Batanes, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino Provinces [Archive] - Page 3

TheAvenger

July 3rd, 2010, 12:25 AM

I have just seen this topic in the Philippine Defense Forum about a Taiwanese University professor
floating an idea in their Newspaper that the Philippine's northermost islands of Batanes belongs to Taiwan.

It's one step for China and Chinese Taiwan in their centuries-old wish to control and annex most of their neighboring island like the Paracels which they forcibly taken from Vietnam, other islands in Spratly Group. the Senkaku island of Okinawa Japan, and now the latest the Peoples Republic of China through Taiwan is starting to eye Batanes islands as their next target for their neo-imperialist
policy of annexing their neighbor's territory.

.....................................................................................................

By Chen Hurng-yu 陳鴻瑜
Sunday, Dec 23, 2007, Page 8

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2007/12/23/2003393815

The Batanes Islands, controlled by the Philippines, are a territorial problem left over from the colonial period. When Spain and the US signed the Treaty of Paris in 1898, the islands were not adequately addressed and this led to irresolution.
Taiwan challenges the Philippines' possession of the Batanes Islands for the same reasons that it challenges Manila's claim to the Spratly Islands.

Territorial issues should be discussed on a case-by-case basis. It is necessary to look at the issue of the Batanes Islands based upon international conventions rather than conjecture.

Philippine commentators say that Taiwan is not a sovereign state and therefore cannot claim territory controlled by Manila.

This point of view is hardly worth discussing. Diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the Philippines lasted until 1975. Although the two states have not maintained official diplomatic relations, this is not evidence of whether Taiwan is a nation or not. Anyone even vaguely familiar with international law should understand this. Non-recognition of another state does not affect its status; the Philippines has no authority to decide whether Taiwan is a country.

Philippine citizens require visas issued by the Taiwanese government to work or travel in Taiwan, which is in itself proof of Taiwan's sovereignty.

Philippine academic Carlos Agustin believes that a seaway treaty signed by Taiwan and the Philippines constitutes recognition of the Philippine territory.

This argument has many flaws: The treaty, signed in July 1991 -- not 1993, as Agustin believes -- concerns Taiwanese fishing boats traveling through two Philippine seaways, not border issues between the two states. Furthermore, the Philippine government does not consider the treaty to be an agreement between states, but defines it as a conference record and abolished part of it in 1998.

Another Philippine academic, Pervagus, suggests that Section 4 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) justifies the Philippines' possession of the Batanes Islands. But section 4 of UNCLOS concerns archipelagic states only and the Philippines does not qualify.

He also says Japan and Taiwan never occupied or controlled the Batanes Islands, whereas the US did. This argument is based on military occupation and not on international treaties. If we must choose between occupation and treaties to base our borders on, treaties should win.

International law and its implementation supports the regulations of international treaties and opposes military occupation.

Apolonio Anota presents a similar argument. Because the Philippine government holds congressional elections on the Batanes Islands, Manila clearly controls the territory, he says. The people on the islands choose to be citizens of the Republic of the Philippines by complying with its laws, participating in its national elections and identifying themselves as Philippine, he says.

Anota is completely ignoring the fact that the US violated the 1898 treaty.

Another Philippine commentator has argued that the Ivatans of the islands were claimed by Spain in 1782, which is dubious. Although Spain claimed the main island of the Batanes, Basco, in 1782, it did not set up administrative centers on the islands because of their remoteness and the strong northerly winter winds that made life on the islands difficult.

Only a few missionaries lived on the Batanes and Babuyan islands, while the Spanish colonial administration was located at the northern harbor of Aparri on Luzon. In other words, Spain never exercised administrative control over the Batanes Islands before the US took over the Philippines.

Jay Batongbacal, a lawyer, argues that Spain ruled the Batanes Islands starting in 1783 and that the islands have belonged to the Philippines since 1895. In 1898, Katipunan, a Philippine revolutionary organization, even sent troops to the islands to resist Spanish rule, he says.

Batongbacal argues that, under the Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines signed in 1900, Cagayan, Sulu, Sibutu and their subordinate islands were ceded to the US. Again, the facts are being manipulated.

In 1990, the US and Spain renegotiated ownership of islands that were beyond the boundaries set by the third article of the 1898 treaty and therefore had not been ceded to the US. When the two countries signed the Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines, the only article established in the treaty stipulated that the island of Cagayan Sulu, now called Taganak Island; Sibutu, now called Turtle Island; and smaller islands around them had not been ceded to the US.

Batongbacal confused Cagayan Sulu, which is near the coast of Borneo, and the northern province of Cagayan in Luzon. Islands north of 20o latitude were not ceded to the US.

Batongbacal then cites the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and insists that ambiguities in the 1989 treaty should be interpreted "in good faith in accordance with the ordinary meaning." But that violates the idea that treaties must be easily understood.

The terms in a treaty cannot be interpreted in such a way that they violate the meaning of the treaty as a whole. There is a difference between 20o latitude and 21.3o latitude.

With the technology available at the time, it was possible to record latitude and longitude accurately. In other words, the demarcation of the territory that Spain ceded is very reliable.

Spain never discussed the issue of islands north of the 20th meridian with the US.

Batongbacal is also of the opinion that the Philippines' 1935 Constitution and John's Law define the country's territory.

These documents only determine the territory of the Philippines according to the 1898 and 1900 treaties.

The Philippines has yet to come up with a legitimate argument for its claim to the Batanes Islands.

Chen Hurng-yu is a professor at the Graduate Institute of Southeast Asian Studies at Tamkang University.

Translated by Angela Hong, Ted Yang and Anna Stiggelbout

http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=23396.msg228742#msg228742

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The claim of Taiwan to our Batanes Islands was due to Taiwan wrong interpretation
of the confusing wordings in the territorial boundary in the Treaty of Paris between
Spain and the U.S.A.

However there were many written records about the Spaniards settling and controlling the islands of Batanes since the year 1600s.

Paris, December 10, 1898
Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Spanish Empire.
(Signed August 12, 1898.)

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/sp1898.asp

http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz203/crisostomosantos33/bashichannel.jpg

http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz203/crisostomosantos33/taiwantobatanes.jpg

Related Web links :

After the Spanish were defeated by the US in 1898, one of the conditions of the peace treaty was that Spain cede the Philippines to the US. But a close reading of the US-Spanish Treaty of Paris is surprising: the northernmost part of the Philippine territory ceded by Spain to the US ends at the 20th parallel, or south of the Balintang Channel. This means that the Batan Islands fall outside the scope of the peace treaty.

What does this mean? Was it a measurement mistake? Or was it due to other
reasons?

To deal with these questions, we have to go back to 1895 and the maritime border agreement signed by Spain and Japan.

On Aug. 7, 1895, during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, Japan and Spain signed an agreement delineating the borders of Taiwan and the Philippines. The agreement defined “the middle of the navigable channel of Bashi parallel to the latitude as the Western Pacific border between Japan and Spain.”

Because the agreement did not define borders in terms of latitude and longitude, and because there was no definition of what was meant by the Bashi Strait, the unclear geographical scope created problems in later talks between the US and Spain.

In June 1896, war broke out between the US and Spain. The US defeated the Spanish fleet in the Bay of Manila, thereby winning the war. Representatives of the US and Spain reached an agreement on Nov. 28, but did not reveal the contents. A newspaper therefore guessed at the scope of Philippine territory demanded by the US, writing: “It is believed that the definition of the limits of the Philippine group in the American demands will be as follows: From 5â€™ 32′ north latitude to 19â€™ 38′ north latitude, and from 117â€™ east
longitude to 126â€™ east longitude, thus covering about 1,000 miles north and south and 600 miles east and west.”

This report shows that the most northerly point of the Philippine group of islands as agreed to by Spain and accepted by the US was south of the 20th parallel. This rumor was later verified by the official agreement.

The US and Spain then signed a peace treaty in Paris on Dec.10, 1898. Article 3 of the treaty specifies that Spain should cede the Philippine islands it occupied to the US, as defined in terms of longitude and latitude. The text of Article 3 reads: “Spain hereby cedes to the United States the archipelago known as the Philippines Islands, and comprehending the islands lying within the following line: A line running from West to East along or near the Twentieth (20th) parallel of North latitude, and through the middle of the navigable channel of Bashi, from the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) to the one hundred and twenty-seventh (127th) degree meridian of longitude East of Greenwich, thence along the one hundred and twenty-seventh (127th) degree meridian of longitude East of Greenwich to the…”

http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/blog/2007/06/13/batanes-is-taiwanese/

A Primer on Philippine Territorial Claims
Manuel L. Quezon III, mlquezon3@gmail.com

http://archive.arabnews.com/?page=7&section=0&article=107756&d=12&m=3&y=2008

freightrunner

July 11th, 2010, 12:46 AM

edit time off

william :D

July 11th, 2010, 01:20 PM

have these been posted?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3386150062_29c5a63a45_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidream/
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2208/2474337669_4f79b07ddf.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gep/
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1215/1389544383_3ec55479e8.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ding-inkblots/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/3031613898_6351d14901_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeromebonto/
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2740/4292760402_6c7a042c21_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmfajardo/
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4485475672_e0a0487f9e_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33460873@N05/
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4567100712_36dc71971f_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/_buboy/

wa...wa.waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.ang gaaannnnnnddddaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:D:D:D

296619

July 23rd, 2010, 08:41 PM

http://www.mb.com.ph/sites/default/files/images/Untitled-5_148.jpg
AMAZING IVATAN

At 103 years old, Marcelo Hostallero still looks healthy as he sits inside his home in Chavayan, Sabtang Island, in Batanes. Lolo Marcelo has never been hospitalized and continues to work as a fisherman and cattleman, according to his granddaughter. (Photo by BRIAN YU) See article: Seniors: Only 5% off on basic goods (http://mb.com.ph/articles/268493/seniors-only-5-basic-goods)
Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 04:37 AM

drfeelgood17

July 30th, 2010, 02:53 PM

;11657937']http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/batanes-mediamomma.jpg
Above photo by mediamomma

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/batanes3-estan.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/batanes-estan.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/batanes2-estan.jpg
Above photos by estan

from flickr

Yes, you're right - it's strangely reminiscent of Ireland, Wales or the Shetland Islands in Scotland.

Ephesus29

August 4th, 2010, 07:32 AM

I couldn't agree more....Batanes and the rest of the islands arround it, rightfully and legally belongs to the Philippines.

Now then....Government should start to monitor activities in the islands...there could be some illicit pupose of some foreigners going in and out of the islands without proper documentations. I still remember when rumour had it that "Fuga" island use to be the unlocked back door of the country accessible by illegal entrants....Watch out guys.....:ohno:

[dx]

August 10th, 2010, 05:10 AM

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4875148253_e6a7a37463_b.jpg
by Teammanila Graphic Design Studio (http://www.flickr.com/photos/teammanila/)

up_mc

August 11th, 2010, 11:42 AM

^^ makakapunta din ako dito, konting tiis pa... hehe

808 state

August 11th, 2010, 11:31 PM

SOLANO, NUEVA VIZCAYA
http://i33.tinypic.com/33etngx.jpg
Photo credit: supermanzano (http://www.flickr.com/photos/supermanzano/)

freightrunner

August 12th, 2010, 05:01 AM

Congress Watch

Member Information - 15th Congress
Abad, Henedina R.
Representative
Batanes, Lone District
Term: 1

Other Profession: Development Worker

Rm. N - 307, House of Representatives, Quezon City
Phone: 931-5001 local 7346, 9315320

Send Email »

House Bills Co-Authored
HR00055 [History]
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO 96TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY ON JULY 27, 2010
Status: Consolidated into HR00005

HR00062 [History]
A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO ON THE OCCCASION OF ITS NINETY-SIXTH (96TH) ANNIVERSARY ON JULY 27,2010
Status: Consolidated into HR00005

HR00100 [History]
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND CONDOLENCE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEMISE OF FORMER REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR, MAGNOLIA WELBORN-ANTONINO, LAST JULY 23, 201O
Status: Adopted as Resolution No. HR00004 on 2010-07-27

HR00101 [History]
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND CONDOLENCE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEMISE OF THE HONORABLE FLORENCIO L. VARGAS, MEMBER OF THE THIRTEENTH, FOURTEENTH AND FIFTEENTH CONGRESSES, REPRESENTING THE SECOND DISTRICT OF THE PROVINCE OF CAGAYAN
Status: Adopted as Resolution No. HR00005 on 2010-07-27

HR00138 [History]
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND CONDOLENCE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEMISE OF MS. RAQUEL CHRISTINE GUMABAO, DAUGHTER OF HONORABLE ANA CRISTINA S. GO, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECOND DISTRICT OF ISABELA
Status: Adopted as Resolution No. HR00006 on 2010-08-04

Member Information - 15th Congress
Padilla, Carlos M.
Representative
Nueva Vizcaya, Lone District
Term: 2
Age: 65
Date of Birth: 19 September 1944
Civil Status: M
Spouse: Ruth Ra?a Padilla

Rm. SWA - 308, House of Representatives, Quezon City
Phone: 931-5001

Send Email »

House Bills Sponsored/Authored
HB01208 [History]
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY DIDIPIO, MUNICIPALITY OF KASIBU, PROVINCE OF NUEVA VIZCAYA, TO BE KNOWN AS THE EASTERN NUEVA VIZCAYA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Status: Pending with the Committee on BASIC EDUCATION AND CULTURE since 2010-08-02

HB01209 [History]
AN ACT SEPARATING THE SANTA FE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL-CANABUAN ANNEX IN BARANGAY CANABUAN, MUNICIPALITY OF SANTA FE, PROVINCE OF NUEVA VIZCAYA FROM THE SANTA FE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS CANABUAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Status: Pending with the Committee on BASIC EDUCATION AND CULTURE since 2010-08-02

HB01210 [History]
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY DAGUPAN, MUNICIPALITY OF QUEZON, PROVINCE OF NUEVA VIZCAYA, TO BE KNOWN AS THE DAGUPAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Status: Pending with the Committee on BASIC EDUCATION AND CULTURE since 2010-08-02

HB01858 [History]
AN ACT GRANTING THE NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING STATIONS IN THE PILIPPINES
Status: Pending with the Committee on LEGISLATIVE FRANCHISES since 2010-08-04

HB02134 [History]
AN ACT TO REGULATE AND MODERNIZE THE PRACTICE OF INTERIOR DESIGN IN THE PHILIPPINES, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER 8534 (RA NO. 8534) KNOWN AS "THE PHILIPPINE INTERIOR DESIGN ACT OF 1998", APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Status: Pending with the Committee on CIVIL SERVICE AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION since 2010-08-10

HR00154 [History]
RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING SYSTEM IN THE SESSION HALL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Status: Pending First Reading (Filed last 2010-08-04)

House Bills Co-Authored
HB00206 [History]
AN ACT TO REGULATE THE RATIONAL EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND UTILIZATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES, AND TO ENSURE THE EQUITABLE SHARING OF BENEFITS FOR THE STATE, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Status: Pending with the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES since 2010-07-27

HB00848 [History]
AN ACT TO INSTITUTIONALIZE THE CONDITIONAL CASH SUBSIDY PROGRAM OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
Status: Pending with the Committee on APPROPRIATIONS since 2010-07-28

HB01039 [History]
AN ACT CONVERTING THE SAN JOSE CITY - CARRANGLAN PROVINCIAL ROAD GOING TO CASECNAN, NUEVA VIZCAYA, WHICH TRAVERSES BARANGAYS DIGDIG AND GENERAL LUNA IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CARRANGLAN, NUEVA ECIJA, AND DUPAX SUR, NUEVA VIZCAYA, INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Status: Pending with the Committee on PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS since 2010-08-02

HR00055 [History]
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO 96TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY ON JULY 27, 2010
Status: Consolidated into HR00005

HR00062 [History]
A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO ON THE OCCCASION OF ITS NINETY-SIXTH (96TH) ANNIVERSARY ON JULY 27,2010
Status: Consolidated into HR00005

HR00100 [History]
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND CONDOLENCE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEMISE OF FORMER REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR, MAGNOLIA WELBORN-ANTONINO, LAST JULY 23, 201O
Status: Adopted as Resolution No. HR00004 on 2010-07-27

HR00101 [History]
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND CONDOLENCE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEMISE OF THE HONORABLE FLORENCIO L. VARGAS, MEMBER OF THE THIRTEENTH, FOURTEENTH AND FIFTEENTH CONGRESSES, REPRESENTING THE SECOND DISTRICT OF THE PROVINCE OF CAGAYAN
Status: Adopted as Resolution No. HR00005 on 2010-07-27

HR00121 [History]
RESOLUTION APPEALING TO HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO III, TO DIRECT THE RETURN OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (NCIP) AS AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY UNDER THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, REVOKING HEREWITH EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 726, SERIES OF 2008
Status: Pending with the Committee on NATIONAL CULTURAL COMMUNITIES since 2010-08-04

HR00138 [History]
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND CONDOLENCE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEMISE OF MS. RAQUEL CHRISTINE GUMABAO, DAUGHTER OF HONORABLE ANA CRISTINA S. GO, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECOND DISTRICT OF ISABELA
Status: Adopted as Resolution No. HR00006 on 2010-08-04

Cua, Dakila Carlo E.
Representative
Quirino, Lone District
Term: 1

Rm. N - 612, House of Representatives, Quezon City
Phone: 931-5001 local 7431, 9315102

Send Email »

House Bills Sponsored/Authored
HB01528 [History]
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Status: Pending with the Committee on GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES AND PRIVATIZATION since 2010-08-02

HB02113 [History]
AN ACT CONVERTING THE QUIRINO STATE COLLEGES (QSC) IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF DIFFUN, PROVINCE OF QUIRINO INTO A STATE UNIVERSITY TO BE KNOWN AS TEH QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY (QSU), INTEGRATING THEREWITH THE QUIRINO POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE (QPC) IN THE MUNICIPALITY IF CABARROQUIS AND MADDELA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT) IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MADDELA, BOTH MUNICIPALITIES LOCATED IN THE PROVINCE OF QUIRINO AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Status: Pending with the Committee on HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION since 2010-08-10

House Bills Co-Authored
HB01098 [History]
AN ACT AMENDING THE RESETTING OF THE OCTOBER 2010 BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS TO OCTOBER 2011 AND AMENDING SECTIONS 1,2 AND 5 OF RA 9340 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9164, RESETTING THE BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Status: Pending with the Committee on SUFFRAGE AND ELECTORAL REFORMS since 2010-08-02

HR00055 [History]
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO 96TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY ON JULY 27, 2010
Status: Consolidated into HR00005

HR00062 [History]
A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO ON THE OCCCASION OF ITS NINETY-SIXTH (96TH) ANNIVERSARY ON JULY 27,2010
Status: Consolidated into HR00005

HR00100 [History]
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND CONDOLENCE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEMISE OF FORMER REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR, MAGNOLIA WELBORN-ANTONINO, LAST JULY 23, 201O
Status: Adopted as Resolution No. HR00004 on 2010-07-27

HR00101 [History]
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND CONDOLENCE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEMISE OF THE HONORABLE FLORENCIO L. VARGAS, MEMBER OF THE THIRTEENTH, FOURTEENTH AND FIFTEENTH CONGRESSES, REPRESENTING THE SECOND DISTRICT OF THE PROVINCE OF CAGAYAN
Status: Adopted as Resolution No. HR00005 on 2010-07-27

HR00138 [History]
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND CONDOLENCE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEMISE OF MS. RAQUEL CHRISTINE GUMABAO, DAUGHTER OF HONORABLE ANA CRISTINA S. GO, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECOND DISTRICT OF ISABELA
Status: Adopted as Resolution No. HR00006 on 2010-08-04

HR00188 [History]
A RESOLUTION URGING THE COMMITTEE ON GOOD GOVERNMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE REPORTED ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE COA CIRCULAR NO. 2009-002 ENTITLED, "REINSTITUTING SELECTIVE PRE-AUDIT ON GOVERNMENT PROJECTS AND DELIVERY OF ESSENTIA SERVICES," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Status: Pending First Reading (Filed last 2010-08-10)

source: www.congress.gov.ph

_________________________

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/7636/9c31fea74a6b44f36213a1f.gif

296619

August 30th, 2010, 11:29 AM

Andito ako ngayon sa Diffun, Qurino, karatig bayan ng Santiago City... Nice, marami ding pinapatayong building dito!...

Sumigla itong lugar na ito, nagmula ng naging city ang Santiago!...

Only 20 minutes away from Santiago city, magandang mamasyal dito via Patul road!...

Kapag nagkaroon ng Metro Santiago, sana isama itong lugar na to!

VIVA Diffun! Viva Quirino!

296619

August 30th, 2010, 06:42 PM

Chowking Diffun, Quirino.... Coming soon!?:)^^

traxex000

August 30th, 2010, 06:47 PM

296619

August 30th, 2010, 07:17 PM

^^is that for sure????
pero idf im not mistaken maddela pa rin ang pinakamaunlad na bayan sa quirino??2nd lang ang diffun...hehe

although advantageous sa diffun ang proximity nito sa santiago city :)

Yep... Chowking Diffun... under construction yung building na paglalagyan...:)...

Maddela is richer I think... pero mas buhay na ang kalakalan sa Diffun since, naiconnect ito sa Santiago via Patul Road ....at parami ng parami yung negosyo nila...:)... Maddela is the home of the richest person, however, in Quirino...

Ito pa ang nagpabuhay bigla sa Quirino..... Didipyo mining... nagulat nga ako at may minahan na pala doon... at mukhang marami silang nakukuhang ginto doon...

hay...mayaman sa ginto ang Quirino province... if I'm not mistaken, dyan nakakakuha ng maraming ginto ang mga ifugao pati yung mayayamang tao sa Quirino!...^^

freightrunner

August 30th, 2010, 08:40 PM

296619

August 30th, 2010, 10:22 PM

Sino ba pinakamayaman sa Quirino?
Mabuti naman at umuunlad na rin diyan esp. Diffun. Pakuha naman ng pictures kung may time kayo.

________________________

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/3599/bff125193a709bb8ccf9579.gif

naku, nakakahiyang idisclose.... kung sino...

sige magpapakuha ako ng pix ng Diffun, Quirino... nakalimutan ko kanina...:)

296619

August 30th, 2010, 11:25 PM

from NUEVA VISCAYA to BAGUIO!
(Kayapa Nueva, Viscaya!)
credit to the owner!:cheers:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs185.ash2/44855_154640887880694_100000043526756_474600_3350720_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=474598&id=100000043526756)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs385.snc4/44855_154640891214027_100000043526756_474601_3434483_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=474598&id=100000043526756)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs185.ash2/44855_154640894547360_100000043526756_474602_551264_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=474598&id=100000043526756)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs185.ash2/44855_154640911214025_100000043526756_474607_5215404_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=474598&id=100000043526756)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs194.ash2/45703_154644524546997_100000043526756_474621_620090_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=474598&id=100000043526756)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs398.snc4/46158_154641487880634_100000043526756_474613_1677602_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=474598&id=100000043526756)
Wow!!!:cheers:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs211.ash2/47465_154643207880462_100000043526756_474615_8066993_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=474598&id=100000043526756)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs374.snc4/45703_154644514546998_100000043526756_474618_1512221_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=474598&id=100000043526756)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs363.snc4/44591_154644881213628_100000043526756_474627_762830_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=474598&id=100000043526756)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs394.snc4/45703_154644534546996_100000043526756_474624_351262_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=474598&id=100000043526756)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs393.snc4/45638_154644887880294_100000043526756_474629_7734596_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=474598&id=100000043526756)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs194.ash2/45703_154644527880330_100000043526756_474622_6419239_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=474598&id=100000043526756)
:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

freightrunner

August 31st, 2010, 12:43 AM

freightrunner

August 31st, 2010, 12:48 AM

naku, nakakahiyang idisclose.... kung sino...

sige magpapakuha ako ng pix ng Diffun, Quirino... nakalimutan ko kanina...:)

Sabihin mo kahit initials lang. Baka kilala ko yung anak na nagpapanggap lang na hindi sila pinakamayaman. :lol:

________________________

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/3599/bff125193a709bb8ccf9579.gif

Santa Maria, Bulacan

August 31st, 2010, 01:58 AM

Nagtipunan po ang richest town sa Quirino. :D

http://www.coa.gov.ph/Reports/RFP/2007CFS-LGUs.pdf

traxex000

August 31st, 2010, 05:29 AM

^^mataas lang ang IRA ng nagtipunan kasi halos kalahati na ag sakop nya sa qbuong quirino

296619

August 31st, 2010, 05:49 AM

Sabihin mo kahit initials lang. Baka kilala ko yung anak na nagpapanggap lang na hindi sila pinakamayaman. :lol:

________________________

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/3599/bff125193a709bb8ccf9579.gif

Sabihin ko nlng yung GGF.... A"B"B... hahahahha....

