Calbayog’s Tri-District Program

Hi there! It’s another weekend. First things first: Sarah Geronimo will be coming to Calbayog City. Her concert-for-a-cause dubbed “Sarah Geronimo Live in Calbayog!” will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

So, what do we have? The best of both worlds characterized by two words – major, major and flimflam. In case you have been complaining about how Venus blew it, c’mon think again, there were 82 other ladies, 82. Now, on that sad event brought about by both a policeman and by many policemen going flimflam, I rest my case. But surely, as I wrote this, some Senators are having a grand time grandstanding (no relations to Quirino grandstand, I suppose. Oops, that’s supposed to be a joke). Anyway, our lawmakers will be busy grilling the concerned officers, in aid of legislation, of course.

* * *

The Tri-District (3-D) Program of Calbayog City. As reported, the City Government officially launched the Tri-District (3-D) Development Program about a month ago.

About three weeks ago, I featured the said program in this column and referred to it as Calbayog’s MDG. I would like to give you an updated presentation of some program details.

The 3-D slogan is DETERMINASYON: DALAN sa DAYUN nga kauswagan. The 3-D battle-cry is LET’S HELP-Calbayog City. It is an acronym which reads: L for legislative; E for executive, T & S for total support; H for health and humanitarian concerns; E for education, culture and the arts, environment, eco-tourism, energy and communication empowerment in governance; L for livelihood, land and housing; P for projects, production, peace and order, population development and partnerships

The 3-D Program in a way divides Calbayog into four districts through its four components namely Oquendo Key Program for Revitalization, Sustainability and Services (OK-PROGRESS) for Oquendo District, Tinambacan Upliftment of Socio-Economic Conditions (TUSEC) for Tinambacan District and Seven Hills Happy Valley Alleviation and Road Program (SHARP) and Calbayog Urbanization Program and Services (CUPS) for Calbayog District.

Its implementation will include Database Establishment and Data Gathering, Identification of Problems and Solutions to include Feasibility Studies, Strong Support, Determined Executive Action, AND People’s Participation.
The 3-D program components and its respective / identified programs are as follows:

• Health (Hospital, Medicines, Nutrition, Mother and Child Health Care)
• Education (School Bus, Scholarship, High School, Teachers, Classrooms, non-formal adult education and responsible parenting classes)
• Infrastructure (Power / Communication, Roads, Water, Irrigation, Warehouse, Solar Dryer, School Buildings, Mini Hospitals with Health Centers, Training / Demo Centers, Sports Facilities, Drainage, Intermodal Transport system)
• Agriculture (Grains, Coconut, Abaca, Rootcrops, Cash Crops, Vegetable, Aquaculture, Horticulture)
• Livestock (Pig Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Cow Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Carabao Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Goats Production / Fattening / Dispersal)
• Industries / SMEs (Food processing, Handicraft, Furniture, Ceramics)
• Power (Hydro-electric project)
• Environment (Anti-illegal logging, Anti-illegal quarrying, Reforestation)
• Peace and Order (Programs/ Drives against: Illegal gambling, Prostitution / Recruitment, Illegal Drugs, Illegal Fishing, Illegal Logging, Illegal Quarrying, Juvenile Delinquency)
• Disaster Preparedness
• Eco-Toursim
• Housing
• Arts and Culture
• Youth
• Intangibles (Moral Recovery, Capability Building, Administrative Reforms)
• Integral Components namely Gender and Development and Population and Development.

As of this writing, the planning workshops have been held for the punong barangays of Calbayog. Among the things done in these sessions were the identification of problems besetting the various districts of Calbayog; and the identification of proper projects or programs and the same were considered for funding and implementation. The results / data from the workshops have been presented to all the city officials and Department Managers of the LGU.

