Groundbreaking for Gaisano Metro Hypermart

It's official, the Groundbreaking Ceremony for (Gaisano) Metro Hypermart will be held on the 16th of April 2013 at 10:00 o'clock in the morning.

St. Therese at the Poor Clares

The third stop of the Calbayog City visit of the Holy Relics of St. Therese was the Poor Clare Monastery. Bishop Isabelo Abarquez was on hand to give some reflection on the virtues of St. Therese for the faithful who have gathered together with the Poor Clare nuns whom Calbayognons fondly refer to as "Monghas". After the veneration, the relic was brought to Catbalogan where it will be venerated tonight until tomorrow morning.

The Holy Relics St. Therese at Consolatrix

After the veneration at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, the relics of St. Therese was brought to the Monastery of the Sisters of Mary Consolatrix of the Eucharist which is located in Barangay San Policarpo. A good number of the faithful from Ipao were on hand to the listen to the reflection given by Bishop Isabelo Abarquez; and to venerate the holy relics.

The Red Flags are up

Let me end year 2012 with this picture of the red flags at the Cathedral.

A place of honor for Our Lady of Fatima

The structure near the cathedral which was constructed to house the image of Our Lady of Fatima was inaugurated today. The inauguration was preceded by a mid-morning procession and a Pontifical Mass which was presided over by Bishop Isabelo Abarquez. Invited to the event were  Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, the members of the family of Elena Tan and officer of religious organizations, among others.

Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and Mr. Marlon Tan as they carried the image of Our Lady of Fatima to its place.

SOS Calbayog is 40 years old

SOS Children's Village Calbayog is 40 years old. Among the activities on hand was the launching of the book entitled "40 Years in 40 Faces". It was held during an Appreciation Dinner earlier tonight at the Ciriaco Hotel poolside. I will be posting more details about the book, in the meantime I'd like to give you a brief history of SOS-Calbayog.

In 1972, the third SOS Children's Village of the country was built in Calbayog in Samar Island, the third largest island of the Philippines. The island is very fertile, and so agriculture plays an important role in its economy. The city is an important exporter of vegetables and other more exotic agricultural produce to the rest of the region.

SOS Children's Village Calbayog consists of twelve family houses, the village director's house and a community house. There is an SOS Kindergarten, which is also open to children from the neighbourhood. In the kindergarten's 4 classrooms, up to 55 children can be taught. The kindergarten also has a kitchen, where the meals for the children are prepared. Next to the SOS Children's Village, there is a home for retired SOS mothers.

In Calbayog, there is also an SOS Social Centre, which provides child day care, counselling and psychological care to the population of the neighbourhood. The SOS Social Centre consists of two rooms for the day-care centre, a kitchen and dining room for the food programme, two offices, a library and a classroom for counselling and education.

In 2007, SOS Children's Villages launched its family strengthening programmes in Calbayog. These programmes are intended to support families at risk of abandoning their children and to encourage families to stay together. SOS Children's Villages therefore works with local authorities and other service providers to support families and enable them to take good care of their children. Family strengthening programmes provide nutritional, educational and health support as well as vocational training, career counselling sessions and job placement support. Families are linked with existing self-help groups; if there is no group, a new one is formed. The programmes also aim at raising awareness of hygiene and child rights and improving people's parenting skills.

In the town centre of Calbayog, there is an SOS Youth Facility. Older boys from the SOS Children's Village normally move to the SOS Youth Facility when they start a vocational training course or go on to higher education. With the support of qualified youth workers, they develop realistic perspectives for their future, learn to shoulder responsibility and increasingly make their own decisions. They are encouraged to develop team spirit and build up contacts with relatives and friends, as well as with the relevant authorities and potential employers.

In 2009, an SOS Vocational Training Centre was opened in Calbayog. It consists of 14 classrooms, an assembly hall, an administration and service area and accommodation for the participants. The training centre also includes a demonstration farm.

update on the waterfalls replica project

Let me give you my videos of the waterfalls replica at the Nijaga Park. I took it a few days ago when the workers checked the pumps and other parts of the said project which is set to be inaugurated on Valentines' Day

The replica of Bangon-Bugtong Falls

The replica of Tabukno Falls

Waterfalls at the Park

This is related to an earlier blogpost (please check this link). And in a way, ini nga blogpost dedicated sadto nga mga tawo nga magyakbot ug magyubit. Dire pa ngani tapos an proyekto, sige na an yaw-yaw mahitungod san "waterfalls project" sa Nijaga Park.


Neway,I have featured a picture which I got courtesy of Mr. Joel Madadong. I think he took this picture days ago when they tested the water pump at the soon-to-be-finished project. The said project will be officially inaugurated on February 14, 2012.

(photo courtesy of Mr. Joel Manadong)

My pix of the new public market

As I have mentioned in an earlier blogpost, the LGU has formally inaugurated the new Calbayog Bus Terminal and Public Market complex. The complex sits on a 3.5 ha. property off Magsaysay Boulevard extension in Barangay Bagacay, Calbayog City. Here are some pictures I took before yesterday's program.

This is the new Public Market. The "dry section" is at the ground floor while the "wet section" is at the second floor.

Demy Dimaranan, Tony Tallon, Dr. Teody Fortaleza and Chu-chu Aquino as they took a close look of the wet section before the program.

The "wet section" of the new public market (pix up and below)

The "dry section" on the ground floor.

The new Public Market and Bus Terminal complex Inaugurated

Mayor Ronald Aquino led the City Officials during today's inauguration of the new Public Market and Bus Terminal complex in Barangay Bagacay. Rev. Fr. Julio Gaddi presided over a mass which preceded the inauguration ceremonies which was attended by the LGU Department Managers and the market stall occupants.

Mayor Ronald Aquino and Vice Mayor Rey James Uy leading the ribbon-cutting for the new Bus Terminal. In photo are (l-r) Rev. Fr. Julio Gaddi. Councilors Sonny Salurio, Ina Rabuya, Julius Mancol, Ver Porlares, Biboy Belleza, Nonoy Pasacas, Ronald Mark Aquino, Jonas Montealto, Virgil Clemens and Raymund Uy.

Waterfalls in the Park

Construction is currently ongoing at the Nijaga Park (it's the portion near the Rosales bridge). They are coming up with a replica of Bangon and another waterfalls. I suppose this has to do with Calbayog's tagline being the City of Waterfalls. But then their is Iligan which called itself the City of Majestic Waterfalls. So, maybe we can meet halfway about it. Anyway, here are some pictures of the ongoing project, so as to update you of what's going on at the plaza. I'll feature photos as soon as the project is completed.

Now open: South Star Drug

There's a new drugstore in town. South Star Drug recently opened shop in Calbayog. It is located on on the corner of Rueda Street and Magsaysay Boulevard. Yup, it's the same address (or should I say street corner) where Mercury Drug (the one which also sells groceries) is located. From what I heard, it seems like the corporate credo of South Star is something which says "where Mercury is, there we will be".


My apologies for the quality of the pictures, I used my tab to take these.

An unappreciated landmark

Or maybe, a local treasure would be a more appropriate title to this blog post. These are pictures which I took last November 1, 2011. It's the arch at the entrance of the Calbayog Catholic Cemetery. I have featured this in my previous blog posts and I am doing it again. After all, not all cities in Samar have a landmark which dates back to 1885.