vol. XXII, NO.

17

Bicol, the philippines

JANUARY 18-24, 2015

naga.gov.ph

NEW MALLS

Robinsons Place, as rendered here, will soon rise at the corner of known mall chains will also open their branches in the city: the
the Almeda Highway along Roxas Avenue in Naga City. Two other StarMall and Gaisano Mall, along Panganiban Avenue.

DOLE bullish on 2015

Bicol jobs outlook

LEGAZPI
CITY - DOLE
Bicol is positive that there
will be more
employment
and livelihood
opportunities
for the region
this year.
(Turn to page 6)

APEC summit sets

2 Legazpi meetings
By DANNY C. CALLEJA

MICROIDEA CREATIONS
D Y C E C

V N D E Z

LEGAZPI CITYThe National Organizing Council (NOC) of the Philippine-hosted

2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) has assigned two of its 29 meetings
to this premier Bicol metropolis recently adjudged as one of the countrys three Most
(Turn to page 5)
Livable Cities.

GAYON BICOL 2015 HOST

The municipality of Daet led by Mayor Tito S. Sarion is now preparing for the
countrys ASEAN Integration, one of the topics discussed during the meeting of
barangay officials of the town held early last week, as well as its hosting of the
regional Gayon Bicol Festival in June this year.

january 18-24, 2015

bikol reporter

editorial
Language Matters
It was a show of linguistic diversity when
representatives of the various Philippine
ethnic groups said their prayers in their
own languages, including Bikol, in at
least two occasions during the recent
visit of Pope Francis in the country.
Once more, it was shown that this
diversity gives a rich texture to the big
tapestry of our countrys culture and
history; and not a homogenous national
language which erases all others in the
peripheries.
Language, when used as an expression
of faith, also gives that kind of faith
layers of both differences and sameness;
which makes it the more beautiful and
profound.
During the papal visit, the vaunted
deep faith of the Filipinos was articulated
variably yet, vibrantly, victoriously.
It is the triumph and miracle of faith
that it transcends language differences.
Faith, indeed, make the Filipinos
survive and made the papal visit what it
was, a show of national solidarity through
faith.
Once again, Paul is affirmed that in the
end indeed, faith, hope and love are what
will remain.
Additionally, as what Pope Francis
told the youth at UST, love can make the
contemporary information siege and glut
they face, more meaningful through the
harmonious use of the three languages
of mind, heart and hands.
What you think, you must feel and
put into effect. Your information comes
down to your heart and you put it into
practice harmoniously. What you think,
you feel and you do. Feel what you think
and feel what you do. Do what you think
and what you feel, he said.
Yes, the matter of our language
differences will no longer matter if we
give more weight and space to our
commonality as human beings through
love. (fpj11815)

Corporate Office Addresses

(PICPA past president and Hallof-Famer, and ACPAPP Lifetime
Achievement Awardee).
SEC RULE: The Securities and
Exchange Commission has amended
its earlier requirement per SEC Memo
Circular No. 6, Series of 2014 (dated
February 20, 2014), by virtue of SEC
Memo Circular No. 1. The previous
deadline for the amendment by affected
corporations and partnerships to reflect
in their respective Articles the EXACT
addresses of their head office and
branches, depicting street number, street
name, barangay, city or municipality was
extended.
With the influx of requests for AOI/
AOP amendments being submitted to
the SECs Company Registration and
Monitoring Department (CRMD), and
to allow additional time within which to
comply with SEC MC No. 6 (2014), the
Commission extended the period for
filing applications for amendment of AOI
and AOP until June 30, 2015. Despite
the extension, we suggest that needed
documents should be submitted to SEC
soonest possible.
INTEREST:
Those who are
hoping that interest income on their
bank deposits will increase will be
disappointed. The Monetary Board is
expected to hold steady the interest
rates. The reason is the sufficiency
and stability of money supply (M3),
coupled with the ability of our financial
authorities to keep inflation in check.
The MB will revisit the interest policy
in early February after proper review
of money supply vis--vis inflation
trends.