* * *

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

Death of a Bishop

Hi there! It’s another week and it’s Friday the 13th. Nope, no bishop died today. So, what’s with today’s title? You might want to ask. It’s the history buff in me again. Last Tuesday (August 10, 2010) we commemorated the 90th anniversary of the death Bishop Pablo Singzon, the first Bishop of Calbayog. Now that I have your attention, let me share what I got from some archival records. I already featured it in this column about two years ago. I thought I’d like to take a few moments of your time today as we recall some sad moments in the life of one of the leaders who have served the Diocese of Calbayog, in his case, the Catholic faithful in the islands of Samar, Leyte and the Marianas.

* * *

Sometime in 2008, while preparing for the Calbayog coffee table book, I received photocopies of the issues of the Eco de Samar y Leyte. I thought it was a bundle of issues only from 1911-1913. Later on would I find an issue dated August 14, 1920 and the English section contained an account on the death of the first Bishop of Calbayog. It’s the year (of the Bishop’s death) that made me wonder.

If one is to check the portraits of Bishops at the Bishop’s House in Calbayog (which many locales fondly refer to as the palacio), a plate beneath Bishop Singzon’s portrait states that he was Bishop of Calbayog from 1910 – 1922. And checking on his tombstone at the Cathedral, it stated that he returned to his creator in 1923. This obviously needs more checking. In the meantime, let me share with you (in its entirety) what I got from the Eco de Samar y Leyte.

That particular issue on August 14, 1920 had this as its headline in the English section: “MGR. PABLO SINGZON, FIRST BISHOP OF CALBAYOG DIED LAST TUESDAY MORNING”

Taking a cue from that headline, it meant that Bishop Singzon returned to his creator on August 10, 1920. Let me give you the details of that report which was written by someone who went by the name of PLOPE:

“It was a melancholic and sorrowful Monday at about six o’clock when our Illustrious Prelate Mgr. Pablo Singzon in the modest parlor of the Episcopal palace was attended by his familiars among whom was Dr. Tomas Gomez. His weary respiration and the paleness of his face moved the hearts of those who were present and caused them a painful feeling of separation. The pain of his sickness was becoming more and more painful which called him to stay in bed.

At 10:00 o’clock p.m. when Mgr. Singzon found out that he did not feel a better repose nor even a rest from the pain of his sickness in his bed, wanted to sit on a chair – the chair where he received the spiritual consolations last November when he was attacked severely by the same sickness. In this chair he decided to die. Tears that roll from my eyes prevent not my pen to communicate my pain!

When the clock knocked its eleven strikes Mgr. Singzon was becoming weaker and weaker. From the neck of our illustrious patient hanged a bead of rosary, the escapulary of the Third Order of Saint Francis and the Miraculous Medal. Around him were his favorite Auxiliary Bishop Mgr. Sofronio Hacbang, RR. FF. Jose Diasnes, Teodoro Robredo, Luis Egeda, Dr. Tomas Gomez, RR. FF. Pedro Pampliega, Santos Saldaña, the Seminarians Bernardo Bacsal, Lesmes Ricalde, and behind the chair were RR. FF. Felix Sabenicio and Crispin Singzon. It was indeed a sorrowful occasion! All those who were present observed firmly to the patient and watched his movements whose weary and painful respiration cooled their hearts. Mgr. Singzon was not as active as he used to be: his activity, attention and application were changed: Mgr. Singzon was transformed struggling between the existence of life and death.

Mgr. Sofronio Hacbang his Auxiliary Bishop and who had never left him read the profession of the faith, the recommendation of the soul; whose voice in the midst of that tranquility and in the midst of that struggling pain called his attention to listen. Rev. F. Jose Diasnes neared to the patient by order of the Auxiliary Bishop to give him a confession. How great and how sublime is to die in the name of the Catholic Religion, though in the midst of pain.

