Pictures of the Extra Ordinary Cebu

I escaped to Sumilon Island along with 160 iCOMM employees led by our adventurous CEO, Mr. Mike Tyler. Everyone was relieved and in high spirits landing on Sumilon Island after a brief scare when the pumpboat, obviously overloaded, threatened to keel over, whew! We were greeted by seashell leis and welcome drinks by the friendly Sumilon crew.

It was my first time to be on an island overnight with 149 other people. The thought already made me claustrophobic but Sumilon had more room and space to run about than the 5F of Skyrise IT Building and that already put me at ease. There was indeed ample area to hike about up and down to the lagoon, sandbar, and infinity pool.

Before the frolic and enjoyment, everyone gathered down by the lagoon for some serious business – team building. All ten teams: Audi, BMW, Honda, Mercedes, Chevrolet, Renault, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Jaguar and Toyota donned in their respective team colors presented their best yells. I had a tough time judging the best yell because to my amusement, all teams did not fail to entertain. The teams were then asked to surpass 9 obstacles: Treasure Hunt, The Great Egg Drop, Picture Puzzle/Brainteasers, Human Pyramid, Solve the Puzzle, Fetch me a Pail of Water, Trust Walk, The Banana Pass Game, and Blind Shapes, all tests of wit, strength, and teamwork, with the prize going to the fastest team. Enough brains and brawn allowed most teams to breeze through the obstacles but apparently, not enough air set them back during the treasure hunt when the most they could find underwater in the infinity pool was only 1 marble. Only one team was successful in finding all three marbles.

When all the activities were done, it was time to enjoy the island’s sights and sounds. Some frolicked in the infinity pool (perhaps still searching vainly for the lost marbles) while most of the populace gathered around in the sandbar: some contentedly dry, running around playing soccer, others enjoyably wet running away from the huge waves while others including myself dove into the roaring sea and rode the waves.

Sumilon Summer Escape

After much fun in the sand and sea, it was time for HawaiiComm, the Luau themed night. The iCOMM basketball players, fresh from their first victory against CallTek caught up with us and were greeted with congratulatory high fives and cheers. People came in their Hawaiian garbs and were treated to a sumptuous Sumilon dinner. After awarding cash prizes to the winners for best yell and for the teambuilding activities, karaoke sing-along was officially declared open. iComm crooners and divas all took turns with the microphone until all songs were sang and it was time to dance the night away.

Sunday morning was adieu time. After a little snorkeling, trekking, swimming and a heavy breakfast to start the day, we were on our way back to Cebu, although some, especially the basketball team members stayed behind for the afternoon trip. Looking back at the island for the last time, the thought of my first ever iCOMM summer outing lingered in my head. Though the trip may have taken ages, the fun and exciting memories with friends and colleagues has been the bargain- one that I will treasure. Then I capped my day with a snooze.

PS. This is iCOMM’s second summer outing in Sumilon. Last year, the Kaoshiung bus conked out on the way home, this year, bus no. 2 got a flat tire somewhere in Minglanilla. History repeats itself?

By Atty. Aileen Therese Cabalda

For PRO 7 Chief Ronald Roderos, the hope is that the creation of a Task force Motorcycle will effectively address the problem and lower the number of crimes involving motorcycle riding persons to at least less grievous levels.

THERE should be a way to stop crimes perpetrated by persons riding in motorcycles, or the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 will continue to top the list of regional offices in the country where these incidents are happening most.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2008/10/16/oped/editorial.html

Get or see the pictures here

http://cebuimage.blogspot.com/2008/10/maskara-festival.html

1. maskara festival
2. sinulog festival
3. moriones festival
4. tacloban festival
5. kalibo festival
6. lanzones festival
7. penafrancia festival
8. sandugo festival
9. aliwan festival
10. magayon festival
11. sanduguan festival
12. turumba festival
13. kaamulan festival
14. pahiyas festival
15. ibalong festival
16. higantes festival
17. dinagyang festival
18. kadayawan festival
20. lechon festival
21. panagbenga festival
22. davao festival
23. bacolod festival
24. pagdiriwang festival
25. santacruzan festival
26. pintados festival
27. carabao festival
28. iloilo festival

Bunzie’s Apartment

This deluxe one room villa tucked behind the tropical trees looks into Tabogon bay. The view can easily be enjoyed while soaking in the indoor

One of the Best Place in Cebu

Bunzie’s Villa

Bunzie’s Villa has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths with a loft that commands a panoramic view of the Camotes sea and Tabogon bay. The spacious dining and living rooms has such a relaxing view, perfect for family gatherings or seminars.

