http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/925/legazpiairportstatistic.jpg
Source: Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (http://www.caap.gov.ph/web/downloads.htm)

;50610291']http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/925/legazpiairportstatistic.jpg
Source: Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (http://www.caap.gov.ph/web/downloads.htm)

Is G.Aviation Zest Air?

Is G.Aviation Zest Air?

Nope, ZestAir started its MNL-LGP-MNL flights in Q1 2009. Those are probably private planes (general aviation)

;50610573']Nope, ZestAir started its MNL-LGP-MNL flights in Q1 2009. Those are probably private planes (general aviation)

ok! thanks. Does this include helicopters?

Landco Plaza, kasuudmang hapon...
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/5/600x600/14/DSC02318a.JPG?et=LII0Dr1QiajynJmmKfoRXg&nmid=281020521
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/5/600x600/13/DSC02324a.JPG?et=83BRaek1LVAQ4UC1LmRcCQ&nmid=281020521
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/5/600x600/12/DSC02320a.JPG?et=XxFpn1jePHm08ui4LRFW8A&nmid=281020521
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/5/600x600/15/DSC02305a.JPG?et=6DGNYlDXu9y5JlH7KtO8Tg&nmid=281020521
^Kapilya kan INC...
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/5/600x600/16/DSC02428a.JPG?et=UhpRK3mFpIdbKTxkZIzkYA&nmid=281020521
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/5/600x600/17/DSC02430a.JPG?et=31jRAMo3WL9ZOd1HMWJFHg&nmid=281020521

Kasuba'gong hapon...
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/600x600/75/DSC02456a.JPG?et=95IUpZRYri3SN42AL8KBTQ&nmid=279080575
^...May porma na su su'yap sa ampang kan four-storey building; gari multilevel walkway...
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/600x600/74/DSC02463a.JPG?et=OQz%2CvAdsF0794UsTxc1dGg&nmid=279080575
^...Two pairs of Otis escalators (for conveying mall patrons to/from the second and third levels)
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/600x600/76/DSC02458a.JPG?et=WSvkjFS%2C1NeB7wfxwyerBw&nmid=279080575
^...May bayad na an pagsakat sa Lighthouse...
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/600x600/77/DSC02461a.JPG?et=8qYd%2BbGNFFC11NGfii4rtQ&nmid=279080575
^...Families now start to discover EM (second level, Celebration Plaza).
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/600x600/73/DSC02467.JPG?et=6s2opb8sIFe1Lp9S6xdyvw&nmid=279080575
^...Visitors from UNC.

http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/600x600/74/DSC02463a.JPG?et=OQz%2CvAdsF0794UsTxc1dGg&nmid=279080575
^...Two pairs of Otis escalators (for conveying mall patrons to/from the second and third levels)
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/600x600/76/DSC02458a.JPG?et=WSvkjFS%2C1NeB7wfxwyerBw&nmid=279080575
^...May bayad an an pagsakat sa Lighthouse...


Thanks for the updates, sir! Gari madali na maging operational ang escalators dyan. I hope masunod su elevators naman hehe.

Pero nata man daw may bayad pa sa lighthouse :(

http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/5/600x600/16/DSC02428a.JPG?et=UhpRK3mFpIdbKTxkZIzkYA&nmid=281020521
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/5/600x600/17/DSC02430a.JPG?et=31jRAMo3WL9ZOd1HMWJFHg&nmid=281020521
^^Aw digdi palan su mga souvenirs/handicraft items. :okay:

ok! thanks. Does this include helicopters?

Yup, all private aircrafts.

FYI 4Ps is Joey Salceda's idea and was adopted by the national government...

;50608651']^^Hmm, I thought it was an initiative of the DSWD? Anyway, regardless, I hope the program will achieve its goal of helping our less fortunate kababayans to improve their lives.Dex is right, 4Ps is an initiative of the DSWD and was patterned from a program of a South American country.

The DSWD did not mention during their orientation about 4Ps that it was Salceda's idea.

I'll check my records when I'm home next week.:) And I will post further information about 4Ps (Programang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino).

;50601083']Sibid-sibid Restaurant
Peñaranda Extension, Bonot, Legazpi City


they serve good food.. ang menu ninda seafoods lang, with the exemption of bulalo (beef) and tinolang native na manok. they also serve tinulang pili :) and i must say their price is very affordable and masiram pa ang pagkaon. :banana:

;50601083']Sibid-sibid Restaurant
Peñaranda Extension, Bonot, Legazpi City


they serve good food.. ang menu ninda seafoods lang, with the exemption of bulalo (beef) and tinolang native na manok. they also serve tinulang pili :) and i must say their price is very affordable and masiram pa ang pagkaon. :banana:

marhay na albay tabi saindo mga tugang! :lol:

^Maray na Albay man saimo Ms Poj.

Dex is right, 4Ps is an initiative of the DSWD and was patterned from a program of a South American country.

The DSWD did not mention during their orientation about 4Ps that it was Salceda's idea.

I'll check my records when I'm home next week.:) And I will post further information about 4Ps (Programang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino).

yes pading hakz, please, show us your records..thanks in advance!

Maray na Albay!

;50615247']Thanks for the updates, sir! Gari madali na maging operational ang escalators dyan. I hope masunod su elevators naman hehe.

Pero nata man daw may bayad pa sa lighthouse :(

iyo mananggad nyata may bayad ang pagsakat sa lighthouse? buda hanggang 30 minutes lang.hmmm..

ayuz may escalators naman palan...

thanks monsi for the pix update

Maray na Albay po sa GABOS na tagapag hinanyog kang SSC Legazpi.
Marata na tabi kamo tapos magsirimba na.

anong magsirimba?

magsimba? :)

I hope that the BICOL ECONOMIC MANAGERS LALO NA SA ALBAY DO GET SOMETHING FROM THIS POST. Thanks.

Sophisticated Manila voters like Gordon, and he has won a recent mock
vote at the Lyceum with 40% of the votes.

But, his 6-point platform--see below-- as well as Noynoy's platform
(http://www.noynoy. ph/main/economy. php) won't make Filipinos
win in world markets. Instead, their platforms are about local issues. Yet,
our economy is only 0.3% as large as the world eonomy. Should not the
priorities of Gordon, Noynoy, and their rivals be to make the
Philippines win in world markets, where 99.7% of our opportunities lie?

In neglecting the above opportunity, are not their platform 99.7%
deficient and defective?

The world is nearly 400 times as large as the Philippine economy. Why
don't the Presidential candidates seek to win there? SAlthough we lack
capital and technology for victory in the world against Westerners,
Japanese, Chinese and Koreans, we could use our low wages that are now
less than one-half as China's to attract multinational as allies for
export war. They'd have the technologies, capital, managers and
products that our low-cost workers could assemble as weapons for victory
at export wars. We would defeat China, Japan, America, Europe and
other rich nations at world competition. We would win big dollars to
import all the machines, managers, and technologies we need to build a
strong Philippines.

Truly, we could make huge sales to employ ALL our workers quickly. We
could make big profits more than 10 times or 100 times as big as in the
Philippines to re-invest in the importation of machines and
technologies. Filipinos would become technologically more advanced.
Workers would grow in productivity. It means that their salaries can
rise high each year, and yet the workers would still be globally
competitive. True, their salaries will be higher. But so too will be their
output. So, cost per product sold abroad would remain the same and
continue to be competitive globally.

As workers get rich, the government's tax revenues would soar to pay
higher salaries, build better schools, clean the environment. Even
local governments would get rich and sophisticated in their ways.
Richer employees would become less corrupt. Higher paid workers in
industry and government would build adequate housing for themselves on
their own

Meritocracy among highly educated Filipinos would take hold.
The corrupt could not stay long in power because they would be
brought down by a strong, independent, and highly educated bureaucracy
and citizenry that can't be bullied. That same citizenry would insist
on garbage collection, clean air and waters, reforestation. And they
would have less babies. Population growth would slow automatically even
as OFWs return to the proliferating, high paying jobs in the country.
Of course, health care would also improve with the rising riches of the
people and the government.

Even incomes would get better distributed since unemployment will fall
to near zero, as in Thailand today, where the unemploymet rate is 1.4%
and among the Asian Tigers 40 years ago with the same low uneployment
rate. When unemployent is zero, companies compete strongly to steal
workers from one another. But, all workers are employed. Thus,
companies will invest in more machines to increase worker productivity
and get more from them. They'd then pay higher salaries to workers so as
to not lose them to rival corporate raiders. That is, wages will rise
higher than profits though both rise. Everyone will get rich, but
wokers richer.

Agriculture would flourish from Philippine global victories. Dollar
earnings would pay for imported tractors to build irrigation ditches,
flood control canals, reservoirs, and wells for deep water sources.
Dollar earnings would pay for dryer, granaries, refrigerated trucks,
ventilators, packing and canning plants, and power plants to supply the
electricity for those machines and structures. Dollar earnings would
also pay for laboratories to increase farm productivity with genetically
improved seeds and better insect and pest control.

Truly, we could build the strong Philippines reaping all benenfits above
by having only one plan: win in world markets with multinational
partners investing in the Philippines, or die. The economy could grow
12% to 25% annually as Guandong province in China did for many years in
the past 25 years. No more need the Philippines wallow at a 2% to 7%
annual GDP growth rate.

So, why does not Gordon have a one sentence platform--win in world
markets with multinational partners investing in the Philippines, or
die, and explain that his one sentence platform would achieve every
Filipino dream, and then further explain that he is more qualified than
Noynoy, Villar, or any other candidate at realizing his plan for the
fastest of all possible Philppine progress.?

But, wait, we can challenge Noynoy, Villar, and the other candidates in
the same way. None of them is shooting for a global bonanza. Instead,
each of them is wasting words explaining their web of dreams without
understanding how to raise the vast financing needed to realize their
dreams.

In particular, they need to increase the the country's investment rates
7 to 18 fold quickly so that investment rates per capita can equal the levels in
Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and other robust Asian economies.

Only by attracting large numbers of multinational investors and making
huge profits in world markets could the Philippines possibly achieve
soon the 7 to 18 fold increase in capital to finance the naively-stated
dreams of the candidates.

In particular, a canddate must give top priority to raising foreign
direct investment inflows more than 20-fold annually. That is evident
from the regional econmic data. Four Asian Tigers with a smaller
combined population than in the Philippines now attract more than $40
billion of foreign direct investment inflows annually while the
Philippines does less than $2 billion usually. With that disparity of
more than 20-fold, why is it that none of the candidates have a
one-sentence platform that would make it possible to finance the
realization of their many dreams?

The global investment rate is now 600 times as strong as in the
Philippines. But, if the Philippines with its low wages will "get its
act together," then it could attract huge investment inflows easily 20
times as high as is now being invested there by foreigners.

So, to repeat, why does not each candidate have a one sentence
platform--win in world markets with multitudes of multinational partners
investing in the Philippines, or die, and then explain that this one
sentence platform would achieve every Filipino dream, and then further
explain that he, Gordon, or Villar, or Noynoy is more qualified than any
of his rivals to realize this plan for fastest of all possible
Philppine progress?

If our candidates are as weak at nation-building vision as Gloria
Arroyo and her predecessors since Manuel Roxas and Quirino have been,
then are Filipinos fated to be punished with more misery in
the next six years? Should we accept this fate?

No, I propose that we Filipinos unite to pressure each one of the
candidates to campagin on the cry, "Export or Die." Then you and I
would have the pleasure in May to follow our individual judgments and
select the one candidate that you and I think will become our most
achieving leader at world competition.

If you like my proposal to improve the candidates , please join a group
whose name, EPIC25, signifies an Emerging Philippines Internationally Conquering and becoming
as strong as Western economies in 25 years--the same 25 years that
Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea to become equal to
Europeans at not just income but also education, science and technology.
You can find the EPIC25 group at www.groups.yahoo. com/group/ epic25.

You will ask, am I not myself spinning a web of unrealistic concepts
above? My reply is simple: look at the past 400 years of world
history to realize that it is the cry "Export of Die" that makes peoples
prosper.

That was the strategy adopted by Japan in the mid-1950s that enabled it
to crush the U.S.A. for nearly the next 35 years to the 1980s. Japan
picked up the best commercial ideas from America, married them to the
low Japanesewages in the 1950s, and then swatted a powerful and
stunned America like a fly from the sky. When Japan no longer was able
to make more advances against the U.S., it still had the satifaction of
having become an economically and technologically rich nation equal to
America and Western nations.

Before Japan, all of the world's richest national economies became rich
because they focused on implementing the cry, "Export of Die." A small
island called England became the globally pioneer at becoming rich. It
made itsel the workshop of the world, a "nation of shopkeepers, "
300 or more years ago. France, Germany and other European nations
followed the path to equality with England by competing with the English
worldwide.

Starting nearly 150 years ago, America began to get powerful on that
same plan, , only to be felled by Japan that copied it. After Japan, more
copycats such as as four Asian Tigers--Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan,
South Korea-- also climbed to the top of the world's per capita income
ranks by shouting the Japanese "Export or Die!" cry.

Close behind them was Ireland that becme known as the Celtic Tiger; it
rose from being among the poorest European economies to being richer
than America. In a distant ocean location far away from everyone, the
Neverland called Bermuda rose from obscurity to being the fourth richest
economy in the world per capita by exporting re-insurance services that
dominated the world's re-insurance market.

The most recent practitioners of the Export or Die cry--Malaysia, Thailand,
China, Brazil, India and Dubai and 10 more economies-- also have shot up
in the world through export success.

Powerful indeed is the world as a nursery for national economic growth.
It is a a gigantic ocean where sardines can become tiger sharks and
whales by swimming without fear to distant places wherein to compete
and win.

If we remain inside the Philippines so hung up on local issues, we will be
limited to small sales and to peso profits that can't be used to import
oil, machines and technologies to build the nation. So, we must FOCUS
on winning abroad at export wars to prosper; we must keep our eyes and
minds on the 99.7% of our opportunities. We must not allow Gordon,
Noynoy and their rivals to imprison us on local, microscopic Philippine
issues that enable us to realize only 0.3% of our potential.

Unfortunately, many Filipino voters are also hung up on the local
trivia. They say that corruption and lack of unity and selfishness are
what make us hopeless. How terribly unproductive are these thoughts.
We can prosper despite corruption, selfishness and disunity, if we will
educate our politicians to focus on winning in world markets with
multinational allies. Of course, if they are honest and focused on global
competition, that would be even better.

The Korean political leaders were corrupt persons focused on
personal glory and winning in world markets with only their cronies.
They ruled wth forced unity in which the major beneficiaries were their
their cronies with whom they worked to win at world competition. Thus,
the leaders and their cronies got rich. But, in winning abroad, they also got
all their workers fully employed conquering world markets. Thus, the Korean
people also got rich despite or because of corruption.

Some 100 years before the Koreans, American also prospered strongly on
the corruption and social disorganization of the country after the Civil
War. And, 300 years before the Americans, Queen Elizabeth built the
world's first strong global economy based on a corrupt system of favors
and monopolies for her court favorites, her cronies. The monopolies
were globally superior enterprises. They employed the people
productively to defeat Spain at various markets. Thus England got strong.

Today, Thailand and Italy are examples of countries that suffer from
corruption and yet prosper because their peoples and officials have a
globally competitive outlook, and they bring in foreign investors as allies
with whom to compete with great success globally.

Therefore, let us, voters, put aside our usual corruption-centered
mentalitiy and instead put pressure on Gordon, Noynoy and their rivals
to use an export-focused nation building platform. We must make each
candidate abandon his 99.7% defective platforms and FOCUS on winning in
world markets and explain why he is best among the candidates at
realizing that plan.

Summary

To remedy the 99.7% defective thinking of the eight Presidential
candidates, let our CITIZENS' TASKS IN THESE ELECTIONS consist of these
THREE STEPS:

1. In countless letters to all Filipino newspapers and broadcast media,
CRITICIZE, EDUCATE and DEMAND THAT Gordon and his rivals to campaign
with this cry:

1.1. Attract foreign multinational investors and win with them
and Filipino workers in world markets, or die.

1.2. Help Filipino companies to win in world markets on their
own, or help them to attract multinational partners with whom
to win in world markets.

If they don't respond, write more letters telling the Filipino people to
boo the candidates at their campaigns and tell them that they are
shallow or empty. Right now, I speak this one truth: None of the
candidates has a worthy platform comparable to the one-sentence
platforms that are now enriching Dubai, India, China, Brazil and have
enriched more than 20 other once-poor nations in modern times.

2. ASK each candidate to explain why he has been a weak and uninformed
nation-builder so far, but is now the best person to realize the above
two steps.

3. WORK to make all other FILIPINO ORGANIZATIONS unite behind the ideas
discussed here and promote the above CITIZENS' TASKS and THREE STEPS.

Concerning TASK #2 above, ask each candidate to explain in his
platform and speeches how he may build the nation in these six ways:

1) Get the Philippines to be atttacting $40 billion of foreign investor
inflows annually.

Four Asian Tigers that have a lower combined population than the
Philippines now take in more than $40 billion annually while the
Philippines does less than $2 billion. (See IMF, International
Financial Statistics, to confirm the data.) Each candidate must explain
his understanding of why we are doing that badly, and then explain how
he would outdo his rivals at bringing in the higher foreign investment
inflows.

The explanations of the candidates would make us see whether or not he
understands the importance of foreign investment inflows. Does he
understand that such a a big improvement will immensely increase
foreign multinational technology and managerial inflows to the country,
and provide numerous modern products to export--the multinational
products that our workers will assemble: cameras, computers, biotech
drugs, machine tools, copying machines, cell phones, auto and truck
parts, medical instruments and pharmaceuticals, GPS devices, DVDs,
airplane and space rocket parts, financial services, medical hospital
services?

Will the candidate tell us that one top priority must be to liberalize
the restrictive Article 12 of the Constiution that prevents strong
foreign investment inflows into investments in electricity transmission,
telecom, water systems, railways and ports-- all of which are essential
to nation building through exports?

2) Get the Philippines to fix the dollar shortage and have exports 25
times as high as now.

Four Asian Tigers with a smaller combined population than the
Philippines now have exports 25 times as high as by the Philippines.
(See the CIA World Factbook database to confirm the data: www.cia.gov
<http://www.cia. gov/> .) Each candidate must explain his understanding
of why we are doing that badly, and then explain how he would outdo his
rivals at bringing in a 3-fold or 10-fold or 25-fold increase at
exports.

Each year our Asian Tiger neighbors have abundant dollars to bring in
machines to employ their people, raise their productivity, make them
rich and build the nation. Each year, Filipinos lack those dollars.
Hence, we lack imported machines, can't employ our workers, and are poor
and falling to the bottom in Asia. Our GDP per capita is now 92% lower
on average than among the four Asian Tigers-- Siingapore, Hong Kong,
Taiwan and S Korea. The Gordon platform neglects this problem. Noynoy
too. Villar also. And Erap is zero at these things. Hence, we must
push them at this issue and the preceding one (foreign investment
inflows).

3) Reduce the Philippine poverty rate to near zero from nearly 40%, and
cut the unemployment rate to less than 1.5% to 3.5% from 30%

In Thailand, Malaysia and the four Tigers, the unemployment rate ranges
from 1.4% to 3.5%, while the official rate in the Philippines is higher
than 7%, and the unofficial rate is more than 30% when hidden
unemployment and underemployment are factored in. (See the CIA World
Factbook database to confirm the data: www.cia.gov
<http://www.cia. gov/> .) The poverty rate in those countries is also
zero to less than 10% while it is nearly 40% in the Philippines. Each
candidate must explain his understanding of why we are doing poorly at
employment and poverty reduction, and then explain how he would outdo
his rivals at curing these problems.

4) Reduce the OFW outflow to near zero, as in Thailand, Malaysia, and
four Asian Tigers.

5) Make the Philippines catch up in Asia at education

Among 15 economies being rated in Asia, the best Philippine university
ranks only 62nd. Yet, the Philippine populaion is fifth highest in
Asia. Six far less populated countries like Thailand, Malaysia,
Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea each have two to five schools
that rank higher than U.P. at educational excellence. Why is a
Philippines so highly populated unable to hold its own at education?
Each candidate must explain his understanding of why we are doing that
badly, and then explain how he would outdo his rivals at developing the
funding and the personnel to vastly improve the Philippine university
system.

6) Make Philippine Agriculture More Productive

Each candidate must explain his understanding of why we can't feed
ourselves. Why is each Filipino farmer able to feed only 10 people
while each U.S. farmer can feed more than 100 persons? Is it because
the Philippines is so weak at exports that it lacks dollars to import
machines to build dams, reservoirs, flood control canals, irrigation
ditches, granaries to store crops, machines to dry harvest and then dry
and store or refrigerate farm output? Does the candidate accept the
above explanation? Does he have other explanations? Here, Villar
is especially naive in his ideas on agriculture. He doe not see
exports success as the key to farm success.

LET US FILIPINO VOTERS EDUCATE AND IMPROVE THE DEFECTIVE
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. WE DON'[T NEED AN HONEST NOYNOY.
WE DON'T NEED A REALTOR VILLAR. WE DON'T NEED A GORDON
BUREAUCRAT. WE NEED A LEADER FOCUSED ON GLOBAL VICTORY.
LET US TURN GORDON, NOYNOY,VILLAR and other candidates INTO
THAT KIND OF LEADER AND THEN ELECT AS PRESIDENT THE ONE
AMONG THEM WHO WILL BE THE BEST GLOBAL ACHIEVER. LET US
SEE HOW THEY WILL REVISE THEIR PLATFORMS IN THE NEXT THREE
TO FOUR WEEKS, WHICH IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME FOR THE
CANDIDATES TO MEDITATE ON THEIR DEFICIENCIES AND IMPROVE
THEIR CONCEPTS, THEIR PLATFORMS.

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR FRIENDS AT VARIOUS
YAHOOGROUPS. LET'S END 60 YEARS OF MEDIOCRE PRESIDENCIES.

LET GLORIA ARROYO'S PRESIDENCY BE THE LAST IN A LONG STRING
OF TERRIBLY MEDIOCRE FILIPINO LEADERSHIP.

IF YOU WANT, JOIN ME AT ANOTHER YAHOOGROUP AS A CENTER
TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN TO EDUCATE EVERY ONE OF THE CANDIDATES
AT NATIONBUILDING: WWW.GROUPS.YAHOO. COM/GROUP/ EPIC25 .

Now read below, after my signature, the 99.7% defective Gordon platform.

Note: I am not saying that Gordon and Noynoy are dumb. No, they are bright.
But, their minds and those of Villar and the other candidates are not addressing
the correct challenge, which is to compete and win in huge world markers.

Good luck to us all and the Philippines.

NORMAN MADRID
Economist at EPIC Tiger Ventures LLC in New York City
Former college teacher: U.P. School. of Economics, and
University of Wisconsin, City Univ. of New York, and
New York University
Former economist at Citigroup and then JP Morgan Chase analyzing Asia's
top economies--
Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand + Switzerland and Australia.

= = = == = =

A Defective Gordon Wins Lyceum "Election" /
Takes 40% of the Votes among 8 Candidates
By DAVID CAGAHASTIAN January 22, 2010, 5:02pm
Source : http://www.mb. com.ph/articles/ 239817/lyceum- mock-poll-
shows-gordon- most-capable

Senator Richard Gordon, standard-bearer of the Bagumbayan party, is the
most capable among presidential aspirants in the 2010 elections, a poll
from the Lyceum of the Philippines showed.

Gordon received the highest number of votes during a mock election that
followed the Lyceum Presidential Forum last Wednesday which was attended
by students from different universities, foreign diplomats and business
leaders.

Gordon received 59 votes, followed by Gilbert Teodoro (23), Sen. Benigno
Aquino III (20), Bro. Eddie Villanueva (17), Nicanor Perlas (10), Former
President Joseph Estrada (9), Sen. Manny Villar (7), and Olongapo
Councilor JC Delos Reyes (2).

During the forum, Gordon explained his policy of governance and sent a
clear message that everyone must take part in transforming the nation
and breaking free from a transactional society.

Gordon's Six Point Platform

"When I look at governance I always think in terms of vision, values,
volunteerism equals victory. To my mind, leaders ought to know where
they are going. They have to uplift the level of values, of dignity, of
behavior and performance of their people; uplift not just the standard
of living, but also the standard of values; not just making them receive
the hand-out, but making sure that all hands are carrying the load of
the nation," he said.

Gordon said the Philippines is faced with many challenges, primarily the
cycle of disaster and poverty, ongoing war in Mindanao, and corruption
not just in the government but in the whole society which should be
solved by the country's next leader.

He explained that these problems can be solved by a government that is
focused, fast, friendly, flexible and forward-looking, but the people
should start selecting worthy and true leaders in the 2010 elections.

Gordon also presented his governance agenda, which included his top six
policies: (1) Responsible budget deficit reduction program by minimizing
fraud, waste and abuse, while maximizing revenues and services; (2)
Burden-sharing by forging genuine partnership with local government
units and the private sector; (3) Investing in people by ensuring
quality population through quality education; (4) Disaster proofing the
nation to end the cycle of disaster and poverty; (5) Strong political
will and leadership by example; and (6) Re-engineering the government
through a system of meritocracy.

"This is how Gordon's governance will be. People must be part of the
process of change. I will try to explain my vision to the people. Vision
is a mental picture of the future which is certainly better than what is
today. Vision will require challenges; work ethic, a sense of duty,
dignity and determination are required for us to achieve our vision," he
said.

I hope that the BICOL ECONOMIC MANAGERS LALO NA SA ALBAY DO GET SOMETHING FROM THIS POST. Thanks.

Sophisticated Manila voters like Gordon, and he has won a recent mock
vote at the Lyceum with 40% of the votes.

But, his 6-point platform--see below-- as well as Noynoy's platform
(http://www.noynoy. ph/main/economy. php) won't make Filipinos
win in world markets. Instead, their platforms are about local issues. Yet,
our economy is only 0.3% as large as the world eonomy. Should not the
priorities of Gordon, Noynoy, and their rivals be to make the
Philippines win in world markets, where 99.7% of our opportunities lie?