In order to encourage moneyed

individuals and institutions to engage in
investment activities and instruments,
the BSP has discouraged parking of idle
funds in its Special Deposit Accounts
(SDAs). Banks used to keep their
excess funds in SDAs which unduly
causes BSP to shoulder offered interests
(even if the rates are low). Commercial
and industrial loans are fully availed and
the go-to investment outlets now are
housing credit.
RENEWED FAITH:
I first met
ALFREDO PENARUBIA more than four
months ago at the Kamay ni Hesus
Healing Church (Lucban, Quezon).
He and his realty-broker wife Tessie
requested me to arrange a private
prayer session with Fr. Joey Faller our
Healing Priest. They claimed that Mang
Pido who has a serious heart ailment
(sent home already by Phil. Heart Center
surgeons) gets dizzy whenever he lines
up in the queue of faithful devotees.
Fr. Joey granted their wish. After the
prayer session, the patient announced
he is cured! Since then he attended all

Kamay healing masses and watched

TV masses of and features about
the healing priest. He savored the
blessings of healing prayers. After
watching the TV Masses on Ch2
and NBN Ch4, Mang Pido died last
January 7, 2015. His friends assured
his grieving wife that her husband is
now in heaven since he died after his
faith renewal and devoutly living it in
his last four months!
PAPAL VISIT: With the outpouring
of faith by Filipinos during the Peoples
Popes visit to the Asian country with
the biggest Catholic population, we
can expect big progressive things
to come. We must find ways of
converting the euphoria of our fellows
into worthwhile endeavors that will
benefit our well-beings and our
country as a whole. Let us show to
and all sundry that Filipinos are hardworking, disciplined and organized.
Truly, our Lord is a God of order!
May the visit of Pope Francis
known for his simple and openhearted ways, galvanize the unity that
our government is instituting for all of
us, regardless of religion and status
in life. If we can be one in jubilation
during this papal visit we should
continue working as one team, with no
other purpose but to usher peace and
economic progress for our country.
The fundamentals are already in
place; it is just a matter of following
through our initial gains.
MOTTO: Simplicity is the best
policy. As we simplify our lives
our hopes and ideals become
attainable!

Is the sunset boring?

Most people nearing retirement age
are haunted by a looming boring life.
Used to get up at the crack of dawn,
take early breakfast, walk out of the
door with a light feet,expecting exciting
time in the office, the long hours doing
nothing at home are to describe it mildly
terrifying.
A college professor in Legazpi City
who had one final year before retirement
told me that he dreaded the days he
would face staring at the four walls of
his house.
I have to face this lifes sunset as
a truth no one can escape from, he
said.
The question, what will I do after
retirement, has also haunted me.I have
spent years in the media, years in a
government office and years in the
academe. And now the time to retire
stares at me in the face.What will I do
really?
Sometime ago, the same question
was addressed to me by James Bandol,
a journalist of renown. James and I
have earned count libel charges for our
do or die exposes.
Badge of honor, he said of our
brushes with onion-skinned government
men.
If you are a journalist and you have
not gone through repeated baptism

MILLIONS ...

scored the importance of

caring for the youth and the
children.
We too need to protect,
guide and encourage our
young people, helping them
to build a society worthy of
their great spiritual and cultural heritage. Specifically,
we need to see each child as
a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected. And we
need to care for our young
people, not allowing them to
be robbed of hope and con-

of fire perhaps because you fear to

offend the powerful,you do not belong
in the elite group.
Again, what will I do after my long
years of employment are over? Why,
there is the blue sky to feast my eyes
on,the songs of birds to listen to, the
exotic places to visit, the books to
write.
That will occupy my idle days.
Keeping myself busy will lessen the
monotony of doing nothing and of going
nowhere but the confines of my home.
Great men of history had suffered
the same boredom of retirement.The
most celebrated was a US general in
Europe in WWII, George Patton.When
his command was abolished at the end
of the war, he spent the days visiting

demned to life on the streets,

he said.
At the end of his homily, the pontiff entrusted the
country to the Child Jesus.
Now, at the end of my
visit to the Philippines, I
commend you to Him, to Jesus who came among us as a
child. May he enable all the
beloved people of this country to work together, protecting one another, beginning
with your families and communities, in building a world
of justice, integrity and peace.

the small towns he had liberated.

The grateful people received him
with dinner parties and street fairs.
But this did very little to comfort
him. He did a lot of hunting. In one
of his forays, the jeep collided with a
truck. He was injured and paralyzed/
Terrified at being confined to a
wheelchair all his life, he died weeks
after the accident.
Another celebrated war hero was
Thomas Edward Lawrence, known
to the world as Lawrence of Arabia.
Discharged from the Royal Air Force
February, l935, he returned to his
small cottage in Cloud Hill, Dorset.
Bored with his life, he roamed
the dusty villages of Dorset in his
motorcycle.
In one of his trips,he almost hit
two small boys on bicycles. He
swerved his motorcycle but he
was fatally injured.He died at the
hospital of his former Royal Air
Force camp. All of Britain mourned
his passing.
An article in the Readers Digest
written by William Kirkland told of his
father who marked his 80th birthday
but who would not heed his sons
plea to slow down/The father said he
was happiest when working.The man
lived to over 96.

May the Santo Nio continue

to bless the Philippines and
may he sustain the Christians
of this great nation in their
vocation to be witnesses and
missionaries of the joy of the
Gospel, in Asia and in the
whole world, he said.
He also asked that the
faithful to pray for him as the
leader of the worlds 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.
Before leaving for the
Apostolic Nunciature, Pope
Francis rode again in the
pope mobile and blessed the

crowd. He stopped several

times to kiss the children at
the Luneta grounds.
In a press briefing later,
Cardinal Luis Tagle said
that the Pope has asked him,
How many people are here?
Later, he (Pope) said, I cannot fathom the faith of the
people.
Fr. Federico Lombardi,
Vatican spokesperson, also
said the mass in Luneta
seemed to be the largest event
in the history of the Pope. -PIA

january 18-24, 2015

bikol reporter

ALL GOD'S CHILDREN

During his recent Philippine visit, Pope Francis showed the special place in his heart for Gods little children whom he invariably

MANILA, Jan. 19 Unmindful of the rains brought

by tropical storm Amang,
millions of Filipinos showed
how water-proof their faith
is as they trooped to Luneta
Park where Pope Francis
held a Holy Mass, the last
public event in his five-day
state and apostolic visit to
the country.
The Metro Manila Development Authority estimated
the crowd gathered at Luneta
and the papal route to be at 6
million. Some of the mass attendees had camped outside
the park as early as Saturday evening. Entry points to
the periphery of the Quirino
Grandstand, where the mass
was held, were scheduled to
open yet at 6 a.m. Sunday.
Pope Francis arrived in a
jeepney-designed pope mobile as crowds cheered Papa
Francisco, Mahalka ng Pilipino. The Pope stopped at
various points to bless and
greet the crowd of faithful.
He stopped several times as
children were brought to him
to be blessed.
In his homily, Pope Fran-

PCOO Photos

kissed, touched or embraced. In his mass at the Luneta, the pontiff

reminded the Filipinos that we are all members of Gods family.

cis said he is joyful to celebrate the Santo Nino Sunday

in the country. He reminded
the faithful that what really
matters in the face of difficulty was knowing that each
one is a child of God.
We forget to remain focused on the things that really
matter. We forget to remain,
at heart, children of God, he
said. That is sin: [to] forget
at heart that we are children
of God. For children, as the
Lord tells us, have their own
wisdom, which is not the
wisdom of the world. That
is why the message of the
Santo Nio is so important.
He speaks powerfully to all
of us. He reminds us of our
deepest identity, of what we
are called to be as Gods family.
He also called for the protection of families against
insidious attacks and programs contrary to all that we
hold true and sacred; all that
is most beautiful and noble in
our culture.
The pontiff also under(Turn to page 2)

By Analiza S. Macatangay
NAGA CITY With
barely few weeks to go, winners in the 15th Region V
Tertiary Schools Press Conference (RTSPC) held at the
University of Saint Anthony

(USANT) Iriga City are now

preparing for the upcoming 14th Luzonwide Higher
Education Press Conference
slated next month.
The national competition

READY FOR CAGAYAN

THE HOLY MASS AT THE QUIRINO GRANDSTAND

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

Pope Francis caps his five-day visit to the Philippines with a Holy Mass on Sunday (Jan. 18, 2015), which he
officiated at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila. The Holy Mass was attended by millions of Catholic
devotees which coincides with the Feast of Santo Nio.

which will be led by the Luzonwide Tertiary Press Advisers (ALTPA) is scheduled on
February 5 to 7 at the Pulsar
Hotel, Capitol Hills, Caggay,
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
Leading this years con-

Bicol winners in the recent Bicol Tertiary Schools Press Conference are now
undergoing final preparations for the national leg of the contest slated in
Tuguegarao next month.

tenders is the University of

Northeastern
Philippines
(UNEP) which ran away as
the Over-All Champion.
UNEP was joined by the
following schools as top 5
over-all highest pointers: 2nd
Bicol University (BU), 2nd;
Camarines Norte State College (CNSC), 3rd; USANT,
4th, and; and Divine World
College of Legazpi (DWCL),
Naga College Foundation
(NCF) and Catanduanes State
University (CSU), in the 5th
place.
KhevinGambal of UNEP
Frontliner, together Carlo
Mariano from Naga College
Foundations Naga Collegian
topped their challengers by
being adjudged as Over-All
Highest Pointers under the
Individual category. Paolo
Gerero of Sublime Torch
(Mabini College) and Shienna Lynn Karla Madayag
of the Naga Collegian (NCF)
placed 2nd; Ralph Orense of
Aquinian Herald from Aqui(Turn to page 7)

AdeNU tops U.P. 19th

Harong AcadFest
Students of the Ateneo
de Naga University High
School emerged the OverAll Champion during the
3-day academic competitions organized by the University of the Philippines
Harong, an organization of
college students in the State
University coming from
Camarines Sur and the cities of Naga and Iriga.
The Ateneans ruled the
13th Harongnin Dunong
Quiz Bee, as well as the
19th Tingog nin Rason
Debate Tournament where
two of its team, emerged
1st Runner-Up and Champion respectively.
Special Awards also
went to Ateneans Julia
Isabella Ocoma who was
named Best Speaker of the
Final Round of the debate.
She was also picked Best
Speaker of the debate along
with Reycel Hyacinth N.
Bendana.