296619

August 31st, 2010, 05:51 AM

^^mataas lang ang IRA ng nagtipunan kasi halos kalahati na ag sakop nya sa qbuong quirino

Yep... alam ko mas malaki pa sa Ilagan ang nagtipunan Quirino at 1500+ sqklm?....

freightrunner

September 1st, 2010, 08:16 AM

Check this out guys. Meron palang PAL flight noon sa Ballesteros. Tapos siguro nilipat sa Aparri yung airport later on.
http://a.imageshack.us/img96/426/19460227palad.jpg
credits to my friend gorio_b of flickr :cheers:
________________________

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/3599/bff125193a709bb8ccf9579.gif

gatestar

September 2nd, 2010, 04:40 PM

Our company, WATSONS PERSONAL CARE STORES, (PHILS.),INC., is a joint venture between the SM Group of Companies and A.S Watson & Co., Ltd, a Hutchison Whampoa Group company. Watsons Personal Care Stores are present in 13 countries at 1,500 locations and are leaders in the business of health and beauty in Asia. The company is in need of dynamic people who would like to join the company and build a career with Asia's leading health and beauty chain. Visit our website www.aswatson.com for more information.

Advertised on 27-08-10 | Application deadline on 26-10-10

Pharmacy Assistant - Ilagan Isabela

* RESPONSIBILITIES
*
* 1. Dispenses medicine under the supervision of the Pharmacist
* 2. Takes charge of the stocks positioning
* a. Monitors availability of merchandise
* b. Refills and displays stocks
* c. Reports out-of-stock/critical merchandise to the Pharmacist
* 3. Practices good housekeeping
* a. Displays merchandise according to its therapeutic use
* b. Monitors expiration dates
* 4. Secures merchandise
* a. Monitors high value items on a regular basis
* b. Reports any incidents of fraud and theft

REQUIREMENTS -Graduate of any 4-year medical course preferably BS Pharmacy or 2-year Associate in Health Science Education, Practical Nursing and Pharmacy Technician -Knowledgeable on drugs and prescriptions -With pleasing personality -With good oral and written communication skills -Must be willing to work on extended hours as needed Applicants should be Filipino citizens or hold relevant residence status.

Source: http://www.jobstreet.com.ph/jobs/201...39902.htm?fr=c

traxex000

September 6th, 2010, 01:59 PM

By Zinnia B. Dela Peña (The Philippine Star) Updated September 04, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (0) View comments

MANILA, Philippines - Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), the property development arm of the Gokongwei Group, is aiming to build at least 30 budget hotels across the country over the next five years to meet the growing demand for affordable accommodation, particularly by local tourists.

At the same time, RLC president Frederick Go announced that the hotel brand, Go Hotels, is now open for franchising, pointing out that they have already received inquiries from several interested parties. One businessman, whom Go refused to identify, is already looking at five sites for his planned foray into the value hotels business.

Go said since the soft opening of Go Hotels in its pilot site at the Robinsons Pioneer Cybergate complex in MandaluCity, the hotel has been registering an occupancy rate of more than 90 percent.

“We’re very confident about this development plan that we intend to take this throughout the country. There is huge demand for proper accomodation and we intend to open branches in every city of the country,” Go said.

The next Go Hotels will rise in Bacolod and Dumaguete (both in 2011). Programmed for opening in 2012 are hotels in Palawan, Iloilo, Cebu and Tacloban. New sites for 2013 are Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Zamboanga, Batanes and Gen. Santos.

Built on the lot of the old Robinsons Apartelle, Go Hotel Pioneer offers 225 no-frills rooms with flat-screen television and free Wi-Fi connection targeted for budget-conscious travelers. Patterned after sister company Cebu Pacific’s novel pricing scheme where early birds get the lowest rate, Go Hotels is offering accommodations for as low as P388 a night. Regular room rates start at P1,888 per night.

Go said they intend to build Go Hotels in areas where RLC has a shopping center. As of end-March this year, RLC had a mall network of 29 with a gross leasable area of 811,000 square meters.

Go Hotels is the fifth hotel property of RLC after the 285-room Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, 263-room Holiday Inn Galleria Manila, 210-room Cebu Midtown Hotel and the 108-room Summit Ridge Hotel Tagaytay.

In the fiscal year ending September 2009, RLC’s hotel division registered revenues of P1.04 billion or about 10 percent of total revenues.

Holiday Inn Galleria Manila and Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila posted occupancy rates of 77 percent and 72 percent, respectively, despite the global economic slowdown that has cut holiday travel.

296619

September 8th, 2010, 12:36 PM

PIA Press Release
2010/09/08

Gov. Cua bares tourism development plans

by Thelma C. Bicarme (piaregion2@yahoo.com)
Cabarroguis, Quirino (8 September) -- Gov. Junie Evangelista recently announced his new infrastructure plans which will further boost the province's tourism potentials and economic development.
Speaking before vice mayors, municipal councilors and tourism officers at the recently concluded Provincial Orientation on the Tourism Act of 2009 here, Cua said the province is eyeing for the construction of a first class wakeboarding facility at the I Love Quirino Park, just a stone's throw from the Provincial Capitol.
"Let us make Quirino a mini Hong Kong which developed from a small village into dynamic metropolis with the best tourists destinations," Cua said.
"By making our province a popular tourist destination, it would mean additional jobs for the Quirinians and additional revenues for the province," Gov. Cua added.
Gov. Cua has urged the municipal officials especially the local legislators to enact more laws in support to the tourism industry of the province. He also challenged the legislators to put in place the existing policies in their municipalities in order to attract more tourists ad investors.
Cua also bared his plans to improve the other tourist destinations of the province such as the Aglipay Caves, Maddela Rapids, Bimmapor and others.
It can be recalled that Former Governor now Congressman Dax Cua has also made an announcement regarding the province's plan to erect a world-class sports facilities such as basketball and tennis courts, boxing arena, swimming pools, wakeboarding area.
The younger Cua also announced that the provincial government and the office of the congressman have already sourced out initial funds for the project.
Meanwhile, Provincial Tourism Officer Aurea V. Martinez said that the influx of tourists in the province is not affected by the bloody hostage-taking incident in Manila, adding that Quirino province through the years has maintained its peacefulness.
Martinez also said that they are expecting a large number of local and foreign tourists to be coming to the province for the 39th Quirino Day celebration from September 6-10, 2010. (PIA 2) [top] (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p100908.htm&no=27&r=r02&y=&mo=#TOP)

traxex000

September 11th, 2010, 05:21 AM

Travelife Magazine lists the best things about Batanes. Cut off from the rest of the country, and shrouded by storms, it’s a place of deep mystery and curiosity.

First-timers to Batanes need to know one thing: The weather rules all. “Bring enough clothes for five days, at least,” advised a friend when she learned I was going there for three days. There’s good reason for the warning. Until recently, travel to and from the island has been limited, with storms cutting off access for days at a time. So much so that you’ll find people here have a fatalistic attitude toward life.

On the day we left, Manila was gloomy and there was every chance of rain. I envisioned Basco, the capital city on Batan island, in gloomy gray weather, but it was sweltering when we arrived. In the un-airconditioned arrivals area, which looked like a long barangay hall, people were taking off jackets and coats, no doubt feeling misled about the sunny day that greeted us.

Meanwhile, Basco may still be the size of a small sleepy town, but the city has also marched with the times. A few years back, tourists would be hard-pressed to find decent accommodations here. Today, although you still won’t find a Shangri-La hotel on the island, there are a good number of hotels and pension houses to choose from.

Surprisingly, “…we get a lot of local tourists,” says newly elected mayor, Demy Narag, when we talked to him. “These are the ones who would like to see untouched or unusual places.” And Batanes has these in spades. Again, blame—or maybe credit—the weather and even the province’s inaccessibility from the rest of the country. It makes people curious about life here. And while I don’t think Batanes will get hoards of tourists like Boracay because it’s simply too far away, Mayor Narag hopes that tourism will be one of the province’s major earners.

Being away from it all is part of Batanes’ allure. Jaded city-dwellers who want to recharge would do well to come here. The islands that comprise Batanes have a different topography from the rest of the country. By some geographical quirk, the province feels more like the Orkneys in Northern Scotland, with its craggy cliffs and rolling hills, than the Philippines. Batan, the biggest and most populous, and Sabtang islands have gentle rolling hills and slopes and friendly beaches. Meanwhile Itbayat, the most remote, has no natural shoreline and is full of craggy cliffs, prompting someone in our group to quip, “It’s not a good idea to go to Itbayat when you’re depressed. You just might jump off one of the cliffs!” The island is the least populated of the three, and we were told the sea is much more ferocious there. Batanes also has seasons different from the rest of the country. Batanes has a winter (yes, winter!) and a summer season. Winters here can be quite cold, say the locals, with the cold winds from Siberia and Taiwan making their way into the islands. Taiwan is a near neighbor, separated only by the Bashi Channel. In fact, the Ivatans are close kin to the Tao people of Orchid Island, Taiwan’s southernmost territory.

The second day, we crossed over to Sabtang Island on a fallowa, an outriggerless boat common in Batanes. While most of us were accustomed to riding outriggers in our travels around the country, it was a bit daunting to be in a small craft in what can be considered the open sea without the slim protection of, well, the actual outriggers to balance our weight. But our guides say fallowas need to ride the waves and outriggers are not ideal for the waters around the island. An hour later, a bit deaf from the loud engine and more than little nauseous from the engine fumes and the swaying of the boat, we hit land. Immediately, cameras were taken out as we spy a picturesque lighthouse on a craggy cliff, one of several such structures dotting the province.

The famous Ivatan stone houses were out first stop. Young kids and teenagers ran alongside our jeep, shouting cheerful greetings. Barangay Savidu, with its rows of Ivatan stone houses, felt like a place time forgot. Except for occasional reminders of modern living—a sari-sari store sign, and radios in some houses—this must be what the village looked like a century ago. Our guides would later tell us that these limestone houses have at least three variations. One thing they all have in common though is the low-sloped roofs and the meter-thick walls, which provide insulation during the cold season and keeps the coolness in during summer.

Even the locals’ demeanor is old-fashioned. Us urban-dwellers are so used to being suspicious of strangers that it comes as a shock to be told we could just go into any of the houses and be made welcome.

“Are you sure we can do that?” we ask our guide. Such behavior is just not done in the city.

“Yes, they won’t mind. People here don’t lock doors,” says our guide. And thus assured, we’d wander into living rooms and kitchens at will, sometimes surprising homeowners with our presence. No one stopped us, the locals’ sense of ownership being totally different from ours. In one, an old woman sits on her wooden floor and weaves a vakul, the funky-looking traditional headgear Ivatans wear as protection against rain. In another, we examine a local still, with clay jars full of taru, sugarcane vinegar, and a big contraption in the middle of the courtyard for grinding sugarcane to extract its juice for palek, the local wine.

After resting up a bit, we were on our way to Murung Beach for lunch. Most people’s notions about Batanes don’t involve a beach one can actually swim in, but the province has a lot of little white-sand beaches along its coasts. Murung beach is one of them. Most of us didn’t bring swimsuits, but even those who did, didn’t venture into the water. I think just the thought of the rocks underneath those waves was enough to deter even the bravest of us. Along the way on mountain roads, we pass by huge outcrops of rocks in the distance called idjangs, natural stone fortresses common in both Batan and Sabtang islands that Ivatans way back when used as hiding places against invaders.

Later, back in Batan, our guide would tell us that it’s still the practice to leave houses and doors unlocked. And neighbors who need something from an empty house can just go in and borrow it, the owner assured that it will be returned…in time. People here just don’t seem that materialistic. Perhaps confronted with the vagaries of harsh weather, Ivatans just don’t see the sense in holding on to things.

What’s important are the intangibles—the people you love, how you treat others, the simple way of life. There’s a lesson here somewhere for all of us. To be sure, maybe I’m romanticizing, a common pitfall for a travel writer to make. But when we were exploring the islands, these are what mattered: pondering the mystery of cloud-capped Mt. Iraya as it looms over the island, the fun of scampering up boulders on TK beach, reflecting on the tragedy of Sossong village, which was wiped out by a tsunami in the 1950s, the shells of its houses a reminder of how savage nature can be, dipping fried dorado fish in vinegar-and-garlic, the simple pleasure of the bend down the road, paying up even when there’s no one to check if you’ve been honest or not, as we all did at The Honesty Coffee Shop—activities that didn’t have anything to do with moving up the corporate ladder, or making (and spending) money. Here, people hewed to a more traditional—and shall we say, more honorable?—way of doing things. Confronted with distance and harsh weather, everything is reduced to basics. And, hell, maybe they know something we don’t or have lost along the way—a stronger faith in people’s sense of decency, maybe, or a gentler way of doing things.

I seem to have gotten into a reflective mood. Batanes has a way of doing that to people. Later after buying up The Honesty Coffee Shop’s share of garlic and onions for pasalubongs, as me and my friends sit on top of a hill in Marlboro Country or Racuha Payaman, Ivatan for “wild pastureland,” I’d reflect on how perfect this day was. Standing on one of the hills, with the magnificent view of the coastline below and Mt. Iraya in the distance, even a confirmed atheist will find religion. Maybe it was the crisp mountain air or the unfettered 360º views, but we all went crazy up there. We jumped, shouted at the top of our lungs (believe me, it was a good place for catharsis), ran, rolled on the grass—a crazy thing to do given the goats and cows grazing nearby—and generally threw our cares to the four winds. Later, on the way back to Basco via a circuitous route along Batan’s hilly mountain roads, we stop for a group of young students walking home from school. The dearth of public transportation on the island means that it’s a courtesy to stop and offer a ride to people on the road. Despite repeated offers of a ride, the kids shyly refuse, preferring to walk the long route home.

That evening, we met a famous resident of Batanes during dinner at Mayor Demy’s house—the fearsome-looking tatus or coconut crab. A live specimen was brought to our dining area where we were all busy cracking shells and stuffing ourselves with the delicious coconut-flavored meat of its more unfortunate cousins. A local delicacy, the coconut crab lives on land among rocks, prompting speculations among us amateur zoologists that it was in fact more a spider than a crustacean. The debate went unresolved as we dipped the crabmeat in vinegar-with-garlic and drank beer and palek. The general consensus was, whatever it is, it’s delicious.

Our last evening was spent talking and drinking. While we laughed and relived our adventures, the houses around us are dark, its occupants settling in for the night. But don’t be fooled, said the mayor, the houses may be dark, but he doubts if they’re asleep. Ivatans do know how to live it up. Socializing is done in backyards, with friends coming over for a simple meal and a drink or two. And that, in essence, is the magic of Batanes. Everything is a postcard, but in the end, what matters are the small things—like good company and lots of laughter over beer and tatus—and this, you have to discover on your own.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/inspirations__4/inspirations-345071387-1274672619.jpg?ymsn4LDDD.zz.cCa
Batanes' geographical quirks makes it feel more like the Orkneys in Scotland than the Philippines.

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/inspirations__4/inspirations-171002315-1274672710.jpg?ymHp4LDD_2x8gKKo
Due to the lack of public transportation, cycling is the most preferred mode of travel in Batanes.

Need to Know

The Ivatan stone houses are made of pulverized limestone rock. The limestone is quarried and burned at high temperatures then pulverized. The resulting powder is then mixed with cogon grass and used to plaster the walls of houses.
How to Get There
Asian Spirit flies to Basco four times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The boat ride from Batan island to Sabtang costs P80/roundtrip.

When to Go
After winter but before the monsoon season hits, around April-June.

What to Bring
• Enough clothes for two extra days. The weather is unpredictable so this is the one place where overpacking is actually sensible. Include a jacket, shorts, swimming gear

• Sturdy footgear—sandals and hiking shoes. You’ll be doing a lot of walking.

• A camera, batteries, charger, several memory cards/sticks. Almost every nook and cranny is worth taking a picture

• Cash. I don’t remember seeing ATM machines in the capital.

• A first-aid kit, stocked with anti-dizziness tablets. Boat rides and even jeepney rides along winding roads may leave you reeling

• A hat

• A mountain bike. Batanes’ rolling hills and winding roads are perfect for mountain-biking. In fact, the province’s terrain is perfect for aficionados of extreme sports, be it mountain biking, spelunking, or mountain-climbing.

What to Do
1. Take lots of pictures. Either on your own or join photographer Mandy Navasero’s
Photo Safari. mandynavasero.com

2. Get interested in history and archeology. There’s an ongoing joint archeological dig by the University of the Philippines, the National Museum, and Australian National University on Sabtang island. While this isn’t really part of the island’s attractions, the archeologists are more than happy to chat with passing travelers about their findings into early Ivatan culture, if you happen upon them during breaks. Visit the remains of the village of Songsong, which was wiped out by a tsunami in the 1950s.

3. Bone up on local art and architecture. Visit the Ivatan houses on Sabtang island. Check out Fundacion Pacita, the late artist Pacita Abad’s residence-turned-museum in barangay Tukon, Batan island. Fundacion Pacita has reproductions of the artist’s works on display and the house itself is interesting. In fact, we thought it would be a good idea to establish a writers/artists’ colony on the property. Maybe a foundation can set it up? A few meters away on the next hill amid lush gardens is the residence of former education secretary Butch Abad. Caretakers will gladly allow you to tour the gardens and the surrounding property.

4. Go beachcombing. On Batan island, visit Boulders beach, so-called because its beach is strewn with huge boulders said to have rolled down or thrown when Mt. Iraya erupted. On Sabtang island, check out Murung beach, with its white sand, and eat your packed lunch under the naturally formed from limestone Murung arch.

5. Go on a road trip. The winding roads and nearly empty roads makes this the perfect place to drive around. You won’t be making quick time though as every corner is a perfect excuse to stop and take pictures or simply take in the view.

6. Make like Maria von Trapp. Batanes’ rolling hills, most especially the spectacular Marlboro Country will make you want to belt out The Sound of Music’s classic theme song. Guaranteed.

7. Contribute to the local economy—shop! The locally grown garlic and onions are smaller and more pungent than those sold in Manila. Bring home some palek, and tasty dried flying fish and dorado, and taru (vinegar). The Honesty Coffee Shop in Ivana town, Batan island has provisions to tide you over as you explore the islands. It also sells garlic and onions for pasalubongs.

8. Sample the local delicacies. Some dishes to try: tatus steamed in its own fat and dipped in taru with garlic, venes a vegetable dish made from gabi (yam) leaves. Put your food on kavaya (breadfruit) leaves, which are used as plates, much the same way we use banana leaves. And wash everything down with palek or beer.

Where to Stay
Batanes Seaside Lodge & Restaurant (single regular room, P450/night to P2,200/night for suites). National Road, Kaychanarianan, Basco. Tel: (+63921) 229-0120, (+63915) 940-4823; e-mail: lroberto_seaside@yahoo.com

Pension Ivatan (From P980/night for a matrimonial to P2,500/night for a family suite). National Road, Kayvaluganan, Basco. Tel: (+63920) 281-1278, (+63921) 442-8841, (+63926) 957-6223. pensionivatan.com

The high school on barangay Sinakan on Sabtang island can also put up tourists for the night at P100/night.

You can also stay at the lighthouse on Batan island. Perfect for honeymooners.
source (http://ph.travel.yahoo.com/inspirations/87-batanes---a-taste-of-scottish-landscape-right-in-the-philippines?cid=today)

psyche

September 12th, 2010, 06:11 PM

Breathless in Batanes
by Benjamin Locsin Layug

www.biyahero.net
source (http://biyahero.net/index.php?option=com_k2&id=58:breathless-in-batanes&view=item&Itemid=71)

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j54/jrdollesin/biyahero/breathless_in_batanes.jpg
Even for a seasoned traveler like me, getting to remote Batanes had always been a dream—that is, until recently. Winning a roundtrip Asian Spirit plane ticket in a raffle draw made that dream a reality. The plane trip took all of two hours and 483 air kms., including a 30-min. stopover at Tuguegarao (Cagayan) Airport. It was just about lunchtime when I arrived in Basco Airport. I checked in at one of Mama Lily Inn’s three fan-cooled rooms (with common bath). This was to be my home for the five days I was to stay in this beautiful province.

Basco, the lovely, urbanized provincial capital and the center of commerce, was to be my jump-off point for exploring the rest of the province. But first, I paid a courtesy call on Gov. Vicente S. Gato and Tourism Officer Mr. Elmo Merin at the Provincial Capitol. The governor, a keen promoter of Batanes’s tourism potential, gladly allowed me the use of a vehicle (Toyota Revo), a driver (Mr. Luciano “Anong” de Guzman) and two guides (Ms. Joy Gabaldon and Mr. Jose “Boging” Astudillo).

Batanes in a Nutshell

OUR route around the 35.5-sq. km., generally mountainous Batan Island skirted the west coast through Mahatao and Ivana to Uyugan. All throughout the nearly hour-and-half trip, including stopovers and replacement of a flat tire, I was rewarded with a vista of sheer limestone cliffs alternating with gently rolling hills, great boulder beaches and some black and white sand beaches hemmed in by a broad fringing reef. We also passed by many of the Ivatan’s small, quaint, squat and low but ingeniously designed and typhoon-resistant houses. The wind-swept Payaman, at Mahatao’s outskirts, is popularly called the “Marlboro Country of Batanes.” Here, cattle, carabao and horses graze at its rolling hills. Nearby are fields hedged with trees that break the wind’s full fury, allowing root crops to grow.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j54/jrdollesin/biyahero/breathless_in_batanes2.jpg

We also visited a number of interesting man-made structures, including a number of Spanish-era churches. The venerable Dominican-built San Carlos Borromeo Church in Mahatao, dating to 1873, is one of 26 national cultural treasures. It has an espadana-style façade, with two round arches at roof levels for the bells, and massive buttresses at the outer walls. At the church courtyard and at the elementary school grounds are Spanish-era stone lampposts. The town’s Spanish-era bridge also retains its centuries-old features.

The Church of St. Joseph the Carpenter, located in front of Ivana port, was built in 1785 and renovated in 1844. It has 3-m. thick walls and is the only church not built in the espadana style. Its separate fortress-like campanile, the only one in the province, has a crenellated top. Near the church is the Honesty Coffee Shop, perhaps the only one of its kind in the country. Nobody tends to the store but a plaque inside is inscribed with the words “The Lord is My Security Guard.” Here, we picked out soft drinks and snacks from the shelf, listed them in a logbook and dropped our payment into a box.

The hilltop Radar Tukon, about 300 m. above sea level, was formerly a prewar US weather station that presently houses the PAGASA Radar Station where typhoons are monitored. The hill offers a magnificent view of Batan Island, the South China Sea and Mt. Iraya. Also nearby is the beautiful house cum gallery-museum of the late great Ivatan artist Pacita Abad. We also passed by the old LORAN Station and the ruins of Songsong, a cluster of roofless old stone houses of a once-thriving community of fishermen that was abandoned in 1955. Some of the ruins are now being restored while others are already inhabited.

Along the Vajangshin Road, we passed by the Dipnaysujuan Tunnels, an abandoned Japanese-built World War II network of 8-ft. high and 6-ft. wide bat-filled tunnels. Finally, on the way back to Basco, we also passed by an idjang, one of 17 throughout the province, a rocky castle-like natural fortress where pre-Hispanic Ivatans lived.

Quiet Moments

MY quieter moments, come late afternoon, were spent hiking up the Naidi Hills, northwest of Basco proper. Here, I had a unique view of Baluarte Bay, Basco, mist-shrouded Mt. Iraya, the sunset and the rolling hills. The hills used to be the site of the country’s tallest wireless communications facility, bombed by the Japanese planes on December 8, 1941. Only the base remains. Also on the hill are the damaged buildings that used to house the communications facilities. The hill is now home to a new four-storey lighthouse and grazing cattle.

I attended mass at the lovely Church of Sto. Domingo de Basco, the oldest in Batanes. First built from 1787 to 1796, one of the first limestone buildings to be built under the Spanish regime, it was destroyed during a typhoon and rebuilt in 1812 by Dominican friars. Its façade fell to the ground during the 2000 earthquake. The present white Baroque church, built in the espadana style, has massive pilasters buttressing the thick walls from foundation to top. It incorporates the original front and north walls while the rear and south walls are inside the original ruins. The convent beside the church was built in 1814.

