Happy Birthday Fr. Romy and Ma'am Baby

Fr. Romy Manzanero and Ms. Baby Sabenicio will both turn a year older today. Happy Birthday!

Break anay: on that veterans' compensation

Break na liwat. It's national news this time. Yup, it's all over the place: news about Filipino World War II veterans rushing in to apply for their compensation. Should we rejoice about this development? As far as Mareng Winnie is concerned, the answer is NO. Please check this link.

kwaresma na!

Today is Ash Wednesday. The masses at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral followed the regular Sunday schedule, meaning seven masses were held at the cathedral and all of these were filled with the Catholic faithful of Calbayog. Is the big crowd a sign of the times? Or simply a manifestation of the Catholic faith that is Calbayog? I prefer the latter. If I may once again mention a line said by the late Bishop Pablo Singzon when asked why Calbayog as the seat of the diocese, ". . . the faith of the Calbayognon is second to none . . . "

Here are some pictures which I managed to take during the 6th mass which was presided over by Bishop Isabelo Abarquez.

LMA Class 1969 Reunion

Calling all members of La Milagrosa Academy Class of 1969. You are going to have a reunion this year.

Some members of the class recently meet for the details of the event. They are Ruby Remegio - Morallos, Amancia Parido - Mancol, Bebiana Bernadit - Ulrich, Salome Panoy - Aandem Toorn, Ronnie Mancol and Sofring Delabajan. Also in the meeting were Erlinda Palermo - Calesa and Erlinda Diaz.

For details of the event, please get in touch with Ronnie Mancol or Sofring Delabajan.

Happy Birthday Arnol

Engr. Arnol Trani will turn a year older today. Happy Birthday!

The CKC-Jose Gomez Orchestra goes to Catbalogan

The CKC - Jose Gomez Orchestra will have a concert in Catbalogan.

This will be held at the St. Mary's Academy Auditorium on March 4, 2009 at 2:30 pm.

Tickets will be available at the gate.

Break anay: Angels & Demons

Break na liwat. Meaning, I'd like to share something which has nothing to do with Calbayog. It's something which I (personally) look forward to, something I can't wait to happen - the movie Angels & Demons hitting Philippine theater in twelve weeks' time. I thought I'd like to share what I got about the movie.

Here's the movie trailer which I got from filmonic.com

YouTube URL
The Official Site

New Pastors for Calbayog parish

The three new Pastors of the Parish of Our Lady’s Nativity will be installed today.

The mass and installation ceremonies will be held at the Sts. Peter and Pauld Cathedral at 5:00 pm. Reception will follow at the Centennial Pastoral Center.

The new pastors will be taking the place of Msgr. Leonardo Guadalquiver who has been assigned to Catbalogan and Rev. Fr. Rolando Vivas who will take his post in Osmeña Marabut.

Congrats Dr. Roy-roy!

Calbayog has a new doctor. Roy Pallones Maribojoc son of Ireneo & Teresita Maribojoc of Brgy. Payahan passed the 2009 Physician Licensure Examination. Congratulations!

Check this link.

Happy Birthday Rene!

City Treasurer Federico "Rene" Resente will turn a year older today. Happy Birthday!

at the Calbayog airport this morning

We were at the Calbayog airport earlier today (as in 7:00 am) for the short program following the maiden Manila-Calbayog flight of Cebu Pacific. Let me share some pictures which we managed to take.

The pre-departure area crowded with both PAL Express and Cebu pacific passengers.

The check-in counters . . .

. . . of PAL Express

. . . Zest Air

. . . and Cebu Pacific

Now this is a sight to behold, two commercial aircrafts at the Calbayog airport apron

more images from the RB Calbayog Anniversary

Let me give my 2nd post on the 50th anniversary celebration of Rural Bank Calbayog.

A good number of Calbayognons trooped to the Centennial Pastoral Center to celebrate with the bank officers. Seen at the event were were Archbishop Pedro Dean, Bishop Isabelo Abarquez, Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Sta. Margarita Mayor Fred Serrano, Mr. Tony Licas, Mr. Budjie Tancinco (former RB Calbayog Manager), Dr. Mary Fulgencio, Emmy Abasolo, Fernando Bohol, Dr. Socorro Bohol, Tess Agoncillo, among others.

I would like to share some portions of the speech which Manager Bobby Roño delivered towards the end of the program and when he proposed a toast for more fruitful years for RB Calbayog.

"... over the last 50 years, Rural Bank of Calbayog City, Inc. has experienced an encouraging learning curve in banking and business ethics. Some of you here are witnesses to when, where and how our bank has survived the last five decades.

