Naga and Iriga Cities, and Camarines Sur Province

[sonofignatius]

Nothing but the PLANE truth! 32,000 domestic seats on P320 sale


22 more new airbus 320s deserve a Seat Sale!


You deserve nothing but the PLANE truth, so pack your bags and fly on our P320 ‘Go Lite’ seat sale to all our domestic destinations starting now until July 19, 2010, for travel from November 1-30, 2010.

We're excited about the expected delivery of three more brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft in the last quarter of 2010, and 19 more from 2011 until 2014. CEB operates the country’s youngest fleet, composed of 10 Airbus A319, 11 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR 72-500 aircraft.

The P320 CEB seat sale to any domestic destination slashes as much as 84% off the lowest year-round ‘Go Lite’ fare flights from Manila to Davao, Surigao and Cagayan de Oro, among others.

Included in the seat sale are flights to Boracay (Caticlan), Cebu, Dumaguete, Naga, Legazpi, Bacolod, Iloilo, Palawan (Puerto Princesa), Coron (Busuanga) and Bohol (Tagbilaran).

Aside from the domestic promo, Manila-Osaka flights are also on sale for as low as P2,999 ‘Go’ seats. This is for travel from September 1 to October 31, 2010.

Don't wait until the last minute! Go ahead and book your well-deserved holiday at www.cebupacificair.com.

We're also excited to announce a system upgrade which will enable you to enjoy more exciting offers from us. You will start receiving your Seat Sale Alerts from SeatSale@cebalert.com. Do remember to add SeatSale@cebalert.com to your email Address Book or Safe List to ensure that your Seat Sale Alert emails get to your inbox.

www.cebupacificair.com

[oragon.com]

56 days to go

[oragon.com]

Crime volume rises to 256% in CamSur
By Juan Escandor Jr.

NAGA CITY---The volume of crimes committed in Camarines Sur increased to 256 percent, from 294 in the first six months last year to 1,047 during the same period this year, according to an official record obtained from the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management of the Police Provincial Office (PIDM-PPO) here.

But Senior Supt. Jonathan Ablang, acting police provincial director since the election period this year, explained Monday the increase in crime volume was the result of a policy this year to include crimes committed at the barangay level with less than a year imprisonment penalty.

Ablang clarified that the increase of crime volume, with penalty of one-year and more imprisonment, has actually increased by 30-40 percent. This was reported to Chief Supt. Cecilio Calleja, acting police regional director, when he visited last week, Ablang said.

The “Comparative Crime Statistics Data of Camarines Sur PPO, Period Covered: 01 Jan.-30 June 2010 Compared to 01 Jan.-30 June 2009”, was certified correct by PDIM chief Senior Police Officer 4 Reynaldo Corporal and prepared by Emma F. Merilles, statistician.

Accordingly, the volume of the index crime this year reached 605 cases over non-index crime of 442 cases while last year’s data showed the index crime volume was only 187 cases and the non-index crime volume much lesser at 107 cases.

The index crime includes murder, homicide, physical injuries, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping and cattle rustlings while the non-index crime includes simple infractions of the law, according to Merilles.

She said the crime is considered cleared when suspected perpetrator(s) is/are identified and authorities are already pursuing them while it is considered solved when the suspected criminals were already in the custody of authorities.

The data show there was a decline of 22.27 percent in terms of crime solution efficiency, from 64.96 percent at the end of June last year to a dismal 42.69 percent in the same period this year.

Fifty-four murder and 26 homicide cases combined reached 80 cases this year while last year’s record of the same crime categories were 47 and 24 cases, respectively, with a total of 71 cases combined.

Physical injuries increased to 319 cases at the second half of 2010 from just 69 cases last year; rape cases rose to 26 from just four; robbery cases were recorded at 59 cases from 24 cases; theft cases leaped to 103 cases from only 14 cases; carnapping was up to four cases from only one case; and cattle rustlings to 14 from four cases.

The crime volume recorded covers 35 towns and Iriga City with some 1.5M population, except Naga City, a chartered city with a district-level police office autonomous from the police provincial office of Camarines Sur which directly reports to the regional office of Philippine National Police.

For Naga City, the same trend goes with available data at the investigation and detective management office of the Naga City Police Office.

In the first six months of this year, the total index crime recorded has already reached 1,027 cases compared to last year’s 12 months record of 1,861.

Police Officer 2 Marcelino Capuz Resgonio, crime registrar and evidence custodian, also echoed Ablang reason the inclusion of barangay level crime registration was included beginning late last year which bloated the index crime record.

Naga City police’s first six-month record shows that the highest number of cases reported were the crimes against property with robbery at 134 cases; theft, 470 cases; carnapping, 21 cases; and four cases of cattle rustling.

For crimes against person, cases of physical injuries comprised 386 cases; murder cases were recorded at four cases and there were three homicide cases; and five rape cases.

http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/jul15/b-story.html

[oragon.com]

Bicol tourism growth impressive
By Lizel Macatangay

NAGA CITY --- After the success of the 21st Philippine Travel Mart Roadshow held in June, this year, the Bicol Regional Tourism Council (BRTC), under its chairman, Danny De Leon, is all geared up for more tourism related - events that are soon to happen in the region.

