting the buildings which is why they look very different - correct me if I'm wrong guys!

drfeelgood17

November 12th, 2005, 04:05 PM

@drfeelgood: Thanks for sharing those pics! :okay: Are those sharks within a resort or somethin'?

The sharks themselves roam around freely in the "municipality waters" of Donsol but there is a wonderful resort with diving courses etc - check this one out:

www.donsoldivers.com

Sinjin P.

November 12th, 2005, 04:06 PM

Thanx Lili - you're up at last! :) Hey guys have u seen my Sinulog pics in the Cebu thread? (kulang talaga sa pansin hehe)

nope, didn't see it yet. I'll try to check. :)

Sinjin P.

November 12th, 2005, 04:07 PM

WOW! Looks like we'll have a thread II for this in the coming days. :) :applause:

drfeelgood17

November 12th, 2005, 04:09 PM

WOW! Looks like we'll have a thread II for this in the coming days. :) :applause:

Ok it's on page 13 of the Cebu thread near the bottom - not sure if you've seem them before

Lili

November 12th, 2005, 04:10 PM

^^ That's very witty, @drfeelgood. :okay:

Matteo

November 12th, 2005, 05:29 PM

Thanx Lili - you're up at last! :) Hey guys have u seen my Sinulog pics in the Cebu thread? (kulang talaga sa pansin hehe)

who were those guys in the photos?

olineil

November 12th, 2005, 06:00 PM

Photos from gobicol.com:

Mayon Planetarium:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/mayonplanetarium.jpg
Wow lotsa new things in Albay...

Divine Word College of Legazpi:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/divinewordcollege.jpg
Dont you just love the Asphalt overlayed Streets in Legazpi City...they are so well maintianed and painted properly.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/legaspist.jpg
Yes this is peñaranda street...to the Left is Graceland Legazpi Port District Branch, just after you pass Graceland, will be St. Rafael Church.

KulasKusgan

November 12th, 2005, 06:08 PM

the streets are clean & visible road lines/markings. legaspi looks neat & orderly.

olineil

November 12th, 2005, 06:18 PM

@Matteo: Which Mall is larger in size? Pacific or LCC? And which is more popular (more shoppers)? :D

Hi sinjin, here an Aerial Pic of Legazpi that I edited so can get a clearer picture which is bigger. Enjoy
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/AREIAL2.jpg

Matteo

November 13th, 2005, 08:17 AM

Photos from gobicol.com:

Divine Word College of Legazpi:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/divinewordcollege.jpg

seems like that dude's looking to get himself killed. heheh

Sinjin P.

November 13th, 2005, 09:08 AM

Hi sinjin, here an Aerial Pic of Legazpi that I edited so can get a clearer picture which is bigger. Enjoy
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/AREIAL2.jpg

@olineil Hi too and thanks so much for the efforts! I really appreciate it so much (for being a mall freak :D)
So, Pacific Mall is the biggest, followed by Ibalong Centrum for recreation, LCC Mall and Bichara Silverscreens.

Just a follow-up question. :) Are the Ibalong Centrum and Bichara Silverscreens considered malls?

sugbuanon

November 13th, 2005, 09:32 AM

First locally developed software for test checking, statistics making noise in Bicol

By melvin G. calimag

A Bicol-based academician, with the help of his twin brother, has created what could possibly be the first locally developed computer programs for teaching statistics for beginners and test checking. The software applications that Dr. Cesar Bermundo has developed are now deployed in more than 50 learning institutions in the Bicol region, with a few but growing installations in Metro Manila schools. The two programs, dubbed "Test Checker and Item Analyzer" and "Simplified Statistics for Beginners," are sold to schools for R10,000 and R15,000, respectively. A manual, written by the twin brothers, as well as teacher training are included in the package. The software venture of Bermundo, a computer science professor in a university in Bicol, started with "Test Checker and Item Analyzer" which served initially as a dissertation topic for his doctoral degree. The software, he said, is now 10 years old.

Later on, encouraged by the impressive reception of the test checker software, Bermudo expanded by creating two years ago the "Simplified Statistics for Beginners" application. Bermundo, inundated by inquiries and requests for demos, enlisted the aid of his twin brother and fellow professor, Alex, to help him distribute and develop further the software tools for teachers. Asked if they are open to selling the programs to large software companies that may have the capacity to further improve it, the twin brothers said this is not an option as of the moment since doing so would put the software beyond the reach of small, provincial schools.

"To be honest, we’re not actually after the money. We just want to travel around the country in order that we can train the teachers how to use the software," said Bermundo, when Infotech caught up with them during the recent National Inventors’ Week for Luzon celebration held at the Technology Application and Promotion Institute annex building at the DoST compound in Bicutan, Taguig City. "We use the fee that the schools give us to as payment for the improvement of the software and as travel expenses. Gusto lang naman namin makapamasyal sa iba’t ibang parte ng Pilipinas," Bermundo said.

He said one of their main goals is to make the software available as much as possible to far flung schools so they can improve their educational system. "Gusto lang namin makatulong at makapamasyal na rin. Pero minsan abonado pa kami sa gastos dahil sa layo ng school from our base." According to him, a similar international version of the "Simplified Statistics for Beginners" costs as much as R180,000. "Moreover, that commercial software that we saw does not display the step-to-step process that we have in our software. This is important so they can see how the results were obtained."

In the user manual, the software was described as a useful tool to show and limit mathematical operations, computations, and procedure. It also has a pulldown menu where a user can select the necessary statistical tools and tables. But the Bermundo brothers are especially fond of the "Test Checker and Item Analyzer" software because, as teachers themselves, they had to put up with the regular but burdensome task of evaluating test papers. "Ang hirap sa trabaho ng teachers, hindi natatapos yung trabaho sa school. Inuuwi pa hanggang sa bahay ‘yung trabaho. With this software, we can at least make their workload lighter," he said, adding that faculty members and researchers have validated the effectiveness of the software.

The software, he said, analyzes teacher-constructed test questions by providing the basis for discussing test results by determining why a test item is or not discriminating between the better and poorer students, and by identifying alternative responses that are or are not functioning properly, thus providing a basis for item improvements. On a higher level, the software can be used as a valuable tool for measuring the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process, the students’ level of achievement, and obtaining information for the relevance of the school curriculum, among others.

Bermundo said word-of-mouth recommendations have brought them all over Bicol and to several places, including Metro Manila. As of now, only Mapua Institute of Technology and Meralco Foundation Institute are the only Manila-based schools that have availed of their computer programs. Though the programs are currently Windows-based, Bermundo said he is working on a separate version that would allow the software to run on a open source platform. This is in consideration of cost as well as the growing influence of open source movement inside and outside of the academic circle, he added.

olineil

November 14th, 2005, 01:05 AM

@olineil Hi too and thanks so much for the efforts! I really appreciate it so much (for being a mall freak :D)
So, Pacific Mall is the biggest, followed by Ibalong Centrum for recreation, LCC Mall and Bichara Silverscreens.

Just a follow-up question. :) Are the Ibalong Centrum and Bichara Silverscreens considered malls?

Ibalong Centrum for Recreation is a 10,000-15,000 capacity airconditioned sports arena.

Bichara Silverscreens is a Mall + 4 cinemas (or was it 6...hmmm i forgot already)

drfeelgood17

November 14th, 2005, 01:44 AM

olineil

November 14th, 2005, 04:45 AM

First posted 04:05am (Mla time) Nov 12, 2005
By Bobby Labalan
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on Page A21 of the November 12, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

LEGAZPI CITY—BICOL’S FORESTS are fast disappearing, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The grim picture was painted by Oscar Hamada, DENR regional executive director, during an initial meeting of the reactivated Regional Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee (RMFPC) here on Wednesday.

Hamada said that of the 1.76 million hectares total land area of the region, 541,189 hectares are classified as forest or timberland but only 141,431 hectares have actual forest cover.

The DENR official said Bicol had long reached what is called irreversible descent in its ecological balance, which requires a minimum of 60 percent forest cover.

Based on the 2003 Philippine Forestry Statistics, the existing forest cover of each province in the region are as follows: Albay—15,827 hectares, Camarines Sur—42,140 hectares, Camarines Norte—22,007, Catanduanes—42,140, Masbate—2,860 and Sorsogon—16,457 hectares.

Hamada said the log ban imposed by Environment Secretary Michael Defensor augurs well for the forest rehabilitation program of the government.

It was learned that all permits—special private land timber permit and private land timber permit—have been voided by the DENR and no such permits will be issued.

He said the DENR would allow the cutting only of trees that have been planted and registered with the DENR.

Antonio Abawag, regional technical director for forestry, said their present campaign against illegal cutters in the region is hampered by a meager budget and lack of personnel.

Abawag revealed during the RMFPC meeting attended by various government agencies and non government organizations that DENR-Bicol has only 125 forest rangers covering 541,189 hectares or an average of 4,329 hectares per forest ranger.

This is exacerbated by the fact that at least 25 percent of these forest rangers are incapable of conducting actual patrol as they are either women, retirable or injured.