In neglecting the above opportunity, are not their platform 99.7%
deficient and defective?

The world is nearly 400 times as large as the Philippine economy. Why
don't the Presidential candidates seek to win there? SAlthough we lack
capital and technology for victory in the world against Westerners,
Japanese, Chinese and Koreans, we could use our low wages that are now
less than one-half as China's to attract multinational as allies for
export war. They'd have the technologies, capital, managers and
products that our low-cost workers could assemble as weapons for victory
at export wars. We would defeat China, Japan, America, Europe and
other rich nations at world competition. We would win big dollars to
import all the machines, managers, and technologies we need to build a
strong Philippines.

Truly, we could make huge sales to employ ALL our workers quickly. We
could make big profits more than 10 times or 100 times as big as in the
Philippines to re-invest in the importation of machines and
technologies. Filipinos would become technologically more advanced.
Workers would grow in productivity. It means that their salaries can
rise high each year, and yet the workers would still be globally
competitive. True, their salaries will be higher. But so too will be their
output. So, cost per product sold abroad would remain the same and
continue to be competitive globally.

As workers get rich, the government's tax revenues would soar to pay
higher salaries, build better schools, clean the environment. Even
local governments would get rich and sophisticated in their ways.
Richer employees would become less corrupt. Higher paid workers in
industry and government would build adequate housing for themselves on
their own

Meritocracy among highly educated Filipinos would take hold.
The corrupt could not stay long in power because they would be
brought down by a strong, independent, and highly educated bureaucracy
and citizenry that can't be bullied. That same citizenry would insist
on garbage collection, clean air and waters, reforestation. And they
would have less babies. Population growth would slow automatically even
as OFWs return to the proliferating, high paying jobs in the country.
Of course, health care would also improve with the rising riches of the
people and the government.

Even incomes would get better distributed since unemployment will fall
to near zero, as in Thailand today, where the unemploymet rate is 1.4%
and among the Asian Tigers 40 years ago with the same low uneployment
rate. When unemployent is zero, companies compete strongly to steal
workers from one another. But, all workers are employed. Thus,
companies will invest in more machines to increase worker productivity
and get more from them. They'd then pay higher salaries to workers so as
to not lose them to rival corporate raiders. That is, wages will rise
higher than profits though both rise. Everyone will get rich, but
wokers richer.

Agriculture would flourish from Philippine global victories. Dollar
earnings would pay for imported tractors to build irrigation ditches,
flood control canals, reservoirs, and wells for deep water sources.
Dollar earnings would pay for dryer, granaries, refrigerated trucks,
ventilators, packing and canning plants, and power plants to supply the
electricity for those machines and structures. Dollar earnings would
also pay for laboratories to increase farm productivity with genetically
improved seeds and better insect and pest control.

Truly, we could build the strong Philippines reaping all benenfits above
by having only one plan: win in world markets with multinational
partners investing in the Philippines, or die. The economy could grow
12% to 25% annually as Guandong province in China did for many years in
the past 25 years. No more need the Philippines wallow at a 2% to 7%
annual GDP growth rate.

So, why does not Gordon have a one sentence platform--win in world
markets with multinational partners investing in the Philippines, or
die, and explain that his one sentence platform would achieve every
Filipino dream, and then further explain that he is more qualified than
Noynoy, Villar, or any other candidate at realizing his plan for the
fastest of all possible Philppine progress.?

But, wait, we can challenge Noynoy, Villar, and the other candidates in
the same way. None of them is shooting for a global bonanza. Instead,
each of them is wasting words explaining their web of dreams without
understanding how to raise the vast financing needed to realize their
dreams.

In particular, they need to increase the the country's investment rates
7 to 18 fold quickly so that investment rates per capita can equal the levels in
Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and other robust Asian economies.

Only by attracting large numbers of multinational investors and making
huge profits in world markets could the Philippines possibly achieve
soon the 7 to 18 fold increase in capital to finance the naively-stated
dreams of the candidates.

In particular, a canddate must give top priority to raising foreign
direct investment inflows more than 20-fold annually. That is evident
from the regional econmic data. Four Asian Tigers with a smaller
combined population than in the Philippines now attract more than $40
billion of foreign direct investment inflows annually while the
Philippines does less than $2 billion usually. With that disparity of
more than 20-fold, why is it that none of the candidates have a
one-sentence platform that would make it possible to finance the
realization of their many dreams?

The global investment rate is now 600 times as strong as in the
Philippines. But, if the Philippines with its low wages will "get its
act together," then it could attract huge investment inflows easily 20
times as high as is now being invested there by foreigners.

So, to repeat, why does not each candidate have a one sentence
platform--win in world markets with multitudes of multinational partners
investing in the Philippines, or die, and then explain that this one
sentence platform would achieve every Filipino dream, and then further
explain that he, Gordon, or Villar, or Noynoy is more qualified than any
of his rivals to realize this plan for fastest of all possible
Philppine progress?

If our candidates are as weak at nation-building vision as Gloria
Arroyo and her predecessors since Manuel Roxas and Quirino have been,
then are Filipinos fated to be punished with more misery in
the next six years? Should we accept this fate?

No, I propose that we Filipinos unite to pressure each one of the
candidates to campagin on the cry, "Export or Die." Then you and I
would have the pleasure in May to follow our individual judgments and
select the one candidate that you and I think will become our most
achieving leader at world competition.

If you like my proposal to improve the candidates , please join a group
whose name, EPIC25, signifies an Emerging Philippines Internationally Conquering and becoming
as strong as Western economies in 25 years--the same 25 years that
Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea to become equal to
Europeans at not just income but also education, science and technology.
You can find the EPIC25 group at www.groups.yahoo. com/group/ epic25.

You will ask, am I not myself spinning a web of unrealistic concepts
above? My reply is simple: look at the past 400 years of world
history to realize that it is the cry "Export of Die" that makes peoples
prosper.

That was the strategy adopted by Japan in the mid-1950s that enabled it
to crush the U.S.A. for nearly the next 35 years to the 1980s. Japan
picked up the best commercial ideas from America, married them to the
low Japanesewages in the 1950s, and then swatted a powerful and
stunned America like a fly from the sky. When Japan no longer was able
to make more advances against the U.S., it still had the satifaction of
having become an economically and technologically rich nation equal to
America and Western nations.

Before Japan, all of the world's richest national economies became rich
because they focused on implementing the cry, "Export of Die." A small
island called England became the globally pioneer at becoming rich. It
made itsel the workshop of the world, a "nation of shopkeepers, "
300 or more years ago. France, Germany and other European nations
followed the path to equality with England by competing with the English
worldwide.

Starting nearly 150 years ago, America began to get powerful on that
same plan, , only to be felled by Japan that copied it. After Japan, more
copycats such as as four Asian Tigers--Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan,
South Korea-- also climbed to the top of the world's per capita income
ranks by shouting the Japanese "Export or Die!" cry.

Close behind them was Ireland that becme known as the Celtic Tiger; it
rose from being among the poorest European economies to being richer
than America. In a distant ocean location far away from everyone, the
Neverland called Bermuda rose from obscurity to being the fourth richest
economy in the world per capita by exporting re-insurance services that
dominated the world's re-insurance market.

The most recent practitioners of the Export or Die cry--Malaysia, Thailand,
China, Brazil, India and Dubai and 10 more economies-- also have shot up
in the world through export success.

Powerful indeed is the world as a nursery for national economic growth.
It is a a gigantic ocean where sardines can become tiger sharks and
whales by swimming without fear to distant places wherein to compete
and win.

If we remain inside the Philippines so hung up on local issues, we will be
limited to small sales and to peso profits that can't be used to import
oil, machines and technologies to build the nation. So, we must FOCUS
on winning abroad at export wars to prosper; we must keep our eyes and
minds on the 99.7% of our opportunities. We must not allow Gordon,
Noynoy and their rivals to imprison us on local, microscopic Philippine
issues that enable us to realize only 0.3% of our potential.

Unfortunately, many Filipino voters are also hung up on the local
trivia. They say that corruption and lack of unity and selfishness are
what make us hopeless. How terribly unproductive are these thoughts.
We can prosper despite corruption, selfishness and disunity, if we will
educate our politicians to focus on winning in world markets with
multinational allies. Of course, if they are honest and focused on global
competition, that would be even better.

The Korean political leaders were corrupt persons focused on
personal glory and winning in world markets with only their cronies.
They ruled wth forced unity in which the major beneficiaries were their
their cronies with whom they worked to win at world competition. Thus,
the leaders and their cronies got rich. But, in winning abroad, they also got
all their workers fully employed conquering world markets. Thus, the Korean
people also got rich despite or because of corruption.

Some 100 years before the Koreans, American also prospered strongly on
the corruption and social disorganization of the country after the Civil
War. And, 300 years before the Americans, Queen Elizabeth built the
world's first strong global economy based on a corrupt system of favors
and monopolies for her court favorites, her cronies. The monopolies
were globally superior enterprises. They employed the people
productively to defeat Spain at various markets. Thus England got strong.

Today, Thailand and Italy are examples of countries that suffer from
corruption and yet prosper because their peoples and officials have a
globally competitive outlook, and they bring in foreign investors as allies
with whom to compete with great success globally.

Therefore, let us, voters, put aside our usual corruption-centered
mentalitiy and instead put pressure on Gordon, Noynoy and their rivals
to use an export-focused nation building platform. We must make each
candidate abandon his 99.7% defective platforms and FOCUS on winning in
world markets and explain why he is best among the candidates at
realizing that plan.

Summary

To remedy the 99.7% defective thinking of the eight Presidential
candidates, let our CITIZENS' TASKS IN THESE ELECTIONS consist of these
THREE STEPS:

1. In countless letters to all Filipino newspapers and broadcast media,
CRITICIZE, EDUCATE and DEMAND THAT Gordon and his rivals to campaign
with this cry:

1.1. Attract foreign multinational investors and win with them
and Filipino workers in world markets, or die.

1.2. Help Filipino companies to win in world markets on their
own, or help them to attract multinational partners with whom
to win in world markets.

If they don't respond, write more letters telling the Filipino people to
boo the candidates at their campaigns and tell them that they are
shallow or empty. Right now, I speak this one truth: None of the
candidates has a worthy platform comparable to the one-sentence
platforms that are now enriching Dubai, India, China, Brazil and have
enriched more than 20 other once-poor nations in modern times.

2. ASK each candidate to explain why he has been a weak and uninformed
nation-builder so far, but is now the best person to realize the above
two steps.

3. WORK to make all other FILIPINO ORGANIZATIONS unite behind the ideas
discussed here and promote the above CITIZENS' TASKS and THREE STEPS.

Concerning TASK #2 above, ask each candidate to explain in his
platform and speeches how he may build the nation in these six ways:

1) Get the Philippines to be atttacting $40 billion of foreign investor
inflows annually.

Four Asian Tigers that have a lower combined population than the
Philippines now take in more than $40 billion annually while the
Philippines does less than $2 billion. (See IMF, International
Financial Statistics, to confirm the data.) Each candidate must explain
his understanding of why we are doing that badly, and then explain how
he would outdo his rivals at bringing in the higher foreign investment
inflows.

The explanations of the candidates would make us see whether or not he
understands the importance of foreign investment inflows. Does he
understand that such a a big improvement will immensely increase
foreign multinational technology and managerial inflows to the country,
and provide numerous modern products to export--the multinational
products that our workers will assemble: cameras, computers, biotech
drugs, machine tools, copying machines, cell phones, auto and truck
parts, medical instruments and pharmaceuticals, GPS devices, DVDs,
airplane and space rocket parts, financial services, medical hospital
services?

Will the candidate tell us that one top priority must be to liberalize
the restrictive Article 12 of the Constiution that prevents strong
foreign investment inflows into investments in electricity transmission,
telecom, water systems, railways and ports-- all of which are essential
to nation building through exports?

2) Get the Philippines to fix the dollar shortage and have exports 25
times as high as now.

Four Asian Tigers with a smaller combined population than the
Philippines now have exports 25 times as high as by the Philippines.
(See the CIA World Factbook database to confirm the data: www.cia.gov
<http://www.cia. gov/> .) Each candidate must explain his understanding
of why we are doing that badly, and then explain how he would outdo his
rivals at bringing in a 3-fold or 10-fold or 25-fold increase at
exports.

Each year our Asian Tiger neighbors have abundant dollars to bring in
machines to employ their people, raise their productivity, make them
rich and build the nation. Each year, Filipinos lack those dollars.
Hence, we lack imported machines, can't employ our workers, and are poor
and falling to the bottom in Asia. Our GDP per capita is now 92% lower
on average than among the four Asian Tigers-- Siingapore, Hong Kong,
Taiwan and S Korea. The Gordon platform neglects this problem. Noynoy
too. Villar also. And Erap is zero at these things. Hence, we must
push them at this issue and the preceding one (foreign investment
inflows).

3) Reduce the Philippine poverty rate to near zero from nearly 40%, and
cut the unemployment rate to less than 1.5% to 3.5% from 30%

In Thailand, Malaysia and the four Tigers, the unemployment rate ranges
from 1.4% to 3.5%, while the official rate in the Philippines is higher
than 7%, and the unofficial rate is more than 30% when hidden
unemployment and underemployment are factored in. (See the CIA World
Factbook database to confirm the data: www.cia.gov
<http://www.cia. gov/> .) The poverty rate in those countries is also
zero to less than 10% while it is nearly 40% in the Philippines. Each
candidate must explain his understanding of why we are doing poorly at
employment and poverty reduction, and then explain how he would outdo
his rivals at curing these problems.

4) Reduce the OFW outflow to near zero, as in Thailand, Malaysia, and
four Asian Tigers.

5) Make the Philippines catch up in Asia at education

Among 15 economies being rated in Asia, the best Philippine university
ranks only 62nd. Yet, the Philippine populaion is fifth highest in
Asia. Six far less populated countries like Thailand, Malaysia,
Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea each have two to five schools
that rank higher than U.P. at educational excellence. Why is a
Philippines so highly populated unable to hold its own at education?
Each candidate must explain his understanding of why we are doing that
badly, and then explain how he would outdo his rivals at developing the
funding and the personnel to vastly improve the Philippine university
system.

6) Make Philippine Agriculture More Productive

Each candidate must explain his understanding of why we can't feed
ourselves. Why is each Filipino farmer able to feed only 10 people
while each U.S. farmer can feed more than 100 persons? Is it because
the Philippines is so weak at exports that it lacks dollars to import
machines to build dams, reservoirs, flood control canals, irrigation
ditches, granaries to store crops, machines to dry harvest and then dry
and store or refrigerate farm output? Does the candidate accept the
above explanation? Does he have other explanations? Here, Villar
is especially naive in his ideas on agriculture. He doe not see
exports success as the key to farm success.

LET US FILIPINO VOTERS EDUCATE AND IMPROVE THE DEFECTIVE
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. WE DON'[T NEED AN HONEST NOYNOY.
WE DON'T NEED A REALTOR VILLAR. WE DON'T NEED A GORDON
BUREAUCRAT. WE NEED A LEADER FOCUSED ON GLOBAL VICTORY.
LET US TURN GORDON, NOYNOY,VILLAR and other candidates INTO
THAT KIND OF LEADER AND THEN ELECT AS PRESIDENT THE ONE
AMONG THEM WHO WILL BE THE BEST GLOBAL ACHIEVER. LET US
SEE HOW THEY WILL REVISE THEIR PLATFORMS IN THE NEXT THREE
TO FOUR WEEKS, WHICH IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME FOR THE
CANDIDATES TO MEDITATE ON THEIR DEFICIENCIES AND IMPROVE
THEIR CONCEPTS, THEIR PLATFORMS.

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR FRIENDS AT VARIOUS
YAHOOGROUPS. LET'S END 60 YEARS OF MEDIOCRE PRESIDENCIES.

LET GLORIA ARROYO'S PRESIDENCY BE THE LAST IN A LONG STRING
OF TERRIBLY MEDIOCRE FILIPINO LEADERSHIP.

IF YOU WANT, JOIN ME AT ANOTHER YAHOOGROUP AS A CENTER
TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN TO EDUCATE EVERY ONE OF THE CANDIDATES
AT NATIONBUILDING: WWW.GROUPS.YAHOO. COM/GROUP/ EPIC25 .

Now read below, after my signature, the 99.7% defective Gordon platform.

Note: I am not saying that Gordon and Noynoy are dumb. No, they are bright.
But, their minds and those of Villar and the other candidates are not addressing
the correct challenge, which is to compete and win in huge world markers.

Good luck to us all and the Philippines.

NORMAN MADRID
Economist at EPIC Tiger Ventures LLC in New York City
Former college teacher: U.P. School. of Economics, and
University of Wisconsin, City Univ. of New York, and
New York University
Former economist at Citigroup and then JP Morgan Chase analyzing Asia's
top economies--
Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand + Switzerland and Australia.

= = = == = =

A Defective Gordon Wins Lyceum "Election" /
Takes 40% of the Votes among 8 Candidates
By DAVID CAGAHASTIAN January 22, 2010, 5:02pm
Source : http://www.mb. com.ph/articles/ 239817/lyceum- mock-poll-
shows-gordon- most-capable

Senator Richard Gordon, standard-bearer of the Bagumbayan party, is the
most capable among presidential aspirants in the 2010 elections, a poll
from the Lyceum of the Philippines showed.

Gordon received the highest number of votes during a mock election that
followed the Lyceum Presidential Forum last Wednesday which was attended
by students from different universities, foreign diplomats and business
leaders.

Gordon received 59 votes, followed by Gilbert Teodoro (23), Sen. Benigno
Aquino III (20), Bro. Eddie Villanueva (17), Nicanor Perlas (10), Former
President Joseph Estrada (9), Sen. Manny Villar (7), and Olongapo
Councilor JC Delos Reyes (2).

During the forum, Gordon explained his policy of governance and sent a
clear message that everyone must take part in transforming the nation
and breaking free from a transactional society.

Gordon's Six Point Platform

"When I look at governance I always think in terms of vision, values,
volunteerism equals victory. To my mind, leaders ought to know where
they are going. They have to uplift the level of values, of dignity, of
behavior and performance of their people; uplift not just the standard
of living, but also the standard of values; not just making them receive
the hand-out, but making sure that all hands are carrying the load of
the nation," he said.

Gordon said the Philippines is faced with many challenges, primarily the
cycle of disaster and poverty, ongoing war in Mindanao, and corruption
not just in the government but in the whole society which should be
solved by the country's next leader.

He explained that these problems can be solved by a government that is
focused, fast, friendly, flexible and forward-looking, but the people
should start selecting worthy and true leaders in the 2010 elections.

Gordon also presented his governance agenda, which included his top six
policies: (1) Responsible budget deficit reduction program by minimizing
fraud, waste and abuse, while maximizing revenues and services; (2)
Burden-sharing by forging genuine partnership with local government
units and the private sector; (3) Investing in people by ensuring
quality population through quality education; (4) Disaster proofing the
nation to end the cycle of disaster and poverty; (5) Strong political
will and leadership by example; and (6) Re-engineering the government
through a system of meritocracy.

"This is how Gordon's governance will be. People must be part of the
process of change. I will try to explain my vision to the people. Vision
is a mental picture of the future which is certainly better than what is
today. Vision will require challenges; work ethic, a sense of duty,
dignity and determination are required for us to achieve our vision," he
said.

Oh yes! I support Gordon/ Bayani... eto amg mga Lider na dapat piga-boto. They are not Afraid to implement the LAW even if it hurts their popularity. Political will is what is needed to bring discipline in our anarchy reigned society.

It's either 1. Gordon 2. Gibo or 3. Villar for me. Please no to Noynoy. Sorry to those who support Noynoy but he is just too weak to be a president, if he wins, its the Makati Business Club and the Cojuancos who is gonna run our country again much like Eraps. So please mga kahimanwa... if you love your country please vote for someone who genuinely & passionately loves the country too. And has a tangible and proven track record like Gordon & Bayani. Iyu na ini mga padi ang pigahalat ta!

Its a lazy sunday...i guess everybody's out having fun inside malls, movie houses, beach, or visiting family and friends...

Maray na Albay!

looking at the pictures posted by monsi, it looked like Embarcadero's celebration plaza will be finished before february ends this year...

hmmm. how about the structure next to it, i mean the huge rectagular building?

2008 COA stats

2008 Annual Income of Bicol cities

1. Legazpi - 493.780 million
2. Naga - 489.803 million
3. Sorsogon - 345.332 million
4. Ligao - 278.620 million
5. Masbate - 260.293 million
6. Iriga - 257.222 million
7. Tabaco - 256.814 million

As of today, we have 137 cities already Dasmariñas being the newest.:)

Source - COA (http://www.coa.gov.ph/Financial_Reports.htm)

Last year's report

Based on 2007 COA Report, below is the list of cities in the Bicol Region ranked in terms of their annual income;

1. Naga - Php463.677 million (ranked 51st nationwide)
2. Legazpi - 418.630 million (59th nationwide)
3. Sorsogon - 342.767 million (77th nationwide)
4. Ligao - 276.746 million (96th nationwide)
5. Masbate - 241.023 million (105th nationwide)
6. Tabaco - 240.427 million (106th nationwide)
7. Iriga - 236.661 million (111th nationwide)


Top Ten Bicol Municipalities ranked according to Annual Income (2008)
(same source)

1. Daraga, Albay - 138,205,787.12
2. Daet, CamNorte - 137,349,971.20
3. Labo, CamNorte - 116,583,678.71
4. Libmanan, CamSur - 110,119,468.80
5. Bulan, Sorsogon - 102,182,620.73
6. Pili, CamSur - 97,119,097.27
7. Polangui. Albay - 96,329,336.40
8. Virac, Catanduanes - 93,824,759.42
9. Aroroy, Masbate - 94,070,139.37
10. Guinobatan, Albay - 90,762,526.47



Last year:

;33726140']From the same source:

Top Ten Bicol Municipalities ranked according to Annual Income (2007)

Daet, Camarines Norte - 127.288 million
Daraga, Albay - 125.109 million
Labo, Camarines Norte - 105.336 million
Libmanan, Camarines Sur - 100.734 million
Pili, Camarines Sur - 87.026 million
Bulan, Sorsogon - 86.664 million
Nabua, Camarines Sur - 85.877 million
Bacacay, Albay - 84.896 million
Polangui, Albay - 84.300 million
Guinobatan, Albay - 81.851 million

Oh yes! I support Gordon/ Bayani... eto amg mga Lider na dapat piga-boto. They are not Afraid to implement the LAW even if it hurts their popularity. Political will is what is needed to bring discipline in our anarchy reigned society.

It's either 1. Gordon 2. Gibo or 3. Villar for me. Please no to Noynoy. Sorry to those who support Noynoy but he is just too weak to be a president, if he wins, its the Makati Business Club and the Cojuancos who is gonna run our country again much like Eraps. So please mga kahimanwa... if you love your country please vote for someone who genuinely & passionately loves the country too. And has a tangible and proven track record like Gordon & Bayani. Iyu na ini mga padi ang pigahalat ta!

Luckily, EPIC Tiger Ventures LLC that is based in New york City and headed by the author of the article above has 3 bicolano founders listed. One is a DTI consultant based in Catanduanes, another is from bacacay albay now in china and the other is from legazpi city now in south korea. The ultimate cry of this group of talented Filipinos scattered all over the world is "EXPORT OR DIE". Tanong ko lang kung meron ang albay na pedeng ipagmalaki sa buong mundo na produkto na at the same time kailangan na kailangan at pede nating ma sustain, ano ito? currently we are working on goat production for meat, milk for yogurt export based in mindanao. I am looking for a possible joint venture in albay na pede kung i propose sa EPIC Tiger LLC board for approval, any suggestions?

Green Group Asks New Legazpi Bishop to Oppose Rapu-rapu Mining
(http://www.voxbikol.com/bikolnews/3992/green-group-asks-new-legazpi-bishop-oppose-rapu-rapu-mining)Sunday, January 24th, 2010

Legazpi City (21 January) -- The environmental institution PANGATAMAN-Bikol (Bicol Center for Environmental Protection) has enjoined the new bishop of Legazpi to support the fight against mining in Rapu-rapu Island even as it raised the alarm that Lafayette is again gearing to further exploit Rapu-Rapu Island to the detriment of its residents and the environment. According to a statement released by the environmental group, Lafayette is already operating in three villages of the island.

The Mineral Production Sharing Agreements already held by Lafayette, per MGB records, covers 4,610 hectares out of the island's 5,589-hectare land area, or 82.5%. In the 2008 Annual Report of Malaysia Smelting Corporation, which owns 30% of the mine, the total area covered by MPSA's is 5218 hectares.

This means an additional 608 hectares. In the endorsement of MGB V, exactly 608 hectares is specified as the area of Poblacion and Morocborocan that would be explored. According to Engr. Virgilio Perdigon Jr. "Lafayette has not even acknowledged responsibility for the numerous fish kills that happened in the island since 2005 and now they have the gall to expand their operation to two more villages."

Perdigon added that they are against further degradation of the island and that they hope other sectors that opposed Lafayette previously "will come to the fore once again to stop this." "We hope that the provincial government under Governor Salceda would not forget its slogan a couple of years back when it posted streamers around the capitol saying "ALBAY NO TO MINING!" said the environmentalist.

"We also hope that the new bishop of Legazpi City Bishop Joel Baylon would take the same stand as his predecessor Bishop Lucilo Quiambao and be a vocal opponent of mining in Rapu-Rapu. What is needed now is to put an immediate stop to mining in the island and not to expand it. Otherwise, Lafayette is courting another environmental disaster," ended Perdigon. To date there has been at least five major fish kills in the waters near the island since 2005 caused by the mining operations of Lafayette.

Legazpi City Hall
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4296994145_21c72d8e88_b.jpg

Albay PDMO
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4296997607_31a4411f66_b.jpg

Photos by feistyfeeble (http://www.flickr.com/photos/feistyfeeble/)

Mayon Alert Level 2 still in effect (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/240089/mayon-alert-level-2-still-effect)
By JC BELLO RUIZ
January 24, 2010, 4:23pm

Alert Level 2 or moderate unrest is still in effect over Mayon Volcano, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Sunday. This as Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said monitored parameters such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) flux reading, seismicity, ground deformation, crater glow and steaming activity in the past week “are still appropriate for alert level 2 or moderate unrest.”

Last Saturday, Mt. Mayon in Legaspi, Albay had an SO2 emission rate at an average value of 1001 tons/day. On Friday, Mayon volcano had an SO2 emission rate at an average of 815 tonnes/day. Phivolcs consider 500 tonnes and below SO2 emission as “normal” for volcanoes.

Mayon volcano’s seismic monitoring network on Saturday also recorded two volcanic earthquakes and six rockfall events related to the detachment of lava fragments at the volcano’s upper slopes. From January 11-17, Phivolcs recorded a total of 30 volcanic earthquakes and 85 rockfall events.

Mayon’s carter glow could not be observed as it was obscured by clouds but the volcano’s steaming activity was placed at “moderate” by Phivolcs. With Alert Level 2 — a state of unrest which could lead to ash explosions or eventually to hazardous magmatic eruption — still in effect over Mayon, Phivolcs strongly recommended that the public should not enter the six-kilometer (km) radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and the seven-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeast flank of the volcano due to continuing threat from sudden explosions, rockfalls from the upper slopes and pyroclastic flows due to a sudden collapse of unstable lava deposits.

2008 COA stats



Last year's report



Last year:




I think Legazpi just recovered the lost income in 2007 due to the effects of Reming. We will see the current real income of Legazpi when the 2009 COA report comes out. I'm sure it will be something to reckon, with all the recent developments in the city like Embarcadero, St. Ellis and the Terminal and surge of tourists. We should be expecting more infrastructure developments then.

I'm sure Naga's income will surge in 2009 with the opening of SM City.

BTW, Hakz, thanks for posting these data. Do you have the data for the provinces?

Maray na Albay saindo gabos!

Its a lazy sunday...i guess everybody's out having fun inside malls, movie houses, beach, or visiting family and friends...

I was just at home, taking care of my mother, a cancer patient.

I was just at home, taking care of my mother, a cancer patient.

Sorry to hear that guru. Let's just hope and pray for the best.

2008 COA stats

1. Legazpi - 493.780 million
2. Naga - 489.803 million
3. Sorsogon - 345.332 million
4. Ligao - 278.620 million
5. Masbate - 260.293 million
6. Iriga - 257.222 million
7. Tabaco - 256.814 million



Wow. It's a big leap. I think 2009 figures will favor Naga, because of the tourists who come to Camarines Sur. I am surprised about Ligao's and Tabaco's placements, but I think there had been more infra projects in Tabaco than in Ligao. I honestly love Sorsogon's placement. It's a beautiful city!

2008 COA stats

1. Daraga, Albay - 138,205,787.12
2. Daet, CamNorte - 137,349,971.20
3. Labo, CamNorte - 116,583,678.71
4. Libmanan, CamSur - 110,119,468.80
5. Bulan, Sorsogon - 102,182,620.73
6. Pili, CamSur - 97,119,097.27
7. Polangui. Albay - 96,329,336.40
8. Virac, Catanduanes - 93,824,759.42
9. Aroroy, Masbate - 94,070,139.37
10. Guinobatan, Albay - 90,762,526.47



Puspusan laban ng Daet and Daraga. Hehehe. Daraga's income will surely swell when the airport becomes operational. Can't wait for the time when it will be called City of Daraga (which I used not to favor, but the presence of an international airport just makes it so deserving to be converted into a city). I just wish the new mayor will exert more efforts in developing the uplands!

I think Legazpi just recovered the lost income in 2007 due to the effects of Reming. We will see the current real income of Legazpi when the 2009 COA report comes out. I'm sure it will be something to reckon, with all the recent developments in the city like Embarcadero, St. Ellis and the Terminal and surge of tourists. We should be expecting more infrastructure developments then.

I'm sure Naga's income will surge in 2009 with the opening of SM City.

BTW, Hakz, thanks for posting these data. Do you have the data for the provinces?

Maray na Albay saindo gabos!

True...hope both Legazpi and Naga will do much better this 2009...But more interesting for me were the cities of Sorsogon and Ligao...i want them to be part of the competition...i mean competition is good as long as those cities will not pull down one another..

I was just at home, taking care of my mother, a cancer patient.

oh...hope she could recover fast...vegetables and fruits and herbal medicines could help i believe

Maray na Albay everyone!

I was just at home, taking care of my mother, a cancer patient.

How is she? I hope she's doing well. Let's pray that she'll be back in the pink of health soon. :)

I was just at home, taking care of my mother, a cancer patient.

my God. So sorry to learn that guru. As Garrycooper said, I shall keep her in my prayers. My mother is a cancer survivor. She was given 5 years to live in 1997. She's still in great health as of now at age 65. No remissions after the operation & kemotherapy(tama ba spelling) anyway, I believe everything will ok. Let's just submit to God's will.

^^ She had an operation in 2008, but the mass reappeared. It's thyroid cancer but the mass is in the brain. It's super scary. She doesn't want another operation, so we are waiting in vain--I hope she has all the strength to fight the ordeal. Her sight is also killing me. Hay naku. Yes, God provides. Thanks!

;50701599']Maray na Albay everyone!



How is she? I hope she's doing well. Let's pray that she'll be back in the pink of health soon. :)

This is quite impossible. What we pray for, though it hurts, is that she is relieved of everything.

I was just at home, taking care of my mother, a cancer patient.
sorry to hear that from you guru, i hope she recovers fast.

Kasuba'gong hapon...
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/600x600/75/DSC02456a.JPG?et=95IUpZRYri3SN42AL8KBTQ&nmid=279080575
^...May porma na su su'yap sa ampang kan four-storey building; gari multilevel walkway...
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/600x600/74/DSC02463a.JPG?et=OQz%2CvAdsF0794UsTxc1dGg&nmid=279080575
^...Two pairs of Otis escalators (for conveying mall patrons to/from the second and third levels)
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/600x600/76/DSC02458a.JPG?et=WSvkjFS%2C1NeB7wfxwyerBw&nmid=279080575
^...May bayad na an pagsakat sa Lighthouse...
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/600x600/77/DSC02461a.JPG?et=8qYd%2BbGNFFC11NGfii4rtQ&nmid=279080575
^...Families now start to discover EM (second level, Celebration Plaza).
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/600x600/73/DSC02467.JPG?et=6s2opb8sIFe1Lp9S6xdyvw&nmid=279080575
^...Visitors from UNC.

Yup the opening of embarcadero, LKY Terminal, Hotel St Ellis...and the reopening of the Legazpi oil plus infrastructure developments will add to Legazpi's income this 2009!

I think Legazpi just recovered the lost income in 2007 due to the effects of Reming. We will see the current real income of Legazpi when the 2009 COA report comes out. I'm sure it will be something to reckon, with all the recent developments in the city like Embarcadero, St. Ellis and the Terminal and surge of tourists. We should be expecting more infrastructure developments then.

I'm sure Naga's income will surge in 2009 with the opening of SM City.

BTW, Hakz, thanks for posting these data. Do you have the data for the provinces?

Maray na Albay saindo gabos!

Meron na sa Bicol, pero yung sa Albay wala pa akong nakita dun sa COA Report...I don't know why.......

^^ She had an operation in 2008, but the mass reappeared. It's thyroid cancer but the mass is in the brain. It's super scary. She doesn't want another operation, so we are waiting in vain--I hope she has all the strength to fight the ordeal. Her sight is also killing me. Hay naku. Yes, God provides. Thanks!

Thyroid Cancer is compatible with life guru.

It is treatable and our (endocrinologist's) dictum- 'no patient should die from thyroid cancer" as it is a very slow- growing malignancy.

Most of the metastasis even in the brain does need an operation and respond well to Radioactive Iodine Treatment and Ablation. We would soon be having a Nuclear Medicine Facility in Bicol Access Centrum.

Can you PM me of her endocrinologist and Nuclear Medicine Specialist?

You see the Philippine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism is a small group composed of only 4 hospitals and schools (UP/UST/St. Lukes and Makati Med). Baka kilala ko ang attending MD n'ya.

Dr. Eggy (General) and Dr Mean (Roa), two of our endocrinologists in Legazpi are our junior fellows in UST and are both active members of the organization. Eggy is now the head of the Department of Medicine in BRTTH.

I know most of the members here and they just came to Naga yesterday. A smaller group would be coming back next weekend for another meeting in Misibis.

Most of them would again be back in April for our TEPI Assembly that the SCC Naga would be actively participating.

We could be of help

Si Edbert, my high school classmate.

Si Edbert, my high school classmate.

Magaling 'yan. Katatawag lang sa akin kanina. Is he your mom's Endo?

No comment. Hehe.

No comment. Hehe.

Can we still be of help?

Can we still be of help?

hi doc. welcome to the thread :)

@geri& to the rest of the forumers. marhay na albay tabi :)

Oh yes! I support Gordon/ Bayani... eto amg mga Lider na dapat piga-boto. They are not Afraid to implement the LAW even if it hurts their popularity. Political will is what is needed to bring discipline in our anarchy reigned society.

It's either 1. Gordon 2. Gibo or 3. Villar for me. Please no to Noynoy. Sorry to those who support Noynoy but he is just too weak to be a president, if he wins, its the Makati Business Club and the Cojuancos who is gonna run our country again much like Eraps. So please mga kahimanwa... if you love your country please vote for someone who genuinely & passionately loves the country too. And has a tangible and proven track record like Gordon & Bayani. Iyu na ini mga padi ang pigahalat ta!

ako man!!! Gordon-Bayani man ako!!! Woohoo!!! Gordon-Bayani!!!

Can we still be of help?

Hindi ko na po alam gagawin kay Nanay kasi ayaw na din nya. And sad to say, we are already penniless. Plus, people know this, nawalan kami ng bahay nung Reming. So we have been adrift since then.

Hindi ko na po alam gagawin kay Nanay kasi ayaw na din nya. And sad to say, we are already penniless. Plus, people know this, nawalan kami ng bahay nung Reming. So we have been adrift since then.

I'll PM you guru

Ligñon Hill zipline

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4302237346_a5d7133700_b.jpg
by joycicle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joycicle/)

Mayon up close
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/4301481617_d7cf727028_b.jpg
by joycicle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joycicle/)

View of Mayon from Ligñon Hill
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2686/4301466869_3acff1bf60_b.jpg
by joycicle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joycicle/)

Legazpi view from Ligñon Hill
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4302223442_d189f09514_b.jpg
by joycicle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joycicle/)

http://images.micreations.multiply.com/image/10/photos/134/1200x1200/1/Mayon-Forest-Lake-POV.jpg?et=6FeWdX0NicjNb0L983TFVg&nmid=312414476
Photo by Dacel Andes (http://micreations.multiply.com/)

First Gen to acquire more assets (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=543568&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña (The Philippine Star) Updated January 25, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - First Gen Corp., the power generation arm of the Lopez Group, is actively scouring the market for opportunities in line with its bid to become a global geothermal powerhouse. In a chance interview, First Gen chief finance officer Giles Puno said the company is considering a bid for the 1,200-megawatt (MW) Ilijan gas-fired power plant in Batangas as well as the 246-MW Angat hydropower plant in Bulacan and the 150-MW Bacon-Manito geothermal units in Albay.

Puno said the company may also bid for the government’s 60 percent stake in PNOC-Energy Corp. (PNOC-EC), the oil and gas exploration arm of state-run Philippine National Oil Co. The Ilijan power plant, with a life of 25 years, was principally designed to operate as a base-load unit using natural gas from the Malampaya gas field in Palawan, with diesel as back-up. It is being operated by the Korea Electric Power Corp. through Kepco Ilijan Corp.

Bidders for the Ilijan plant have until Jan. 29 to submit letters of interest while the pre-bid conference is scheduled on Feb. 11. Puno said the company is also looking for geothermal opportunities overseas, which include Africa and Latin America. First Gen reported a net income of $7 million during the first nine months of last year, 85 percent lower than the $45.8 million recorded in the same period in 2008.

The company attributed the decline to a one-time, non-cash writedown of the deferred tax assets of unit Energy Development Corp. EDC, following the implementation of the Renewable Energy Act in January 2009. First Gen is the biggest privately-owned power generator in the Philippines with an installed capacity of 2,582 MW accounting for about 17 percent of the country’s total capacity.

PAL and Mayon

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4293934531_62142d35f8_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4293934685_9bc47a665e_o.jpg

by katarzyna kowalska (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kowkatarz/)

ano pa ba ung mga constructions sa likod ng embarcadero???

ano pa ba ung mga constructions sa likod ng embarcadero???

mga dalan padi...

;50714977']Legazpi view from Ligñon Hill
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4302223442_d189f09514_b.jpg
by joycicle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joycicle/)

We need to take good care of our beautiful Albay Gulf, coz if not...it will just turn into an ugly body of water just like the Manila Bay and the Laguna lake...

We need to take good care of our beautiful Albay Gulf, coz if not...it will just turn into an ugly body of water just like the Manila Bay and the Laguna lake...

Ang ganda talaga ng Mayon. I've been to legaszpi once and i have seen how beautiful Mayon really is. It is so breathtaking I couldn't describe it in words. I was so amazed.

The bottom pic looks nice. Parang "Bay Area" sa San Francisco. Sana ma maintain ang appeal nya para di magdeteriorate. It's very beautiful.

;50715417']http://images.micreations.multiply.com/image/10/photos/134/1200x1200/1/Mayon-Forest-Lake-POV.jpg?et=6FeWdX0NicjNb0L983TFVg&nmid=312414476
Photo by Dacel Andes (http://micreations.multiply.com/)

Wow.! Nice one.
Maray na albay sa gabus.!:)

Some job openings in Legazpi

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/9066/20100125234033phjobstre.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/899/20100125233344phjobstre.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9452/20100125233633sivaphjob.jpg

View more jobs here (http://job-search.jobstreet.com.ph/philippines/job-opening.php?area=1&option=1&location=60200&job-source=1%2C64&classified=0&job-posted=0&sort=1&pg=1&src=16&srcr=1) and here (http://www.bestjobs.ph/bt-job-ST005-1-Jobs_in_Albay.htm).

It’s that time of the year again... (http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/life/21302-its-that-time-of-the-year-again.html)
Written by Anjo Alimario
Monday, 25 January 2010 18:49

WHOSE eyes would not be riveted if some of the most gorgeous women were just distance away from you, cordoned off for simple admiration and appreciation of their beauty? The answer came obvious when the 24 official candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2010 were presented to the public for the first time. Yes, it’s that time of the year again in this beauty pageant-crazy country of ours.

The exquisite quality exuded by the candidates brought delight not only to the members of the media but also to the curious crowd of the Gateway Mall cineplex. And the country’s biggest and most prestigious is about to become more competitive. The Binibining Pilipinas Beauty Pageant, now on its 45th year, is home to famous “graduates,” such as Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969; Margie Moran, Miss Universe 1973; Aurora Pijuan, Miss International 1970; Melanie Marquez, Miss International 1979; Ruffa Guttierez, Miss World 2nd Princess 1993; Miriam Quiambao, Miss Universe first runner-up 1999; and Precious Lara Quigaman, Miss International 2005.

The question on who will bring the next crown in three international pageants remains to be both challenge and motivation for the candidates. The 24 equally stunning candidates are Mariella Castillo, 18, Batangas; Rachel Ann Bustamante, 17, Oriental Mindoro; Patrixia Sherly Santos, 17, Albay; Selena Antonio, 23, Pasig City; Nicole Kaufmann, 24, Taguig City; Patricia Lae Ejercitado, 21, Cainta; Laurese Ann Caparas, 17, Bulacan; Ana Marie Morelos, 20, Valenzuela; Laica Joy Jimenez, 20, Bulacan; Maria Venus Raj, 21, Camarines Sur; Krista Arietta Kleiner, 20, Quezon City; Reina Mae Maerina, 24, Batangas; Gwendoline Ruais, 20, Muntinlupa City; Mary Ann RossMisa, 21, Parañaque; Jam Charissa Libatog, 22, Cebu; Toni Alyessa Hipolito, 20, Quezon City; Rose Ann Aguilar, 22, Cavite; Helen Nicolette Henson, 21, Pampanga; Kate Princess Alimurong, 22, Pampanga; Marie Ysabelle Matubis, 22, Parañaque; Czarina Catherine Gatbonton, 19, Bulacan; Dianne Necio, 17,Albay; Mhirra Hernandez, 20, Bulacan; and Angelica Damian, 23, also from Bulacan.

Maria Venus Raj, one of the three representatives from the Bicol region, admits that it is her ultimate dream to join Binibining Pilipinas. In fact, she is preparing a lot for the competition, both physically and emotionally. “I’ve been praying to win the Miss Universe title,” Venus said. Her father is Indian and her mother is Filipina. She was born in Qatar, and her family went back to the Philippines when she was still five months old. She describes herself as one who is outspoken and loves adventure.

Reina Mae Maerina, who is also the reigning Miss Lipa, is confident that she will do well in the competition. “I have the traits of a true-blooded Filipina and given my tall height, I consider it as my advantage.” With the candidates during the event were Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2009 Pamela Bianca Manalo, Binibining Pilipinas-International Melody Gersbach and Binibining Pilipinas-World Marie Ann Umali.

“Time flies so fast,” Bianca said before introducing and welcoming the candidates to the press. Months from now, Bianca and her fellow reigning beauty queens will soon pass their crowns to the most deserving candidates. Bianca advised the new batch of hopeful beauties to seize all the opportunities that will come their way. A high-profile new career is a big possibility for all the contestants.

The coronation night will be on March 6 at the Araneta Coliseum with a delayed telecast on GMA.

;50770739']Some job openings in Legazpi

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/9066/20100125234033phjobstre.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/899/20100125233344phjobstre.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9452/20100125233633sivaphjob.jpg

View more jobs here (http://job-search.jobstreet.com.ph/philippines/job-opening.php?area=1&option=1&location=60200&job-source=1%2C64&classified=0&job-posted=0&sort=1&pg=1&src=16&srcr=1) and here (http://www.bestjobs.ph/bt-job-ST005-1-Jobs_in_Albay.htm).

yung metro hub ba dx yan yung Legazpi City Lifestyle hub?

uy mabukas naman palan ang food court sa Embarcadero..

yung metro hub ba dx yan yung Legazpi City Lifestyle hub?

uy mabukas naman palan ang food court sa Embarcadero..

Yup, LKY Metro Transport and Lifestyle Hub :okay:

^ does it mean watson will be constructed instead of the rumored savemore of SM?

^ does it mean watson will be constructed instead of the rumored savemore of SM?

I think Watsons is one of the official tenants of LKY since the beginning, so it will be there regardless if Savemore will indeed push through or not.

^ i see. thanks dx...slowly but surely!

muzta mga pipol.. ano lamang ang updates jan?

muzta mga pipol.. ano lamang ang updates jan?

Maray na Albay, long time no post hehe

Albay farmer succeeds in hybrid rice farming
(http://balita.ph/2010/01/26/albay-farmer-succeeds-in-hybrid-rice-farming/)January 26, 2010 12:37 pm

LIGAO CITY, Jan. 26 – Most farmers in Bicol have to hurdle some of the difficulties in adopting the hybrid rice technology before coming to realize its advantages over the conventional way of rice production. At first, they doubted its effectiveness making its launching in the region way back in 1998 not as successful as the trials conducted in other areas.

Yet, Ricardo Roperes of this city got deeply interested in hybrid rice and eventually succeeded in its production. “Since getting the right technology about seven years ago, I have been consistently harvesting an average yield of eight tons from my one hectare farm and earns P20,000 higher than my income from inbred rice production per harvest,” he told the PNA over the week. The passionate interest of this 52-year-old farmer who is a graduate of a four-year course in agriculture in learning the technology paved the way for him to victory.

Despite the low adoption rate of the technology due to its unimpressive promotion following its introduction, Roperes said he persisted in learning it in time with the intensified hybrid rice promotion of the Department of Agriculture (DA) through its Regional Field Unit (RFU) for Bicol in 1999.
“I collected reading materials and followed reports on its development on radio and television. After a year of conscientious self-study, I started to utilize what I learned,” he said.

The intensified promotion included trainings and technical briefings on F1 technology that dealth with cultivation and production of commercial hybrid rice. Roperes said he also attended the University Without Walls-Season Long Training on hybrid rice seed production at the Bicol University. After all these learning, he said, he planted his one-hectare ricefield to hybrid rice in the wet season in 2000. It was a failure and he realized his knowledge was not enough.

He gambled later in hybrid rice seed production because he believed that seeds would be the most fundamental component of production.
Roperes tried the less complicated technology called F1 and used a family-owned three-hectare rice land to Mestizo 1 variety which paid for his long wait for success. His eight-ton-per-hectare-per-harvest average yield came to being but the problem did not end there. He had to give up two hectares of the farm to his brothers leaving to him only one hectare to till.

Worse, his crop was infected by bacterial leaf blight (BLB) so he had significant yield lost. Yet, what happened did not deter him from using hybrid rice varieties. Roperes said he found a solution in Mestizo 3, a hybrid variety less susceptible to BLB. From then on, he used this variety during wet season and Bigante during dry season which retained for him the eight-ton per harvest scenario.

However, he noticed that the limited availability of hybrid rice seeds was the cause of the decrease in the area planted to hybrid rice.
In Albay, for instance, planting season usually starts in May but seeds become available about a month later. Local hybrid seeds producers, on the other hand, desisted from loaning seeds to farmers due to fear of default payment. This stifles the growth of the hybrid industry in the area, he said.
However, it did not discourage him. In fact, he even convinced many members of the Ongsong River Irrigators Association here that he heads as president to produce hybrid rice on belief that that it would also yield benefits for them.

Later on, he gained the trust and respect of his colleagues with his rich experience in farming until the development and promotion of the hybrid rice technology in Albay became popular. Owing to this, the province has improved its rice production by about nine percent between 2007 and 2008 or from 148,036 to 161,391 metric tons. Area planted to hybrid rice also increased during the period from 42,027 to 45,842 hectares representing an expansion of 9.08 percent, according to records of the DA. (PNA)
LDV/LQ/DOC/cbd

good news yan...padagos an asenso legazpi....

ako man dae ako makakaattend sa anniversary ta matour ako kan mga taga-Colegio de Sta. Rosa (a college based in Intramuros). sa 28th mapaManila ako to pick them up.

Here's the itinerary:

Day 1
CamSur WaterSports Complex
Hoyp-Hoyopan Cave (Camalig)
DJC Halo-Halo (snacks)
Joroan Church (Tiwi)
Virgin of Carmel School (Tiwi)

Day 2
Philippine Ceramics (Tiwi)
Nag Park (Tiwi)
Dhio Endica Resort
Sto. Domingo Paper Products Factory
Lignon Hill
Pacific Mall (Dinner)
Overnight at Taysan

Day 3
Coco Fiber (Sorsogon)
San Benon Hot Spring Resort
Bulusan Lake Natural Park
Dancalan Beach Resort
Barcelona Church
Rizal Shell Crafts
Embarcadero


Legazpipeeps, if you have any information, trivias, history of the places we will be visiting, please share...:cheers:

Facilitator kasi ako ng tour nila dito sa Bicol kaya lang para na rin akong tour guide nito...:lol:

Thanks in advance:okay:

I'll just post pics after the tour.:cheers:

hello legazpeeps! I miss u! For the past days im on tour. Im here in davao right now. I can't resist not visiting our thread. Just keep it going. I have many new info about our city when i get back.
Maray na Albay!

^ does it mean watson will be constructed instead of the rumored savemore of SM?

;50772365']I think Watsons is one of the official tenants of LKY since the beginning, so it will be there regardless if Savemore will indeed push through or not.


Watson stores are always established within SM outlets whether it is a mall or Hypermart or Savemore. So I'm sure this Watson store will be opened beside or within the SM Savemore being established at The Metro.

;50715417']http://images.micreations.multiply.com/image/10/photos/134/1200x1200/1/Mayon-Forest-Lake-POV.jpg?et=6FeWdX0NicjNb0L983TFVg&nmid=312414476
Photo by Dacel Andes (http://micreations.multiply.com/)
marhay na albay legazpeeps! marayon magpicnic digdi kaso campo santo garo ini:runaway: thanks dex!:)

marhay na albay legazpeeps! marayon magpicnic digdi kaso campo santo garo ini:runaway: thanks dex!:)

Haha yup! Kua ini sa Forest Lake. Anyway, oks lang. Sa Fort Bonifacio ngani dakulon naga-photoshoot sa Manila American Cemetery :colgate:

Koreans visit Legazpi City (http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/jan21/xvisit.html)
By Florencio P. Narito

LEGAZPI CITY – Members of the 10-man delegation from South Korea, led by Congressman Lee Hwa Soo, paid their courtesy call on City Mayor Noel E. Rosal at his office yesterday morning. Other city officials, including members of the City Council, were present to welcome the delegates from the Republic of Korea.

According to Paolo Kang, spokesman of the group, the purpose of their visit is to promote cultural and trade ties with Legazpi City, a tourist city. In an interview, Paolo Kang said that there are 70, 000 foreign workers in Korea 50 percent of whom are Filipinos. He said that Congressman Lee, who is No. 6 among the 297 elected members of the National Assembly is a labor leader. Kang revealed that Korea has no Senate.

Mayor Rosal said the Korean visitors were scheduled to have a luncheon meeting with groups of local business leaders at Hotel Venezia yesterday. After this activity, the delegates would like to visit the ongoing construction of the Bicol International Airport in Brgy. Alobo, Daraga, Albay to see if direct flights between Daraga, Albay and Seoul, Korea are possible. They also wanted to visit the Ports of Legazpi and Tabaco.