This was disclosed by De Leon during the first Naga City Tourism Council meeting held June 13 at Lolo’s Bar, Avenue Square, Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City. “We need a tourism council that will evolve around strategic alliances. We also intend to build collaborative networks with both the private and the government sectors, not just in the local level, but also in the national and international echelon,” De Leon said in an interview.

De Leon also pointed out that their group envisions a tourism council that would champion the private sector’s initiatives. “The private sector can very well complement with the government’s programs and projects. All we need to do is explore to an optimum level what areas of cooperation and complementation can both sector give to come up with a fruitful partnership.”

Key tourism players have all the reason to rejoice with the tourism industry now posing an upswing trend. In 2009, Bicol registered 2.2 milion tourist arrivals, an overpowering increase of 75% compared to figures recorded in 2008. It resulted to a whopping P1.3 billion in gross revenue and 77% growth rate in receipts.

The positive trend also generated jobs for the Bicolanos. In 2007, 317,874 were reportedly employed by various offices and organizations. It surged in 2008 with 499, 336 job opportunities. With the efforts exerted by tourism stakeholders, employed individuals to tourism -related ventures reached 1.1 million.

The first quarter of 2010 seems to be posing a more affirmative outlook with the percentage of tourist arrivals posing a 13% rate higher than the same period last year. From January to March, 593,241 tourist arrivals were recorded, resulting to a gross receipt of P365 million.

De Leon said that with the potentials that are still left untapped, there is a great possibility that Bicol can double or even triple the recorded statistics.

“One of our objectives is to standardize and professionalize tourism and hospitality services attuned to industry trends and demands of the times. We would also organize activities and sustain efforts linking members to tourism-related institutions and organizations as partners.”

DeLeon is optimistic that the Bicol Region will continue to gain increasing growth in tourism in the next years to come.

http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/jul15/xtour.html

[oragon.com]

Doc Chito aborts tourism controversy
By Shie M. Barrameda

NAGA CITY – Typhoon Basyang did little to discourage the attendance of representatives from various private and public sectors in the lately concluded Naga City Tourism Council Meeting Tuesday afternoon, July 13, 2010, held at Lolo’s Bar, Avenue Square, Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City where an equally significant storm raised questions on the legality of the name Naga City Tourism Council (NTC) over an ordinance enacted by the Sangguniang Panlunsod in 2003.

After a presentation on the developments of tourism in Metro Naga and Camarines Sur delivered by Daniel de Leon, President of the Council, during which he gladly emphasized the increase in tourist arrivals in the Bicol Region in 2009 amounting up to 2.2 million, the meeting suddenly took a different turn when Salvador Aguilar, Naga City Tourism Officer called the attention of the body to City Ordinance 2003-004.

Otherwise known as “An Ordinance Creating the Naga City Tourism Council Defining Its Composition, Duties and Functions,” Aguilar stressed that it mandates the local government of Naga City to create and maintain the Council, an entity similar with the NTC complete with objectives, aims and composition which even includes the different public offices as represented by their heads.

Aguilar also insisted that the NTC, being a congregation of private businessmen and tourism and travel agents registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), may be confused with the Council that the Ordinance is referring to.

“The Naga Tourism Council has been around even before the LGU organized the offices having to do with tourism. Moreover, the Council does not seek to detach itself from the LGU although it is a private unit based on voluntary service,” de Leon countered. “We’ve been here since 1997.”

He also gave emphasis to the goal of the council meeting, saying that the group’s main priority is to coordinate with the LGU’s in promoting the tourist spots of Camarines Sur and the Bicol Region by informing all the representatives of the public and private sectors present of the developments so far and the plans and programs that they have ahead.

City Councilor Joaquin “Chito” Perez Jr., also a representative of the LGU present at the venue, then suggested that what prevails is a problem on semantics solvable by making amendments on Ordinance 2003-004 through the enactment of another law.

In effect, the representatives of the transport sector, hotel and restaurant managers and proprietors, and travel agencies thereby agreed to push to the present Sangguniang Panlungsod to enact another law that would override the ordinance and allow them to retain their present status.

On the other hand, de Leon called for the assistance of all the private and public sectors, particularly the transportation sector, in further developing tourism industry in the Bicol Region by bettering their services so as to emulate the success of other tourist destinations in the Philippines like Bohol that is noted for its honest drivers and transport operators.

De Leon cited statistics that Cam. Sur has become second best tourist destination after Cebu Province followed by Manila during the past year with Donsol, Sorsogon as third best ecotourism model on sustainable Eco-Tour project in Asia Pacific.

http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/jul15/xdoc.html

[oragon.com]

Mommy Jean Llorin (1940-2010)
Naga’s Heart of Peace
By Soliman M. Santos, Jr.

I WISH to pay tribute to a good friend and colleague of 22 years in the peace and people empowerment movement in Naga City, which we call “The Heart of Bicol.” Jean Navera Llorin, who recently passed away two days after turning 70 last July 5, was herself very much the embodiment of the heart – the indefatigable spirit and nurturing soul -- of that movement. Just about a week or two before her unexpected passing, Jean had published in the Bicol Mail and the Philippine Daily Inquirer a short article as a Naga City senior citizen addressed to the country’s new dispensation of hope but which turned out to be her valedictory – a piece entitled in the Inquirer as “Learning from ‘The Heart of Bicol’.” Jean was of course referring to her beloved Naga and its people empowerment journey highlighted by the Naga City People’s Council (NCPC), but that title could very just as well refer to Jean herself.

Jean’s article ended with what may be considered her credo: “Indeed, when many little people in many little places take many little steps toward freedom and peace, the world will change.” I first heard this from Jean, who would often say it while referring to an analogy to a “mustard seed,” during the 1988 founding and early years of the Hearts of Peace (HOPE), a non-governmental coalition that was the main advocate for the Naga Peace Zone. Let it be recorded in history that it was Jean, as a Nagueña stalwart of the Manila-based Coalition for Peace (CfP), who initiated the formation of HOPE and who brought to it the initial concept of a peace zone. This eventually bore fruit in the declaration of Naga as a peace zone during the Peñafrancia fiesta of 1988, in fact the country’s first ever peace zone. It may not have fully developed or been sustained here but it was an early example of a concept that spread and was replicated in many other little p

laces, like “mustard seeds,” most notably in Central Mindanao, more than a decade after Naga’s own peace zone was dormant.

Jean was a prime example of one of those many little people in many little places taking many little steps for peace, people empowerment and good governance. She was known by many little people as “Mommy Jean.” Indeed, we could just as well call her “the mother of all NGO-PO workers in Naga City,” especially among those centered around the NCPC. And in Bicol, “Ina,” the vernacular for mother, of course has a special double significance. She brought to us the best that a mother brings in terms of nurturing to her brood, and always with that cheerful and welcoming smile. I experienced and am most familiar with the best of this when we worked together during the founding and early years of HOPE in Naga, which involved a generation of NGO workers older than the current generation around the NCPC. Her certain smile would put us all at ease, as if there was nothing to worry about, even if there was. I am not myself religious but, to me, it must have been the smile of a saint. Jean was Naga’s own Mother Teresa but in a different field of serving “the least of our brethren” among the people of God.

I am not sure now if it was Jean who coined the name Hearts of Peace (HOPE), but she definitely best embodied those words – heart, peace and hope. It was she who pointed out Pope John Paul II’s statement that “The peace of the heart is the heart of peace,” which we adopted as HOPE’s motto. And she was veritably Naga’s heart of peace, always beating for it, always living it in word and deed, till the very end.

Jean was able to convene us in HOPE as a coalition with three mainstay groups. One was my own group, the Naga for Popular Democracy (NagaPopDem) – which represented the then pop-dem political activist tendency (which some wrongly suspected to be the same as nat-dem). A second group was Ateneo de Naga’s Social Integration Office (SIO), which was associated with the so-called soc-dem or dem-soc political tendency. And a third group was Jean’s own Christian Life Communities (CLC), including leading members who worked at the Archdiocese of Caceres’ Social Action Center (SAC), whom some of us pop-dems would loosely refer to as Christian-democrats or God-dems. Jean was the most important glue, the mother, holding us all together. Is this not the kind of glue, the glue of the heart, that our country needs today?

Jean exemplifies those many little people, often in the provinces, often quiet and unsung, but who can make this nation great again, or who can follow through on the country’s new dispensation of hope and of change that we can believe in. Let there be more Jean Llorins from the place where multi-awarded Mayor Jesse Robredo comes from. This too is learning from “The Heart of Bicol.” Jean has done more than her part for humanity, and done it well and with much heart. This little person with a big and hard-working heart deserves her rest. We who are thankful to be blessed as your friends and colleagues in the peace and people empowerment movement in Naga now say truly Rest In Peace, Mommy Jean. You remain in our hearts and give us hope to carry on. Dios Mabalos.

SOLIMAN M. SANTOS, JR. is now a Judge of the 9th Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Nabua-Bato, Camarines Sur. He and Jean N. Llorin were among the recipients of the Naga City Mayoral Recognition Award in 2007.

http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/jul15/xheart.html

[oragon.com]

Hotel and restaurant and techno center inaugurated

THE University of Nueva Caceres College of Business and Accountancy recently inaugurated its new Hotel and Restaurant Technology Center in simple but solemn rites held during the Founder’s Day celebration last July 9, 2010.

The Center, designed and executed by Arch. Edgar B. Tuy, along with UNC’s Maintenance Superintendents, Engr. Pedro B. Ilao and Engr. Francisco A. Banzuela, houses the mock hotel, travel bureau and lecture-demo kitchen and laboratories, and was set up to provide a realistic instructional and research laboratory for hospitality, hotel and restaurant and tourism operations.

University Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Jay Jose Jacinto, was the celebrant during the mass and blessing. Dr. Lourdes S. Anonas, Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs, did the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon, assisted by Dr. Nora Elizabeth F. Maniquiz, Dean of the College of Business and Accountancy and Ms. Cynthia Liza P. Arce-Abarca, Program Chair for Hotel and Restaurant Management. The activity was attended by university administrators, deans and academic heads, heads of institutional offices, faculty and students.

Under the College of Business and Accountancy, the Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management (BSHRM), which is now on its second year, offers a program of educational training in the field of hospitality management, that is entrepreneurial and management-oriented, and supported by social ventures and industry-based exposure.

According to Chilette Abarca, the BSHRM Program has its vision of preparing students to become workplace-ready in the corporate, educational and entrepreneurial fields of accommodation, foodservice, hospitality and tourism industries. It aims to produce globally competitive industry managers, tourism developers and entrepreneurs imbued with Christian and ethical values, and are able to adapt to diverse cultural environments.

http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/jul15/xhotel.html

[oragon.com]

BICOL’S PRIDE. President Noynoy Aquino swears in DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo with wife Atty. Leni Gerona Robredo, and daughters Jilian, Patricia, and Aika Robredo, niece Gaile Robredo, older brother Butch Robredo and sister Dr. Penny R. Bondoc on July 12, 2010 at the Presidential Guest House.


A MAN OF INNOVATION. CamSur’s new Vice Governor Fortunato “Ato” Peña officially ushered in the start of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan assembly during its Inaugural Session held at the newly restored Legislative Building at the Provincial Capitol Complex last July 8 to mark the start of his leadership as its presiding officer.

[IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]
P-NOY FANS. A delegation of Noynoy supporters from Naga City join the crowd at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to witness the oathtaking of their incoming president.


EXTREME SPORTS EXTRAORDINAIRE. A repeat spectacular performance from some 600 multi-sports athletes is expected come August 22 when Gov. LRay Villafuerte brings back to Camarines Sur for the second time the Ironman 70.3 Philippines that will see triathletes from all over the world pit their speed, strength and stamina of a total 113 kilometer course combining 2 kilometers of swimming, 90 kilometers of cycling and 21 kilometers of running along a selected route that will showcase the province’s natural wonders and hospitality warmth.


ROTARY CLUB OF NAGA PRESENTS NCF WITH INTEGRATED WEATHER STATION. The Naga College Foundation Typhoon Preparedness Center (NCF-TPC) was fortunate to be the recipient of a Davis Vantage Vue ™, an integrated wireless weather station, provided by the Rotary Club of Naga. Awarding of the said instrument was done last July 7, 2010 during the club’s first regular weekly meeting. Rotary Club’s outgoing President Chona Belmonte and current President Evett Olivan were the ones to present the donation to Mr. David Michael V. Padua, NCF-TPC Director and Atty. Carlo C. Villanueva Jr., NCF Legal Counsel. Naga College Foundation’s TPC has been established to provide early warnings to Bicolanos and seminars to prepare them in typhoon and flood disasters. The Davis Vantage Vue ™ would be a great help to the program as its up-to-date mechanism would make forecasting easier and more efficient. It also supplies the user with indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, dew point and rainfall. The Vantage Vue ™ is a grand additional to the already equipped center, making NCF-TPC’s service to Bicol uncomplicated and more reliable.


OUR LADY'S LAY MINISTERS. The full force of the Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion in the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Parish in Naga City had their souvenir photo in front of the historic shrine on the occasion of the installation of their 4 new brother-lay ministers officiated by Parish Priest Fr. Gerry Hernandez recently. Shown at center 10th from left are the newly installed Lay Ministers, Bro. Serafin Mendoza III, Emmanuel Montiero, and Domingo Barzaga. Bro. Antonio Abilande is on 7th from right. The Parish Lay Ministers Organization has for their Officers the following: Bro. Vergel Claveria-Chairman, Bro. Nisolada-Vice Chairman, and Bro.Tony Amparado-Secretary-Treasurer.


BENDISYON HALI KI AMONG. Nagsungko si Secretario Jesse Robredo ki Arzobispo Leonardo Legaspi bago siya formal nagtukaw bilang pamayo kan Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Mahihiling sa retrato sinda (hali sa wala) Naga City Vice Mayor Gabby Bordado, Arzobispo Legaspi, Secretario Robredo asin Boy Claro. (ARNOLD HIPOLITO)

http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/...ps&events.html

[sonofignatius]

Originally Posted by jhid

I fully appreciate President Noynoy's preference to use commercial planes on his local & foreign travels opining that " his comfort will be the last priority".

I observed here kasi V-Nay's use of a private plane which although is very convenient and provides much comfort to him kaya lang with a budget deficit in 2010 expected to shoot up to Php 325 billion, sana he can best optimize government resources by allocating his expenditures towards the most cost-efficient options.

good point, jhid. what our leaders do make an impact on the attitude and lifestyle of our people.

the medium is the message
P-Noy is driving home the message well- and i hope he continues to.

