Happy Birthday Nati

Natividad "Nati" Mancol - Biliran will turn a year older today. Happy Birthday!

A Fiesta Concert by the CKC-Jose Gomez Orchestra

In celebration of its 317th Fiesta
The Parish of Our Lady's Nativity presents

The CKC-Jose Gomez Orchestra

In Concert

September 5, 2009
6:30 pm
Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral

The 22nd Sunday in the Ordinary Season

Today is the 22nd Sunday in the Ordinary Season. I read a very interesting introduction for today's 8:00 am mass courtesy of Sambuhay.

Religious traditions and practices are good, but they should neither be a cover-up nor a substitute for a lack of personal intimacy with the Lord. Otherwise, our religious observance is only for show. Though we give God service with our lips and our actions, our hearts are far from Him. this is hypocrisy, about which the Lord reproaches the religious leaders and the teachers of the Law in today's Gospel.

Let us pray to the Lord for the gift of a simple heart. As we keep His commandments, let not this observance be a reason to look down on others. Faith itself is a gift of God, and we are able to come close to God primarily because of His grace rather than our own personal merits.

==========

The celebrant said a lot in expounding today's Gospel. One line which caught my attention was what he said about the Canon Law, that despite the details there is in that law, there is one most striking feature or line which says: "The supreme law is the salvation of the soul."

Welcome to the Christian World Jiselle Anne Jusayan

Mr. Greg and Mrs. Cleofe Jusayan will be hosting friends and relatives to a luncheon today. It's for the baptism of their daughter Jiselle Ann.

Chowking Calbayog is 2 years old today

Chowking - Calbayog turned 2 years old today. Chowking gave away shirts and other souvenir items as a way of thanking their loyal patrons.

Joenel and Cora

Joenel Jacala and Cora Bartolome will get married today. Their wedding mass will be held at the Centennial Pastoral Center Chapel. Reception will be held at the Julio Cardinal Rosales Hall of the CPC.

in memoriam Mercedes Isidro - Obong

Mrs. Mercedes "Diding" Isidro - Obong returned to her creator today. She was 78.

Today in history: Pope John Paul I Elevated to Papacy (1978)

Hi there! It's the history buff in me again. Thanks to the various conspiracy theories about the death of Pope John Paul I, I got stock on the late pope. It has been 31 years since his election. Let me give you something which I got from "The Free Dictionary".

Pope John Paul I

(Latin: Ioannes Paulus PP. I, Italian: Giovanni Paolo I)

Born Albino Luciani, (October 17, 1912—September 28, 1978)

Reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church

and as Sovereign of Vatican City from August 26, 1978 until his death.

His 33-day papacy was one of the shortest reigns in papal history, resulting in the most recent Year of Three Popes. John Paul I was the first Pope to have been born in the 20th century. Having died before he could make a legacy as a pope, he is best remembered for his friendliness and humility, making him known as "the smiling Pope", drawing comparisons with "Good Pope John", the widely popular Pope John XXIII. He was the first pope to choose a double name and did so to honor his two immediate predecessors, Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI. He was also the first (and so far only) pope to use "the first" in his regnal name. In Italy he is remembered with the affectionate appellatives of "Il Papa del Sorriso" ("The Pope of the Smile") and "Il Sorriso di Dio" ("God's Smile").

Arms of John Paul I, a blending of the arms of his two predecessors

Biography
Personal background and papal electionAlbino Luciani was born in Forno de Canale (now called Canale d'Agordo) in Belluno, a province of the Veneto region in northern Italy. He was the son of Giovanni Luciani, who had two daughters from a previous marriage, and Bortola Tancon. While his father was allegedly a Socialist and anti-clerical in his beliefs, his mother was reported to be a devout Catholic,[1] having once considered becoming a nun. Albino was followed by a sister named Antonia and a brother named Edoardo, who later became a schoolteacher. Giovanni Luciani had no regular job, and was forced to seek work elsewhere, including Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and France; it was a Bergamese man Giovanni met in Germany after whom Albino was named. By 1935, however, Giovanni had a permanent job as a Murano glass-blower. Bortola, meanwhile, remained home and helped support the family by writing to the illiterate and working as a scullery maid.

He entered the minor seminary of Feltre in 1923, where his teachers found him "too lively", and later went on to the major seminary of Belluno. During his stay at Belluno, he attempted to join the Jesuits but was denied by the seminary's rector, Bishop Giosuè Cattarossi. Ordained a priest on July 7, 1935, Luciani then served as a curate in his native Forno de Canale before becoming a professor and the vice-rector of the Belluno seminary in 1937. Among the different subjects, he taught dogmatic and moral theology, canon law, and sacred art. In 1941 Luciani began to seek a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, which required at least one year's attendance in Rome. However, the seminary's superiors wanted him to continue teaching during his doctoral studies; the situation was resolved by a special dispensation of Pope Pius XII himself, on March 27, 1941. His thesis (The origin of the human soul according to Antonio Rosmini) largely attacked Rosmini's theology, and earned him his doctorate magna cum laude.

In 1947, he was named vicar general to Bishop Girolamo Bortignon, OFM Cap, of Belluno. Two years later, in 1949, he was placed in charge of diocesan catechetics. On December 15, 1958, Luciani was appointed Bishop of Vittorio Veneto by Pope John XXIII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following December 27 from Pope John himself, with Bishops Bortignon and Gioacchino Muccin serving as co-consecrators. As a bishop, he participated in all the sessions of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). On December 15, 1969, he was appointed Patriarch of Venice by Pope Paul VI and took possession of the archdiocese on February 3, 1970. Pope Paul created Luciani Cardinal Priest of S. Marco in the consistory of March 5, 1973.

John Paul I described himself as quiet, unassuming, and modest, with a warm sense of humor. In his notable Angelus of August 27, delivered on the first day of his papacy, he impressed the world with his natural friendliness. What also struck Catholics was his humility, a prime example being his embarrassment when Paul VI once removed his papal stole and put it on Patriarch Luciani. He recalls the occasion in his first Angelus thus:

Pope Paul VI made me blush to the roots of my hair in the presence of 20,000 people, because he removed his stole and placed it on my shoulders. Never have I blushed so much!

Papacy
Luciani was elected on the fourth ballot of the August 1978 papal conclave. He chose the regnal name of John Paul, the first double name in the history of the papacy, explaining in his famous Angelus that he took it as a thankful honor to his two immediate predecessors: John XXIII, who had named him a bishop, and Paul VI, who had named him Patriarch of Venice and a cardinal.

Observers have suggested that his selection was linked to the rumored divisions between rival camps within the College of Cardinals:

• Conservatives and Curialists supporting Giuseppe Siri, who favored a more conservative interpretation or even correction of post-Vatican II's reforms.
• Those who favored a more liberal interpretation of Vatican II's reforms, and some Italian cardinals supporting Giovanni Cardinal Benelli, who was opposed because of his "autocratic" tendencies.
• The dwindling band of supporters of Sergio Cardinal Pignedoli, who was allegedly so confident that he was papabile that he went on a crash diet to fit the right size of white cassock when elected.

Outside the Italians, now themselves a lessening influence within the increasingly internationalist College of Cardinals, were figures like Cardinal Karol Wojtyła. Luciani later claimed to his private secretary, Father John Magee, that he had sat facing the next pope. (Some reports claim he called the man "the foreigner".) In 1980, having become Papal Master of Ceremonies, Magee out of curiosity checked the seating plans in the Sistine Chapel for the August 1978 conclave, which were kept in a file in his office. It showed that the man opposite Luciani was indeed Wojtyła. He immediately told Wojtyła, who was later known as Pope John Paul II, of his predecessor's prediction. Magee discusses this in the interview he gave to RTÉ on the 8th April 2005, available in the external links, below.

Over the days following the conclave, cardinals effectively declared that with general great joy they had elected "God's candidate". Argentine Eduardo Cardinal Pironio stated that, "We were witnesses of a moral miracle." And later, Mother Teresa commented: "He has been the greatest gift of God, a sunray of God's love shining in the darkness of the world."

Long conclave predicted
Many, including the cardinals, expected a long conclave, deadlocked between the camps. Luciani was an easy compromise. He was a pastor more in the spirit of Vatican II than an austere intellectual, a man with few autocratic pretensions and so less unwelcome to some than Giovanni Cardinal Benelli. And for Italian cardinals, determined not to "lose" the papacy to a non-Italian for the first time in centuries and faced with other controversial Italian candidates, Luciani was an Italian with no baggage. He had no enemies created through a high profile career in the Curia, made no controversial or radical statements or sermons and was just a smiling gentleman, a pastor.

Even before the conclave began, journalists covering it for Vatican Radio noted increasing mention of his name, often from cardinals who barely knew him but wanted to find out more; not least, "What is the state of the man's health?" Had they known just how precarious his health was (his feet were so swollen he could not wear the shoes bought for him by his family for the conclave) they might have looked elsewhere for Paul VI's successor. But they did not. Hence, to his own horror and disbelief, he was elected to the papacy. The surprise of his election is captured in his official portrait, his hair is clumsily brushed back, because unlike papabili cardinals who expect their election, he had not had his hair cut for the conclave. When he was asked if he accepted his election, he stated "May God forgive you for what you have done". Moments later, hesitating, he said: "I accept".

Vincent Browne's claim
The belief that Luciani's election was a decision not made until during the conclave was challenged by senior Irish journalist Vincent Browne, who in 2005 revealed that he had been told by a senior Vatican source, whom he declined to name, that a number of cardinals had already decided informally amongst themselves to elect Luciani pope (though Luciani himself was unaware of it) during the sede vacante period between Pope Paul VI's death and the conclave. The source told him to expect a quick election. Browne recounted discussing this with sociologist and priest Father Andrew Greeley, who dismissed the claim, the idea of a short conclave and Luciani's chances of election. Their discussion was cut short by the crowd reacting to the traditional white smoke issuing from the Sistine Chapel's chimney, the conclusion of what indeed had turned out to be an abnormally short conclave. To Greeley's visible astonishment Luciani was announced as the new pope.

The smiling pope
After his election, John Paul quickly made several decisions that would "humanise" the office of pope, admitting publicly he had turned scarlet when Paul VI had named him the patriarch of Venice. He was the first modern pope to speak in the singular form, using I instead of we, though the official records of his speeches were often rewritten in more formal style by traditionalist aides, who reinstated the royal we in press releases and in L'Osservatore Romano. He was the first to refuse the sedia gestatoria until Vatican pressure convinced him of its need, in order to allow the faithful to see him. Vatican officials tactfully did not mention to him that his awkward flat-footed walk, which they felt was "unregal" and ungainly, also embarrassed them.

John Paul was the first pope to admit that the prospect of the papacy had daunted him to the point that other cardinals had to encourage him to accept it. He strongly suggested to his aides and staff that he believed he was unfit to be pope. Though Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution Romano Pontifici Eligendo explicitly required that John Paul be crowned, he controversially refused to have the millennium-old traditional Papal Coronation and wear the Papal Tiara.[2] He instead chose to have a simplified Papal Inauguration Mass. John Paul I used as his motto Humilitas.

New Pope, new rules
As a theologian, he was regarded as being on the conservative side. However, he raised considerable worry within the Vatican when he met with representatives of the United Nations to discuss the issue of overpopulation in the Third World, a controversial issue in light of the Church's anti-contraceptive stance. Some critics of Humanæ Vitæ [1], Pope Paul VI's 1968 encyclical on sexual mores which restated the Catholic Church's opposition to artificial birth control in the age of the first contraceptive pill, [2] [3], expressed the hope that a new pontiff would somehow reverse this traditional teaching.

John Paul I intended to prepare an encyclical in order to confirm the lines of the Second Vatican Council ("an extraordinary long-range historical event and of growth for the Church", he said) and to enforce the Church's discipline in the life of priests and the faithful. In discipline, he was a reformist, instead, and was the author of initiatives such as the devolution of one per cent of each church's entries for the poor churches in the Third World. The visit of Jorge Rafael Videla, president of the Argentine junta, to the Vatican caused considerable controversy, especially when the Pope reminded Videla about human rights' violations taking place in Argentina during the so-called Dirty War.

John Paul may have impressed people by his personal warmth, but within the Vatican he was seen as an intellectual lightweight not up to the responsibilities of the papacy. In the words of John Cornwell, "they treated him with condescension"; one senior cleric discussing Luciani said "they have elected Peter Sellers". Critics contrasted his sermons mentioning Pinocchio to the learned intellectual discourses of Pius XII or Paul VI. Visitors spoke of his isolation and loneliness, and the fact that he was the first pope in decades not to have had either a diplomatic (such as Pius XI and John XXIII) or Curial role in the Church (such as Pius XII and Paul VI).

Death
John Paul's sudden death, only 33 days after his election, caused worldwide shock. The cause of death as officially reported by the Vatican was "possibly associated to a myocardial infarction" (a common form of heart attack). However, a degree of uncertainty accompanies this diagnosis because it is the tradition for Popes not to have an autopsy. This uncertainty has led to a number of conspiracy theories about the pope's death.

In addition, Vatican healthcare had been notoriously poor for some of his predecessors. Pope Paul VI's poor healthcare is generally agreed to have hastened the approach of his death. There is no evidence to suggest that the standard of Vatican health care had improved by Pope John Paul I's 33-day reign. Nor, given his apparent lack of heart problems (as attested to by his own doctor, who flatly contradicted the rumours that came from the Vatican in the aftermath of the pope's death) was there any apparent immediate requirement for a review of medical services. In contrast, John Paul I's successor, Pope John Paul II, always had access to excellent medical services, a fact that saved his life after the assassination attempt made upon him in 1981.

The Pope's body was embalmed within one day of his death. Wild rumours spread. One rumour claimed that a visiting prelate had recently died from drinking "poisoned coffee" prepared for the pope. A visiting prelate actually had died some days earlier, but there was no evidence of any poison. Another unsubstantiated rumour described the Pope's plans to dismiss senior Vatican officials over allegations of corruption. The suddenness of his embalming raised suspicions that it had been done to prevent an autopsy. The Vatican insisted that a papal autopsy was prohibited under Vatican law. However one source (the diary of Agostino Chigi) reports that an autopsy was carried out on the remains of Pope Pius VIII in 1830. On November 11, 2006 the first part of his beatification process concluded at the Belluno cathedral.

Legacy of Pope John Paul I
Pope John Paul I was not in office long enough to make any major practical changes within the Vatican or the Roman Catholic Church (except for his abandonment of the Papal Coronation). His impact was twofold: his image as a warm, gentle, kind man captivated the world. The media in particular fell under his spell. He was a skilled orator. Whereas Pope Paul VI spoke as if delivering a doctoral thesis, John Paul I produced warmth, laughter, a 'feel good factor', and plenty of media-friendly sound bites. Secondly, the manner of his death raised many questions about the conduct of senior Vatican figures. Even among those who dismiss conspiracy theories, there are some that admit that the Vatican mishandled the circumstances of his death. For others, the suspicion remains that the 'smiling pope', who charmed the world, died in a manner that has yet to be explained adequately. He was regarded as a skilled communicator and writer, and has left behind some writings. His book Illustrissimi, written while he was a Cardinal, is a series of letters to a wide collection of historical and fictional persons. Among those still available are his letters to Jesus Christ, the Biblical King David, Figaro the Barber, Marie Theresa of Austria and Pinocchio. Others 'written to' included Mark Twain, Charles Dickens and Christopher Marlowe.

A number of campaigns have been started to canonize Pope John Paul I. Miracles have been attributed to him. On June 10, 2003 the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints gave its permission for the opening of the beatification process of Pope John Paul I, Servant of God. The "diocesan phase" of this process began in Belluno on November 23, 2003; a miracle has already been alleged, of an Italian man cured of cancer.

John Paul II on his predecessor
Karol Józef Wojtyła was elected to succeed John Paul I as Supreme Pontiff on Monday, 16 October 1978. The next day he celebrated Mass together with the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. After the Mass, he delivered his first Urbi et Orbi (a traditional blessing) message, broadcast worldwide via radio. In it he pledged fidelity to the Second Vatican Council and paid tribute to his predecessor:

"What can we say of John Paul I? It seems to us that only yesterday he emerged from this assembly of ours to put on the papal robes—not a light weight. But what warmth of charity, nay, what 'an abundant outpouring of love'—which came forth from him in the few days of his ministry and which in his last Sunday address before the Angelus he desired should come upon the world. This is also confirmed by his wise instructions to the faithful who were present at his public audiences on faith, hope and love." (source: L'Osservatore Romano, Weekly Edition in English, 26 October 1978, p.3)

Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.

Ninoy Aquino

November 27, 1932 - August 21, 1983

You might want to check these: link1, link 2

Let me share with you a video (the 1st of 9 parts) from the NinoyAquinoTV over YouTube. That source considers this as the "Holy Grail" of all Ninoy Aquino videos

For the rest of the video please check this link.
your YouTube URL

Cebu Pacific sucks

At around 12:00 noon today I got a text message from a friend who works at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. She took Cebu Pacific Calbayog - Manila flight earlier today. The text said, "Haay Cebu Pacific did not fly my bag from CALBAYOG. I really had a feeling that they would miss it when I checked in this morning. Great Service"

I believe that situation is not an exclusive domain of Calbayog, Cebu Pacific or any airline and any airport for that matter. Years ago an article ridiculed the lousy service that airlines do in handling baggage. And then I remember something which I was supposed to give you many days ago. And this is it:

Cebu Pacific's daily Manila-Calbayog-Manila flights commenced yesterday. This is a nice development. On my own little way, I would like to welcome this service of Cebu Pacific with this rant!

Just when I thought I was no longer doing my earlier intention to do a blog post about how Cebu Pacific sucks. That's until I booked a ticket for my aunt and opted to pay via megalink or ATM - something novel for me after paying my earlier internet bookings via credit card. So, in case you intend to book your Cebu Pacific tickets online and pay via ATM, think again.

I did my booking a week ago yesterday. It was for two tickets for a flight from Tacloban to Cebu on August 12, 2009 (Wednesday). I was pleased to find low-fare tickets available considering the time between booking and the flight itself. I was also pleased to find out about payments via ATM. After entering the necessary booking details, I got the instructions which stated, "You have until tonight (August 9), 23:59H PH Time to pay for your booking through various payment centers. Please see complete list of payment centers by visiting our website at http://www.cebupacificair.com/." After the payment has been made, the passenger will receive a text message from Cebu Pacific confirming the reservation, something which the passenger has to present at the airport together with the e-ticket (or so the instruction said). I did the booking at around 10:00 am, and went to the local UCPB ATM to pay in less than 30 minutes. And in an hour's time, I received the e-ticket via email with the reservation noted: on hold.

So, end of story and welcome to a smooth flight? Nope, it took me four phone calls and a 3-day waiting period before I got the booking confirmation. And yes, we never received a text confirmation from Cebu Pacific.

Let's do some math here. The ticket price was 1,888.32 pesos. Since I opted for ATM payment, 15 pesos was added making the total amount due at 1,903.32 pesos. Still a small amount to pay for the mode of payment. Or so I thought.

24 hours after payment was made, still no text confirmation and no e-ticket with the confirmed reservation. I had to call the airline. I thought it was only one phone call, I ended up doing three more phone calls after being promised that something will be done about it. Yes, they promised to do something about it 4 times (yup, when I called them 4 times) in three days. Finally, on Tuesday afternoon at around 4:30 pm, about 13 hours away from the scheduled flight, only then did we receive the email with the e-ticket and the confirmed reservation; and yes, still no confirmation via text message.

Let's do the math again. My phone calls totalled approximately 25 minutes, give or take a few seconds. And that will cost me approximately 200 pesos in my phone bill next month ('coz suncellular charges 8 pesos/ minute for landline calls). I ended up shelling approximately 2,100 pesos plus for a supposedly low-fare ticket. And yes, what's the amount one had to add for the worry or anxiety about being denied boarding or entrance at the airport? And the waiting one had to do before receiving a final booking confirmation?

Have I told you about their refund procedure? Don't ever contemplate on having to apply for one, saying that the experience is unpleasant is an understatement.

Will I still take Cebu Pacific? Of course I will. It's not that I don't have a choice. It's my way of thanking Mr. Gokongwei for giving every ordinary Juan (like me) the chance to fly, you know with their "Every Juan Must Fly" credo. Sadly for some of their ground crew and flight attendants, with their non-smiling faces (or blank stares) and the manner they give instruction or reminders to some passengers checking in, it seems like the Cebu Pacific credo has been changed to "Every Ordinary Juan Must Stop Flying".

Ah, if only PAL does not live up to what it's name stands for: Plane Always Late. The same thing with Zest Air and its erratic flight schedule. Thanks goodness they did away with their old name. I took a good number of their flights, I mean Asian Spirit, I can't help but worry about landing as spirit each time my flight took off.

PAL Express flights earn miles, ATM cards can buy PAL tickets

Here's something I got from the PAL website:

Effective last July 1st, all PAL Express flights automatically earn miles that can be converted to free flights both on Philippine Airlines (PAL) and PAL Express.

In addition to regular PAL flights, now even PAL Express flights earn mileage points that can be redeemed by members of Mabuhay Miles (PAL's frequent flyer program) to free domestic and international tickets.

To become a Mabuhay Miles member, passengers may enroll at http://www.mabuhaymiles.com/. Enrolment forms are also available at PAL ticket offices, airport check-in counters, Mabuhay lounges, Mabuhay Miles Service Center and accredited travel agents.

Meanwhile, BancNet ATM cards will soon be accepted as mode of payment for PAL tickets purchased online.

The BancNet ATM payment facility, to be available next month, allows PAL passengers without credit cards to book and buy any domestic or international tickets through the PAL website, subject to the maximum amount per transaction allowed by each member bank.

“The BancNet ATM card has a debit card function. Aside from its being PIN-protected, the Payment Page has a Dynamic PIN Pad which ensures hack-free transaction,” said Roberto Diaz de Rivera, PAL senior assistant vice president for Corporate E-Business.

Online purchases using the BancNet ATM card is initially limited to domestic itineraries, added De Rivera, because BancNet's currency conversion facility has yet to be installed for web transactions. PAL is currently upgrading its internet booking and payment facilities in anticipation for increased online transactions when the ATM payment scheme takes effect.

For more information, passengers may call the PAL Reservations hotline at 855-8888 or log on to http://www.philippineairlines.com/ or http://www.mabuhaymiles.com/.

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That's the good news. Now, if only the airline starts doing away with what it's name stands for - PAL as in Plane Always Late, that would be great. When I was in college, a good number of classmates added this - Plane Always Cancelled (something which still occurs with the Manila - Calbayog service) in effect giving the airline a different name: PALPAC

Patrun sa Capoocan, Dagum ngan San Joaquin

Maupay nga Patrun sa mga taga Barangay Capoocan, Dagum ngan San Joaquin!

Congratulations Mrs. Lourdes Lauderes - Matan!

MRS. LOURDES LAUDERES - MATAN


Mag-Ubay Elementary School
Mag-Ubay, Oquendo District, Calbayog City
Current Position: Elementary Grade Teacher III
Field of Specialization: Filipino
No. of Years Teaching: 13 year











Congratulations to Mrs. Lourdes Lauderes - Matan. She made it as one of the 10 winners in the Metrobank Foundations's Search for the Outstanding Teachers of 2009.

Here are some info I got courtesy of Mr. Jerry Perol, Branch Head of Metrobank Calbayog:

As one of the youngest awardees in this year’s roster (34 yrs. old), Mrs. Matan was instrumental in her school’s being able to offer a complete elementary education program from grades 1 through sixth by implementing multi-grade classrooms where she taught two or more grades simultaneously. And while this setting presented a number of challenges such as lack of teaching and learning materials, Mrs. Matan was undaunted and instead developed workbooks for the different subjects she was handling. Consequently, these instructional materials were adopted by schools in Calbayog City. Outside the classroom, Mrs. Matan is active in community work, crusading against forced and early marriages, which are still being practiced in some remote areas in the province where minors, some as young as 13, are being married off to older men in exchange for some goods and small amount of money (i.e. a sack of rice, a pig, and P3,000). By educating the young girls on their rights and their parents on the harmful effects of early marriages on their daughters and convincing them to keep the latter in school, Mrs. Matan was able to prevent forced and early marriages in neighboring barangays. Mrs. Matan also serves as a member of the Lupong Tagapamayapa – a group engaged in settling disputes at the barangay level – in her barangay, an affirmation of the teachers’ status in the community.

Here's the complete text of the announcement of SOT 2009 winners:

Eight public school teachers from the elementary and secondary levels, including two professors from the University of the Philippines-Diliman and University of San Carlos in Cebu, emerged as winners in this year’s Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers.

In this 25th year of the Search, Dasmariñas, Cavite, Olongapo City, Tulunan, North Cotabato, and Leganes, Iloilo produced their first awardees in the Search.

This year’s awardees for the elementary level are: Mrs. Lourdes L. Matan of Mag-Ubay Elementary School in Calbayog City; Mrs. Gemma G. Cortez of Dasmariñas Elementary School in Dasmariñas, Cavite; Mr. Benjamin M. Martinez of San Sebastian Elementary School in Tarlac City; and Mrs. Eva B. Imingan of Nellie E. Brown Elementary School in Olongapo City.

The awardees for the secondary level are: Ms. Shena Faith M. Ganela of Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas Campus in Iloilo City; Mrs. Rochelle D. Papasin of Philippine Science High School-Southern Mindanao Campus in Davao City; Mrs. Ma. Petra A. Romualdo of Minapan High School in Tulunan, Cotabato; and Mr. Zoilo J. Pinongcos, Jr. of Leganes National High School in Leganes, Iloilo.

For the higher education level, the awardees are: Dr. Dina Joana S. Ocampo of the University of the Philippines-Diliman; and Dr. Ramon S. Del Fierro of University of San Carlos in Cebu City.

“The Metrobank Foundation believes that by giving recognition to the outstanding qualities, achievements and contributions of our beloved educators, we promote a sense of pride in and provide inspiration to the teaching profession and to the rest of the society,” said Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto M. Sobrepeña. “For over 25 years, we have envisioned our awardees to serve as infrastructure for continuing excellence and to provide greater impact on their respective spheres of influence,” he continued.

The winners were selected from 173 nominees coming from various public and private educational institutions in the Philippines, of which 40 qualified as regional finalists. The regional finalists underwent interviews and teaching demonstrations before the members of the preliminary board of judges identified for each category, of which 20 were selected to become the national finalists. The national finalists then faced the Final Board of Judges for this year’s Search co-chaired by Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro and Muntinlupa City representative Congressman Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon.

Also serving as judges were: Chairman Ricardo L. Saludo of the Civil Service Commission (CSC); Governor Miguel Rene A. Dominguez of Sarangani Province; Dr. Ma. Cristina D. Padolina, President, Centro Escolar University (CEU); Ms. Cecilia L. Lazaro, founding president, PROBE Productions, Inc.; and Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro, President and CEO, Lamoiyan Corporation.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will confer gold medallions to this year’s awardees at Malacañan Palace on September 3, 2009. They will also be presented with plaques and cash amounting to Php 300,000 each during the formal awarding ceremonies at Metrobank Plaza in Makati, which will serve as the highlight of the 47th anniversary celebration of the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company on September 4, 2009.

This year’s winners will join the rank of 276 outstanding teachers, who have been honored by the Foundation for the last 24 years. They automatically become members of the Network of Outstanding Teachers and Educators or NOTED, an honor society of outstanding teachers committed to nurturing a culture of excellence and service among educators through professional development, publications, research, and advocacy in active partnership with government and non-government organizations.

Now on its 25th year, the Search bestows honor upon the teaching profession by according special recognition to teachers who manifest profound commitment to the development of the youth through exemplary competence, remarkable dedication to their work, and an effective educational leadership.

* * *

The Metrobank Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metrobank Group of Companies chaired by Dr. George S.K. Ty. Over the last 30 years, it has promoted a culture of excellence among Filipinos through its various programs notably the Search for Outstanding Teachers, the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence, The Outstanding Philippine Soldier, Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service, the Metrobank Math Challenge, and College Scholarship Program. The Foundation also has a grants program that assists NGOs and government in the fields of education, healthcare, and the arts. Metrobank Foundation celebrates Filipino excellence and presents wellsprings of hope in the future of our nation.

* * *

Last year, during the 60th Calbayog Charter Day celebration, Ms. Matan was cited as one of the Ten Outstanding Calbayognons (in the field of education). Please check these: link1, link 2.

Happy Birthday Mayor!

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento will turn a year older tomorrow. Happy Birthday!

wedding pictures

Hi there! Let me share with you some pictures taken from two weddings which my group did. One in December of last year, that of Dennis Ortiz and Myla Bañocia; and another in March of 2009 for Rommel Prudente and Shanta Montealto.

You may click on the pictures, or you may check these links: Dennis & Myla, Rommel & Shanta

Dennis and Myla. December 20, 2008.

Rommel and Shanta. March 27, 2009.

Happy Anniversary Mon and Angie

Councilor Mon and Mrs. Angie (Llever) Uy will celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary today. Congratulations!

in memoriam Ricardo B. Tan

Ricardo "Cadong" B. Tan

January 6, 1928 - August 2, 2009

City Councilor (January 1968 - December 1971)

City Councilor (February 4, 1991 - June 30, 1992)

City Vice Mayor (January 1972 - April 1, 1982)

City Mayor (April 2, 1982 - March 31, 1986)

His remains lie in state at the Tan residence in Barangay San Joaquin. He will be interred at the Tan Mausoleum in Barangay San Joaquin on August 12, 2009 after the Necrological Service at the San Joaquin Gymnasium.

(photo credit: scanned from the Calbayog coffee table book)

goodbye Tita Cory

January 25, 1933 - August 1, 2009

Prayer For A Happy Death by Cory Aquino

Almighty God, most merciful Father

You alone know the time

You alone know the hour

You alone know the moment

When I shall breathe my last.
So, remind me each day,

most loving Father

To be the best that I can be.

To be humble,

to be kind,

To be patient,

to be true.

To embrace what is good,

To reject what is evil,

To adore only You.

When the final moment does come

Let not my loved ones grieve for long.

Let them comfort each other

And let them know how much happiness

They brought into my life.

Let them pray for me,

As I will continue to pray for them,

Hoping that they will always prayfor each other.

Let them know that they made possible

Whatever good I offered to our world.

And let them realize that our separation

Is just for a short while

As we prepare for our reunion in eternity.

Our Father in heaven,

You alone are my hope.

You alone are my salvation.

Thank you for your unconditional love, Amen.

John and Pong

John Nuñez and Pong Dolera will get married today. Their wedding mass will be held at the St. James the Great Parish Church in Sta. Margarita. Reception will be held at the Cardinal Rosales Hall of the Centennial Pastoral Center.