Rufina ARROYO

... Storytelling champ

University of Saint Anthony (USANT) came out 1st
Runner-Up with fine performances in almost all of the
events in the tournament held
at the Camarines Sur Convention Center in Pili; while La
ConsolacionCollege(LCC) got
the 2nd Runner-Up.
(Turn to page 6)

pellmell
jokee BOTOR-REYES

For Frank and Kristian,

a Big Round of Applause
Frank Peones and Kristian Cordero sure got
the attention of the campus writers who were treated
to a Special lecture on Bikol literature. They were
just wonderful. These two taga-Iriga who are very
prominent Bicolano writers but not limited to writing
in Bicol were invited to do a special lecture on Bicol
literature as a part of the 15th Tertiary Schools Press
Conference held January 7 to 10. The University
of Saint Anthony through its college paper Pietas
(formerly Sapientia) hosted the regional convergence
of some 41 institutions of higher learning in the Bicol
Region.
Both writers were very interesting as persons and
writers. And to most students who were listening,
they discovered Bikol literature. At the end of the very
fulfilling lecture of over an hour, everyone answered
Kristian Corderos question BagaybaTayo? with a
resounding Oo.
Ms. Verna Moran-Contreras, the very dynamic
adviser of the college paper of USANT, deserves
the loudest applause. She was the busiest person
during the duration of the press con. But she was
already very busy even days, nay weeks, before
the big day. Kudos, Verna. But I know you were not
alone in paving the way to the success of the press
con. Maybe, you deserve a raise for being one of the
USANTs very dependable faculty members.
The University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP)
did a very big name in the last press con. I understand
it got the general championship in the individual
category. Congratulatory. Congratulations!
- Ooooo LGU Iriga is now starting the preparation for the
February 11, 2015 Tinagba Festival. Every year,
the festival promises something new. What will it
be this time? You should come to Iriga and see
for yourself the Tinagba as it has metamorphosed
from the festival of yore to what it is in this year of
technology.

pama-an
Igwa ba'n Tago an Kwarto
By CLINTON D. ABILONG*
Matikdan: an pwertahan,
an bintana naka sarado.
Bagan may istorya na nagtatago.
Bagan may misteryo na diri nagapalabot.
Paidalon: an kutob, an duda kun nano
kay nakasarado an pwertahan, an bintana.
Sa sulod bagan may nakasulod,
sa kwarto bagan may guin kwarto.
An mga nakasarado,
may makikit-an kun abrido na.
An mga abrido,
may makikit-an kun nakasarado na.

january 18-24, 2015

bikol reporter

Si Clinton estudyante sa Central Bicol State

University of Agriculture, Calabanga campus,
kun sain siya nagin fellow kan enot na writers
workshop na ginibo duman.

Je Suis Charlie
Orwellian si ginibong show of
force kan mga lider kan Sulnupan sa
nagkakasararong
kondenasyon
kan
paggadan kan 12ng empleado kan
magazine na Charlie Hebdo sa Pransya.
Sa saiyang midbid na nobelang, Animal
Farm, sinabi kan sarong karakter ni Orwell
na: we are all equal, but some are more
equal than the others.
Maririsang mayong lohika an tataramon
na ini. Sa katunayan, bilang ehemplo nin
inaapod na satire, lataw dawa pasimple an
pagtuya-tuya kaini kan ideyal nin egalite o
pagkapantay-pantay na sarong puersang
nagtulod kan French Revolution. Imposible
man nanggad ini.
Asin ini an sinasabi kan retrato kan
mga lider na ini na nakaabra-siyete sa
Paris. Arog halimbawa kan gurangan na
kalaban nin terorismo, an Primer Ministro
kan Israel na si Benjamin Netanyahu asin
an president mismo kan Pransya na si
Francoise Hollande.
Ano daw kun an mga lider na ini
nagkasararo man na pigkondenar si
paggadan kan 32 na mga miyembro kan
media sa Maguindanao Massacre kan