Originally Posted by bobbymay74

RMN Networks

National News
Forecast ng isang BS Geography graduate, mas tama kaysa sa PAGASA
July 15, 2010
A A A

Add your Comment

(12:18 PM) PINATAOB ni Mike Padua ng Tropical Cyclone Discussion Group ang Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) sa tamang pagkuha ng galaw ng bagyong Basyang.

Bagamat hindi certified Meteorologist at BS Geography graduate ay mas naging eksakto ang forecast ni Padua sa kanilang website na typhoon2000.ph kumpara sa ginawa ng PAGASA.

Sinabi din ni Padua sa Radyo Mo Nationwide na mayroon siyang kagamitan na wala ang PAGASA.

Matatandaan namang, ginisa ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino ang PAGASA hinggil sa maling report nito kung saan tatama ang bagyong Basyang.


Any reaction you would like to convey? Add your comment and make your voice heard on what's happening today.

Jul
15
2010
jeromegaza says:
We are so blessed having Michael Padua here in Naga City Kahit d nya ako kilala proud ako sa pagbibigay nya ng tamang direction ng bagyong dumadaan dito sa atin. Tnks po Sir Michael

Gero N. G says
we salute u sir Michael Padua thank you po


Olivia O. say...
wow, you did it again mike....another feather in your cap!!!we salute a great bicolano like you! keep it up!!!


Ricarlyn G. says...
Congrats Mike... GALING mo talaga!!! Keep it up.

Crissy D. T. says....
nice Mr Typhoon.. and you are right they should have more training and their equipment must upgraded for more reliable source of information. i hope this will lead for a new beginning. more power to you!


Email This Article
Send this article to

excellent job, Mike. keep it up. and keep reminding us that with talent, hard work and ingenuity combined it is Mission Possible.

we need more of your kind!

thanks, bobby, for posting this. inspiring stories of pinoy hard work and creativity are always a breather.

Originally Posted by Alex M

nice,...money well spent..!? wonder how much we spent for this.

Now we should have world class govt service....

Iriga City Hall's statement is strong and clear: We Mean Business. I hope it continues to enflesh this statement in building its people and community.

maimbong na pagdagos sa SSC, Alex M!
Mabalos sa pagpost kang mga retrato, Irigueno23!

by the way, i've been hearing about Iriga's Holy Child (school or academy?; a grade school) lately. met very good alumni of this school. Two of them are now students at the Ateneo de Manila. Both finished high school at the Ateneo de Naga, shuttling between iriga and naga everyday in those four years!

both fellows are very smart and articulate: Eos Trinidad finished valedictorian at the ateneo de naga in 2009 and Dwight Tan finished salutatorian this march 2009. Dwight is enrolled in AdMU's Management Engineering program, one of the toughtest courses (if not the toughest) there. In their ME block, three of around 40 students are from CamSur.

Originally Posted by akosijamir

By Shie M. Barrameda

NAGA CITY --- Passion and interest on the ever-growing number of edifices and economic development in the Metro Naga banded 15 Nagueños from almost every walk of life into a team of freelance correspondents of an electronic thread.

Paulo Suzara, aka Oragon.com and President of the Nagueños that peopled Skyscrapercity Thread 33 admitted that they do not gain anything financially from their efforts of advertising the festivals and latest updates in Naga City through the internet.

“For us, the main objective of our group is to inform and advertise the City. It’s all voluntary,” he said.

The group, yet to be named, was pioneered by a certain Kevin B, whose identity cannot be revealed due to privacy reasons, in November 2006 in an effort of showcasing the latest feats by the local government and the private sector among other updates to the Bicolanos of the world.
------------------------
good job guys!

5 toasted siopao and 5 steaming bowls of kinalas, everyone!
A certain mystique now surrounds this certain Kevin B.

[oragon.com]

Netizens pull thread 33 for Naga City
By Shie M. Barrameda

NAGA CITY --- Passion and interest on the ever-growing number of edifices and economic development in the Metro Naga banded 15 Nagueños from almost every walk of life into a team of freelance correspondents of an electronic thread.

Paulo Suzara, aka Oragon.com and President of the Nagueños that peopled Skyscrapercity Thread 33 admitted that they do not gain anything financially from their efforts of advertising the festivals and latest updates in Naga City through the internet.

“For us, the main objective of our group is to inform and advertise the City. It’s all voluntary,” he said.

The group, yet to be named, was pioneered by a certain Kevin B, whose identity cannot be revealed due to privacy reasons, in November 2006 in an effort of showcasing the latest feats by the local government and the private sector among other updates to the Bicolanos of the world.

He was followed by three more registrants on the Skyscapercity who in turn attracted the people that comprise the present team, transforming Thread 33 into the most active page on the said forum nationally.

