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Vigan City launches tourist passport as it celebrates its arts festival
[caption id="attachment_129307" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROEL HOANG MANIPON FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE | Vigan City mayor Jose ‘Bonito’ Singson Jr., city and province officials and special guest, former senator Nikki Coseteng, led the launch of the Vigan City Tourist Passporton Calle Crisologo.[/caption] Vigan City is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Ilocos Region, and its main draw is the handsome heritage houses, the Filipino bahay na bato, that date back to the Spanish colonial era. These old houses cluster around Calle Crisologo, the heritage center of the capital of the province of Ilocos Sur in northwestern Luzon Island, and the area, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, has highest concentration of heritage structures in the Philippines. The city also has several museums, extraordinary for regions outside of Metro Manila, and traditional crafts such as pottery and textile weaving still survive and had become tourist attractions. It also affords visitors a taste of the food of the Ilocano people, the dominant ethnic group in the region, such as pinakbet, poque-poque, tinubong, their version of the empanada and bagnet. [caption id="attachment_129306" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Iconic bagnet was one of the Ilocano dishes served during the passport launch.[/caption] The local government has been concocting touristic events and products to entice more visitors, especially now that tourism in the area is recovering from the lockdowns because of the coronavirus pandemic and the July 2022 northern Luzon earthquake, which damaged several old structures in the area including the 19th-century Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle and the Saint Augustine of Hippo Church of neighboring town of Bantay, which remain closed until today. One of the city’s touristic efforts is its own tourist passport. Using a tourist passport has recently become a fun activity for tourists in several areas around the world. In Taiwan, for example, tourists earn cute stamps on their passports on every destination and landmark they visit. In the Philippines, the Department of Tourism issued Jose Rizal passports in 2011 in celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of the Filipino writer and hero. Tourists earned stamps in sites associated with Rizal all over the Philippines such as his birthplace in Calamba, Laguna, and his place of exile in Dapitan, Zamboange del Norte. Tourists who completed their stamps earned prizes. [caption id="attachment_129308" align="aligncenter" width="525"] The tourist passport is said to have a rewards system, aimed at boosting local businesses, and holders earn stamps by patronizing stores, restaurants and other establishments.[/caption] In Vigan City, the passport is a way to boost local businesses, according to its mayor, Jose “Bonito” Singson, Jr., who is from the province’s most dominant political clan and who spearheaded the venture. The Ciudad de Vigan Pasaporte de Turista is said to have a rewards system, and holders earn stamps by patronizing stores, restaurants and other establishments in the city. The launch of the tourist passport on 28 April served as the opening event of the Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts, which ran until 5 May. The Binatbatan is one of three main festivals of the city, strategically scheduled throughout the year. The Longganisa Festival in the early part of the year is inspired by the city’s popular version of the Filipino pork sausage, while the Raniag: The Vigan Twilight Festival in October features the celebration of Halloween and the traditional local undas, which honors the departed. Binatbatan is in the middle of the hot, dry season, and highlights heritage, creativity and culture. The launch was held on charming Calle Crisologo led by Singson, a whole day affair starting with a motorcade in the morning and an al-fresco program with dinner in the evening. The event was attended by provincial and city government officials and employees, visitors and special guests such as former senator Anna Dominique “Nikki” Marquez-Lim Coseteng. [caption id="attachment_129303" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A beautiful setup for the launch of the Vigan City Tourist Passport on Calle Crisologo, famous for its heritage houses.[/caption] The tourist passports were readily made available to purchase through booths placed on the main street, at the city hall and online at www.vigancity.gov.ph. Singson hinted at more tourism projects to come. The Binatbatan Festival started rolling. A mural, a collaboration among local artists, has just been unveiled at the Plaza Burgos, where Art in the Park was held on 29 April, including an art exhibit and a painting contest. At night, several groups performed at the Vigan Dance Festival 7. The Food and Trade Fair, at the Boardwalk on Govantes Dike, by the banks of Mestizo River, and the Abel Product Expo were opened on that day. [caption id="attachment_129305" align="aligncenter" width="525"] An on-the-spot art contest at Plaza Burgos.[/caption] On 30 April, the Capture the Vigan Experience: On the Spot Photography Competition was held with the theme “Time Travel” for the Professional Category and “Ilocano Heritage Hospitality” for the Amateur Category, as well as the Television and Music Video Competition. While the Black and White Photography Exhibit was mounted on Calle Crisologo, the Abel and Recycled Costume Ramparade featured designs using recycled materials and the local hand-woven textile at the Vigan City Hall. Other festival events and activities included the Abel Iloco Fashion Show and Competition, the Damili Jar Painting Competition, Reynas ti Mayo, Kalesa Parade and Competition, Carabao Painting and Pasagad Dressing, Ramada Traditional Games, a skateboarding competition, and the Binatbatan Tattto and Band Festival. The festival concluded with the street-dancing and showdown competition, a regular fixture in recently created Philippines festivals. Contingents of young performers danced on the streets in colorful costumes carrying batbats or bamboo sticks, and mimicking the movements of the batbatin, the traditional process of taking the seeds out of the dried fiber of the kapok, or kapas in Ilokano, by beating the cotton-like material with sticks, which the festival memorializes and from which it derived its name. The post Vigan City launches tourist passport as it celebrates its arts festival appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Seal of Good Housekeeping, nasungkit ng PLGU Catanduanes at 10 bayan
Napasakamay ng local Government Unit ng Catanduanes at ng sampung mga bayan sa lalawigan ang Seal of Good Housekeeping award 2023. Sa report ng Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), maliban sa lalawigan ng Catanduanes, pasok sa awarda ang mga bayan ng Bagamanoc, Baras, Bato, Caramoran, Gigmoto, Panganiban, San Andres, San Miguel, Viga, and […] The post Seal of Good Housekeeping, nasungkit ng PLGU Catanduanes at 10 bayan appeared first on Bicol Peryodiko......»»
