an Niño sa palacio

The Cathedral with the lights still on after the Christmas Vigil Mass.

After the mass, the Bishop invited us to have Noche Buena at the Bishop's House (which many old folks fondly refer to as "palasyo"). What caught everyone's attention was the statuette of the Baby Jesus which was the centerpiece at the dining table.

The Bishop's Homily during the Midnight Mass

Here's my unedited video of Bishop Isabelo Abarquez as he delivered his homily during the Christmas Vigil Mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral on December 24, 2011.

Arman and Jannel

Armand Alviola and Jannel Canaman got married today. Their wedding mass was held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Reception was held at the NwSSU Socio-Cultural Center.

Lito and Badit

Lito and Bernadette Yangzon celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary today. The mass and renewal of vows was presided over by Monsignor Leonardo Guadalquiver at the Poor Clare Monastery Chapel. Reception was held at the Calbayog City Convention Center.

Lito and Badit with their kids (l-r)  Arra Clare, Ariane Therese, Arjay Joseph, Ardith Mary & Arby Nino

Mayor Aquino's Welcome Speech during the Education Summit

My raw, unedited video of Mayor Ronaldo Aquino as he delivered his Welcome Message during the 2nd Education Summit which had DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro as guest of honor.

Pasko: an belen sa katedral

Bag-o yana an "Belen" sa Katedral. Ini donasyon ni Mrs. Tess Agoncillo ug iya familia.

Happy Birthday Fr. Cesar and Aika

Fr. Cesar Aculan and Ms. Rosa Jessica "Aika" Uy - Delgado will both turn a year older today. Happy Birthday!

The celebrity hound struck again

DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro was in Calbayog today. He was in town as the guest of honor during the 2nd (Calbayog) Education Summit for 2011. I'll be giving you more details about the visit in my forthcoming blog posts. In the meantime, let me give you something which I do on the sidelines when some celebrity or newsmaker is in town: "pa-picture".


ps. In case you're wondering about the background, it's one of the "SAKAY-NA" buses, which is part of the Education Enhancement Program that LGU-Calbayog and DepEd Calbayog is now known for. The same program has been replicated in a good number of LGUs and DepEd Divisions in Region 8 and in some parts of the country.

Pasko: An Belen sa DepEd (Division Office)

The celebrity hound struck again

I was in Las Navas earlier today.  I was there to represent the City Mayor during the launching of a joint program of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Don't ask me what happened during the program, I have nothing good to say about the organizers. Anyway, on our way out I (or the celebrity hound) simply had to have picture taken with DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman.

Foreign nationals flock to Calbayog City for classical-music concert

By: Pablo A. Tariman
Philippine Daily Inquirer
10:59 pm | Sunday, December 11th, 2011

The second concert of the Samar International Music Festival lived up to its name, with some foreign nationals attending the concert of baritone Andrew Fernando, flutist Christopher Oracion and pianist Mary Anne Espina at Ciriaco Hotel in Calbayog City, Western Samar.


After a long drought of live opera music, Calbayog got to hear arias from Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro,” Verdi’s “La Traviata” and Bellini’s “Il Puritani” sung with fervor by Fernando. (read more. . .)

Lawmakers: Stop saving drug mules

Philippine Daily Inquirer
4:08 am | Monday, December 12th, 2011

Two lawmakers have urged the government to stop frantically trying to save convicted drug mules from execution abroad but rather to spend taxpayer money on more worthy causes.


Western Samar Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento said that while it was reasonable to expect the government to help a Filipino suspected of crimes abroad during the trial stage, it should stop interceding once he or she was convicted.


“Once they are found guilty beyond reasonable doubt, the government should stop interceding in their behalf at the expense of law-abiding Filipino taxpayers,” said Sarmiento. (Read more . . .)

it's Gaudette Sunday

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.

Introducing: 8 Magazine

There is a new glossy travel magazine that is proudly "Waray" (read: conceptualized and made into a reality by a bunch of young and driven folks from region 8) It's 8 (ocho) Magazine.


Check on the link on the side bar for the official website of the said magazine. For subscriptions, you may get in touch with Hazel at +63 917-636-6078