Suzara, who is also the marketing coordinator of the University of Nueva Caceres, said that they are a diverse group composed of priests, doctors, teachers, other professionals and even students, regularly posting on Thread 33 information and advertisements of events the local print and broadcast media sometimes fail to notice or pick up immediately.

Their roster of members include Dr. Ramon Caceres aka Naga Boy in Skyscrapercity, one of the leading endocrinologists of the Philippines and current President of the Philippine Thomasian Endocrine Progress, Inc. with three clinics and offices around the Bicol Region.

They also have within their fold Fr. Xavier Olin, Ronald Savilla, principal of Olas Elementary School in Lagonoy North District and JP Aguilar, an elementary instructor of Concepcion Grande Elementary School.

Now, after a thread, a Facebook account and a blog, the Nagueños have started periodically taking tourists and visiting doctors on historical tours on the key places of Naga City for free.

“We have just become active in community service last year, 2009,” Savilla said referring to the medical mission for diabetics conducted at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Barangay Tabuco which the group spearheaded with the Diabetes Camarines Sur, benefitting more than a hundred less-fortunate citizens of Naga last December.

This year, on September 24-26, Skyscrapercity Philippines will host its first National Congress and Meeting in Naga City with the most active group on its pages.

To register for Skyscrapercity Thread 33, just type www.skyscrapercity.com on your search tab then browse through Philippine forums, cities and places, Luzon, then Naga and Iriga Cities and Camarines Sur Province Thread 33. On Facebook, just like them at the Ciudad de Naga account for continues updates. For blog readers and bloggers, type www.nagacitydeck.blogspot.com.


Food, drinks and happiness three things that make Naga City extraordinary


The Netizens of Naga smile as the lights of the city beckon behind them.


Enjoying the open air after touring the City-yet again.

http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/jul15/xpull.html

congrats guys!!!!

[ako_Nagueño]

Originally Posted by brattRAP

I love everything about my hometown..
Kudos to this thread!

nice

[oragon.com]

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor are welcome on this page. Only those with complete name, signature, contact number and return address for verification shall be considered for publication, subject to editing and space limitation when necessary
- Editor-in-Chief.


Congratulations DILG Secretary Robredo!

INDEED, we should be proud that one of our own has been chosen to hold a cabinet position that has been coveted by no other than the veep himself. Congratulations to Mayor Jess, now DILG Sec. Jess!

We are here in Makati spending some time with my family first, but will be in Naga on Monday, in time to share the jubilation of our fellow Naguenos with this excellent choice of P-NOY

Mabuhay an BICOLANO!!

ZENA SABOCOR
Naga City USA Association of LA, California


Now, Region-V has a “ Little President “. Probably in 2016, a real one will come. Congratulations, the Bicolanos !!!..God Bless the Philippines and the Bicolanos.

RUDY FERRAN
United Bicolanos of Los Angeles

We always welcome contributions from our readers, subject to the editorial discretion and standards of the Bicol Mail.
-- Editor

http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/jul15/letter.html

[oragon.com]

Robredo as ‘world mayor’ spreads in internet
By Juan Escandor Jr.



VOTE NOW. The webpage of World Mayor shows the 25 short listed mayor from different continents vying for the 2010 World Mayor prize.

NAGA CITY--- Newly-appointed Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo is among the 25 mayors from different continents shortlisted as finalists in the search for World Mayor 2010 as campaign to support his bid spreads in the internet.

With on-line votes required, Bicolano netizens are linking friends to www.worldmayor.com where the whole story of the selection of Robredo, as former mayor of this city, brought him to the shortlist of 25 mayors around the globe upon presentation of his much written about good governance practices, that had earned him prestigious awards.

Following the link, the organizers of the 2010 World Mayor Prize introduce themselves as “the international think tank on urban affairs” which has given the award to distinguished mayors around the world since 2004.

Included in the list of long-listed Filipino mayors are former Makati mayor and now Vice President Jejomar Binay, once Robredo’s rival to the chief position at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Binay was nominated for his achievement in administration and social services.

Other Filipino mayors nominated but did not make it to the short-list of 25 finalists are Manila Mayor Alfredo Siojo Lim for his programs in health, security and education; former Quezon City mayor and now Rep. Feliciano Belmonte for his performance in economic development, administration and environment.

Robredo’s track record in government service earned him individual recognitions including the 2000 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service; The Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) of the Junior Chamber International in 1996 in Kobe, Japan; and Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM) of the Gerry Roxas Foundation and Philippine Jaycees in 1991.

Nemesia Perez, a United Nations’ worker in Kabul, Afghanistan, in email correspondence and text messaging, informed the Bicol Mail the campaign for Robredo’s vote is spreading in the internet.

“I got it (information of Robredo’s nomination) from the internet. I forget about it for a while. Then, I circulated it to all my friends worldwide. The email keep coming back to my inbox as friends and other people did the same thing. You know how the web works,” Perez said.

Perez, who said she is happy to campaign in the internet, wanted to spread the campaign to all Filipino netizens to vote for Robredo, to make him be the first Filipino World Mayor Prize awardee.