On the day prior to my departure, I joined a picnic by the beach hosted by youthful Basco Mayor Manuel Viola, feasting on true Ivatan seafood fare consisting of spiny lobster (payi), coconut crabs (tatus), flying fish (dibang) and Spanish mackerel (tanigi), complemented by delicious supas rice cooked with yellow ginger (turmeric), all these served on leaves of a local breadfruit tree called kabaya. I also watched in envy as Ms. Carol Pobre of the Cagayan Tourism Office, accompanied by advanced open water diver Mr. Francis “Chico” Domingo, explored the offshore marine sanctuary’s beautiful underwater scenery and marine life. However, my disappointment was later dispelled by a most beautiful Batanes sunset.

traxex000

September 12th, 2010, 06:13 PM

^^ganda talaga ng batanes :okay:

psyche

September 12th, 2010, 06:13 PM

Bucolic, Brave and Beautiful Sabtang
by Benjamin Locsin Layug

www.biyahero.net
source (http://biyahero.net/index.php?option=com_k2&id=57:bucolic-brave-and-beautiful-sabtang&view=item&Itemid=71)

Beautiful Morong Beach and Ahaw Rock

The third day of my five-day stay in Batanes was reserved for a visit to the 40.67-sq. km., beautiful, mountainous and extremely rugged Sabtang Island. According to a coffee table book published by the DOT in 1994, Sabtang Island was chosen as one of the 12 best destinations in the country. Of course, my interest was piqued. Having left Mama Lily’s Inn very early in the morning, I was able to hitch a ride, via Gov. Vicente Gato’s van, to Radiwan Port in Ivana, the gateway to the island. I was to travel with distinguished company. Joining me in the falowa (a round-bottomed boat) for the nearly 1-hour, 5-km. and fairly rough crossing across the Ivana Channel was Gov. Gato himself and Cong. Henedina Razon-Abad (wife or former Education Secretary and Cong. Florencio “Butch” Abad), both inaugurating a school library on the island, plus guests Carol Pobre and Bing Talla, both of Cagayan Tourism Office, and Margarita Garcia, a Fil-American Fullbright scholar teaching art to Ivatan schoolchildren.

A Brave New World

Sabtang's beautiful shoreline is similar to Batan Island, having intermittent white sand beaches, deep canyons, sand dunes that rise up to a 100 ft. and steep, 200-350-m. high mountains that run down the island’s spine, making the island slope outward to the coast. Small level areas are sporadically found along the northeast coastline and mountains have to be terraced to accommodate communities. The only town, the picturesque Sabtang, is located on the island’s eastern seaboard. The waters around the islands are said to have one of the richest fishing grounds in all of Batanes.

The Spanish-era Church of San Vicente Ferrer

The island’s people, the Isabtangs, are one of a kind. Friendly, hardworking and honest like any Ivatan, they are also a brave bunch, having a history of resistance against Spanish and, later, Japanese invaders. About 150 Isabtangs, led by Kenan (a.k.a. Aman Dangat), mangpus (tribal leader) of Malakdang, rose in revolt one moonless night in September 1791, crossed the treacherous sea to attack the Spanish mission house on Batan Island, killing seven non-Ivatan agents of the Spanish government who poached fruits and timber from Sabtang without payment. Aman Dangat was later hanged and the natives of Sabtang were exiled to the districts of San Felix and San Vicente in Ivana for the next 50 years (1791-1841). Sabtang was also home of the Bisumi Guerrilla Fighters, the province’s only organized guerrilla outfit that fought the Japanese during World War II. More than 200 years after Aman Dangat’s death, the Isabtang’s undiminished resolve to defend and protect their land is still evident in their fight against encroaching foreign fishing vessels.

A Travel Back in Time

It seems one half of the island’s 1,678 Isabtang population came out to greet our party upon our arrival. I, however, mistook the town’s parish priest for the mayor but soon corrected myself and paid my respects to the boyish-looking Mayor Juan “Johnny” Caballero, smartly attired in a Hawaiian-style polo shirt. The blessing soon got underway. Once through, Mayor Caballero allowed me the use of the town’s Toyota Revo plus the services of driver Rolando Fidel to tour the island’s many sights. Before leaving, I dropped by the San Vicente Ferrer Church, a relic of the island’s tumultuous Spanish past. Started in 1844, this Church was built in the espadana style (having two round arches at the roof level for the bells).

Along the road to Savidug, Fidel pointed out, from a distance, a picturesque idjang, a pre-Hispanic mountain fortress where the natives sought refuge during tribal conflicts. This idjang is distinctly different from all the others in the province because its sides were carved to make entry more difficult. Upon reaching the showcase barangay of Savidug, our Revo had to negotiate a narrow road between rows of traditional lime and stone cogon-thatched houses. Alighting here, I explored the village on foot, espying one of the barangay’s two (there are only three left throughout Batanes) animal-driven sugar mills that churn out a native wine called palek.

A scenic, winding road next leads us to the equally rustic village of Chavayan and its landmark Chapel of Santa Rosa de Lima, the only house of worship on the islands that is still in its traditional form. Here, I observed, on another walking tour, the traditional detached Ivatan kitchen as well as glimpses of the Ivatan way of life including the making of the vakul or canayi, a headgear woven by the womenfolk from carefully stripped and dried banana or voyavoy leaves. I also observed up close 99-year-old Ireneo Hornedo weave an alogong, a men’s headgear that normally goes along with the canayi. Before leaving, we were requested to look up into the cliff and make out Mother Nature’s most perfect sculpture: the phallic-looking Monument of Satisfaction.

Back at the town proper, I was invited by Mayor Caballero to join his esteemed guests in a true Ivatan feast consisting of delicious supas rice cooked with yellow ginger (turmeric), spiny lobster (payi), coconut crabs (tatus), flying fish (dibang), Spanish mackerel (tanigi) and uvod (mixed deboned fish and core of banana steamed with local herbs). Instead of plates, we ate this unique fare on leaves of a local breadfruit tree called kabaya.

I still had time to spare before taking the last falowa back to the mainland so I decided to make a quick visit to Brgy. Sumnanga. Inaccessible by the Revo, I hired the services of Alex Habana, using his motorcycle to get there. I had no time to explore on foot the barangay proper, a portion of which used to be called “Little Hong Kong” because of the cobblestones that used to cover its pathways. I, however, visited the white sand Morong Beach, its sea-sculpted cave and its landmark Ahaw Rock Arch. On the way back, I also dropped by the new lighthouse.

psyche

September 12th, 2010, 06:19 PM

Winds of Change in Batanes: Boon or Bane?
by Benjamin Locsin Layug

www.biyahero.net
http://biyahero.net/index.php?option=com_k2&id=55:winds-of-change-in-batanes-boon-or-bane&view=item&Itemid=71

THE windswept rolling terrain of Naidi Hills and its stately lighthouse.

Breathtaking Batanes is unlike anything I have been used to in a sprawling metropolis. Crime, like the traffic and its dust and pollution, is almost nonexistent. No drugs, no smuggling, no kidnapping. Here, they leave the doors of houses open all day (and even at night). Here, I can sleep overnight in the park or along the shore without fear of mugging. Bikes, scooters and occasional jeepneys and tricycles are the only means of transportation. There are no rich or poor; no squatters or beggars. The brilliance of the moon, the stars and even some of the planets are not blocked by smog or glaring neon lights. The air I inhaled, as well as the fish, fruits, vegetables and meat I ate were fresh, with no preservatives added. I can also drink directly from the faucet without fear. The “ordinary” food fare I ate consisted of spiny lobster (payi), coconut crabs (tatus), flying fish (dibang) and Spanish mackerel (tanigi), complemented by delicious yellow rice (supas), all served on leaves of a local bread fruit tree called kabaya.

Everybody is likely to know everybody and youngsters here are respectful. Ivatans take hospitality to its highest level, welcoming the ipula (outsider) with open doors and a Sumdep kamu (“Please come in”) or greet him with a Kapian ka nu Dios (“May God be with you”). The traditional community spirit or bayanihan (locally called yaru) remains high here. There are no moviehouses, no bars or beer joints, no markets (food is sold door-to-door) or shopping centers. After sunset, the streets are unlit and practically empty. This 10-island mini-archipelago is also a study in contrast. It is the smallest province in terms of area and population yet the literacy rate and professional education index among Ivatans is a high 95 percent. Truly like the Utopia of Sir Thomas More, or the Shangri-La in The Lost Horizon. However, change came in the form of a 24-hour power source, cable TV, cell sites and Internet access.

Such a province, with its landscape of unsurpassed beauty, needs to be preserved. On January 5, 2001, by virtue of Republic Act No. 8991, the islands were proclaimed a protected area by the DENR. Recently, the UNESCO listed Batanes as the country’s sixth World Heritage site due to its mix of unique and ancient archeology and architecture. The listing could help raise awareness about the preservation of the heritage sites and local authorities may receive financial assistance or expert advice from Unesco on ways to maintain the site.

As a result of the listing, Batanes’ reputation as a new frontier tourist destination has grown but this has been greeted with mixed feelings by the local government. The number of local and foreign tourist arrivals has increased, providing additional revenues as professional employment opportunities here are scarce. However, these same tourists may overwhelm preservation sites such as pre-Hispanic burial sites and idjangs and the traditional houses. Gov. Vicente Gato hopes that from this listing, the national government, as well as other groups, will provide more assistance and endowments or grants to preserve these fragile Ivatan sites. If the governor would have his way, he prefers quality tourists who appreciate Ivatan culture or those who would help preserve this heritage. Besides, Batanes’ existing tourism infrastructure simply can’t support and accommodate too many tourists.

What has made Batanes so deserving of such an honor? For one, Batanes is unique among Philippine provinces. The people (the honest, hardy and inscrutable Ivatans trace their roots to prehistoric Formosan immigrants with their almond eyes and latter-day Spaniards with their aquiline noses), the language (the Ivatan dialect is peppered with pidgin Spanish and spoken with the tonal musicality of the Chinese language), the weather (generally cooler, balmier and quite windy with practically 4 seasons including a “winter”), the crafts, and even the boats used (the wide, round-bottomed, bathtub-shaped and plank-built boat called falowa and not the banca is used) are all different.

The Ivatan’s ingeniously designed, typhoon-resistant houses (locally called sinandumparan) are found all over the province and nowhere else (the lowland bahay kubo simply will not survive here). These squat, low, solid stone-and-lime cottages, not unlike those in the Scottish Highlands or France’s Provencal region, have meter-thick walls, are built directly to the ground and are laid out on narrow, cobbled streets that follow the contour of the land. They are cool during the warm season and warm in the cold months.
The gabled roofs have foot-thick cogon tightly bound and woven together to make it waterproof and fastened with reeds to sturdy wooden rafters. The roof is held down by a panpet (a thick rope roof net) fastened to strong pegs on large, half-buried stones. The small, narrow door faces the east or northeast, away from the worst typhoon winds. Tiny, square windows are located on three walls only. The wall that doesn’t have it faces the direction of the strongest winds during typhoons.

One such house, the House of Dakay, the oldest in Batanes, is included on the Unesco list and expected for grading. Now resided in by octogenarian Florestida Estrella, it was built in 1887 by Jose Dacay (Florestida’s grandfather). The friendly Florestida, with her easy smile and weather-beaten face, was formerly only used to a quiet village existence. Now, her tiny world has been opened to many foreign and local tourists who take her picture, making her the subject of many articles, postcards and promotional calendars. Florestida keeps a blue logbook containing the names of visitors over the past years.

Like Florestida, the Ivatan’s tiny world may soon be open to tourism. Let’s just hope it doesn’t destroy the very character that made it known in the first place.

kiretoce

September 24th, 2010, 02:14 AM

Starting around 02:30 GMT on Saturday, September 25 (10:30 AM [Philippine Time] on Saturday, September 25), SkyscraperCity will be down while we re-work our back-end network. The downtime may take as much as 7 hours as we have to move servers around a bit.

For Questions or Comments, please visit this thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1221255).

296619

September 30th, 2010, 11:14 AM

PIA Press Release
2010/09/29

3 hospitals to rise in Nueva Vizcaya

by Ben Moses Ebreo (piaregion2@yahoo.com)
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (September 29) -- Three more hospitals are expected to rise in northern part of this province to boost health care services here specially among poor families.
Rachel Magday Itchon, executive assistant of the provincial government said the proposed hospitals will be constructed in the towns of Solano, Bagabag and Diadi.
"These projects were already funded based on the recently-approved 2011 Annual Investment Plan of the provincial government," she said.
Among these proposed hospitals, Diadi town will have the biggest medical center with P18 million fund while Solano and Diadi towns will have a P5 million and P3 million-worth hospitals.
Itchon said the hospitals have been initially funded by the provincial government through the AIP. "The only counterpart among the local government units will be the acquisition and availability of lot where the hospitals will be put up," Itchon said.
Improvement of health facilities and equipments including the construction of additional hospitals serve as one of the priorities of the provincial government on health services.
This year, the provincial government also allotted some P15 million for the enrollment of indigent families in the province to help poor sectors in coping up with the expensive medical expenses from public and private hospitals in the province. (PIA NVizcaya) [top]^^^^^^^^ (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p100929.htm&no=45&r=r02&y=&mo=#TOP)

hakz2007

October 6th, 2010, 02:29 PM

Nueva Vizcaya eyes upgrading of district hospitals
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (October 6) -- Improvements among district hospitals in the province will be pursued in the following months following the approval of a provincial board resolution authorizing governor Luisa Cuaresma on Monday to enter into an agreement with the Department of Health (DOH).

Board member Edgar Llowelyn Daniel said the upgrading of district hospitals in the province will be undertaken through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the provincial government and the DOH.

The province has three existing district hospitals in the municipalities of Kasibu, Kayapa and Dupax del Norte, all concentrated at the southern part of the province.

The multi-million grant, Daniel said will transform district hospitals at par with provincial and regional hospitals in the province.

He also expressed optimism that development of district hospitals will help declog patients who usually troop to the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital(NVPH) in Bambang town and Veterans Regional Hospital(VRH) in Bayombong town for treatment.

Through the upgrading scheme, the three district hospitals will be promoted into PhilHealth-accredited hospitals where patients with PhilHealth ID cards can benefit more.

Local officials here also said that the DOH grant will contribute to the overall thrust of the provincial government to strengthen the quality, affordability and accessibility of health care services among Novo Vizcayanos.

Two more hospitals have been proposed in the northern part of the province, particularly in Diadi and Bagabag towns.

The DOH is pushing for the upgrading of district hospitals in the province inorder to be more responsive on the health of Filipinos in the country. http://pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p101006.htm&no=61

296619

October 7th, 2010, 05:18 PM

AGLIPAY CAVES OF AGLIPAY, QUIRINO! - 30 MINUTES FROM SANTIAGO CITY PROPER ^^

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296619

October 13th, 2010, 05:05 PM

PIA Press Release
2010/10/11

1st Bugkalot mayor gets a test, taste of governance

by Ben Moses Ebreo

Alfonso Castaneda, Nueva Vizcaya (11 October) -- Barangay Talbec is not within this town but local leaders recently passed a resolution urging municipal officials here to adopt them as sister village.

And Talbec barangay captain Federico Tugade of Dupax del Sur town wants to reside in this municipality for better days ahead.

Like any other else, various organizations and public and private agencies pin their hopes from the wealth of this town who was once served as hunting ground for the Bugkalot tribe, known for their headhunting sprees during the 50s.

This town, now touted as the richest local government unit in the province is inhabited by the tribe also called "Ilongots" in the 60s which comprise about 70 percent of its total population while the remaining 30 percent are non-Bugkalots.

Each year, the local government unit is siphoning millions of pesos in the form of Real Property Tax(RPT) payments from the operation of the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation and Power Project(CMIPP) which was built to provide additional irrigation water among farmers in Central Luzon and additional electric power for the Luzon grid.

Four barangays such as Cawayan, Lipuga, Pelaway and Abuyo classified as primary impact areas of the CMIPP also get their share from the RPT of the town.

Lublub, the town's main barangay who was named after its muddy terrain now hosts major infrastructure projects longed before by the villagers.

"It is no longer barangay Lublub as the term connotes, it is starting to be come the other way around ? a progressive and developed barangay," said Jerry Pasigian, 42, now on its second term as first Bugkalot local chief executive.

This year alone, Alfonso Castaneda received half of the P750 million RPT payment of California Energy in 2009 and P250 million in 2008.

Pasigian who won by landslide votes in this year's May elections over his rival said the RPT share of the primary impact barangays will be spent based on the educational development plan of barangay local governments.

This year alone, the municipal government allotted some P150 million for the construction of their municipal hall, P69 million for the payment of their debt at the Philippine National Bank(PNB) and purchase of heavy equipments such as back hoe, bulldozer, dump trucks and a municipal bus.

The heavy equipments, the mayor said would be used to fast track road construction and improvement in their town through a scheme of counterparting.

Painted on the bus was Alfonso Castaneda's watershed with the statement "Kaseguraduhan sa Kinabukasan"(Assurance for the future).

Last year, the LGU also purchased 14 units of Navarra pick-up for its department officials and primary impact barangays and Department of Education(DepEd), 3 multi-purpose vans for the Rural Health Unit(RHU) which drew public criticism specially among rival politicians.

The 14 units of Navarra pick-up vehicles purchased at P1.3 million each cost more than P20 million.

"These vehicles were selected to fit the rugged terrain in our town. It was purchased because they are needed for the delivery of basic services among our constituents," Pasigian stressed.

Other infrastructure projects are the P59 million municipal hall, P18 million improvement of their municipal gymnasium, construction of 7 open gymnasiums for schools in barangays, construction of buildings for 11 day care schools and the construction of 2 high school and 1 elementary school buildings.

Because of the far distance of the town from the provincial capitol which require at least 4 to 5 hour travel, the LGU also funded the construction of a P20 million satellite office along the national highway in barangay Magsaysay in Bayombong town to make their transactions easier.

The Alfonso Castaneda High School(ACHS) was also transformed into a computerized level of learning with the purchase of 50 desk top computers and several laptops for the teachers to carry out their computer education learning system.

Salaries of ACHS teachers whose salaries were funded out of the Special Education Fund(SEF) were raised from P7,000.00 to P8,000.00.

Pasigian said that while road development serves as their primary concern to include the construction of barangay halls, basic social services on health, livelihood and social welfare remains as their top priority.

"We always see to it that transparency is always at the forefront of our transactions. Concerned officials are also invited during project biddings," he explained.

But with the overwhelming wealth comes death threats against Pasigian who admitted that his political opponents have offered a P2 million reward for his head.

"I did not steal money. I am just doing my job. They should first check themselves before criticizing us. Leave us in managing our funds because it is only now that we are reaping development. It is good that we did not buy a helicopter instead," Pasigian said. (PIA NVizcaya) [top]

296619

October 13th, 2010, 05:19 PM

traxex000

October 14th, 2010, 05:26 PM

^^yan kaya ang rason sa mataas na locally gen. income ng alfonso castaneda?

tona siye

December 1st, 2010, 09:27 AM

^^yan kaya ang rason sa mataas na locally gen. income ng alfonso castaneda?

:okay:+ ^^^^^^ natural resources +:grouphug:

Buntun

December 6th, 2010, 01:47 PM

PIA Press Release
2010/12/06

Nueva Vizcaya allots over P724M for 2011 budget

by Ben Moses Ebreo

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (December 6) -- The provincial government here recently set aside more than P724 million to operationalize and implement various programs, projects and activities next year.

Alejandra Dacumos, provincial budget officer said the budget is higher than this year with P35 million. "We have a higher budget for this year due to our savings and sound financial management," she said.

She said the 2011 budget was generated by P12.4 million savings, income from local government-run hospitals, and other local sources.

The 2011 budget, Dacumos added will be allotted for the 20 percent Development Fund, General Fund, 5 percent Budgetary Reserve, aid to barangays amounting to P5.2 million, P3.7 million PhilHealth membership for indigent families, P 1 Million debt-servicing, P15 million assistance to 15 local government units and construction of additional hospitals among others.

The P3.7 million allotted for PhilHealth will be used to shoulder the 100 percent payment of indigent families of Bayombong town for their enrolment to the program.

The move aims to provide the poor sectors a comprehensive health package of assistance instead of giving merely cash aids for their medical needs and problems. (PIA NVizcaya) [top]
link (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p101206.htm&no=22)

GTPro

December 7th, 2010, 01:20 AM

Buntun

December 8th, 2010, 09:30 AM

PIA Press Release
2010/12/07

Oplan Kandado padlocks 3 establishments in Nueva Vizcaya

by Ben Moses Ebreo

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (December 7) -- Three business establishments have been closed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue(BIR) here recently for violating the tax code and the Oplan "Kandado" program of the agency.

In a report, Cleofe Flores, revenue district officer said the padlocked business establishments were the Ludan Shopping Mall and its branch and Marlette Car Parts and Accessories, all of Solano town.

Flores said Ludan failed to file his VAT returns for the taxable years 2007 to present, the owner's income tax returns filed were found to have understated his sales by more than 30 percent and operating an unregistered establishment at the Solano Public Market.

Marlette Carpio was likewise found to have failed to file her VAT returns and understated her reported sales by more than 30 percent.

The taxpayers were issued with 48 hour notice of the result of surveillance activity in their respective establishments.

Flores said the establishments failed to comply with business and tax regulations, prompting their closure under the BIR's "Oplan Kandado" program.

At present, BIR here has closed 5 business establishments due to their failure to comply with business laws and regulations. (PIA NVizcaya) [top]
link (http://pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p101207.htm&no=92)

Buntun

December 8th, 2010, 09:30 AM

PIA Press Release
2010/12/07

US-based power firm opens reforestation project for Nueva Vizcaya farmers

by Ben Moses Ebreo

Alfonso Castaneda, Nueva Vizcaya (December 7) -- CE Casecnan Water and Energy Company (CECWEC), a US-based power contractor here has introduced a reforestation project to provide additional source of income and livelihood among farmers.

"This plantation serves as a source of additional income among the villagers, mostly Bugkalots and other tribal communities," said Eugene Estacio, CECWEC corporate social responsibility supervisor.

The 3,650-hectare plantation, supervised by the) has been put in place in lower impact zones such as Barangay Abaca and Talbec in Dupax del Sur town and barangays Lipuga Pelaway in this town.

Started 6 years ago, the Timber Plantation Development (TPD) project is one of the corporate social responsibility projects for the affected communities of the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP).

Estacio said the project provides more than P4,000.00 per family who shall act as stewards for a one hectare per recipient.

Estacio said their company also provided free planting materials in addition to aerial seeding operations to improve the forest cover in the CMIPP impact zones.

CMIPP which started its operation in 1994 is the first Build-Operate Transfer(BOT) project in the country.

It was constructed to provide additional 150 megawatts of power to the Luzon grid and irrigation to 35,000 hectares and 102,000 hectares of farmlands in Central Luzon. (PIA NVizcaya) [top]

link (http://pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p101207.htm&no=93)

Buntun

December 8th, 2010, 11:32 AM

PIA Press Release
2010/12/08

DOF-BLGF 02 awards Nueva Vizcaya as outstanding LGU performer for 2009

by Ben Moses Ebreo

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (December 8) -- The Department of Finance(DOF)-Bureau of Local Government Finance(BLGF) in Cagayan Valley recently awarded Nueva Vizcaya and two of its 15 municipalities as top local revenue earners for 2009.

This province got the award for topping the highest gross collections in absolute amount for the provincial category with more than P1 billion while the city of Tuguegarao was also chosen for its collections of more than P141 million for city category.

Nueva Vizcaya also ruled other provinces in terms of top local revenue collector with highest collection efficiency with 350.78 percent while Cauayan City also received an award for its 100.12 percent performance.

The town of Alfonso Castaneda which collected an actual revenue of more than P807 million from its target of more than P74 million and Bagabag which posted an actual collection of more than P10 million from their target of more than P9 million were also awarded as top local revenue collector with highest collection efficiency per income class and municipal category with 1,086.27 percent for the first class and 102.14 percent for second class municipality respectively.

Rhoda Moreno, acting provincial treasurer for Nueva Vizcaya said the increase in revenue collections in the province and the town of Alfonso Castaneda was boosted by the operations of the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP).

CMIPP pays its real property tax to the provincial government and the local government of Alfonso Castaneda for hosting the project.

CMIPP which started its operation in 1994 is the first Build-Operate Transfer(BOT) project in the country.

It was constructed to provide additional 150 megawatts of power to the Luzon grid and irrigation to 35,000 hectares and 102,000 hectares of farmlands in Central Luzon.

The town of Aurora in Isabela province also received an award for 3rd class municipality with highest collection efficiency with an actual collection of more than P13 million from their target of more than P11 million with a 110.47 percent collection efficiency.

Reina Mercedes in Isabela province, a 4th class municipality was also chosen as top local revenue collector with highest collection efficiency with their actual collection of more than P 5 million compared to their target collection of more than P4 million, or 43 percent collection efficiency.

