Happy Birthday Fr. Romy and Ma'am Baby

Fr. Romy Manzanero and Ms. Baby Sabenicio are celebrating their birthdays today. Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Arnol Trani

Acting City Admininstrator Arnol Trani turns 40 years old today. Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Rene Resente

City Treasurer Rene Resente turns 45 year old today. Many happy returns of the day!

The celebrity hound with Tessie Tomas

The celebrity hound struck again. Tessie Tomas was among the relatives who were present during Mrs. Alcantara's birthday which I coordinated last Saturday. I made sure our group had a picture taken with her before we left for Calbayog.

Tessie with me and my PAs Anthony and Bodim

Out of Calbayog City: A birthday in Catbalogan

My group traveled to Catbalogan today. We coordinated the 80th Birthday celebration of Mrs. Bea Maga - Alcantara. It was actually a double birthday celebration, that of Ma'am Bea (February 14) and her husband Al (March). The Thanksgiving Mass was held at the Marian Shrine in Ubanon with Fr. Johnny Planea as celebrant. Luncheon was held at Rolet Hotel where Jude Maga proposed the toast and Tessie Tomas renderded a song.

Here are some pictures I took during the affair:

The birthday celebrator as she delivered her thank you speech.

Mr. Al Alcantara saying thanks to the guests

The hosts as they posed with their celebrity guests / relatives Tessie Tomas and Laura Hermosa

Happy Valentine's Day (again)

It's almost midnight and it's been raining hard for more than an hour. What a way to end Valentine's Day. My Valentine this year was spent coordinating a wedding and instead of having a fancy dinner or something, we found oursleves at Rawis Fair Market, not in one of the food joints but in the store of my old friend Pongpong Balios. Over drinks (read: bottled water and iced tea) we talked about the old times or the times when we were not yet so old (how about that?). Only then did I realize that Pong has got all those "odd and ends" and trinkets and stuff for gifts, on top of the low-priced clothes in his shop. So I capped my Valentines Day taking pictures of the place.

To my pleasant surprise, found in the middle of the display of some kiddie clothes is a framed mask, an artwork courtesy of another friend Eric Salurio

Row - Ignacio Wedding

Rebecca Ignacio (of Matobato) got married to Collin Row (of Canada) today during civil ceremonies presided by Executive Judge Rey Clemens. Our group coordinated the ceremony which was held at The Venue (yes, that's the name of the venue in Brgy. Payahan). A gazebo was erected for the couple and the solemnizing official and their three pairs of sponosors / witnesses.

I managed to take a few pix during the ceremony. And yes, the heavens cooperated. The rain stopped, or should I say paused, sending only showers towards the end of the ceremony.

The sponsors as they waited their cue for the march (r-l) Ms. Loret Sambalilo, Mr. Mariano De Guzman, Dr. Aurora Rosalado, Mr. Leon Magalona and Dr. Esther Perez.

Happy Valentine's Day

It's a rainy Valentine's Day for everyone. I dunnow about you (and at the risk of being called frigid), this is one day of the year which I don't look forward to. Well, that's not the case for a good number of Calbayognons. It's midday and the local florists are doing good. The same thing with some local bakehops who are raking money in with their packages which consisted of either brownies or mini cakes and balloons or stuffed toys. Deliveries? Yes. But there was one friend I know who sent roses for his wife but the delivery boy got lost so my friend had to deliver the roses himself. So what about the pictures below? This vendor was enterprising enough to realize that with the rain is determined to dampen (literally) hearts, err people full of love today. She decided to carry her stuff to one of the places where there is heavy flow of people and will assure her of income today. Where else but the City Hall entrance. Ah, l'amour!

The Celebrity Hound with Francisco Colayco

The celebrity hound in me struck again. when Francisco Colayco came to Calbayog, I made sure I had a picture taken with him. And then it happened, my phone conked out. Anyway, let me share you our group picture with Mr. Colayco (taken with somebody else's phone, of course)

that's Mr. Colayco (in stripes) with (r-l) Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Asner Dean, me and Vaughn Calvara

meeting Fr. Rene Nachura

Fr. Rene Nachura is in town. He is part of our team that is tasked to do reasearch and come up with articles for a coffee table book about Calbayog. Our group held a meeting today. I guess Calbayog old timers will agree when I say that Fr. Rene is one of the nicer, if not bettter priests the Diocese of Calbayog ever got.

dining with Francisco Colayco

Francisco Colayco, one of the country's authorities on financial management arrived today. He is in town to conduct a seminar on Financial Management dubbed "Pera Palaguin".

The City Government tendered a simple welcome dinner for him. In attendance were the City Officials headed by the City Mayor, some Department Managers and businessmen.

Mr. Francisco Colayco (left) with Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Landbank Calbayog Manager Cris Marco

Mr. Colayco with some City Officials

CSWDO OIC Tessie Mumar, LCR head Baby Queroljico, CHRMO OIC Asner Dean and CEEO head Bebot Beso

OIC-City Administrator Arnol Trani, CDAPRO head Dr. Teody Fortaleza and Engr. James Fortaleza

Mayor Sarmiento as he welcomed Francisco Colayco

Mr. Colayco delivering his short speech

Mr. Colayco with the City Officials. (l-r) Councilors Julius Mancol, Ver Porlares, Noel Sermense, Mayor Sarmiento, Councilors James Uy, Bombie Enriquez, Danny Bernate. In front are Councilors Susano Salurio and Virgil Clemens

Mr. Colayco with some businessmen

Chinese New Year at the Sam Tai Chi Temple

I was invited to the 13th Anniversary cum Chinese New Year Celebration at the Sam Tai Chi Temple. In case you're wondering where it is located, it's on the 4th floor of the Lim Guan Ko Building at Rosales Boulevard which many Calbayognon simply refer to as EC Marketing.

Ever the gracious hosts, Man Tiboy and Mana Iday Chan and the whole family - Alma, Vilma, Anthony, Jun & Andrea and Popot & Male - were on hand to make the guests feel welcome at today's affair. This was one visit though where I didn't stay long because of an appointment. With Popot's perrmission I managed to take some pictures which I am glad to share with you.

One of the many signages guiding the visitors to the temple

I didn't wear a red shirt, so I was made to put one of these red ribbon rosettes

Guests had to leave their shoes or sandals on the third floor and were made to wear slippers like the one shown on the lower right side.

Joss sticks galore

the view from the top

My group did a wedding two weeks ago today. The reception was held at the Centennial Pastoral Center. After the ceremonies (and while taking our late lunch) I managed to take some pix of the view of some portions of Calbayog as seen from the recpetion site and this is what I got:

That's Calbayog Pilot Central School. The one with the red roof is the Gabaldon Building where many Calbayognon spent had their early elementary years.

The bellfry of the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral

and yes, two towers in residential areas. On the left is that of Sun Cellular and the other one is that of Islacom

pamuring

Ash Wednesday or Miercoles de Ceniza "came early" this year. As expected, a good number of Calbayognon took time to attend mass and undergo the traditional pamuring. Masses were said in various chapels and schools. During the 5 pm mass, the Cathedral was filled with the faithful as early as 4:o0 pm. It has always been the way it is as far as I can remember. The crowd will more than double in less than forty days' time when the faithful will once again troop to the Cathedral for the kwaresma services. During today's mass, I heard one sierva sister comment about the faith of the Calbayognon. That statement reminded me of a line supposedly uttered by the first Bishop of Calbayog when asked why he choose Calbayog as the seat of the diocese: "... the faith of the Calbayogon is second to none ..."

Msgr. Leonardo Guadalquiver takes time to talk with some lay ministers and lectors at the sacristy as they wait for the signal to start the mass.

one thing though, the faithful never learned to fall in line during the pamuring.