Christmas Fireworks - Cebu

Happened to have been up by the hills for dinner. Whoa! Saw at least 8 separate firework displays. And, those are just the ones I caught when looking out and down the city as I smoked outside. Guessing, one of those must have been from the Ayala Center Area. Another must have been from the SM City Cebu area. Others, I wonder where. How many could have there been tonight?! It is true then… Cebuanos don’t care if there’s a recession… ITS CHRISTMASTIME! Period! Luvit! How much more tomorrow night? Ah… but I leave in a few hours!

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Noise!

Heard on CNN that some folks in America are complaining, therefore made a move to ban or take out TV Commercials that are too loud more than the programs they are watching. One child interviewed says, she just mutes the damn tube when those commercials come on. And I think they’re taking the issue out to congress or senate.

Hmm, I absolutely agree! However, I cannot help but reflect on that “problem” versus the noise very common in my Inang Bayan!

Than bother about those commercials, which as said by the little girl, can be muted, here-arounds, I would like to be able to “mute”, instead of wail and wait centuries for a congress or senate to legislate, plus another century for the authorities to implement:

Foremost: Tricycles with engine sounds that seem to wreck your head every time they pass your house! They even do make some signal disturbances to the damn tube (CATV or not) when they roar by! Good if you live at Forbes Park, Dasma or The Fort etc as there are none of those! Thanks that my village in Banilad seem to be unanimous in not riding trikes inside the village (farthest you walk is only quarter of a kilometer anyway)! But in QC, we even have to shout at each other while conversing when those tricycles pass by!

2. Motorbikes. Same as above. Just remove their cabs (sidecars). Oh, those who keep revving or palying at their engines in front of your house should be shot!

3. Jeeps. For those who live near the main thoroughfares (like at our other abode, also in QC), the noise from them is also a menace! Same effects as above. They’re just usually more frequent in between! Argh!

4. Jeeps w/ altered engines to make noise. Those are most common in the Cubao-Antipolo route. Their drivers and those who make those noisy engines should be shot twice. Whysoever they think it is a fancy thing, I am perplexed. The decibel level of those machines are not just deafening. They’re maddening!

5. Cars/motorcycles w/ mufflers removed – or something like that. I had been a child, had been a teen-ager, had been childish or childlike. Even done a lot of foolish shameful things in my time – at times even bordering on the immoral and illegal. But, it never occurred to my lowly brain as a fancy thing to make my car or my big bikes roar like hell on the roads. Then again, I may have had too much of being on the spotlight ever since! The drivers of those kinds of vehicles should not just be shot twice, they should be slapped by a randomly picked row of two hundred passersby. There! They got their attention! Mga KSP!

6. Jeeps and buses that blare loud music! Especially those that have twitters or those that seem to only have “treble” and no “bass”. Ah don’t tell me you are just trying to listen to good music to calm your senses. Utot nyo! Why increase the volume to the extent you cannot anymore hear the “bayad o”! Like No. 5 above, mga KSP lang kayo na sagabal sa mundo! You should each be placed in a drum and rolled along the highway for 10 kilometers!

7. AND, these days there are now those motorcycles that also blare music. While they’re not deafening unless you brake and be stationary beside me, your “noise” is annoying. No its not music, its noise. Wait for technology to come up with a good bass reverb before you try blaring out “music” from your ugly bikes. You’d probably be fine tuning in to AM Radio with your kind of speakers. All I can say is… ang mura nyo!

8. Music I said? Ah, the videoke music from as far as two blocks away is my “next in line” hehe. At least at my QC village, every household who foresees a pit of videoke croaking for a night would go around the neighborhood advising us that they would/might do so! And come to think of it, never heard of anyone protesting! But yes, the morning after… is always a grand morning of ridiculous ridicules hehehe! Ah here I Banilad, you just instantaneously hear them even at as early as 7AM. And yes, two – even three blocks away. Why is it that it is never fun to hear yourself sing on the videoke if the volume is as low as just to rock the house? Am asking that question to my very self! Ah for the people in this group of “noise-makers” – me included – when they start croaking, they should be casually invited for like a cup of coffee and a discussion about the latest news or latest gadget or latest gossip hehe! Suggested byline… “tara, tsismisan nalang tayo!”

Ah noise… when will technology ever produce a “sound faker” something like the real high decibel squeak of a jeep or motorbike engine is instantaneously translated as the wonderful sound of waves lapping on the shore or a baby trying to sing “sa ugoy ng duyan”. Oops! Baby singing? How about translate every noise to a toddler singing “nobolly nobolly bajou” (nobody, nobody but you)! Am not really an avid fun of relaxing calming music or sounds. I can handle noise from time to time like the thunderous roar of all the menfolk in a town cheering over at a cockpit arena! When its loud and high decibel, it should not be frequent than just every Sunday or so!

I am generally joking but I hope my message gets across. When in this country will we start attending to noise as a serious issue? After the Ampatuan case? Then that would be long coming, argh! As for now… accept that it is one of the main contributors to your urban stress!

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People's Movement calls on citizenry to help secure and bring back beauty of Burnham Park

by Lito Dar

Baguio City (25 July) -- