Benedicto Nijaga

It has been two weeks since the celebration of the 109th Philippine Indpendence Day. Among the events during the celebration was an exhibit the the Calbayog Museum (located at the ground floor of the Old Barracks building). It contained reproductions of photos of local and national figures who fought Philippine freedom.

I have attached two pictures of the old bust of Lt. Benedicto Nijaga, a son of Calbayog and one of the Trece Martires de Bagumbayan.

The TLRC turn-over

As I have reported last Friday, the LGU thru the City Cooperatives Office recently launched the Technology and Livelihood Development Center, signed a MOA with the TLRC and received a Technovan.

Here are some pictures from that program

Councilor Ina Rabuya signing the MOA on behalf of the LGU

TLRC Representative, Mr. Rene Oxina

The Technovan which is equipped with a multi-media projector, wide screen among other features. It is expected to be utilized in the conduct of livelihood advocacy programs especially in the barangays.

Calbayog City National High School

I had the chance to visit the Calbayog City National High School before the June 12 celebration. The school has some good news for Calbayog: it is now officially a National High School; and starting this semester, they will also be offering night classes.

On the weekend that I was there, I saw people doing construction work on a building. Rene Cagomoc would later inform me that they expect to have two schoolbuildings finished within the school year.

This building is being constructed courtesy of the the LGU through Mayor Mel Sarmiento

This other building is courtesy of the CDF of Congressman Reynaldo Uy.

Helmut Kutin in Calbayog

Better late than never. This visit happened on May 7, 2007 yet, sadly the pictures came in late. Anyway, here I go. And yes, I would like to thank Mr. Vaughn Calvara and Ms. Emily Lingling for the pictures.

Helmut Kutin came to Calbayog for his "last visit" in his capacity as President of SOS Kinderdorf International. He is retiring from the position by next year. Mr. Kutin was accompanied by SOS Philippines National Director Bienvenido Delgado. On hand to welcome him was SOS Calbayog Board President Mel Sarmiento and the officers and staff of SOS Calbayog.

Among the acitvites that Mr. Kutin, or Uncle Helmut, as the SOS community fondly call him, attended was the blessing of the new library of the SOS Children's Village in Brgy. Dagum.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento looks on as Helmut Kutin acknowledges one of the SOS wards who were on hand to welcome him at the Calbayog Airport.


Mayor Sarmiento shares some light moments with Mr. Kutin on their way to the airport terminal



Part of the huge crowd that joined in the standing parade welcoming Mr. Kutin. The parade was preceded by a motorcade from the airport to the city proper.

Mr. Kutin as he tried to do the steps of the traditonal Sarakiki welcome

Ceremonial "ground-breaking" on the site for four new houses to accomodate more children. (L-R) Mr. Virgilio Tomnob, Mr. Mario Victor Baang, Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Mr. Helmut Kutin.

at the opening of the SOS Library (L-R) SOS Philippines National Director Bienvenido Delgado, Helmut Kutin, TTMIST President Socorro Bohol and Mayor Mel Sarmiento. Party hidden is SOS Calbayog Village Director Mario Victor Baang.



Mayor Sarmiento shows off his kuratsa skills during the barrio fiesta/ dinner tendered in honor of Mr. Kutin.

Mr. Kutin receives a candlelight tribute from various SOS beneficiaries.

Calbayog City celebrates the 109th Philippine Independence Day

Yesterday Calbayog joined the entire nation in observing the 109th Philippine Independence Day.
The activties started with a Thanksgiving Mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. This was followed by the Flag-raising Ceremony in front of the City Hall, afterwhich Mayor Mel Sarmiento delivered his Independence Day Message.
In attendance were some City Officials and various department managers.

Let share with with you some pictures taken from the celebration:

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento delivering his message

Some of the Department Managers who attended the affair


The civilian and military contingents who participated in the Independence Day Parade


Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento lays a wreath at the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal


Mayor Mel Sarmiento shakes hand with Police Chief Inspector Aniceto Tecbobolan after the Wreath-Laying Ceremonies

Mayor Mel Sarmiento takes time to chat with some Department Managers and guests after the Wreath-Laying Ceremonies

Part of the crowd at the Nijaga Park

Students from the Calbayog City National High School

The 3rd Farmers and Fisherfolks Congress

Last week I featured the Farmers and Fisherfolks Week Celebration that the LGU undertook in coordination with the City Agriculture Office and the CAFC. It was participated in by approximately 250 farmers and fisherfolks from the three districts of Calbayog.

One the highlights of the said celebration was the 3rd Farmers and Fisherfolks Congress which was held at the TTMIST Socio-Cultural Center. Also held at the venue was the K-Agrinet Launching.