The towns of Sta. Praxedes in Cagayan province and the island town of Sabtang in Batanes province also got recognition from the BLGF for accomplishing an actual collection of more than P1.9 million and more than P2 million from their target collection of more than P1.5 million and more than P1.9 million respectively.

Sta. Praxedes registered a 125.38 percent collection efficiency while Sabtang posted a 120.51 percent collection efficiency. (PIA NVizcaya) [top]

link (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p101208.htm&no=37)

296619

December 10th, 2010, 10:54 AM

QUIRINO PROVINCE!^^

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1119.snc4/148116_468181269403_534809403_5257947_3966306_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=all&subj=295974513413&aid=-1&pid=5257947&id=534809403&oid=295974513413)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1207.snc4/155940_468181519403_534809403_5257952_6505086_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=all&subj=295974513413&aid=-1&pid=5257947&id=534809403&oid=295974513413)

:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:^^^^^^^^

GTPro

December 13th, 2010, 11:38 PM

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya --- Magkakasunod na pagyanig na may lakas na 5.1 magnitude ang naramdaman ng mga residente at kasabay nito ay ang malawakang brownout sa lalawigan kahapon ng uma*ga (Disyembre 13) matapos tumama ang lindol.

Ayon sa impormasyon ng Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), ang sentro ng lindol ay tumama sa capital town ng Bayombong at naramdaman sa iba pang mga bayan ng lalawigan dakong alas-8:50 ng umaga kahapon na may layong anim na kilomet*ro sa timog-kanluran ng Bayom*bong at may lalim na 31 kilometro na may lakas na 5.1 magnitude na sinundan pa ng aftershock na 4.1 magnitude.

Kasabay nito ay ang pagkawala ng kuryente sa buong lalawigan na nagdulot ng pangamba sa mara*ming residente at estudyante lalo na sa mga paaralan ng Bayombong at Solano, kung saan dito ang pinakamalakas na inindayog ng lindol na tumagal ng halos limang segundo na sinundan pa ng tatlong segundo na aftershock na 4.1 magnitude.

Dahil sa lakas ay nag*labasan ang mga residente sa kanilang bahay at kinaroroonang gusali na sinundan ng pagpapatunog ng kampana ng eskwelahan bilang babala sa pangamba na gumuho ito.

Gaya ng naganap na lindol na tumatak sa isipan ng mga residente rito noong Hulyo 16, 1990 na may lakas na 7.2 magnitude na tumama sa northern Luzon maging sa southern Cagayan Valley province at may namatay na halos 40 katao nang matabunan ng mga bahay sa northern mountainous areas.

Ang 1990 killer quake ay galing sa Digdig fault line, Gabaldon, Nueva, Ecija; Benguet at Nueva Vizcaya.

http://abante.com.ph/issue/dec1410/luzon01.htm

296619

January 3rd, 2011, 07:49 AM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1358.snc4/163079_1516113103934_1267652936_1130121_7420722_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1133278&id=1267652936)

Dalton Pass, Nueva Viscaya!:):):):cheers:

GTPro

January 4th, 2011, 03:31 AM

Bayombong and Bambang is now enjoying the internet service of PLDT while Solano is still hostage by Digitel :bash:

GTPro

January 4th, 2011, 05:47 AM

In and around Nueva Vizcaya

Albino Carabao
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9614/albinocarabao.jpg (http://img340.imageshack.us/i/albinocarabao.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Ambaguio
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/5148/ambaguio.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/ambaguio.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Amokokan Falls
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/4082/amokokan.jpg (http://img813.imageshack.us/i/amokokan.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/9817/amokokan1.jpg (http://img573.imageshack.us/i/amokokan1.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Malabing Valley
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4426/malabing.jpg (http://img515.imageshack.us/i/malabing.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5756/malabing1.jpg (http://img443.imageshack.us/i/malabing1.jpg/)
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Mapalyao Falls
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1329/mapalyao.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/i/mapalyao.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7322/quezon.jpg (http://img526.imageshack.us/i/quezon.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Photos courtesy of Padyak-tulak Mountainbikers of Nueva Vizcaya

See more of Nueva Vizcaya @ padyaktulak.multiply.com

Thanks for viewing!

freightrunner

January 5th, 2011, 12:25 PM

In and around Nueva Vizcaya
:cheers:
Albino Carabao
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9614/albinocarabao.jpg (http://img340.imageshack.us/i/albinocarabao.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Ambaguio
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/5148/ambaguio.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/ambaguio.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Amokokan Falls
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/4082/amokokan.jpg (http://img813.imageshack.us/i/amokokan.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/9817/amokokan1.jpg (http://img573.imageshack.us/i/amokokan1.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Malabing Valley
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4426/malabing.jpg (http://img515.imageshack.us/i/malabing.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5756/malabing1.jpg (http://img443.imageshack.us/i/malabing1.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Mapalyao Falls
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1329/mapalyao.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/i/mapalyao.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7322/quezon.jpg (http://img526.imageshack.us/i/quezon.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
:banana:
Photos courtesy of Padyak-tulak Mountainbikers of Nueva Vizcaya

See more of Nueva Vizcaya @ padyaktulak.multiply.com

Thanks for viewing!

Daming magagandang lugar sa NV na dapat madevelop for tourism. Sana mabigyang pansin ang mga natural beauties na yan at i-promote ng DOT.

tona siye

January 7th, 2011, 09:03 PM

Daming magagandang lugar sa NV na dapat madevelop for tourism. Sana mabigyang pansin ang mga natural beauties na yan at i-promote ng DOT.

:okay: sinabi mo!!!!!!

Buntun

January 9th, 2011, 10:49 AM

Posted on 08:59 PM, January 03, 2011

British miner set to finish resource update

BRITISH minING firm Metals Exploration Plc expects to come up with a resource update for its Runruno gold and molybdenum project in Nueva Vizcaya province within the first quarter of the year.

In a statement, the miner said its infill drilling program at the project is almost finished, with results to be incorporated into a resource update.

The miner said that as of Dec. 22, it had completed 12,115 meters of the 13,400-meter infill drilling program at the site in Nueva Vizcaya.

The miner also expects its feasibility study for the project to be approved by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau within the first quarter of 2011.

The feasibility study for the project was completed and submitted in May 2010.

The Runruno project is expected to produce 96,700 ounces of gold per annum over a mine life of 10.4 years, as stated in the feasibility study.

Average production in the Runruno project for the first five years is expected at 101,800 ounces of gold per annum, and 92,700 ounces of gold per annum for another five years.

Cost was pegged at $149.3 million, with payback expected to be within three-and-a-half years from start of operations at $1,000 per ounce of gold.

Last Sept. 16, 2010, FCF Minerals Corp. Country Manager Craig Watkins told reporters commercial operations at the Runruno project were expected to start in the second half of 2012.

FCF Minerals Corp. is the local subsidiary of Metals Exploration. -- KAM
link (http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=23792)

william :D

January 9th, 2011, 01:55 PM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs117.snc4/36214_137011026327396_119418201420012_274762_7004216_n.jpg

Racuh a Payaman "Marlboro Country" Batanes
by Djana Marie

Racuh a Payaman, famously known as the “Marlboro Country, which literally means wide pasture, is a communal pasture collectively managed by the townsfolk of Batanes. It's an area of open green hills, views to both the China Sea and the Pacific Ocean on either side of Batanes, and a handful of animals dotting the landscape. One can see the Scotland-like hedgerows from a distance.
photo credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=137011026327396&set=a.136217903073375.19101.119418201420012)

Buntun

January 12th, 2011, 03:36 PM

Posted by admin2 on Jan 7th, 2011
Nueva Vizcaya TESDA offers 536 scholarship slots

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) here is offering some 536 slots for its 2011 Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP).

The slots, committed for the province by TESDA director general Secretary Joel Villanueva, are distributed in 32 Technical and Vocational Institutions (TVIs) here, Rolando Manangan, TESDA provincial director, said.

The courses offered are automotive servicing, baking/pastry production, commercial cooking, computer hardware servicing, consumer electronics servicing, dressmaking, driving, food and beverages services, front office services, health care services, household services, housekeeping, massage therapy and shielded metal arc welding.

Among the TVIs are Kasibu National Agriculture School (KNAS), Northern Luzon Technical Insitute (NLTI), PLT College, Saint Mary’s University (SMU), Solano Institute of Technology (SIT), SIERRA College, Zintel College, FUZEKO Polytechnic College, RVN Driving Institute, Advocates Academic College of Nueva Vizcaya, First Gateway Training Center (FGTC) and Teodorus Learning Center( TLC).

The cost of the training courses at face value range from P3,500 to P10,000 while the assessment face value is P500.

The TWSP is being offered by the national government to help young and adult Filipinos in finding jobs here and abroad.

It is one of the many ways in providing employment among Filipinos and thereby reducing the unemployment rate in the country.

Out of the 536 TWSP slots, 35 slots are allotted for automotive servicing, 90 slots for housekeeping, 21 slots for massage therapy, 60 slots for shielded metal arc welding and dress making, 45 slots for household services, 30 slots for health care services, 30 slots for front office services, 45 slots for food and beverages services, 30 slots for driving, 45 slots for dressmaking, 30 slots for consumer electronics services, 30 slots for computer hardware servicing, 30 slots for commercial cooking and 45 slots for baking/pastry production.
link (http://www.usnewslasvegas.com/provincial/nueva-vizcaya-tesda-offers-536-scholarship-slots/#comment-19722)

296619

January 12th, 2011, 04:31 PM

http://l3.sphotos.l3.fbcdn.net/hphotos-l3-ash1/hs798.ash1/168842_1527755954998_1267652936_1153863_5917712_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1153903&id=1267652936)

NUEVA VISCAYA!:cheers::cheers::cheers:

296619

January 12th, 2011, 04:33 PM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs782.ash1/167293_1527777075526_1267652936_1153903_2578474_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1153903&id=1267652936)

Two contrasting side, the left and the right. The former has something. The latter has none. So which one would you choose? The left (with something on it) but nothing is right or the right side when nothing is left? CHOICE is a difficult word to understand.^^ ( BY GLEN)

NUEVA VISCAYA!:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

william :D

January 14th, 2011, 02:02 PM

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/r1.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/r1a.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/r2.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/r2a.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/r2b.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/r3.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/r3a.jpg

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

296619

January 17th, 2011, 05:00 PM

Workers of once poorest LGU get country’s highest Yuletide perks

January 16, 2011

BY CHARLIE C. LAGASCA
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – It was formerly one of the poorest local government units in the country until it became the home of one of the national government’s flagship projects since the Ramos administration.
Now, the more than 100 employees of Alfonso Castañeda town, the host of the multi-million dollar Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP), are lucky enough to have a P50,000 bonus each as extra year-end incentive from the municipal government.
The amount is the highest of all additional cash incentives given to local government employees in Northern Luzon, and probably among the biggest in the whole country.
“This is just an incentive for the town employees for all their commitments and accomplishments during the past year. We will be getting the amount from (the taxes derived from) Cal-Energy (the owner-operator of the Casecnan project),” said Myrna Pasigian, wife of Mayor Jerry Pasigian.
In comparison, permanent and casual provincial capitol workers here received P30,000 each as extra cash incentive or what the provincial government termed as “economic relief and rehabilitation assistance,” which is a far cry higher than what their counterparts in the region got.
Nestled along the Caraballo mountain range in a remote southeast section of the province near its tri-boundary with Nueva Ecija, Aurora and Quirino, Alfonso Castañeda is the farthest town of Nueva Vizcaya where one has to pass through San Jose City in Nueva Ecija to reach it.
Also inhabited by the Bugkalot tribe, formerly known as the feared Ilongots during their bygone headhunting days, Alfonso Castañeda, from a sixth class town 10 years ago emerged to become one of the richest municipalities five years ago.
This was courtesy of the business and real property taxes from the Casecnan project owned by the US-owned Cal-Energy, the biggest revenue source, not only of the now first class town but also of the province.
Since it started operating during the latter years of the Ramos administration after overcoming initially hostile reception from residents and the Church, Cal-Energy already shelled out some P2 billion in business and real property taxes, the latest being the P700 million paid in 2009.
The P700 million, 50 percent of which go to the coffers of Alfonso Castañeda, is part of the more than P1.8 billion being levied by the province as the CMIPP’s state tax arrears for the last more than six years.
This is aside from other levies enjoyed by the town from the operation of the project, as well as other taxes generated from other businesses and employments that cropped up as a result of the said project.
Said project, part of whose diversion weirs and other vital facilities are located in the town, is the major source of irrigation for more than 300,000 hectares of farmlands in Central Luzon and parts of Pangasinan.
The project siphons water from the Casecnan and Taal Rivers in the towns of Alfonso Castañeda and Dupax Del Sur here and diverts them through a 36-km diversion weir to thePantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija for irrigation and power.
Built during the Ramos regime via a 20-year build-operate-transfer deal with the Cal-Energy, said project also generates some 100 MW of power for the Luzon grid.^^^^^^^^^^

296619

January 17th, 2011, 05:06 PM

http://ec.cdn.cincopa.com/vjphotoribbon.JPG?o=1&id=0&res=25&h=a4peoyctq2m5yry5m2man3pgp2gxtnqs&cdn=ec&p=y&pid=134037&ph=xrlwrs3q1s1ok1de4xlxwm0txxnkacsc&d=AsDA7AQDXFAAY9lpA07lqJF&as=mp3

HYDRO PROJECT
Ambassador Wilhelm Donko, (center), leads the ribbon cutting during the inauguration of the $4M mini-hydro project in Baragay Commonal, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya on Dec. 8. From L-R: BM Santiago Dickson; Brgy. Capt. Rogelio Igua; former DOE Sec. Vincent Perez; Fausto Presley Jr., Chair, Smith Bell Mini Hydro Corp.; Yasushi Inada from Japan and Knud Hedeager, Pres., SBMHC. Photo by Victor Martin

http://www.vjnews.org/2011/01/16/workers-of-once-poorest-lgu-get-country%E2%80%99s-highest-yuletide-perks/

Ephesus29

January 21st, 2011, 09:50 AM

Ephesus29

January 21st, 2011, 09:57 AM

EDMARATION

January 21st, 2011, 10:42 AM

[QUOTE=296619;70815861]Workers of once poorest LGU get country’s highest Yuletide perks

January 16, 2011

BY CHARLIE C. LAGASCA
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – [B]Now, the more than 100 employees of Alfonso Castañeda town, the host of the multi-million dollar Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP), are lucky enough to have a P50,000 bonus each as extra year-end incentive from the municipal government.
QUOTE]

WOW!!!!!!! :uh::uh::uh::master:

Buntun

January 23rd, 2011, 07:32 AM

jcruze057

January 23rd, 2011, 04:38 PM

matanong ko lang...bakit sa province nyo wala man lang ni isang skyscraper sa downtown nyo?

296619

January 24th, 2011, 06:41 AM

PIA Press Release
Monday, January 24, 2011

Quirino Prov’l Tourism Council promotes stronger link with NGOs

By Thelma C. BicarmeCABARROGUIS, Quirino, January 24-(PIA) In support to the thrust of President Benigno S. Aquino III to promote public-private partnership, the Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) here recently sought the involvement of the non-government organizations during the recent election of officers of the Provincial Tourism Council (PTC).
Director Blessida Diwa of the Department of Tourism Region 2 (DOT 2) said the non-government organizations in the tour, transport, hotel and restaurant operators, indigenous peoples, and religious sectors are significant as they are directly involved in the tourism industry in the province.
Diwa also stressed that the officers who will plan and implement the tourism programs of the province should be composed of 60% membership from the non-government sector and 40% from the government.
Elected chairman of the PTC is ex-congresswoman Mary Ann Cua; vice chairman for tourism marketing and promotions-DTI provincial director Julie T. Alonzo; vice chairman for research & development- Marcy Foryasen (NGO); vice chairman for tourism culture & arts- board member Julius Caesar Vaquilar (NGO & GO); secretary-Aurea V. Martinez (GO); treasurer-Caridad Barrientos (NGO); auditor- gloria sanidad (ngo); pro-Danilo B. Castillo (GO) and business managers- conchita uy (NGO) and Shirley Ylanan (NGO).
The elected Board of Directors are: Fr. Silver Ablaza of St. Vincent Parish, Maddela; Fr. Nilo Ogaya of St Mark’s Parish, Cabarroguis; For. Celso Aresta (DENR); Thelma C. Bicarme (PIA); Aglipay Councilor Magdalena Saladino (GO);Raul Valdez (NGO); Cabarroguis Vice Mayor Gilbert Aduca , SB Virgilio Lopez (GO); Evelyn Clemente (NGO); Fidel Pascua (NGO); Johnny Chan (NGO); Primitivo Pacudan (NGO); Joey Gamboa (GO) Melissa Vicmudo (NGO) and Florentina Blando (NGO).
Governor Junie E. Cua has advised the PTC to promote the tourism industry of the province based on the province’ edge over the other provinces such as its rich agricultural production, natural resources, strong political unity and the hospitality of the Quirinians.
Meanwhile, the newly elected PTC chairman, Mary Ann Cua has vowed to work hand in hand with the provincial government towards the improvement of the tourism industry of the province.
“Before we shall embark on bigger tourism projects, we will first focus on the maintenance of cleanliness in our surroundings. A clean place is attractive to tourists, ” Cua stressed.
She also thanked the provincial leadership for giving priority to the development of some potential tourist attraction in the province particularly the planned establishment of a wakeboarding facility in the capital town of Cabarroguis. (TCBicarme/PIA)

Buntun

January 24th, 2011, 07:52 AM

PIA Press Release
Monday, January 24, 2011
Nueva Vizcaya farmers get agri assistance

Ben Moses Ebreo

DUPAX DEL NORTE, Nueva Vizcaya, January 24 (PIA) – More than 1,000 lowland and upland farmers in this town have benefited from various assistance given by the local government and the Department of Agriculture(DA) last year.

A report from the Municipal Agriculture Office(MAO) here bared that at least 20 farmers were benefited from Hybrid Rice production while some 300 farmers more got one cavan each of certified seeds.

Teresita Ramiento, acting municipal agriculturist said other services given by the LGU and DA were the anti-rabbies vaccinations to 486 recipients and deworming of 163 large and small ruminant animals in this municipality.

Under the Hybrid Breeder Seed Production Program, a farm owner in barangay Oyao was also able to tie up with PhilRice through the assistance of DA and the LGU.

“We also gave technical assistance on animal health management such as vitamin supplementation, castration and scabies treatment catering to at least 184 farmers,” Ramiento added.

Other farm inputs were also given to farmers in this town such as 50 packs of zinc sulfate with 38 beneficiaries, 1,259 packs of Bio N for 219 farmers and 300 packs of zinc phospide for some 700 recipients to increase their productivity.

Ramiento said the agricultural assistance helped most of the farmers in the town specially those who were badly hit by a series of typhoons that struck the province.# bme/PIA 2 – Nueva Vizcaya
link (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=R02&id=13078)

Buntun

January 24th, 2011, 07:53 AM

PIA Press Release
Monday, January 24, 2011
RNHEALS targets 11 LGUs in Nueva Vizcaya

Ben Moses Ebreo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, January 24 (PIA) – At least 89 nurses will be deployed in the province this year through the national government’s Registered Nurses Health Enhancement and Local Service(RNHEALS) project.

Ruth Padilla, consultant of the Department of Health(DOH) said the nurses will be assigned in 11 local government units here to train in Rural Health Units(RHUs) and hospitals in their respective communities.

“They will be receiving P8,000.00 monthly allowance and will enjoy insurance from the GSIS and PhilHealth. LGUs concerned will also pitch in to provide additional allowance for them,” she explained.

The 89 nurses will be assigned in the following municipalities such as in Alfonso Castaneda with 10 nurses, Ambaguio with 10, Bagabag with 5, Dupax del Norte with 6, Dupax del Sur with 5 nurses, Kasibu with 10, Kayapa with 7, Quezon with 7, Solano with 6, Sta. Fe with 6 and Villaverde with 7 nurses.

RNHEALS is funded through the national government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program(4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development(DSWD).

The project which runs similar features with the Nurses Assigned in Rural Service(NARS) in 2009 is implemented by the DOH, Department of Interior and Local Government(DILG), Department of Labor and Employment(DOLE), Philippine Nurses Association(PNA) and DSWD.

The RNHEALS project was conceived to help registered nurses train and earn certificate of competency to enable their employment here and abroad.# bme / PIA 2 – Nueva Vizcaya
link (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=R02&id=13079)

296619

January 26th, 2011, 04:13 PM

PIA Press Release
Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Water supply project remains Batanes town top priority

By Necitas G. Alconis/Thelma C. BicarmeBASCO, Batanes, January 26 (PIA) The Local Government Unit of Basco, the capital town of Batanes has assured that its Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) amounting to P100,000.00 will be judiciously spent on the town’s priority projects particularly water supply.
Carina Escalona, the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (MPDC) of LGU Basco said that Mayor Demetrius Paul C. Narag has prioritized the water supply project specifically the repair of water pipelines leak and hiring of caretakers or maintenance persons.
Escalona stressed that the municipal government has assigned watchdogs to ensure the uninterrupted supply of water to all household beneficiaries. These watchdogs, according to Escalona, will serve even at night time to ensure gate valves are not miss-manipulated.
The MPDC likewise stressed that a big slice of the IRA will be spent on the minor repair of the municipal roads . The LGU Basco will also partner with the Chanarian fisherfolk for the protection of the fish sanctuary.
Meanwhile, Escalona disclosed that the town’s Gender and Development (GAD) budget will be allocated for programs and projects for the indigent families.
“Last December, the municipal government gave a special assistance to 42 indigent school children from the five elementary and one secondary schools in the area. Each of them received P1,500 and goodies,” the lady MPDC said.
“The indigent senior citizens were also given rice, noodles and canned goods. Although most of the indigents are transients, the municipal government sees to it that they are properly served” Escalona assured.
Basco is divided into six barangays namely Ihuyok II (Kayvaluganan), Ihuvok I (Kaychanarianan), San Antonio, San Joaquin , Chanarian and Kayhuvokan. It is the second largest island among the Batanes islands and it is the most populated municipality in the province. (TCBicarme/NGAlconis)^^

william :D

January 28th, 2011, 01:20 PM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs187.snc4/37668_138358109526021_119418201420012_281162_1043686_n.jpg

Basco Lighthouse
by Zaldy Cabarles

Located in Naidi Hills in Barangay San Antonio, Basco, Batanes, the lush green hills and the open sea provide a beautiful backdrop for the lighthouse. The place can easily be reached by a 1.2-Km (3/4 mile) hike from the Port of Basco. The structure is a 6-story building with a gallery or viewing deck on the fifth floor. Located next to the 66-ft tower is a dwelling of vernacular architecture. Traditional Ivatan houses are made with stone or rubble masonry.
photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=138358109526021&set=a.165979130097252.40832.119418201420012)

william :D

January 28th, 2011, 01:42 PM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs117.snc4/36214_137011026327396_119418201420012_274762_7004216_n.jpg

Racuh a Payaman "Marlboro Country" Batanes
by Djana Marie

Racuh a Payaman, famously known as the “Marlboro Country, which literally means wide pasture, is a communal pasture collectively managed by the townsfolk of Batanes. It's an area of open green hills, views to both the China Sea and the Pacific Ocean on either side of Batanes, and a handful of animals dotting the landscape. One can see the Scotland-like hedgerows from a distance.
photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=137011026327396&set=a.136217903073375.19101.119418201420012)

freightrunner

January 29th, 2011, 12:50 PM

Reasons enough...
...why there will be no skyscrapers in this part of the globe...
...it's Batanes

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hLiNU_MS6pE/TS-OEjNCFBI/AAAAAAAAAIY/V6JOAtPfA_c/s400/sea.jpg http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hLiNU_MS6pE/TS-O9EiAZrI/AAAAAAAAAIc/eiYZJvogc1M/s400/river.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hLiNU_MS6pE/TS-PXijYq5I/AAAAAAAAAIg/fUX2YkwhQqI/s400/view.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hLiNU_MS6pE/TS-PiF3B5mI/AAAAAAAAAIk/uskSG8-6hKI/s400/house.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hLiNU_MS6pE/TS-PqwQjOvI/AAAAAAAAAIo/LOMmxS1UjxI/s400/window.jpg http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hLiNU_MS6pE/TS-P6rWOpqI/AAAAAAAAAIw/3bDTwZWjiRg/s400/horn.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hLiNU_MS6pE/TS-QSE92dmI/AAAAAAAAAI0/2XuWlYW6yvo/s400/cave1.jpg http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hLiNU_MS6pE/TS-RFYtBRyI/AAAAAAAAAJA/hVRz-a-z2A4/s320/church.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hLiNU_MS6pE/TS-ROLe4unI/AAAAAAAAAJE/tOhBeKjM7u8/s400/cross.jpg
Batanes Photo Safari, Itbayat, Mandy Navasero, Popi Laudico
link ( http://mandy-navasero.blogspot.com)

earlat

January 29th, 2011, 02:50 PM

296619

January 30th, 2011, 08:54 AM

Nueva Viscaya!^^

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs066.snc6/167631_1543200661106_1267652936_1178466_5253721_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1182981&id=1267652936)"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."

