from the PIA: The PCA Coco Nursery

June 3, 2009. Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Philippine Coconut Authority Regional Manager Ed Nierva cut the ribbon to officially open the Coconut Nursery, Earwig Bio Laboratory and Coconut Products Display Center. Looking on are Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino (to the mayor's left) and Samar Coco Products President Engr Julio Co (in yellow), PCA's private partner which funded the project. (PIA 8)

Specimens of earwigs being cultured to fight Brontispa inside the PCA office and coconut nursery in Calbayog City. (PIA 8)

The newly inaugurated coco nursery in Calbayog City manned by PCA Coconut Development Officer (CDO) Meinard Montano. (PIA 8)

A new School building for Brgy. Guin-on

The Samar Integrated Community Advancement Project (SICAP) on Friday (June 5, 2009) turned-over to the DepEd a two-classroom school building for the Guin-on Elementary School. The said school building is a joint project of SICAP and the City of Calbayog. SICAP provided funds amounting to approximately 400,000 pesos, while the LGU provided 100,000 pesos, material and labor. The officials and barangay folks also provided labor in the form of pintakasi for the construction of the said building.

Ribbon-cutting. Mayor Mel Sarmiento (3rd from the left) with (l-r) Guin-on Punong Barangay Ramon Salibio, Calbayog District 2 Supervisor Adelma Rabuya, Calbayog City Schools Division Superintendent Edita Paculan, SICAP Administrator Rev. Daniel Kim and DepEd Math ES 1 Ramon Miano. (Photo by Vaughn Calvara).

In a related development, this school year saw the opening of at least three new (independent) high schools in Calbayog. The Migara High School which produced its first set of graduates on March of this year is now independent from the Calbayog City National High School. It will now open as the Migara National High School serving high school students in the Happy Valley area of Calbayog district.

The Calbayog City Night High School is now open as a separate entity. It used to be under the Cabayog City National High School.

The Gadgaran Integrated School has opened. It aims to serve the students from Gadgaran, Acedillo, Navarro and Buntay. The operation of the said school de-congests the San Policarpo National High School.

20IB troopers join US Navy, LGU at Calbayog Brigada Eskwela

Tacloban City (May 24) -- "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."

With this quotation as their guiding principle, troopers of the 20th Infantry Battalion based at Tinambacan, Calbayog City, joined the local government officials of Calbayog City and the US Navy contingent from the USS John S. McCain, in spearheading the Brigada Eskwela in Calbayog City.

In coordination with the Department of Education officials and employees in Calbayog City, the participation of the 20th IB to the Brigada Eskwela 2009 was realized when Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, 20th IB Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Francis B. Cabugon and Asst. Attache of the US Embassy Hon. Qasim Majied met to chart the activities of the visiting US Navy Contingent having an exercise dubbed as "CARAT 09" or Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, in Calbayog City.

Mayor Sarmiento who chairs the Regional Development Council of Eastern Visayas thought that the ready pool of manpower of the 20th IB and the US Navy will be a great help to the week-long Brigada Eskwela.

He then proposed the spearheading of the Brigada Eskwela activities by the LGU, the 20th IB and the US Navy.

With the city government of Calbayog providing the materials for the one-day activity, 50 troopers of the 20th IB led by Lt. Col. Cabugon and 40 US Navy men led by Capt. Choi Heedong, went into a day-long painting of school fences and school cleanliness drive.

Mayor Sarmiento lauded the community service of the Army troopers and the US Navy contingent, as a model in instilling the value of Bayanihan spirit among all the stakeholders which is the true noble objective of the Brigada Eskwela.

The following day, resolved on finishing what they have started, some seventy troopers of the 20th IB continued the painting and cleanliness drive in other schools in Calbayog City.

Such noble soldiers, the 20th IB troopers are. They are the real ones who could say, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." (Rolito Sorila/PIA 8)

Economic dev't to solve human trafficking in Samar island, advocates sayIJM

Calbayog City (May 23) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has effected major infrastructure developments in the whole island of Samar to spur economic development.

Thus, if there is economic development, Samarnons will be less prone to human trafficking – a situation that has destroyed lives of women and children.

This was the contention of Calbayog Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento during the International Justice Mission (IJM) sponsored launch of Samar anti-trafficking program on May 21 at the Joggers Court after a 25-vehicle motorcade that extended up to a ten-kilometer radius within the boundaries of Calbayog City.

IJM is a Non-Government Orgnization (NGO) that aims to combat child trafficking in Samar. The same organization gets funding from the US State Department.

One reason why human traffickers go to Samar to recruit unsuspecting families is poverty, stressed Sarmiento.

Sarmiento also lamented that people always point to the Wary-waray as criminal offenders because he said, "We are poor."

The mayor, known for his development projects also pointed out the city's initiatives in combating trafficking.

He also proposed to establish halfway houses like the ones maintained by Visayan Forum in every province.

"Let us make the NGOs run them and the local government unit (LGU) will pay the board and lodging."

The same stark reality of poverty stricken communities was also confirmed by GMA 7 personality Love Anover.

Anover admitted she was looking for an advocacy program that will help children especially those from Eastern Visayas where she grew up before becoming a GMA 7 talent.

Speaking in the Waray-waray language, Anover immediately hit it off with the Calbayognons.

Both Sarmiento and Anover advocated to the parents that no matter how poor, not to yield their children to recruiters who deceive Samarnons in the guise of helping minors look for work and eventually help their poor families. (PIA-Samar)

Mayor Mel Sarmiento as he took time to talk with some IJM staff before the program.

Mayor Sarmiento with (r-l) DILG-Samar Director Jovito Lacaba, Bishop Isabalo Abarquez and IJM's Atty. Carmela Andal-Castro.

Bishop Isabelo Abarquez.

Atty. Carmel Andal - Castro of IJM.

GMA 7's Love Añover.

GILAS postscript

Let me share what I got from the GILAS website. It's the report on the Celebration of the GILAS milestone in Calbayog which was held in the city a month ago. Please check this link.

American exchange students in Calbayog

Mayor Mel Sarmiento yesterday received the four members of the Rotary District 7870 to 3860 Group Study Exchange which the Rotary Club of Calbayog is hosting. The four GSE members who are from New Hampshire are Chelsea Conaboy, Katie List, Amy Wheeler and Tony Gilmore.

Chelsea Conaboy is connected with the Concord Monitor, a daily newspaper in Concord, N.H. She writes mostly about environmental issues and about life and politics in nine rural towns outside Concord. She also writes often about the experiences of Asian and African refugees resettled in Concord.

Katie List has worked for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, the New Hampshire House of representatives and Hilary Clinton's New Hampshire primary campaign for president. She works primarily in political communications, focusing on research and media coordination.

Amy Wheeler works full time as assistant vice president for business development and branch manager for the first Colebrook Bank in Amherst, N.H. She also works part time as on-duty manager for Hampshire Hills Sports & Fitness Club in Milford, N.H. She volunteers as member of the board of directors of two nonprofits: the Nashua Pastoral Care center in Nashua, N.H. which helps people - primarily women and children - transition out of crisis into self-sufficiency; and the Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce in Amherst, N.H.

Tony Gilmore is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and Brooks Institute of Photography. Though recently retired, he started a new business called World Digital Photography, which he hopes to use to expand his passion for photography.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento with (r-l) Katie List, Chelsea Conaboy, Tony Gilmore (partly hidden) and Amy Wheeler.

Connecting Calbayog's National High Schools

You are looking at pictures of some students from the Tarabucan National High School. The first one shows the usual classroom scene (something quite common in every school there is). The other picture has students in front of the computer, not just to encode assignments or projects but they were connected to the world via the internet. No big deal, you might want to say, but not for the schools in the left and right river areas of Calbayog. As of today, 8 National High Schools in Calbayog are connected. These schools are:

• Calbayog City National High School (with 10 PCs)
• Mag-ubay National High School (with 10 PCs)
• Oquendo National High School (with 10 PCs)
• Pilar Agricultural High School (with 20 PCs)
• Rafael Lentejas Memorial School of Fisheries (Tinambacan) (with 20 PCs)
• San Policarpo National High School (with 44 PCs)
• Tarabucan National High School (with 20 PCs)
• Trinidad National High School (with 31 PCs)

On the list of schools still to be connected are San Joaquin and Malaga National High Schools. Both schools are located in Tinambacan District (which many also refer to as the "along the coast" area).

This project was made possible through the tie-up between the City Government of Calbayog and Gearing up Internet Literacy and Access to Students (GILAS) Program of the Ayala Foundation.

Last Friday (January 23, 2009), Mayor Mel Sarmiento joined the representatives of Ayala Foundation and some DepEd officials for the program dubbed as "Celebration of Gilas milestone in Calbayog City: Connecting 100% of Connectible Public High Schools". The said program was held at the DepEd Calbayog Confrence Hall. After the messages were delivered, the GILAS School Recepients represented by Lolita Alera gave a message of commitment. Guests then proceeded to the Calbayog City National High School for a Tele-Conference with some teachers and students from the National High Schools in Pilar, Tarabucan and Mag-ubay. The same schools were visited by the guests after the Tele-Conference.

Mayor Sarmiento (partly hidden) talks with a student surfing the net from Brgy. Mag-ubay.

For more pictures, you may check this link.

something to make you feel good

The Commission on Health Care of the Diocese of Calbayog in coordination with the City Government of Calbayog (on October 5 to 12, 2008) conducted a cleft lip and palate operation dubbed as Operation Pahiyum. This year's operation was the 12th to be conducted by the commission.

26 children benefited from the operations conducted by volunteer / missionary doctors from the Caraniofacial Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. The operations were held at the Our Lady of Porziuncula Hospital (OLPHI).

The Diocesan Commission on Health Care is under the care of Monsignor Francisco Cinco III. It was cited as the Outsanding People's Organization during the recent Calbayog Charter Day Anniversary.

Here are some pictures taken as the beneficiaries posed for a souvenir picture with Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Msgr. Jun Cinco and the missionary doctors.

break anay: something new from Dennis Villegas

(This picture entitled "Calbayog Port at early morning" is the latest 'header' of Dennis Villegas' blogspot)

Let's give ourselves a break. Sorry for giving this rather late, got it only this morning that's why. Dennis Villegas was in Calbayog during the last city fiesta. He featured his new pictures in his blog.

You may check these: link1, link 2.

SOS Children's Villages Philippines National Board of Trustees to meet in Calbayog

SOS Children's Village Calbayog will play host to the SOS Children's Villages Philippines National Board of Trustees Annual Meeting.

The said meeting will be held tomorrow, October 8, 2008.

Some members of the SOS National Board of Directors are expected to arrive in Calbayog City today. Among those who have confirmed their attendance are Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla (the Board Chairman), Pablo Quianzon (Board Member), Ma. Angeles Lapeña (Board Member), Bienvenido Delgado (SOS CV Philippines, National Director) and Felipe Dumpit (SOS CV Philippines Deputy National Director). Also expected to attend are the Board Presidents of the SOS Children's Villages all over the country.

At 7:00 pm tonight, the SOS officials will be treated to Dinner and Fellowship courtesy of Calbayog City Mayor and SOS Calbayog Board President Mel Senen Sarmiento.

Activtites for tomorrow's meeting are as follows:

10:00 am. Arrival and Welcome

- The SARAKIKI-Hadang Performers of Calbayog City will be on hand to welcome the VIPs

- A Welcome Message will be delivered by Mayor Mel Sarmiento

10:30 am Meeting Proper

12:00 pm. Lunch

3:00 pm MOA Signing for the Voctech Center

4:00 pm. WARAY-WARAY Festival Presentation

- FSP Beneficiaries, selected youth and children from SOS Calbayog and workers and FSP mothers will be presenting various numbers.

- Mayor Mel Sarmiento will deliver a message

- Archbishop Fernando Capalla will deliver the Closing Remarks

Ambassador Kenney in Calbayog

(U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney was in Calbayog today. Among her engagements was the Closing Ceremonies of Pacific Partnership 2008. Let me give you Joey Gabieta's report as printed in the LSDE)

CALBAYOG CITY– After more than a month of conducting their medical and engineering works in this city and in two towns in Samar and one in Northern Samar, the close to 3,000 members of America’s mercy mission packed their bags and things yesterday morning with their ambassador in the country, Kristie Kenney expressing the “extraordinary experience” that the group had during their stay.

Kenney, in her speech, said that the medical and engineering work conducted by the members of the mission, dubbed by local officials as “Pacific Partnership 2008: Samar Mission,” said that she was sure that the members of the mission savored their experience and stay in Samar provinces.
“Our engineers learned new techniques; our doctors and nurses benefited from the expertise of (local) doctors and nurses.

And you taught us how to sing and dance,” she said to a warm applause from the audience at the socio-cultural hall of the Tiburcio Tancingco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST), this city.

She was welcomed by Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, Northern Samar Governor Raul Daza, Samar Rep. Reynaldo Uy, Samar Vice Governor Jesus Redaja and Brigadier General Arthur Tabaquero, commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division.

Ambassador Kenney was accompanied by Edcel Custodio, acting secretary of the Foreign Affairs Department.

The 928 men and women members of the USNS Mercy Mission, arrived in Samar last May 13 and formally ended their work last Friday.

Aside from this city, the group, which was composed of 500 doctors and nurses and 68 engineers, among others, conducted their “mercy mission,” in the neighboring towns of Sta. Margarita and Gandara in Samar and in San Isidro, Northern Samar.

The mission group was headed by Captain William Kearns who said that he was overwhelmed by the warm reception their group received from the local people. “Thank you for your great welcome. The mission served as a lasing reminder of friendship and teamwork between (the United States and the Philippines),” he said in his speech during the send-off.

Mel Senen Sarmiento, mayor of this city, said he could not find words in expressing his gratitude to the coming of the mission which he said had benefited close to 30,000 poor people.
On top of providing medical services, the group also constructed a health center; water and waste treatment facility, both in this city and another health center in Santa Margarita.

For his part, Northern Samar Governor Raul Daza said that the goodwill mission conducted by the members of the USNS Mercy Mission, was an indication that theAmerica cares for people living in less developed countries like the Philippines. “The people have witnessed that the US is not only an instrument of destruction just like we have witnessed in Iraq but also an instrument of preserving lives…,” Daza said.

The coming of the mercy mission to Samar and Northern Samar provinces was realized upon the request of Mayor Sarmiento who asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In turn, the President had requested the US government, through its embassy here in the country, to conduct the mission. Sarmiento himself said that the mission was the second ever to happen in the province after its first mission in 1987 which also served “thousands of poor people in the island.”

The USNS Mercy, which was docked in the Samar Sea bordering this city and the island town of Sto. Niño during their goodwill mission, is described as a hospital ship whose primary mission is to provide an afloat, mobile, acute-surgical medical facility to theUS military with the secondary mission of providing medical and surgical services, afloat and ashore to support US disaster relief and humanitarian operation worldwide.

Here are some pictures taken during the program at the TTMIST

Ambassador Kenney with (l-r) DFA Asec Custodio, Capt. Kearns and Capt. Mercado

CACO singers doing the doxology

An American band member as he sang the "Star-Sprangled Banner"

Mayor Sarmiento delivering a thank you speech in behalf of the Samareños

Part of the guests invited for the affair

with the presidential table re-arranged minutes before the program, the American envoy settled for the floor to watch the AVP on the USNS mercy mission.

Capt. Crispin Mercado, the Mission Co-Director from the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Capt. William Kearns III, the Mission Co-Director from the US Navy.

Ambassador Kristie Kenney

DFA Acting Secretary Edsal Custodio

Ambassador Kenney as she received a Resolution of Thanks. Said resolution was signed by Mayor Sarmiento, San Isidro Mayor Conrado Avila, Sta. Margarita Mayor Fred Serrano and Gandara Mayor Antonieto Cabueños.

Tokens of Banig and Lakub were given to the four VIPs

Chaplain Dance as he delivered a speech during the Project Hand Clasp Ceremony

Calbayog Bishop Isabelo Abarquez receiving the Project Hand Clasp donations on behalf of the Diocesan Commission on Health Care.