Iloilo City (3 October) — The Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) was cited as the 2008 Best Performing Department of health (DOH) Hospital for consistently providing high quality, affordable essential generic drugs ad medicines to their constituents.

The WVMC based in Mandurriao, Iloilo was the only nominee from Visayas, which bested all other DOH hospitals nation wide and three other cluster nominees from Luzon, and Mindanao.

WVMC hospital Chief Dr. Jose Mari Fermin started the operation of the “Model Botika” in the year 2000, one of the three pilot hospitals, the other two being the Dr. Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center and Davao Regional Hospital initially selected to implement “Gamot presyong DOH”.

The WVMC “Model Botika” licensed as retailer and wholesaler started with a capital of Php3 million, selling Generic and Branded Generic Drugs and medicines, including hospital items, maintenance and nutritional drugs, existing in the Philippine National Drug Formulary (PNDF).

Tagbilaran City (3 October) — Well-meaning citizens can now help the government in text reporting any perceived unauthorized use of red plated vehicles in unexpected places especially during non-office hours.

Your text messages you sent to 0919 898 4621 for Smart, or 0917 839 8462 for Globe users go directly to the Presidential Action Center.

Reports however should contain vehicle type, plate number, place and time where the government vehicle is found and if pictures are much appreciated if included.

Letters, telegrams and written reports can be forwarded to the Presidential Acton Center, Arlegui St. San Miguel, Manila.

By virtue of Malacanang’s Administrative Order 239, which President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed September 15, she has expressly strengthened the government’s effort against the use of government vehicles for purposes other than official business in line with energy saving and anti-graft and corruption campaign programs.

With AO 239, she stressed that it is inherent in government to promote judicious and responsible stewardship in the utilization of government resources.

In the order, the President said the use of government vehicles on Sundays, legal holidays, out of regular office hours or outside the route of officials or employees authorized to use them, by any person other than such authorized shall be prima facie evidence of preceding administrative case against them, section 1 of the AO stated.

Section 1 states that all government agencies and offices are prohibited from using any government vehicles for purposes other than official business.

Other than official business means private social functions, receptions, balls, theaters and other personal purposes, section 2 of the order declared.

The strict prohibition also includes use of such vehicles by spouses, children, relatives, friends even if they are accompanied by the said officials.

However, if the vehicle carries a legitimate trip ticket which should be displayed conspicuously in the car’s windshield or any conspicuous place in the vehicle, its use may be allowed.

The trip tickets issued to these vehicles on on-official hours or functions should be serially numbered and duly signed by the authorized official.

Such vehicles should be parked on designated garages to avoid unofficial use. The keys should be kept by the guard on duty and if the vehicles are spotted elsewhere, the guard along with the person caught using the vehicle should be made liable, AO’s section 3 said.

For vehicles used by intelligence operatives however, the order does not apply.

The order also enjoins the Land Transportation Office to closely coordinate and assist for the prompt implementation, particularly on the identification of reported government vehicles.

Other than the two textlines, complaints can also be sent to the PAC through 0919 898 4622, 0919 898 0623, 0917 898 2462 or 0917 898 5462.

Davao City (4 October) — Education Secretary Jesli Lapus and Davao City 2nd district representative Vincent Garcia will lead the official inauguration of two public school buildings: one is the newly-constructed 12 classrooms, 3-storey school building costing about P14, 342,000 at F. Bangoy National High School at barangay Sasa; and the other is the 4-classrooms, 2-storey building at the Sixto Babao Elementary School at barangay Ilang.