-Genesis 1:31

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs262.snc6/179085_1547989620827_1267652936_1185175_1685324_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1185176&id=1267652936)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs896.ash1/180410_1547989940835_1267652936_1185176_1273714_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1185177&id=1267652936)

credit to Glen...:cheers:

diz

January 30th, 2011, 10:00 AM

matanong ko lang...bakit sa province nyo wala man lang ni isang skyscraper sa downtown nyo?

the only cities in the country with legit skyscrapers are Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

Ephesus29

January 30th, 2011, 10:51 AM

the only cities in the country with legit skyscrapers are Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

Agree, plus; skyscrapers in a city, won't make it a "World Class" city.:)

296619

January 31st, 2011, 12:07 PM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs054.snc6/168440_1549343174665_1267652936_1187406_1679545_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1189173&id=1267652936)

Nueva Viscaya!:cheers::cheers::cheers:

(credit to glen)

freightrunner

January 31st, 2011, 12:45 PM

Agree, plus; skyscrapers in a city, won't make it a "World Class" city.:)

You're absolutely, positively right on the money sir. I guess what the local governments should focus on at the moment is how to make our small cities and towns in the entire archipelago worth visiting and provide good investment climate. Clean up the streets; fix the chaotic state of traffic; lessen the number of tricycles and come up with a genuine solution to public transport; reeducate drivers; enforce proper zoning laws; little things that would impress the average tourist and would be investor; things that would make them stay and spend their hard-earned money on. If we could make the average tourist say "wow, this is indeed one of the most beautiful small towns I've ever visited" then I think we have succeeded.Would't you guys agree? :cheers:

296619

January 31st, 2011, 05:03 PM

Maddela, Quirino!^^:cheers:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs455.snc3/26050_105661402788303_100000333328073_132547_4356869_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=global&subj=295974513413&pid=7638983&id=785861666&oid=295974513413)

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs394.snc3/24000_1318669360522_1044404154_30931784_6038207_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=global&subj=295974513413&pid=7638983&id=785861666&oid=295974513413)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/MADDELA-QUIRINO/295974513413?v=photos#!/photo.php?fbid=1318669360522&set=o.295974513413&pid=30931784&id=1044404154

william :D

February 1st, 2011, 08:33 AM

http://l1.sphotos.l3.fbcdn.net/hphotos-l3-snc4/hs1143.snc4/148512_460074682266_726152266_6202963_4793179_n.jpg
photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=460074682266&set=o.119418201420012)

Rolling Hills, Basco, Batanes

william :D

February 1st, 2011, 08:46 AM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1123.snc4/148556_1712587891443_1140527593_31995453_6073785_n.jpg
photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1712587891443&set=o.119418201420012&pid=31995453&id=1140527593)

a native of Batanes (Batanes, Philippines)

william :D

February 1st, 2011, 08:47 AM

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs485.ash2/75876_1712567770940_1140527593_31995445_4387897_n.jpg
photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1712567770940&set=o.119418201420012&pid=31995445&id=1140527593)

Children of Batanes (Sabtang Island, Batanes)

william :D

February 1st, 2011, 08:48 AM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs563.ash2/148559_1712566370905_1140527593_31995444_4846322_n.jpg
photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1712566370905&set=o.119418201420012&pid=31995444&id=1140527593)

Nakabuang Arc (Sabtang Island, Batanes, Philippines)

william :D

February 1st, 2011, 09:25 AM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs005.ash2/33603_438641336649_602576649_5788053_3222404_n.jpg
photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=438641336649&set=o.119418201420012&pid=5788053&id=602576649)

One fine day at Fundacion Pacita, Batanes

hugodiekonig

February 1st, 2011, 09:33 AM

william :D

February 1st, 2011, 10:26 AM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs685.snc4/62547_428991361649_602576649_5597816_3868365_n.jpg
photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=global&subj=119418201420012&pid=5597816&id=602576649&prev=1&oid=119418201420012&fbid=428991361649)

Colorful Sunset at Naidi Hills, Batanes

william :D

February 1st, 2011, 10:36 AM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs701.snc4/62170_468573980745_549480745_6571675_6014294_n.jpg
photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=global&subj=119418201420012&pid=6571675&id=549480745&prev=1&oid=119418201420012&fbid=468573980745)

Naidi Hills, Basco, Batanes

296619

February 1st, 2011, 04:55 PM

hugodiekonig

February 1st, 2011, 05:35 PM

Dalton Pass, Nueva viscaya!:cheers:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs046.snc6/167615_1551588630800_1267652936_1192118_3706074_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs062.snc6/167215_1551588390794_1267652936_1192117_5073890_n.jpg

credit to Glen!

I remember noong biyahe namin pa-Nueva Vizcaya. Nagkandahilo-hilo ako sa Dalton pass. Walang binatbat sa mga zigzag ng Kennon, Marcos at naguilian roads pa-Baguio:nuts::nuts::nuts::nuts:

Ephesus29

February 2nd, 2011, 10:20 AM

You're absolutely, positively right on the money sir. I guess what the local governments should focus on at the moment is how to make our small cities and towns in the entire archipelago worth visiting and provide good investment climate. Clean up the streets; fix the chaotic state of traffic; lessen the number of tricycles and come up with a genuine solution to public transport; reeducate drivers; enforce proper zoning laws; little things that would impress the average tourist and would be investor; things that would make them stay and spend their hard-earned money on. If we could make the average tourist say "wow, this is indeed one of the most beautiful small towns I've ever visited" then I think we have succeeded.Would't you guys agree? :cheers:

I couldn't agree more of all the statement you made. Infact a lot of tourist flocking to other parts of the worlds is to unwind from the hassles and bustles of the stressful everyday and "concrete jungle's life" which is all too common in urban sprawls and mega cities, like MM, NYC, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, etc.:)

We've been to few places in Europe, particular places that caught both of us (my wife and I) are little hamlets, like Wiclow 20 miles south of Dublin. The Aran island off the coast of Ireland and the Ilse of Skye off the Northern coast of Scottland, are both resembles the enchanting natural beauty of the Batanes island, Unspoiled and unobliterated, verdant vegetations and emerald water surrounding every island and islet, and live stock like sheeps, llamas, birds, and aquatic animals. Easy and unhurried life! wow

What the local government should focus is peace and order, traffics, better roads, and create small town feel of tourism, outdoor/aquatic activities, which I am absolutely sure that the coastal town of Cagayan, like Sta. Ana Appari, Sta. Praxedes, and Gonzaga? has lot to offer. Palanan, Divilacan, Maconacon, in the Pacific coast of Isabela are likewise places that has tourist attractions similar to the northern coast of Cagayan.

Lallo is one of my favorite because of its colonial character, and the iconic church of Segnora Segovia. Aparri's coast and the oldest seaport town in Luzon has historical past that has to be remenisce through museum/arts gallery.

San Pablo, has a lot of potential as well, cosiderintg its iconic bell tower and the church edifice itself. Complimented by its farming communities surrounding the area, would be a definite assets in tourism industy. Sometimes I thought, Pinoy's have the penchant of "skyscrapers", what they don't realized is that tourist are longing to have a week or two, break from those concrete structures that tends to be overwhelming and outright distractions. Oh, don't get me wrong, I always love skyscrapers, I always marvel all those engineering ingenuity, however there are times when you just have enough of it, and needs a break.:)

Ephesus29

February 2nd, 2011, 11:01 AM

I remember noong biyahe namin pa-Nueva Vizcaya. Nagkandahilo-hilo ako sa Dalton pass. Walang binatbat sa mga zigzag ng Kennon, Marcos at naguilian roads pa-Baguio:nuts::nuts::nuts::nuts:

Yep, one of the most scenic drives in Southeast Asia, I believe, and that of course includes Kennon Road, to Baguio. It has always fascinated me everytime I travell the Sta. Fe Road over Carabllo Mountain to Isabela. I thought it is breathtaking and scenic.:) Another scenic drive is the Claver -Pagupud Via duct. We used to call it the "Patapat". BTW; what is the extend of the via duct along the Ilocos Norte Coast and Cagayan?

GTPro

February 4th, 2011, 08:39 AM

Yep, one of the most scenic drives in Southeast Asia, I believe, and that of course includes Kennon Road, to Baguio. It has always fascinated me everytime I travell the Sta. Fe Road over Carabllo Mountain to Isabela. I thought it is breathtaking and scenic.:) Another scenic drive is the Claver -Pagupud Via duct. We used to call it the "Patapat". BTW; what is the extend of the via duct along the Ilocos Norte Coast and Cagayan?

It's the Bantay Kalbaryo (the mountain before the viaduct coming from claveria) and the Patapat Viaduct.

Beware: Attempted carjack at at the stretch of Villaberde, Nueva Vizcaya. Mag-ingat sa mga kalsadang walang masyadong tao.

296619

February 4th, 2011, 09:43 AM

GOVERNOR RAPIDS:cheers:
MADDELA, QUIRINO!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs436.ash1/24068_362587813413_295974513413_3528769_1293815_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs396.snc3/24068_362593823413_295974513413_3528779_7258697_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs436.ash1/24068_362593833413_295974513413_3528780_5021694_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs436.ash1/24068_362593843413_295974513413_3528781_8157513_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs436.ash1/24068_362593848413_295974513413_3528782_7779067_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs436.ash1/24068_362593858413_295974513413_3528783_912917_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs396.snc3/24068_362593868413_295974513413_3528784_6465747_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs436.ash1/24068_362593903413_295974513413_3528788_4658196_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs436.ash1/24068_362593908413_295974513413_3528789_5535835_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs396.snc3/24068_362593913413_295974513413_3528790_8039588_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs239.snc3/22644_302890458413_295974513413_3377608_1595831_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)
:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

CREDIT TO PHOTO OWNER!

296619

February 4th, 2011, 09:48 AM

MADDELA QUIRINO - ASTIG!:banana::banana::banana:

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs599.snc4/57888_417898323413_295974513413_4847107_2416938_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs675.snc4/61547_417898063413_295974513413_4847098_8209669_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs599.snc4/57888_417898328413_295974513413_4847108_6357130_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3528768&id=295974513413)
:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

CREDIT TO PHOTO OWNER!

296619

February 4th, 2011, 09:51 AM

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs457.snc3/26158_369397873413_295974513413_3662995_5879244_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3663014&id=295974513413)

296619

February 4th, 2011, 09:56 AM

QUIRINO - CAGAYAN VALLEY'S FOREST HEARTLAND!:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs477.ash1/26158_369116828413_295974513413_3656916_1283530_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3656926&id=295974513413)

Gusto ko nang umuwi.. whoooooo!

credit to photo owner!^^

Ephesus29

February 4th, 2011, 10:55 AM

It's the Bantay Kalbaryo (the mountain before the viaduct coming from claveria) and the Patapat Viaduct.

Thank you for shedding lights on this one^^

Beware: Attempted carjack at at the stretch of Villaberde, Nueva Vizcaya. Mag-ingat sa mga kalsadang walang masyadong tao.

And for the heads-up^^

Buntun

February 4th, 2011, 12:32 PM

PIA Press Release
Friday, February 04, 2011
Nueva Vizcaya P16M reforestation project launched

By Ben Moses Ebreo

DIADI, Nueva Vizcaya , February 4(PIA)– A P16 million reforestation project was launched in barangay Villa Aurora here Friday by officials and employees of the provincial government, the local government unit of this town and the Development Bank of the Philippines(DBP).

Ramon Salvador, coordinator of the Comprehensive Reforestation Project(CRP) said the activity marks the promotion of tree planting in the province in a multi-sectoral effort to repopulate its bald mountains with fruit – bearing trees.

Some 6,950 Rambutan trees were purchased for planting in a 25-hectare area in barangay Aurora here where some of the High Value Fruit Bearing Trees(HVFBT) were planted by government officials, employees, students, barangay officials and villagers.

“Aside from regreening our environment, this project will also serve as an alternative source of income among the villagers near the area provided that they must take care and guard the trees,” Salvador explained.

The fund is provided by the DBP with P9.6 million while the provincial government shoulders the more than P6 million counterpart.

Salvador added that a road improvement work going to the CRP site will be done as soon as the proposed P150,000.00 funding will be approved by the provincial government.# bme / PIA 2 – Nueva Vizcaya
link (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=R02&id=15378)

hakz2007

February 4th, 2011, 01:23 PM

‘Kalanguya’ nurse finds fulfillment outside her village
STA. FE, Nueva Vizcaya, February 4(PIA) - She simply called it a cultural and a political struggle that when she left Imugan in the late 70s, Leticia Puguon, 56 discovered that there is more to her calling as a community nurse outside of her native village.

Letty toiled as s student, washing her own clothes just to save P30.00 a week for her other needs, as she joined the first batch of 7 scholars of the Kalahan Educational Foundation(KEF), a non-government organization founded by American missionaries.

She went back to Imugan to serve. “In fact, I am the only one who came back and remained to serve in our community,” she muses.

And with the national government’s Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Services (RNHEALS) project which she is facilitating in the province, Puguon can only smile as she recalled her aweful stint during medical missions and emergencies in rural areas.

After earning her nursing license, Puguon started her nursing career as a community clinic nurse in barangay Imugan, an upland town mostly populated by the ‘Kalanguya’ tribe.

Later, she was assigned in rural health units of Kayapa and Bagabag towns, braving slippery terrains, rough roads and days of hiking to serve during medical missions in the hinterlands of Nueva Vizcaya.

“My salary then was P500.00 a month and I was not even paid for two months but I didn’t mind because my satisfaction is to serve our fellow Novo Vizcayanos specially those living in remote areas,” she added.

In 1984, Puguon was assigned in Bayombong town and now works as nurse IV at the Provincial Health Office(PHO).

In December last year, Puguon played Santa Claus in her native village of Imugan where she gave P50.00 each to the elderly in a community New Year’s celebration that also offered a medical mission.

After a mass, a native sports competition and a singing contest was also done where she donated prizes.

A ‘Wat-wat’ or a feast gathering was also offered during lunch and dinner among the Kalanguya villagers which was funded by the village officials.

While the elders and the youth, along with Puguon were waiting for the new year in the evening, the ’Bakliw’ ( chants of love, adoration to God, peace and unity) was expressed and performed including the ‘Dayumti’( expression of native poems) and the ‘Tayaw’ ( cultural dance) by elders, adult and the youth.

Last month, Puguon, also the current governor of the Philippine Nurses Association(PNA) for Cagayan Valley received the 2011 Most Outstanding Community Health Nurse award from the National League of Philippine Government Nurses, Inc.(NLPGNI) for her proven dedication and commitment to public service while practicing her nursing career for 30 years.

Puguon also urged her fellow nurses specially those who are new on the profession to give their passion to serve in their respective communities.

“I thought my mission will only be confined in my native village of Imugan but my cultural and political struggles brought me to what I am now,” she said.# bme / PIA 2 – Nueva Vizcayahttp://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r02&id=15391

Ephesus29

February 5th, 2011, 12:02 PM

freightrunner

February 6th, 2011, 01:54 AM

Ilocano news: Panagmula kadagiti kabambantayan iti Nueva Vizcaya, panggepen ti refo program
By Ben Moses Ebreo

DIADI, Nueva Vizcaya, February 4(PIA) – Naangay iti daytoy nga aldaw ti pannakairugi iti maysa a programa nga mangawis ti panagmula kadagiti kaldo a kabambantayan ti Nueva Vizcaya.

Iti Comprehensive Reforestation Program(CRP), wenno saknap a panagmula kadagiti kaykayo ket pinonduan ti provincial government ken iti Development Bank of the Philippines(DBP) ditoy a probinsiya.

Ti addaan P16M a budget nga programa ket narugian iti barangay Villa Aurora ti daytoy nga ili a dinar-ayan dagiti officiales iti probinsiya, DBP, empleyado ti gobyerno, estudyante ken daddumapay a miyembro iti nadumaduma nga organisasyon.

Sigun kenni Ramon Salvador, CRP coordinator, rebbengen daytoy a programa iti mangpaadu kadagiti kayo aglalo kadagiti fruit bearing a maimula tapno agbalin nga panggedan dagiti agin-indeg kadagiti pagmulmulaan a lugar kabayatan nga inda met salakniban dagitoy nga kayo.

Adda 6,950 a mula nga Rambutan iti immuna a maipamula sadiay barangay Villa Aurora ket sarunuen met ti panagmula diay dadduma pay a planting areas iti ili nga Diadi.

Innayon ni Salvador nga maaramid ken mapapintas pay ti dalan a mapan sadiay tree planting site iti barangay Aurora kalpasan ti pannaka-aprubar ti pondo nga P150,000.00 nga aggapu’t provincial government.# bme / PIA 2-Nueva Vizcaya

william :D

February 6th, 2011, 11:51 AM

Save Sierra Madre, save forests
By Fr. Pete Montallana
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Editor’s Note: President Benigno Aquino announced a logging moratorium on Feb. 3.)
AMONG the reports of logging and charcoal-making in Umiray in Quezon and Aurora was the one that I received at 8:23 a.m. on Jan. 10. An environmentalist from Umiray, General Nakar sent a text message that said “ang dmi ng khoy d2 sa Umiray ay more or less 10 taw pcs. Nakagayak na po un para ibyahe. Dp lang makaalis at ml2ki ang alon. (The number of logs here in Umiray is more or less 10,000 pieces. These are ready for transport. Departure is delayed due to big waves.)”
When I called up, I was informed that the logs were destined for Mauban. Immediately, I asked our informants to take a picture of the logs, but the heavy rains prevented them from doing so. However, I had pictures of charcoal from freshly cut trees in the same place taken on Dec. 18, 2010. Because of Simbang Gabi I did not have time to communicate this to our network.
Casualties, destruction
With so many dead and injured and so much destruction in the Philippines and in other parts of the world, Filipinos must know what is happening so that we can act fast to help mitigate the impact of global warming. The destruction of Sierra Madre is one issue that needs immediate attention.
The massive flooding and landslides in different parts of the country have focused the nation’s attention on the urgent need to address climate change due to global warming and to institute radical solutions to the degradation of the environment caused by man. More so because the poor are most vulnerable to calamities.
Corruption
Environmentalists welcomed the new administration of President Benigno Aquino with much hope that things would finally change at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). But as far as the destruction of forests in Sierra Madre is concerned, it has been business as usual.
With one big difference—people have been deceived that logging has stopped with so many press releases from the DENR regarding its anticorruption campaign announcing that it has installed surveillance cameras in offices, removed checkpoints, confiscated logs and donated these to schools, etc.
These measures may be good but the DENR has not really addressed corruption in the department. If only there were a big camera in Sierra Madre, then the whole country would know the real score on the destruction of its forests. The big question is: Can the DENR heal itself?
Rubber stamp
Take the case of logging and charcoal-making in Dingalan, Aurora and General Nakar, Quezon. Task Force Sierra Madre (TFSM), among other groups, has sent so many letters or reports to the DENR but it has barely acted on these.
The Multisectoral Forest Protection Committee (MFPC) in Dingalan has turned out to be a rubber stamp for those who earn from the forests. Inventories of charcoal have been good opportunities to bring out all the stocks that could not be “legally” transported. There has been no change in the MFPC.
Still, in March 2010, I told the community environment officer (Cenro) about illegal logging in Barangay Dikapanikian in Dingalan. He challenged me to go there with him. I told him I had pictures.
In the same place, on June 9, 2010 we took pictures of many flitches again. This was reported to the Cenro who immediately went there. I was told later that the flitches were placed under the custody of the barangay chair. Nothing more was heard about them. Where did so many flitches end up?
Petition
After the flash flood of July 18, 2010, 809 people from Dingalan wrote a letter to the President about the environment. They asked “that the permit of San Roque Saw Mill be cancelled because this is also being used by the illegal loggers of our town of Dingalan.”
The petition also calls for a stop to the transport of logs from Isabela and Quezon through Dingalan; enforcement of a total log ban throughout the Philippines; a probe and punishment of erring local and DENR officials for not doing anything or for not having a program to protect the environment.
The department interviewed some of those who signed the letter but nothing was heard of after that. What happened to the investigation? We were never informed.
Trucks blocked
Due to the campaign of the Church, parishioners from Sitio Setic, Barangay Ibona in Dingalan, were emboldened to protect their mountain. They said they were worried because the cutting of trees in the mountains continued without let-up. They blocked a truck hauling logs from their mountain and reported it to barangay officials and the DENR on Aug. 25, 2010.
The department simply texted back, saying it coordinated with the security guard to tighten watch. I was told later that the people were threatened by loggers and were advised not to bring the letter to the authorities.
It was on Sept. 4, 2010 that DENR personnel came to Sitio Setic. Not finding any more logs, they told the people that when they report they should make sure that there were logs to be seized. When the people answered that they should instead climb the mountain and see for themselves that the trees were almost gone, they did not go. Instead, the Cenro said, “why do you keep signing what Fr. Pete asks you to sign. If the operations of San Roque stop, many people will go hungry, you are to blame.” Then they left and their chief, the Cenro said, he would go to Barangay Umiray to see what Fr. Pete wants people to sign, the residents said.
Protective of saw mill
It is interesting to find out why the Cenro seems to be so protective of San Roque.
It is time the National Bureau of Investigation came into the picture. People talk about “grease money” flowing into the hands of local officials. On Nov. 14, 2010, another informant signed an affidavit that he saw logs of narra and kamagong, cut 4x4x6 by the side of the river in Bukbuk (Barangay Ibona, Dingalan and in the place between Sikbing and Muklapa, “I saw logs, cut 4x4x6, of which six were narra. The logs were loaded. Roque owns the hand tractor.),” he said.
In the dialogue of Nov. 28, 2010 between the Church and local government, Mayor Zenaida Padiernos of Dingalan said that at the last meeting of the MFPC it was agreed that only three sacks of charcoal would be allowed by the DENR to be carried by the bus. The reality is the opposite. One time, we noted a bus with so many sacks of charcoal. We texted an environmentalist to observe what the people at the checkpoint would do. They just let the bus pass by so easily.
During the Simbang Gabi, I was informed by a parishioner that aside from the legal fees asked by the DENR for the transport of siit (small driftwood), people still have to give a bribe to the DENR personnel.
She was scared to sign an affidavit because she might be harassed by the same DENR personnel.
I am so exasperated by this situation. The people are already suffering so much, and yet DENR personnel still milk them. I know that without documentation this cannot stand by itself, but taken with the other proofs, this only intensifies the need for immediate action—clean up the DENR.
Act now
As we reported to then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on June 16, 2008 and to which she and then environment secretary Joselito Atienza agreed, the biggest problem in the DENR was corruption.
The former president then agreed to create an independent citizens’ investigating committee to be implemented by the environment secretary,but this was not done. The department tried to lure the Church to be part of a monitoring committee. We never accepted that. How can we monitor together with suspected corrupt officials?
Our experience in the Aquino administration is that things have not changed. The present environment secretary has not really implemented anticorruption policies that would have lessened the destruction of the forests.
NGOs and the Church can only do so much. We have other things to attend to. We pay our taxes in order to pay for the salaries of DENR personnel to guard the environment and not protect those who destroy the environment.
If the department was really serious about its job, San Roque Saw Mill should have been closed, and there would be no more logs cut outside designated areas because illegal logs could not pass the checkpoints.

Get serious
What is happening around the world should alarm us. The government should consider the declaration of a total log ban throughout the country. It has to choose between the welfare of the people and the income of financiers. Should we continue to destroy our forests? At what price?
Environmentalists were disappointed with the first three major speeches of the President, which mentioned nothing about climate change and global warming—among the world’s most critical problems.
Prayer
Our prayer is that the President will act soon—to urgently address corruption in the DENR through an independent investigating committee. Corruption is just so embedded in the department that good people could not do anything about it.
The government, too, has to address the plight of poor woodcutters and charcoal-makers being taken advantage of by the financiers and unscrupulous government officials.
We are not sure of what will happen to us this year. I experienced the flash flood in General Nakar on Nov. 29, 2004 and Tropical Storm “Ondoy” in Manila on Sept. 26, 2009. With the way the DENR is operating, we might have more massive flooding than we can handle. God forbid!
Paradigm shift
The government is challenged by these calamities to make a paradigm shift and redirect its strategy on development toward social, economic and ecological sustainability. We urgently ask the President to prioritize the survival of the Filipino people above all other considerations by:
1. Imposing a total commercial log ban in all natural forests;
2. Canceling immediately all Integrated Forest Management Agreements (Ifmas) that have become fronts for illegal logging, and legislating the cancellation of the rest of the Ifmas because of imminent public danger;
3. Providing an alternative livelihood program for small loggers and charcoal-makers to liberate them from the clutches of their financiers and unscrupulous government officials;
4. Implementing a massive and genuine reforestation program to combat the rapid denudation of the forests;
5. Strengthen the forest protection program by providing sufficient funds to guarantee the presence of well-trained and -equipped forest ranger units in critical areas to arrest illegal loggers; and by ensuring the formation of multistakeholder forest protection coordinating councils in every local government unit with active participation of nongovernment and people’s organizations, the Church, the academe and other sectors; and
6. Cleaning up the DENR, through an independent investigating committee, of corrupt officials so that it can be truly responsive to a just and sustainable use of natural resources.
This year, dubbed by the United Nations as the “International Year of the Forests,” we want to share Mr. Aquino’s optimism that “pwede na ulit mangarap (we can again dream.).” Dreams, however, can only be realized by exercising political will, particularly on the environment. We hope that the government act before another catastrophe happens.
(Fr. Pete Montallana is the chair of the Save Sierra Madre Network. He was the parish administrator in 2010 of Dingalan, Aurora and Umiray, General Nakar, Quezon.)

Longest mountain range

Philippine Daily Inquirer

SIERRA MADRE, the longest mountain range in the country, is found in the eastern section of Luzon. The backbone of the country’s main island, it is shared by the provinces of Laguna, Rizal and Quezon in the south; Aurora, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan in Central Luzon; and Isabela, Nueva Viscaya, Quirino and Cagayan in the north.

These mountains provide people with the bounty of its foods, feeds, water, fodder, fuel, biodiversity and other environmental amenities.

These areas are blessed with the rich biodiversity in the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park in Isabela and the Mountains San Cristobal and Banahaw protected landscape in the south, including the caves of Biak na Bato in Bulacan.

Its watershed supplies water to big dams such as those in Magat, Casecnan, Pantabangan, Angat, La Mesa and Caliraya-Botocan, which provide water and power in Luzon.

These areas also served as the watershed of Pasig River, Laguna de Bay (one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world), the central plain of Luzon and the southern part of Cagayan Valley.

Place in history

Sierra Madre is also accorded a place in history with Gregorio del Pilar’s last stand in Tirad Pass and the capture of Aguinaldo in Palanan and of Hermano Pule in Banahaw. Even the New People’s Army takes refuge in the whole stretch of the mountain range.

However, it is sad to say that despite the economic, political and environmental importance of Sierra Madre, the government and the people pay it little respect, and fail to return the favor that the blessings of its richness provide.

Virgilio T. Villancio, a former manager of Land Grant Management Office, UP Los Baños College, Laguna

Sierra Madre tribal leader welcomes logging ban

By Delfin Mallari Jr.
Inquirer Southern Luzon

LUCENA CITY – The Agta/Dumagat tribe in the Sierra Madre mountain range in northern Quezon welcomed President Benigno Aquino’s declaration of a nationwide logging ban saying it is the “last chance to save Sierra Madre.”

“The whole tribe is glad with this latest development. This is one important step in the protection and rehabilitation of Sierra Madre and other forested areas in other parts of the country,” Ramcy Astoveza, a tribal leader of the Agta/Dumagat tribe and executive director of the Tribal Center for Development Foundation Inc. said in a phone interview Friday.

However, will not be another failure like the 2004 logging moratorium then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued following the killer floods and landslides in northern Quezon.

“The log ban failed because of insincere implementation,” Astoveza said, blaming the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the failure. Then, Environment Secretary Mike Defensor lifted the ban the following year.

Astoveza called on Mr. Aquino to strictly monitor the implementation of his logging moratorium order.

“The government should not bungle it this time,” he said.

Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona, head of the Prelature of Infanta, has long been blaming corrupt DENR personnel for the continued destruction of the Sierra Madre.

In past interviews, Tirona called on the government to “wage an all-out war, not words only” against illegal loggers and miners in the Sierra Madre.

Astoveza challenged the DENR and other government agencies to strictly implement Aquino’s logging moratorium.

“But the question here is how can these government agencies sustain the log ban order? Illegal loggers have the means to entice unscrupulous state workers to just close their eyes,” Astoveza said.

He noted that they have long been calling the attention of the government to stop all forms of logging in their ancestral domain but the rape of the Sierra Madre continues.

“We cannot do anything because these illegal loggers have armed goons and protection from government officials who are supposed to stop their unlawful acts,” he said.

Save Sierra Madre, save our forests !

source (http://www.facebook.com/notes/balagtas-bulacan/save-sierra-madre-save-forests/187810264572608)

freightrunner

February 6th, 2011, 06:16 PM

PIA Press Release
Friday, February 04, 2011
Nueva Vizcaya, makakolekta iti P1.3B manipud Casecnan
Ben Moses Ebreo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, February 4(PIA)- Mangnamnama ti probinsiya iti Nueva Vizcaya ti idadateng iti P1.3B a real property tax manipud CE Casecnan Water and Energy Company(CECWEC) ti kabiitan a panawen.

Baben ti pannakiyuman iti PIA kenni Rhoda Moreno, acting provincial treasurer, rumbeng a bayadan ti CECWEC iti nasao a gatad base ti naiwayat nga reassessment kadagiti sanikua iti nasao a kompanya.

Kinunapay ni Moreno nga ti gatad ket maadaw gapu iti diperensiya a naduktalan kalpasan ti naiwayat nga reassessment ken interes daytoy manipud 2002 agingga 2010.

Ti nakuna a balanse a gatad ket madaman nga pagsisinnaritaan dagiti kameng iti Department of Finance(DOF), CECWEC ken ti provincial government tapno mabayadanen daytoy a kandidad.

Sigun kenni Moreno, dakkel daytoy a gated nga mausar para kadagiti kasapulan a proyekto dagiti umili ti probinsiya.

Kinunapay ni Moreno nga ti pannakaduktal ti diperensiya nga bayadan iti CECWEC ket gapu ti iwaywayatda a nainget nga tax mapping iti probinsiya.# bme/PIA 2-Nueva Vizcaya

Buntun

February 8th, 2011, 10:52 AM

Updated February 08, 2011 05:10 PM
Batanes bids for Unesco heritage site nod

By Charlie Lagasca (philstar.com)

Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The country’s northernmost province of Batanes is again making a bid for inclusion in the list of world heritage sites of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), the state-run Philippine Information Agency (PIA) said.

Purita Licas, PIA director for Cagayan Valley, said that despite failing for the past five years to achieve this goal, Batanes leaders believe that with the further awareness of the public in the importance of preserving the unique culture of the islands, the province will eventually earn the Unesco nod.

However, Dr. Florentino Hornedo, Philippine commissioner to Unesco, said that Unesco’s declaration of the tiny island province as a world heritage site will eventually depend on the high degree of commitment of its leaders and residents to help preserve its rich cultural heritage.

One of the region’s five provinces, Batanes, also the smallest in the country, both in population and land area, is inhabited by the Ivatan indigenous people. It comprises 10 islets located about 162 km north of the Luzon mainland in the Luzon Strait.

“No amount of inspirational messages from government leaders could (make) preservation of culture (a reality) without the (appreciation) and sincere awareness of the people concerned (for) their own culture,” said Hornedo, himself, an Ivatan and the first ethno-historian from Batanes.

Hornedo made this statement as provincial and town officials expressed desire to push for the province’s eventual inclusion in the list of Unesco heritage sites, soliciting commitments from the general public in a summit on Batanes’ natural and cultural heritage conservation last week.
link (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=655560&publicationSubCategoryId=200)

hakz2007

February 8th, 2011, 04:32 PM

Reminders:

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All images and news items/articles posted without proper sourcing or linking will be subject for deletion.

Buntun

February 9th, 2011, 10:41 AM

PIA Press Release
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Quirino tourism council invites devotees to the 5th Aquero Festival

By Thelma C. Bicarme

CABARROGUIS, Quirino, February 9 (PIA)—The provincial tourism council (PTC) is inviting all devotees of St. Lourdes to join in the celebration of the fifth Aquero Festival on February 11-13, 2011 at the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Aglipay, Quirino.

PTC chairman Maria Angela Enriquez Cua said that Aquero is a remote and native French word which means “It is a thing,” uttered by the peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France in 1858 when she saw in her vision the apparitions believed to be the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To commemorate “that thing” which St. Bernadette referred in her vision of “Our Lady as Aquero, the Aquero Festival was organized in Lourdes, France and just like in France, the local Aquero Festival will commence on February 11 which is also the World Day of the Sick, with a Healing Mass to be officiated by Rev. Fr. Irvin “Vince” Hizon of Diocese of Malolos.

A Mass Wedding (Kasalan sa Simbahan) on the same day will also highlight the festival and on February 12, there will be a procession of the Royal Families and the Images of the different Barangay Chapels.

The Coronation of the Image of Our Lady of Lourdes will be held on February 13, the Grand Aquero Festival. There will also be a Eucharistic mass to be officiated by Most Rev. Ramon B.Villena.

Meanwhile, provincial tourism officer Aurea Martinez related that parish priest Rev. Father Quezon A. Juan of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Aglipay, a recognized Marian Shrine of the Diocese of Bayombong, led the adoption of the Aquero Festival in 2007. More and more pilgrims have since joined in the festival’s Marian devotions, torchlight processions and healing masses.

Many of the devotees, including Rev. Juan, testify to “miracles” granted through the intercession of Our Lady. The yearly flock has also attracted the attention of local officials and the Municipal Tourism Council, who have pledged to support the site’s tourism potential.

Aside from the Aquero festival, the Provincial Tourism Council also invites the devotees to visit other places of interest in Quirino such as the Nagbukel and Aglipay Caves, Governor Rapids along the Cagayan River, Susong Dalaga in Cabarroguis, Bimmapor in Nagtipunan and the several falls scattered throughout the province.(PIA 2)
link (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=R02&id=16248)

Buntun

February 10th, 2011, 10:51 AM

PIA Press Release
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Trading center income eyed to develop farmers' facilities

by Ben Moses Ebreo

BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya, Feb. 10 (PIA) – Officials of the Nueva Vizcaya Agricutltural Terminal(NVAT) here have introduced new systems and innovations to improve their facilities in order to cater to its increasing number of customers.

“We are actually on the look-out for new sources of income to augment our funds for the further improve our facilities,” said Perfecto Martinez, Jr., NVAT general manager.

He said sourcing out funds, introduction of new fees and marketing activities are being implmented to further improve their line of services for farmers and traders.

NVAT customers have increased over the years since its revival in 2004. With traders coming from Bulacan, Metro Manila, San Jose City, Cabanatuan City, Urdaneta ,Pangasinan, Isabela, Cagayan, Apayao and as far as Aklan provinces, additional innovations must be made to accommodate the delivery and sale of fresh and quality vegetables from the province.

Recently, they have started to collect 0.5 centavo facility fee per kilo of vegetables going out of the trading center to be used to put-up new and additional facilities to improve its services such as roads, lights, water system and security among others.

The 0.5 centavo facility fee, he said which will be paid by buyers of vegetables from the NVAT shall also be utilized to monitor the volume of products going out of the agri - center which is located in barangay San Antonio North here.

The new source of income is in addition to the existing gate fee or entrance fee exacted from tricycles, P5.00; Jeepneys,P10.00 and other vehicles, P20.00.

A social marketing activity was also started to bring fresh and quality vegetables to the provincial capitol in Bayombong town at a lower price in coordination with the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Employees Association(NVPEA).

“We are now on our second week of doing this and its working, we are getting orders already,” said Jimmy Palec, NVAT marketing manager.

Last year, NVAT officials handed to agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala a resolution asking his department for financial assistance amounting to P15 million.

Once released, the fund will be used for the P8.5 million concreting of the agri - center’s service road, P5 million construction of additional bay area and a P2 million soft loan through micro-financing scheme which will be released to farmer associations.

However, a P4 million or 30 percent counterpart will also come from the NVAT as stipulated in the agreement with the DA.

The NVAT, Martinez added is also in the process of negotiation with Save More malls in Cagayan Valley to become one of the outlets of its vegetables.

“With this innovations, we are asking our farmers to produce quality vegetables in to promote our NVAT into a higher level. Let us carry out the adage: “Honesty is the Best Policy”,” Martinez added.# bme/PIA 2 – Nueva Vizcaya
link (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=R02&id=16377)

william :D

February 16th, 2011, 10:37 AM

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180966_10150091625826606_545901605_6830672_1635999_n.jpg

No to mining! Save Sierra Madre!

photo courtesy of Bro.Martin Francisco (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150091625826606&set=a.429093691605.213458.545901605)

william :D

February 16th, 2011, 10:42 AM

Again, fighting for forests

BY NERIC ACOSTA

PRESIDENT Noynoy Aquino signed Executive Order (EO) 23 this week, declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the country’s natural and residual forests and creating an anti-illegal logging task force to enforce this. The EO boldly asserts the state’s role as the primary protector of the country’s natural wealth and heritage found in our forests.

After all, Article XII, Section 2 of the Constitution provides that “the exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the State.”

The EO exercises not only the state’s functions to enforce the laws that prohibit the wanton abuse of the resources of the forests, but also the constitutional mandate to pursue as a matter of state policy the conservation of the country’s ecosystems and their biodiversity to maintain a “healthful ecology,” as framed in the Philippine Constitution.

The EO clearly states that the State has the obligation “to protect the remaining forest cover of the country not only to prevent flash floods and hazardous flooding but also to preserve biodiversity, protect threatened habitats and sanctuaries of endangered and rare species and allow regeneration of residual forests and development of plantation forests.”

In the larger context of climate change adaptation and longer-term mitigation measures, returning the forests to the center of ecological and conservationist policy thrusts is not only timely but also imperative. If we cannot stop the unabated destruction of our already degraded forests, which provide us with incalculable ecological services—soil quality, clean water, watersheds, carbon sinks and clean air—we run the risk of rising food insecurity and economic dislocation, greater floods and increasing vulnerabilities to climate-related disasters, and, all told, unsustainable human communities.

That is the spirit with which to view the logging moratorium—not in isolation, but in terms of the larger and longer-term challenge of national adaptation to the mounting impacts of climate change on a high-risk archipelago like ours. As the Worldwide Fund for Nature avers, “the EO creates the crucial, though temporary, space needed for the public and private sectors to build consensus on new land use priorities, re-defining how we sustainably manage our fast-dwindling natural resources in preparation for a climate defined future.”

A logging moratorium, as such, does not address completely the need to abate severe deforestation and preserve biodiversity, nor guarantee the aggressive reforestation of critical watersheds and logged over areas around the country. For sure, a moratorium is only as good as its effective and sustained enforcement. Such bans in the past failed to have the optimal impact of curbing deforestation simply because the mechanisms to make it work were inadequate or unsound. Worse, a ban could even give rise to the unintended or opposite effect—that of even more illicit logging activities—if loopholes remain unplugged and gray areas of implementation are used to circumvent the law, and definitions of what are allowed or prohibited are not made clear and categorical.

The forests are, after all, more than just the physical composition of trees and wildlife habitat; the forests refer as well to the interaction of natural resources with human communities within forestlands. That is why the Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) program initiated in 1995 became the national strategy for the sustainable development of forestland resources, involving upland communities and organizations, local governments, indigenous tribes and local enterprises.

Some of the CBFM areas have succeeded in this respect, while others have been abused or have suffered from government neglect or collusion with illegal logging interests.

In this case, the EO will have to further define the needs of the communities who rely on the forests and their resources for sustenance and, as with indigenous peoples, for the anchors of culture and ancestral land. Plantation forests and the domestic local wood industries, on which thousands primarily rely for livelihood and employment, will also have to have clearly defined parameters and rules governing permits and contracts. And necessarily, government will have to ensure that forest monitoring and compliance systems are in place and sustained.

That is why forestry as such is far more complex than it appears. While important to parallel this moratorium on logging activities with massive regreening—reforestation, or “rainforestation” with indigenous tree species—there is, apparently, more to forest management than curbing illegal logging and instituting tree-planting programs.

What the EO jumpstarts is the process of making development truly sustainable and consonant with a national climate change adaptation-mitigation strategy. An EO like this should give even more reason to at last clearly delineate our forest lines—and put in place a sound national land use plan. And in the larger framework of the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change, this sets the tone for moving the country towards the nascent global REDD-plus plans.

The REDD—reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation—is a proposed incentive system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions wherein industrialized countries would provide financial incentives for forested, developing countries to manage and protect forests and increase their so-called carbon stocks. While still underdeveloped as a mechanism, the REDD-plus system offers a country like ours unique opportunities to engage local communities and the private sector to rebuild our degraded forests as integral to our responsibility to be a part of the global stewardship of the earth—and its life-giving though fragile bounties.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/180774_10150092096181606_545901605_6837114_6201697_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/183163_10150092096871606_545901605_6837121_6606373_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/39979_421034531605_545901605_5372175_8310772_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/39979_421034541605_545901605_5372177_1474349_n.jpg

source (http://www.facebook.com/notes/bro-martin-d-francisco/again-fighting-for-forests/10150102718511817)

296619

February 16th, 2011, 04:25 PM

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180861_1559676672996_1267652936_1206075_1387877_n.jpg

Nueva Viscaya:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:(c/o Glen)

Buntun

March 8th, 2011, 02:06 PM

PIA Press Release
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Mini hydro projects eyed

By Ben Moses Ebreo

BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya, March 8 (PIA) – The existence of numerous waterfalls and vast rivers in Alfonso Castaneda town will be one of the natural resource which can turn this remote town into a self-reliant and major power producer in the future.

Mayor Jerry Pasigian, 38 said they are investing their funds for education of the youth and increse environmental awareness to encourage sustainable preservation and management of forest reserves.

According to Pasigian, the mini-hyrdo power projects can generate 100 to 110 Mega Watts of electricity which can supply the power requirements of the town of Alfonso Castaneda and can also generate for the town from P1.8 to 2.8 billion a year once these are being sold to power generating companies.

“But we should not sacrifice our natural resources, it should be self-sufficient so that our future generations can also benefit from it,” Pasigian said.

Recently, he said they have increased their scholarship slots from 64 to 100 at the Nueva Vizcaya State University(NVSU) here to prepare the youth as responsible citizens for their town.

“By sending them to school, they can become our next generation of builders and developers of our community in Alfonso Castaneda,” Pasigian added.# bme/ PIA 2 – Nueva Vizcaya
link (http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=R02&id=21039)

Buntun

March 8th, 2011, 02:09 PM

PIA Press Release
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Feature: Capissaan caves: Nueva Vizcaya’s world-class tourist attraction

By Ben Moses Ebreo

KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya, March 2 (PIA) – During his childhood days, Ifugao Richie Angcuna could only wonder what lies beneath the cave in his native village of Capissaan in Kasibu town. Little did he know that the cave is a home to an endless wonders of nature that they can be proud of.

“We only catch fruit bats a few meters inside its entrance, we did not know what really lies beyond the resting place of the bats,” Angcuna, now a 23-year old cave guide said.

For years, the cave serves as a regular place to visit among migrant Ifugaos to catch fruit bats as a native delicacy not knowing that there it has more to offer than food on their table.

The fruit bats, locally known as ‘Kaliputo’ guards the cave’s entrance against curious eyes from seeing the inside beauty of the caves touted as a world-class cave in the international tourism map.

It was in the late 1990s when a group of mountaineers and spelunkers of Sang-at Salug Outdoor Club(SSOC) and GAIA Mountaineering Club(GMC) , while on an adventure search for an alternative tourist attractions in the province, stumbled on its beauty.

Their discovery reverses the tourism setback experienced by the industry after the 1990 earthquake which brought the brought down the popularity of the Salinas Salt Springs, the once world - renowned tourism pride of Bambang town, as one of the eight wonders of the world.

And with its untimely death comes a new life and hope for the province’s tourism industry – the growing popularity of the Lion-Alayan cave system. It’s 250 kilometers from Manila and can be reached through a four to five-hour ride from either Bambang or Solano towns .

This cave system is now touted as the fifth longest cave system in the country, a geologists’ paradise and ranked among the best. Marichelle Costales, supervising tourism officer said the Capissaan cave is now the major tourist site in the province that attracts young and old local and foreign tourists.

Each year, hundreds of tourists marvel on its beauty - with varying rare calcite formations and unique stalagmite and stalactite features including a subterranean river that becomes a satisfying adventure for those aiming to traverse its four kilometer length.

Part of the multi-chambered cave network are the Lion and Alayan Caves, measuring 4.2 kilometers.

In 2001, the 1st national caving congress was held in this province, particularly in barangay Capissaan where the cave systems was earlier discovered, and gained national recognition.

Tourism officials here said they have instituted rules and regulations for tourists who visit and trek inside the cave systems to protect its natural formations from indiscriminate human activities.

Some villagers were also tapped as cave guides to provide employment and livelihood opportunities in the area.

Aggressive information education and communication campaigns are also being conducted among the villagers within barangay Capissaan and its adjacent barangays to instill environment awareness and protection within the cave system.

This year, the province will be hosting another national caving congress next month to boost tourism in Nueva Vizcaya. The congress is expected to gather and attract national and international caving enthusiasts.

“It will be another opportunity for us to exchange ideas and concepts among environment advocates to further improve our systems which have been put in place for the protection of our tourism treasure,” Costales said. (PIA Nueva Vizcaya)
link (http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=R02&id=21060)

koreanboy

March 8th, 2011, 02:13 PM

^^ pics.po plsss tnx...

ipur

March 11th, 2011, 07:51 AM

BREAKING NEWS...

Intensity 8.8 earthqauke happened in JAPAN around 1:56PM today. Most probably, a tsunami alert will be issued on the eastern sea board of the Philippines sooner today...Please be alert as it is being expected that a tsunami (if there is) will arrive at around 6PM today ...

michael_ray

March 11th, 2011, 09:18 AM

ABS-CBN NEWS: TSUNAMI IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN THE PHILIPPINE SOIL AT 7PM TONIGHT. PEOPLE IN THE COASTAL AREAS OF Batanes, Ilocos Norte, CamSur, Camarines Norte, North & South Samar, Leyte, Surigao, Davao, and Davao Oriental MUST VACATE NOW. -PHIVOLCS.

michael_ray

March 11th, 2011, 09:38 AM

TSUNAMI IS EXPECTED TO HIT PHILIPPINE SOIL BETWEEN 5PM TO 7PM.

TSUNAMI ALERT LEVEL 2: BATANES GROUP OF ISLAND, CAGAYAN, ILOCOS NORTE, ISABELA, QUEZON, AURORA, CAMARINES NORTE, CAMARINES SUR, ALBAY, CATANDUANES, SORSOGON, NORTHERN SAMAR, EASTERN SAMAR, LEYTE, SOUTHERN LEYTE, SURIGAO DEL NORTE, SURIGAO DEL SUR, DAVAO ORIENTAL, DAVAO DEL SUR.

Tarlaqueno-ako

March 19th, 2011, 04:25 PM

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180861_1559676672996_1267652936_1206075_1387877_n.jpg

Nueva Viscaya:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:(c/o Glen)

Wow, parang sa Baguio din.:)

lloydbenitez

March 28th, 2011, 04:23 AM

Good News: Kapisaan Caves, sikat na sa mga turista

http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest/76669/good-news-kapisaan-caves-sikat-na-sa-mga-turista

lloydbenitez

April 10th, 2011, 05:09 AM

BATANES

http://mefindingsense.blogspot.com/2011/04/batanes-on-my-mind.html

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/5590019105_345e346668.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5590635340_ab6bdde011.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5306/5592529980_8aaffed368.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/5590031387_8be83762ac.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5189/5590615280_eaf764d90c.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5590626246_4383d818b2.jpg

lloydbenitez

April 11th, 2011, 08:14 AM

Provincial execs allot P21M fund for teachers
by Ben Moses Ebreo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, April 7 (PIA) – Provincial officials here Wednesday have approved P21 million for the honoraria of teachers funded under the provincial government’s Special Education Fund (SEF).

The fund will serve as the provincial government’s counterpart honoraria for the more than 300 teachers deployed in 15 municipalities of the province.

“The fund will be sufficient for most of these teachers where they can get P6,000.00 each per month,” said governor Luisa Cuaresma who presided the meeting of the Provincial School Board(PSB) at the FTM Food Center here.

The 2011-2012 fund allocation will be released to SEF-funded teachers starting in June.

Since 2005, the provincial government here has provided funds for the honoraria and bonuses of the increasing number of teachers in a bid to bridge the gap of insufficient number of teachers in the province.

The provincial government gets its funding for the SEF from the payments and remittances of real properties of the CE Casecnan Water and Energy Company(CECWEC) which operates the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation and Power Project(CMIPP) in Alfonso Castaneda town.

Completed in 2001, the CMIPP, a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) was built to augment irrigation needs of farmers in central Luzon and provide additional electric power for the Luzon grid. (BME/PIA 2 – Nueva Vizcaya)

lloydbenitez

April 11th, 2011, 08:15 AM

Irrigation, flood control, drainage projects benefit Cagayan Valley folks
by Ben Moses Ebreo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , April 6(PIA) – Several irrigation, flood control and drainage projects have been completed by government agencies in Cagayan Valley, thereby contributing to the productivity, security and food sufficiency among farmers.

Governor Luisa Cuaresma, chairman of the Regional Development Council-Infrastructure Development Committee(RDC-IDC), citing a report from 2005 to 2010 said the Addalam River Irrigation Project(ARIP) one of the major irrigation and flood projects in the region is already 94.49 percent complete.

The project is expected to benefit 4,500 farmers with 5,830 hectares of rice and corn lands to be irrigated covering the towns of Aglipay and Saguday in Quirino province and he towns of Echague and Jones in Isabela province.

RDC-IDC member-agencies also repaired nine national irrigation systems and constructed five new national irrigation systems.

She said that out of the 113 existing communal irrigation projects targeted for rehabilitation, only four were completed during the period which include Itbud and Imnajbu Small Water Impounding Projects(SWIP )in Batanes island province, Intal via Asinga SWIP in Baggao town in Cagayan and the Community Irrigation System(CIS) of Maddela town in Quirino province.

With these projects, 17 percent or 4,702 hectares of farmlands from the 27,539 hectares of targeted new irrigated areas were given sufficient water supply and covered 67 percent of the targeted 155,175 hectares with the repaired irrigation systems.

On drainage and flood control, Cuaresma said the Urgent River Bank Protection Works(URBPW), Magapit Pump Irrigation System(MPIS) and the conduct of feasibility study and detailed engineering for some 107 national irrigation projects were enrolled under the Regional Development Investment Program(RDIP).

joelrm_22

April 25th, 2011, 04:57 AM

Hi everyone,

Just want to share, everytime na umuuwi ako ng Tuguegarao from Manila vice versa hindi ako papayag na hindi ko makita ang Central Business Area ng SOLANO, the town is so SIMPLE, CLEAN, FRESH, and PEACEFUL. Progressive town din naman due to the presence of giant food chains, stores, banks and etc. in the town. Ewan ko ba kung bakit, I really LOVE the town. Hopefully sana maging 1st Class town na ito. :cheers::cheers::cheers:

Gusto ko din makita ang Town Proper ng Bayombong kaso hindi naman dumadaan ang bus sa Central Business Area nito. :ohno: :ohno:

Buntun

April 25th, 2011, 06:46 AM

GTPro

April 25th, 2011, 07:40 AM

Totoo yan mas maunlad ang Bambang kesa Bayombong pero kung edukasyon ang pag-uusapan numero uno ang Bayombong sa buong Region 2.

lloydbenitez

April 25th, 2011, 07:55 AM

ooh. imo, Tuguegarao City is number one in terms of education in the region. The city is home to four (4) universitis namely: University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao (two campuses), Saint Paul University Philippines, University of Cagayan Valley (2 campuses), and Cagayan State University (2 campuses). FL Vargas College Tuguegarao is also big with 3 campuses. Plus these are quality schools. USL has 3 national topnotchers this year. 5th in the geodetic engring board, 5th in interior design board and 6th in guidance counseling board. USL also has the highest board passing rate in Electrical Engring in the whole NORTHERN PHIL. USL and SPUP are among the top ten performing nursing schools in the philippines. USL has a 78% passing rate sa cpa board compared to the 43% na avg national passing rate. number one din yun sa region 02. marameng marame pa. sa top 5 sa nursing board, 4 dun galing sa tugue. SMU lang nakapasok dun, 3rd.

Buntun

April 25th, 2011, 08:02 AM

Totoo yan mas maunlad ang Bambang kesa Bayombong pero kung edukasyon ang pag-uusapan numero uno ang Bayombong sa buong Region 2.

i also don't agree with this,,isa rin namang top performing school ang SMU pero nag-iisa lang ito compared sa 4 universities ng tuguegarao,,,
tuguegarao is indeed the university belt of region 2 and even some parts of CAR

lloydbenitez

April 25th, 2011, 08:06 AM

maybe he was referring to Vizcaya only and not the whole region 02

joelrm_22

April 25th, 2011, 12:00 PM

^^ mas maunlad pa ang town proper ng bambang kesa sa bayombong...nakita mo naman na siguro ang cbd ng bambang nasa highway lang..at matagal na ring 1st class town ang solano mataas ang localy generated income nito halos kapantay ng sa ilagan
rank in terms of cbd:
1.solano
2.bambang
3.bayombong
yang 3 na yan ang commercial centers ng buong vizcaya at magkakasunod pa :)

Thanks Dude, Yup nakikita ko ang CBD ng Bambang! Ah ganun ba?! But then, according sa wikipedia, Solano=3rd Class, Bayombong=1st Class, Bambang=2nd Class. I know na mas MAUNLAD ang Solano kaysa sa Bayombong according din sa wikipedia. I thought MAS MAUNLAD ang Bayombong kaysa Bambang!

Anyway, I really like SOLANO so S-I-M-P-L-E yet Progressive Town, may night life pa sila. jejeje

joelrm_22

April 25th, 2011, 12:04 PM

Totoo yan mas maunlad ang Bambang kesa Bayombong pero kung edukasyon ang pag-uusapan numero uno ang Bayombong sa buong Region 2.

oooppss! Nope Nope. IMO, Tugue is the Center of Education in Region 2 isama mo pa ang KALINGA and APAYAO. hehehe

GTPro

April 25th, 2011, 02:13 PM

Sumagi lang kasi sa isip ko yung Philippine Science Highschool Bayombong Campus.

I stand corrected though.

lloydbenitez

April 26th, 2011, 08:56 AM

hehe. meron na ring science high school dito sa tugue. Tuguegarao City Science High School at Mabini Street

Buntun

April 26th, 2011, 09:54 AM

^^sa high school level,,philippine science high school has the highest quality of education in the whole region 2 which is located in bayombong

lloydbenitez

April 26th, 2011, 10:03 AM

yah. i agree.

296619

May 6th, 2011, 02:20 PM

Salamat po sa mga participants mula Nueva Viscaya sa katatapos na PATTARADAY FESTIVAL!. Pinasaya niyo po kami!:):cheers:^^

Pengue

May 10th, 2011, 01:07 PM

Nueva Vizcaya dad pushes for soil testing center
by Ben Moses Ebreo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, May 10 (PIA) --- A provincial board member here on Monday has proposed for the establishment of a soil testing center in the province to cater to the needs of farmers in increasing their productivity.

Senior board member Epifanio Lambert Galima said he has received numerous complaints from farmers on the lengthy delays of their soil testing results which prompted them to plant without the appropriate results of their soil samples which are still being tested in San Mateo town in Isabela.

“This is one of the very reason why we cannot maximize the productivity of our farms because there is a mismatch between the type of soil and the use of fertilizers among farmers,” he said on Monday’s session of the provincial board.

He said that when the soil testing center will be put in place in the province, it will assist farmers who comprise 60 percent of the total population of the province in terms of proper fruits, vegetables and rice varieties to plant in their respective farms and the type of fertilizers to be used to further boost their productivity.

Galima also expressed disgust over the absence of a soil testing center in the province, being one of the major agricultural hubs in northern Luzon.

“Our province, being an agricultural hub not only in Cagayan Valley but in the entire Luzon as well needs to have a soil testing center to further develop and improve the capability of our farmers in increasing our productivity and therefore, they too can improve their lives,” he added.

Galima said the establishment of a soil testing center in the province will also boost the potentials of the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal (NVAT) which markets the products of farmers such as fruits and vegetables in various parts of the country.# tcb/ bme- PIA 2 Nueva Vizcaya

tona siye

May 19th, 2011, 09:14 PM

oooppss! Nope Nope. IMO, Tugue is the Center of Education in Region 2 isama mo pa ang KALINGA and APAYAO. hehehe

No.. hindi po kasama ang Kalinga at Apayao sa Region 2. Tsaka yung 3 bayan na binabanggit (Bambang, Bayombong at Solano), may specific land use plans ang probinsya para sa mga ito: Bambang as the Agri Center, Bayombong as the Educ Center at ang Solano bilang Commercial-Business Center kaya tignan ang pag-unlad ng mga bayang ito ayon sa plano ng probinsya!!!

william :D

May 22nd, 2011, 01:26 AM

Nueva Vizcaya: Citrus fruit overload! Perante, satsuma, poncan & pomelo

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TQMUNwKhEkI/AAAAAAAAHgs/APG-ObRvrYk/s400/vizcaya01.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TQMUPN3SgII/AAAAAAAAHgw/wskdZLPps84/s400/vizcaya02.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TQMUQXWTIoI/AAAAAAAAHg0/iZhLH5JfdH8/s400/vizcaya03.jpg
all credits to ivan henares
http://www.ivanhenares.com/search/label/Cagayan%20Valley

william :D

May 22nd, 2011, 01:28 AM

Quirino: Spelunking at the Aglipay Caves

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TP1uE-YdFnI/AAAAAAAAHgU/d4sE0M6Qdu0/s400/quirino01.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TP1uF7pyJOI/AAAAAAAAHgY/GMkv9UeRy-k/s400/quirino02.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TP1uGfuR3DI/AAAAAAAAHgc/1pcEukib43k/s400/quirino03.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TP1uG8gC1xI/AAAAAAAAHgg/WEohprWaQ1s/s400/quirino04.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TP1uHvy1ufI/AAAAAAAAHgk/L-BiTOufo6k/s400/quirino05.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TP1uIA__x2I/AAAAAAAAHgo/Psn7jhGqKGU/s400/quirino06.jpg
all credits to ivan henares
http://www.ivanhenares.com/search/label/Cagayan%20Valley

william :D

May 22nd, 2011, 01:33 AM

Batanes: Old stone houses of Itbud and Centro in Uyugan, Batanes

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S8E4kayMXzI/AAAAAAAAGQw/8cGNLbffbMI/s400/uyugan1.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S8FFpNzBaJI/AAAAAAAAGRI/-wi_ZPbOzBU/s400/uyugan4.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S8E4lRdV42I/AAAAAAAAGQ4/G8RGtyOtY_k/s400/uyugan2.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S8E4mU4lorI/AAAAAAAAGRA/pR6y_boyaGI/s400/uyugan3.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S8FFqRlstMI/AAAAAAAAGRQ/Lvpw0ho99TM/s400/uyugan5.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S8FFrRk-TJI/AAAAAAAAGRY/S3DwQWIyDZA/s400/uyugan6.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S8FFsbh_KNI/AAAAAAAAGRg/4zIgCDlGRA4/s400/uyugan7.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S8FFtvWOwzI/AAAAAAAAGRo/OTfHmhKAMpg/s400/uyugan8.jpg
all credits to ivan henares
http://www.ivanhenares.com/search/label/Cagayan%20Valley

william :D

May 22nd, 2011, 01:35 AM

Batanes: Batanes food adventure!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S5UPOrDFkoI/AAAAAAAAF98/m04HTgDeehM/s400/batanesfood1.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S5UPQERcJZI/AAAAAAAAF-E/F-wFqVNSUmI/s400/batanesfood2.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S5UPRj67Y4I/AAAAAAAAF-M/mx3dLFtjq5g/s400/batanesfood3.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S5UPTPbnwKI/AAAAAAAAF-U/LXtpxRxxifk/s400/batanesfood4.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S5UPUtkX9_I/AAAAAAAAF-c/jEGpYb5iIcE/s400/batanesfood5.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/S5UPV2jYURI/AAAAAAAAF-k/q4NUro1cZa8/s400/batanesfood6.jpg
all credits to ivan henares
http://www.ivanhenares.com/search/label/Cagayan%20Valley

296619

May 23rd, 2011, 05:39 PM

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/180523_1623226665945_1394832586_31488245_3157764_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=global&subj=1031648626&pid=408865&id=100000921821654)

Mactol Falls!
San Pugo Nagtipunan, Quirino:cheers::cheers::cheers:

Credit to Jason Wong!

TheAvenger

May 27th, 2011, 04:20 PM

Photos / views of the east coast of Batan island and Sabtang island of the Batanes Province.

http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/bashichannel001.jpg

http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/batanandsabtang.jpg

Please see also my Em Esber Blog about Batanes Province.

http://jibraelangel2blog.blogspot.com/

http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/001.jpg

http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/012.jpg

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http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/101.jpg

296619

May 28th, 2011, 10:50 AM

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/206761_1602123862568_1520232226_31231020_526756_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31231096&id=1520232226)

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/199849_1601693371806_1520232226_31230314_3574236_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31231096&id=1520232226)

MOMENTS OF NATURE by Alvin Eusebio!
DIFFUN, QUIRINO!:cheers::cheers::cheers:

william :D

May 31st, 2011, 12:53 AM

Nueva Vizcaya now 95% measles vaccinated

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, May 28 (PIA) -- The province is now 95 percent saturated with anti-measles vaccination, health officials here told PIA.
Dr. Edwin Galapon, acting provincial health officer said they have already vaccinated with anti-measles all the 9-95 months old children of Bambang, Solano, Bayombong, Villaverde, Quezon, Bagabag, Diadi, Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur and Aritao, Ambaguio and Sta. Fe.
“We just ran out of supplies as we are about to engage the towns of Kayapa and Kasibu so we incurred a backlog of 5 percent,” Galapon explained.
He however said that the remaining two towns will have a shot of the anti-measles vaccine once their requested supplies will arrive.
Last month, the Department of Health (DOH) launched a house to house anti-measles campaign in coordination and partnership with the tocal government units and their Rural Health Units(RHUs) concerned.
The house to house operation seeks to ensure that no one will be spared of the anti-measles vaccine, thereby ensuring their security from the dreaded measles disease.
The Department of Health (DOH) however has extended the deadline of its anti-measles campaign, allotting an extra four weeks to its initial month-long vaccination campaign that ran from April 4 to May 4, 2011.
At a press briefing last week, Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona announced that as of Wednesday (May 4), 11.8 million children, or 63 percent of their target of 18 million children, have already been immunized in their door-to-door campaign.
By May 30, 2011, the Health Department aims to immunize the remaining 6.2 million children aged between nine months and eight years old.
Ona admitted that completing the 18 million target in one month was a long shot, but he said the extension may be enough time for the target of 95 percent coverage.
In the month-long campaign, the DOH was able to immunize 63 percent of all eligible children nationwide. While the goal is to immunize at least 95 percent of children nationwide, the 63 percent that the Health Department already covered is considered a success, Ona said.
The World Health Organization said measles is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family. It added that the measles virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and lungs. #tcb/bme/PIA 2 – Nueva Vizcaya
http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r02&id=35228

william :D

May 31st, 2011, 12:57 AM

600 additional tricycle drivers endorsed for “Pantawid Pasada” grants

TUGUEGARAO CITY, May 30 (PIA) -- A total of 600 tricycle drivers from the municipalities of Diadi and Dupax del Sur of Nueva Vizcaya, Solana and Sto Nino of Cagayan, and Naguilian of Isabela were submitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to be included as beneficiaries of the “Pantawid Pasada” program of the present administration.
Sudi Valencia of the project monitoring and evaluation division of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) region 2 said the additional 600 tricycle operators was submitted late during the validation period and processing in the central office for funding.
“We already endorsed the additional list to our central office and on the process of lobbying it to DBM for funding,” Valencia stated.
In addition, the coastal municipality of Palanan in Isabela has just submitted additional 16 tricycle operators to be included as beneficiaries of the cash grant. Valencia said they are about to endorse the list to DBM.
On the other hand, Valencia stated out of 81 towns, they have already downloaded cash benefits to 71municiplaities with 44,616 total number of beneficiaries. With this number, DILG has already released 6.69 million pesos as cash grants to the tricycle drivers and operators.
Valencia is optimistic too that they can download the remaining grants to towns early next month. She further assured the public that they will strictly monitor the distribution of the cash to ensure that it reaches the targeted beneficiaries.
Meantime, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said there is no scheduled cash card distribution yet for jeepney and van operators in Cagayan Valley. (TCB/OTB/PIA-2)
http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r02&id=35310

freightrunner

June 3rd, 2011, 12:42 PM

PIA Press Release
Friday, June 03, 2011
Public hearing on prov’l tourism ordinance held
by Necitas G. Alconis

BASCO, Batanes, June 3, (PIA) -- The provincial government has conducted a public hearing to elicit support from the Ivatans on the province’ proposed tourism ordinance which calls for a stricter action in maintaining the natural beauty of the islands and in preserving the cultural heritage of the Ivatans by exclusively promoting eco-cultural tourism in Batanes.

The proposed provincial tourism ordinance was presented by board members Ramonito Imperial and Flinton T. Abad, chairmen of the committees on rules and tourism respectively.

Abad said there is a need for a unified system of promoting eco-cultural tourism by implementing a systematic collection of fees by the municipalities and addressing the various concerns of tour guides and the transportation sector.

In order to address these concerns, the officer-in-charge of the Provincial Tourism office has requested the provincial government to appoint a permanent tourism officer who will take charge of the tourism affairs of the province.

Both board members Abad and Imperial have recommended for the creation of provincial tourism office under the office of the governor and a provincial tourism council to serve as mediator.

They also pushed for the creation of provincial heritage and cultural tourism council as mediator and the Batanes Heritage Management Office (BHMO) under the governor’s office.

The BHMO will be tasked to head four sub committees such as research and document data banking, natural and heritage preservation, cultural heritage and the tourism sector.

Meanwhile Basco mayor Demetrius Paul Narag has suggested that all tour guides in the province must be assessed before they will be issued working permits stressing that quality tour guiding is based on the guides’ knowledge or familiarity with the place, ability to communicate well with the tourists, personality and others.

The public hearing was attended by all the municipal mayors, barangay captains, travel agency representatives, tour guides, drivers, homestay and hotel operators, food establishment operators, pastoral councils and some national government agencies. (TCB/NGA/PIA Batanes)
link (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r02&id=36085)

freightrunner

June 5th, 2011, 12:54 AM

Rice eels threaten Cagayan farms
By Charlie Lagasca The Philippine Star Updated June 05, 2011 12:00 AM 1 comment to this post
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9764/riceeelhi.jpg

Photo shows a rice eel which is wreaking havoc in Cagayan farms, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Photo By BFAR Region 2

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – A new aquatic pest threatens rice and fish farms in Cagayan Valley.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said it has warned farmers on the emergence of destructive rice eels that have been damaging rice fields and wreaking havoc on fish ponds.

“The species has been positively identified by (BFAR) experts as rice eels, basing on samples submitted by farmers and through monitoring conducted in affected areas of the region,” Evelyn Ame, BFAR regional research chief said.

Reports said the rice eels have been feeding on fish fry and boring holes in rice paddy walls, causing irrigation water to flow out.

Rice eels (monopterus albus) are indigenous to Southeast Asia and can multiply rapidly under certain conditions .

BFAR sources said rice eels have also infested six towns in Quirino; the towns of Villaverde, Solano and Quezon towns here; San Mateo, Angadanan, San Pablo and San Agustin in in Isabela; and Iguig, Amulung and Solana in Cagayan.

Farmers in the affected areas said they are having a hard time getting rid of the destructive eels because the pests are buried deep in moist mud.

william :D

June 5th, 2011, 01:46 AM

Best Performing Local Government Units in Terms of Prevalence
of Underweight Among Children 0-71 Months: 2010

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/untitled2-2.jpg

Philippine National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) (http://www.nscb.gov.ph/headlines/StatsSpeak/2011/050911_rav.asp)

freightrunner

June 10th, 2011, 02:36 PM

http://cl.cooltext.com/rendered/cooltext529649617.gif

http://flags.redpixart.com/img/1129/flag_256.jpg

...sa dibdib mo'y buhay...

Ipagdiwang, Araw ng Kalayaan, Hunyo 12, 2011

296619

June 14th, 2011, 05:31 PM

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/5250_1108854846971_1394832586_30359452_6854096_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30359453&id=1394832586)

Quirino Province!:cheers::cheers::cheers:

Photo by Daks Bangawan :)

hakz2007

July 15th, 2011, 10:25 AM

Nueva Vizcaya completes P1.9-M school building
STA. FE, Nueva Vizcaya, July 15 (PNA) – Provincial officials led by Governor Luisa Cuaresma recently led the inauguration of a brand new school building in Barangay Balete here.

The P1.9 million three-classroom building, equipped with chairs and tables, ceiling fans and comfort rooms can accommodate less than 100 pupils of the Balete Elementary School (BES). More:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=359534

Nueva Vizcaya allots over P.3M for disabled persons’ livelihood projects
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya July 15 (PNA) – The provincial government has set aside more than P.3 million for the members of the Provincial Federation of Persons with Disabilities (PFPWD) to help expand their livelihood projects.

The financial assistance will be given during the opening program of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) week on July 18. More: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=359568

william :D

July 16th, 2011, 06:07 AM

Public-private partnership sought to rehab Batanes oldest church

by Necitas G. Alconis

BASCO, Batanes, July 12 (PIA) -- The Basco Pastoral Council (BPC) is again seeking support from all sectors to complete the rehabilitation of Basco Cathedral, the oldest church in Batanes which was built in 1795.
To complete the rehabilitation which started in May 2008, Bishop Camilo D. Gregorio, prelate of Batanes and the Basco Parish said the BPC is undertaking a second fund raising activity through a raffle draw to encourage and invite the multi-sectoral groups to extend support to the said undertaking.
Gregorio said all the funds and materials used in the first phase of the church rehabilitation were donated by the Ivatans residing in Batanes, Metro Manila and overseas. Some amount came from alumni associations and other associations all over the world where some Ivatans are members, the prelate added.
In 2010, the parish was able to raise a total of P7 million from raffle draws, benefit shows and popularity contests and from visiting tourists who dropped their donations to the donation box in the church.
The said amount was used for the renovation of the roofs, altar ceiling fiber glass, pavement and the restructuring of the altar.
Bishop Gregorio said more funds are needed for the finishing touches of the main structure; the construction of the sacristy and adoration sanctuary, the first in the province of Batanes , and construction as well as repair of the old pews.
The Bishop likewise said he is optimistic that through the Ivatan cooperativism or the Ivatan ‘Yaru,’ the rehabilitation of the church will be realized the soonest possible time. (TCB/NGA/PIA Batanes)
http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r02&id=43137

296619

July 17th, 2011, 09:14 PM

Dengue nanalasa sa Batanes
Ni Victor Martin (Pilipino Star Ngayon) Updated July 18, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0) View comments

SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela, Philippines – Naabot na rin ng dengue ang pinakadulo ng mapa ng bansa matapos maitala ang kauna-unahang kaso ng dengue na ikinasawi ng isang batang babae habang aabot naman 600-katao ang nadale sa Batanes, ayon sa ulat.

Ayon kay Batanes Governor Vicente Gato, ang nasawing siyam na buwang gulang na sanggol ay kabilang sa 600-katao Ang tinamaan din ng dengue.

“Her case was thought to be merely a case of fever and flu. However, when she started to show the symptoms of dengue, it was already too late,” pahayag ni Gov. Gato.

Nagdeklara na ng state of calamity sa bayan ng Sabtang dahil sa pananalasa ng dengue.

Maging ang apat na bayan ng Batanes na nasa Isla ng Batan ay mahigpit din na binabantayan dahil sa dengue cases.

Dahil dito, nagpakalat ng ilang doctor at anti-dengue medicines sa nasabing lala*wigan sakay ng Navy ship mula sa Poro Point ng San Fernando City, La Union.

http://208.184.76.175/Article.aspx?a...bCategoryId=49
__________________

junar

July 31st, 2011, 08:56 AM

SM SAVEMORE TUGUEGARAO
Soon To Open
Phase 2, Mall of the Valley
Shop. Dine-In. Market. Hardware

GTPro

August 25th, 2011, 10:22 AM

SM SAVEMORE TUGUEGARAO
Soon To Open
Phase 2, Mall of the Valley
Shop. Dine-In. Market. Hardware

Post ka na lang sa Cagayan/Tuguegarao Province Thread ha totoy....