The illustrious patient was losing gradually his movements the coolness of his body began to cover him with its veil, his paleness was becoming more and more pale. Then all those who were present knelt down with lighted candles before a crucifix near the patient and said the following words: “PROFESU ERE ANIMA CRISTIANA”

Mgr. Singzon gave up his last breath in the morning of the sorrowful Tuesday when the clock knocked its 3:20 strikes” (PLOPE)

* * *

Sarah Geronimo Live in Calbayog! This concert for a cause will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

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

Update on the Calbayog City Hospital

Hi there! It’s another week. So what do we have? Well, there they go again. The Senate, or Bong and (was it) Ralph were mulling about Senate investigation on the PAL row and the MRT fare hike. I’m tempted to say what else is new. Anyway, I still need to check what legislation they are into with these investigation (if ever matuloy). And while we are at it, why don’t they investigate the bombing in Zamboanga, Alvin Padilla and his gang, and do we include CATS too? I mean, why are the tickets of that musicale priced as such? (Oops, don’t take this line seriously, just wanna make you smile this week).

* * *

I have decided to devote today’s column on one of the undertakings of the City Government of Calbayog, the establishment of the Calbayog City Hospital. I was able to get hold of the report given to Mayor Reynaldo Uy when he met with the representative of the Department of Health (DOH) RO-8 last July 20.

Present during the said meeting was the DOH team headed by DOH RO-8 Assistant Regional Director Dr. Minerva Molon. The team members were Dr. Exuperia Sabalberino, Dr. Perla Ernacio, Mrs. Nellosa Guarda and Engr. Jasper De Veyra. Also present were Dr. Sylvia De Guzman, Engr. Gil Lentejas, Mrs. Geronides Mancol, Mr. Jessie Montealto and Atty. Oscar Hugo, all members of the Ad Hoc Committee which was formed for the Calbayog City Hospital.
Dr. Molon updated Mayor Uy and the Ad Hoc Committee members on the evaluation on the application for Certificate of Need (CON) of the Calbayog City Hospital.

The criteria taken into consideration were the following: Bed to Population ratio. Travel Time. Accessibility. Strategic Location. Integration in the local hospital development plan.

Here are some initial findings as per report submitted to the City Mayor and the Ad Hoc Committee:

Criteria 1. Bed to Population ratio.
For its primary catchment area, the hospital being a level 3 application will have the (Samar) province as coverage area hence it will have a catchment population of approximately 1,438,000. As of the moment 340 hospital beds are available in the primary catchment area. The number of hospital beds are distributed as follows: Samar Provincial Hospital (100 beds), Calbayog District Hospital (75 beds), Gandara (10 beds), Bassey (25 beds), Tarangnan (10 beds), St. Camillus Hospital (25 beds), Calbayog Sanitarium Hospital (15 beds) and OLPHI (80 beds)

On the other hand, 350 beds are available in the secondary catchment area (and this would be the Northern Samar area). The hospitals in the area are Allen Hospital (50 beds), Biri (25 beds), Capul (25 beds), GB Tan (50 beds), NSPH (100 beds), Gamay (25 beds), San Antonio (25 beds), San Vicente (10 beds), Catubig (25 beds), Leoncio Uy Private Hospital (15 beds).

Total inventory of hospital beds is at 735, to include the approved PTC for 50-bed Samar Doctors.
The ideal bed-to-population ratio is = 0.511, which means that the province still needs 703 beds more. Calbayog's application for 25 beds passed the first criteria; and that applying for 50 beds would still be okey.

Criteria 2. Travel Time. At least one hour away from the nearest hospital. This was not met, with OLPHI, a level-3 hospital and St. Camillus Hospital.

Criteria 3. Accessibility. This was okeyed by the group.

Criteria 4. Strategic Location. The group visited the proposed site after the meeting at Marju-Krisel and a recommendation is forthcoming.

Criteria 5. Integration in the local hospital development plan. As of the July 20 meeting, only the City annual Investment Plan was received by DOH RO-8.

The following recommendations were presented by the DOH group and duly noted by the Ad Hoc Committee:

• The CON is approved, however there is a need to look into the clustering of the private hospitals in the proposed site.
• The possibility of the proposed hospital becoming a dumping ground of "indigent cases" which might be rejected by the private hospitals.
• The need for the hospital plan to be integrated in the City Development Plan for sustainability.
• Present budget is only for the construction of the hospital physical structure. Still needed to be looked into are manpower, equipment and service capability needs which cost bigger budget.

The group's report also included the "Case Mix of patients” admitted in the hospital in Cabayog City:

• Pneumonia
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease
• PTB
• AGE
• UTI
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Peptic Ulcer Diseases
• PUFT
• Bronchial Ashma

* * *

Obit. Tomorrow we commemorate The Most Reverend Pablo Singzon, the first Bishop of Calbayog. It has been 90 years since he received the gift of eternal life.

* * *

Sarah Geronimo Live in Calbayog! This concert for a cause will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

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

I missed you

Hi there! It’s another weekend. I was out of circulation again for the past two weeks. So Krizzie is coming home (for a new game show? Thanks god Willie is out), Noynoy has delivered his first SONA and yup, I’m doing my best to catch the CATS musical in Manila.

And what’s with today’s title? Nope, it has nothing to do with relationships (broken or otherwise). That’s my take on the SONA. It was the line that came to mind while watching P-Noy deliver his SONA. I missed the koala or the marsupial in the house (remember the masked whistleblower on the supposedly rigged PCOS result? Yup that star during those days dubbed as the biggest gathering of losers in the house). I missed Ms. Susano, and I missed the triumvirate of Sen. Madrigal, JC De Los Reyes and Nick Perlas. And yes, Mr. Cesar Flores too.

* * *

The Tri-District (3-D) Program (which was my topic in this column exactly two weeks ago) will be officially launched today. The launching will be held at the Calbayog City Sports Center. Mayor Reynaldo Uy will lead the officials invited to the event. Also expected to attend are the Punong Barangay from all 157 barangays of Calbayog, the Department Managers and their assistants as well as various representatives from the private sector.

If I may once again feature what I gave you two weeks ago, the re-implementation of the 3-D Program is one of the thrusts of the Uy administration. I fondly refer to it as Calbayog’s MDG, as it contains various components aimed at alleviating the economic condition of every Cabayognon; and it came to be years before that U.N. MDG program was officially launched.

The 3-D Program in a way divides Calbayog into four districts through its four components namely Oquendo Key Program for Revitalization, Sustainability and Services (OK-PROGRESS), Seven Hills Happy Valley Alleviation and Road Program (SHARP), Tinambacan Upliftment of Socio-Economic Conditions (TUSEC) and Calbayog Urbanization Program and Services (CUPS).

The components of the 3D program are Health, Agriculture, Livestock, Education, Environment, Infrastructure, Eco-Tourism, Housing, Peace and Order and Industries

* * *

Anti-Dengue Days in Calbayog. This program which was launched a week ago will continue today with the LGU employees led by their respective Department Managers and the city officials visiting their assigned barangays at 3:00 pm. They are expected to check on what they have started during their initial visits last Friday. As per initial info from the CHO, water samples collected from all the carline barangays tested positive for dengue larvae. The Anti-Dengue Days program was implemented through Executive Order No. 2 which was signed by Mayor Reynaldo Uy on July 22, 2010. It is aimed at reducing the incidence of dengue cases the number of which made Calbayog the 5th in the region.

* * *

Last Thursday, the officials of the Senior Citizens’ Federation of Calbayog gave a plaque of appreciation to Mayor Reynaldo Uy. The group thanked the Mayor for his efforts (while still congressman of Samar) for the passage of the Extended Senior Citizens Act.

It should be noted that then Congressman Reynaldo Uy was Chair of the House Committee on Senior Citizens which, together with Senator Pia Cayeatano’s committee was responsible for the passage of the Extended Senior Citizens’ Act of 2010.

