Oh Martin!

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another week. Forget about Manny Villar and the Senate hearing, (if I may borrow Capt. Smith’s line from the Titanic movie) it’s normal this season of the year (I mean the election season). I’d rather hear about Aling Dionesia dancing with her gowns and all.

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Which leads me to today’s title. It’s been weeks since Manny Pacquiao made Hatton fall asleep (violently, if I may say) and there’s still this issue boggling me. Yes, it happened to the national anthem again.

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The singing of the anthem it seems is the only event I look forward to during the Pacquiao bouts. Why did they not have Lea Salonga sing the anthem? News report had it that it was only she who did it properly (so far). I heard her do that during the visit of the Clintons. And I do not disagree with the news report. Nope, it’s not that I’m a Lea Salonga fan (I just happen to be familiar with all the songs from Miss Saigon. Smile! It’s the first day of the week!). Back to Martin. So what’s my take on the issue? Forget about freedom of expression and apologies, oh Martin! How could you?

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Foundation for a Clean Calbayog River. DILG-Calbayog in coordination with the City of Calbayog has put into action The Save Calbayog Rivers Movement. Its initial activity, the Save Calbayog River Technical Planning Workshop and Organization Meeting was held at the DepEd Conference Hall on May 9, 2009.

The activity was designed to encourage participants to provide support in saving the Calbayog River. It was aimed at making the participants realize the importance of Calbayog River in the lives of Calbayognons; re-establish the value of cooperation among the different sectors of society in cleaning the Calbayog River; clean, save and protect the Calbayog River; and organize the Foundation for a Clean Calbayog River.

The Technical Planning Workshop had the following activities

• Video Showing of “Salug”.
• The Mission to Clean the Calbayog River: A Call for Calbayognons.
• “Calbayog Ko Salug Ko”: The Values Calbayognons Must Have to Save the Environment.
• Action Plan Presentation and Critiquing.
• Organization of the Foundation for a Clean Calbayog River.
• Signing of Action Plan and Commitment of Support.

A good number of participants and guests coming from government, non-government organizations, people’s organizations and the private sector participated in the conference.

To ensure the sustainability of the program, the DILG Program Officer/District Officer shall monitor the projects and activities implemented by barangays in line with the provision of support to save the Calbayog River. A regular report shall be required from the barangays.

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The first travel agency in Cabayog is now in operation. Great Times Tours and Events Calbayog branch officially opened for business on May 8, 2009.

The ribbon-cutting was led by Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino and TTMIST President Socorro Bohol. Fr. Mike Aguilar said the prayer of blessing.

Great Times Tours and Events Calbayog branch is located in Brgy. Capoocan, near the Calbayog Hall of Justice.

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The Calbayog Hotels and Restaurants Association (CAHORA) recently inducted their new set of officers. The event was held at the function hall of Marju-Krisel Resort in Brgy. San Policarpo. Guest of Honor and Inducting Officer was Vice Mayor Ronaldo Aquino.

Inducted as officers were Mark Aquino of Marju Krisel Resort (President); Dr. Vincent Rosales of 3-Gems (Vice President); Irene Pastrana of Mila's (Secretary); Eleanor Bernardo - Tingzon of Bernardo's (Secretary); Ruth Bartolome - Enriquez of Mangroove (Auditor); and Evageline Kho of Eduardo's and Lina Porcalla - Pido of Lyn's Garden (Business Managers).

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Wedding Bells. Primitivo “Junjun” Planea, Jr. and Ruth Cabeling (both of Takut, Sto. Niño) will get married today. Their wedding mass will be presided over by the groom’s uncle Fr. Johnny Planea with Fr. Francis Uy and Fr. Eliboi Solis as concelebrants.

Ireneo “Jun” Germones will get married to Shiela Lasaca. The wedding mass will be held at the St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church in Brgy. San Policarpo on Wednesday. Reception will be held at the SPCS activity center.

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The CKC - Jose Gomez Orchestra will have a concert in Catarman, Northern Samar. The event will be held at the Northern Samar Capitol Building on May 23, 2009, Saturday at 5:00 pm.

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This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!