Worse, he said, there is not enough fund to sustain the campaign as his office only has a P744,000 annual budget for forest protection, which is to be divided among the six provinces.

With this, Hamada appealed to the members of the RMFPC to help the government in its mission to protect and conserve the remaining forests and rehabilitate the damaged ones.

Hamada warned that, given the current situation of Bicol forests, its mountains are now susceptible to erosions and the low-lying areas prone to flooding.

This is why, he said, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau is conducting a geo-hazard survey to determine these disaster-prone areas so that local government units could be informed.

Hamada said they were just lucky that most of the typhoons that hit Luzon this year passed above the Bicol region, unlike before when Bicol was a favorite path for typhoons.

Hamada said he is hoping that the RMFPC would be a big help in the campaign to protect the remaining forests in the region.

olineil

November 14th, 2005, 04:47 AM

Wow so now we have a Bicolano Bill Gates in the making! :) More power to these guys!

Yup this really shpws now the fruit of all the IT schools that sprouted up the past 5 years or more. Legazpi city has one IT savvy population. You can just see the internet demand there.

ThisFire

November 14th, 2005, 05:43 AM

drfeelgood17

November 15th, 2005, 01:31 AM

WOW! Looks like we'll have a thread II for this in the coming days. :) :applause:

Does this mean that after a certain number of pages we automatically get a new thread? Is that right?

tyronne

November 15th, 2005, 01:36 AM

^^if the number of posts in a thread reaches 500 then we get to make a new one :)

olineil

November 15th, 2005, 02:06 AM

Does this mean that after a certain number of pages we automatically get a new thread? Is that right?

Drfeelgood, Matteo...feel free to start the new thread when we reach 500th...whoever is available during that time is welcome to start it.

PS: we can include "Bicol" in the title of the thread...Cheers mga Uragon!

olineil

November 15th, 2005, 02:42 AM

LEGAZPI CITY - Environmental groups in Bicol urge the Senate to investigate the toxic-waste spill in Albay, causing a series of fish kills in the coastal waters off Rapu-Rapu Island.

The toxic mine tailings that could have caused the fish kill allegedly come from Lafayette Philippines, an Australian mining firm, after its tailings pump broke on October 11. This triggered the mine tailing to overflow from the emergency pond to the surrounding mill site.

The lawyer Rodel Batocabe, chair of Cagraray Environmental Protection and Development Inc., together with Ramon Tomas of the Bicol Scuba Association and Eduardo Medina of Alyansa ng mga Barangay para sa Turismo, have asked the Senate to conduct an immediate probe on the matter.

They said that Albayanos no longer buy fish for fear of toxic contamination. Batocabe told The Manila Times that environmental organizations in the region have expressed apprehensions over the spillage, fearing it would affect not only the marine resources but also the tourist destinations in Bicol.

Endangered species of fish, like the manta rays in Masbate and the whale shark in Donsol, could be possible casualties. Tourist destinations, like the Misibis Resort in Cagraray Island, Bacacay, Albay, and the Caramoan beaches in Camarines Sur might suffer from the adverse effects of marine poisoning.

Reports say that some 20 cubic meters of water containing toxic wastes spilled over from the pond and flowed down to the mill site and the nearby drainage.

Toxic wastes also spilled on October 29 due to heavy rains resulting in a series of fish kills. Binosawan residents observed the fish kill from October 31 to November 1, Fr. Felino Bugauisan, assistant parish priest of Santa Florentina, Rapu-Rapu Island, said.

Reynulfo Juan, Mines and Geosciences Bureau regional director, temporarily suspended the operation and slapped penalties on the Rapu-Rapu Mineral Inc. owned by Lafayette Philippines Inc., a new mining firm in Albay.

The firm has violated at least three conditions in the environmental clearance certificate, said EMB regional director Gilbert Gonzales. These are violation of the Clean Water Act, causing accident due to mechanical equipment failure and the limitation of the firm to respond to emergency situation. Rhaydz B. Barcia

olineil

November 15th, 2005, 02:44 AM

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has suspended mining firm Lafayette Philippines Inc on the island of Rapu-Rapu in Albay, due to mine tailing spillage contaminated with cyanide. Mines and Geosciences Bureau regional director Reynulfo A. Juan said the suspension of the milling operations of Rapu-Rapu Processing Incorporated (RRPI) would remain until the company undertakes appropriate mitigation measures. The company will also be fined.

sugbuanon

November 15th, 2005, 03:28 AM

^^if the number of posts in a thread reaches 500 then we get to make a new one :)

i visited the thai forum and their posts in one of their threads is already 2,000 +.. maybe we could set the limit to more than 500 so we dont have to create new threads..