A model urban community
As a young boy, I loved drawing a “roadmap” of livable communities where family and industry were central to this unadulterated fun design. I would put skyscrapers and blend these with old trees, brilliant lights, and flowers along walkways and entertainment centers. The distance between neighborhoods was enough to give space and privacy. In this universe, people of different economic classes are resilient to the challenges and complexities of modern living. I grew up in a small town with inadequate potable water and transportation. There was a thin line between regression and progression where one cannot differentiate silt from clay particles when wading through the flooded, muddy streets of Barangay Busugon in San Remigio municipality. Life then was simple but joyous because of my family and the neighborhood. This was my unsophisticated urban planning, where things that matter most to me can be found in one place. Although I did not become a city or urban planner, my interest in “designing” communities is as strong as my entrepreneurial consciousness. It has become an advocacy. Be that as it may, urban planning, a form of spatial planning, requires strategic innovations and thorough study to develop equitable habitats and sustainable human settlements and development. A strategic plan, or a development plan, considers population growth, zoning, geographic mapping, structural and people’s safety analysis, water supply, and essential social services. Urban planning, says the United Nations Human Settlements Programme or UN-HABITAT, should “improve policies, plans, and designs for more compact, socially inclusive, better integrated, and connected cities that foster sustainable urban development and are resilient to climate change at the city, regional, and national levels.” The world’s best-planned urban cities include Singapore City in Singapore, Brazilia in Brazil, Chandigarh in India, Seoul in South Korea, and Copenhagen in Denmark. In the Philippines, five regions that surpassed the national level of urbanization in 2020 are Calabarzon (70.5 percent), Davao (66.8 percent), Central Luzon (66.3 percent), and Soccsksargen (55.5 percent), according to the 2022 report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) based on the 2020 population census. The cities of Angeles in Pampanga and Mandaue in Cebu had the highest level of urbanization, with 100 percent each. Of the country’s 81 provinces, 11 provinces registered a level of urbanization higher than the national level in 2020. On a sad note, Eastern Visayas (14.7 percent), Cagayan Valley (19.5 percent), Bicol (23.8 percent), Ilocos (25.5 percent), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (27.6 percent) posted the lowest level of urbanization, the same PSA report showed. Overseas, towns and villages have adapted to technological innovations and big data for urban analytics. Urban planners now consider including countryside localities in developing sustainable and resilient communities despite needing more resources, strategies, and expertise. Many urban planners find harmony in geometry and numbers, taking a leaf from the ancient works of Greek architect and mathematician Hippodamus of Miletus, considered the father of urban planning. Today’s towns and cities incorporate functional innovations where everything gets “smart,” from people to intelligent traffic lighting and drones, better infrastructures, facilities, and communications systems, and a strategic blueprint for mitigating the impact of climate change and other environmental problems. With the booming population nationwide, it would be wise to create more growth areas outside the center of progress to improve service and operational efficiency. Local executives and councils must do much work to empower those who must catch up and provide leadership in a highly competitive environment. After all, greater economic inclusion should benefit people with low or no incomes and vulnerable sectors. The beauty of inclusive urban planning lies in ensuring that all can partake of its benefits. As Greek philosopher Socrates once said: “By far the greatest and most admirable form of wisdom is that needed to plan and beautify cities and human communities.” Ultimately, any strategic urban design should not only be a mixture of arts and humanities, but also a fusion of science and numbers. (You may send comments and reactions to feedback032020@gmail.com or text 0931-1057135.) The post A model urban community appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoT’s Philippine Experience Program to help LGUs develop, enhance tourist spots
Albay — The Department of Tourism on Monday maintained that the Philippine Experience Program, which brings hundreds of delegates to various tourist attractions in the country, is its way to make local government units, especially those with underdeveloped tourist spots, to be at par with other known local destinations. During her speech in Albay for the third leg of the DoT’s Philippine Experience Program on Sunday night, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the program is in line with Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s order to bring countryside development through tourism. “Recognizing how strong as a social economic tool tourism can be given the right tool to succeed in making the countryside grow, PEP gives opportunities to local government units, provinces, cities and municipalities all over the Philippines to be equally developed and promoted,” she said. The program seeks to reintroduce the Philippines to the world, “not only our natural resources, our stunning landscapes, our beautiful coastlines, our majestic mountainscapes, but also, our heart and soul as Filipinos.” Albay Governor Edcel Greco Lagman expressed support for the Philippine Experience Program and its swing through Bicol. “Parading the call to experience Bicol, a tapestry of history, tradition, and arts, this program embodies the essence of what makes a region unique and exceptional. Albay, with its enchanting landscape, rich cultural heritage and untapped potential plays a pivotal role in the national tourism industry,” Lagman said. In a video message, Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman also expressed his confidence that the visit from the DOT chief will “inspire” the tourism industry in Albay. “Thank you for your visit, Secretary Frasco, and we are certain that your visit will be both memorable and productive,” the congressman said. The third leg of the Philippine Experience Program started with the official opening of the Kasanggayahan Festival in the Provincial Capitol of Sorsogon, followed by a visit to the pristine sceneries of Bulusan and Barcelona Ruins in Sorsogon. On Day 2, delegates of the Philippine Experience Program Bicol on Monday revved up for an adrenaline-fueled all-terrain vehicle adventure in Legazpi City, the booming capital of Albay dubbed as the "City of Fun and Adventure," followed by a visit to Daraga Church or the Nuestra Señora dela Porteria, then a visit to the famous Cagsawa Ruins and Sumlang Lake in Camalig. The Philippine Experience Program highlights the Filipino brand and identity in all aspects of the travel and tourism experience, focused on heritage, culture and arts to enhance current tour and domestic circuit offerings with thematic experiences on Food and Gastronomy, Pilgrimage and Wellness, Festivals, Living Cultures and Heritage, and the Arts. It also aims to link key destinations to lesser-known destinations, as well as expand the country’s tourism portfolio, which includes sun and beach offerings, nature-based tourism, diving, food, education, health, MICE and farm tourism. The post DoT’s Philippine Experience Program to help LGUs develop, enhance tourist spots appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NPA rebels better off joining military reserve force—Zubiri
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday raised a suggestion that members of the New People Army’s are better off joining military reserve forces to support their pro-people advocacies. “My appeal to the left, to the opponents of the government from the left. We are all Filipinos here. Isa lang namana ng hanay natin. We all wanted ang mabuhay ng mapayapa at mabigyan ng pagkakatapon ang ating mga kababayan na mabuhay ng disente through education through livelihood we are all in the same end games,” Zubiri said during the deliberation of the Senate Committee on Finance on the 2024 proposed P229.9-billion budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies, . Zubiri lamented that overthrowing the government through political ideologies has been long gone. “Yung mga nagnanais na masira ang ating bansa through political means through ideological means—wala na yan sa ibang parte ng mundo wala na yan (Those who want to destroy our country through political means through ideological means—it does not exist anymore in other parts of the world),” he said. Zubiri said, “These rebellions have already failed and they decided to come together and move forward with the political solution.” “Mas maganda na sumama na lang sila sa atin para mawala yung korapsyon para mawala yung kagutuman at kahirapan (It’s better that they join us to eliminate corruption to get rid of the hunger and poverty) he added. Zubiri urged NPA members to become military reserve forces. “Imbes na mamaril pa ng kapwa Pilipino, mas maganda mag volunteer na lang sila sumama na lang sila sa reserve force, doon sila ideploy sa Pag-asa Island. Samahan nila ang mga mangingisda natin doon. Mas maganda po ‘yun (Instead of shooting your fellow Filipinos, its better that they would volunteer to join us and become part of our reserve force. They can be deployed in Pag-asa Island. They should accompany our fishermen there. It will be better),” he said. Pag-asa Island, also known as Thitu Island, is 37.2 hectares of rock located in the Spratly Islands and is the largest of the Philippine-administered islands. It lies about 500 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Amid the ongoing tensions in the Philippine territorial waters, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said NPA members should instead join the Reserve Officers' Training Corps to help defend the country against external threats. “Sana mag-ROTC na lang sila para makatulong (Hopefully, they will join ROTC so they can help),” said Dela Rosa. On the other hand, Zubiri urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines to take note of the consequences of insurgency-free declaration in various NPA-infiltrated areas. “May mga recidivist pa rin. Yung mga diehard, hindi mawawala iyon. Kaya minsan, hindi maganda na ina-announce niyo na NPA-free yung probinsya kasi pag ina-announce niyo gumagawa sila ng hakbang, maski nagaling sa labas papasok dooon nanggugulo para lang ipakita na mali ang mga annoucements so we have to be careful (There are still recidivists. Those diehards won't go away. So sometimes, it's not good that you announce that the province is NPA-free because when you announce it, they take steps—even though people from the outside come in there causing trouble just to show that you announcements are wrong, so we have to be careful.),” Zubiri said. Brawner explained that the declaration of insurgency-free is intended to help the previously NPA-infiltrated areas to attract investment opportunities “after being deprived for long decades due to the security threats posed by rebels.” “We need to declare first the area insurgency-free so that the investors will also come in. They’ll feel secure coming into that provinces or regions,” he said. Brawner confirmed Zubiri’s remarks that leftists are messing up with the declaration of insurgency-free areas. “Nangyayari po iyon. Totoo po iyon Mr. Senate President na once we declared an area insurgency-free, ang ginagawa ng makakaliwa is that from the outside nag-iinfiltrate sila (That happens. That's true Mr. Senate President that once we declared an area insurgency-free, what the leftists are doing is that from the outside they are infiltrating in that area),” he said, citing one recent incident in Bicol region where a group of NPA rebels attacked a military detachment to sow fear in the communities. The success of the Barangay Development Program within identified conflict-affected areas and geographically- isolated and disadvantaged areas, resulted in the "demolition" of rebels is one of the military's parameters in the declaration of insurgency-free. Brawner noted the huge contributions of the BDP in addressing the root causes of insurgency. He said the government’s BDP allows basic services more accessible to the communities previously infiltrated by the NPA rebels, including farm-to-market roads, and education facilities, among others. The post NPA rebels better off joining military reserve force—Zubiri appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go helps recovering fire victims rebuild in Valenzuela City
The Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go led a relief operation for fire victims in Valenzuela City on Tuesday, September 5, as part of the senator’s efforts to help disaster-affected households rebuild and recover. The distribution was held at Arkong Bato National High School in coordination with Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian. The senator’s team provided grocery packs, masks, shirts, vitamins, snacks, and balls for basketball and volleyball to 225 recovering fire victims. They also gave away shoes and mobile phones to select individuals. Meanwhile, the National Housing Authority (NHA) provided housing assistance to each affected family through the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP). “Isinulong din natin na mabigyan sila ng National Housing Authority ng ayuda pambili ng housing materials tulad ng pako, yero at iba pa upang maisaayos muli ang kanilang mga tirahan,” Go highlighted. “Itong EHAP program, isinulong ko ito noon at patuloy na sinusuportahang mapondohan ang programa ngayon upang mas marami pang mga biktima ng sakuna ang makapagpatayo ng maayos na bahay at makabangon muli mula sa trahedya,” he added. The relief activity was attended by several officials, including NHA Assistant General Manager Alvin Feliciano, who expressed his appreciation for the senator, saying, “Senator Bong Go, ang buong barangay po ng Arkong Bato ay nagpapasalamat sa inyong biyaya. Napakalaking tulong po nito sa amin. Lalo na para makaahon sila sa buhay. Mr. Malasakit, saludo po kami sa inyo.” Meanwhile, Go highlighted Republic Act No. 11589, also known as the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021. The law, which was authored and co-sponsored by Go, aims to enhance the capabilities of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) through a ten-year modernization program, which includes the recruitment of more firefighters, acquisition of new fire equipment, and specialized training. “Alam ko pong mahirap ang masunugan pero magtiwala lang po kayo sa gobyerno at tayo po ay makakaahon muli. Ang importante ay walang nasaktan. Ang pera ay kikitain naman po natin yan pero ang buhay ay hindi nabibili ng pera. A lost life is a lost life forever kaya mag-ingat tayo,” said Go. The lawmaker likewise continues to push for the enactment of Senate Bill No. 192, which seeks to institutionalize the Rental Housing Subsidy Program. Under the proposed measure, a housing and social protection program will be developed to provide disaster victims better and more affordable access to the formal housing market through the provision of rental subsidies provided by the government. Meanwhile, Go filed SBN 193, or the proposed Mandatory Evacuation Center Act, which aims to ensure that disaster victims will have temporary shelters that will guarantee their safety and welfare while they recover and rebuild their lives. The senator also encouraged residents to take advantage of the services offered in Malasakit Centers nationwide, including those established in Valenzuela Medical Center and Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital, which are both located in the city. The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that brings together relevant agencies to provide medical aid to poor and indigent Filipinos. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act, which has successfully assisted over seven million Filipinos through its 158 operational centers nationwide. “Ako po ay nasunugan at tinulangan po ako ng mahal na mayor at mahal na Senator Bong Go sa kahirapan. Ako rin po ay nanganak at tinulungan ng Malasakit Center sa aking bill. Kaya naman nagpapasalamat ako kay Senator Bong Go sa programa niya dahil ako ay natulungan ng Malasakit Center,” Manilyn Sarmiento, one of the beneficiaries, expressed. Go also expressed his support for the construction of 28 Super Health Centers in strategic locations across Metro Manila, in collaboration with the Department of Health. These centers are designed to offer a wide range of basic health services, database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, which makes remote diagnosis and treatment of patients possible. Moreover, echoing President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s priority of bringing specialized medical services closer to other parts of the country, Go has successfully sponsored in the Senate the Regional Specialty Centers Act which he also filed as one of its authors. As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has been a staunch supporter of various initiatives in the city. These include the construction of the Valenzuela Center for Academic Excellence, acquisition of ambulance units for the city government, and the construction of a multipurpose building in Brgy. Canumay West. The post Bong Go helps recovering fire victims rebuild in Valenzuela City appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ode to creativity