When I joined this bank in May 1991, it was still under rehabilitation and nearly placed under receivership by then The Central Bank (now Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas). The management faced unpredictable trials during that time, but we managed to survive legally.

. . . since then, the Rural Bank of Calbayog, Inc. grew and changed, rising to each new challenge with innovation and determination, adapting to the constant technological advancement in the banking system.

Tonight's celebration is historic, not only for our bank, but also for the City of Calbayog and the whole Island of Samar. Nowadays, very seldom (do we see) corporations reach maturity in corporate life. Rural Bank of Calbayog, Inc. was the first (rural) bank to operate in the whole Visayas (region) followed by the Rural Bank of Bacolod. and we are grateful that it continues to be responsive to the specific needs of the people here in our city as well as other places in the region.

In these turbulent and challenging times, let me take this opportunity to thank our shareholders, the people of Calbayog City, the people of the neighboring municipalities and to our dear CLIENTS for their unwavering support We assure you of our competent service as we start the new corporate life of the Rural Bank of Calbayog, Inc. We promise to uphold our name and remain of good service to you in the next 50 years!

. . . most of all, i would like to thank GOD ALMIGHTY for His divine guidance and making us an instrument in helping the needy ones. For without His will, it would be impassible for us to take this journey . . . "

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Let me share with you some more pictures from the event. I got these courtesy of my friend Joselo Co / Studio 8.

50 more years. Manager Bobby Roño (on the rostrum) leading the toast. With him were (r-l) Archbishop Pedro Dean, Bishop Isabelo Abarquez, Ms. Nenuca Rosales-Santos, Ms. Natividad Yu, Calbayog Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Mr. Demetrio Jaguros and Sta. Margarita Mayor Fred Serrano.

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento

RB Calbayog President Nenuca Rosales - Santos

Mr. Demetrio Jaguros, the President of the Samar-Leyte-Bilran Federation of Rural Bankers.

Ms. Natividad Yu, Immediate Past President of the Rural Bankers Assocaition of the Philippines

Zenen and Anabel

Zenen Santos and Anabel Tayab will get married today. The wedding mass will be held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Reception will be at the Frs. David and Leopold (CKC) Auditorium.

Happy Birthday Mariz

Mariz Alorro - Ikeda will turn a year older today. Happy Birthday!

The RB Calbayog 50th Anniversary Celebration

Rural Bank of Calbayog City, Incorporated (RBCCI) is 50 years old. If I may borrow a line said by the Bank President, when the original 11 incorporators led by the late Hermenigildo Ras Rosales established the bank in 1959, nobody could have foreseen that in 50 years of its existence, the Bank would become the largest rural banking institution on Samar.

The Bank's 11 original incorporators were: Mr. Hermenegildo Rosales, Sr., Dr. Jose P. Rosales, Mr. Ramon A. Roño, Mrs. Caridad T. Tancinco, Mr. Sebastian Ugarte, Gov. Fernando R. Veloso, Mrs. Margarita R. Zarate, Engr. Oscar D. Data, Mrs. Patria O. Consunji, Mr. Hermenegildo Rosales, Jr. and Engr. Marcelino A. Roño.

Last Saturday, RB Calbayog's officers and staff treated their loyal clients and friends to a Dinner-Dance at the Julio Cardinal Rosales Hall of the Centennial Pastoral Center.

I got hold of a copy of the welcome speech delivered by the Bank President, Ms. Nenuca Rosales - Santos. Here's the text of that speech:

"His Excellency (my cousin) Pedro Dean, Bishop Isabelo Abarquez, Your Honorable Mayors, Banking Colleagues, Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are gathered here today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Rural Bank of Calbayog City, Inc. and I am proud to say, the first rural bank established in the whole island of Samar.

When the eleven original incorporators led by my late father Hermenigildo "Idoy" Ras Rosales established the Rural Bank of Calbayog City, Inc. in 1959, nobody could have foreseen that in 50 years of its existence, the Bank would become the largest rural banking institution in Samar.

From an institution with the primary aim to promote balanced and steady development of its local farmers and fishermen, it never stopped to expand. It expanded in membership, mandate, geography, scope and, which is the most visible, in volume of operations. Today the Bank has four branches located at Oquendo, Sta. Margarita, Allen, Northern Samar and a moneyshop at the Calbayog public market.

Rural Bank of Calbayog City, Inc. is a clear testimony of the profound changes brought about by the decisions taken by our predecessors in the aftermath of the economic challenges and overwhelming thrust of providing financial assistance to the local farmers, fishermen and other small businesses in the late 1950s.