2009? Alagad, dai kita nakadangog nin

siring na protesta hali sainda. Kaya,
minaoyon ako sa obserbasyon kan pirang
mga parasurat na si ginibo kan mga
nasambit na mga lider igwang ipokrisiya
ta soboot may hinihiling sinda asin may
tinatalikudan. Arog, halimbawa, kan isyu
sa Palestina.
Arog ninda, kinokondena ta an
paggamit nin dahas, dawa ki isay man,
kaiba an mga miyembro kan media na
an armas sana iyo an pansurat asin an

katalingkasan na magpahayag. Bakong

hustipikasyon o rason an paliwanag na
an sosyedad mismo naggigibong dahas
sa mga namamanwaan, arog kan dahas
kan kapagtiosan, kaya tama sanang
maggamit nin dahas. An dahas, kun
susublion ko ngani liwat an sinabi ni
Shakespeare, dahas pa man giraray
dawa sa anong tataramon o paaging
ginibo.
Minasuporta kita sa katalingkasan
na magpahayag. Alagad, sabi ngani
kan tukayo kong Papa Francisco, an
katalingkasan na ini may responsibilidad.
Kabali sa responsibilidad na ini iyo an
igalang an relihiyon o pagtubod kan iba.
Kun dai ini magigibo, saro naman ining
rasismo, sarong isyu na paboritong
tema asin target kan Charlie Hebdo.
Kaya kun gagamiton ta liwat an
sinabi ni Orwell: Gabos kita rasista,
alagad may mga mas rasista sa
iba.
O kaya an paboritong ekspresyon ni
Charlie Brown: Good Grief!
Hmmm? Dai ko aram kun satiriko
ini.

Never too old to dream

With a smile on her wrinkled face, Editha exclaimed

Salamat at makakabalik giraray kami sa listahan (Thank
you that we are back on the
Listahanan). She went inside and shared to his husband,
Quintine, 85, the good news.
At the age of 81, Editha
takes care of his bedridden husband. This makes her situation
doubly difficult Nahulog siya
sa hagdan tapos dai na siya nakalakaw (He fell on the stairs
which caused him to be unable
to walk) Editha shared.
It is almost a year since his
husband is always in bed. The
family does not have financial

Editha told the good news to his husband. She never

losses hope that she and her husband will be back in the
DSWDs list of poor.

resources either for the hospitalization or undergo intensive

medical attention.
Out of the seven siblings,

only Edithas youngest son

supports them for their daily
subsistence. However, his
earning as a tricycle driver is

not enough to provide all their

needs as he also has a family to
take care of.
Her other children have
their own families too and thus
unable to help having insufficient income. What they earn
is not even enough to provide
the needs of their respective
family.
Life is really hard for the
Alegre couple.
Not losing hope
Editha and Quintine were
beneficiaries of the social pension program of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) since
2011.

january 18-24, 2015

bikol reporter
APEC SUMMIT ...

Epistemology

(Part 1 of a 4-part series)

Introduction
Epistemology is defined in the Merriam-Webster
dictionary as the the study or a theory of the nature and
grounds of knowledge especially with reference to its
limits and validity.The term is derived from two Greek
words, epistm and logos, which mean knowledge
and study of, respectively. The philosophical questions
about knowledge have been postulated since ancient
times but the term epistemology is relatively recent. The
term was introduced by the Scottish philosopher James
Frederick in 1854 in his treatise entitled Institutes of
Metaphysic the Theory of Knowing and Being.
As a specialized field of philosophical inquiry,
epistemological debates are centered on the analysis of
the nature of knowledge as it is related to the concepts
of truth, belief and justification. Hence, knowledge is
philosophically defined as justified true belief. Plato was
the first known philosopher in antiquity who stated this
formal definition in his dialogues.
Epistemology is one of the four main branches of
philosophy along with metaphysics, logic and ethics. It is
a foundational philosophical inquiry on which science is
based upon. After all, science is all about the systematic
organization of knowledge in the form of testable
explanation. To some extent, science can be considered
as a sub-branch of epistemology under the philosophy of
science. However, epistemology is more comprehensive
and goes deeper than mere systematic organization of
knowledge. It attempts to investigate knowledge itself.
Epistemology is concerned with the following
fundamental questions about knowledge:
I. What is knowledge?
II. How can knowledge be acquired?
III. What are the limits of knowledge?
Philosophers since the Ancient Greek classical period
have investigated and contemplated on these fundamental
questions of knowledge. They have come up with several
ideas or theories but many issues still remain unresolved
and some theories are in conflict with each other. This
report will attempt to present a comprehensive but concise
discussion about epistemology and related concepts.
Definition of terms
Epistemology -- the study or a theory of the nature
and grounds of knowledge especially with reference to
its limits and validity
Knowledge -- the circumstance or condition of
apprehending truth or fact through reasoning. It is
philosophically defined as justified true belief.
Justification -- refers to the acceptable explanation
or warrant for something. In philosophy this means the
reason for properly holding or adhering to a particular
belief. It may either be deontological (duty-based) or
non-deontological justification. Deontological justification
is based on norms or standards such as the rules of
evidence, social constructs or scientific method. On the
other hand, non-deontological justification refers to the
idea that a belief is only properly justified if the justification
comes from a reliable cognitive origin or process.
Deontological -- this generally refers to moral or
ethical obligation. When it comes to epistemology,
deontological justification means the obligation or duty to
adhere to truth.
Belief -- the acceptance of a proposition or cognitive
content to be true. It is synonymous with trust and faith.
Proposition -- a statement that claims truth-value.
It asserts a judgment, opinion or conclusion. It is
synonymous with premise, hypothesis, concept and
theorem.
True -- the state of being faithful to truth or in congruence
with facts, reality or the actual state of things.
References:

1. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/190219/epistemology
2. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epistemology
3. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epistemology/
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistemology
5. http://www.philosophy-index.com/gettier/counterexamples/
6. http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/M%C3%BCnchhausen_Trilemma

Latest communication received here by City Mayor Noel

Rosal from Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., the NOCs director-general, said the two events
the city will be hosting are the
Meeting/Workshop on Rebuilding Resilient Infrastructure to be
held on July 23-24 and the Senior Disaster Management Officials Forum on Sept. 14-15.
Both gatherings will be held
at the Oriental Hotel, a plush
resort-hotel located on a hillside
fronting Mt. Mayon from a distance of some 15 kilometers and
overlooking the scenic cityscape
and the picturesque Albay Gulf.
The other 27 meetings are
distributed among venues also
known as tourist favorites such
as Manila, Makati; Cebu, Boracay; Tagaytay; Clark, Pampanga;
Bagac, Bataan; and Iloilo.
The 2015 APEC leaders
meeting, said to be the biggest
and most high profile annual
gathering of world leaders from
21 member-economies in the Pacific Rim, will be hosted by President Benigno S. Aquino III.
As one of the venues, this
city has shown deep optimism
that the APEC meetings would
be a good opportunity to flaunt
its popular tourist attractions,
not only Mt. Mayon but also its
newly-developed scenic boulevard along Albay Gulf, the
longest outside Metro Manila
and the famous ATV (all-terrain
vehicle) adventure course over
lava hills along the foot of the
world most perfect cone-shaped
volcano, among others.
We will make it sure that
the visitors will be accorded
with all the amenities, fun and
comfort that a 'livable city' and
'city of fun and adventure' like
ours could offer. Rosal told the
Philippine News Agency here on
Thursday.
This premier Bicol urban locality, known in the travel industry world as the City of Fun and
Adventure shadowed by the
beauty of the majestic Mt. Mayon, was named one of the three
winners in the Livable Cities
Design Challenge in grand ceremonies held at the Philippine
International Convention Center,
Pasay City last October.
Legazpi placed second to
Iloilo in the ranking followed by
Cebu which placed third.
The Livable City Challenge,
sponsored by the United States
Assistance for International Development was organized by the
National Competitive Commission, APEC 2015 NOC, World
Wildlife Fund, Alliance for Safe
and Sustainable Reconstruction
and Asia Society and Urban
Land Institute.
In the search, each competing city was required to come up
with strategic vision and plan for
a resilient and livable city and
in developing an APEC meeting
venue.
Rosal said that with the help
of the city chapter of the United
Architects of the Philippines
headed by its president MaridelBaldano, the city government
came up with a strategic plan for
a highly resilient and livable city
featuring a safe and green environment aimed sustaining good
public health, which impressed
the search judges.
The plan themed Healthy
City, Happy City presents farreaching innovations that inspire
a more dynamic development
of the city into a very safe and
healthy locality for its people
and visitors, as well.
In choosing this city as one
of the venues of APEC meetings,
(Turn to page 7)

JANUARY 18-24, 2015

BIkol RepoRteR
AdeNU tops ...

HEALTH AND WELLNESS. About 90 percent of the estimated 450 total population composed of inmates,
CSU guards, police officers and interns, employees, and inmates visitors at the Tinangis Penal Farm,
Brgy. Tinangis, Pili, Camarines Sur under the supervision of Jose Francisco L. Musa, Jr., OIC-Provincial
Warden, were treated to free anti-flu vaccination on January 13, 2015 administered by the able medical
personnel of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) in compliance with Gov. MigzVillafuertes health and wellness program for all his provincial constituents. In fact, a basic Zumba session soon followed within the
penal farm grounds where the inmates were given cardio-vascular exercises accompanied with dance
music to teach them to stay fit and well. jmts/danrey

Dole BUllIsh...
This was after DOLE Bicol
laid down plans for its program
implementation, specifically
on employment and livelihood
programs, during its Year-End
Performance Assessment and
Planning Exercises (YEPA) on
January 12-13 at Vitton Beach
Resort, Donsol, Sorsogon.
Yes, we have good vibes
for this year. Our focus will be
on employment generation and
livelihood creation, DOLE
Bicol regional director Nathaniel V. Lacambra said.
In the assessment of its
program implementation last
year, DOLE Bicol analyzed
that the best way to help uplift
the economic situation of the
region is to focus all efforts in
its employment and livelihood

programs.
Further, DOLE Bicol believes that its livelihood program is a key factor not just in
regional development but also
in providing and raising the income level of Bicolanos.
Bicol has few large companies thus we have limited
vacancies on formal employment. The solution is the provision of emergency employment
and alternative livelihood. This
is where we (DOLE) come in.
RD Lacambra added.
For this year, DOLE Bicol
has about P32M budget for its
DOLE Integrated Livelihood
and Emergency Employment
Program (DILEEP), some
P16.8M for its TulongPangkabuhayansaAting Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) pro-

gram, another P16.8M for the

Government Internship Program (GIP) and an additional
P39.2M for the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPBP)
Program while some P18.8M
is allotted for the Special Program for the Employment of
Students (SPES).
All in all, DOLE Bicols
budget for its livelihood and
employment programs is a
whooping P123.6M. This budget, DOLE Bicol asst. reg. dir.
Atty. Karina Perida-Trayvilla
is projected to reach more or
less 15,000 Bicolano beneficiaries region wide.
With this amount of budget and it being implemented
properly reaching the right
beneficiaries, we at DOLEBicol believe that we can

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USANTs Paulo Arnante

was the Champion in the
11thGayonBikolnon Poster
Making Contest. It also won
1st Runner-Up places in the
Sural Essay Writing Contest
via Mary Claire Potencio; in
the 5thIstoryangSuanoyStortelling Contest through Marie
JocetteElevado; and in the
2ndHirasninBanwaan Radio
Broadcasting
Tournament
through its team composed
of KyreLyndrelLucena, Anna
Dominique Celebrado, Jaffa
Arela B. Oliva, AirmeilJashper Pili, and JonelCastroverde. The team also got the
Best Script Award.
La Consolacion Colleges
Rufina S. Arroyo topped the
5thIstoryangSuanoy
Storytelling Contest while her
other schoolmates garnered
runner up finishes in the
broadcast, essay writing and
gala night competitions.
The U.P. Harong was organized after typhoon Rosing ravaged Bicol in November 1995.
This years edition of the
festival centered on the theme
Withstanding the Wave: The
Youth Response to Mitigating Calamity Risks and Optimizing Resources.
A total of 275 individual
participants and 15 schools
participated in the contest.
These included the Ateneo de Naga University High
School, Baao National High
School, Calabanga National
High School, Camarines
change the lives of our clientele, the Bicolano people.
After all our clientele is the
very reason why we are here
in the government service
RD Lacambra ended.

Sur National High School,

Goa National High School,
Jose de Villa National High
School, La Consolacion College, Malawag National High
School, Modern Learning
Center, Inc., Naga City Mon-

tessori School, Naga College

Foundation, Ocampo National High School, Sipocot
National High School, Tabgon National High School,
and the University of Saint
Anthony.

january 18-24, 2015

APEC SUMMIT sets 2 legazpi . . .
the NOC evaluated its available
facilities and infrastructure, including back-up sites, the stability of power and water services,
cleanliness, peace and order, disaster preparedness plans, medical services, tourist services and
the strength of the local governments links with the national
government and the private sector.
Another key criterion is the
localitys plans for carrying out
its APEC programs well beyond
the summit, particularly when it
comes to infrastructure taking
into account that the government
is looking to invest in infrastructure for the chosen sites not only
for the event itself but as part of
the countrys long-term planning.
The government is building
permanent infrastructure here
and other APEC sites and the
benefit is not the meeting but
beyond the meeting so that the
place is built for business and
good for repeat visitors, rather
than for one-time tourists, Rosal
said.
Part of this infrastructure
network is good roads, airports,
telecommunications networks
and private facilities, including hotels and restaurants.
For now, the national government has earmarked an
amount of Php140 million for
the ongoing widening from
two to four lanes of Yawa
Bridge, a key link between the
city and the first district of Albay where Misibis Bay Island
Resort sits and would be used
as among the official residenc-

es of the APEC delegates.