Set to be the most monumental iteration yet, the 6th Albay Multimedia Arts Convention this year will be held on 2 and 3 September at Ayala Malls Legazpi, a venue celebrated for its unwavering support of the creative community. What began as a modest gathering with a few dozen attendees in 2016 has seen exponential growth year after year. From hundreds to thousands and now tens of thousands of attendees, the Albay Multimedia Arts Convention has established itself as the largest event celebrating creativity in South Luzon. This year’s theme, “Palette of Inclusion: Celebrating Diversity in the Creative Industry”, not only underscores the rich tapestry of artistic talent within the region but also emphasizes the integral role that diversity plays in the broader creative landscape. As the convention continues to grow, so does its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for all artists and creators. One of the convention’s primary missions is the continuous organization of community events aimed at honing the skills of aspiring artists. These events serve as a foundation, ensuring that emerging talent is well-equipped to be competitive in the ever-evolving creative industry, whether their passion lies in art, design, or any other creative discipline. The significant contributions of the Bicol Region’s creative community, particularly through events like the Albay Multimedia Arts Convention, have been pivotal in the recent adoption of the Philippine Creative Industry Development Act. This newly enacted law recognizes and promotes the immense potential of the creative sector within the Philippines, with the Bicol Region standing as a testament to the nation’s artistic prowess. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of the event’s sponsors and partner communities, all of whom have played an instrumental role in the convention’s growth and success over the years. The post Ode to creativity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
KWF lauds ‘Pinoy-speaking’ agencies
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino on Wednesday honored government agencies and local government units that use Filipino language as medium of communication in delivering public service. At least 24 government agencies and local government units were given recognition by the commission for using the country’s national language in this year’s Seal of Excellence in Public Service. This year’s awardees include Department of Agriculture; Department of Science and Technology-PCIEERD; Department of Education-Bureau of Learning Division; DepEd SDO Ligao; MTRCB; Amang Rodriguez Medical Center; NCDA; Pasig City local government; Bulacan provincial government; Municipality of Pililla, Rizal; Barangay Hagdang Bato, Mandaluyong City; Barangay Lower Bicutan, Taguig City; Department of the Interior and Local Government; Department of Labor and Employment-BWSC; Santa Rosa City Government; Municipality of Marilao, Bulacan; Barangay San Isidro, Iriga City; Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Rizal Medical Center; Pasay City government; DepEd-Region V (Bicol Region); DepEd SDO Iriga; MMDA and Quirino Memorial Medical Center. “The Seal of Excellence is given to government agencies that have trained and reached standard proficiency in the use of the Filipino language in their office in transactions, communications, documents, advertisements, and other activities — either written or orally — in various offices of the government agencies,” KWF president Arthur Casanova said. He added that the event is held annually in response to the Executive Order 335 signed by the late President Corazon Aquino mandating the use of Filipino language in official transactions, communications, and correspondence in every agency of the government. “All government agencies should use the Filipino language so that we can raise the level of our national language,” said Casanova, adding that the national language is the symbol of being Filipinos. The post KWF lauds ‘Pinoy-speaking’ agencies appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dialect vs language explained
Clarifying what most of us have known, an official of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino said what is spoken in the provinces is actually called “wika” or language, and not dialect. In an interview on Daily Tribune’s digital show Straight Talk, Jomar Cañega on Tuesday, head for Information and Publication of the KWF, said dialects are only variations of the 134 languages spoken throughout the Philippines. “We have 134 wika (languages) and we do not call them dialects because (dialect) is only a variation inside a particular language, which is Filipino. So, if we call them dialects, then we are still inside the category of a language. For example, Tagalog has many variations…there’s Tagalog Morong, Quezon, and Batangas. So, it’s inside the Filipino language because of the mutual intelligibility, which means that the people of Rizal, Quezon and Batangas understand each other. Same thing with locals of Bohol, Davao, and Cebu who understand each other when they speak Cebuano,” he said in Filipino. Adding Filipino Sign Language to the long list of languages, Cañega said the latest count of languages in the country is 135, including the sign language. Variance as hindrance Cañega said that even if the Philippines has various languages being spoken by Filipinos, languages in the Philippines belong to the same family tree and are not a hindrance to understanding among the people. “This means that languages in the country are cognate or siblings by blood. There is a high cognancy in the country when it comes to a degree, the very reason why Ilocanos don’t have a hard time understanding Tagalog, the same thing for a Cebuano to speak Tagalog. It was also seen by President Manuel Quezon during his time, although he was fluent in English and Spanish. That is the reason why he chose Tagalog as our official language, coming from the roots of the Malay-Polynesian or Austronesian family,” he said. Based on the study by a Swiss professor and anthropologist, Cañega said the oldest gene of the Austronesian people that lived in the Philippines was found in Abucay, Bataan — in the Agta Magbukon. “That’s why we put the Agta Magbukon in a language program with the aim of preserving their language. We established a Bahay Wika for them in 2017,” he said. According to the Austronesian Formal Linguistics Association at the University of Western Ontario, Austronesian languages form one of the world’s largest language families, considering the number of languages included and the number of geographic locations in which they are spoken. The Austronesian languages are spoken in most of the Indonesian archipelago: the Philippines, Madagascar, the island groups of the Central and South Pacific, Malaysia, and in many parts of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Taiwan. Major Austronesian languages include Cebuano, Tagalog, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Bicol, Waray-Waray, Kapampangan and Pangasinan, which are spoken in the Philippines; Malay, Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, Minangkabau, the Batak languages, Acehnese, Balinese, and Buginese, which are spoken in western Indonesia; and Malagasy, which is spoken in Madagascar. The KWF leads the celebration of Buwan ng Wika 2023 themed “Filipino at mga Katutubong Wika: Wika ng Kapayapaan, Seguridad, at Ingklusibong Pagpapatupad ng Katarungang Panlipunan.” The KWF, through Republic Act 7104, is mandated to “formulate policies, plans, and programs to ensure the further development, enrichment, propagation and preservation of Filipino and other Philippine languages.” The post Dialect vs language explained appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway
When Here Lies Love, the hit musical about former First Lady Imelda Marcos, made history by debuting on Broadway debut with an all-Filipino last July, one of its co-producers, Don Michael H. Mendoza, also reached a career milestone. His goal of putting his name on a Broadway show before turning 40 came true now that he’s 34. [caption id="attachment_172743" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Don Michael Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s (from left) Dinah Ventura, Jojo G. Silvestre, Gigie Arcilla, Vangie Reyes, Marc Reyes, Raffy Ayeng, Gibbs Cadiz and Nick Giongco.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172742" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.’ | Photographs Courtesy of Daily Tribune.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172741" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DON Mike Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s Jojo G. Silvestre and Dinah Ventura.[/caption] It happened, and it’s not just any show. It’s the first Filipino musical on Broadway,” he tells Daily Tribune’s Dinah Ventura and Jojo Silvestre in an interview on their online show Pairfect. “It’s very important to me because a lot of my career is based on the idea of D,E & I — diversity, equity and inclusion — especially in a country like America that’s a melting pot. “It’s very important to make sure that unrepresented voices and communities are brought to the front. To be part of that, for me personally, is an incredible honor because it’s exactly aligned with how I live my professional life every day, every year.” “For the Fil-Am community,” he adds, “I think it’s important for people to see themselves in that arena, whether be as a producer, an actor, or a stagehand, or on the creative team as an assistant director. You know, it says a lot when someone tries to reach that can see themselves in a role that they want to achieve. “Because for a long time, my role models were very few. They’re mostly Americans, they’re white people. And I wanted to be an actor and my only acting influences in the media was Paolo Montalban. He was in Cinderella, American Adobo… He’s now a friend — which is amazing! But I didn’t really have many role models. So, to our community, both Filipino and Fil-Am, they can now look at this production and say, whatever they feel is their career path, ‘I can do it, too.’ So, it’s very powerful.” Beginnings Don Michael Hodreal Mendoza, nicknamed Don Mike, was born in Washington D.C., the capital city of the United States, to immigrant parents. His father Donald Mendoza’s family hails from Cavite and is involved in local politics. His mother Maria Leonila Hodreal has families in Marinduque (maternal side) and Bicol (paternal side). His grandfather Querubin Hodreal created what is now known as the Easy Rock Manila radio station. “My mom, who’s part of that legacy, says even though we’re in the States I somehow ended up doing what our family does, in entertainment and media,” he says, beaming. From Washington D.C., Mendoza’s nuclear family moved to the city of Pittsburgh in the Pennsylvania state, where he grew up. “But I was also raised here in Manila, in Ayala Alabang, for a couple of years,” he points out. He was then between the ages of six and eight, also starting his education at Montessori Manila in BF Homes. “We’re lucky we’re able to come home a lot, so even though I grew up on majority in America, we’d come home every other year.” That explains why he also has exposure and gets inspiration from Filipino movies and entertainment. Mendoza started performing in school plays and high school musicals “for fun.” For college, though, he “needed to study that wasn’t the arts because immigrant families want you to do something that makes money in their eyes.” So he took up broadcast journalism and political science at the American University in D.C. But he didn’t like political science, so he dropped it and added musical theater to his studies without telling his parents until he got into the program. After graduation, he was torn between two goals: becoming a Broadway actor like Jose Llana, who currently plays the late President Ferdinand Marcos in Here Lies Love, and becoming the “Filipino Anderson Cooper.” He ended up staying in D.C with a job in marketing, which eventually became his master’s degree. Mendoza started auditioning and trying to get into shows. “But I wasn’t getting cast the way I wanted to,” he recalls, “because it’s very hard for a Filipino, an Asian male actor to get parts, unless you decided to be in Miss Saigon, which was one of the only very few shows that hire Asian people. So, I kinda fell into producing.” That was when he met a fellow Fil-Am, Regie Cabico, who’s 20 years older than him and became his mentor. He remembers Cabico telling him, “The way to be successful for someone like us in the arts is to start your own opportunities.” Thus, the birth, in 2012, of their company, La Ti Do, which is into production of cabarets and concerts. “I met so many people and worked with so many actors and performers without knowing it’s producing,” he says, smiling at the memory. “I just realized producing means organizing. It means you’re in charge, you’re putting things together and hire people. In those 10 years, I was able to produce small musicals and concerts and special events.” He then put up his own DMH Mendoza Productions, which has La Ti Do as its cabaret-concert arm, to allow him to “produce bigger and more incredible things.” For starters, he produced the off-Broadway play Hazing U that tackles violence in fraternities. Around that time, February 2023, he heard about Here Lies Love being restaged, this time on Broadway. The musical created by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim originally premiered off-Broadway in 2013 at The Public Theater in New York City. A year later, it moved to the Royal National Theater in London, England, and then was restaged at Seattle Repertory Theater in the US in 2017. Mendoza admits with regret that he missed seeing Here Lies Love’s off-Broadway premiere and thought he’d never see it ever again “just because Filipino things don’t usually last very long in America.” So when he heard it was coming to Broadway, he basically called everybody he knew who’s involved in the production to ask how he could help. “I wasn’t really looking for a producer stature,” he says. “I said to many people I’m willing to sell t-shirts in the lobby just to support this show.” It turned out his good friend Lora Nicolas Olaes, who he stayed with in New York, was in the first workshop of the show in 2011, and she personally knows one of the lead producers, Clint Ramos. Olaes then connected Mendoza and Ramos via email, which led to Mendoza joining the Here Lies Love production team. “I’m still having trouble today saying I’m a co-producer. I’m so used to just doing rather than labeling,” he says. “It’s been a wild ride from then till now. I don’t regret any of it. It’s been the best experience so far.” He then shares that having an all-Filipino cast and a predominantly Filipino production team is very important for the lead producers. Two of the five are Filipino: Clint Ramos, a Tony award-winning costume designer, and Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist. This extends to other producers, such as Hal Luftig, Diana DiMenna and Patrick Catullo, as well as to musical writers David Byrne and Fatboy Slim. “They wanted to reach beyond the cast and make sure that the show is escorted into Broadway by Filipinos because it’s a Filipino story,” Mendoza points out. Aside from Llana, the main cast is made up of Arielle Jacobs (as Imelda) and Conrad Ricamora as (Ninoy Aquino), with Lea Salonga (as Ninoy’s mother Aurora) in a limited run until 19 August. “It’s beyond the cast. So our creative team, our production team, our stagehands, everybody. Even our house staff, some of them are Filipinos. We really wanted to make a mark on Broadway. That’s how it came about. So that was an early decision. Because the off-Broadway production was mixed. It was not all-Filipino. It had Ruthie Ann Miles as Imelda. She’s not Filipino. It was hard to move from her and bring in Arielle Jacobs, who is just as amazing, but, you know, it was very important for the team to be culturally accurate. Because it’s our story.” “It’s our show,” he reiterates. “Let’s bring it to the world. Our people are playing themselves. I’ve said this in an interview: The general public is trained to love Filipino as other ethnicities. This is the first time we’re training them to love us, Filipinos, as ourselves.” Musical textbook Mendoza’s fellow co-producers include Salonga and Fil-Am celebrities like comedian Jo Koy, musical artist H.E.R. and rapper Apl.de.ap. “Our show is a musical textbook,” he explains. “It’s a musical built around facts, what happened historically during her lifetime. Our whole goal for the show is to present to you what happened with, of course, entertainment attached to it. There’s a misconception that it’s a documentary. It is not. It’s musical theater. It’s supposed to be fun. You see what happened. “We empower our audience to make their own decision. We don’t tell them, ‘This was a bad person. This was a good person.’ Here’s what this person did in their life and how she was affected by her surroundings, and go home and do the research. You figure it out. We liken it to giving someone a Zip file of Philippine history in the 21th century and you go home and unzip the Zip file to get into the details. “But we give you an overview. It’s really up to the audience when they leave the show. I know it’s the goal of our writers and directors to not impose an opinion. We’re just here to entertain and make you learn. When you leave, it’s up to you.” Mendoza happily reports that Here Lies Love is being received “very well.” He adds, “The critics have come and said really wonderful about the show, especially the ones we’re nervous about, like the New York Times, or The Washington Post, or the Wall Street Journal. It trickles down to everyone who’s seen the show. I think we’re so proud and excited that it’s well-received. Audience members love it, they keep coming back.” He also notes that audiences are “pretty diverse. You see Filipinos, you see Americans, you see visitors. It’s really a big hodge-podge of different people. We’re happy about that, too. It’s not biased to just one community.” Indeed, Mendoza is living his dream and he has this piece of audience for the younger generation who also hopes to break into theater or arts in general: “Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.” He then shares what she’s picked up from Kris Jenner: “If somebody says no to you, you’re asking the wrong person. Keeping asking for what you want. Not just manifesting, but really it’s just speaking up. Nobody can read your mind. Nobody can see what’s happening in your mind and in your heart. So if you express it, you ask and you’ll get there. It may not happen in the timing that you want, but it will happen if you keep pushing.” The post How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Legarda bats geo indications promotion
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda recently expressed her full support to promote geographical indications in the Philippines to safeguard intellectual property mechanisms. This, as the lady senator co-authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill 2387, or the Protected Geographical Indications Act, which aims to give legislative fiat to GIs and promote the recognition and protection of the country’s valuable geographical indications. The measure is also anchored on the rules and regulations operationalized by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. Legarda explained that GIs pertain to any indication that identifies a good as originating in a territory, region, or locality, where a given quality, reputation, or other characteristics of the good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin and/or human factors, as defined by the Intellectual Property Code of 1997. Previously, the lady senator stressed the need to pay attention to developing GIs and underscored the importance of ensuring the integration of efforts of the government and communities that will uphold the nation’s indigenous and traditional products. “Timely as this discussion may seem to be, I must assert that our extensions come a tad late. We have known and loved these products for decades, yet we did too little for too long,” Legarda said. She added that several controversies troubled various indigenous communities, resulting in the term “cultural appropriation” which include the indigenous weaves of the Cordillera people and the traditional tattoo art of the Kalinga. Legarda said that continuously honoring the country’s culture and arts is a moral imperative and should be given legal intellectual protections and remedies. “These new regulations issued by the IPOPHL are, therefore, a welcome development. While it cannot be expected to resolve past controversies or halt attempts at cultural appropriation, it is a very good step toward this end. And giving it further legislative backbone is highly warranted,” Legarda said. To recall, the lady senator reported the recent inclusion of Guimaras mangoes as the first registered GI in the Philippines, where she also stated that more localities are putting their best foot forward, including Lake Sebu T’nalak, Batangas barako, Lake Taal tawilis, Bicol pili and Davao pomelo. The post Legarda bats geo indications promotion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SBF plants pili trees, turns over 16 classrooms in Naga
Security Bank Foundation Inc. celebrated its classroom donation in Naga, Camarines Sur with the planting of pili tree seedlings at the open grounds of Camarines Sur National High School, one of its beneficiary schools. The Bicol region is the largest exporter of delicacies made from pili trees. “The pili tree holds significance for Bicolanos as it represents stability and growth, similar to the benefits that education offers students. It also symbolizes the strong partnership of Security Bank, Ateneo, the Naga City Government and the Department of Education in providing a shelter for learning to students with complementary opportunities for them to grow through the additional training programs offered for teachers and principals,” said Dr. Sulpicio Alferez III, Camarines Sur National High School principal. Naga, Camarines Sur is the second town where SBFI piloted its Build a School, Build a Nation Program. In 2012, one-story prefab classrooms were donated to three public schools in Naga. With the rapid increase in student enrollment, limited buildable space and challenging weather conditions, SBFI shifted to donating concrete two-story school buildings. SBFI went back to Naga to turn over 16 concrete classrooms consisting of a two-story, six-classroom school building in Naga City School of Arts and Trades and a two-story, 10-classroom school building in Camarines Sur National High School. Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion lauded Security Bank Foundation for helping the city minimize its backlog in classrooms. “We have more than 50 banks here in Naga, but it was only Security Bank that donated classrooms even if they only have two branches in the city,” Legacion said. SBFI now has 691 classrooms turned over to 122 schools located in 69 cities and municipalities nationwide. The post SBF plants pili trees, turns over 16 classrooms in Naga appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First lady Liza Araneta Marcos promotes inclusivity in phl arts and crafts
Patronage of the arts and promotion of Philippine culture are two endeavors that have always been the domain of Philippine First Ladies. The approach, of course, varies, whether through the presentation of Filipino folk dances and fashion shows featuring Filipiniana designs during state dinners, showcasing the best of the Philippine arts on the walls of Malacañang Palace or highlighting Philippine crafts in during international expositions. When the presidential couple visits other countries, they bring with them gifts of Philippine crafts for the kingdom’s monarch and their escort or the republic’s president and his first lady. Presidential wives, too, have always been the foremost models of Philippine costume, which they wear during state visits abroad, formal functions at the presidential palace and when attending big events such as raising the Filipino flag in Rizal Park on Philippine Independence Day. Liza Araneta-Marcos, almost in all activities that she graces, whether right in the Palace or outside, wears a knee-length version of the terno, its butterfly sleeves defining its uniqueness and versatility. With her, terno has become an almost everyday get-up, which she accessorizes with heeled shoes, mostly Marikina-made. Cultural mapping The current First Lady’s support for arts and crafts and her involvement in cultural development manifested early on in her public life when her husband was the governor of Ilocos Norte in the early years of the millennium. Right in her husband Bongbong’s home province, she spearheaded efforts in the documentation of Ilocano culture. Under her auspices, a full-scale cultural mapping of Ilocos Norte took place. Then a new thing in the country, its aim was to list and document everything about the inherent culture of each barangay — songs, dances, oral and written literature, zarzuela and other dramatic forms, crafts using indigenous materials, historical sites, architectural marvels including ancestral houses, native delicacies and festive fare, musical instruments, gardens, parks, tourist spots and, of course, the people who make these things happen and exist — the weavers, painters, cooks, writers, local historians, harpists and so on in the vast field of arts, culture and heritage. It was trailblazing in that only years later would local government units be required to identify their cultural assets and provide the data needed for development, especially in education, tourism and creative industries. Eager to know more about her husband’s home province and absorb its culture, she even joined the team in its fieldwork in the seashore towns like the Pagudpud coastline and the highland town of Adams which they reached by riding a dump truck. Among the highlights of her undertakings for heritage tourism was her support for the Museo Ilocos Norte, which housed artifacts and the local textile, inabel. Most significantly was her commitment to the revival of the local weaving industry that produces the exquisite inabel. In an interview, the young and smart wife of the governor said, “I was looking for a viable project that would help boost the livelihood of the Ilocano, one that was low-key, which was not difficult to fund and uniquely Ilocano.” According to Liza, “Ilocano women love multi-tasking.” She explained that in the past, each home would have a loom, “so the mothers could weave while doing their home chores, including taking care of the baby.” Indeed, well spoken by a career woman who, while lawyering, made sure she was at the top of her family home and the care of her children. What she was telling them was it was possible to earn one’s livelihood while fulfilling one’s duties as a homemaker and parent. She thus advocated for the putting up of weaving centers where the young Ilocano may learn the craft. Embroiderers, woodcarvers and basket makers Fast forward to 2016, Liza joined the Board of Trustees of the Asian Cultural Council which fosters cultural exchange and unity by widening the exposure, knowledge and expertise of individual artists, scholars and art professionals. All her years spent on supporting Ilocano crafts had not only been beneficial to the local weavers. It also became a model, a small-scale version of what she would eventually achieve from her day one as First Lady. This time, she would widen the scope of her advocacy by supporting as well the other crafts in the regions. In Feburary 2023, the Office of the First Lady, in cooperation with the Office of the Social Secretary of Malacañang, other government agencies and private creative industry practitioners put together an exhibition that introduced the talented weavers of the country. It was a success as it showcased the best of Philippine weave from the Ilocos region to Laguna, Aklan and Zamboanga. A few months later, she expanded the project to “Likha” to showcase not only talented weavers — but also our skilled embroiderers, basket makers, woodcarvers, pottery makers and shell craftsmen,” among other Filipino artisans in cities, shores and hinterlands of our beautiful country. Community of artisans Hers was a most welcome support to the local artisans and craftsmen, anthropology scholars, tourism workers and educators. Dr. Marygrace Ac-ac, an associate professor of De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, who accompanied her father, Paete master sculptor Luis Ac-Ac, shared her thoughts about the First Lady, who spoke at the opening ceremonies of the three-day exhibit. [caption id="attachment_163255" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos with master sculptor Luis Ac-ac and his daughter Marygrace.[/caption] Marygrace said, “What impacted me the most about the First Lady’s speech is her promise to support talented Filipinos and the traditional crafts, which is in keeping with the words of President Bongbong Marcos in his first State of the Nation address. It was, to me, giving hope to the industry and to Filipino artists and artisans. I am happy that she herself said she is looking forward to “Likha” 3, 4, 5 and so on. “Beyond the First Lady’s support for livelihood among the local communities, just as important is that, through the “Likha” exhibitions, she is fostering a national community of artisans, which cultivates a sense of cultural identity among our people. Moreover, this gives us national pride as through the First Lady’s initiatives we are able to show to the world what we are capable of creating.” Of her father, the master craftsman Luis Ac-ac, she said, “he is grateful to the First Lady for her initiative and for spearheading the advocacy to uplift the traditional crafts of all the artists and artisans.” Goldenberg fashion series On her new home grounds, the Malacañang compound, the First Lady has imprinted her passion for heritage through the renovation of three iconic structures, long out of use and run-down Teus Mansion, which is now the presidential museum containing memorabilia of past presidents; Bahay Ugnayan, which houses memento of President BBM; and the Goldenberg Mansion, which the First Lady has designated as a venue for cultural and artistic events. All three are now open to the public for free. Last May, the Goldenberg Fashion series started with a fashion show featuring the creations of Puey Quiñones, who collaborated with weavers, embroiders and artisans, thus elevating Filipino style as he used them in his interpretation of the modern terno, suits and barong for men. [caption id="attachment_163256" align="aligncenter" width="928"] With designer Puey Quiñones at the Goldenberg Mansion fashion show.[/caption] Next was Avel Bacudio’s “Avel,” which, in turn, was a spectacle in black and white as the designer paid tribute to the handiwork of Filipino artisans all over the country, his creations manifesting virtuosity even as he downplayed extravagance and over-the-top ornamentation by focusing on well-defined structure, casual elegance, comfortability and versatility, the last allowing the wearers to mix and match to suit the occasion. In a way, the whole collection resonates with the overall style of the First Lady who has insisted on simplicity, function and comfort in her wardrobe, while now and then showcasing the innate artistry of the Filipino through indigenous textiles. Finally, when we celebrated the nation's Independence Day, with the President and the First Lady hosting a vin d’honneur in Malacañang Palace, the various lady ambassadors assigned to the Philippines attended in their most beautiful and exquisite Filipiniana, thanks to the First Lady who made the collaboration between top Filipino designers and the ladies possible. It was an evening that did not only enhance the beauty and charm of the lady ambassadors, but also made our designers proud. Indeed, our artisans and fashion designers, as well as performing artists, are fortunate to have a friend, ally and benefactor in a First Lady whose sense of nationalism combined with her heartfelt admiration for Filipino ingenuity has made her the best ambassador for Filipino craftsmanship and artistry. The post First lady Liza Araneta Marcos promotes inclusivity in phl arts and crafts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Video of tourism slogan just a primer — Frasco
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco on Wednesday clarified that the video that was unveiled on Tuesday, coinciding with the launch of its new campaign "Love the Philippines", is just a primer and may be developed in the coming days or weeks. Frasco’s clarification was amid the disappointment of Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Sarte Salceda for not including on the said video the majestic Mayon Volcano, the natural wonder representing his province, Albay. Salceda, in a statement on Wednesday, aired his displeasure to her friend Frasco for seemingly forgetting Mayon Volcano on the video of the tourism campaign. “I remain disappointed in my friend, Secretary Frasco, for the exclusion of Mayon Volcano in the new official tourism video of the Philippines. I am more disappointed in the response that I should not bring this issue up because, anyway, Mayon is included in the 50 major volcanoes and mountains represented (by a pixel!) in the official tourism logo and slogan,” the lawmaker said. Frasco was quick to answer, saying she recognizes their ties as allies and family friends for many years, extolling Salceda being a staunch ally for Philippine Tourism, “especially with his successes as the governor of Albay and we certainly honor and recognize the contributions of the province to the tourism portfolio of the country.” “The tourism video that has just been released by the Department of Tourism is only the beginning; for indeed, there is just so much to love about our country. So, I assure Congressman Joey Salceda that our effort to promote equally our destinations in the country will continue,” Frasco said. “This is just the beginning to give the world a flavor and a taste of the Philippines,” she added. Further, the Tourism secretary maintained that the Department is holding the "Philippine Experience: Heritage, Culture, and Arts Caravan" in the Bicol Region, adding, “It would have been this July but given the circumstances in the region at the moment, tentatively it has been set