Commemoration of “Undas” in Camarines Sur: generally peaceful

by Lizel S. Macatangay

NAGA City, November 2 (PIA) -- The police blotter in the PNP Desk in Camarines Sur showed no record of major crimes that marred the commemoration of the annual All Saints and All Soul’s Day here, compared to the reports from past years. This was confirmed by Philippine National Police (PNP) Camarines Sur OIC provincial director senior supt. Procopio Lipana.

The police force attributed the orderly outcome to the round-the-clock police visibility imposed by the authorities two days before the event.

Aside from cases of drunkenness who were taken to police custody, there were no serious crimes cited in the province.

In Naga City, PNP OIC City director sr. supt. Antonio Gardiola Jr. also confirmed that almost all of the precinct commanders stationed at various barangays in the city reported no significant crimes except a case of robbery where a laptop was stolen in one of the boarding houses in Barangay Tinago, here.

The collaborative efforts of various public and private entities also led to the peaceful commemoration of “Undas.” The Command Center operated by the Public Safety Office (PSO) thru its Director, Lito Del Rosario proved to be helpful in deterring the occurrence of petty crimes.

The PSO-Disaster Risk Reduction Management through the Central Communications Center was set to respond to all kinds of emergencies 24/7 . A stand by risk reduction team and emergency medical team were also deployed, particularly in big cemeteries in the city to immediately respond to any untoward incident.

The traffic re-routing that the Naga City PNP and PSO have imposed also avoided traffic jam in the cemeteries and other major thoroughfares in the city. The scheme and the cooperation of the public paved the way for the safe and systematic conduct of Undas. (PIA Camarines Sur)

Kasanggayahan Festival 2011 ends with Pantomina sa Tinampo, Mardi Grass

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, November 2 (PIA) -- The month long celebration of the Kasanggayahan Festival (KF) 2011 ended last Sunday, October 30 with hundreds of people lining the main thoroughfares of Magsaysay and Rizal Sts. here to witness the well-awaited Pantomina sa Tinampo, with contingents coming from different local government units, schools and other organizations as competing entities.

Pantomina sa Tinampo, as chronicled by Reynaldo T. Jamoralin in his book “Tracing: from Solsogon to Sorsogon”, speaks of this ritual as a courtship dance, reflective of Bikol's culture and usually danced in fiestas, weddings and eventually performed in the streets when the first Kasanggayahan Festival was celebrated in the province in1974.

Donning multi- colored festival costumes, highlighting a newly married couple as main feature and lead dancers, complete with lechon (crackling pig) as add on props , participating teams danced their hearts out not worried of the hot weather, sashaying gracefully and swaying to the usual rhythm of the Pantomina de Mayor music, while people watching getting photos of performers from either their mobile phones or cameras.

This festival dance, as the expressed by the merriment of Pantomina dancer, usually closes the event and highlight the celebration of the KF.

Councilor Jun Daraman, event organizer said that there were 11 participating contenders in the competition. All were really well prepared, have shown grace and mastery of steps, synchronized movements and were still all smiles even when some were already dancing in the dark because of the time it ended.

The competition started at 3:00 in the afternoon and lasted almost at 7:00 in the evening.

Manuel Babasa one of the judges said that 80% of the judging was based on the final choreographed presentation of the participants which was held at the Balogo Sports Complex.

Meanwhile, an all Gay Mardi Grass preceded the Pantomina sa Tinampo with all the drums loudly beating, and the dancers some were scantily clad wearing more skimpy creative attires, some with just the out of this world fashion came gyrating in the streets, doing a truly fast- rhythmic dance.

Parade watchers showed different mixed reactions and according to one of the dancers, perhaps because it was the first time that this was held, and the sense of appreciation is something to be worked on as Sorsogon still is not so much exposed to this kind of show different from other provinces who are accustomed to gay participation when it comes to festivals.

Competing participants in the pantomina, according to Sorsoganon Kami Inc. president Michael Sulit, the first prize went to Barangay Macalaya,Castilla with P100,000 cash prize and, the second place was bagged by the local government of Pilar with P75,000 while the third place was won by the Sorsogon State College received P50,000.