The Korean visitors would also like to forge a sisterhood agreement with Legazpi City. As their souvenir items, each of 10 delegates were to be given “barong tagalog” by the City Mayor. The first to be fitted by a waiting tailor was the Korean Congressman. However, if all the “barong” will not be finished before departure time at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, Rosal promised to bring them to Korea during his return visit.

Albay media urges 14th Congress to pass Freedom Info Act (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=255059)
By Mike dela Rama

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 26 (PNA) – The tri-media in Albay on Tuesday urged Congress to pass the proposed measure on information freedom before it adjourns next month. This was during an advocacy forum titled “Stop Killing Journalists” held here, with Nacionalista Party spokesperson Gilbert Remulla as resource person.

“Time is running out and only few days are left for the both houses of Congress to pass the bill,” Dondie Belason of Bombo Radyo Legazpi said. According to him, the Philippines Congress is expected to adjourn on the first week of February this year, and yet no clear manifestation from the bicameral committee to push for the approval in the final reading the Freedom of Information Act.

He said it should be included in their priorities and that this is the only chance that they can make a difference because the proposed bill will make the Constitutional right to know and the state policy of full disclosure of transactions involving public interest fully operable.

Belason said while the right to information has been held by the courts to be executory, it is difficult to enforce in practice. There is no standard procedure in dealing with requests. There is no law clarifying the exact scope of the right. The state policy requiring government to fully disclose transactions involving public interest does not have the implementing mechanics, he said.

For his part, Manny Ugalde, correspondent of Manila Times based in this city, believed that Congress will not pass the Freedom of Information Act. “Because it is not favorable to them, they are more after projects with funding. They should stop implementing infrastructure projects, instead, they must focus on legislation.”

Journalists' rights advocate Gilbert Remulla on the other hand, said while it is true that there are benefits to having a law that stipulates access to information, journalists should not see it as the solution to their problems in dealing with uncooperative sources of information from the government. He also urged local journalists to be united and urge all Bicolano congressmen to approve the information bill. “We call on other groups to join us in the struggle to claim what is guaranteed to us by no less than the Constitution.”

Remulla is hopeful that the bicameral committee will act to their favor. During the said forum, Remulla also donated one set of computer to local media here to serve as an access to information and advocacy on journalists' rights. (PNA)
LAP/LQ/MDR/cbd

Ang ganda talaga ng Mayon. I've been to legaszpi once and i have seen how beautiful Mayon really is. It is so breathtaking I couldn't describe it in words. I was so amazed.

The bottom pic looks nice. Parang "Bay Area" sa San Francisco. Sana ma maintain ang appeal nya para di magdeteriorate. It's very beautiful.

Thanks! Yup, Legazpi's cityscape is getting better year after year with new developments such as the Embarcadero and upcoming developments like the Legazpi Boulevard. :okay:

Watson stores are always established within SM outlets whether it is a mall or Hypermart or Savemore. So I'm sure this Watson store will be opened beside or within the SM Savemore being established at The Metro.

Yup, SM Prime owns the Philippine franchise for HK's Watsons, right?

Crossroads Cafe, Hotel St. Ellis

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7/crossroadscafe.jpg

Darussalam Mosque
Landco, Legazpi City

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/8476/dsc01048r.jpg

Watson stores are always established within SM outlets whether it is a mall or Hypermart or Savemore. So I'm sure this Watson store will be opened beside or within the SM Savemore being established at The Metro.

Normally yes, Watson's always is inside an SM location, whether it be an SM City, SM SaveMore or an SM Hypermarket. But there are also a number of Watson's, especially here in Manila, that aren't found inside an SM property. A few would be Watson's in Eastwood City's Cybermall and Watson's Gateway Mall.

;50822683']Yup, SM Prime owns the Philippine franchise for HK's Watsons, right?

Yep, they do.:)

Joey Salceda for President (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=544065&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
DEMAND AND SUPPLY By Boo Chanco (The Philippine Star) Updated January 27, 2010 12:00 AM

In a more perfect world, we would be given a chance to elect a President who has proven abilities in both the government and the private sectors. And in the government, he would have had experience in both the legislative and executive branches.

He would also be an intellectual... one with a world class mind that he has used to serve his people more than himself. And he is also able to devote his whole being to the task of serving his constituents without the distractions of a spouse or a grown up child like the ones we are so familiar with now who are constant sources of embarrassment.

In a more perfect world, we would have been given the chance to elect Albay Gov. Joey Salceda president instead of the choices we are now being given. Of course it is not going to happen, not in this election anyway. But the thought of having Gov. Joey in Malacañang came to mind as I was reading one of Gov. Joey’s e-mails supposedly about the economic plans of Gibo Teodoro.

The e-mail was actually meant to be Gibo’s “cheat sheet” for a Cebu campaign event. Since I am in constant communication with Gov. Joey, I know that those are 100 percent Gov. Joey. In a sense, that “cheat sheet” made me think that we are not tapping the best we have to succeed Ate Glue.

What added to my feeling of desperation was reading the transcript of Noynoy’s speech before the Makati Business Club. For a speech before a group of top businessmen, I found Noynoy’s speech rather lame. Kulang na kulang. Noynoy’s speech started very slow, full of platitudes, somewhat defensive of his capabilities and largely preached to the choir.

Noynoy is lucky he was before a friendly audience who was determined to like him come what may because he is the anti-thesis of Ate Glue… never mind what he said. Compare Noynoy’s speech to the “cheat sheet” that Gov. Joey prepared for Gibo and the difference is stark.

It is not just the tenor of the delivery where Noynoy is wanting. It is also in the substance. I guess this is because, I understand, Noynoy has delegated the economy to Mar Roxas. That is a good move because Mar knows this sector well. But Noynoy is the standard bearer and if he has no idea what to say by way of a business plan, I hope Cesar Purisima and even Mar himself will help him out with the same high standards by which Gov. Joey is helping Gibo.

At this point, I am still hoping Noynoy will win if only because of the moral leadership he can provide. We are craving for a leader we can respect. I am encouraged by Noynoy’s assurance that he will not steal from the public coffers. But even I think I need more than just the bare bone of an idea of an honest President to sustain my support of Noynoy.

It is not enough to say that one need not be a crony to succeed in business in a Noynoy regime. I still want to know some of the details of his business plan. Gov. Joey’s “cheat sheet” for Gibo is too long to reproduce here but its contents provide a good example of what the business sector will want to hear from a presidential candidate, assuming they will pick their candidate the way they pick their senior executives.

As Gov. Joey puts it, we need a president who “can connect the dots, solve problems, make a vision. Those skills require, what GE’s Jack Immelt calls, intellectual breadth and tactical depth. He understands technology, globalization, politics, economics, human resources. He is a listener and relates easily with people...”

For instance, here is Gov. Joey’s take on incentives: “Unlike before, we need FDIs not because of their financial muscle, but more for their enterprise and management expertise, their technology and their existing markets. With savings rate of 30 percent, mostly forex savings of OFWs, BPOs and tourism, what we need is push our investment rate of 15 percent to 25 percent so we can sustain GDP growth of seven to eight percent.

“But, investments in what sector? The Philippines can no longer aspire to be competitive in manufacturing almost any product. But it can be first class and competitive in anything that requires the functioning of the mind. Intellectual capital. And in services like BPO, banking, accounting, professional management, even lawyering. Therefore, the Philippines should seek free trade not only in products but in services and in travel (so people can cross borders). This is the ultimate objective of AFTA and APEC.”

“…reduce business costs by increasing public infra to GDP from four percent to eight percent essentially through BOT or PPP given the emerging fiscal constraints of the national government. This is the best use of the public goodwill during honeymoon period of a new president.

“…complete the execution of EPIRA so we could reduce power rates particularly as average power purchase costs start to decrease by 2011. But I will personally make sure that these will not result in overcharges to the consumers that we have seen in the past.

“… invest on Filipino labor through education for all from preschool to college.

There are more interesting and valuable points in Gov Joey’s “cheat sheet” for Gibo. Does this mean we should vote for Gibo because of Gov Joey? Not really. Gibo is Gibo and may not fully support Gov Joey’s ideas in the same way that Ate Glue didn’t fully support, if at all, Gov Joey’s inputs to her as her economic adviser. That’s why Gov Joey took the first opportunity to get out of Malacañang and run for Albay Governor.

The thing with Gov Joey is that even as a technocrat, he has proven himself politically astute and his management abilities had been successfully put to the test in the excellent disaster preparedness exhibited by Albay province during past typhoons and the recent Mayon eruption. Contrast this to Gibo’s utter lack of management ability demonstrated by his stewardship of the NDCC before, during and after Ondoy, and you know the wrong candidate is running for President.

The other thing with Gibo is… unlike Gov Joey, Gibo has a wife he may potentially have difficulty controlling once in office. Even Gibo’s relatives are wary about his wife, who they say, is at the root of the problems between Gibo and his uncle Danding. When I once asked Mark Cojuangco months before the campaign season started if Gibo was running for President, the stark reply I got was: “according to his wife.” It gave the impression Gibo is not in full control of his decisions.

To put it bluntly, those who know Gibo tell me that eloquent as he may be in public, all that is lost in the house. Then again, us husbands know how our wives mostly get the last word… but then we aren’t running for president. A runaway First Lady (or Gentleman) may be bad for the image of the President but could be disastrous for the nation, if history is to be our guide.

There are those who say that the late President Marcos started going downhill in earnest after he lost control of Imelda. He could no longer say No to Imelda after he was caught in the Dovie Beams scandal.

While Gibo doesn’t look like he will take risks like Marcos did with a Dovie Beams, we cannot afford a repeat of a First Lady acting as if we elected a conjugal presidency. Our liberty, our lives depend on the character of the next president’s family members.

Wives and even mothers-in-law and grown up children of future presidents are part of the package we are voting for. Women and children cannot be spared vetting in this electoral process. We have to be sure they are not capable of getting away with murder, in a manner of speaking. They should thus, also be vetted as hard as we vet the candidates themselves. We are looking for a future first lady like Ming Ramos, intelligent, with high moral values and knows her place in the scheme of things.

Based on most of our recent experiences with Presidential spouses and grown up children, I am on the brink of advocating a constitutional amendment that will require future presidents to be celibate. But that’s not necessary if only we can vote for Gov Joey now.

Gordon-Fernando

A reader, too shy to have his name acknowledged, sent in this joke.

A group of cougars who normally go for younger prey are so titillated with the Gordon-Fernando team so that they are campaigning all out for the two.

Why?

Kasi daw, may Dick na sila, may BF pa!

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is bchanco@gmail.com. This and some past columns can also be viewed at www.boochanco.com.

^^If Joey Salceda is reelected as our Governor and he transforms Albay into an economic power within the next six years, then we have a good material for the presidency in 2016. LRay Villafuerte has transformed CamSur into an economic powerhouse over the last six year (or at least CamSur is almost there) with CWC as its launching pad. What LRay lacks however, is national stature and exposure. LRay has shown that he has vision and will to govern. On the other hand, Albay and Gov Joey already has the national stature but he might need a unique launching pad whose impact will be as strong as CWC. If you ask me, CWC was a big gamble for LRay, but luckily his gamble paid off. Gov. Joey has the national stature and exposure necessary to propel him to higher levels. I don't know if his disaster handling program would make a good launching pad.

As it is now, the Governor have already earned a good following, owing to his no-nonsense handling of the series of calamities our province went through during his first term as governor.

This pronuncement by the Governor from the above column, particularly interested me because Albay has a big potential for this, viz:

" But, investments in what sector? The Philippines can no longer aspire to be competitive in manufacturing almost any product. But it can be first class and competitive in anything that requires the functioning of the mind. Intellectual capital. And in services like BPO, banking, accounting, professional management, even lawyering. Therefore, the Philippines should seek free trade not only in products but in services and in travel (so people can cross borders). This is the ultimate objective of AFTA and APEC.”

;49704179']Legazpi, Albay
December 27, 2009
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/dxb_01/DSC_2378-1.jpg

Wow !!! Awesome !!! what a spectacular night shot of the famous Mt Mayon !!! great shot @dx :okay: good afternoon... :)

;49705541']Legazpi, Albay
View from Embarcadero Lighthouse
12.27.09
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/dxb_01/Untitled_Panorama1-1.jpg

What photogenic shot of a photogenic city ! ang galing mo @dx ... :okay:

^^If Joey Salceda is reelected as our Governor and he transforms Albay into an economic power within the next six years, then we have a good material for the presidency in 2016. LRay Villafuerte has transformed CamSur into an economic powerhouse over the last six year (or at least CamSur is almost there) with CWC as its launching pad. What LRay lacks however, is national stature and exposure. LRay has shown that he has vision and will to govern. On the other hand, Albay and Gov Joey already has the national stature but he might need a unique launching pad whose impact will be as strong as CWC. If you ask me, CWC was a big gamble for LRay, but luckily his gamble paid off. Gov. Joey has the national stature and exposure necessary to propel him to higher levels. I don't know if his disaster handling program would make a good launching pad.

As it is now, the Governor have already earned a good following, owing to his no-nonsense handling of the series of calamities our province went through during his first term as governor.

This pronuncement by the Governor from the above column, particularly interested me because Albay has a big potential for this, viz:

" But, investments in what sector? The Philippines can no longer aspire to be competitive in manufacturing almost any product. But it can be first class and competitive in anything that requires the functioning of the mind. Intellectual capital. And in services like BPO, banking, accounting, professional management, even lawyering. Therefore, the Philippines should seek free trade not only in products but in services and in travel (so people can cross borders). This is the ultimate objective of AFTA and APEC.”

To add... he tackled the issue on the National Debt and made sure that we find a way to stay afloat and make sure we'll be able to reduce the debt... although... I wonder what has happened since then?

marhay na albay legazpeeps! marayon magpicnic digdi kaso campo santo garo ini:runaway: thanks dex!:)


Usong-uso baga ngonyan nagpipirinicnic sa memorial park lalo na pag piyesta sa gadan. An iba ngani nagdadarara pa ki mga lutuan. :lol::lol:

Usong-uso baga ngonyan nagpipirinicnic sa memorial park lalo na pag piyesta sa gadan. An iba ngani nagdadarara pa ki mga lutuan. :lol::lol:

when I think about it... All Souls' day and All Saints' day is really becoming a Feast...

I wonder if you have Food Kiosks (SHakey's, Greenwich, Bigg's, etc.) here in any Albay Cemetery... that's what I see in Sto. Niño Memorial Park in Naga... And even Carnivals in some cemeteries I pass by... lol!

IN Manila, loud sounds are prohibited, but in some cemeteries I see, they have a projector and show films like Transformers...

Some say it no longer honors the dead... but when I think about it... when the time comes in the very, very, very distant future, I want people to be merry when they remember me... lolz

Busy Legazpi airport
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs131.snc3/17873_298313560742_125569835742_5139246_208189_n.jpg
by Gayon Bicol (http://www.facebook.com/pages/GAYON-BICOL/125569835742)

Albay higher education contribution scheme in full swing
(http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=255294)
LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 27 (PNA) – The Education Department of the province of Albay has announced the implementation of Albay Education Contribution Scheme (AHECS) starting this school year 2010. AHECS is an expanded Brilliant Young Teacher (BRYT) and education assistance to community colleges and Bicol University satellite campuses offering tuition fee refund to qualified student-resident in the locality.

Albay governor Joey Salceda said the provincial government will implement AHECS starting this year, a concessional loan facility adopting an Australian model that would motivate students to finish high school because there is an assurance of easy access to tertiary education. He explained that concessional means a deferred payment scheme. “AHECS pays fraction of school fees to the school and so with the student,” adding that AHECS offers P5,000 pesos loan per semester of study.

Salceda stressed that every family deserves to produce a new Albayano capable of attaining his personal happiness and well-being, fully deserving to occupy a rightful place in the society. “And so the provincial government also intends to meet the learning needs of the individual and to improve the quality of life.”

AHECS is open to Albayano graduates in high school or college students who were admitted or enrolled at accredited Albay-based Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and technical vocational schools taking a minimum of two-year course, provided requirements are met by the student-applicant. He also said that AHECS does not prohibit the granting of loans to old and returning students at any levels from HEIs and technical vocational schools neither it prohibits the granting of loans to new students and transferees, no course preference required and maintaining grade.

However, AHECS grantees must finish the study in the prescribed course and they must maintain communication to the provincial government that includes providing information regarding change of name in case of female grantee, residents and employment. The loan shall bear an interest of rate of 10 percent per annum, monthly amortization shall be seven percent of gross monthly earnings of the grantees until fully paid. Payment of loan is demandable after the completion of the prescribed course and or when the grantee stops availing the loan and already employed.

In case the grantee stops it shall be considered a breach of agreement and the parent is immediately obliged to settle the availed loan. A monitoring scheme will be devised in tracking employment of graduates in cooperation with parents or relatives, Social Security System (SSS), Government Services and Insurance System (GSIS), national statistics Office (NSO) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC).

This year the provincial government has allocated an amount of P16 million for AHECS alone and P328 million for educational assistance program. The local government of Albay has been aggressive in promoting universal access to education through the Project Education Quality for Albayanos (EQUAL) that provides education assistance or tuition fee refund to all Albayanos enrolled in eight community colleges and three Bicol University Local Campuses. (PNA)
FFC/LQ/MDR/cbd

Misibis Bay Raintree -- http://misibisbay.com

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by ninyabonita (http://ninyabonita.multiply.com/)

Albay to start literacy cum livelihood program
(http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=255272)By Mike dela Rama

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 27 (PNA) – The Provincial Government of Albay is set to start next month the full implementation of its literacy cum livelihood program for jail guards and teacher applicants, who are awaiting teaching load assignments.

Emily Kare, Albay Millennium Development Goal Office (AMDGO) coordinator, said that a five-day basic Training for Instructional Managers on the Delivery and Implementation of Alternative Literacy System (ALS) for all jail guards and teacher applicants in the province will be held on February 8-12. Participants to this training are jail guards and teacher applicants who wish to handle Literacy Class in the remote barangays under the Department of Education (DepEd) Albay division, like the municipalities of Jovellar, Camalig, Manito, Guinobatan Daraga and Sto. Domingo.

Kare explained that after completion of the five-day Trainors of Training, teachers applicants and jail guards are set to under go accredited, equivalency and skills training. To echo their skills, “Jail guards as instructional managers shall handle classes inside the jail using the alternative Learning System curricula,” Kare said.

Considering the situation of the inmates inside their cells in order to complete their penitentiary court decisions, they were totally deprived of their privilege to get education, which will result in physical, emotional and social traumatic stress, she noted. However, teacher applicants will also cater to out of school youths and the needs of the underserved, unprivileged, poor but deserving learners and unreachable constituents.

Kare also said this program is in partnership with the Provincial Government of Albay, Department of Education Albay division, Anislag ALS Community Learning Center, Municipal Government of Daraga, and Bureau of Jail and Management (BJM) regional office. The bureau of alternative learning system has already deployed 2,000 district ALS Coordinators and almost 1,000 Mobile Teachers nationwide to handle these programs in order to minimize and eradicate illiteracy in the country. (PNA)
LAP/LQ/MDR/cbd/

;50825203']Joey Salceda for President (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=544065&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
DEMAND AND SUPPLY By Boo Chanco (The Philippine Star) Updated January 27, 2010 12:00 AM

In a more perfect world, we would be given a chance to elect a President who has proven abilities in both the government and the private sectors. And in the government, he would have had experience in both the legislative and executive branches.

He would also be an intellectual... one with a world class mind that he has used to serve his people more than himself. And he is also able to devote his whole being to the task of serving his constituents without the distractions of a spouse or a grown up child like the ones we are so familiar with now who are constant sources of embarrassment.

In a more perfect world, we would have been given the chance to elect Albay Gov. Joey Salceda president instead of the choices we are now being given. Of course it is not going to happen, not in this election anyway. But the thought of having Gov. Joey in Malacañang came to mind as I was reading one of Gov. Joey’s e-mails supposedly about the economic plans of Gibo Teodoro.

The e-mail was actually meant to be Gibo’s “cheat sheet” for a Cebu campaign event. Since I am in constant communication with Gov. Joey, I know that those are 100 percent Gov. Joey. In a sense, that “cheat sheet” made me think that we are not tapping the best we have to succeed Ate Glue.

What added to my feeling of desperation was reading the transcript of Noynoy’s speech before the Makati Business Club. For a speech before a group of top businessmen, I found Noynoy’s speech rather lame. Kulang na kulang. Noynoy’s speech started very slow, full of platitudes, somewhat defensive of his capabilities and largely preached to the choir.

Noynoy is lucky he was before a friendly audience who was determined to like him come what may because he is the anti-thesis of Ate Glue… never mind what he said. Compare Noynoy’s speech to the “cheat sheet” that Gov. Joey prepared for Gibo and the difference is stark.

It is not just the tenor of the delivery where Noynoy is wanting. It is also in the substance. I guess this is because, I understand, Noynoy has delegated the economy to Mar Roxas. That is a good move because Mar knows this sector well. But Noynoy is the standard bearer and if he has no idea what to say by way of a business plan, I hope Cesar Purisima and even Mar himself will help him out with the same high standards by which Gov. Joey is helping Gibo.

At this point, I am still hoping Noynoy will win if only because of the moral leadership he can provide. We are craving for a leader we can respect. I am encouraged by Noynoy’s assurance that he will not steal from the public coffers. But even I think I need more than just the bare bone of an idea of an honest President to sustain my support of Noynoy.

It is not enough to say that one need not be a crony to succeed in business in a Noynoy regime. I still want to know some of the details of his business plan. Gov. Joey’s “cheat sheet” for Gibo is too long to reproduce here but its contents provide a good example of what the business sector will want to hear from a presidential candidate, assuming they will pick their candidate the way they pick their senior executives.

As Gov. Joey puts it, we need a president who “can connect the dots, solve problems, make a vision. Those skills require, what GE’s Jack Immelt calls, intellectual breadth and tactical depth. He understands technology, globalization, politics, economics, human resources. He is a listener and relates easily with people...”

For instance, here is Gov. Joey’s take on incentives: “Unlike before, we need FDIs not because of their financial muscle, but more for their enterprise and management expertise, their technology and their existing markets. With savings rate of 30 percent, mostly forex savings of OFWs, BPOs and tourism, what we need is push our investment rate of 15 percent to 25 percent so we can sustain GDP growth of seven to eight percent.

“But, investments in what sector? The Philippines can no longer aspire to be competitive in manufacturing almost any product. But it can be first class and competitive in anything that requires the functioning of the mind. Intellectual capital. And in services like BPO, banking, accounting, professional management, even lawyering. Therefore, the Philippines should seek free trade not only in products but in services and in travel (so people can cross borders). This is the ultimate objective of AFTA and APEC.”

“…reduce business costs by increasing public infra to GDP from four percent to eight percent essentially through BOT or PPP given the emerging fiscal constraints of the national government. This is the best use of the public goodwill during honeymoon period of a new president.

“…complete the execution of EPIRA so we could reduce power rates particularly as average power purchase costs start to decrease by 2011. But I will personally make sure that these will not result in overcharges to the consumers that we have seen in the past.

“… invest on Filipino labor through education for all from preschool to college.

There are more interesting and valuable points in Gov Joey’s “cheat sheet” for Gibo. Does this mean we should vote for Gibo because of Gov Joey? Not really. Gibo is Gibo and may not fully support Gov Joey’s ideas in the same way that Ate Glue didn’t fully support, if at all, Gov Joey’s inputs to her as her economic adviser. That’s why Gov Joey took the first opportunity to get out of Malacañang and run for Albay Governor.

The thing with Gov Joey is that even as a technocrat, he has proven himself politically astute and his management abilities had been successfully put to the test in the excellent disaster preparedness exhibited by Albay province during past typhoons and the recent Mayon eruption. Contrast this to Gibo’s utter lack of management ability demonstrated by his stewardship of the NDCC before, during and after Ondoy, and you know the wrong candidate is running for President.

The other thing with Gibo is… unlike Gov Joey, Gibo has a wife he may potentially have difficulty controlling once in office. Even Gibo’s relatives are wary about his wife, who they say, is at the root of the problems between Gibo and his uncle Danding. When I once asked Mark Cojuangco months before the campaign season started if Gibo was running for President, the stark reply I got was: “according to his wife.” It gave the impression Gibo is not in full control of his decisions.

To put it bluntly, those who know Gibo tell me that eloquent as he may be in public, all that is lost in the house. Then again, us husbands know how our wives mostly get the last word… but then we aren’t running for president. A runaway First Lady (or Gentleman) may be bad for the image of the President but could be disastrous for the nation, if history is to be our guide.

There are those who say that the late President Marcos started going downhill in earnest after he lost control of Imelda. He could no longer say No to Imelda after he was caught in the Dovie Beams scandal.

While Gibo doesn’t look like he will take risks like Marcos did with a Dovie Beams, we cannot afford a repeat of a First Lady acting as if we elected a conjugal presidency. Our liberty, our lives depend on the character of the next president’s family members.

Wives and even mothers-in-law and grown up children of future presidents are part of the package we are voting for. Women and children cannot be spared vetting in this electoral process. We have to be sure they are not capable of getting away with murder, in a manner of speaking. They should thus, also be vetted as hard as we vet the candidates themselves. We are looking for a future first lady like Ming Ramos, intelligent, with high moral values and knows her place in the scheme of things.

Based on most of our recent experiences with Presidential spouses and grown up children, I am on the brink of advocating a constitutional amendment that will require future presidents to be celibate. But that’s not necessary if only we can vote for Gov Joey now.

Gordon-Fernando

A reader, too shy to have his name acknowledged, sent in this joke.

A group of cougars who normally go for younger prey are so titillated with the Gordon-Fernando team so that they are campaigning all out for the two.

Why?

Kasi daw, may Dick na sila, may BF pa!

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is bchanco@gmail.com. This and some past columns can also be viewed at www.boochanco.com.

^true...leader like joey salceda is what the country needs now...but unfortunately it will not happen yet...joey needs to make sure to put albay in the forefront in economic development first...then everything will follow.

To add... he tackled the issue on the National Debt and made sure that we find a way to stay afloat and make sure we'll be able to reduce the debt... although... I wonder what has happened since then?

^the increase in national debt was expected as the country fought to stay afloat in the recent worldwide financial crisis, which our country did successfully...anyway the government's economic team made sure that the debt stayed on a manageable level...

;50839387']Busy Legazpi airport
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs131.snc3/17873_298313560742_125569835742_5139246_208189_n.jpg
by Gayon Bicol (http://www.facebook.com/pages/GAYON-BICOL/125569835742)

^ a possibility of a direct flight between daraga and korea?

joey knows what to do...and he is doing it already....:banana::banana::banana:

Hey Guys
I want to share my most memorable photos of Cagsaua Ruins 12 years ago.
Our Wedding Day

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/32647863/hr/1500066677/name/DSC00002.jpg

^^
Our favorite shot framed and prominent displayed in our family room.


http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/32647863/hr/766257835/name/scan0005.jpg

^^
My bride marching to the tune of a soulful version of what is supposed to be a funny song Lay Lay Tagulay Lay.

My wife to be cried when the song came into the last stanza saying;

"Nonoy padabaa, hare pag- kulugan. Kung saimong kukulugan samuyang babawion...

Hare pagbawe-a, bakung suba- suba. Kinasal kami sa Padi, Mayo nang Bawi- bawi."

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/32647863/hr/1997855755/name/scan0006.jpg

^^
Really- really scenic Cagsawa. We had a perfect wedding in a perfect natural setting.

It rained before the ceremony so the place was little muddy but nobody really cared.

^ WoW! very nice wedding nagaboy... i believe you love your wife very much!

Welcome to the thread...Maray na Albay!

;50839901']Albay to start literacy cum livelihood program
(http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=255272)By Mike dela Rama

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 27 (PNA) – The Provincial Government of Albay is set to start next month the full implementation of its literacy cum livelihood program for jail guards and teacher applicants, who are awaiting teaching load assignments.

Emily Kare, Albay Millennium Development Goal Office (AMDGO) coordinator, said that a five-day basic Training for Instructional Managers on the Delivery and Implementation of Alternative Literacy System (ALS) for all jail guards and teacher applicants in the province will be held on February 8-12. Participants to this training are jail guards and teacher applicants who wish to handle Literacy Class in the remote barangays under the Department of Education (DepEd) Albay division, like the municipalities of Jovellar, Camalig, Manito, Guinobatan Daraga and Sto. Domingo.

Kare explained that after completion of the five-day Trainors of Training, teachers applicants and jail guards are set to under go accredited, equivalency and skills training. To echo their skills, “Jail guards as instructional managers shall handle classes inside the jail using the alternative Learning System curricula,” Kare said.

Considering the situation of the inmates inside their cells in order to complete their penitentiary court decisions, they were totally deprived of their privilege to get education, which will result in physical, emotional and social traumatic stress, she noted. However, teacher applicants will also cater to out of school youths and the needs of the underserved, unprivileged, poor but deserving learners and unreachable constituents.

Kare also said this program is in partnership with the Provincial Government of Albay, Department of Education Albay division, Anislag ALS Community Learning Center, Municipal Government of Daraga, and Bureau of Jail and Management (BJM) regional office. The bureau of alternative learning system has already deployed 2,000 district ALS Coordinators and almost 1,000 Mobile Teachers nationwide to handle these programs in order to minimize and eradicate illiteracy in the country. (PNA)
LAP/LQ/MDR/cbd/

Who would have thought of this kind of program for the jail guards?

This is very nice...keep up the good work!

Good morning so great!

;50771169']It’s that time of the year again... (http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/life/21302-its-that-time-of-the-year-again.html)
Written by Anjo Alimario
Monday, 25 January 2010 18:49

WHOSE eyes would not be riveted if some of the most gorgeous women were just distance away from you, cordoned off for simple admiration and appreciation of their beauty? The answer came obvious when the 24 official candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2010 were presented to the public for the first time. Yes, it’s that time of the year again in this beauty pageant-crazy country of ours.

The exquisite quality exuded by the candidates brought delight not only to the members of the media but also to the curious crowd of the Gateway Mall cineplex. And the country’s biggest and most prestigious is about to become more competitive. The Binibining Pilipinas Beauty Pageant, now on its 45th year, is home to famous “graduates,” such as Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969; Margie Moran, Miss Universe 1973; Aurora Pijuan, Miss International 1970; Melanie Marquez, Miss International 1979; Ruffa Guttierez, Miss World 2nd Princess 1993; Miriam Quiambao, Miss Universe first runner-up 1999; and Precious Lara Quigaman, Miss International 2005.

The question on who will bring the next crown in three international pageants remains to be both challenge and motivation for the candidates. The 24 equally stunning candidates are Mariella Castillo, 18, Batangas; Rachel Ann Bustamante, 17, Oriental Mindoro; Patrixia Sherly Santos, 17, Albay; Selena Antonio, 23, Pasig City; Nicole Kaufmann, 24, Taguig City; Patricia Lae Ejercitado, 21, Cainta; Laurese Ann Caparas, 17, Bulacan; Ana Marie Morelos, 20, Valenzuela; Laica Joy Jimenez, 20, Bulacan; Maria Venus Raj, 21, Camarines Sur; Krista Arietta Kleiner, 20, Quezon City; Reina Mae Maerina, 24, Batangas; Gwendoline Ruais, 20, Muntinlupa City; Mary Ann RossMisa, 21, Parañaque; Jam Charissa Libatog, 22, Cebu; Toni Alyessa Hipolito, 20, Quezon City; Rose Ann Aguilar, 22, Cavite; Helen Nicolette Henson, 21, Pampanga; Kate Princess Alimurong, 22, Pampanga; Marie Ysabelle Matubis, 22, Parañaque; Czarina Catherine Gatbonton, 19, Bulacan; Dianne Necio, 17,Albay; Mhirra Hernandez, 20, Bulacan; and Angelica Damian, 23, also from Bulacan.

Maria Venus Raj, one of the three representatives from the Bicol region, admits that it is her ultimate dream to join Binibining Pilipinas. In fact, she is preparing a lot for the competition, both physically and emotionally. “I’ve been praying to win the Miss Universe title,” Venus said. Her father is Indian and her mother is Filipina. She was born in Qatar, and her family went back to the Philippines when she was still five months old. She describes herself as one who is outspoken and loves adventure.

Reina Mae Maerina, who is also the reigning Miss Lipa, is confident that she will do well in the competition. “I have the traits of a true-blooded Filipina and given my tall height, I consider it as my advantage.” With the candidates during the event were Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2009 Pamela Bianca Manalo, Binibining Pilipinas-International Melody Gersbach and Binibining Pilipinas-World Marie Ann Umali.

“Time flies so fast,” Bianca said before introducing and welcoming the candidates to the press. Months from now, Bianca and her fellow reigning beauty queens will soon pass their crowns to the most deserving candidates. Bianca advised the new batch of hopeful beauties to seize all the opportunities that will come their way. A high-profile new career is a big possibility for all the contestants.

The coronation night will be on March 6 at the Araneta Coliseum with a delayed telecast on GMA.

I thought Dianne, who is from Polangui, would represent Iriga since she is the reigning Miss Iriga 2009. Among the three Bicolanas, Ma. Venus Raj is the strongest. She was Miss Philippines Earth - Ecotourism in 2008 (that time she represented Legazpi City). Good luck to all three of them!

Magnitude-6 quake rocks RP's Bicol Region
(http://www.gmanews.tv/story/182651/magnitude-6-quake-rocks-rps-bicol-region)01/28/2010 | 07:35 AM

A powerful predawn quake hit parts of Bicol and Southern Luzon on Thursday, but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology of Seismology said it was too far from land to cause damage. Phivolcs seismologist Henremagne Penarubia said the quake was recorded at 2:49 a.m., with the epicenter traced northeast of Virac, Catanduanes in Bicol. "Magitude-6.0, medyo malakas siya pero ang location medyo malayong dagat (It was measured at Magnitude 6.0, but it was too far from land to cause damage)," Penarubia said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Citing initial reports, he said the quake was felt at Intensity III in Virac, Catanduanes and in Naga City in Camarines Sur. It was also felt at Intensity II in Legazpi City in Albay, and even parts of Quezon province in Southern Luzon. Penarubai also assured there was no tsunami caused by the quake, saying a tsunami is likely if a quake is of magnitude 6.5 to 7.0.

"Wala po. Mahina siya para mag-create ng tsunami. Usually pag mag 6.5 or 7 saka pwede magkaroon ng tsunami (There is no tsunami. It was too weak to create a tsunami. A tsunami can usually occur if a quake is magnitude 6.5 to 7)," he said. For its part, the United States Geological Survey said the quake was recorded at 2:49 a.m., with the epicenter traced to 140 km east-southeast of Pandan, Catanduanes; 190 km east-northeast of Legazpi City in Albay; 200 km north-northeast of Calbayog, Samar; or 495 km east-southeast of Manila. - LBG, GMANews.TV

^ bakit kaya panay galaw ng mundo ngayon? ano bang mayroon? parang gusto ko na tuloy maniwala duon sa paghinto ng mayan calendar sa taong 2012

;50822911']Crossroads Cafe, Hotel St. Ellis

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7/crossroadscafe.jpg

hope to see more dining places such as this in legazpi city in months or years to come

^ bakit kaya panay galaw ng mundo ngayon? ano bang mayroon? parang gusto ko na tuloy maniwala duon sa paghinto ng mayan calendar sa taong 2012

Yup, this month alone there have been a number of earthquakes that occurred within RP. Good thing they are minor and did not cause any damage. But we never know. I guess it's a warning/wake-up call for the gov't to ensure that all buildings meet the earthquake standards for construction.

;50822911']Crossroads Cafe, Hotel St. Ellis

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7/crossroadscafe.jpg


I really like the ambience at St. Ellis. The minimalist theme makes the whole thing simple and elegant.

I can't wait to see the opening of LKY's Ivory Classic.

;50839791']Misibis Bay Raintree -- http://misibisbay.com

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9530/img0024af.jpg




I was at the Fortmed Clinic this morning for my annual check-up and I was seated beside two lovely ladies who were discussing their recent trip to Misibis. They were all praises about the place, from their trip using the fast craft, to the facilities, the services, to the adventures, etc. They said that it was what you can call a perfect vacation that they just experienced. Of course, I did not butt in to their conversation. :)

^ haha..nice one gary..thanks for sharing your experience here

;50882441']Yup, this month alone there have been a number of earthquakes that occurred within RP. Good thing they are minor and did not cause any damage. But we never know. I guess it's a warning/wake-up call for the gov't to ensure that all buildings meet the earthquake standards for construction.

^ good point dx...it reminds me of the durable and solid rocks being thrown up by mayon during eruptions...those are solid solid rocks, better than marble or other stones...maybe its time for us to think of using them in constructing earthquake proof buildiings...i mean pyramid style buildings but with modifications to make it look modern or something...hehe

I was at the Fortmed Clinic this morning for my annual check-up and I was seated beside two lovely ladies who were discussing their recent trip to Misibis. They were all praises about the place, from their trip using the fast craft, to the facilities, the services, to the adventures, etc. They said that it was what you can call a perfect vacation that they just experienced. Of course, I did not butt in to their conversation. :)

Good to know that Misibis is enjoying good word of mouth :okay:

More of Misibis Bay Raintree

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/5913/dsc9586o.jpg

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/9605/dsc9585o.jpg

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7954/dsc9584.jpg

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/8578/dsc9583u.jpg

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/8252/dsc9580.jpg

by PocoMunks
(http://picasaweb.google.com/PocoMunks)

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3221/dsc9575.jpg

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/3682/dsc9574.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/2483/dsc9572x.jpg

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/1893/dsc9571.jpg

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/7563/dsc9569l.jpg

by PocoMunks
(http://picasaweb.google.com/PocoMunks)

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/5319/dsc9568.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9458/dsc9548n.jpg

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/7043/dsc9547i.jpg

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1417/dsc9588.jpg

by PocoMunks (http://picasaweb.google.com/PocoMunks)

[COLOR="DarkRed"]Hey Guys
I want to share my most memorable photos of Cagsaua Ruin

^^
[SIZE="3"]Our favorite shot framed and prominent displayed in our family room.


^^
My bride marching to the tune of a soulful version of what is supposed to be a funny song Lay Lay Tagulay Lay.

My wife to be cried when the song came into the last stanza saying;

"Nonoy padabaa, hare pag- kulugan. Kung saimong kukulugan samuyang babawion...

Hare pagbawe-a, bakung suba- suba. Kinasal kami sa Padi, Mayo nang Bawi- bawi."



http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/32647863/hr/1997855755/name/scan0006.jpg

^^
Really- really scenic Cagsawa. We had a perfect wedding in a perfect natural setting.

It rained before the ceremony so the place was little muddy but nobody really cared.


Very nice wedding Naga Boy. I didn't know that the Cagsawa ruins is a nice venue for weddings. This is the first time I knew about it. Thanks for sharing it with us Doc.

I really like the ambience at St. Ellis. The minimalist theme makes the whole thing simple and elegant.

I can't wait to see the opening of LKY's Ivory Classic.

Me too. I still have some photos here from Hotel St. Ellis staff. I'll just post them on Wow Legazpi. I'm still waiting for some more information from them.

^ good point dx...it reminds me of the durable and solid rocks being thrown up by mayon during eruptions...those are solid solid rocks, better than marble or other stones...maybe its time for us to think of using them in constructing earthquake proof buildiings...i mean pyramid style buildings but with modifications to make it look modern or something...hehe

Yup, not only earthquake proof but also typhoon-proof. Maybe BU College of Engineering can initiate a design competition for such buildings; and the winning entries will be adapted for future housing and commercial projects.



As it is now, the Governor have already earned a good following, owing to his no-nonsense handling of the series of calamities our province went through during his first term as governor.

This pronuncement by the Governor from the above column, particularly interested me because Albay has a big potential for this, viz:

" But, investments in what sector? The Philippines can no longer aspire to be competitive in manufacturing almost any product. But it can be first class and competitive in anything that requires the functioning of the mind. Intellectual capital. And in services like BPO, banking, accounting, professional management, even lawyering. Therefore, the Philippines should seek free trade not only in products but in services and in travel (so people can cross borders). This is the ultimate objective of AFTA and APEC.”

What I admire about Gov. Salceda is that he really gets it. I just hope his ideas get implemented properly.

grabe su lindol kasu bagong aga mga 2:49AM..nagimata biyo ako..pag una ko dis is it!!dai ko aram kung ma lukso ako sa bintana o ano..i dont want to be buried alive in Ruble.very bad experience..am i the only one who experienced it?tapos magnitude 6.0 pa..i think i felt it only lasted 5secs or more..makalula..garo ako buyong.hahaha..bgong gcing kc.

I think sunwest corporation could finish 2-3 five star hotels before the ivory classic hotel gets built in legazpi...LKY is focusing on its Legazpi Terminal project and the Metro hub first...it needs to focus on those projects coz i dont think it has enough funds for more projects....hope im wrong

grabe su lindol kasu bagong aga mga 2:49AM..nagimata biyo ako..pag una ko dis is it!!dai ko aram kung ma lukso ako sa bintana o ano..i dont want to be buried alive in Ruble.very bad experience..am i the only one who experienced it?tapos magnitude 6.0 pa..

^ according to the news it was only intensity 2 earthquake that was felt in Leagzpi City...Intensity 3 for virac and Cmsur...and intensity 6 was recorded far from the pacific ocean

^ according to the news it was only intensity 2 earthquake that was felt in Leagzpi City...Intensity 3 for virac and Cmsur...and intensity 6 was recorded far from the pacific ocean

oic..it was only Intensity 2 that was felt in Legazpi.i thought it was 6.0(it rocked my sleep)..maybe it can cause some chain reactions to the Faults.so our Govt should be prepared to what might come or happen..

^If it woke people up, I guess makusog talaga. I hope warang makusog na aftershocks.

Yup, I wonder if the city engineering office regularly checks the buildings to see if they're strong enough.

;50884815']^If it woke people up, I guess makusog talaga. I hope warang makusog na aftershocks.

Yup, I wonder if the city engineering office regularly checks the buildings to see if they're strong enough.

Yup.kuya dex..mahina lng pala.i guess it was me..mabilis lng tlga ako magising.Survival Mechanism?hehe.

Yup.kuya dex..mahina lng pala.i guess it was me..mabilis lng tlga ako magising.Survival Mechanism?hehe.

Hehe, siguro. maray ta dai ka na ungkang sa kama. ababaw gayud su turog mo kasubago hehe

^ good point dx...it reminds me of the durable and solid rocks being thrown up by mayon during eruptions...those are solid solid rocks, better than marble or other stones...maybe its time for us to think of using them in constructing earthquake proof buildiings...i mean pyramid style buildings but with modifications to make it look modern or something...hehe

If I'm not mistaken... Tabaco Church is made from such stones...

^ i see...so its not a brand new idea after all.hope our local engineers could come up with really good designs of buildings out of this material...

I wonder what's the update about the proposed hotel at the Embarcadero complex that Joks posted about a few weeks ago.

;50885931']I wonder what's the update about the proposed hotel at the Embarcadero complex that Joks posted about a few weeks ago.

hmmm.dx i think its construction is underway...ive heard earthworks have started for this waterfront hotel and spa

hmmm.dx i think its construction is underway...ive heard earthworks have started for this waterfront hotel and spa

That's great! thanks

Cena Una
Daraga, Albay
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs180.snc3/20777_264792258946_71303103946_3449913_4424994_n.jpg

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs180.snc3/20777_264792253946_71303103946_3449912_3650792_n.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs180.snc3/20777_264792243946_71303103946_3449911_7689060_n.jpg

Source: Official Cena Una Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daraga-Philippines/Cena-Una/71303103946)

Mayon souvenirs

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs128.snc3/17565_269552432534_37450962534_3311721_7268342_n.jpg

Source (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mayon-Volcano/37450962534)

Embarcadero fountains
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18942_239652298411_239640008411_3348451_7009146_n.jpg

Source (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Legaspi-City-Philippines/Embarcadero/239640008411)

^ those waters look too shy to fountain..hehe

^ those waters look too shy to fountain..hehe

Haha, yup. Mas ok kung mas halangkaw kuta

Albay media urges 14th Congress to pass Freedom Info Act (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=255059&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=legazpi%20city&andor=and&mdte_arch=0&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=0)
By Mike dela Rama

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 26 (PNA) – The tri-media in Albay on Tuesday urged Congress to pass the proposed measure on information freedom before it adjourns next month. This was during an advocacy forum titled “Stop Killing Journalists” held here, with Nacionalista Party spokesperson Gilbert Remulla as resource person. “Time is running out and only few days are left for the both houses of Congress to pass the bill,” Dondie Belason of Bombo Radyo Legazpi said.

According to him, the Philippines Congress is expected to adjourn on the first week of February this year, and yet no clear manifestation from the bicameral committee to push for the approval in the final reading the Freedom of Information Act. He said it should be included in their priorities and that this is the only chance that they can make a difference because the proposed bill will make the Constitutional right to know and the state policy of full disclosure of transactions involving public interest fully operable.

Belason said while the right to information has been held by the courts to be executory, it is difficult to enforce in practice. There is no standard procedure in dealing with requests. There is no law clarifying the exact scope of the right. The state policy requiring government to fully disclose transactions involving public interest does not have the implementing mechanics, he said.

For his part, Manny Ugalde, correspondent of Manila Times based in this city, believed that Congress will not pass the Freedom of Information Act. “Because it is not favorable to them, they are more after projects with funding. They should stop implementing infrastructure projects, instead, they must focus on legislation.” Journalists' rights advocate Gilbert Remulla on the other hand, said while it is true that there are benefits to having a law that stipulates access to information, journalists should not see it as the solution to their problems in dealing with uncooperative sources of information from the government.

He also urged local journalists to be united and urge all Bicolano congressmen to approve the information bill. “We call on other groups to join us in the struggle to claim what is guaranteed to us by no less than the Constitution.” Remulla is hopeful that the bicameral committee will act to their favor. During the said forum, Remulla also donated one set of computer to local media here to serve as an access to information and advocacy on journalists' rights. (PNA)
LAP/LQ/MDR/cbd

;50544653']Guardians of Nature launched in Albay (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=253642&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=albay&andor=and&mdte_arch=0&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=0)
By Mar S. Arguelles

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 19 (PNA) -- Albay province will launched “Guardians of Nature” an environment initiative to plant trees and clean rivers and creeks designed to develop and protect the province natural resources, the Centre for Initiatives, and Research on Climate Change Adaptation (CIRCA) said on Tuesday. Preparation for the province wide tree planting and river cleaning activity are all in place for the launching set on January 30 where 54,000 seedlings of various species will be planted in the 15 towns and three cities of the province.

Manuel Rangaza, CIRCA executive director, said is collaborative undertaking of all segments of society from local governments, national governments, academe, business institutions, non-governmental and people’s organizations, religious groups, public intellectuals and people in all walks of life. He said planting of trees and the cleaning of rivers, creeks and other tributaries would be done by thousands of volunteers from the academe, police, military, national government agencies as well as local government units across the province.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, an economist and environmentalist, will lead thousands of tree planters and river cleaners in the launching rites on January 30 this year. Salceda, in an interview, said he has launched this project to educate the public that climate change is real, the effects of climate change would be indeed devastating as it threatens the existence of man from his ecosystem to hi livelihood and even up to his cultural heritage.

He said, “we are very much convinced that the physical climate of our country is changing and we can’t tolerate this to happen, change should take place.” The initiative should start from the national agencies and local government units, they should address environmental and climate change mitigation and adaptation techniques, he said.

Salceda urged local government units to be responsive to changes in the state of the environment with legislative initiative and executive actions to confront the challenge of climate change, forest protection and conservation.

He explained that today’s environmental damages are done in the name of economic development therefore a lot of looking back is needed to see what and why things went wrong and how this can be avoided today and in the future. “Economic development should be tempered with regard for others, as our illegal loggers continue to cut trees and denude our forest, and mining firms, continue to mine are mineral resources are called people without conscience, perhaps because they lack the information and understanding or correct education” Salceda said.

This development efforts should focus on the production of more earth-friendly products, technologies, non-pollutive mining and factories and non-pollutive agriculture, he said. For this, he urged local chief executive to create a Local Environmental and Climate Change group to oversee and abide with the provisions in the recently concluded Conference of Parties (COP15) Climate Change global agreement in Copenhagen organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

He also called on concerned agencies to initiate an aggressive information and education drive on climate change and environmental concerns that would teach the public to pursue a better way of the life and not at the expense of the environment. With environmental and climate change education and economic progress going their closely parallel directions, the greater masses of the world community will attain a better life for all with food on the table, a roof over every individual’s head, employment opportunities and basic services extended to almost all. (PNA)
FFC/MSA/cbd

January 30 palan ang launching kaini...una ko April tsk..tsk.. anyway this is a very good initiative..if the local government can sustain it, Albay will be having more forests by 10 years time, pollution free rivers and very clean Albay Gulf...

by the way i chanced to talk with some fishermen in Legazpi several years ago and told me there were also butandings roaming the waters of Albay Gulf...

;50885931']I wonder what's the update about the proposed hotel at the Embarcadero complex that Joks posted about a few weeks ago.
i have no update yet dex, im waiting for my source to appear online.yup i hope they already started the construction:)

i have no update yet dex, im waiting for my source to appear online.yup i hope they already started the construction:)

Okay, Joks. thanks!

;50886913']Mayon souvenirs

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs128.snc3/17565_269552432534_37450962534_3311721_7268342_n.jpg

Source (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mayon-Volcano/37450962534)

Marhay na Albay mga tugang ko.

Aw maray ta igwa nang mga maray-rahay na souvenir an mayon.for a while i've noticed that the local souvenir market of legazpi and albay is not at its best effort.we should push for more souvenirs other than the usual abaca products.saro iyan sa pinakamagayon na negosyo na punan dyan sa albay.

ano an materials kaini dex?plastic? we should be using native resources..sayang,.

ano an materials kaini dex?plastic? we should be using native resources..sayang,.

Maray na Albay Pading Romy. Gari gibo ini sa Mayon debris. May nahiling ako kaini sa Magayon Festival Trade Fair, mga magabaton.

;50891929']Maray na Albay Pading Romy. Gari gibo ini sa Mayon debris. May nahiling ako kaini sa Magayon Festival Trade Fair, mga magabaton.

That's the problem with our souvenirs in mayon rock padi,it's too heavy especially for those travelling by air.I had guests from abs-cbn and gma two months ago and i got them the cagsawa replicas hand carved sa cagsawa.we later found out that each weights a good 3 kilos.well worth it kahit nagdagdag sinda ta excess luggage sinda,mga maogmahun man.but it'll be nice if someone could come up with a way of hollowing up the pieces.aram mo padi,fuerteng negosyo an. gibohan ko daw iyan ki study..any local business out there interested pls.get connected with me.i have some good ideas that might just work.

;50822523']Koreans visit Legazpi City (http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/jan21/xvisit.html)
By Florencio P. Narito

LEGAZPI CITY – Members of the 10-man delegation from South Korea, led by Congressman Lee Hwa Soo, paid their courtesy call on City Mayor Noel E. Rosal at his office yesterday morning. Other city officials, including members of the City Council, were present to welcome the delegates from the Republic of Korea.

According to Paolo Kang, spokesman of the group, the purpose of their visit is to promote cultural and trade ties with Legazpi City, a tourist city. In an interview, Paolo Kang said that there are 70, 000 foreign workers in Korea 50 percent of whom are Filipinos. He said that Congressman Lee, who is No. 6 among the 297 elected members of the National Assembly is a labor leader. Kang revealed that Korea has no Senate.

Mayor Rosal said the Korean visitors were scheduled to have a luncheon meeting with groups of local business leaders at Hotel Venezia yesterday. After this activity, the delegates would like to visit the ongoing construction of the Bicol International Airport in Brgy. Alobo, Daraga, Albay to see if direct flights between Daraga, Albay and Seoul, Korea are possible. They also wanted to visit the Ports of Legazpi and Tabaco.

The Korean visitors would also like to forge a sisterhood agreement with Legazpi City. As their souvenir items, each of 10 delegates were to be given “barong tagalog” by the City Mayor. The first to be fitted by a waiting tailor was the Korean Congressman. However, if all the “barong” will not be finished before departure time at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, Rosal promised to bring them to Korea during his return visit.

hay namiss ko na naman su thread ta. Nadakop kaya ako ki trankaso.

Yading si Mr. Lee Hwa Soo Nagvisit man ini digdi sa embarcadero. Good thing na ang satuyang mga namootan na mga albay officials especially gov joey and mayor rosal are establishing good relationship with the koreans. Sana nga magka direct flight Legazpi-Seoul o kaya Legazpi-Busan. Speaking of Koreans marami sila nitong mga nakaraang mga araw. naglipana sila dito sa embarcadero.

parang gusto ko na talgang magbalik sa legazpi...sayang lang at sa cavite na ako nguniyan...i miss legazpi so much...

^ welcome to the thread mielle! Enjoy posting!

hay namiss ko na naman su thread ta. Nadakop kaya ako ki trankaso.

Yading si Mr. Lee Hwa Soo Nagvisit man ini digdi sa embarcadero. Good thing na ang satuyang mga namootan na mga albay officials especially gov joey and mayor rosal are establishing good relationship with the koreans. Sana nga magka direct flight Legazpi-Seoul o kaya Legazpi-Busan. Speaking of Koreans marami sila nitong mga nakaraang mga araw. naglipana sila dito sa embarcadero.

^ great! sana mag invest sila sa Legazpi City

That's the problem with our souvenirs in mayon rock padi,it's too heavy especially for those travelling by air.I had guests from abs-cbn and gma two months ago and i got them the cagsawa replicas hand carved sa cagsawa.we later found out that each weights a good 3 kilos.well worth it kahit nagdagdag sinda ta excess luggage sinda,mga maogmahun man.but it'll be nice if someone could come up with a way of hollowing up the pieces.aram mo padi,fuerteng negosyo an. gibohan ko daw iyan ki study..any local business out there interested pls.get connected with me.i have some good ideas that might just work.

pading romy anu na naman yang mga naiisip mo?:lol: joke...

yup dakul talagang pwedeng gibuhon na negosyo out of this volcanic debris..

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad315/albay2030/mtmayon002.jpg

^^Maray na Albay! Very nice photo, hilingon na su bagong lava vein kang Mayon from its most recent eruption. Fascinating!

hay namiss ko na naman su thread ta. Nadakop kaya ako ki trankaso.

Yading si Mr. Lee Hwa Soo Nagvisit man ini digdi sa embarcadero. Good thing na ang satuyang mga namootan na mga albay officials especially gov joey and mayor rosal are establishing good relationship with the koreans. Sana nga magka direct flight Legazpi-Seoul o kaya Legazpi-Busan. Speaking of Koreans marami sila nitong mga nakaraang mga araw. naglipana sila dito sa embarcadero.

Yup, if you remember Gov. Salceda along with Mayor Rosal and other local chief executives had a successful business trip to Incheon, South Korea last year. I hope we'll see more Korean investors in the city.

That's the problem with our souvenirs in mayon rock padi,it's too heavy especially for those travelling by air.I had guests from abs-cbn and gma two months ago and i got them the cagsawa replicas hand carved sa cagsawa.we later found out that each weights a good 3 kilos.well worth it kahit nagdagdag sinda ta excess luggage sinda,mga maogmahun man.but it'll be nice if someone could come up with a way of hollowing up the pieces.aram mo padi,fuerteng negosyo an. gibohan ko daw iyan ki study..any local business out there interested pls.get connected with me.i have some good ideas that might just work.

I hope some entrepreneur out there will get to read this. I think saro ini sa pwedeng maging trademark pasalubong from Albay aside from Pinangat, Pili and Abaca products. :okay:

Learning hybrid farming not easy but profitable (http://businessmirror.com.ph/component/content/article/53-agri-commodities/21485-learning-hybrid-farming-not-easy-but-profitable.html)
Written by Danny Calleja / Correspondent
Thursday, 28 January 2010 22:01

LIGAO CITY—Most farmers in Bicol region who have been used to conventional or traditional farming which had been handed down to them by their old folks have finally adopted hybrid-rice technology. But their shift to modern farming did not come easy. At first, farmers here doubted the effectiveness of hybrid farming when this was launched in the region way back in 1998. Yet, Ricardo Roperes of this city got deeply interested in hybrid rice and eventually succeeded in its production. “Since getting the right technology about seven years ago, I have been consistently harvesting an average yield of eight tons from my one-hectare farm and earning P20,000 higher than my income from inbred-rice production per harvest,” he told the BusinessMirror.

To this 52-year-old farmer, who is a graduate of a four-year course in agriculture, it was his passion for farming that made him succeed in adopting new agriculture technology. Despite the low adoption rate of the technology due to its unimpressive promotion, Roperes said he persisted in learning it, what with the intensified hybrid-rice promotion of the Department of Agriculture through its Regional Field Unit for Bicol in 1999.

“I collected reading materials and followed reports on its development on radio and television. After a year of conscientious self-study, I started to utilize what I learned,” he said. The intensified promotion included trainings and technical briefings on F1 technology that dealt with cultivation and production of commercial hybrid rice. Roperes said he also attended the University Without Walls Season-Long Training on hybrid- rice seed production at the Bicol University.

Believing he has learned enough, Roperes to planted his one-hectare field to hybrid-rice in the wet season in 2000, only to find out that was wrong. But he did not give up. He tried the less complicated technology called F1 and planted the family-owned three-hectare riceland to Mestizo 1 variety. This time he was successful, but it was a success that was only short-lived.

Roperes gave up two hectares to his brothers. With his remaining one hectare already planted, he lost much of his expected high yield to bacterial leaf blight. Despite this, he still did not give up. Finally, he said he found a solution in Mestizo 3, a hybrid variety less susceptible to BLB. From then on, he used this variety during wet season and Bigante during dry season which yielded him the eight-ton per harvest..

However, Roperes said he had to contend with the limited source of hybrid rice seeds. This shortage, he said, was the main reason for the decrease in the area planted to hybrid rice. In Albay for instance, planting season usually starts in May but seeds become available about a month later, or in June. According to Roperes, the situation got worse when local hybrid seeds producers refused to sell seeds to farmers on credit for fear default payment.

The shortage or limited supply of hybrid seed did not deter him. He even convinced many members of the Ongsong River Irrigators Association here that he heads as president that planting hybrid palay seeds would give them higher harvests. All his efforts and persistence in getting his fellow farmers to engage in modern farming paid off handsomely in dividends as hybrid rice technology has arrived in Albay.

Owing to this, the province has improved its rice production by about nine percent between 2007 and 2008 or from 148,036 to 161,391 metric tons. Area planted to hybrid rice also increased during the period from 42,027 to 45,842 hectares representing an expansion of 9.08 percent, according to DA records.

(Danny O. Calleja)

January 30 palan ang launching kaini...una ko April tsk..tsk.. anyway this is a very good initiative..if the local government can sustain it, Albay will be having more forests by 10 years time, pollution free rivers and very clean Albay Gulf...

by the way i chanced to talk with some fishermen in Legazpi several years ago and told me there were also butandings roaming the waters of Albay Gulf...

Yup, I think this is one of the best projects that the provincial government has initiated. That's 54,000 new trees within a few years!

In 2006, whale sharks were spotted off the coast of Bigaa. They were even featured in some TV shows. Some theorized that Mayon's activity during that period helped increase the amount of phytoplankton from the many rivers flowing from Mayon to the Albay Gulf. The presence of more phytoplankton attracted the whale sharks. Maybe some scientist can find a way to increase phytoplankton artificially so that the 'butandings' will be more frequent visitors in the Albay Gulf, hehe.

Cena Una Favorites

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http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs200.snc3/20777_264792148946_71303103946_3449901_7368586_n.jpg

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http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs200.snc3/20777_264792178946_71303103946_3449903_1661807_n.jpg

Source (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daraga-Philippines/Cena-Una/71303103946)

More Cena Una Favorites

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Source (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daraga-Philippines/Cena-Una/71303103946)

Cena Una Desserts

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs200.snc3/20777_264792293946_71303103946_3449917_2765252_n.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs200.snc3/20777_264792283946_71303103946_3449915_6606846_n.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs200.snc3/20777_264792288946_71303103946_3449916_1478429_n.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs200.snc3/20777_264797893946_71303103946_3449974_6117735_n.jpg

Source (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daraga-Philippines/Cena-Una/71303103946)

;50543999']Financial Performance of Albay Municipalities, CY 2008

Daraga ~ Php138,205,787.12
Polangui ~ Php96,329,336.40
Guinobatan ~ Php90,762,526.47
Libon ~ Php87,759,431.63
Pio Duran ~ Php85,501,544.06
Tiwi ~ Php83,057,336.03
Oas ~ Php75,344,039.59
Camalig ~ Php72,830,510.75
Bacacay ~ Php68,646,442.31
Rapu-Rapu ~ Php63,405,918.35
Malinao ~ Php53,138,226.81
Malilipot ~ Php48,617,156.86
Sto. Domingo ~ Php46,897,639.53
Manito ~ Php37,946,081.83
Jovellar ~ Php32,446,531.33

Source (http://www.coa.gov.ph/Financial_Reports.htm)

* * *

I didn't expect Pio Duran to earn that much income

Ang rapu-rapu maski may mining...ilinga nindo ang income...ababa-on...mas da best talaga na i shut down na iyan na mining company dyan ta dae lang iubos ang minerals ta dyan...riraot pa kayan ang kapalibotan ta...

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs174.snc1/6560_122578217766_101164622766_2272990_5734068_n.jpg

Cattle used as Pack Animals in the Philippines - Mayon Volcano in the Background c.1900s

A nice composition with odd elements.

Mayon Volcano in Albay province has the distinction of having a nearly perfect cone. Towering at a height of 2,462 meters above the sea level, Mount Mayon overlooks Legaspi City. Its name, derived from the Bicolano term Magayon, means beautiful and is associated with a folk legend. The volcano has a base circumference of 62.8 kilometers. Geologists claimed that the stratovolcano developed its cone shape from a pile around the vent of volcanic materials composed of lava, rock and ash. Its first eruption was recorded in 1616, and there were at least 47 more eruptions since then, the last one in February, 2000. In 1911, its eruption killed 1,300 people and buried the town of Cagsawa.


source: facebook.Ü

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs169.snc1/6360_105133377766_101164622766_2042349_2548718_n.jpg
The Fourth Battalion drills with Mt. Mayon in the background, Albay, early 1900s

source: facebook.Ü

More old photos here: Vintage Legazpi & Mayon (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=120809&id=165069192339)

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs169.snc1/6360_105133377766_101164622766_2042349_2548718_n.jpg
The Fourth Battalion drills with Mt. Mayon in the background, Albay, early 1900s

source: facebook.Ü

ngayon lang talaga sya naging near perfect cone...

Kawa-kawa Nature Park
Ligao, Albay
Photos by Byahero
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/Byahero/181177774629)
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs025.snc3/11232_181420409629_181177774629_2805312_1834896_n.jpg

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Military aircraft at Legazpi Airport
by ly keh (http://picasaweb.google.com/bebeezhan)

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/3934/dsc00541fj.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4606/dsc00540hb.jpg

^ kelan kaya bibigyan ng national government ng pansin yang mga bumabagsak na eroplano ng airforce? kawawa naman yung mga namatay na sundalo....baka pwede nilang bilhan ng mga bagong eroplano sila...yung eroplano na pwedeng maging proud tayo lahat ng pilipino

^Sadly, ang mga eroplano kang AFP outdated na. That's a Nomad plane, just like the one that crashed in Cotabato. Baka ngani iyo na ini su nagcrash. :( RIP to the victims and condolences to the families they left behind.

Wow, this place was very fascinating!!:applause: I like the view of the mountain, thanks for sharing those photos... Good job... :)

;50949959']^Sadly, ang mga eroplano kang AFP outdated na. That's a Nomad plane, just like the one that crashed in Cotabato. Baka ngani iyo na ini su nagcrash. :( RIP to the victims and condolences to the families they left behind.

garo ngani mga ukay lang ang eroplano ta...

Ang rapu-rapu maski may mining...ilinga nindo ang income...ababa-on...mas da best talaga na i shut down na iyan na mining company dyan ta dae lang iubos ang minerals ta dyan...riraot pa kayan ang kapalibotan ta...


So what is the major component of Rapu-Rapu's income if not the mining operations? Is there any other income generating business in the municipality? I'm wondering why Sto. Domingo's income is even lower than that of Malinao and Malilipot with all the resorts there in Kalayukai Beach.

^ none...but the municipality needs to align its development accordingly with the vision of Albay as "a guardian of nature"...shifting towards eco tourism industry would certainly pour in money, create new jobs for the municipality of Rapu-Rapu...it would also help protect the environment in the area...

Navy helps in Albay post evacuation care
(http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=255718)By Mike dela Rama

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 29 (PNA) - The Naval Forces Southern Luzon in partnership with Office of Civil Defense led anew an outreach project for the victims of Mayon Volcano eruption in response to a call of Albay Governor Joey Salceda for assistance. The naval forces distributed rice to displaced families in Amore resettlement area as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) joint project dubbed as “TARABANGAN: Sama-sama sa pagtulong para sa mga Biktima ng Bulkang Mayon."

The Amore Resettlement Area (located in barangay anislag, Daraga town) is the relocation site for the displaced families from Barangay Binitayan and Barangay Bañag who were directly affected by Mayon eruption. Salceda said that the said relocation will reduce the number of evacuees during Mayon eruptive episodes and allow schools, which are being used as evacuation center, to function normally and limit the displacement of pupils.

It is a project of the Albay provincial government so concerned families will not return to their homes within the danger zone. Apart from rice distribution, the naval forces also conducted feeding to children at the evacuation sites. The Philippine Navy is one of the steady partners of local government units to mitigate the effect of disaster in the region.

Earlier this year, Philippine Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez directed all Naval Forces to sustain efforts in developing robust disaster response posture to continue as credible and relevant partner of the people in disaster mitigation responsive in the current times. A similar activity was also held in Barangay Padang, this city. (PNA)
LAP/LQ/MDR/cbd/

Misibis Bay Raintree -- http://misibisbay.com

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Source (http://ninyabonita.multiply.com/)

;50839901']Albay to start literacy cum livelihood program
(http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=255272)By Mike dela Rama

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 27 (PNA) – The Provincial Government of Albay is set to start next month the full implementation of its literacy cum livelihood program for jail guards and teacher applicants, who are awaiting teaching load assignments.

Emily Kare, Albay Millennium Development Goal Office (AMDGO) coordinator, said that a five-day basic Training for Instructional Managers on the Delivery and Implementation of Alternative Literacy System (ALS) for all jail guards and teacher applicants in the province will be held on February 8-12. Participants to this training are jail guards and teacher applicants who wish to handle Literacy Class in the remote barangays under the Department of Education (DepEd) Albay division, like the municipalities of Jovellar, Camalig, Manito, Guinobatan Daraga and Sto. Domingo.

Kare explained that after completion of the five-day Trainors of Training, teachers applicants and jail guards are set to under go accredited, equivalency and skills training. To echo their skills, “Jail guards as instructional managers shall handle classes inside the jail using the alternative Learning System curricula,” Kare said.

Considering the situation of the inmates inside their cells in order to complete their penitentiary court decisions, they were totally deprived of their privilege to get education, which will result in physical, emotional and social traumatic stress, she noted. However, teacher applicants will also cater to out of school youths and the needs of the underserved, unprivileged, poor but deserving learners and unreachable constituents.

Kare also said this program is in partnership with the Provincial Government of Albay, Department of Education Albay division, Anislag ALS Community Learning Center, Municipal Government of Daraga, and Bureau of Jail and Management (BJM) regional office. The bureau of alternative learning system has already deployed 2,000 district ALS Coordinators and almost 1,000 Mobile Teachers nationwide to handle these programs in order to minimize and eradicate illiteracy in the country. (PNA)
LAP/LQ/MDR/cbd/

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww17/sherwinm27/IMG_0168.jpg
Venue: Daraga Human Resource Development Center
Anislag, Daraga, Albay

The 5 Day Basic Training for Instructional Managers on the Delivery and Implementation of ALS A&E Program on February 8-12, 2010
was conceptualized by Sir Dante, the District ALS Coordinator and the chairman of the training team.

******

Scheduled Trainings at Daraga Human Resource Development Center, Anislag, Daraga, Albay

March 2010

*Regional IT Training for Instructional Managers

*National Competency Based Teachers Standard Training for District ALS Coordinators and Mobile Teachers - Division Level

guys! lumindol na naman!?

naramdaman dito konti sa Tabaco pero ang malakas raw ay sa Sorsogon

Bicol is RP’s ‘Tambay’ capital
Highest unemployment noted
By Mar S. Arguelles

LEGAZPI CITY --- Economic managers have drawn up strategic intervention to address the region’s unemployment glitch after Bicol was tagged the “Tambay capital” of the Philippines due to its high underemployment rate, the highest among the 17 regions across the country, the Regional Development Council (RDC) said yesterday.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, RDC chairman, quoting a National Statistic Office (NSO) report said the October 2009 Labor Force Survey shows Bicol having posted the highest underemployment rate of 37%, which is almost double the national average of 19%.

He said while the region is only 6th in terms of labor force, it also has the biggest number of underemployed persons at 760,000, slightly beating Western Visayas.

NSO data revealed that Bicol topped the list of regions with the highest underemployment rate with 37.1 percent, followed by Northern Mindanao with 31 percent; Western Visayas with 26.7 percent; Eastern Visayas with 26.3 percent and CARAGA with 24.6 percent.

The NSO labor force survey indicated that Bicol has 2.1 million people in the labor force, of which 2 million are employed, 166,000 are unemployed and 760,000 are underemployed.

The Philippines have a total labor force of 38.1 million where 35.4 million are employed, 2.7 million are unemployed and 6.8million are underemployed.

Salceda said that since he assumed the RDC chairmanship in 2008, the council continues to devise strategic interventions in order to address this sad plight which manifests Bicol’s stature as the 4th poorest region in the country based on the 2006 Family Income and Expenditure Survey.

The council has identified two key variables to address this concern: these are (1) the development of economic growth that would produce quality jobs, thus reduce underemployment and (2) more accessible tertiary education -- either technical vocational or baccalaureate --- that will produce graduates for quality and competitive jobs.

Among the key interventions that the council has given focues are: the spatial integration of the two island provinces Masbate and Catanduanes with the mainland Bicol provinces through the Roro and ports modernization, the construction of the P3.4 billion Southern Luzon international airport in Daraga, Albay that will boost tourism and trade and reduce costs of distribution;

The Southrail or Philippine National Railways which would have to wait for the next administration and SLEX-Lucena Tollways that will reduce travel time to Manila by 2 hours;

Disaster risk reduction through the installation of Doppler Radar in Catanduanes (an initiative of Albay province), alternative and safer road network like the PGMA Highway and flood control component of the Bicol River Basin Development Project;

Agricultural and fisheries modernization, with the irrigation component of Bicol River Basin Project as anchor project and farm-to-market roads particularly in the Bicol hinterlands;

Environmental protection and climate change adaptation and mitigation in reducing deforestation, increasing mangrove plantation and reforestation;

Renewable energy development with Albay’s geothermal potential as anchor where its 640MW power makes Albay the biggest producer of green energy in Luzon; other projects under this component are wind, solar and ocean thermal energy conversion.;

A graduate in every household project. Aside from mobilizing national resources for education, this would be leveraged by LGU resources for school buildings, school repairs, teacher training, textbooks and scholarships for TESDA and colleges.

Source:Bicolmail Online (http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/jan28/b-story.html)

Glad to know that Watsons will open in LKY Metro Hub. :banana:

Good Morning po sa Gabos. Marata Marata Marata na. Aldaw na naman nin Domingo, Aldaw para sa pamilya. Dai makalingaw magpamahaw.

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww17/sherwinm27/Publication1-1.jpg
San Miguel Corporation Bottling Plant
Barangay Paulog, Ligao City

napaagi lang ako last week, bako klarado an pakapitik.

^ kung may san miguel bottling plant na dyan sa ligao...malamang sa susunod magka coca cola bottling plant na rin dyan in the future...

Maray na Albay!

Glad to know that Watsons will open in LKY Metro Hub. :banana:

^ su ngayong 2010 pala talaga magkakaroon ng mga estblishments dyan sa Legazpi Metro Hub

;50949959']^Sadly, ang mga eroplano kang AFP outdated na. That's a Nomad plane, just like the one that crashed in Cotabato. Baka ngani iyo na ini su nagcrash. :( RIP to the victims and condolences to the families they left behind.
Sir Dx you are right PAFs aircrafts are old, but that aircraft in the photo is not a Nomad plane, its a Fokker F-27

by Byahero (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Byahero/181177774629?v=photos#/pages/Byahero/181177774629)

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by Byahero (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Byahero/181177774629?v=photos#/pages/Byahero/181177774629)

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Airborne Access is a subsidiary of SMARTBRO INC (http://www.airborneaccess.net/myairborne/hotspot.php)

Casablanca Hotel Peñaranda Street
Hotel Villa Angelina Rosario St., Albay
Kanzo Peñaranda Street
La Mia Tazza Brgy 17 Rizal St.
Colonial Grill Brgy 17 Rizal St.
Quick and Hearty Brgy 17 Rizal St.
McDonald's McDonalds
Small Talk Café 51 Dona Aurora Street, Old Albay

DARAGA, Albay (Jan, 15, 2010) – The trip to Magarao and Ragay towns in Camarines Sur has opened an opportunity to improve the solid waste management of this premier town and a positive outlook for livelihood by recycling wastes.
The whole day travel made last Jan 15, 2010 to the said towns was found very educational and will ensure the effective waste management program of Daraga and expected to give additional income to interested entrepreneurs.

Manuel Andes, head of the solid waste management program; Boy Triunfante, consultant for relocatees; Tet Triunfante, representing NGO; Severino Listana, Jr. and Media Consultant, James Bandol motored to Magarao town to document the good practices in zero waste management and recycling procedures for non-biodegradable wastes. Magarao town holds the regional honor as number one in Bicol in waste management.
The group left Daraga at 7:00 AM and arrived past 9:00 AM in Magarao; made a courtesy call to the office of Mayor Nelson Julia and was ushered in by the Municipal Administrator and In-Charge of the Solid Waste Management Office.

In the first stop-over, it was learned that Magarao turned second class municipality from fourth class category borne out of the innovations made by the present leadership. The town is near Naga City and has 25,614 population with 4, 939 households in 15 barangays. All barangays has its individual Material Recovery Facility (MRF) where wastes are segregated and plastics are turned into mono blocks “You can not find trash can in our area”, said concerned resident.

After Magarao visit, the group proceeded to Ragay, one of the railroad towns of Camarines Sur, where the model project of vinegar making by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is being run by the group of small farmer who formed a cooperative.

A budding business whereby mostly women are handling the operation, the vinegar making out of coconut water considered as “waste” turned out to be lucrative and progressing.

“We started to produce 60 bottles of vinegar out of 20 liters of coconut water”, said Marilyn Abin. “And our first costumers are our members of the cooperative:, Abin added. The technology was introduced to them by the DOST.

With this experience, the long trip never dampen the enthusiasm of the group to learn more about ecological solid waste management so that the good and effective practices could be duplicated and improved for the town of Daraga. We arrived home at 6:39 PM. (Elmer James Bandol)

source (http://daraga.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=7&Itemid=27)

Maray na Albay mga katugangan!

Love month na! anu naman kaya ang mga pakulo sa Legazpi ngonyan na bulan ki mga puso?

HAPPY 5th ANNIVERSARY TO THE LEGAZPI THREAD!!!

Thanks Olineil!!!

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww17/sherwinm27/Publication1-1.jpg
San Miguel Corporation Bottling Plant
Barangay Paulog, Ligao City

napaagi lang ako last week, bako klarado an pakapitik.


Is this a BREWERY or just a bottling plant? I know if it's beer manufacturing, it should be a brewery.

Dapat brewery to take advantage of the excellent water quality in Ligao.


Siguro, bottling lang ng mineral water ito. Not beer. Beer brewing will need huge capital asset investment.

HAPPY 5th ANNIVERSARY TO THE LEGAZPI THREAD!!!

Thanks Olineil!!!

i see...Happy 5th year Legazpi and Albay thread!

DARAGA, Albay (Jan, 15, 2010) – The trip to Magarao and Ragay towns in Camarines Sur has opened an opportunity to improve the solid waste management of this premier town and a positive outlook for livelihood by recycling wastes.
The whole day travel made last Jan 15, 2010 to the said towns was found very educational and will ensure the effective waste management program of Daraga and expected to give additional income to interested entrepreneurs.

Manuel Andes, head of the solid waste management program; Boy Triunfante, consultant for relocatees; Tet Triunfante, representing NGO; Severino Listana, Jr. and Media Consultant, James Bandol motored to Magarao town to document the good practices in zero waste management and recycling procedures for non-biodegradable wastes. Magarao town holds the regional honor as number one in Bicol in waste management.
The group left Daraga at 7:00 AM and arrived past 9:00 AM in Magarao; made a courtesy call to the office of Mayor Nelson Julia and was ushered in by the Municipal Administrator and In-Charge of the Solid Waste Management Office.

In the first stop-over, it was learned that Magarao turned second class municipality from fourth class category borne out of the innovations made by the present leadership. The town is near Naga City and has 25,614 population with 4, 939 households in 15 barangays. All barangays has its individual Material Recovery Facility (MRF) where wastes are segregated and plastics are turned into mono blocks “You can not find trash can in our area”, said concerned resident.

After Magarao visit, the group proceeded to Ragay, one of the railroad towns of Camarines Sur, where the model project of vinegar making by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is being run by the group of small farmer who formed a cooperative.

A budding business whereby mostly women are handling the operation, the vinegar making out of coconut water considered as “waste” turned out to be lucrative and progressing.

“We started to produce 60 bottles of vinegar out of 20 liters of coconut water”, said Marilyn Abin. “And our first costumers are our members of the cooperative:, Abin added. The technology was introduced to them by the DOST.

With this experience, the long trip never dampen the enthusiasm of the group to learn more about ecological solid waste management so that the good and effective practices could be duplicated and improved for the town of Daraga. We arrived home at 6:39 PM. (Elmer James Bandol)

source (http://daraga.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=7&Itemid=27)

I honestly find this ironic. It shows how a first-class town cannot manage its own waste despite its big income and supposedly better leaders. :bash:

i see...Happy 5th year Legazpi and Albay thread!

And we don't have a grand celebration? Hahaha!

Haburday!

HAPPY 5th ANNIVERSARY TO THE LEGAZPI THREAD!!!

Thanks Olineil!!!

Hehehehe!

Happy Anniversary saindo gabos! :lol: :banana: Dibale wara celebration or meet. Basta magmawut lang pirmi kita sa ikagagayun kang satuyang namomotan na probinsya asin syudad!

happy 5th anniversary to the thread! :banana:

cheers to greater and more achievements of our beloved city and province :cheers:

marhay na albay po saindo gabos :)

happy 5th anniversary to the thread! :banana:

cheers to greater and more achievements of our beloved city and province :cheers:

marhay na albay po saindo gabos :)

^more developments this 2010!

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad315/albay2030/mtmayon010.jpg

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad315/albay2030/mtmayon013.jpg

Happy anniversary Legazapi/Albay Thread!

;50543999']Financial Performance of Albay Municipalities, CY 2008

Daraga ~ Php138,205,787.12
Polangui ~ Php96,329,336.40
Guinobatan ~ Php90,762,526.47
Libon ~ Php87,759,431.63
Pio Duran ~ Php85,501,544.06
Tiwi ~ Php83,057,336.03
Oas ~ Php75,344,039.59
Camalig ~ Php72,830,510.75
Bacacay ~ Php68,646,442.31
Rapu-Rapu ~ Php63,405,918.35
Malinao ~ Php53,138,226.81
Malilipot ~ Php48,617,156.86
Sto. Domingo ~ Php46,897,639.53
Manito ~ Php37,946,081.83
Jovellar ~ Php32,446,531.33

Source (http://www.coa.gov.ph/Financial_Reports.htm)

* * *

I didn't expect Pio Duran to earn that much income


I have a question...

I totaled the annual income of Albay municipalities and cities and it summed up to 2,110,102,509.07

is that the total income of the province then? and what income class will the province belong to then?

and i've downloaded the acrobat file of the COA report but an error always pops up each time I open it... file is damaged... you didn't seem to have a problem opening your file right?

thanks

AHECS kicks off this year, to benefit Albayano studes (http://http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p100201.htm&no=02)

by MA Loterte

Legazpi City (1 February) -- The Provincial Government of Albay has slated the implementation of the Albay Higher Education Contribution Scheme (AHECS) this coming school year 2010-2011 that will benefit graduating high school and college students in the province.

Salceda said that AHECS is a concessional loan facility, adopting the Australian model, to motivate students from Albay province to finish high school because the provincial government assures them of easy access to tertiary education upon graduation.

He explained that the loan facility entails a deferred payment scheme, that is, AHECS pays fraction of school fees to the school and so to the student, adding that the same program offers P5,000 pesos loan per semester.

AHECS is an expanded version of the Brilliant Young Teacher (BRYT) and an education assistance program catered to community colleges and Bicol University satellite campuses offering tuition fee refund to qualified student-resident of Albay.

Salceda stressed that every family deserves to produce a new Albayano capable of attaining his personal happiness and well-being, fully deserving to occupy a rightful place in the society.

"The provincial government needs to complement the efforts of the parents thus intends to meet the learning needs of the individual and to improve the quality of life," he said.

AHECS is open to all Albayanos, who are high school graduates or college students enrolled in accredited Albay-based Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and technical vocational schools taking up a minimum of two-year course.

Salceda further said that AHECS does not prohibit the granting of loans to old and returning students at any levels from HEIs and technical vocational schools; neither has it prohibited the granting of loans to new students and transferees nor the course preference required and maintaining grade.

The guidelines also sets that AHECS grantees must finish the study in the prescribed course, regularly inform the provincial government, including change of name in case of female grantee, residents and employment.

It states that the loan shall bear an interest of rate of 10 percent per annum. Monthly amortization will be seven percent of gross monthly earnings of the grantees until fully paid.

The provincial government will require loan payment after the completion of the prescribed course, when the grantee decided to stop availing the loan, and upon employment. In case the grantee stops it shall be considered a breach of agreement and the parent is immediately obliged to settle the availed loan.

This year, the provincial government has allocated an amount of P16 million for AHECS alone and P328 million for educational assistance program.

Albay provincial government has been aggressive in promoting universal access to education, also through the Project Education Quality for Albayanos (EQUAL) providing education assistance or tuition fee refund to all Albayanos enrolled in eight community colleges and three Bicol University local campuses. (PIA V) [top]

I have a question...

I totaled the annual income of Albay municipalities and cities and it summed up to 2,110,102,509.07

is that the total income of the province then? and what income class will the province belong to then?

and i've downloaded the acrobat file of the COA report but an error always pops up each time I open it... file is damaged... you didn't seem to have a problem opening your file right?

thanks

The province gets only a portion of the income of the cities and municipalities under its jurisdiction. Therefore, even the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao give a portion of its income to the province being component cities of the province of albay. Naga, being an independent chartered city does not contribute to the coffers of the province of CamSur, so it can spend its entire income on its own. Naga became independent when the capital was transferred to Pili.

If Legazpi becomes an HUC (highly urbanized city) in the future, then it can be independent from the province just like Bacolod and Iloilo. Although they are the capital of Negros Occ and Iloilo, respectively, they are independent since they are classified as HUC. The income contributed to the province by a city is quite significant. This is the reason why Cavite Province is not so keen on allowing the towns of Imus, Bacoor and Dasmarinas(now a component city) to become an HUC. The province will loose a huge amount of income. These three Cavite towns are very much qualified to become an HUC based on its income and population.

I have a question...

I totaled the annual income of Albay municipalities and cities and it summed up to 2,110,102,509.07

is that the total income of the province then? and what income class will the province belong to then?

and i've downloaded the acrobat file of the COA report but an error always pops up each time I open it... file is damaged... you didn't seem to have a problem opening your file right?

thanks

Hi aidz, the income of the municipalities is separate from the income of the the province. The province has it's own income.

You can also see Albay's income in the COA report.

Majority of the income of these municipalities are sourced from the internal revenue allotment (IRA) given by the national government. I think what we should see is the internally sourced income of the LGUs like the proceeds from the real property taxes, business taxes etc.. etc..

The province gets only a portion of the income of the cities and municipalities under its jurisdiction. Therefore, even the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao give a portion of its income to the province being component cities of the province of albay. Naga, being an independent chartered city does not contribute to the coffers of the province of CamSur, so it can spend its entire income on its own. Naga became independent when the capital was transferred to Pili.

If Legazpi becomes an HUC (highly urbanized city) in the future, then it can be independent from the province just like Bacolod and Iloilo. Although they are the capital of Negros Occ and Iloilo, respectively, they are independent since they are classified as HUC. The income contributed to the province by a city is quite significant. This is the reason why Cavite Province is not so keen on allowing the towns of Imus, Bacoor and Dasmarinas(now a component city) to become an HUC. The province will loose a huge amount of income. These three Cavite towns are very much qualified to become an HUC based on its income and population.

Thanks for enlightening me sir Gary!

I have with me a booklet of the NSO's Bicol's Facts and Figures for 2007 and was wondering why my total of CamSur and Albay are four times the annual income there of the 2000-2003 average! lol!

Thanks again sir!

Hi aidz, the income of the municipalities is separate from the income of the the province. The province has it's own income.

You can also see Albay's income in the COA report.

Majority of the income of these municipalities are sourced from the internal revenue allotment (IRA) given by the national government. I think what we should see is the internally sourced income of the LGUs like the proceeds from the real property taxes, business taxes etc.. etc..

tnx too! by the way, does each municipality's % contribution vary or is it fixed?

tnx

Thanks for enlightening me sir Gary!

I have with me a booklet of the NSO's Bicol's Facts and Figures for 2007 and was wondering why my total of CamSur and Albay are four times the annual income there of the 2000-2003 average! lol!

Thanks again sir!



tnx too! by the way, does each municipality's % contribution vary or is it fixed?

tnx

Yes, it depends what class the municipality is. Daraga and Daet are first class municipalities so their IRAs are higher.

HAPPY 5th ANNIVERSARY TO THE LEGAZPI THREAD!!!

Thanks Olineil!!!

Congrats everyone! Here's to another 5 years and beyond. :cheers::cheers:

The breakwater in Puro (with view of Sleeping Lion and a glimpse of the city lights)
by Dacel Andes
(http://micreations.multiply.com/)
http://images.micreations.multiply.com/image/3/photos/137/1200x1200/12/Backhoe-12.jpg?et=dPR%2CJr9xhUFfoMC1j4IVcQ&nmid=313942360

Ligñon Hill Nature Park

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4307814429_21e3477602_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/4307814425_15425c4f69_b.jpg

by olmhe12 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35411779@N07/)

I have a question...

I totaled the annual income of Albay municipalities and cities and it summed up to 2,110,102,509.07

is that the total income of the province then? and what income class will the province belong to then?

and i've downloaded the acrobat file of the COA report but an error always pops up each time I open it... file is damaged... you didn't seem to have a problem opening your file right?

thanks

Albay is a first class province :okay:

by Byahero
(http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/pages/Byahero/181177774629?ref=nf)
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww17/sherwinm27/P1201712.jpg
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww17/sherwinm27/P1201713.jpg
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww17/sherwinm27/P1201731.jpg

DARAGA, Albay (Jan, 15, 2010) – The trip to Magarao and Ragay towns in Camarines Sur has opened an opportunity to improve the solid waste management of this premier town and a positive outlook for livelihood by recycling wastes.
The whole day travel made last Jan 15, 2010 to the said towns was found very educational and will ensure the effective waste management program of Daraga and expected to give additional income to interested entrepreneurs.

Manuel Andes, head of the solid waste management program; Boy Triunfante, consultant for relocatees; Tet Triunfante, representing NGO; Severino Listana, Jr. and Media Consultant, James Bandol motored to Magarao town to document the good practices in zero waste management and recycling procedures for non-biodegradable wastes. Magarao town holds the regional honor as number one in Bicol in waste management.
The group left Daraga at 7:00 AM and arrived past 9:00 AM in Magarao; made a courtesy call to the office of Mayor Nelson Julia and was ushered in by the Municipal Administrator and In-Charge of the Solid Waste Management Office.

In the first stop-over, it was learned that Magarao turned second class municipality from fourth class category borne out of the innovations made by the present leadership. The town is near Naga City and has 25,614 population with 4, 939 households in 15 barangays. All barangays has its individual Material Recovery Facility (MRF) where wastes are segregated and plastics are turned into mono blocks “You can not find trash can in our area”, said concerned resident.

After Magarao visit, the group proceeded to Ragay, one of the railroad towns of Camarines Sur, where the model project of vinegar making by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is being run by the group of small farmer who formed a cooperative.

A budding business whereby mostly women are handling the operation, the vinegar making out of coconut water considered as “waste” turned out to be lucrative and progressing.

“We started to produce 60 bottles of vinegar out of 20 liters of coconut water”, said Marilyn Abin. “And our first costumers are our members of the cooperative:, Abin added. The technology was introduced to them by the DOST.

With this experience, the long trip never dampen the enthusiasm of the group to learn more about ecological solid waste management so that the good and effective practices could be duplicated and improved for the town of Daraga. We arrived home at 6:39 PM. (Elmer James Bandol)

source (http://daraga.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=7&Itemid=27)

it's good that among our towns there is an ongoing exchange of best practices, a very proactive initiative.

i hope team daraga also took the opportunity to enjoy the relaxing hilot of magarao. the town is quite known for its many parahilot.

;51109593']Congrats everyone! Here's to another 5 years and beyond. :cheers::cheers:

High Five to the SSC Legaspi and Albay! more hot, spicy, fiery days years ahead! :banana:

visiting LGP in mid-march to give a lenten retreat to the employees of a bank.

Foreign firms bullish on Albay’s energy development (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=256116)

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 1 (PNA) - Some P15 billion in foreign investment has been set aside to pump prime the energy development prospects to make Albay among the national renewable energy capital of the country, a ranking official of an local electric cooperative said on Monday. Lawyer Rodolfo Bonafe, board chairman of the Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO), said the investment fund would finance renewable energy projects within the next three to four years boosting the province energy development.

Bonafe said once implemented, the project would make the province the “national renewable energy capital” of the country. This is in line with Albay Gov. Joey S. Salceda energy development program for Albay. The province’s technical staff led by Salceda with funding institutions from the countries of Korea and South America are finalizing documents and agreements for the implementation of the multi-billion energy project in the province.

Bonafe expressed optimism that the project will be pursued after the foreign investors in a recent investment meeting signified their commitment to venture in this energy project. Salceda has continuously gave priority to potential energy resources such as geothermal, hydro and wind which are all abundant in the province, Bonafe said.

Salceda’s energy development is in line with the sustainable development efforts of the province with focus on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures. Among the renewable energy projects given emphasis include: the development of geothermal, hydro, wind, solar and ocean thermal energy in the towns of Tiwi, Manito and Cagraray island in Bacacay.The province has been considered as one of the areas who has a huge green energy reserve in the entire Luzon region.

Salceda in an interview said he is giving priority to renewable energy development since this is an environment-friendly project and it will also address the looming energy crisis brought about by El Nino or dry spell and lower the cost of electricity in Albay, including the whole Bicol peninsula.(PNA)
LDV/LQ/MSA/cbd

^^ :applause:

From the Bicol Infrastructure and Urban PlanningThread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=639048)

Update on the GMA Highway:

;28921104']The San Fernando, Camarines Sur-Oas, Albay Diversion Road (http://www.upibalonbicol.com/2008/11/san-fernando-camarines-sur-oas-albay.html)
Source: UP Ibalon Bicol

The construction of a San Fernando, Camarines Sur to Oas, Albay bypass (diversion) road has recently been approved. It is one of 10 priority projects in Bicol for 2008-2010 along with the construction of the new Legazpi airport. P500M has reportedly been released for the project. The rationale of the project is to decongest the main road running from Naga to Legazpi. A shortening of the travel time between the two cities is expected.

The planned diversion road is 61.90 kilometers long. Only 14 kilometers will be new road as it just intends to use old roads that already exist. Thus, 32.22 kilometers of existing gravel road will be paved and 15.68 kilometers of the existing Maharlika highway will be improved. An old bridge will also be repaired and a new 40-meter bridge will be built. The total project cost is estimated to be P2.25 billion.

This bypass road will connect the old roads connecting Legazpi to Naga (see my previous article, "The Old Roads of the Naga-Legazpi Corridor and Dialectal Variations Along Its Way", 11/18/08). From the town of Oas it will probably use the old Mayao road that connects the town to Libon, Albay.

From Libon, it will use the gravel road that connects it to the upland barrios of Nabua. This is the Libon-Buga-Tandaay road. This road crosses the Nabua-Balatan road in the big barrio of Tandaay, Nabua. The road runs through the southern shores of Lake Bato.

From Tandaay,Nabua a gravel road runs to Bula, Camarines Sur, running south of the plains irrigated by the Bicol River. This road skirts the southern side of Lake Baao. This is the old Malawag road.

It seems the new road construction mentioned will be used to connect Bula to San Fernando, Camarines Sur. It is probable that the paved road running west of Bula to the barrio of Panoypoyan will used. If not, some other farm-to-market (feeder) roads might be used like the road to Bagoladio. It seems the new bridge will be used in this stretch since the Bicol River will have to be forded here, a connection that hencetoforth does not yet exist. Before reaching San Fernando, the road will pass through portions of Minalabac, if not the town proper. However, Milaor will be bypassed.

This diversion road for the most part will pass through the foot of the long mountain chain on the southern side of Bicol which is always visible from the road when one is traversing the Sipocot to Ligao stretch of the Maharlika highway.

Concerns have been raised about the possible effects on Naga and the towns that will be bypassed by the new highway. There's fear that the economic downturn suffered by Daet and the Camarines Norte towns when the Quirino Andaya highway was opened will be replicated here.

But to sustain progress sometimes new infrastructure must really be built. There is no question that the Naga-Legazpi road is already a little bit crowded and this won't get better anymore. Anyway the first users of this highway will probably be the cars, trucks and buses that just passes by the area en route to Sorsogon and Eastern Visayas.

Whatever, it is imperative that a comprehensive study be made of the possible impacts of the new highway should be. This is needed to warn the sectors that will be affected and also anticipate future problems.

It is now being bandied as the "GMA Highway". The information is from NEDA (National Economic Development Authority) Region V office so it must be official now.

It's ongoing, I just can't give the details since they are working on areas too remote for the vehicular traffic. Her in Ligao City, they still have a lot to do to clear the row of this expressway but things are running smoothly. They expect to complete the road opening before end of this year.

BTW: The Bicol Bypass Road popularly known as GMA Highway will soon be connected to SLEX.

CSC Opens LSP-MDC, Sets Deadline Feb. 10

LEGAZPI CITY— Here’s good news for government workers who would want to pursue a post graduate degree. The Civil Service Commission (CSC) in Bicol is accepting applications for the Local Scholarship Program-Master’s Degree Course (LSP-MDC) Written Test until February 10, 2010. Under the program, a one-year scholarship grant to pursue master’s degree will be provided government employees after passing the written test and an interview.

The LSP-MDC Written Test, which will be conducted nationwide on March 28, 2010, is intended for school year 2011-2012. State workers who hold a bachelor’s degree and a permanent appointment for the last three years, with performance ratings of at least “Very Satisfactory” for the last two consecutive rating periods, without any master’s degree at present, not been convicted of any administrative/criminal offense for the last three years, in good health and physically and mentally fit to perform graduate studies, may qualify for the scholarship program.

The scholarship is also open to state employees who have previously earned master’s units, who are on thesis writing, who have availed of a short-term course, and event hose who have pending administrative cases, without prejudice to automatic revocation of the scholarship should they later be found guilty of an administrative offense.

Employees who hold co-terminus appointment, so long as they can fulfill the service obligation and are not related to the agency head within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, may also apply for the program.

Interested applicants must complete the following requirements and submit them to the CSC Regional Office 5, Rawis, Legazpi City or to any field offices in the province of Albay:

1) Properly accomplished application form (CS Form 101-B, Revised March 2006 available at CSC regional/field offices and website: www.csc.gov.ph);
2) four copies of identical, 1.5”x2” I.D. pictures with full name tag and taken within the last three months prior to application;
3) original and photocopy of one valid I.D. card;
4) photocopy of performance rating for the last two consecutive rating periods prior to application;
5) photocopy of college diploma, or certificate of graduation;
6) service record for the last three years; and
7) medical certificate on the state of health and physical and mental fitness of the applicant. No examination fee will be charged.

All applicants must have the nomination of their respective agency heads. (CSC release/PIA)

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad315/albay2030/mtmayon013.jpg

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad315/albay2030/mtmayon010.jpg

Nice captures! Great timing hehe. This scene will be part of history once the int'l airport in Daraga is operational

;51109613']The breakwater in Puro (with view of Sleeping Lion and a glimpse of the city lights)
by Dacel Andes
(http://micreations.multiply.com/)
http://images.micreations.multiply.com/image/3/photos/137/1200x1200/12/Backhoe-12.jpg?et=dPR%2CJr9xhUFfoMC1j4IVcQ&nmid=313942360


NICE!!!

^Indeed.:okay: Another new spot for photographers and wannabe photographers hehe

DOST-TRC slates Teknobiz Idea Challenge (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p100201.htm&no=05)
by PO Lucena

Legazpi City (1 February) -- The Technology Resource Center (TRC) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) invites students of public and private higher education institutions to join the "TeknoBiz Idea Challenge" to be held in conjunction with the 1st Techno Partnering Forum to be hosted by TRC on February 24, 2010.Evolving on the theme: Merging Business with Technology, the event typifies a youth business idea contest designed hone their creativity and entrepreneurial skills to become successful techno-preneurs in the future.

DOST's promotional papers states that entries on technology-based ideas should be innovative, must not have been introduced elsewhere in the country and have market acceptability both to the Philippine and foreign markets. It added that the entries must be endorsed and signed by the school's authorized representative (College Dean or President) shall be accepted.

The entry form and requisite proofs of registration shall likewise be submitted in a folder in two sets and similarly labeled on the outside for easy and clear identification. Elimination will be held on January 27, 2010 and winners will be duly notified by the Contest Secretariat through email and call-out.

Pre-requisites for participation include the following:

a) All registered students should submit their technology-based business idea between December 15, 2009 and February 5, 2010.

b) Must be a bonafide student of a CHED-accredited educational institution or a state college/university during the abovementioned period. Proof of enrolment in the form of a photocopy of each team member's Registration Form or school I.D. for SY 09-10 must be attached to the Entry Form.

c) Must comply with all contest entry requirements (eligibility, entry form, formats for concept paper and presentation, and school endorsement) per information kit.

d) Must agree to abide by the TeknoBiz Idea Challenge contest rules and the decision of TRC, the Contest Organizer.

e) Students may opt to form a team but should not be more than five. All team members must be enrolled in the same school.

f) A student can be a member of only one team.

In addition, participants are required to submit a concept paper or the executive summary of their business technology idea. Participant are also encouraged to submit a prototype/model/design mock-up/sample product to support their idea.

Entries must be submitted to TRC's Technology Livelihood & Information Dissemination Services Group (TLIDSG), TRC Bldg., #103 J. Abad Santos St., Little Baguio, San Juan City, Metro Manila 1500 with contact nos. (632) 727-6205 locals 201 or 206 (telephone); (632) 721-0063 (fax) and tlidsg@yahoo.com (email/Mr. JC Amobit, Junior Technical Expert as contact person) on or before 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2010 and to consider the other contest timeline as follows:

Deadline for submission of entries : February 5, 2010
Announcement of 10 Finalists : February 12, 2010
Presentation at the Technology Forum/Final Judging : February 23, 2010
Awarding Ceremonies : February 24, 2010

All basic criteria must be met and judging will be based on the following factors:

Innovativeness - 25%
Market Potential - 25%
Feasibility (Philippine Contest) - 25%
Social Impact - 15%
Environment Friendly - 10%
----------------
Total: 100%

The DOST-TRC TeknoBiz Idea Challenge: Merging Business with Technology is a great opportunity for enterprising Bicolano college students who have excellent achievements in Business and Technology to participate in said youth competition. (DOST V/PIA)

Ligñon Hill has become a favorite spot for locals and tourists :okay:
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/3381/dsc0560w.jpg
by nath (http://picasaweb.google.com/nath.volcan)

;51153201']Foreign firms bullish on Albay’s energy development (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=256116)

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 1 (PNA) - Some P15 billion in foreign investment has been set aside to pump prime the energy development prospects to make Albay among the national renewable energy capital of the country, a ranking official of an local electric cooperative said on Monday. Lawyer Rodolfo Bonafe, board chairman of the Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO), said the investment fund would finance renewable energy projects within the next three to four years boosting the province energy development.

Bonafe said once implemented, the project would make the province the “national renewable energy capital” of the country. This is in line with Albay Gov. Joey S. Salceda energy development program for Albay. The province’s technical staff led by Salceda with funding institutions from the countries of Korea and South America are finalizing documents and agreements for the implementation of the multi-billion energy project in the province.

Bonafe expressed optimism that the project will be pursued after the foreign investors in a recent investment meeting signified their commitment to venture in this energy project. Salceda has continuously gave priority to potential energy resources such as geothermal, hydro and wind which are all abundant in the province, Bonafe said.

Salceda’s energy development is in line with the sustainable development efforts of the province with focus on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures. Among the renewable energy projects given emphasis include: the development of geothermal, hydro, wind, solar and ocean thermal energy in the towns of Tiwi, Manito and Cagraray island in Bacacay.The province has been considered as one of the areas who has a huge green energy reserve in the entire Luzon region.

Salceda in an interview said he is giving priority to renewable energy development since this is an environment-friendly project and it will also address the looming energy crisis brought about by El Nino or dry spell and lower the cost of electricity in Albay, including the whole Bicol peninsula.(PNA)
LDV/LQ/MSA/cbd

^^ :applause:


With all these bright prospects for energy development in the province of Albay, I'm hoping against hope that the dream of all Albayanos to be given some concessions in the pricing of electricity will finally come into fruition. With all those calamaties besetting the province, I hope our national leaders through our esteemed congressmen and Governor, will finally give in to this long time dream of our people. The two geothermal plants in Albay and the forthcomming windmill generated power in Cagraray are two major source of power where Albayanos never get priority. The geothermal plants are not even paying their taxes to our LGUs properly. Manito and Tiwi should be enjoying by now the benefits derived from these renewable energy sources.

Maray na Albay tabi saindo gabos!

Legazpi’s embarcadero
Written by:Judge E.K. Maristela (Ret.)
Bicol Mail

SOMETIME ago I featured in this column Ligñon Hill in Daraga, Albay where tourists can have a good view of Mayon Volcano and Legazpi City and its environs and children play and run around its sprawling promenade. Another place of interest for tourist in Albay is however, located at the very heart of Legazspi City just alongside the Legazpi Port, and I refer to the Embarcadero just by Legazpi bay.