* * *

Calbayog City has a new Chief of Police. Police Superintendent Nestor Valenzuela was installed in simple ceremonies last July 19, 2010 at the Calbayog PNP headquarters.

* * *

Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! This concert for a cause will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

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

Calbayog’s MDG

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

Hi there! It’s another weekend. And so much for failed relationships, jerks and closures (for now anyway). Yup, that’s if you still remember what I had in this column last Monday. And while we are into the topic, I’m so glad to hear a good number of friends react to that column. I still have a lot of it under my sleeves. For this weekend, I have decided to focus on one of the main programs that the new administration Mayor Reynaldo Uy will be implementing for the City of Calbayog.

Among the things that Mayor Uy cited in his inaugural speech was that his administration will be implementing the 3-D Program. Actually, re-implementation would be a more accurate term. The program was launched during his (Mayor Uy) last term and took off just a bit. Fondly referred to as Calbayog’s MDG, the program contains various components aimed at alleviating the economic condition of every Cabayognon (read: all districts of Calbayog). It came to be years before that U.N. MDG program was officially launched.

The 3-D Program in a way divides Calbayog into four districts through its four components namely Oquendo Key Program for Revitalization, Sustainability and Services (OK-PROGRESS), Seven Hills Happy Valley Alleviation and Road Program (SHARP), Tinambacan Upliftment of Socio-Economic Conditions (TUSEC) and Calbayog Urbanization Program and Services (CUPS)

More fine-tuning and updating are set for the program. Its implementation will include Data Gathering, Identification of Problems and Solution to include: Strong Support, Determined Executive Action, AND People’s Participation.

The components of the 3D program are as follows:

- Health (Hospital, Medicines, Nutrition, Mother and Child Health Care)

- Agriculture (Grains, Coconut, Abaca, Rootcrops, Cash Crops, Vegetable, Aquaculture, Horticulture)

- Livestock (Pig Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Cow Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Carabao Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Goats Production / Fattening / Dispersal)

- Education (School Bus, Scholarship, High School, Teachers, Classrooms)

- Environment (Anti-illegal logging, Anti-illegal quarrying, Reforestation)

- Infrastructure (Power / Communication, Roads, Water, Irrigation, Warehouse, Solar Dryer, School Buildings, Mini Hospitals / Health Centers, Training / Demo Centers, Sports Facilities, Drainage, Intermodal Transport system)

- Eco-Toursim

- Housing

- Peace and Order (Programs/ Drives against: Illegal gambling, Prostitution / Recruitment, Illegal Drugs, Illegal Fishing, Illegal Logging, Illegal Quarrying, Juvenile Delinquency)

- Industries / SMEs (Food processing, Handicraft, Furniture, Ceramics)

- Intangibles (Moral Recovery, Capability Building, Administrative Reforms)

* * *

Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! This concert for a cause will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

The City Government of Calbayog through the City Health Office, in coordination with the Leyte Family Development Organization (LEFADO) and the Philippine NGO Council (PNGOC) will conduct the Samar cluster meeting dubbed Up Scaling the National Response to HIV and AIDS through the Delivery of Services and Information to Population AT Risk and People Living with HIV and AIDS. The meeting will be held at 9:00 am today at Eduardo’s Restaurant. Mayor Reynaldo Uy has been invited to deliver the Welcome Message.

* * *

The Samar Medical Society will have their oath-taking tonight. This will be held at the function hall of St. Camillus Hospital. Mayor Reynaldo Uy, himself a doctor has been invited as the guest of honor.

* * *

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

(Failed) Relationships (or That Jerk!)