FYI lang Ang SM Savemore matagal na dito sa Vizcaya magdadalawang taon na.

alheaine

September 1st, 2011, 12:39 AM

More than your usual Asia: Batanes, Philippines:

25106333

^^
:applause: :cheers: superb technique..nice Batanes.. :applause:

up_mc

September 6th, 2011, 08:19 AM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/5816797147_10630de1b7_z.jpg

Trails of Mahatao
by: patrickmarsonong (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrickmarsonong/)

[dx]

September 6th, 2011, 10:47 AM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/5816797147_10630de1b7_z.jpg

Trails of Mahatao
by: patrickmarsonong (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrickmarsonong/)

Ayos, ilang oras kaya 'to :okay:

Kelan ka na pupunta Batanes, Donie? Hehe

up_mc

September 7th, 2011, 02:46 AM

^^ walang exif data dun sa flickr. Hopefully next year matuloy na ko, mukhang malabo na makapunta this year eh :lol:

[dx]

September 7th, 2011, 03:19 AM

Hehe, dream destination! Mahal pa ng mga airfare ngayon. Tsk

GTPro

September 7th, 2011, 08:12 AM

Napakatahimik naman dito.....

alheaine

September 7th, 2011, 08:53 PM

^^
serene lang po.. :cheers: i wanna go to batanes..hehehehehe..my friends had been there already..

william :D

September 10th, 2011, 04:39 AM

MEDIA ADVISORY SAVE SIERRA MADRE NOW!

Save Sierra Madre Network Alliance (SSMNA, Inc.), Faith-based Congress Against Immoral Debts (FCAID and the Freedom from Debt Coalition invite the members of the pre ss to join us in:

SAVE SIERRA MADRE NOW!
Launch of build-up activities leading to the
September 26 Save Sierra Madre Day
(Proclamation No. 233)

September 10 (Saturday), 10:00AM
Environmental Studies Institute (ESI), Miriam College
Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City

To commemorate the tragedy caused by Typhoon Ondoy, indigenous groups, upland and low-lying communities, ecumenical formations, students and civil society groups from the different provinces of Sierra Madre will come together to call the attention of the government to immediately act on protecting the Sierra Madre Mountain Range and its communities and ecosystems. The interactive website of the Save Sierra Madre Network that aims to involve the public to participate in the monitoring, research and advocacy for protecting the famed ranges will also be launched during the event.

PHOTO OP: Members of the Dumagat tribe wearing traditional costume will arm themselves with laptops to capture their desire to send their message of protecting the Sierra Madre Ranges to people all over the world.

For more details, please contact Denise Fontanilla of Haribon Foundation at 0922-8151938 and Jofti Villena of FCAID at 0908-8945174.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300137_10150287135696606_545901605_8435695_15916739_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/293937_10150287134911606_545901605_8435692_1801643544_n.jpg

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https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/320107_10150287138671606_545901605_8435702_1473827279_n.jpg

Bro.Martin Francisco Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/notes/bro-martin-d-francisco/media-advisory-save-sierra-madre-now/10150296456286817)

william :D

September 10th, 2011, 04:42 AM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/5816797147_10630de1b7_z.jpg

Trails of Mahatao
by: patrickmarsonong (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrickmarsonong/)

wow ang galing ng photographer! napakaganda! :okay: :eek: :banana:

Pengue

September 19th, 2011, 05:15 AM

SOON TO OPEN!

GENERIKA Drugstore

SOLANO NUEVA VIZCAYA BRANCH
ADDRESS: Gadang St., Poblacion South, Nueva Vizcaya

GTPro

September 21st, 2011, 09:53 AM

Tahimik pa rin ang Vizcaya thread.

Sabi ng mga taga kapitolyo sayang daw at hindi nakakuha ang Waltermart ng lupa sa pagitan ng Bayombong at Solano ng around 10 hectares. Another first na naman sana dito sa R2 like SAVEMORE.

296619

September 21st, 2011, 03:20 PM

(http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150296220963607&set=a.10150296220503607.356479.554818606&type=1&permPage=1)

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(http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=554818606)

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(http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150296220748607&set=a.10150296220503607.356479.554818606&type=1&permPage=1) ·

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/315818_10150296220778607_554818606_7736039_63963_n.jpg

Previous (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150296220778607&set=a.10150296220503607.356479.554818606&type=1&permPage=1) · Next (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150296220913607&set=a.10150296220503607.356479.554818606&type=1&permPage=1)

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NUEVA VISCAYA!:cheers::cheers::cheers:

freightrunner

September 21st, 2011, 09:00 PM

Yan ang gusto ko pag dumadaan ng Viscaya, rolling hills, fresh air cool breeze tapos titigil at kakain. Sarap.

296619

September 22nd, 2011, 09:02 PM

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/59294_1442423539060_1187238298_31032324_5084064_n.jpg

DIFFUN, QUIRINO:cheers::cheers::cheers:( CREDIT TO SIR aRTHUR gONZALES)

Pengue

September 23rd, 2011, 11:04 AM

New port to boost economic activities in Itbayat
by Purita S. Licas

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Sept. 22 (PIA) -- The district office of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Basco, Batanes has expressed confidence that the completion of the Valanga port in Itbayat island-town of Batanes will boost the economic activities in that town.

Batanes acting District Engr. Alexander Nola, in his report to DPWH Regional Director Reynaldo Tamayo S. Tamayo, said the new port is part of the over 72 million pesos infrastructure projects for the island-province.

Nola, in his report, said with the port, there will be greater access to Itbayat, aside from the lessened transport cost for goods and construction materials.
Itbayat used to have its construction materials from Manila unloaded at the Basco port which are later transshipped to the said town through banca, he said.

The district engineer likewise reported the completion of two improved water supply systems while three others are almost complete.
He said, though, that construction works for the Basco water supply system which is now on its 6th phase.
The project will help reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases in the area.

Meanwhile, Marilous Melad, the regional office’s public relations officer, said the national government has allotted 101.96 million pesos for the upgrading of national secondary road network in the province this year.
The upgrading of the said roads will reduce travel time within the islands of the Batan, Itbayat and Sabtang, all consisting the island-province of Batanes. (PIA)

Pengue

September 25th, 2011, 01:38 PM

Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort Philippines
Santa Ana, Cagayan

The One~Chinese Restaurant

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Grand Villa

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Deluxe Oceanfont Villa

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Luxury VIP Villa

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SkyLounge

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Superior Villa

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Gym & Spa

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Pengue

September 25th, 2011, 01:43 PM

Pozo Robo Beach
Sta. Ana, Cagayan

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Pengue

September 25th, 2011, 01:48 PM

Nangaramoan Beach
Sta. Ana, Cagayan

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freightrunner

September 25th, 2011, 05:48 PM

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/59294_1442423539060_1187238298_31032324_5084064_n.jpg

DIFFUN, QUIRINO:cheers::cheers::cheers:( CREDIT TO SIR aRTHUR gONZALES)

Wow! One of Cagayan Valley's wonders. Yan yung sinasabi nung kaibigan kong taga-diyan. Kulang daw kasi sa promotion kaya hindi gaanong popular sa mga tourist. Dapat gawing priority ng Quirini gov't ang pagpromote ng tourism lalo na't may world class potentials din silang mga tourist spots. :cheers:

hakz2007

October 4th, 2011, 06:34 AM

Nueva Vizcaya declared under state of calamity
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Oct. 4 (PNA) - Provincial board members here this Monday have unanimously declared this province under state of calamity due to the extent of damages left behind by the two typhoons last week.

The provincial board passed a resolution containing such declaration, authorizing governor Luisa Cuaresma to utilize their five-percent calamity fund to provide relief assistance to the affected villagers in the 15 municipalities here.

“We can now declare the province under such state because the adverse effects of the two typhoons are overwhelming such that all the 15 municipalities have been affected,” Evaliza Agamata, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council(PDRRMC) action officer, said. More: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=376815

Solano town dad pushes tree planting among villagers
SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya, Oct. 4 (PNA) – A continuing tree planting program here is being pushed among the residents here to reinforce the environmental potentials of this town.

A proposed measure, known as tree planting ordinance authored by councilor Roland Carub, requires able–bodied villagers to plant one tree each year for the next five years in support of President Benigno Simeon Aquino’s program.

“There is a need to enact this ordinance that would institute continuous tree planting activities in our municipality for purposes of adoption and mitigation of the impending climate change,” Carub said. More: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=376817

296619

October 4th, 2011, 08:10 PM

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MT. PULAG OF NUEVA VISCAYA! ( Shared with Ifugao and Buenget)
( Luzon's highest peak!) - By Tony Flores
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=200657953279719&set=a.200601073285407.52642.100000065479464&type=1&theater

Pengue

October 6th, 2011, 04:45 AM

Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital lauded for its medical tourism potential
Thelma C. Bicarme

TUGUEGARAO CITY, October 5 (PIA)-- The Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital (NVPH) has received praises and commendation from the Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) for its large potential not only on providing medical services but also on medical tourism.

The RPMC noted that after its construction in 2007, NVPH continuously improves are through strong partnerships with various stakeholders. It has modern facilities, quality services, candid landscape and a relaxing environment.

The monitoring team lauded the progress of the said hospital, and congratulated the management for the sustainability they had shown. They also acknowledged the full support of the provincial government in maintaining its operations and expansion.

From a 63-bed capacity on 2008, the NVPH was able to increase its bed capacity to 123 as of this year. The hospital targets to increase the capacity to 175.

The NVPH is currently offering private, semi-private and deluxe wards to its patients. The indigent patients, on the other hand, were given full subsidy on hospital rooms and professional fees, exclusive of medicine bills.

According to Margarita A. Dumlao, NVPH administrative officer, the provincial hospital is continuously expanding its development through improvements on the water system, intensive care units, construction of the perimeter fences around the area, construction of 25 bed charity ward and continual renovation and rehabilitation.

The NVPH has already completed the construction of a dialysis center and a power house. The acquired mobile clinic also serves as a one-stop-shop mini-hospital that caters to the villages of the province, especially the marginalized sector.

Dumlao also said the revenue generation of the NVPH was now recorded at P36.7 million or 91.79 percent of the total target of P 40 million. This contributed much to the increasing trend of the hospital revenue from P14.5 million in 2005 to P44.9 million 2009. (TCB/PIA 2)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=57784

maniLaboy_me

October 9th, 2011, 02:09 AM

http://www.mb.com.ph/sites/default/files/images/005%20TOWER.jpg
The Tayid Lighthouse, built on a hill in Mahatao town,
Batanes, stands as a beacon for ships and fishermen
at night. The Tayid lighthouse, one of three lighthouses
on the island, was built in 2000. (Photo by ZALDY COMANDA)

www.mb.com.ph

Pengue

October 11th, 2011, 06:02 AM

Fundacion Pacita
Batan Island, Batanes

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/167998_187265797973000_179937555372491_489284_2580443_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/230101_208069212559325_179937555372491_626045_14443_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/225708_209347519098161_179937555372491_635511_1363779_n.jpg

http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-love-Batanes/179937555372491

Pengue

October 11th, 2011, 06:09 AM

NAKABUANG BEACH
Sabtang Island, Batanes

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/182075_187265814639665_179937555372491_489285_5910516_n.jpg

http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-love-Batanes/179937555372491

william :D

October 26th, 2011, 04:29 PM

Typhoons Mina, Pedring and Quiel affect NABCOR’s collection, procurement
by Thelma C. Bicarme

MADDELA, Quirino, October 26 (PIA) -- The National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR), a government owned and controlled corporation operating in this town, has suffered from a very low collection from the farmers who loaned certified corn seeds, fertilizers and other farm inputs.
Sylvia Consolacion, cashier, said the NABCOR facilitated the release of interest-free loans for farmers in the form of farm inputs such as certified corn seeds and fertilizers. This was done through the Quirino Livelihood for Everyone, the livelihood component of province’s ‘I Love Quirino’ project.
Consolacion said they were able to release P8 million worth of farm inputs but to this date, their collection is still at P2 million.
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r02&id=61043

william :D

October 26th, 2011, 04:30 PM

Nueva Vizcaya town completes P.7M birthing clinic
by Ben Moses Ebreo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, October 25 (PIA) -– The local government unit here has completed the renovation of its birthing clinic to cater to pregnant women in this town.
Wilfredo Pulido, sanitary inspector said the P.7 million project was established in barangay Runruno in Quezon town and funded by the Department of Health (DOH).
He said the local government unit will have its counterpart in terms of manpower and provision of their salary.
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r02&id=61025

william :D

October 26th, 2011, 04:31 PM

NIA seeks new cropping calendar vs. typhoons
by Ben Moses Ebreo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, October 25(PIA) -- The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will be crafting an alternative cropping calendar scheme to address the threat of typhoon season in Cagayan Valley.
Engineer Vicente Galvez, regional irrigation manager said they are now studying the possibility of evading the threat of typhoons to agricultural products to lessen the damage that may be incurred by farmers in the region.
“We are now conducting a research and study on the occurrence of typhoons for the past five years and from this, we can adjust our cropping calendar ,” he said.
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r02&id=60948

GTPro

October 27th, 2011, 02:02 AM

Hehehe palpak yung bagong website ng nueva vizcaya ibinuyangyang na sa harapan ng kapitolyo hindi pa pala gumagana.

ipur

October 29th, 2011, 12:14 AM

Guys, 13 days left to continuously vote for our Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) as one New 7 Wonders of Nature. There are three ways to vote. Please the check below link:
http://www.filamnation.com/2011/07/vote-for-puerto-princesa-underground-river-ppur/

Sa mga nasa Pilipinas, pwedeng bomoto through text. Text PPUR to 2861 or for automatic 1 vote per day Text PPUR<space>ON to 2861.VOTE NA para hindi pababa ang trend ng PPUR natin.

Pengue

October 31st, 2011, 04:53 PM

Quirino: ‘Where adventure begins’
By Kathleen A. Llemit Photos by Teddy Pelaez and Rommel Natanauan of DoT

Still looking dashing, actor Sam Milby seemed to find the thrill he was looking for amid rains and mud as he repeatedly geared his bike to overcome a succession of mounds, vying to top the beginner category at the eighth leg of the Enersel Forte Philippine National Motocross Series held at the Capitol Sports Complex in the capital town of Cabarroguis in Quirino province last month. True enough, not only did the actor have a good ride, he was proclaimed the winner of his category.

Luring adventure seekers like Sam, Quirino is set to become a thrill seekers’ haven — specifically for those who want to experience the adrenaline rush of outdoor adventure.

Most people probably know Quirino as a province in the north named after former president Elpidio Quirino. The province lies in the southeastern portion of Cagayan Valley Region and is bounded by Isabela on the north, Aurora on the east and southeast and Nueva Vizcaya on the west and southwest. It used to be part of Nueva Vizcaya, but it was formally established as a province on Feb. 16, 1971.

This year, the province celebrates its 40th founding anniversary replete with activities such as the motocross competition and the 12th edition of the Panagdadapun Festival. Panagdadapun, which means “convergence” or “coming together,” has been annually marked with presentations and street dances featuring the customs and traditions of the 21 tribes of the province.

A trip to Qurino could either be done by plane, by bus or private vehicle. If one is averse to the idea of driving for more than eight hours passing through the province of Nueva Vizcaya, then take the 40-minute flight to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, then a three-hour bus drive to Quirino.

Adventure spots

Blessida Diwa, regional tourism director of Cagayan Valley, proudly shares that apart from motocross, Quirino province has a list of destinations for nature lovers and outdoor sports aficionados that can be visited in just one day.

“(One can go to the) famous Aglipay Caves and the Maddela Falls, the one that DepEd (Department of Education) Secretary Armin Luistro really loves. There is, as well, the famous Binmapor — like in the film Titanic, it is a big, big mountain that looks like a ship. Below is one of the tributaries of the Cagayan River. They say when you immerse yourself in one of the tributaries of the Cagayan River, all your arthritis will be removed. So, again, if you’re in the province of Quirino, it’s where adventure begins,” Diwa enthuses.

The Aglipay Caves is a network of 37 interlinked caves found in the town of Aglipay, just a 15-minute drive from Cabarroguis.

In one of the seven chambers open to the public, visitors can see different formations made of stones such as the Banaue Rice Terraces, as well as of different animals such as a giant turtle, which sits at the center of a cave and of Willy’s dolphin cousins.

The caves also boast of stalagmites and stalactites. In Cave 1, a spring is said to be miraculous and, according to tour guide Benny Guillermo, does not run out of water even during summer. This spring is annually visited by a religious group during the Holy Week. For camping aficionados, the Aglipay Caves and Camp Site offer affordable overnight accommodations.

But the real thrill of these caves is going in and out of each of the interlinked networks. The challenge lies in the fact that once a climber ascends a particular cave, he or she should have a sturdy pair of shoes and a hard grip on each of the rugged and edged stones leading to the caves. Of particular note is Cave No. 5, which, according to Guillermo, has stairs tilted at 85 degrees, leading toward the entrance of the cave coming from the other side.

The Maddela Waterfalls, on the other hand, is located in the town of Maddela, 40 minutes away from the capitol. Its seven-tiered water feature is perfect for swimming and for picnics. It is also the one place that Luistro, who was the guest of honor during last month’s Panagdadapun Festival, does not forget to visit whenever he is in Quirino.

The Bimmapor in Nagtipunan is the province’s famous rock formation that looks like a sinking ship, thus the reference to the Leonardo di Caprio starrer. Rock climbing, trekking, swimming and rafting are some of the activities that can be enjoyed here. Also in Madella, a town south of the province and located 54 kilometers away from Cabarroguis, is where Governors Rapids is found. This tourist spot is famous for its gigantic perpendicular walls of limestone jutting out from one side of the Cagayan River. Its swift, deep blue waters often enthralls visitors to go kayaking, white water rafting, fishing and swimming.

Quirino’s eco-adventure tourism offerings will soon be expanded. The province is also planning to put up a wakeboard complex in the lagoon of the capitol complex, informs Aurea Martinez, the supervising tourism operations officer of the province. They plan to start construction next year.

Where to stay

There are a couple of accommodations to choose from, among which is the provincial capitol’s Capitol Plaza Hotel and Restaurant in Cabarroguis, which is currently being renovated. Martinez assures that they are working to have the improvement finished at the soonest possible time.

To add thrill to one’s adventure, it would be a good change to opt for home stay. Martinez says that in their province they encourage home stays to help the locals earn. For a night in an airconditioned room with as many as the room can accommodate, guests only have to pay P600 per night; non-airconditioned rooms cost P200 per night. Most of these home stays are in Barangay San Marcos.

Quirino is not for the faint of heart. It is for the young and young at heart who want to live life with thrill and adventure.

For more information, visit www.quirinoprovince.org.

Pengue

November 1st, 2011, 03:57 AM

SOON TO OPEN GENERIC PHARMACY OUTLETS

Branch Name: THEGENERICSPHARMACY Diffun, Quirino Province
Opening Hours: Opening Soon...
Address: Stall No. 69 Public Market Diffun, Quirino Province

Branch Name: THEGENERICSPHARMACY Maddela, Quirino Province
Opening Hours: Opening Soon...
Address: Stall No. S-13 Public Market Maddela, Quirino Province

http://www.thegenericspharmacy.com/contact.php

Wageningen

November 2nd, 2011, 04:27 PM

http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/12240573374/2/tumblr_lu1dz8S3BU1r5kdw0

Hello Guys, these are pictures taken in Nagtipunan during my first visit to Quirino last September. Nice scenery with Sierra Madre in the background.

Wageningen

November 2nd, 2011, 04:30 PM

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lu1dz8S3BU1r5kdw0o1_250.jpg

Quirino!

Wageningen

November 2nd, 2011, 04:31 PM

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lu1ey1x5FI1r5kdw0o1_500.jpg

Quirino Cave, forgot the name. hehehe

wowcagayan

November 9th, 2011, 09:20 AM

Hi Everyone, I would like to invite you to join Cagayan Valley Bloggers and Photographers (https://www.facebook.com/CVBloggers) facebook page...Beginner and aspiring bloggers and pro bloggers from Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Batanes are all welcome. Help me build this group!

leechtat

November 9th, 2011, 07:04 PM

SSC PH Grand Meet: 12/02/2011 - Top of the Citi, Makati

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l540/leechtat/balls-onesamahan.jpg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l540/leechtat/STAR-DETAILS2.jpg

296619

November 11th, 2011, 01:55 PM

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248473_10150338005927575_832357574_10100834_3767886_n.jpg

MADDELA, QUIRINO^^:cheers:

Taken by SPACE/Sonny Santiago!

barrera_marquez

November 24th, 2011, 04:21 PM

Good evening people, ask ko lang po kung gaano katagal ang biyahe from Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija to Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya and how much po kaya? Thanks po.

296619

November 24th, 2011, 05:08 PM

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/47105_122232204495593_100001264417230_143260_2157017_n.jpg

QUIRINO!

(by Rey Luluquisin)

296619

November 24th, 2011, 05:11 PM

Good evening people, ask ko lang po kung gaano katagal ang biyahe from Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija to Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya and how much po kaya? Thanks po.

By car from Cabanatuan to Bayombong... 2 hrs and 3 mins siguro via private car. pag bus... mga ganon din pero not sure kung saan ang sakay.. Pwede yung mga bus going to region 2 like victory liner and Florida...^^

GTPro

November 25th, 2011, 02:05 AM

Good evening people, ask ko lang po kung gaano katagal ang biyahe from Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija to Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya and how much po kaya? Thanks po.

By bus nasa 3.5 - 4 hrs. ang biyahe (daytime) 3 hrs (night time). Tantiya ko hindi tataas ng dalawandaan ang pamasahe sa aircon bus.

[nightfury]

December 24th, 2011, 11:56 AM

http://www.christmaswow.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/Merry-Christmas-2.jpg

Greetings from SSC - Pangasinan

freightrunner

December 27th, 2011, 10:23 PM

Top 15 provinces with high average family income as of 2007
The two richest provinces of Region 2 are noticeably missing while the country's smallest province of Batanes made it to the list.

EastWest Bank eco forum
traces growth path for ’12

EASTWEST Bank chairman of the board Jonathan Gotianun said the Philippines is definitely on a growth path and can face the next few years with optimism.

"The only question is how fast we will be growing, whether this growth will be moderate or be significantly above what we have experienced in the last decade. With the right government policies conducive to growth, I think we can aspire for the latter," he said during the 2011 Economic Briefing sponsored recently by EastWest Bank for senior executives of its corporate clients.

The EastWest Bank Economic Briefing featured presentations by two keynote speakers, noted economists Dr. Raul V. Fabella and Dr. Ramon M. Quesada. Dr. Fabella observed that Asia is the redeeming grace and has shown remarkable resiliency in the midst of a bleak global outlook. The overall health of the Philippine banking sector is sound and stable, with bank credit showing a 19 percent growth, he said. On the other hand, Dr. Quesada said while the Philippines had taken off as a nation but "came back to earth," specific individuals, industries and integrated areas continued to post remarkable growth in the past few decades.

EastWest’s annual economic briefings are one of the services the bank gives its corporate and entrepreneur accounts to help them keep abreast with current economic trends and developments that have impact on their businesses. "These can provide valuable insights not only on directions the economy is taking but also on the opportunities one might be able to explore, given these trends," Gotianun noted.

Dr. Fabella noted there was not much the government can do about the downward trajectory in the country’s GNI and GDP growth rates since these reflect the global activity slowdown. Weak government spending, which appears to be a ‘planned lethargy,’ and exports weighed down 2011 growth. The commodity price slowdown due to global slowdown has helped tame domestic inflation, possibly hitting 4 to 4.5 percent by year end. Remittances from Filipino global workers and BPO are still a main source of the country’s growth.

While weaknesses in major developed economies continue to drag the global recovery and pose risks for world economic stability, developing countries in Asia will continue to drive the global recovery, but their output growth is also expected to moderate to 6.0 percent on average during 2011-2012.

The local banking sector has remained sound and stable and is expected to withstand the headwinds from the US and Europe, Dr. Fabella said. Profitability ratios have shown consistent average upward growth since 2001, with return on equity hitting a high of nearly 13 percent and return on assets nearly 2 percent in 2010

In terms of income classes, Dr. Quesada reported as of 2009, the Philippines, along with Indonesia, Vietnam and Rural China was transitioning into middle class; Brunei and Singapore were classified as largely affluent; Malaysia, Thailand and Urban China as largely middle class; and Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar as largely low income.

He said the country’s gross domestic regional product (GDRP) was estimated at P8.5 trillion in 2010, of which Metro Manila produced P3.1 trillion or 36.5 percent, followed by Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Ilocos, and Bicol making up the top ten.

As of 2007, the top 15 Philippine provinces with high average family income were Bataan, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batanes, Pampanga, Ilocos Norte, Benguet, Batangas, Nueva Vizcaya, South Cotabato, Zambales, La Union and Ilocos Sur...Read more HERE (http://www.malaya.com.ph/dec26/bank1.html)