Daragang Magayon 2013 festivities on

By Sally Atento

 LEGAZPI CITY, April 5 (PIA) -- Albay’s Daragang Magayon Festival started on April 1 with a grand parade of street dancers and over 10 feet tall effigies of uniquely Filipino mythological characters towering over guests and spectators lined up along the eight kilometer route.

Albay art curator Apo Gonzales who was also the organizer of the event said the giants called “Higantes de Albay” (Giants of Albay) will serve as a reminder to old and young Albayanos of the province’s mythological tales and mystical belief of its ancient people as they pursue their goals for the future.

Albay is the first province to parade around 50 giant effigies based on mythological characters documented as early as mid-18th century by Fray Jose Castanos, Juan Alvarez Guerra and Fedor Jagore.

Wide arrays of special and spectacular events are lined up for the month-long festivity to promote the province as a cultural, adventure, natural and tourist destination.

Among the events featured to spice up the stay and visit of both Albayanos and local and foreign tourists are the "5 Peaks, One Summer" climb open to mountain-climbing enthusiasts to the summit of five famous peaks in the province, the Mayon 360º Marathon or the 50-mile run around the circumference of Mt. Mayon, and the Green Zone Amazing Race which will serve as an itinerary tour for the Catanduanes-Albay-Masbate-Sorsogon Tourism alliance (CALMASORTA).

Albay governor Joey Salceda said starting this year the festival will no longer be limited to the promotion of Albay’s products and tourism destinations but also to help boost the tourism industry of Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon.

The CALMASORTA was initiated by Salceda as chair of the Bicol Regional Development Council to cluster the world-class tourism potentials of the four southeastern-most provinces of the region dubbed “Soul of the South.”

Also featured said Salceda is the "Sayaw kan Tolong Bolod" on April 17 which will stage the legend of the three majestic mountains dominating Albay's skyline - Mayon, Malinao and Masaraga.

Other events lined up for this year’s festival are sports tournament, celebrity appearances, entertainment events, talent competitions, and agro-tourism and trade fairs. (MAL/SAA/PIA5)



DSWD to launch anti-epal campaign in Bicol

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, April 5 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here will have the provincial launching of the Bawal ang Epal Dito Campaign on April 19.

Bawal Ang Epal Dito campaign deals with the issues of external pressures and misconception of the beneficiaries about the involvement of politicians in the implementation of Pantawid Pamilya. More importantly, it seeks to empower the beneficiaries to know their rights and to be vigilant of individuals and/or groups who plan to use the program to push their political agenda, the DSWD said.

Emily Mendoza, DSWD 4Ps provincial coordinator said the drive also aims to isolate the CCT program known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), from politics this campaign period.

Only the DSWD Regional and National office are authorized and have the right to delist a beneficiary if s/he will not comply with the conditionalities of the program.

A press conference and a covenant signing with the media, parent leaders and partner agencies will form part of the activity. (MAL/EAB/PIA5)

36 homeless families to benefit in the GK Bayani Challenge 2013 in Camarines Norte

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, April 4 (PIA) -- Some 36 homeless families will benefit from the houses built last March 23-27 through the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Bayani Challenge 2013 at the GK Friendship Village, Brgy. Laniton, San Lorenzo Ruiz this province.

With the theme “Isang Bayan, Isang Bayanihan”, GK Provincial Coordinator Honorio Estravez said during the project's closing that of the 36 houses, 30 were almost finished while the other six has been started to built.

He said that the volunteers from the 13 GK sites in the province will support to finish the remaining works so that it will be awarded soon to the 36 qualified family beneficiaries.

He lauded the support of the local government units of Daet and San Lorenzo Ruiz as well as the provincial government of Camarines Norte.

He also extend his grateful thanks to more or less 2,000 volunteers from the Team Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Laguna, Metro Manila, from the different GK sites of Camarines Norte and the national government agencies who supported the said big endeavor.

Mayor Tito Sarion on the other hand said that he was glad because of the volunteers who have shared their time and resources in order to show one big concrete project.

He said that as years will pass by it will be remembered that there were homeless families who were given house and lot through the GK bayanihan.

Arnold Montero, 37 years old, a volunteer from Manila said that this was his first time to join the GK because he wanted to use his time and savings to help those less fortunate through a bayanihan.

He said that this was his second time to be here wherein his first time when he was involved in Bagasbas Beach event and this time for the GK.

The 27-year old Jhoannie Saturno from Manila said that as volunteer she was able to fulfill her social responsibility and was satisfied in what she did through the bayanihan.

Meanwhile the beneficiaries were also given shovels during the event's closing. (MAL/RBM/PIA5).