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

Hi there! It’s a new week and we are days away to sweldo time. First things first, my apologies for not writing the past - I counted the days – month. Blame it on my day job (Smile!). And after that “long” break, I have decided to do away (for the nth time) with my acerbic comments about the world around me. I have copied some articles I got from some fellow bloggers, which explains today’s title. And yes, my column should read: The Crazy Me as there is nothing about Calbayog, at least for today. (Smile, it’s a new week)

Bitter? Hmmm. Don’t ask why such a title. It’s for the purpose of being able to do away (like closure? :-) ) with bad endings that came after happy beginnings that some people (of not-so-happy memory) have brought upon – hmmm (you don’t have to guess); and in a way explains why this column took some hibernation. (Smile! It adds to your face value!)

Let me give you something which I got from www. heavenpurgatoryandhell.blogspot.com:

“One of the most difficult situations to fathom is that of a relationship. Whether you're just beginning or already tied down, whether you're teenagers or already a senior citizen - there are many occasions in your relationship that posed, pose or will pose a challenge.”

“Every relation is a work in progress. I believe that happy beginnings are the rule. It's why we get into a relation in the first place. But happy endings, ah, that's the hard part. Only we can make a happy ending. Which means that in between the stories of our lives are the hardships that entail us to make each and every relationship work.”

“Sometimes, when there is trouble in paradise, we need to remember why we even ended up with our significant other the first time around. Was it for fun, for convenience, or for love?”

“It will always take two to tango. There should be honor and respect for one another and most of all, we need to keep each others dignity intact. Each of us provides the pillar of strength for the other. It's really about - for better or worse.”

“We just need to remember that in a relationship, there is no more I. It is all about US.”

And here’s another one which explains the other title of today’s column. It’s from a fellow blogger (my apologies, I got carried away by the contents I forgot to tale note of the source). I dunnow who that friend of his is, but it’s the setting which is so familiar, so familiar especially with all those failed relationships. (The newspaper version of this column contains the sanitized version of the following paragraph)

"A friend recently got entangled in a pseudo-relationship: he didn't know that he was dating a guy who is already attached. Thanks to my loud mouth quite accidentally, he discovered early on. He was, how do you say that again? Devastated. Because the guy is hot, charming, handsome, smart and, uh, hot. And he was beginning to love the jerk, beyond the late-night sex and the amorous text messages. Later, my friend, during comfort episodes, would reveal that the Mr. Jerk was inconsistent and mercurial at times. Tell-tale signs of something amiss in the calculus of Mr. Jerk's so-called affections for my poor friend. Which got me thinking - what is it about jerks anyways that make them so appealing sometimes? Do we get attracted at some point in our lonely lives to the self-destructive skunks? But how?"

“In the article The Mystery of Jerks by Katz and Holmes, the conclusion reads: Admittedly, there are a few people who probably enjoy the histrionics and the moods and the make-up sex that come with dating drama kings and queens. But I'd bet that most are just willing to tolerate the drama, because, thus far, that drama comes attached to the "best" person they could find. Essentially, they're saying, "Yeah, he's inconsistent, selfish, and distant, but he's all mine." Just realize that every second you're spending with the wrong guy is a second that you're not out looking for the right one, the guy who gives, the guy who listens, the guy who learns. Darn, this is all so true. Are you reading this, Honey? (err, Mr. Jerk?)”

* * *

Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! This concert for a cause will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

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

Sarah Geronimo Live in Calbayog!

Sarah Geronimo Live in Calbayog!

September 7, 2010
7:00 p.m
Calbayog City Sports Center


Ticket Prices:
Php 2,000.00, Php 1,500.00, Php 1,000.00, Php 800.00 & Php 500.00

For inquiries, call or text:

0929-234-0373

0928-908-0095

0915-976-4807

In Dependence

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

Hi there! It’s a new week. And we are days away to a new administration running the national government.

The nation recently commemorated the 112th Philippine Independence Day. It’s that day in our history which gave us another reason to sleep a little longer today. So, what about it? Each time that day comes around, I am reminded of what my Soc Sci professor asked our class many years ago: for the Philippines, is it really independence (thus the independence day celebrations and stuff)? Or In Dependence on what other countries has to offer; on what foreign investors has to offer; on what the international financial institutions has to offer. I can clearly remember how our class debated on whether Filipinos should be doing things for themselves by themselves or do we need to have these foreign investors, foreign government, multi-national corporations making sawsaw in our economic affairs. I think the solution (no, its was the winning side’s answer) was that that the problems of the land of Juan De La Cruz has grown so big (can we use the term leaps and bounds? Don’t take that seriously, just wanna make you smile this wee) that it’s impossible for Juan De La Cruz alone to do it. So is that line of argument still valid today? I dunnow, the last time I had a serious discussion (with some friends, otherwise it would have been an argument) on the issue, I did not miss the line about the Philippines not being able to do it alone, it was simply rephrased to “in this era of globalization, the Philippines cannot afford to do it alone.” I rest my case. And let us not even start discussing how our national leaders are doing their job . . .

* * *

So, Noynoy is now President-elect. I like him, but please don’t say quitting smoking will lead to bad decisions. I’m hoping that Mr. Obama send his “Stop Smoking Kit” to the President-elect soon.

* * *

Local events. I’m writing this column on Saturday morning. The Independence Day events in the city will include a short program at the Nijaga Park stage. The Sangguniang Panlungsod will honor Mr. Reynaldo Prudenciado, Jr. the CKC accounting graduate who placed 6th in the recnt CPA board exam. Expected to be present are the SP members led by Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino and Mayor Mel Sarmiento who will deliver his Independence Day message. The day’s events will be highlighted by the maiden performance of “Serapio: the Musicale.”

New President for Christ the King College. Fr. Marcelo Tubac, ofm was formally installed as the new CKC President. The Turn-Over Ceremony was held last Friday during the Eucharistic Celebration at the CKC San Damiano Chapel. Bishop Isabelo Abarquez was present during the ceremony.

* * *

No Approved Therapeutic Claims. Nope, that line should read: Sec. Espie Cabral and her balls. The good secretary is into it again. I’m saying that line in appreciation to what she is doing. If only she can have a more aggressive campaign against smoking (I think I’ll have that in my next column). Anyway, what about this No Approved Therapeutic Claims chuva? (oops, sorry for that term, it’s so well, gay) it’s how some lawyers went to the extent of filing as graft case against the secretary for the simple reason that she ordered that that line printed on food supplement products - No Approved Therapeutic Claims – be translated to Filipino. I thought I wanted to share what a fellow blogger (www. heavenpurgatoryandhell. blogspot. com) had to say:

“…But let me commend Espie for sticking to what is right.

… The most recent stand of Espie regarding the voluminous herbal products that have plagued the local market is laudable. If you ask Filipinos if they know what "no approved therapeutic claim" means, I am willing to bet my balls that 8 out of 10 have NO IDEA at all. Espie's idea is simple and not even rocket science. Translate all the warning signs to Tagalog. Which means, that all herbal supplements or food supplements that carry the tag " No Approved Therapeutic Claims " under Administrative Order 2010-0008 must be translated to "Mahalagang paalala: (name of product) ay hindi gamot at hindi dapat gamiting panggamot sa anumang uri ng sakit".

The day right after this AO was released, an herbal company went ahead to sue Espie. They said that it did not go through public consultation and Dr. Cabral had violated the law on graft.
Graft??!?!!? The lawyer of that herbal company probably is a nincompoop that probably has dementia and has been taking too many herbal agents that his/her brains have simply disintegrated. Dr. Cabral is right - you don't need to go through public consultation for a translation! You mean to tell me that if you have a sign that says NO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING, you will need to go through public consultation just to say BAWAL TUMAWID? Come on. Gimme a break. (I had to delete the next lines. It’s kinda not proper for a publication of general circulation). My fellow blogger ended his take on the issue by saying: “I have always said, and will state for the record - that there is no greater fool than the fool that is fooled by a fool.”

* * *

Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! This concert for a cause will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

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