from celebrity hound to paparazzi

U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas was in Calbayog yesterday. Well, the celebrity hound (meaning me) failed to have his picture taken with the amiable diplomat. I got busy shooting pictures and yup I ended up as a paparazzi (that's simply 'a photographer' in Calbayog parlance). I would have wanted to call this blogpost as "I shot the Ambassador". Mr. Thomas is shown here with my friends Jennifer Sumagang-Allegado and Immabel Sidic. Yup, I shot the three of them, err, I took this picture.

Ambassador Thomas with the Calbayog media

U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas was in Calbayog yestarday to attend the IJM event and the turn-over of the U.S. and LGU - funded renovation of the CRESCENT facility in Barangay Payahan. Here's the shaky video I managed to take during Ambassador Thomas' media pull-aside.

A Calbayognon Ambassador comes to town

Ambassador Pedro "Nonoy" Chan, the Philippine envoy to Turkey was in town for a personal visit. A chanced upon him after he paid a courtesy call on Mayor Mel Sarmiento yesterday afternoon. Last night some friends gathered for a simple dinner with Mano Nonoy in Matobato. Let me share some pix taken by Orlan Quilantang.

That's me with Mano Nonoy and Boi Nicolasora.

Mano Nonoy (seated) with (tita) Freda Ladrero and Boi Nicolasora; (standing l-r) me, Naty Serrano, Nick Serrano, Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Rudy Gonzaga.

The Ambassador and his friends. (Standing l-r) Nana Chan, Nick Serrano, Maning Gomez, Rudy Gonzaga, Mano Nonoy, Boi Nicolasora, Oscar Hugo, Tony Señora, me and Tess Flores. (Seated l-r) Freda Ladrero, Chat Gonzaga, Tersing Chan, Naty Serrano and Nida Señora.

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