Sitti in Calbayog

Adlaw san Calbayog 2012

Mayor Ronaldo Aquino as he delivered his message during this morning's Adlaw san Calbayog celebration.

from the LSDE: Calbayog marks 64th Charter Day today

Tacloban City - Mayor Ronaldo Aquino of Calbayog City will lead in today's celebration of the city's 64th Charter Day. (read more ...)

Tinapa 101 Cookfest

Tourism Quiz Bee for High School studes

Jamie Rivera and Blakdyak onstage tonight at Ciriaco Hotel

Calbayog Water District is 25 years old today

The Calbayog City Water District will mark its 25th year anniversary today. A simple program will be held at the CCWD Office.

Calbayog City hosts the 1st Philippine Councilors' League Provincial Convention

Yellow Ladies to meet in Calbayog today

The members of the Yellow Ladies Movement led by Aika Uy - Delgado and Eunice Babalcon will meet in Calbayog City today. Events are set the the NwSSU Socio-Cultural Center.

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.

Serapio: The Musicale

Onstage at the Nijaga Park tonight is "Serapio: The Musicale". This presentation is being made by the City Government of Calbayog through the City Arts and Culture Office. This is in celebration of the 112th Philippine Independence Day. The same musical will be presented in Tacloban City on June 28 upon the invitation of the Pintados-Kasadyaan Organizers.

Riot sa Calbayog

Riot sa Calbayog

Riot sa Calbayog

with Pooh and K Brosas

Princess Ryan and Joseph Bitangcol

December 18, 2009

Calbayog City Sports Center

For tickets call 209-1646/ 0906-520-8161/ 0939-437-4384

Images from the 61st Charter Day Celebration

Let me give you some pictures from this morning's activities in line with the 61st Charter Day Celebration. I got these photos courtesy of Joel Lagang of the CTIO

The PNP officers and other participants as they stood at attention during the flag-raising ceremony.

The ISKOLARs as they led the singing of "Lupang Hinirang" and "Calbayog".

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento and URGE-Calbayog President Augusto Magdaraog as they signed the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA). Witnessing the signing are Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino, City Administrator Arnol Trani and City Legal Officer Juan Daguman, Jr.

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento and Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino (aprtly hidden) as they gave the plaque of commendation and a 25-thousand peso check to Mrs. Lourdes Matan who was on of the national winners of the 2009 Metrobank Search for Outstanding Teachers.

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento assisted by Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino during the pinning of Calbayog's Proficiency Medallion from the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA).

Mayor Mel Sarmiento as he delivered his Charter Day message.

Officers from the TTMIST ROTC Unit

Boy Scouts of the Philippines Calbayog Chapter

... and that's me co-hosting the program

Images from the 2009 Fiesta Parade

Better late than never. Let me give you my first set of pictures taken during the 2009 Fiesta parade.

Ms. Anyag 2009

I hosted the Search for Ms. Anyag 2009. That annual beauty-pageant-for-a-purpose was spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Calbayog. This year I had Ms. Imabelle Sidic as my co-host. The pageant was held at the Calbayog City Sports Center. I'll be featuring more photos of the said event. In the meantime let share that one with me, my co-host and the winners.

That's me with Imabelle Sidic (exteme left) and Ms. Anyag 2009 Nicola "Kulas" Galang and her court. (Photo courtesy of Silver Image)

Hermana Night

This year's hermanas mayores Emma Yangzon - Fortuna, Ediltrudes Romano - Alegria and Venancia Yangzon will host the traditional Hermana Night. It will be held tonight at the La Milagrosa Academy Auditorium.

MYMP Live in Concert

MYMP Live in Calbayog!

September 6, 2009, 7:00 pm

Calbayog City Sports Center

Ms. Anyag 2009

The Search for Miss Anyag 2009 will be held tomorrow night at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

This annual beauty pageant for a purpose is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Calbayog in cooperation with the City Government of Cabayog.

Noel Cabangon Live in Calbayog

Himig Nating Pag-Ibig, a concert featuring Noel Cabangon goes onstage tomorrow at the Calbayog City Sports Center at 7:00 pm.