She said the campaign for Robredo 2010 World Mayor Prize has now found its way in the social networking site Facebook.

“He’s the only Filipino who made it to the finals. If you think Robredo deserves your vote, then, cast it now,” Perez added.

http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/jul15/xrobredo.html

[sonofignatius]

A different ‘Ballgame’!


President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino, III sure is turning out to be one heck of a deft Political ‘Player’! When before we thought him ‘dumb’ and just a ‘reluctant’ beneficiary of Ninoy’s Heroic Martyrdom, and his Mom’s Spiritual Leadership, he is turning out to be a Presidential ‘Phenomenon’, the likes of whom we haven’t seen, ever since the time of Pres. Ramon Magsaysay! His ‘open’, ‘frank’ and ‘casual’ demeanor is something we have ‘missed’ since the time of his mom, Pres. Cory Aquino. His ability to ‘parry’ intellectual ‘jabs’ from the Media is so cool and smooth it’s hard for some belligerent members to lure him into nonsensical ‘word wars’!

What really revealed Noynoy’s Political ‘savvy’, though, was his ‘dilatory’ tactics vis a vis the appointment of D.I.L.G. Secretary, Jesse M. Robredo. As intelligently parleyed by our family friend, ‘Butch’ Santos, Noy’s ‘intentional’ delay of Sec. Robredo’s appointment was a masterstroke of sorts: it brought out all the ‘Cons’ with an axe to grind and gave P-NOY an idea of Jesse’s strength and staying power which enabled him to keep the Nagauenos’ Trust and Confidence for almost 2 DECADES in the midst of all these ‘hypocritical rogues’ who have been trying to do him in! The ‘delay’ also helped ‘cool off’ ‘V-NAY’ who so presumptuously and cantankerously demanded the very powerful D.I.L.G. post as if he was more of a ‘Liberal’ than the whole Liberal Party, headed by his nearest Political Rival, Sen. Mar Roxas (who now has an on-going PROTEST against his ‘Victory’)! This ‘primitive’ nerve of trying to ‘intimidate’ P-NOY just shows what Vice-President ‘Jojo’ Binay’s Political Psyche is made of and what we can all expect from this ‘Napoleonic’ Political ‘Imp’ in the days and years to come! His ‘saber rattling’ is something which even Sec. Robredo should be wary of.

This now forces me to give our newly appointed Bicolano ‘Wonder Boy’ some unsolicited advice: please, please, WATCH YOUR BACK (literally and figuratively)! If before Jesse was so used to walking and biking through his beloved City alone and devoid of any Security Back-ups, now he can ill afford to continue this practice. A good number of ‘Syndicates’ might just be bidding their time and thinking of ways to ‘neutralize’ (through blackmail, and etc.), if not altogether ‘eliminate’ our no-nonsense, straight-shooting Secretary! Come to think of it, even P-NOY himself and his entire good and decent Cabinet, are also ‘TARGETS’, so much so that they all have to get used to walking, eating, and sleeping with their trusted Security Group 24/7, not to mention the need to ‘eat bullets for breakfast’!

In fact, from the way Noynoy is going about his business of being President, with a ‘HALO’ over his head (just like ‘Ninoy’ before he was ‘taken down’), we are quite apprehensive he might not last 6 years in office! If you will recall ‘Ninoy’s’ TV Interview with Pat Robertson who had so much ‘jaw-dropping’ awe for his new-found ‘SPIRITUALITY’ and total resignation to God’s Will (when before he was so confrontational and pugnacious), you will know where I’m coming from and what I’m getting at!

Even if Death is an unavoidable fact of Life, dying dramatically and tragically like the Kennedy Brothers, Gandhi, and Ninoy, to name a few, is such an enviable way of ‘shuffling off this mortal coil’, that ‘Great Again’ Despot must’ve wished he could also die a Martyr’s Death instead of being ‘preserved’ as a candidate for Madame Tussauds Wax Museum rather than the ‘Libingan ng mga Bayani’!

The Evil Men who might, even now, be plotting to ‘eliminate with extreme prejudice’ Noynoy or any of his Cabinet Men must hark back to August 21, 1983, and the AFTERMATH of that most stupid, bungled Assassination in the annals of Crime (where else can you find a lone ‘assassin’ who was able to break through a cordon of hundreds of battle ready soldiers, much more climb up the airplane’s stairs, turn around, and shoot Ninoy Aquino at the back of his head, while his military escorts just looked on with open mouths?). Can they afford to set off another People Uprising the likes of which just might make ‘EDSA’ 1 look like a ‘Street Party’ of sorts? Even if ‘prepping up’ Kris’ ‘scandal prone’ personality, to, perhaps, prevent her from ‘subbing’ for her brother, in case he is indeed allowed to follow in his Father’s footsteps, I hope these ‘Plotters’ remember that during the Martial Law ‘Snap Election’, people believed that even a stray Dog would’ve won against Ferdinand Marcos had it been allowed to run! That’s how an aroused and incited Citizenry just might take to Kris being the sister of ‘Noynoy’, firmly establishing the Aquinos as the ‘Kennedys’ of the Philippines! No amount of Negative Publicity can beat Hatred gone wild! A Military Junta will have to give way to another ‘Snap Election’ lest the Economy suffers through all the expected rallies, demonstrations, strikes, and eventual political upheaval!