The Embarcadero is actually a promenade where visitors can stroll leisurely at the same time feel the caress of the cool breeze from the bay or perhaps just watch in awe the golden rays of the sun as it slowly rises from the eastern horizon. Shopping malls and eateries are also available at the Embarcadero.

The place reminds me of Catalina Island, an island resort in Southern California frequented by foreign tourist because of its idyllic location. From Los Angeles one has to go to Long Beach to take a boat for Catalina Island where tourists stroll along, while away their time by the bay and shop for souvenir items and partake of international cuisine.

Thursday last week I was in Legazpi City to follow-up some concern at the Professional Regulation Commission and I was impressed by the way clients are attended by the PRC personnel. It is a relatively busy office with professionals, mostly teachers under the Professional Regulation Commission with concerns about their status. My wife Minda and daughter Gigi who drove the car for me were there to verify the board examination records of my daughter Pinky.

In particular, I wish to commend Ms. Betty Lazina, the officer of the day at the time we went there whose ready smile makes one feel welcome. Incidentally, a native of Tinambac in the person of Jerome Bañez is now one of the ranking officers of the Professional Regulation Commision in Region V. Congratulations therefore, to both of you Betty and Jerome for projecting the best image of the Professional Regulation Commision because of your efficient and courteous service. We need more of your kind in the government service.

De Luxe Twin Room
Hotel St. Ellis

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/487/deluxetwinroom.jpg

Breakwater in Puro

http://images.micreations.multiply.com/image/4/photos/138/1200x1200/8/Breakwater-7.jpg?et=NmZA4bYmiD3RXRuPC7L6AQ&nmid=314359912

by Dacel Andes (http://micreations.multiply.com/)

Backhoe and Kapuntukan Hill
http://images.micreations.multiply.com/image/1/photos/137/1200x1200/2/Backhoe-2.jpg?et=982HKzUn9ClTeovDhTjLOQ&nmid=313942360

Building the breakwater
http://images.micreations.multiply.com/image/1/photos/137/1200x1200/8/Backhoe-8.jpg?et=OEkuh7YSwUNOfF55Ie9G%2Cw&nmid=313942360

by Dacel Andes (http://micreations.multiply.com/)

;51158213']Backhoe and Kapuntukan Hill
http://images.micreations.multiply.com/image/1/photos/137/1200x1200/2/Backhoe-2.jpg?et=982HKzUn9ClTeovDhTjLOQ&nmid=313942360

Building the breakwater
http://images.micreations.multiply.com/image/1/photos/137/1200x1200/8/Backhoe-8.jpg?et=OEkuh7YSwUNOfF55Ie9G%2Cw&nmid=313942360

by Dacel Andes (http://micreations.multiply.com/)


At least it has become even clearer now where the immediate expansion of Legazpi is going -> the Puro-Lamba corridor -> farther away from the dangers of the lahar coming from the Volcano. The hilly part at the back of Legazpi Blvd will be the scene of non-stop urban development in the next ten years. What is good about this area is that it is so wide because it can extend sideways going to Maslog and it can go up to Taysan where lowcost housing subdivisions are currently sprouting out.

With all these developments, the city should now be very aware of the potential effects of fast urbanization. The government should work doubly hard in protecting the city from the negative effects of urban development. Meaning, we should not only look into to good effects but we should even be more alert on the negative effects - garbage disposal, squatting, unplanned developments, sudden population increase, etc. Urbanization is a most welcome development but it should be properly done.

Bicolano pala ang "SarungBanggi". I thought Ilocano sya. Anyway, yun bang mga taga Quezon bicolano din?

;51155441']Ligñon Hill has become a favorite spot for locals and tourists :okay:
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/3381/dsc0560w.jpg
by nath (http://picasaweb.google.com/nath.volcan)

been here a couple of times when construction was still ongoing. nice place. perfect view. there is another spot that offers a commanding view of legaspi. forgot the name but it has a statue of our lady of guadalupe. i said mass in a small chapel there a year ago.

Bicolano pala ang "SarungBanggi". I thought Ilocano sya. Anyway, yun bang mga taga Quezon bicolano din?

hi dustin. yes sarungbanngi is proudly bikol. composed by, if i remember his name correctly, potenciano gregorio (someone, pls check) from sto domingo, albay.

the song was adopted as official song in one world expo in sometime in the first half of the 20th century.

Bicolano pala ang "SarungBanggi". I thought Ilocano sya. Anyway, yun bang mga taga Quezon bicolano din?


Yes, Sarung Bangui is truly Bicolano, which means in English, "one evening". I don't know if this translation is literarily correct. (paging Pading Romy :)) It was composed by a native of Sto. Domingo, Albay whose family name is Gregorio.

Quezon is part of the Southern Tagalog provinces.

Thanks for visiting the thread Dustin.

Bicolano pala ang "SarungBanggi". I thought Ilocano sya. Anyway, yun bang mga taga Quezon bicolano din?

yes! that's Bicolano...
Quezon is already Tagalog sir...

also...
I'm asking help from the legazpeeps and Albayanos in the thread...
I've been computing the distance of the municipalities of Albay using this...

http://mapsof.net/distance-calculator/Polangui

but, unfortunately, Pio Duran and Jovellar is untraceable, particularly their poblacions... I'm identifying the distances of the poblacions from each other...
Can anyone please tell me the distance of Jovellar and Pio Duran and Manito to Legazpi City... thanks much...

been here a couple of times when construction was still ongoing. nice place. perfect view. there is another spot that offers a commanding view of legaspi. forgot the name but it has a statue of our lady of guadalupe. i said mass in a small chapel there a year ago.




That place is in the Barangay of Buragwis Father. This is where you also get a nice view of the volcano as a background to the city of Legazpi and the town of Daraga.

;51153201']Foreign firms bullish on Albay’s energy development (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=256116)

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 1 (PNA) - Some P15 billion in foreign investment has been set aside to pump prime the energy development prospects to make Albay among the national renewable energy capital of the country, a ranking official of an local electric cooperative said on Monday. Lawyer Rodolfo Bonafe, board chairman of the Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO), said the investment fund would finance renewable energy projects within the next three to four years boosting the province energy development.

Bonafe said once implemented, the project would make the province the “national renewable energy capital” of the country. This is in line with Albay Gov. Joey S. Salceda energy development program for Albay. The province’s technical staff led by Salceda with funding institutions from the countries of Korea and South America are finalizing documents and agreements for the implementation of the multi-billion energy project in the province.

Bonafe expressed optimism that the project will be pursued after the foreign investors in a recent investment meeting signified their commitment to venture in this energy project. Salceda has continuously gave priority to potential energy resources such as geothermal, hydro and wind which are all abundant in the province, Bonafe said.

Salceda’s energy development is in line with the sustainable development efforts of the province with focus on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures. Among the renewable energy projects given emphasis include: the development of geothermal, hydro, wind, solar and ocean thermal energy in the towns of Tiwi, Manito and Cagraray island in Bacacay.The province has been considered as one of the areas who has a huge green energy reserve in the entire Luzon region.

Salceda in an interview said he is giving priority to renewable energy development since this is an environment-friendly project and it will also address the looming energy crisis brought about by El Nino or dry spell and lower the cost of electricity in Albay, including the whole Bicol peninsula.(PNA)
LDV/LQ/MSA/cbd

^^ :applause:

ang ganda pag magkatutuo ito...pagmangyari ito...hindi na malayo na magkaroon ng maraming electric cars at tren sa albay and bicol region....galing!!!

Nakarating na din ako sa Pio Duran. After we spent days sa Naga, we headed for Ligao then sumakay kami ng Jeepney. Sabi ng conductor "Sir baka pwede sa taas na lang kayo" I didnt exactly understand what he meant. Then my Bicolano friend came to my rescue and said "First time po kasi nila dito galing po silang Pampanga"

I wouldn't have mind but my friend told me it mght be risky for me kasi nga PioDuran is quite far from Ligao. Natulala ako sa konductor ng jeep kasi para syang si "Spiderman" habang nangongolekta ng pamasahe. As in he was hopping around the roaring ride and yet hindi sya nahuhulog. Wow, parang kang nanonood ng talentadong pinoy.

We spent 3 days sa Albay... in PioDuran nalula ako sa palengke wow nasa tabi ng dagat ang Poblacion. Para akong nastarstruck. Kasi sa Pampanga at Tarlac landlock province sila di ba wala masyado "bodies of water" or dagat for that matter. Ang ganda ganda. Nataon pa na maraming American Soldiers (for the VFA yata yun). Natuwa ako kasi may nagtitinda ng ulam yung nilupak ba yun at 5 pesos ang isa. Sabi ko "di po ba kayo malulugi nyan".

Medyo natakot lang ako kasi ang bilis magpatakbo ng mga trycicle at wave baka mahulog kami sa bangin.

We saw Naya Beach and this particular beachfront na "Little Boracay" daw. We walk towards the mountains and it was all water below us. It was amazing. Natakot lang ako nun kasi baka raw may mga taong labas. Napagalitan pa nga ang tatay ng friend ko sa asawa nya kasi wala kaming kasamang tagaroon ng pumunta kami sa dagat. Wala kaming escort kami kami lang. Ang dami daming coconut. Araw araw may buko juice kami. At ang mga tao mababait.

Siguro talagang likas na sa mga Bikolano ang pagiging masayahin.

I also saw two towns... medyo disappointed lang ako sa ligao kasi city siya and yet wala syang gaanong activities. Pero tobaco impressed me a lot. Buhat na buhay ang trade and commerce. Parang Pampanga at Tarlac sa liveable nya. And Legazpi is very clean. Embarkadero is hindi pa tapos.

Mayon is breathtaking. Ang swerte nyo mga taga Bicol you have one of the world's amazing natural phenomenon.

Babalik ako I promise that to myself. I will just settle work here and babalik ako.

I want to see Naga, and Albay and all of Bicol all over again. Hindi nakakasawa.

based from what Dustin said, Parang maganda dyan sa PioDuran... I haven't seen any pics there yet...

‘Rumbling’ at The Crucible Gallery (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=545542&publicationSubCategoryId=79)

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/1497/arts2hires.jpg

MANILA, Philippines - Gus Albor, Juan Magdasoc, Roger Monasterial and Archie Perez hold “Rumbling,” which opens tomorrow at The Crucible Gallery, fourth floor, SM Megamall A, Mandaluyong City. The show runs until Feb. 14.

The artists are active members of Cebika (Center for Bicol Arts, Inc) whose provincial headquarters are in Cagsawa, Daraga Albay and Rawis, Legaspi City. They managed to put up their own art venue out of the ruins; a barangay that was devastated by the Mayon Volcano eruption in 1841. Named Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) Art Project, the structure was utilized as a gallery since 2002, until it was ruined again by typhoon Reming three years ago.

For inquiries, call 635-6061.

More Misibis Bay Raintree -- http://misibisbay.com

http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/4776/img0042u.jpg

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/4336/img0041.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5378/img0040uk.jpg

http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/931/img0039gz.jpg

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7156/img0038s.jpg

by ninyabonita (http://ninyabonita.multiply.com)

Nakarating na din ako sa Pio Duran. After we spent days sa Naga, we headed for Ligao then sumakay kami ng Jeepney. Sabi ng conductor "Sir baka pwede sa taas na lang kayo" I didnt exactly understand what he meant. Then my Bicolano friend came to my rescue and said "First time po kasi nila dito galing po silang Pampanga"

I wouldn't have mind but my friend told me it mght be risky for me kasi nga PioDuran is quite far from Ligao. Natulala ako sa konductor ng jeep kasi para syang si "Spiderman" habang nangongolekta ng pamasahe. As in he was hopping around the roaring ride and yet hindi sya nahuhulog. Wow, parang kang nanonood ng talentadong pinoy.

We spent 3 days sa Albay... in PioDuran nalula ako sa palengke wow nasa tabi ng dagat ang Poblacion. Para akong nastarstruck. Kasi sa Pampanga at Tarlac landlock province sila di ba wala masyado "bodies of water" or dagat for that matter. Ang ganda ganda. Nataon pa na maraming American Soldiers (for the VFA yata yun). Natuwa ako kasi may nagtitinda ng ulam yung nilupak ba yun at 5 pesos ang isa. Sabi ko "di po ba kayo malulugi nyan".

Medyo natakot lang ako kasi ang bilis magpatakbo ng mga trycicle at wave baka mahulog kami sa bangin.

We saw Naya Beach and this particular beachfront na "Little Boracay" daw. We walk towards the mountains and it was all water below us. It was amazing. Natakot lang ako nun kasi baka raw may mga taong labas. Napagalitan pa nga ang tatay ng friend ko sa asawa nya kasi wala kaming kasamang tagaroon ng pumunta kami sa dagat. Wala kaming escort kami kami lang. Ang dami daming coconut. Araw araw may buko juice kami. At ang mga tao mababait.

Siguro talagang likas na sa mga Bikolano ang pagiging masayahin.

I also saw two towns... medyo disappointed lang ako sa ligao kasi city siya and yet wala syang gaanong activities. Pero tobaco impressed me a lot. Buhat na buhay ang trade and commerce. Parang Pampanga at Tarlac sa liveable nya. And Legazpi is very clean. Embarkadero is hindi pa tapos.

Mayon is breathtaking. Ang swerte nyo mga taga Bicol you have one of the world's amazing natural phenomenon.

Babalik ako I promise that to myself. I will just settle work here and babalik ako.

I want to see Naga, and Albay and all of Bicol all over again. Hindi nakakasawa.



Thanks Dustin for this short account of your visit. Pio Duran is I think the biggest of the fishing towns of Albay. Actually it is a relatively new town. The place used to be a barrio of Ligao City but because of its fishing business, the barrio was experiencing fast development, so it was converted into a town sometime in the late sixties. It was named after one of the well known politicos of Ligao City.

Actually hindi naman nag-aano ang mga taong labas sa mga ordinaryong tulad ninyo. Alam naman nila kung sino kalaban nila. :)

At least it has become even clearer now where the immediate expansion of Legazpi is going -> the Puro-Lamba corridor -> farther away from the dangers of the lahar coming from the Volcano. The hilly part at the back of Legazpi Blvd will be the scene of non-stop urban development in the next ten years. What is good about this area is that it is so wide because it can extend sideways going to Maslog and it can go up to Taysan where lowcost housing subdivisions are currently sprouting out.

With all these developments, the city should now be very aware of the potential effects of fast urbanization. The government should work doubly hard in protecting the city from the negative effects of urban development. Meaning, we should not only look into to good effects but we should even be more alert on the negative effects - garbage disposal, squatting, unplanned developments, sudden population increase, etc. Urbanization is a most welcome development but it should be properly done.


^ yup dapat proper and sustainable development talaga...

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad315/albay2030/albayaerial5.jpg

;51158139']Breakwater in Puro

http://images.micreations.multiply.com/image/4/photos/138/1200x1200/8/Breakwater-7.jpg?et=NmZA4bYmiD3RXRuPC7L6AQ&nmid=314359912

by Dacel Andes (http://micreations.multiply.com/)

Galing ang pagka picture nito

DENR-Bicol collects over P12M in revenues (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=256358)

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 2 (PNA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol generated some P12.09 million last year from various permits, rentals and administrative fees. Of the amount generated, P8.86 million were collected by the Land Management Service (LMS) while P3.23 million were collected by the Forest Management Service (FMS), according to the DENR 2009 annual report.

The amount generated and collected were in the form of rentals for the use of foreshore areas, public lands, forest lands and administrative fees such as application, registration, oath, permit, certification, authentication, field verification, inventory and inspection. The revenue generated in last year was P5.04 million more than the collection made in 2008.

In 2008, the LMS generated P4.7 million and the FMS collected P2.3 million or a total of P7.05 million. Meanwhile, some P2 million worth of illegal forest products were confiscated in Bicol last year, the DENR year-end report said. DENR authorities here said this was due to the strict campaign against illegal logging which resulted in the apprehension and confiscation of 200.109 cubic meters of forest products consisting of round logs, flitches and lumber worth about P2.23 million and 42 conveyances and 11 chainsaws used in the illegal trade.

At least 15 cases were files in various courts for violation of Section 68 and 77 of Presidential Decree No. 705 known as the Forestry Code of the Philippines, during the same period. Forest protection and anti-illegal logging campaign has been continuously pursued in order to preserve and protect the region’s remaining forestlands, according to DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada.

“This function has been institutionalized as a shared responsibility among the local government units, law enforcement agencies, peoples organizations, Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committees (MFPCs), civic groups and concerned individuals making the strategy more effective than ever,” Fragada said. He said the strict implementation of forest laws and regulations is based on the assumption that anyone who destroys the environment violates the law and the rights of people to a healthy environment and therefore should be meted with appropriate punishment.(PNA)
LDV/LA/MSA/cbd

Junior Suite
Hotel St. Ellis

http://wowlegazpi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/junior-suite.jpg


More photos here (http://wowlegazpi.com/2010/02/02/hotel-st-ellis/)

^ nice...atleast ngayon hindi na lang puro hotel venezia...may hotel st ellis na...hehe...aabangan naman natin yung Embarcadero Waterfront hotel and spa...

;51154413']Nice captures! Great timing hehe. This scene will be part of history once the int'l airport in Daraga is operational

talagang international airport sya noh?! akala ko kasi dati international standard lang yung facilities pero ang operation ay pang domestic lang...pero talagang international airport pala....galing!!! :banana::banana:

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv225/leo98/SAA.jpg


The first "daughter house" is founded in Legazpi, Albay. The school is named St. Agnes Academy after its principal benefactor, Agnes McGinley, sister of the bishop of Legazpi


SOURCE (http://www.ssc.edu.ph/centennial%20website/SSC%201910-1919.htm)

^^Nice find, leo!

^ nice...atleast ngayon hindi na lang puro hotel venezia...may hotel st ellis na...hehe...aabangan naman natin yung Embarcadero Waterfront hotel and spa...

Yup, I hope we'll see a rendering soon :okay:

Bac-Man geothermal field developed as prime ecotourism spot
(http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=256477)
LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 2 (PNA) — The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is currently developing the Bacon–Manito Geothermal Production Field (BGPF) as Sorsogon’s prime ecotourism destination in Bicol region. The ecotourism project is a unique forest-based geothermal ecotourism destination advocating balance of nature and technology, preserving bio-diversity, generating livelihood opportunities and empowering local communities committed to imprint a greening legacy to all Filipinos.

Four components made up the project such as “Tree for the Future” highlighting the preservation of indigenous premium forest species by establishing tree parks, “Tree for Life” that bridges the forest gaps for biodiversity conservation, “Tree for Food” which establishes forest plantations to provide livelihood to upland communities, and the “Tree for Leisure” which develops reservation as ecotourism sites.

It can be recalled that a year ago, the power firm launched its intensified re-greening program dubbed as “Binhi: A Greening Legacy”. Engineer Liberato S. Virata, EDC-BGPF resident manager, said the corporation has organized BGPF ecotourism planning team, composed of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), local government units of Sorsogon City, Castilla town, this province and Manito, Albay, and EDC-BacMan host communities.

Virata said the “Tree for Leisure” will develop the geothermal reservations into an ecotourism destination putting emphasis on biodiversity conservation nature-appreciation particularly on the natural features and the forest beauty of the EDC-BGPF project sites. “Likewise, it will provide recreation, enjoyment and study sites for students, visitors and local communities, and consequently provide livelihood opportunities for the communities,” he explained.

Recognizing the vast potential of this geothermal reservation, EDC-BGPF has already been chosen as one of the Ms. Earth’s official destination for two consecutive years now. Meanwhile, ecotourism sites in the geothermal area like Botong Twin Falls, Mud Pool, Nag-aso Cave, Danao Lake and Butterfly Garden were also assessed based from the criteria set by the Department of Tourism and the University of the Philippines College of Forestry and Natural Resources.

The EDC Bac-Man geothermal site is a biologically important ecotourism site, second to Mt. Apo in Mindanao, is considered one of the country’s prides. Virate said that local residents must be aware and appreciate its tourism value particularly that most of our reservation areas and natural parks now belong to the 50 percent declared “biologically not important” because it has already been destroyed and are denuded citing as example the Bicol National Park. (PNA)
LDV/LQ/MDR/cbd

^ galing...this will really open for more albay-sorsogon development and economic cooperation...sana ganito rin gawin sa tiwi geothermal field...

HAPPY 5th ANNIVERSARY TO THE LEGAZPI THREAD!!!

Thanks Olineil!!!
^...heheh...late me...:cheers:
Maray na Albay sa gabos na Legazpeeps!

28 January...
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/18/1200x1200/17/DSC02494a.JPG?et=WKlzm5VCGikd9FyUASZQPg&nmid=288011323

28 January...
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/1200x1200/78/DSC02480a.JPG?et=BsaDHi92EkNCQRsYM1YHpA&nmid=279080575
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/4/1200x1200/79/DSC02483a.JPG?et=xdRmotIVtoHVV%2B8grP3KbQ&nmid=279080575

28 January...
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/16/1200x1200/18/DSC02487a.JPG?et=OnKzya2aBf63fkiQH1D2tA&nmid=287345149
Count how many Egypts...:)

Maray na Albay, Sir Monsi! Thanks for the updates! Are the e-jeepney rides still free?

28 January...
http://images.legazpeep.multiply.com/image/1/photos/18/1200x1200/17/DSC02494a.JPG?et=WKlzm5VCGikd9FyUASZQPg&nmid=288011323

Good to know that the renovation of the Ibalong Centrum is under way even though it's not a major redesign. :okay:

;51185713']Maray na Albay, Sir Monsi! Thanks for the updates! Are the e-jeepney rides still free?
^...Let's ask Cloudy (ei, Panganuron!)... dai pa ako nakalunad. Mga nusaro, aputon ko kun igwa nang pliti.

Thanks Dustin for this short account of your visit. Pio Duran is I think the biggest of the fishing towns of Albay. Actually it is a relatively new town. The place used to be a barrio of Ligao City but because of its fishing business, the barrio was experiencing fast development, so it was converted into a town sometime in the late sixties. It was named after one of the well known politicos of Ligao City.

Actually hindi naman nag-aano ang mga taong labas sa mga ordinaryong tulad ninyo. Alam naman nila kung sino kalaban nila. :)

been to pio duran only once, when i was in 1st yr HS at ateneo. there was this big fire that razed the town market to the ground and destroyed other properties. that very day the ateneo de naga high school organized relief. a car was sent with boxes of goods and i was one of the small grp of high school students who joined the mission (and enjoyed a 1-day free cut :-)

i remember its proximity to the sea. and i still remember the many softdrink bottles deformed by the fire.

the mayor then was an ateneo de naga high school alumnus who warmly welcomed us and took good care of our group, even insisting that we took lunch with them. our bunch of hungry boys quickly devoured what he served.

but what really filled us that day was the generosity and warmth (still) of the mayor and his people even when they practically had nothing in their hands. giving even when they had lost everything. something no fire, big or small, could bring down and reduce to ashes.

Pio Duran.:)

yes! that's Bicolano...
Quezon is already Tagalog sir...

also...
I'm asking help from the legazpeeps and Albayanos in the thread...
I've been computing the distance of the municipalities of Albay using this...

http://mapsof.net/distance-calculator/Polangui

but, unfortunately, Pio Duran and Jovellar is untraceable, particularly their poblacions... I'm identifying the distances of the poblacions from each other...
Can anyone please tell me the distance of Jovellar and Pio Duran and Manito to Legazpi City... thanks much...

Maray na aga!
Hola! Legazpi to Manito is 40 kms po PD-Legazpi is approx 64 kms Jovellar-Legazpi is approx 26 kms .

NLE Results

Nursing Licensure Examination Top Schools in Bicol
November 2009

with 30-99 examinees
1. Catanduanes State College (Virac) - 52.17%
2. Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (Nabua) - 51.76%
3. Bicol University (Tabaco) - 51.28%
4. Bicol University (Legazpi) - 46.34%
5. Tanchuling College - 38.30%
6. Southern Bicol Colleges (Masbate) - 32.84%
7. Tabaco College - 32.26%
8. Bicol College (Daraga) - 32.14%
9. Our Lady of Lourdes Colleges Foundation (Daet) - 27.78%
10. University of Northeastern Philippines (Iriga) - 22.34%
11. Divine Word College of Legazpi - 22.22%
12. Amando Cope College (Tabaco) - 12.90%
13. Masbate College - 11.76%

With 100 and more examinees
1. Universidad de Sta. Isabel (Naga) - 69.50%
2. Ateneo de Naga University - 53.24%
3. University of Nueva Caceres (Naga) - 46.10%
4. Aquinas University - 30.63%
5. Naga College Foundation - 25.81%
6. University of Saint Anthony (Iriga) - 22.46%
7. Immaculate Conception College-Albay - 21.45%
8. Ago Medical and Educational Center BCCM (Legazpi) - 20.60%
9. Ago Foundation College - 16%

NLE Results


What's happening to our nursing schools? I am disturbed about the deteriorating performance of the Albay schools. Bicol U should be doing fine but I am worried about Aquinas U. They used to have a high percentage mark in the nursing board especially during their early years in the early seventies. Immaculate Conception in Daraga is one of the oldest in Bicol, but it seems they have never improved their standing in the board ratings. I will give DWC the benefit of the doubt being a newcomer, but their passing average is quite dismal if you ask me. They can do better than 22.22%

Colegio de Sta. Rosa (Intramuros)
Journey and Learning Experience

Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave
Camalig, Albay
January 30, 2010 (1:38 PM)
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7626/picture103vy.jpg

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/1415/picture105s.jpg

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http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/5646/picture107yy.jpg

IMHO the schools are trying their best to improve the quality of learning but I think maraming students ang hilaw para mag-enroll sa collge :(.
Students then were better off compared to students now, kumbaga hugakon na mag-adal.. pano instant ang dakul na bagay. Thats one big factor.

More Hoyop-Hoyopan pics
January 30, 2010

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/9649/picture120i.jpg

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http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/8287/picture116a.jpg

^^Dai pa lamang ako naka tungtong dyan.