olineil

November 15th, 2005, 10:53 AM

Daraga
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/daragadowntown1.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/daragahs.jpg

Bicol University College of Education Laboratory School
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/bicoluniv.jpg

A dream house in Bacacay
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/dreamHouse.jpg

Joroan
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/joroan.jpg

Pacific Mall (Side)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/legazpimetromall.jpg

Sleeping Lion Hill
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/legazpiportlion.jpg

Legazpi Sea Port
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/legazpiportshipside.jpg

Traysikol Trapik
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/legazpitraffic.jpg

Legazpi Monument
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/monumentclose.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/monumentfullmt.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/monumentplaque.jpg

Mayon from another vantage point
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/olineil3/Albay/mountain1.jpg

drfeelgood17

November 15th, 2005, 04:59 PM

Drfeelgood, Matteo...feel free to start the new thread when we reach 500th...whoever is available during that time is welcome to start it.

PS: we can include "Bicol" in the title of the thread...Cheers mga Uragon!

Looks like we're almost there! :) Well done guys!

drfeelgood17

November 15th, 2005, 05:01 PM

By the way, can anyone explain to me what a sticky thread means? I'm not familiar with these SCC terminologies - thanx :)

Matteo

November 15th, 2005, 05:04 PM

By the way, can anyone explain to me what a sticky thread means? I'm not familiar with these SCC terminologies - thanx :)

yep... i was wonderin about that too...

olineil

November 15th, 2005, 05:33 PM

By the way, can anyone explain to me what a sticky thread means? I'm not familiar with these SCC terminologies - thanx :)

Sticky threads are those with the "Pin" icon, meaing it was pinned to the top of the thread lists. So even if a thread is updated with posts, stickies would still be on yop of it. Cheers!

EDIT: wala pala pin ICON but they just say "STICKY". In other threads you will see pins on it if it is a sticky.

olineil

November 15th, 2005, 06:05 PM

First posted 10:27pm (Mla time) Nov 15, 2005
By Blanche Rivera
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on Page Page A17 of the November 16, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

AN INDEPENDENT TEAM INVESTIGATING the spill of wastes from the Lafayette Philippines Inc.’s mining site in Rapu-Rapu, Albay received testimony from the mining firm’s workers that the spill was not an accident.

Workers of Lafayette told the team that they were ordered to release the mine waste from the tailings pond into the sea, disputing an official report that the Oct. 31 mine spill was an accident.

The fact-finding mission, led by the Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC), yesterday announced it had gathered testimony from more than seven workers who claimed they were instructed to redirect the pipes from the tailings ponds to the creeks, which lead to the Albay Gulf.

“Contrary to reports, Lafayette Philippine’s tailings dam was not the site of an accident last Oct. 31 that caused cyanide leakage, fish kills and health problems,” CEC’s Januar Ong, leader of the fact-finding team, said in a press conference in Quezon City yesterday.

“There was no damage to the dam. Testimonies reveal that mine tailings were released from the main tailings dam to a smaller overfill dam which caused the leakage. This is the truth that the mining company is deliberately concealing in an effort to shield itself from its culpability in the disaster,” he said.

Ong showed a video of a worker in the tailings dam. The worker was drawing the location of the tailings ponds and the pipes that supposedly channeled the mine waste and effluent to the sea instead of the polishing pond.

The polishing pond would direct the effluent to the processing station where the water would be recycled.

Ong said the workers refused to be identified but they admitted that one Saturday before the Oct. 31 mine spill, they were told to bring down the pipes so that these would lead directly to the sea.

“They knew that their dam could not hold the water during heavy rains, so instead of having the dam break, they directed the mine waste to the sea,” Fr. Felino Bugauisan, a member of Sagip Isla, said.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau, however, disputed the CEC’s claim, saying there were no structures or pipes that could be moved to redirect the flow of tailings or effluents.

Reynulfo Juan, MGB regional director, said the workers’ claim that they had to channel the pipes from the tailings ponds to the sea was nearly impossible because the pipes were very heavy structures that could not be easily moved.

“That’s not something they can do in just a matter of days,” Juan said in an interview at the MGB central office in Quezon City.

Michael Cabalda, MGB mining and environmental safety chief, said Lafayette would need an entire pipeline system to do what the workers claimed they were instructed to do during the heavy downpour that led to the overflow of the tailings pond.

The MGB showed photos of Lafayette’s system, which included a main tailings pond, a lower tailings pond, two settlings ponds and a polishing pond. These structures show the route of the mine tailings from the detoxification plant.

"They better shot this mine down now!"