Meanwhile , Kasanggayahn Foundation Inc., chairman, Msgr. Francisco Monje expressed his appreciation for the support provided by the local and national officials, all sectors of the society and all the people in the province of Sorsogon who made the event a success. (PIA Sorsogon)

Albay girl scouts undertake no smoking promotion

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

Legazpi City, November 2 (PIA) -- Ligao City Vice Mayor Patricia G. Alsua said when girl scouts throng in government buildings and public places in the city to promote no smoking, she found the activity very effective.

Ligao, a no smoking city based on an ordinance passed by the Sangguniang Panglungsod this year, was the exemplar for no smoking campaign by the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) Albay Council and the Smoke-Free Albay Network (SFAN) of the Provincial Government of Albay.

Some 1,200 girl scouts who participated in the Albay encampment on the theme Girl Scouts Save the Planet willingly participated in the SFAN challenge in the afternoon of October 27.

The girls whose ages range from 10 to 16 were divided into four groups and enthusiastically did their tasks.

The S group posted stickers in public utility vehicles particularly, jeepneys and tricycles, while the F cluster visited the city hall and nearby public buildings looking for ashtrays and encouraged the owners to keep them if not throw them away. Ashtrays are prohibited in government offices based on Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 17 series of 2009 and DILG Circular no. 2011-15.

Meantime, the A group appealed to smokers to stop smoking and if needing help to inform SFAN so that they can be enrolled in a cessation program. The N group posted no smoking sign in public offices.

According to Haidie Rivera of a non-government organization Advantage, who accompanied the A group young, girls are effective promoters of no smoking as they were able to convince smokers to kick the habit.

Herbert Mayores, director of AMA College Legazpi, described the positive reaction of people when the group he accompanied started posting signages in public buildings.

Each group was accompanied by adult scout leaders, SFAN members, and elements of the Philippine National Police during the SFAN challenge held at the poblacion of Ligao City.

Alma Lozada former GSP Albay executive director now SFAN member representing Bicol University Extension Service Center said the SFAN challenge was the first ever in any GSP encampment.

The purpose of the activity did not only made the scouters promoters of no smoking but as an approach of educating girls that smoking is not good for the health whether one is a smoker or passive smoker.

The Albay Girl Scouts Encampment was held October 24-29 at Kawakawa Ligao City, Albay. (MAL/AAN, PIA V)

DOLE, Congressional Office hold jobs fair
by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, November 2 (PIA)-- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provincial field office, in collaboration with the Congressional District Office, sponsored a two-day jobs fair last October 25 and 26 at the Virac Sports Center.

The activity was part of the 66th Catanduanes foundation anniversary and drew residents from different parts of the province, who wanted to grab offers from local and overseas companies.

Around 262 job seekers joined the jobs fair with nine hired on the spot and 30 qualified for an interview under local employment.

According to DOLE Provincial Field Officer Emma Acuna, the said program will lessen the numbers of Filipinos victimized by illegal recruitment.

Congressman Cesar V. Sarmiento said that as long as they could provide comprehensive alternative programs for livelihood, education and health, a difference could be made in the lives of many poor people.

Based on the 2011 Labor Force Survey conducted by the National Statistics Office, unemployment on July was estimated at 2.8 million or 7.1 percent. (PIA Catanduanes)


Catanduanes Colleges bags 2nd championship crown in CVS basketball tournament

by EdnA A Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, November 2 (PIA) -- Catanduanes Colleges (CC) high school basketball team won its second straight championship in the Cesar V. Sarmiento (CVS) Inter-High School Tournament's championship bout against Catanduanes National High School last October 17, 2011.

CC's coach Rey Abejo made some offensive adjustments for the finals match against CNHS-A team. In the early minutes of the match, CNHS is in a two point advantage during the first quarter after CC went into foul trouble.

However, at the early minutes of the second quarter, CC made an early six point run and maintaining the offensive rebounds throughout the quarter ending the first half with a 36-28 advantage which continued until the end of the game with a 67-59 final score.

CC received P15,000 and a trophy while CNHS had P10,000 for landing in second place. Bato Rural Development High School was in third place receiving P8,000 while Immaculate Conception Seminary Academy bagged the 4th place with P6,000 cash prize.

According to Congressman Cesar V. Sarmiento, it is his commitment to sponsor and support sport programs that foster values formation and personality development of the youth.

On 2013, CVS Inter-High School Tournament will feature the first-ever Inter-High School Cheer leading Competition in the province. (EAB, PIA Catanduanes)