Their vision and the courage to dream about a different path for Calbayog and its surrounding communities in which attention to quality of life, peace and harmony that respects diversity became the essential characteristics of he Bank. although we are all very much aware that these goals are far from being achieved, we are also aware how far the progress has been made in all dimensions.

The past half-century has been one of tremendous challenges and outstanding achievements. Records reflect the Bank's long history of resilience in the face of external threat, the hard work and commitments of the employees, and the adoption of new processes in response to environmental change.

Similarly, as the financial crisis spreads across the globe coupled with the fall of a chain of rural banks in the Philippines, it becomes more apparent that the Bank continues to be a conservative player in the banking industry and at the same time identify areas for potential cost cutting and procedural streamlining and immediately test whether such changes have an impact on the organization.

The Rural Bank of Calbayog City, Inc. has done well, growing with the City, and at the same time contributing to the Province's development. Let us turn the current economic slowdown to advantage. We have a window of opportunity to develop our capabilities in an increasingly knowledge-based economy. We will take in hand the challenges in the banking, financial and corporate sectors to emerge as a stronger banking institution.

A sound, responsive and pioneering Bank as the Rural Bank of Calbayog City, Inc. certainly is - with its high accumulated reserves and a position that has never been stronger - did not just happen and could never be taken for granted. However, the splendid results achieved in the five decades would not be possible without the hard-working, competent and committed staff led by good management.

Again, I would like to say thank you to all of you who have given the Rural Bank of Calbayog City, Inc. your trust, support and patronage.

Lastly, I would like to thank the Lord for staying during the ups and downs of the Bank these past 50 years.

DAMO NGA SALAMAT!"

------------------------------------------------------------

Let me share with you the first set of pictures taken during the affair. I got these courtesy of Joselo Co / Studio 8, the official photographers of the event.

Archbishop Pedro Dean presiding over the Thanksgiving Mass. Concelebrating with him were (l-r) Fr. Mike Aguilar, Fr. Tito Voz, Bishop Isabelo Abarquez and Fr. Tony Mahinay.

Archbishop Pedro Dean, RBCCI President Nenuca Rosales - Santos, Bishop Isabelo Abarquez and RBCCI General Manager Roberto Jose Roño.

RB Calbayog Manager Bobby Roño as he delivered his closing speech.

RB Calbayog staff with the Board of Director (seated l-r) Mr. Dennis Ancheta, Ms. Luzita Sarao, Mr. Bobby Roño, Ms. Nenuca Santos, Ms. Rose Santos and Dr. Ramon Roño.

RB Cabayog staff with the Bank President Nenuca Rosales - Santos

Intermission numbers were presented by the TTMIST Campus Chorus . . .

. . . and the TTMIST Kinetic Dance Company

. . . and that's me hosting the anniversary program

Patrun sa Mawacat, Roxa-1 ngan Tomaligues

Maupay nga Patrun sa mga taga Barangay Mawacat, Barangay Roxas-1 ngan Barangay Tomaligues!

move over Bayani Fernando

Move over Bayani Fernando, suddenly I missed your posters (check these: link 1, link 2) when streamers welcoming Jojo Binay sprung up all over the place today. Anyway, what's the occassion? Your guess is as good as mine.

The CKC-Jose Gomez Orchestra (4) more concert vids

Wisdom from Lee Kuan Yew's Daughter

Tita Freda sent me (via email) an article entitled "Wisdom from Lee Kuan Yew's Daughter". I thought I'd wanted to share with you that article:

In 2007, in an end-of-year message to the staff of the National Neuroscience Institute, I wrote:

'Whilst boom time in the public sector is never as booming as in the private sector, let us not forget that boom time is eventually followed by slump time. Slump time in the public sector is always less painful compared to the private sector.'

Slump time has arrived with a bang.

While I worry about the poorer Singaporeans who will be hit hard, perhaps this recession has come at an opportune time for many of us. It will give us an incentive to reconsider our priorities in life.

Decades of the good life have made us soft. The wealthy especially, but also the middle class in Singapore, have had it so good for so long, what they once considered luxuries, they now think of as necessities.

A mobile phone, for instance, is now a statement about who you are, not just a piece of equipment for communication. Hence many people buy the latest model though their existing mobile phones are still in perfect working order. A Mercedes-Benz is no longer adequate as a status symbol. For millionaires who wish to show the world they have taste, a Ferrari or a Porsche is deemed more appropriate.

The same attitude influences the choice of attire and accessories. I still find it hard to believe that there are people carrying handbags that cost more than thrice the monthly income of a bus driver, and many more times that of the foreign worker labouring in the hot sun, risking his life to construct luxury condominiums he will never have a chance to live in.

