meanwhile at the Centennial . . .

At the Centennial Pastoral Center (CPC), some shops have already opened (on the Bugallon side). The CPC was built to replace the old Patria Building which was razed to the ground sometime in April of 2001. When finished, it will house the various offices of the Diocese of Calbayog. The spacious Cardinal Julio Rosales Hall on the third floor has provided Calbayognons a better venue for various events. The chapel is in place with its altar and the colart windows. The installation of airconditioning had been put on hold as management is still trying to figure out how or when to purchase the transformer that will be needed. As of today, Construction workers were busy putting in place a gate and perimeter fence around the edifice.

Tupi and Suzette

Christopher "Tupi" Javines got married to Jesusa "Suzette" Ricalde yesterday. The wedding mass was held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral with Msgr. Leonardo Guadalquiver presiding. The reception was held at the Cardinal Rosales Hall of the Centennial Pastoral Center.

I got hold of some pictures which I am pleased to share with you.

Suzette and Tupi striking a pose at the stairs of the CPC.

The couple with (l-r) the bride's bro, Mr. Manuel Ricalde, Mrs. Lolita Ricalde, Mrs. Minda Javines and Mr. Cesar Javines.

The couple with their principal sponsors.

Thats' me having fun with the couple. No, I think it's more of "forcing" the couple to sit on the stair.

The couple did away with the "firing squad" set-up for the VIP tables. They put in place round tables for the sponsors.

the couple with me and my PAs Lemon, Adrian and Gomer.

a farewell

Aileen Arejola - Togonon was laid to rest today. A large number of relatives and friends filled the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Speeches were delivered after the Mass. I was able to get hold of a copy of the speech delivered by Atty. Edwin Gomez.

A FAREWELL

"This is a loving dedication and remembrance of the life of our beloved friend AILEEN.

Leen, no words can exactly describe the overwhelming emotions we are going through right now. But we would like to honor and acknowledge the priviege of your presence in our lives and the friendship it afforded us.

You have always been the sweet, beautiful and kind person that most people know. But for us who were closest to you actually saw an easygoing, fun-loving and jolly person. A very good friend inside and out.

Leen, we thank you for the love, for the kindness, the generosity, the good spirit and thoughtfulness through all these years. We thank you for being a UNIFYING FORCE in our group and in our batch, for helping us establish plans for our homecoming. Your stable base here in Calbayog has brought everyone together despite the distance and the circumstances. We will surely miss you.

We thank you for all the wonderful memories that each one of us will treasure in our hearts. We thank you for making a mark in our lives; lives that would never be the same without you. We thank you for being a true person setting an example on how life should be lived. You have stayed true to yourself and married a good man who has proven his worth through all these years.

Your passing is a big blow to all of us. On the other hand, it is a realization that God has better plans - that you have lasting happines and freedom from suffering. With that we can only pray for help, for enlightened minds, strength in our faith to be able to bear the pain of losing you.

It will take some time for us to get over the (sad) fact that you won't be around anymore. But your memories will stay, will linger and will live on in our hearts forever.

On behalf of your friends, I say goodbye, godbless and have a safe journey my friend. WE WILL MISS YOU".

wala lang

The last time I updated everyone about TTMIST was when the said college was cited as being on top among SUCs in Samar and during the hosting of the SCUAA 2007 Solidarity Night.

Last Saturday I was at the campus and I came up with these pictures. When I took these, I had in mind the TTMIST graduates who had been out of Calbayog for quite some time.

The athletic field a.k.a. oval that's a part of the growing up years of many Calbayog athletes

The renovated Socio-Cultural Center

The statue of Tiburcio Tancinco near the giant torch which comes to life (I mean the torch) during the various sports competitions in the city.

and now for the twist . . .

More than the buildings, the TTMIST administration is up on its toes in improving the school in its various aspects in an effort to become a university and in compliance with the recommendations made during the regular visits by the accreditors. Alas, some of her neighbors seem to be dedma to the improvements in the school.

As I have reported earlier, students now use the gates at Brgy. Hamorawon and at Rueda Street extension. The latter is one which leads everyone to the spanking wing of the OLPHI (seen in the pix below. I dunnow what they call that wing) along the Rueda street walkway, a project which is currently being undertaken by the LGU (check this link). The sight is a reminder that something is happening in Calbayog.

. . . but then, old habits die hard. I took these pictures on the day when people were mising the sun because of the rains. And, lo and behold, palay laid on the street to dry . . .

. . . okey, it happens only on harvest time. And again okey, it's not a main street in the city. But then there's something in it which tells me that something is not right.

Just in case you'd be interested

There is this contest about coming up with the Seven Natural Wonders of the world. As of today, Bohol's Chocolate Hills is on the 7th place while Tubbataha Reef is on the 9th.

Just in case you'd be interested or have not voted yet, try checking this link.

in memoriam: Prof. Angelo Consunji

Sir Angelo was laid to rest in Samal, Bataan today. He returned to his creator on April 9, 2008.

Images from Sugat 2008

Yesterday I received a CD from Peter De La Riva who is a former member of the Knights of the Altar in Calbayog. The CD contained pictures which Peter took during the SUGAT, one of Calbayog's most endearing Holy Week traditions. And in case you'd like to know, it's only in Calbayog where the SUGAT (or the salubong) is held right after the Easter Vigil.

To check the pictures, please click on this link.

in memoriam: Saturnino Naparan

Mr. Satrunino "Turning" Naparan returned to his creator today. He was 89. His body lies in state at the Naparan residence in Brgy. San Policarpo

in memoriam: Aileen Arejola - Togonon

Aileen returned to her creator today. She was 36. Let us pray for the eternal repose of her soul.

The first Hemodialysis Center in Samar

The Our Lady of Porziuncula Hospital (OLPHI) is happy to announce the opening of the first Hemodialysis Center in Samar.

Inquiries can be made at (+63 55) 209-37-21) / (+63 55) 533-84-54 / +63917-301-03-31

The center was inaugurated on March 5, 2008. Seen during the ribbon-cutting were (l-r) Fr. Jun Jungco, ofm, OLPHI Board of Trustees member Ellen Sy, Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, OLPHI BOT Chair Fr. Arturo Daquilanea, ofm. At the back are OLPHI Administrator Bro. / Dr. Dennis Tayo, and Dr. Cesar Sabenicio. (photo courtesy of Samar Sunday Star)

Congrats Selo!

Congratulations to my friend Joselo Co, who happens to be one of the very few noted wedding videographers in the region.

He won the Best Cinematography and Best Editing awards in the Short Film Category during the 2nd Largabista Film Festival which was held recently in Tacloban.

The said festival was spearheaded by the University of the Philippines Tacloban and sponsored by Gov. Icot Petilla.

I'll try to feature some of his videos in my forthcoming blog updates. Aside from being a videographer, he is also a noted photographer. I have featured in this blog some of the pictures he took when I reported about the installation of the new Bishop of Calbayog; and the despedida dinner for Archbishop Jose Palma.

March 8, 2007. Bishop Isabelo Abarquez with Joselo Co (2nd from the left)