Department of Education (DepED) XI Director Susana Estigoy said the building at F.Bangoy, the first 3-storey schoolbuilding being built in the second district, is scheduled to be inaugurated on Monday (October 6) at 1:00pm.

In an interview with local mediamen, Congressman Garcia said that “in my first term of office, initially the schoolbuilding was only a 2-storey, 2 classroom building.” With additional classrooms coming from my congressional funds and from Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, a total of eight classrooms in my first term of office were built, he said.

Congressman Garcia said that “in my second term of office, I make sure that additional classrooms will be built in this particular F. Bangoy NHS since volume of enrollees has been increasing every year.

The F.Bangoy NHS has the biggest number of enrollees every year. In fact, for this year, enrollees totaled to 4,759 students and yet they only have 32 existing rooms used as classrooms, while the other two rooms are used as laboratory and library.” With the additional 12-classrooms that we will inaugurate they will now have a total of 46 classrooms.

Garcia said “Secretary Lapus, who has been so generous to us, has also contributed a lot for the establishment of additional schoolbuildings in my second district.”

For this calendar year (2008-2009), we have additional of 74 new classrooms. For each congressional district, it would be lucky if such a congressional district could get 10 classrooms. But with the assistance of Secretary Lapus, we were able to built additional 74 new classrooms to augment the lack of facilities in my district, he said.

Yesterday, a final meeting relative to the arrival of Secretary Lapus was discussed at the residence of Congressman Garcia together with DepED officials like Asst. Schools Division Supt. Eva Antipuesto; F.Bangoy NHS principal, Anastacia Armigos; and Maria Doreen Daplin, principal of Sixto Babao Elementary School.

School officials extended their gratitude to Congressman Garcia who has been taken full attention to the needs of additional school facilities in the second district that has solved the shifting of classes among students. (PIA/Cong Garcia’s office) [top]

Zamboanga City (3 October) — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is taking potshots at the government’s continuing efforts to assure and reaffirm to the young generations in Sulu that they are no different from any Filipino even as they are Moro from that southern archipelago. The MILF suspected that the program of the Philippine Marines in teaching the right values to the children is in fact a propaganda to integrate them to the mainstream of the Filipino society.

As if that is not surprising, an unnamed school teacher raised issues against this effort of inculcating nationalism and grudgingly branding it as a strategy to condition the mindset of the youths not to think of themselves as Moro but Filipinos.

This position has not stopped to boggle the mind. The MILF resents being called separatists but it is evident that it has not set aside the agenda of establishing an independent state. The MILF wants the government to declare a large swathe of land in Mindanao and Palawan as part of its ancestral domain and yet they abhor being called Filipinos.

It might not be right to impose Christian values on the Moro youths but it does not stand to reason why it is not right for the state or for the Philippine Marines to teach the children the love of country like all Filipinos are taught from day one in school.

It does not make sense therefore to talk of ancestral domain and award any inch of Philippine territory to a group that abhors the identity of its citizenry and does not recognize the country’s sovereignty. The government need not assert that. The leadership of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) bluntly stressed that.

The MILF may not like this administration and has hinted that it can wait for the next one with whom to deal with. But we believe that the posture of the government, whoever will sit there, will not change. What ought to change is the MILF perspective over how it should position itself in this quest for peace. Will they be satisfied with an expanded autonomy under the aegis of Philippine sovereignty or insist on the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity which apparently is not a departure form its original agenda for an independent state? This question actually does not beg for an answer because the BJE is in the state of limbo following the atrocities waged by rogues commanders which the MILF have officially acknowledge as their own.

It is a vicious cycle of confusion and nothing circumspect have come about to assure that even as one is not a Filipino he will abide by Philippines sovereignty and live and enjoy more rights and privileges of an ordinary Filipino citizen. What does that make of him?

What then is wrong if our Philippine Marines teach the young school children of Sulu the basic values and duties of a Filipino citizen when a teacher who ought to have done this is adamant to do so?