Calbayog’s CRESCENT

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

Hi there! It’s another weekend and we are 5 days away to the Calbayog fiesta. Before anything else, 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.

* * *

LGU news. Last August 23, 2010, after his visit in Barangay Aguit-itan and the Slaughter House, Mayor Reynaldo Uy attended the program of the International Justice Mission (IJM) at Marju Krisel Resort. A highlight of the activity was the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the LGU and IJM.

Subject of the MOA was the CSWDO-operated institution known as Calbayog Response Center for Women and Children (CRESCENT-WC) which is located in Barangay Payahan. It can be recalled that the center was opened sometime in October of 1999 with then Vice President Gloria Arroyo as guest of honor. The center was aimed at enabling Children in Need of Special Protection (CNSP) and Women in Especially Difficult Circumstances (WEDC) resolve their problems and thus restore their normal social functioning through the provision of protective rehabilitative services.

The CRESCENT building is in need of repair. Thus, as stipulated in the MOA, the IJM shall provide support social services, which will include the following:

• The improvement of the facility for the total well-being of the admitted residents. The improvements of the building will cost Php 686,438.78.
• Provision of free legal services to victims of trafficking in person.

For its counterpart, the LGU shall execute the following:

• Allocate funds for labor, equipment rental and contingencies amounting to Php 136,823.24
• Assign the City Engineering Office as the Project Implementation and Management Team; and
• Continuously allocate funds for the maintenance of the CRESCENT-WC Building.

The LGU will also provide manpower and facility for the implementation and sustainability of the programs and services such as temporary shelter to address needs and problems of CNSP and WEDC to include victims of trafficking in persons; make provisions for the continuous awareness raising activities and advocacy campaign on anti-trafficking in person; allow the CSWDO to participate in the programs of the IJM; and accommodate proposals from the CSWDO on the delivery of basic services provided that such proposals are covered within the area of IJM’s program.

IJM is an international human rights organization which provides free investigative, legal and social work assistance to the urban poor especially cases involving child abuse and child sex trafficking in the National Capital Region, the neighboring provinces and Calbayog City.

* * *

Patrun sa Calbayog. The 9-day Novena masses in preparation for the feast of Our Lady’s Nativity has commenced last Monday.

On September 7, 2010, Bishop Isabelo Abarquez will lead the faithful of the Parish in the re-dedication and re-consecration of the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. This will be followed by the 9th day Novena Mass and the procession. The fiesta Pontifical Mass will be held on September 8, 2010 at 9:00 am.

Other parish activities on hand are the following:

• September 4, 2010: Confirmation at the Cathedral
• September 5, 2010: Clergy in Concert. This is a fund-raising activity for the Cathedral.
• September 6, 2010: Parish / WESTY Night
  
  * * *

Hadang Festival 2010. The annual Calbayog Festival of Art and Culture opened last Wednesday. Mayor Reynaldo Uy led the officials during the affair. Also present were the representatives of the Hermanas Mayores namely Freda Ladrero (for Pheona Ladrero-Robinson) and Mel and Josie Bracamonte (for Riza Bernardo Suan)

The Calbayog Concert Chorus serenaded the guests while the Sarakiki-Hadang Performers did the ritual opening number and the singing of the festival theme song. Councilor Julius Mancol, who is the Chair of the SP Committee on Arts and Culture welcomed the guests. Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino and Mayor Reynaldo Uy also delivered their messages.

The Opening Program was capped by the flying of the traditional lobo, the fireworks display and the opening of the Samar Island Cultural Tourism Exhibit.

* * *

Fiesta performances: Onstage tonight at the Nijaga Park is the CKC-Jose Gomez Symphony Orchestra.

Other performances / concerts on hand are the following:
September 4: IMAGO
September 5: Tropical Depression
September 6: Aiza and Nyoy
September 7: Sarah Geronimo

* * *

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