The media encourages and amplifies this ostentatious consumption. Perhaps it is good to encourage people to spend more because this will prevent the recession from getting worse. I am not an economist, but wasn't that the root cause of the current crisis - Americans spending more than they could afford to?

I am not a particularly spiritual person. I don't believe in the supernatural and I don't think I have a soul that will survive my death. But as I view the crass materialism around me, I am reminded of what my mother once told me: 'Suffering and deprivation is good for the soul.

'My family is not poor, but we have been brought up to be frugal. My parents and I live in the same house that my paternal grandparents and their children moved into after World War II in 1945. It is a big house by today's standards, but it is simple - in fact, almost to the point of being shabby.

Those who see it for the first time are astonished that Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's home is so humble. But it is a comfortable house, a home we have got used to. Though it does look shabby compared to the new mansions on our street, we are not bothered by the comparison.

Most of the world and much of Singapore will lament the economic downturn. We have been told to tighten our belts. There will undoubtedly be suffering, which we must try our best to ameliorate.

But I personally think the hard times will hold a timely lesson for many Singaporeans, especially those born after 1970 who have never lived through difficult times. No matter how poor you are in Singapore, the authorities and social groups do try to ensure you have shelter and food. Nobody starves in Singapore.

Many of those who are currently living in mansions and enjoying a luxurious lifestyle will probably still be able to do so, even if they might have to downgrade from wines costing $20,000 a bottle to $10,000 a bottle. They would hardly notice the difference.

Being wealthy is not a sin. It cannot be in a capitalist market economy. Enjoying the fruits of one's own labour is one's prerogative and I have no right to chastise those who choose to live luxuriously. But if one is blinded by materialism, there would be no end to wanting and hankering. After the Ferrari, what next? An Aston Martin? After the Hermes Birkin handbag, what can one upgrade to?

Neither an Aston Martin nor an Hermes Birkin can make us truly happy or contented. They are like dust, a fog obscuring the true meaning of life, and can be blown away in the twinkling of an eye.

When the end approaches and we look back on our lives, will we regret the latest mobile phone or luxury car that we did not acquire? Or would we prefer to die at peace with ourselves, knowing that we have lived lives filled with love, friendship and goodwill, that we have helped some of our fellow voyagers along the way and that we have tried our best to leave this world a slightly better place than how we found it?

We know which is the correct choice - and it is within our power to make that choice. In this new year, burdened as it is with the problems of the year that has just ended, let us again try to choose wisely. To a considerable degree, our happiness is within our own control, and we should not follow the herd blindly.

The writer is director of the National Neuroscience Institute

Rural Bank of Calbayog is 50 years old

Rural Bank of Calbayog City, Incorporated (RBCCI) is 50 years old.

Today's celebration will include a Thanksgiving Mass and a Dinner at the Centennial Pastoral Center.

Happy Birthday Ybag

Irma Pastrana - Garcia will turn a year older today. Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Msgr. Chiling!

Monsignor Vicente Astorga, the former Parish Priest of Calbayog will turn 80 years old today. Happy Birthday!

New Year Celebration at the Sam Tai Chi Temple

Red was the color of the day at the Sam Tai Chi Temple. I was among the invited guests of the Chan Family during today's 14th Annual Celebration of the said temple which is located on the 4th floor of the E.C. Marketing Building along Rosales Boulevard.

I would like to share with you something from the flyers which served as guide for the guests.

The following blessings may be received during this year's anniversary celebration:

1. From Ti Kong (God The Father) - for unity of the family, financial stability and good health.
2. From Ong Bio Nio Nio (Mother of God the Father) - for proper guidance in decision-making.
3. From Kuan Im (Goddess of Mercy) - for patience, tolerance and lots of love.
4. From Ma Cho (Goddess of the Sea) - for freedom from worries.
5. From Tua Tai Chi (Jesus), Di Tai Chi (Nazareno), Sam Tai Chi (Sto. Niño) - for contentment.

Let me share with you some pix which I managed to take during today's celebration

Thanks to the tent, I missed two characters completing the name of the place: "Diok Hong Tai Chi Tian"

I forgot to inquire and I'm still wondering about this: 3 pieces of jackfruit and squash were placed on the stair leading to the temple.

Guests who were not in red were requested to pin red rosettes; and everyone had to leave their shoes at the entrance.

The 3 cakes symbolizing Good Luck, Prosperity and Long Life.

Sam Tai Chi key chains for freedom from worries

The souvenirs which guests received during this year's celebration.

And this is Rosales Boulevard as viewed from the temple area: