Fiesta 2011: Hadang Festival 2011 Schedule of Activities

COMELEC suspends verification of voters' signature in Samar

Tacloban City - The signature verification in relation to separate recall petitions filed against Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan and her brother Vice Go. Stephen James Tan, was temporarily suspended.

(read more . . . )

Novena day 2

Yana an ika-duha nga adlaw san nobenario para san Nuestra Senora de la Natividad. An misa-nobenaryo yana nga kulop pagbubuhatun sa Calbayog East Central School.


An tema para yana nga adlaw: "Birhen Maria: Panalipod natun san Yawa".

The City Hall tonight

I passed by the City Hall are earlier tonight, and this is what I got - a "clean well-lighted place". The landmark and the stage have been repainted and the spotlights are in place.

And in the vicinity is the Sts. Pter and Paul Cathedral

Mga buruhatun san Parokya para san Patrun 2011

An "unknown" Greek artist's interpretation of St. Anne and the Blessed Virgin Mary, done in the tradition of the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
(I got this picture from Ninang Emma Yangzon - Fortuna. It served as the cover of the fiesta  souvenir program during her hermanidad with Edele Alegria and Venan Yangzon in 2009.)

The schedule of activities in line with the 2011 celebration of the Feast of Our Lady's Nativity, patroness of Calbayog City

• August 30, 2011 - September 7, 2011: Novena Masses
• September 3, 2011: Parish / WESTY Night at the La Milagrosa Academy (6:00 pm)
• September 4, 2011: Confirmation at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral (10:00 am)
• September 6, 2011: Hermana Night at the Calbayog Convention Center (6:00 am)
• September 7, 2011: Grand Marian Procession (5:30 pm)
• September 8, 2011: Pontifical Mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral (9:00 am)
• September 8, 2011: Baptism at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral (11:00 am)

Novena Day 1

Yana an syahan nga adlaw san nobenario para san Nuestra Senora de la Natividad. An misa-nobenaryo yana nga kulop pagbubuhatun sa La Milagrosa Academy.


An tema para yana nga adlaw: "Birhen Maria: Susgaranan sin Kamapamalandungon sa Pulong san Diyos".

Nobena para san Patrona san Calbayog

Here's the schedule of Novena Masses in preparation for the Feast of Our Lady's Nativity, the Patroness of Calbayog:

2011 Tema san Misa Novenario san Birhen de la Natividad
Kabug-osan nga tema: "Upod san Birhen Maria sa pagsalin-urog san paglakaton ug paglaum" (With Mary: A celebration of Journey and Hope)

Morning Novena Masses will be held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral at 5:30 am.
Afternoon Novena Masses will be held at 5:00 pm at various venues

• 1st Day / August 30, 2011: La Milagrosa Academy
• 2nd Day / August 31, 2011: Calbayog East Central School
• 3rd Day / September 1, 2011: Northwest Samar University
• 4th day / September 2, 2011: Christ the King College
• 5th day / September 3, 2011: Poor Clare Monastery
• 6th day / September 4, 2011: Public Market
• 7th day / September 5, 2011: Calbayog City SPED Center
• 8th day / September 6, 2011: Calbayog City Hall
• 9th day / September 7, 2011: Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral

Images from the CKC Book Launching

As i have mentioned in an earlier blogpost, two new books by Fr. Tony Rosales, OFM were launched at Christ the King College last August 20, 2011. I'll be featuring in a future blogpost the book reviews presented during the event. In the meantime, here are some pictures I managed to take during the Book Launching event which was held at the Frs. David and Leopold Memorial Auditorium.

Fr. Tony delivering his message

The CKC Youth Chamber Orchestra performing during the boo-signing and cocktails.

Fr. Tony with City Librarian Sofring Delabajan and Mrs. Terry Lucero.

me with Fr. Tony

Roland and Ethel

Roland Justina (of Alang-Alang, Southern Leyte) and Ethel Bendanillo of (Inoragiao) will get married today. Their wedding mass will be held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Carthedral with Rev. Fr. Iluminado Paulino as mass presider and Rev. Fr. James Roa as homilist. Reception will be held at the ballroom of Ciriaco Hotel.

Uy family continue to seek justice to identify the killer

(This news item appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Calbayog City - Moore than four months after he was slain by still unidentified killer, the family of former Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy continues to seek justice as the identity of the killer has yet to be established. (read more . . .)

No Smoking Please

Now, this is one sticker which I won't mind being pasted all over the place. It's the one which reminds everyone about the "hazard" of smoking in public places in Calbayog.

This particular sticker pasted on a PD cab reads: "No Smoking in government or privately-owned public utility vehicle, whether moving or stationary or while loading or unloading."

Penalty is Php 1,000.00 as per City Ordinance No. 2011-10-018

The City Hall gets a facelift

Ms. Anyag candidates presented to the media

.
The candidates for Miss Anyag 2011 were presented to the media today. For updates, please check the pageant's facebook account.

images from my old hometown

Hmm, it makes sense. Need I say more?

Uy's daughter cries foul over excessive number of security escorts of Samar vice gov

(This news report appeared in the August 2o, 2011 edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Tacloban City - The eldest daughter of slain former Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy, Jessica Uy-Delgado, cried foul over what she claimed excessive number of security escorts of Samar Vice Governor Stephen James Tan (read more . . . )

Book Launching at CKC

The CKC Community will be hosting the launching of two new books by Fr. Antonio Maria Rosales, OFM. The books entitled “The Jesus’ Letters” and “My Son, Francis” will be launched at 3:00 pm tomorrow at the Frs. David and Leopold Auditorium at Christ the King College.

The CKC President Fr. Mar Tubac, OFM and the author Fr. Tony will deliver their respective messages. The CKC VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Florita Calesa will present her review on “The Jesus’ Letters” while Dean Venancio Bajet of the College of Teacher Education will deliver present a review on “My Son, Francis”.

The event will capped by cocktails and a performance of the CKC Youth Chamber Orchestra.

CHR temporarily archives Mayor Uy murder case

(This news report appeared in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Tacloban City - The murder case involving former Calbayog Mayor Reynaldo Uy was archived by the Commission on Human Rights here in the region due to lack of witnesses who could provide leads at to who could be the killers of the victims. (read more . . . )

in memoriam Bishop Pablo Singzon

Today we observe the 91st Death Anniversary of first Bishop of Calbayog.

Pablo Baeza Singzon was born on January 25, 1851 in the town of Calbiga to parents Demetria Baeza and Esteban Singzon. He was the eighth child of ten children and the youngest of four sons. He completed his primary grades in his native town under the direction of the Franciscan Fathers Fr. Antonio Figueroa and Fr. Antonio Sanchez and Fr. Andres Congzon, a secular priest. Since his childhood, he demonstrated his sincere piety and clear intelligence that his parents enrolled him at the Seminary College of San Carlos, in Cebu on November 9, 1866 at the age of 15. (read more . . .)

Death of a Bishop

Sometime in 2008, while preparing for the Calbayog coffee table book, I received photocopies of the issues of the Eco de Samar y Leyte. I thought it was a bundle of issues only from 1911-1913. Later on would I find an issue dated August 14, 1920 and the English section contained an account on the death of the first Bishop of Calbayog.

That particular issue on August 14, 1920 had this as its headline in the English section: “MGR. PABLO SINGZON, FIRST BISHOP OF CALBAYOG DIED LAST TUESDAY MORNING”

It was written by someone who went by the name of PLOPE:

“It was a melancholic and sorrowful Monday at about six o’clock when our Illustrious Prelate Mgr. Pablo Singzon in the modest parlor of the Episcopal palace was attended by his familiars among whom was Dr. Tomas Gomez. His weary respiration and the paleness of his face moved the hearts of those who were present and caused them a painful feeling of separation. The pain of his sickness was becoming more and more painful which called him to stay in bed.

At 10:00 o’clock p.m. when Mgr. Singzon found out that he did not feel a better repose nor even a rest from the pain of his sickness in his bed, wanted to sit on a chair – the chair where he received the spiritual consolations last November when he was attacked severely by the same sickness. In this chair he decided to die. Tears that roll from my eyes prevent not my pen to communicate my pain!

When the clock knocked its eleven strikes Mgr. Singzon was becoming weaker and weaker. From the neck of our illustrious patient hanged a bead of rosary, the escapulary of the Third Order of Saint Francis and the Miraculous Medal. Around him were his favorite Auxiliary Bishop Mgr. Sofronio Hacbang, RR. FF. Jose Diasnes, Teodoro Robredo, Luis Egeda, Dr. Tomas Gomez, RR. FF. Pedro Pampliega, Santos Saldaña, the Seminarians Bernardo Bacsal, Lesmes Ricalde, and behind the chair were RR. FF. Felix Sabenicio and Crispin Singzon. It was indeed a sorrowful occasion! All those who were present observed firmly to the patient and watched his movements whose weary and painful respiration cooled their hearts. Mgr. Singzon was not as active as he used to be: his activity, attention and application were changed: Mgr. Singzon was transformed struggling between the existence of life and death.

Mgr. Sofronio Hacbang his Auxiliary Bishop and who had never left him read the profession of the faith, the recommendation of the soul; whose voice in the midst of that tranquility and in the midst of that struggling pain called his attention to listen. Rev. F. Jose Diasnes neared to the patient by order of the Auxiliary Bishop to give him a confession. How great and how sublime is to die in the name of the Catholic Religion, though in the midst of pain.

The illustrious patient was losing gradually his movements the coolness of his body began to cover him with its veil, his paleness was becoming more and more pale. Then all those who were present knelt down with lighted candles before a crucifix near the patient and said the following words: “PROFESU ERE ANIMA CRISTIANA”

Mgr. Singzon gave up his last breath in the morning of the sorrowful Tuesday when the clock knocked its 3:20 strikes” (PLOPE)

Bahandi Samarnon: Speech of Jobart Gomez

Emmanuele Jobart Gomez, a member of the Christ the King College Youth Symphony Orchestra received the citation for his lolo during the 1st Bahandi Samarnon Award. Here's the text of his speech.

MY LOLO JOSE, AS A FAMILY MAN
Jobart Gomez

Good evening to each and everyone of you.

Three weeks before this occasion, someone from the organizers came to the house of the great man Jose Cinco Gomez asking one of his children to share in public about his life as a father to Mr. Manuel Gomez, my father, as well as a father to my father’s siblings.

With the invitation, Tita Cecilia, Tito Antonio, Tita Virginia, papa Manuel, and Tito Remigio accepted it wholeheartedly and now I am in front of you ready to share what they have dictated me and also to represent officially the family of the great Jose Cinco Gomez. In my succeeding speech, please allow me to use only lolo Jose instead of the great Jose.

Lolo Jose, as my titas and titos would tell me, is a man of virtue, a man of courage, a disciplinarian, a generous person, and a loving father. He never neglected to snoop for a moment his sleeping children in each of their room before he slept. He always emphasized honesty and integrity. The late Tito Mariano, the third from the eldest, told his siblings about the following story: a man came from Brgy. Dagum who borrowed a small amount to lolo Jose with a piece of paper serving his property as collateral. Out of compassion, lolo Jose gave that man the amount he needed. Month came; the man came back asking for a little time to pay for the exact amount that man owed my lolo. What my lolo did was he tapped the shoulder of that man and gave back the piece of paper telling him not to worry disregarding the amount he owed.

A disciplinarian. When the church bell stroked at 6:00 o’clock in the evening, my titos and titas must be at the dining table on time. If any of them was not present during those times, he or she was locked up outside the house and fortunately, it was my lola who intervened for reconsideration.

The most painful blow on my lolo’s life, on my family’s life, was the death of his three sisters Josefa, Francisca and Trinidad who were captured in Bobon, Northern Samar

Refusing to reveal his whereabouts, they were tortured and killed by the Japanese soldiers

After the war, the leadership of my lolo Jose had illustrated had earned him an award. He was appointed Chief of Police by Mayor Pedro Pido until 1953.

He revived the Cecilian Orchestra which became the only guerilla band probably in the country at that time. With the revival, they had the opportunity to perform in Malacanang in honor of the former Philippine President Manuel Roxas. The group was renamed the Calbayog Cecilian Cultural Group.

Being a religious person, he composed songs for the masses with lyrics in English, Spanish and without charging even a single centavo.

Then came the Paligsahan sa Musika Songwriting Competition in 1974 and my lolo was the winner in the entire Region 8.

In my lolo’s life, not all were beautiful tunes and melodies. When he heard the verdict of his defeat in “Ahay” case against the Mabuhay Singers sponsored by no less than the former First Lady Imelda Marcos, he was stunned and aggrieved.

He was brought to Manila for medical treatment. His son Antonio, second from the eldest, and a medical representative at that time brought him to the best doctor at Far Eastern University and while undergoing treatment, my tito Remigio found him irritable and insisted in going home believing he would recover in Calbayog, a place very dear to my lolo and also to all of us.

With the permission of the doctor, he came home in January 1975 but early morning of February 2, the month he was born 63 years back like in the wink of an eye was the end of the beautiful song in Calbayog that was the life of my lolo Jose.

Whatever purpose this speech may serve from this day onwards, I pray that my lolo Jose’s love for his family, for music and most especially for his birthplace Calbayog City be remembered not only in memories but also in action: for the benefit of the greater good, of Calbayog City, and of every Calbayognon, young and old

Thank you everyone and mabuhay po si Jose Cinco Gomez, tayong pong lahat na naririto pati na rin ang mahal nating Calbayog City.

Once again, thank you and good day.

Bahandi Samarnon: Speech of Mayor Ronaldo Aquino

(Here's the speech which I delivered on behalf of Mayor Ronaldo Aquino during the Bahandi Samarnon Awards)

Another laudable undertaking by the Franciscan community
I am pleased to be part of this ceremony today which will honor one of the greatest sons of Calbayog. This awarding ceremony to be conceptualized and held at Christ the King College and in Calbayog City makes me proud both as a Christi Regian and as the Local Chief Executive of Calbayog. The City Government wishes the Award Committee all its best as they do the hard work of giving honor to all the deserving sons and daughters of Samar in many more years to come.

The Franciscan community should be commended for this worthy but challenging undertaking. Achievement Awards are so many that it runs the risk of being a commonplace. But in this case, in the case of the Bahandi Samarnon Awards, it is nice to note to have a group of Samarenos or Samarnon acknowledge the achievements of their fellow Samarnon. It should not take outsiders to acknowledge what good there is that is being done in Samar. It should not take outsiders to acknowledge what great achievers, what great people there are in Samar. When Chito Rono received an award from city government a few years ago, he expressed his gratitude by saying something like this: that receiving an award from your own hometown gives you that extra special feeling which is a notch above the feeling of winning during the usual film awards night. I guess the same thing can be said of this Bahandi Samarnon Awards. Before we look far and wide, let us look upon ourselves for examples worthy of emulation. There should be so many of them just lurking around.

A question of significance
Now a question: where can this Award find its significance? In this world characterized by political bickering, economic difficulties and what have you, don’t you think we should be looking at how we can help alleviate or reduce the incidence of poverty, maintain peace and order and provide decent jobs to our fellowmen? And let us not even start discussing about caring for the environment. That almost sorry scenario is exactly where this Bahandi Samarnon Award will find its significance. This is exactly where this activity finds its proper place. This ceremony calls for us to be able to do something good; or at least to manifest our ability to do something good out of the dire conditions. This is manifested by the life of the first awardee which the award committee has selected for tonight. He serves as both an inspiration and a call to action.

Let Jose Gomez live in us
Jose Cinco Gomez. No need to recall details about his life. No need to memorize the titles of his works. The name speaks for itself. But then, knowing his name and his person is not enough to honor to the man who has contributed much to the development of music in Samar.

It is proper that we honor Jose Gomez. It is proper that we respect the works of Jose Gomez. But after taking a close look at the life story of this man, he deserves more than just us memorizing the lyrics of “Calbayog”; more than just us tapping to the vibrant beat of “Kamote”; and more than just us being familiar with lively tunes of his Samareno folk songs. The life and times and the works of Senor Jose Gomez tell us two things: to be proud of our heritage; and to cultivate the hero in each of us. The times might have changed, but the call for us to be of service to our fellowmen and to be good sons and daughters of Samar remains. Like Jose Gomez, let us look beyond our mundane concerns in life. We have our own capabilities and abilities that can make a difference. Nobody among us is too small so as not to be able to do something for our beloved Samar.

Salamat ug maupay nga kulop sa atun ngatanan!

Bahandi Samarnon Award

The First Bahandi Samarnon Awarding Ceremony
August 5, 2011
Frs. David and Leopold Memorial Auditorium
5:00 PM

Conceptualized by the Franciscan community, the award is an undertaking guided by this vision:

“Guided by the Gospel values, the Bahandi Samarnon Award engenders a Christian community that celebrates humanity towards a better Samar.”

The award has as its mission the commitment to honor Samarnons with noble contributions, inspiring and empowering the people of Samar especially the youth to selfless endeavors and developing sense of patriotism, thus recognizing component and ethical individuals who integrate faith, life and culture for the advancement of Samar.

EMB intensifies drive againts use of plastics

(This news report appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Tacloban City - The Environmental Management Bureau in the region urges local government units to intensify the campaign against the use of plastics particularly among commercial establishments. (read more . . .)