Magayon Festival salutes and honors our dearest teachers of Albay!
Titser's Nyt tonight 6pm at Astrodome.
by Jose Salceda on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 12:49pm

Magayon Festival celebrates this day in honor of our teachers to whom we are most indebted.

Who I am, what I know and have are totally and inevitably due to my teachers- first to my father (Jesus Saquido Salceda was a high school teacher at Albay High School then, now PGCHS) and mother (Cielo Adelina Florin Sarte retired as district schools supervisors of Polangui North District), to the Dominican nuns of St. Peter's Academy, the diocesan priests of St. Gregory the Great Seminary, the Jesuits of Ateneo de Manila University and the business professors of Asian Institute of Management.

And my greatest inspiration was my aunt, Sr. Mercedes, OSB of St. Agnes Academy and St. Scholastica's College, whom I consider my personal saint. She instilled in me the virtues of total and constant kindness and deep respect for the dignit and diversity, the feelings and opinions of others and all people as the foundation of personal happiness and contentment.

Most of all, she taught me that all things are gifts and everything in life is grace; thus, openness to reality in all its mysteries as it unfolds and humility to the truth of others. To this day, I remain guided by the thought that when I knock on that door, He would only ask me two things- how many people have you helped and did you do your best. So, every night before I sleep, I thank God for giving me the will and the purpose to do good. And when I wake, I beg for guidance and show me the way for the day.

Right now, the people of Albay are my teacher. So, thank you alll Albayanos. And this is also your day as we celebrate the fourth Titser's Nyt of Magayon Festival. (JSS)


LGUs' 5 -year solid waste management plan assessed
by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY , April 13 (PIA)-- In a meeting the other day of the Provincial Solid Waste Management Board Technical Working Group (PSWMB-TWG) held at the Sorsogon Provincial Ecology Center (SPEC) here, the submitted 5-yer Solid Waste Management (SWM) plans of the five local governments units-- Bulan, Juban, Casiguran, Magallanes and Gubat, were assessed and deliberated on by the PSWMB- TWG based on the required annotated outline issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Department Administrative Order (DAO) 9003.

Several municipalities are yet on the process of finalizing their plans while the city of Sorsogon is on its printing stage already.

The basis for the submission of their plans is the Annotated Outline issued by the National Solid Waste Management Commission Secretariat Office (NSWMCSO) according to Engr. Maribeth L. Fruto , provincial head of the Environment and Natural Resources Office ((ENRO) .

Engr. Fruto also explained that the 5 municipalities who submitted earlier was before the issuance of the current annotated guidelines of the DENR and were returned by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) with recommendation for revision.

The NSWMCSO has directed that all local governments should follow the format they have issued since this will be the basis for the 5-year implementation of all LGUs and will show the comparative situation of the current implementation of the SWM vis-a vis the end goal of the plan in five years time.

The TWG has also provided several recommendations to all LGUs in the drafting and crafting of the SWM plan so that all will be in synch and that all can really be aware on the content, strategy and process delineation of functions and process of implementation are well articulated to all key workers. (PIA Sorsogon)


Forum on pili development held
by Edna A Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes Apr. 14 (PIA) - A one-day forum on Pili Development was held yesterday, April 13, 2011 at Rakdell Inn, San Pedro, Virac, Catanduanes.

The said forum was sponsored by the Provincial Agricultural and Services Office (PASO), Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PARC) in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Catanduanes Provincial Office.

The said activity was attended by the members of the Catanduanes Pili Growers and Processors Association, Municipal Agriculturist of the 11 municipalities of the province, Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council (MAFC) chairman and representatives of other agencies of the governmet.

Topics discussed during the forum were the following: Biology and General Uses of Pili; Chosen Pili; Assessment of the Pili Industry Bicol Region/Roadmap; Latest Technologies/Research for Pili Development; DENR's Program for Pili; Bicol PILI BOARD's Programs and DBP's Financing Program.

The said forum aims to enhance and develop the knowledge and capabilities of Pili growers and processors in the province. (PIA Catanduanes)


Bagasbas Boulevard re-named Pres. Corazon C. Aquino Boulevard
by Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Apr. 14 (PIA) - The Sangguniang Panlalawigan here unanimously approved Tuesday (April 12) provincial ordinance No. 013-2011 naming the stretch of Bagasbas bloulevard as the President Corazon C. Aquino Boulevard.

It was immediately approved in preparation for the invited visit of President Noynoy Aquino slated on April 29, the scheduled date of the culminating activities for the 91st Foundation Anniversary of this province and 7th Bantayog Festival here.

Vice Governor/Presiding Officer Jonah Pimentel said that the ordinance was approved for the purpose of clarity, identification, historical and cultural values, emergency responses, developmental concerns and the like.

The naming of the stretch of Bagasbas Boulevard is in honor to ex- President Corazon Aquino who has a great significance in the history of our country.

Earlier, Governor Edgardo Tallado bared that the funds for the development of the said boulevard was pledged by President Noynoy Aquino III during his previous meeting with the President.

He said that PNoy is invited and expected to lead the groundbreaking ceremony of the President Corazon C. Aquino boulevard scheduled on April 29, 2011.

The Bagasbas Beach is known as the surfing area in the province where tourists visits here always for their surfing activities. (PIA CamNorte)