Rommel and Laura

Rommel Alaon (of Tacloban) got married to Laura Lanuza today. Bishop Isabelo Abarquez presided over their wedding mass which was held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Recpetion was held at the TTMIST Socio-Cultural Center.

Here are some of their wedding pictures courtesy of Joselo Co of Studio 8:

The couple as they were presented by the Bishop after the rite of marriage

The couple with Bishop Isabelo Abarquez and (l-r) Fr. Andres Espiritu, Rev. Ramil Lanuza (the bride's bro) and Fr. Tony Mahinay.

The couple with their Principal Sponsors

Jonathan and Jennyl

Jonathan De Los Reyes got married to Jennyl Madolaria today. The wedding ceremony was held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral with Fr. Rolando Vivas as Mass presider. Reception was held at the Cardinal Rosales Hall of the Centennial Pastoral Center.

Here are some of their wedding pictures courtesy of Joselo Co of Studio 8:

Fr. Vivas as he presided over the rite of marriage

The couple with their sponsors

that's me and my PAs Adrian and Lemon with the groom before the ceremonies

The Celebrity Hound with Sec. Gabby Claudio

The celebrity hound in me struck again. This time it's with Sec. Gabby Claudio who came to Calbayog on June 16, 2008 for the Forum on Food and Energy Security.

Let me share my pix with the Secretary and Mayor Mel Sarmiento.

(For details and pictures from the Forum, please check this link.)

rating Typhoon Frank

Typhoon Frank (or the devastation it left the country) is all over the news. Calbayognons have every reason to be thankful to be spared of Frank's fury.

The picture I have featured in this blog update was sent to me by my friend Joselo (Co). It's a shot of the barometer in their house and it shows how the barometer "behaved" during the typhoon. Selo's email message says it all:

"I'm sending you a picture on how typhoon Frank hit the Aneroid Barometer at the house. It was the first time I saw such a storm power. I was a little late to show you the actual marker hitting the boundary between Typhoon Near and Severe Typhoon mark(s). It's the first time! Thank God the wind just passed away without so much rain."

The Celebrity Hound with the American Ambassador

U. S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney was in Calbayog a week ago today. I had the chance to serve as Master of Ceremonies in two of her four engagements - The Closing Ceremony of Pacific Partnership 2008 and the Dedication of the Calbayog City Main Health Center.

Well, it's not everyday that the American Ambassador comes to town. So the celebrity hound in me made sure I had pictures taken with the envoy. Let's say, it's the next best thing I can get aside from a U.S. Visa, something I don't expect to have in the many years to come.

The Feast at Consolatrix

The heavy rain failed to dampen the spirits of the Calbayog faithful who trooped to the MCE Monastery for today's Feast Day Celebration.

Bishop Isabelo Abarquez presided over the Mass at the MCE Chapel. A good number of diocesan and religious priests concelebrated with the Bishop.

As with the past celebrations, everyone was treated to a brunch at the MCE compound.

Surely missed in today's celebration was Msgr. Basilio Rosales. His name was the latest addtion to the benefactors who are among those whom the MCE sisters pray for.


For some images from last year's celebration, please check this link.

Happy Birthday Tita Belen!

Mrs. Belen Cañada - Abesamis will turn a year older today. Happy Birthday!

Out of Calbayog City: An Kasal sa Puro

Joselo Co of Studio 8 sent me pictures taken during the wedding of Kristine and Ci. The wedding was held on May 31 at the Puro Beach Resort in San Antonio, Northern Samar. For this post I'm sharing pix of our group taken after the ceremonies .

All smiles after the ceremonies. The couple with (l-r) Adrian Daguman, Warren Taperla, Joselo Co, me and Jerome Chin.

For their wedding pix, please check this link.

For their pre-wedding pix, please check this link.

it's official, she is coming

The American Ambassador is coming to Calbayog. I got hold of an invitation for Mayor Mel Sarmiento (well, it's more like pinakialaman ko, with his permission, of course) from the U.S. embassy. The text is as follows:

The Ambassador of the United States of America

Kristie A. Kenney

and the Pacific Partnership Mission Commander

Captain William A. Kearns III

request the pleasure of your company

at the Closing Ceremony of the USNS Mercy Pacific Partneship 2008

and a ribbon-cutting to dedicate the newly -constructed

Calbayog City Main Health Center

on Saturday, June fourteenth

at half past nine o'clock in the morning

Happy Birthday Warren

My friend Warren Taperla turns a year older today. Happy Birthday!

Out of Calbayog City: MEDCAP in Gandara

Here are some more images taken during the MEDCAP at Gandara, Samar. That two-day medical mission ended today. The Medical Team will take a break for the third leg of medical mission which will be in Sta. Margarita, Samar.

some military personnel were on hand to maintain order at the Gandara Central School premies where the medical mission was conducted.

as the markers showed, various services were extended. It included dental, medicine, pediatrics and optometry.

Out of Calbayog City: more images from the MEDCAP at San Isidro

The two-day San Isidro leg of the USNS Mercy MEDCAP ended today. Here are some more images from the said medical mission. (Please be warned, some pictures maybe too graphic)

some patients who availed of the dental services were treated inside the classroom-turned-dental clinic . . .

. . . while others had it under the shade of the Mango tree