The Aquino administration
had also earmarked an amount
of Php2 billion for the citys
urban drainage system featuring a series of water pumping
stations designed to put an
end to the perennial flooding
problem confronting the citys
downtown area during heavy
downpours.
At this point and time, we
are already prepared to showcase our culture, heritage, art and
creativity to APEC delegates and
guests, Rosal said.
The city is expecting a total of
around 1,000 official delegates
to the two meetings and some
5,000 support staff, observers
and media reporters.
We are bent on making
the visit memorable for each
one of them as we believe that
its not just about coming in,
staying in a world-class hotel
but having a great experience
out of the taste of our cuisine,
a look at our art and even listening to our music, Rosal
said.
Digging on the records of
past APEC meetings abroad, Rosal said every host country did a
good job of projecting their culture and weve worked on it for
our hosting.
Local preparations actually
started mid-last year as the Informal Senior Officials Meeting
(ISOM)--the first APEC meeting
-- was scheduled to be held here
last Dec. 8-9 but moved to Manila due to typhoon "Ruby" that
threatened the city on the same
days. -- PNA

bikol reporter
bicol winners for nat'l . . .
nas University of Legazpi
took the 3rd place.
Under the Group Category Magazine Entry,
CSUs The CSU Statesman
won for its Best News and
Sports Page; Mariners Collegian (MPCF-Legazpi) for
Best Editorial Page, Best
Column/Opinion Page, Best
Page Design, and Best Cover Design; Divine World
College of Legazpis The
Channel for Best Feature
and Best Literary Page; and
Partido State Universitys
Radiance for Best DevCom
Page.
Mariners Collegian was
cited as the Campus Paper of
the Year under the Magazine
Category.
Still under the Group
Category-Tabloid
Entry,
BUs Bicol Universitarian swept the Best News
Page, Best Editorial, Best
Column/Opinion, and Best
Feature Page Award, Best
Page Design and the Best
Campus Tabloid of the Year
Award.
The Collegian of BISCAST-Naga got the Best
Literary Page, USI Faade
for Best DevComPage,
and The Democrat of the
University of Nueva Caceres (Naga) for Best Sports
Page.
The Channel of DWCL
received the Best Campus
Paper of the Year under the
Newsletter Entry (Group Category). It also grabbed the
Best Column/Opinion Page,
Best Feature Page, Best DevCom Page, and Best Sports
Page.
The Sublime Torch of
Mabini Colleges of Daet
was able to snatch the Best
News Page and Best Editorial Page under the same
category while The Artificer of Sorsogon State

Colleges got the Literary

Page and Best Page Design
Award.
AnBurabod of DWCL
under the Literary Folio
(Group Category) won the
Best Cover Design, Best
Concept and Best Literary
Page; The Anchor of MPCFLegazpi took the Best Page
Design, while Alinawnaw
of PSU-Goa received the
Best Visual Arts Page.

The Campus of the Year

Award: Literary Folio went
to An Burabod of the Divine
World College of Legazpi.
Most of the staff members of the aforementioned
school papers also won the
individual category and
will be representing their
respective schools in the
upcoming Luzonwide competition.
The college campus
journalism conference is in
consonance with the provi-

sions of Republic Act (RA)

7722, otherwise known as
the Higher Education Act
of 1994.
The activity endeavors
to enhance the participants
sense of social responsibility, specifically the significant role of the youth
in empowering themselves
through the promotion of
responsible journalism inside their respective colleges and universities. -PIA

Message of Thanks
We, the bereaved family of the late

who peacefully passed away in the grace of

our Lord on January 7, 2015
wish to express our heartfelt gratitude and
sincerest appreciation to all who offered
masses and prayers, sent flowers and
messages of sympathy and who in countless
ways, condoled with and comforted us in
our hour of bereavement.

MABALOS PO SAINDO GABOS.

PNP-Bicol completes Tacloban Papal mission

By NANCY IBO MEDIAVILLO

LEGAZPI CITY -Professionalism,

discipline and dedication
are the three important
things the 1,500 members of the Philippine

National Police Bicol

Task Force Santo Papa
have brought in their
mission to Region 8
during their eight days
in Tacloban City, Chief

Supt. Victor P. Deona,

PNP-Bicol regional director, said.

"These virtues are with

our men in ensuring the
safety of Pope Francis and
the public as reinforcement

to the police force of Region

8," he said.
Deona said the men also
have their personal hygiene kits, food and other
emergency provisions.
He said the three battal-

ions of senior police officers

in Bicol left on Sunday and
arrived on Monday morning
in Tacloban aboard 32 buses,
three police vehicles and an
ambulance for the medical
team.

Aside from these, Deona said, his office had also

set up motorist assistance
centers from Tabogon,
Daet, Camarines Norte,
to Matnog, Sorsogon. -PNA