Here are some pictures from that program courtesy of CA's Tetchie Pagunsan

The "class picture" of the participants in the 3rd Farmers and Fisherfolks Congress

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento delivering his Inspirational Message.
Seated at the presidential table are (L-R) City Agriculturist Adela Ocenar, PCARRD Deputy Director Cesar Frias, CAFC Chairperson Steve Conchas and Councilor-elect Arturo Pasacas


TTMIST President Dr. Socorro Bohol delivering her message of support

Leo Cañeda, DA RFU 8 Executive Director delivering the Director's Address

PCARRD Deputy Director-ACD Cesar Frias delivering his Keynote Address

Calbayog's Markers (3)

Do you still remember the issue on comfort women and Japanese atrocities in the Philippimes? That issue hit the news a few years back, it resulted in many quarters demanding apology for what the Japanese did in the Philippines during the last world war.

Sometime in 1998 (or earlier) a group of Japanese from Kyoto came to Calbayog. Among the things they did was to erect this marker which I fondly refer to as the "Japanese Apology Marker". It is located near the Old Barracks Building (or Handumanan). As you will read in the text printed on glazed tiles, it extends apology to the people of Samar.



Here's the marker upclose:


Here are some close-up pictures of the tiles from the marker:

a sad day

Today Calbayog woke up to a sad news about how a deranged man went on a killing spree in Gadgaran, a barangay approximately seven kilometers north of the city proper.

Such a gory story but it needs to be told. I have asked permission from my friend Joey Gabieta of LSDE who is also with the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Visayas). Here's his report:

JOBLESS MAN runs amuck, kills 10 in Samar
Joey A. Gabieta and Gina Ragudo (PDI Visayas)

CALBAYOG CITY - A 39-YEAR OLD jobless man, believed to be mentally imbalanced, went into a rampage in an interior village in Calbayog City, Samar, early Saturday, hacking to death 10 people, including seven children and seriously wounding 16 other.
Chief Insp. Aniceto Tecbobolan, city police chief, identified the suspect as Danny Guades of Barangay Gadgaran. He is detained at the city police jail.

Mental Problems
“He is suffering from mental problems and is known to be a trouble-maker in their village. But just the same, we will file multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges against him,” Tecbobolan said.

The fatalities were identified as Eric Benjamin Ponce, 7; Gemma Jadulco, 32, who was eight months pregnant , and her young children, Jennelyn, 12, Jinggoy, 8; Renato, 3; Nadine,2, and Christine, 1 ; Candido Conteras, 46; Danilo Contreras, 12, and Eduardo Lecis, 35, all of Barangay Gadgaran.

The wounded victims included Emily Guades Ponce, 27, a cousin of the suspect; her husband Benjamin, 42, and their children Benjie, 5, and Marilyn, 3.

Shocking
Also injured were Enis Lecis, 54; the Jadulco sisters Jocelyn, 9, and Joan, 4; Maria Conteras, 37, and her daughter Jennelyn, 16; Francisco, 56; Ernesto, 45, and Armando, 35, all surnamed Ramada; Michael Caber, 31; Myra Manlapid, 24, and couple Eddie and Jocelyn Gonzaga.

“It was so shocking,” Tecbobolan, describing the killing spree that started around 2 a.m. on Saturday, told the INQUIRER.

Armed with a long-bladed weapon, Guades first attacked the family of his cousin Emily and wounded the latter’s husband, Benjamin, and then the couple’s sleeping children Eric Benjamin, who was hacked in the head and died later in the hospital, Benjie and Marilyn. Both Benjie and Marilyn survived.

Emily, who was also hacked, managed to jump from the window of their house.

5 children
The suspect then barged into the house of Totoy Jadulco and hacked to death Jadulco’s wife and the couple’s five children, including a one-year old baby girl.

Jadulco’s wife Gemma and Children Jennylyn, Jinggoy, Renato, Nadene and Christine died from multiple wounds. The other children, Joan and Jocelyn, sustained wounds and were treated at the Calbayog Sanitarium and Hospital.

Guades then entered the house of Candido Conteras, who died due to head injuries. Conteras’ wife Maria and children Danilo and Jennelyn were wounded and were brought to the St. Camillus Hospital in Calbayog City. Danilo later died.

The suspect proceeded to the house of Eduardo Lecis, who was hacked in the head and died. A relative, Enis, 54, was also hit in the head.

The suspect continued his rampage at a wake where he hacked and wounded Ramada family members Francisco, 56, and Ernesto, 45. He also stabbed Armando, 35.

Two people attending the wake, Michael Caber, 31, and Myra Manlapid, 24, were also wounded. The suspect then went to the house of Fortunato Burbana, 62, where responding public officers led by PO3 Inocente Laure arrested him.

Calbayog's Markers (2)

How old is the Calbayog City Hall Building? The stair leading to the second floor of the building has become a commonplace, only a few would pay attention to the bronze marker giving details about the construction of the building.



Here's the marker upclose:

Based on the details from the marker, the Calbayog Municipal Building was constructed in 1925. The City Council was headed by CESARIO R. ORTIZ as President, with LEOPOLDO ROÑO as Secretary, RUPERTO A. BORJA as Treasurer and PASTOR AVISADO as the District Engineer. The contractor was Jereza Construction Company.