So it is in this context that an appeal is hereby being made so that whoever might still think that they can still bring back the Glory Days of Graft and Corruption and Summary Killings, will now have to realize that this is a new, better, younger and DETERMINED Cabinet; and, perhaps, the Greatest President that the Philippines will ever have (God Willing!). So Ladies and Gentlemen, please make way for an altogether different Ballgame!

BLUE & WHITE
Joaquin F Perez's column in Bicol Mail

http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/jul15/blue.html

[garzland]

Robredo: My main agenda is to strengthen local gov’ts

By Jonas Cabiles Soltes
Inquirer Southern Luzon
First Posted 02:48:00 07/13/2010

Filed Under: Local authorities, Government, Casinos & Gambling, Governance, Media killings, Organized Crime

NAGA CITY—Secretary Jesse Robredo Monday said that the main focus of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) would be the empowerment of local governments.

“Although I am also resolved to give proportionate priority to other things such as curbing ‘jueteng,’ my main agenda as DILG chief will be things that would strengthen our local governments,” he told the Inquirer.

Robredo said he would implement “calibrated decentralization” of the remaining control of the national government over local governments.

“I would review all circulars, especially those that deal with how local governments should spend their money,” the new interior secretary added.

He said more freedom should be given to the local governments. “Local governments should have the power, for instance, to appoint treasurers and school superintendents,” Robredo said.

He said every law providing for how local governments should act should be streamlined to make every local government more liberal in exercising its powers.

“But every action should have clear outcomes. Yes, more freedom would be given but we would require every local government to be more transparent. We would give them (local governments) a hand in allocating their funds but they should find a way where they can publicize how they procured and allocated the funds, especially through websites,” Robredo said.

“In short, there would be more freedom, but every freedom will be coupled with accountability,” he added.

Training

Robredo said every local government should regularly update the rate of completion of its every project. “We would make every LGU competitive so every other LGU would follow suit.”

Robredo said the DILG would organize training for all newly elected local government officials so every official would be accustomed to how local governments should work.

He said he would also institutionalize inter-LGU partnerships, especially on matters such as solid waste management and disaster preparedness and response.

“We have to admit that there are things a local government cannot do by itself so we have to institutionalize inter-LGU cooperation such as commonly owning fire trucks and fire stations.”

Robredo said the national government would give incentives to transparent and cooperative LGUs.

Robredo added that he also wanted local governments to operate small-town lotteries and all other forms of legal gambling.

“This would give additional revenues to local governments. But every cent should be properly accounted for and the accounting and subsequent use for projects should be transparent,” Robredo said.

One of the ways of curbing jueteng is the strengthening of legal forms of gambling under the control of local governments, according to the interior secretary.

Robredo said although it was true that President Benigno Aquino III wanted him to curb the illegal number racket in his capacity as the head of the DILG, he would prioritize programs that would boost the capabilities of local governments.

“Jueteng has long been illegal and as such it has been given that it should be stopped along with other illegal operations and organized crimes. As DILG secretary, I would address that,” Robredo said.

Anti-jueteng czar

He said stopping jueteng, all other illegal gambling operations and organized crime in the country was Aquino’s marching order not just to the DILG but also to other government agencies.

“I am not distancing myself from jueteng but at the same time I would not want to be known as some sort of anti-jueteng czar,” Robredo clarified.

He said the DILG would also lay its hands on solving cases of killings of media persons. “We would do all we can to help resolve killings of media practitioners.”

[Naga City Deck]

how does it look on paper?? well... for the benefit of those who cannot see the paper at this moment... here ya go

Half Page Fame of SSC CamSur

not bad for the first exposure in print media

big thanks to Ms. Shiena Barrameda of BicolMail

credits as well to SSC Cebu with our Pres on the first pic

[Naga City Deck]

how does it look on paper?? well... for the benefit of those who cannot see the paper at this moment... here ya go

Half Page Fame of SSC CamSur

not bad for the first exposure in print media

big thanks to Ms. Shiena Barrameda of BicolMail

credits as well to SSC Cebu with our Pres on the first pic

[Naga City Deck]

wala nnman power here downtown Naga. how about sa ibang lugar????

tsk tsk hahayyy

[Naga City Deck]

just ate lunch here at Bigg's.. wala nnman kuryente hayy..

hayyy busy day.. form 7am to 5pm then 5:30 to 7:30 for my class..

the paper has now circulated in our university.. kada office meron huhu

as of now wala pang nakakapansin. sana forever n walang makapansin kang pic ko duman. tsk tsk

gtg na muna. back to work.

[Naga City Deck]

DILG website is now updated

kulang nlng Biography ni Sec. Robredo





source