for August and our regional offices have been in coordination with our local government units there.” The hurt Salceda said in his statement that he expressed his frustration because tourism is disproportionately more crucial in Albay, and Bicol at large. “This is how thousands of Albayano families make a living. It would not have cost much to include just a scene of Mayon, but it would have meant the world to Albay families relying on tourism for their bread and butter,” he said. Moreover, the lawmaker stressed that Albay has the only international airport in South Luzon—Bicol International Airport, which the government calls "the most scenic international gateway in the country." He said per capita, Albay is one of the country's most important tourist destinations, while pre-pandemic, it attracted 1.32 tourists per resident, while the top region, Central Visayas, attracts just 1.17, and the national average is 0.55. “Bicol's economy depends heavily on tourism, more so than the rest of the country. Last year, accommodation and food service (the most direct sector affected by tourism) was 1.93% of total regional GDP, while the national average was 1.80 percent,” he said. “Just to demonstrate how affirmative support from the national government can be a game-changer for tourism: When I was governor of Albay, we increased foreign tourist arrivals from 8,700 in 2006 to 374,000 in 2015. Total tourist arrivals swelled from 123,000 to 1.4 million over the same period,” Salceda underlined. On the other hand, he said, “Mayon deserves better than a pixel in the logo where you need strained eyes to see it. Mayon has been a national symbol and a national treasure (one of only three UNESCO-declared biosphere reserves in the country).” Watch the video here: The post Video of tourism slogan just a primer — Frasco appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Of battles and bottles: Books on Norzagaray and Philippine history and culture
Whether it’s heavy rains or times of drought, attention is given to the level of water in a number of water reservoirs in the country, which are mostly located in the island of Luzon. One of these reservoirs, which are massive engineering feats of the 20th century, is the Angat Dam in the province of Bulacan, which supplies water for irrigation in the Central Luzon province and adjacent Pampanga and for domestic use in Metro Manila. A common misconception is that this dam is in the town of Angat as its name suggests, but it is geographically and politically located within the town of Norzagaray. The dam was built in the 1960s at the upper portion of the Angat River, hence the name. Apart from the Angat Dam, Norzagaray has another dam called Ipo, located downstream from the former. The present Ipo Dam was completed in 1984 but the old one which was replaced by the current one was completed in 1938 and was the site of the Battle of Ipo Dam in 1945. Historic battles In that battle, the dam was taken by the Filipino and American forces from members of the Shimbu group of the Japanese army commanded by General Shizuo Yokohama, which had control of the important water supply installations for Manila and its environs. Half a century prior, the town also had its share of history during the battles for Philippine independence. In the Philippine Revolution against Spain, a local unit of the Filipino revolutionaries was organized by Sinfroso de la Cruz and made the Pinagrealan Cave in the village of Minuyan as their hideout and secret meeting place. His group was involved in battles against the Spanish forces in Norzagaray, Angat and San Jose in 1896 to 1897. Now, the said cave is a tourist destination in the town together with other natural and cultural sites. These pieces in Norzagaray’s history are discussed in the recently released book, Casaysayan ng Norzagaray Año 1860, by Bulacan historian and cultural advocate Jaime Salvador Corpuz. [caption id="attachment_130022" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photographs courtesy of Jaime Corpuz | A book on the history of Norzagay, Bulacan.[/caption] Corpuz also presents different facets of the town’s culture and heritage including the Dumagat ethnic group, which also inhabits the area, being a part of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range; its foundation as an independent town from Angat in 1860; its church dedicated to San Andres de Apostol; the Philippine-American War, Commonwealth and World War II; educational development; barangays; known personalities; and the history of the Norzagaray, Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Council, the publisher of the book. The book, an added resource in the study of local histories, is a product of a cultural heritage mapping done more than five years ago. Uncapping the history of bottles Corpuz also recently launched another book on the history of bottles in the country, the first of its kind in the Philippines. A novelty and an important undertaking, the book MaBOTEng Usapan: Samu’t Saring Kuwentong Bote is his joint project with fellow author Kyle Gianan, who is popularly known as the “Filipino Picker.” It was co-published by Corpuz’s Bahay Makabayan in Marilao, Bulacan and Gianan’s Museo ng Kahapon in Mandaluyong. The book presents the various stories about bottles in the country including those that are now considered rare such as the Balintawak Beer, Halili Beer and Mactan Softdrinks of San Miguel in Bulacan. [caption id="attachment_130023" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A book on the history of bottles in the Philippines.[/caption] The book is replete with information on the role of bottles in Philippine movies and old print advertisements. It even tells about how bottles for alcoholic drinks were reused as disinfectant alcohol bottles during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. This book is important as it delves into a lesser known or lesser discussed aspect of Philippine society and history. These bottles are artifacts that are historically, culturally, economically, scientifically and socially significant. They are mute witnesses in the planning of revolutions and important events as well as significant social gatherings. This undertaking by Corpuz and Gianan is laudable and is definitely a source of “ma-boteng usapan” among its readers. The post Of battles and bottles: Books on Norzagaray and Philippine history and culture appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Barangay kagawad huli sa P100K ‘bato’
BENGUET-Arestado ang isang barangay kagawad matapos na salakayin ng mga otoridad ang bahay nito sa Brgy. Irisan, Baguio City kahapon ng umaga at makumpiska ang mga nakatagong hinihinalang shabu na nagkakahalaga ng mahigit P100,000. Kinilala ng PDEA CAR ang suspek na si Brgy. Kagawad Francis Dagson. Ang pagsalakay ay ikinasa ng mga pinagsanib na puwersa […] The post Barangay kagawad huli sa P100K ‘bato’ appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»
Solon, pabor na isulong ang Friendship Bridge sa Isla
Bato, Catanduanes – Positibo si Lone District Congressman Eulogio “Leo” Rodriguez sa proyektong Friendship Bridge (FB) o tulay na kokonekta sa lalawigan ng Catanduanes at Camarines Sur. Aniya, nitong mga unang araw ng kanyang panunungkulan sa kongreso, nakausap niya ang ilang mga personalidad maging ang mga kaagapay na solon sa Bicol Region para sa mga […].....»»
Obrero kulong sa pagdalirot sa syotang may learning disability
MANILA, Philippines – Isinelda ang isang laborer matapos dalhin sa kanilang bahay at pagsamantalahan ang kanyang 19-anyos na girlfriend na may learning disabilities sa Navotas City, kahapon ng madaling araw. Nahaharap sa kasong paglabag sa R.A. 8353 (Rape) ang suspek na kinilala bilang si Melvin Miranda, 28 ng Sitio Puting Bato, Brgy. NBBS Proper. Sa […] The post Obrero kulong sa pagdalirot sa syotang may learning disability appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»
Solon, sang-ayon sa mungkahi ng NEA para sa operasyon ng FICELCO
Bato, Catanduanes – Bagamat tutol ang National Electrification Administration (NEA) sa rekomendasyon ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan na isapribado ang FICELCO, pabor naman si Congressman Bong Teves sa mungkahing joint venture agreement o iba pang scheme ang gawin para sa ficelco. Sa panayam ng Bicol Peryodiko, sinabi ni Cong. Teves na sa anumang paraang legal para […].....»»
Police officer relieved for defending Tarlac shooting
The chief of police of Bato Municipal Police Station in Catanduanes was sacked from his post for reportedly posting insensitive comments that were perceived to be justifying the cold-bloodied murder of a mother and son in Tarlac on Sunday. Brig. Gen. Bartolome Bustamante, director of the Police Regional Office 5 in Bicol, said Capt. […].....»»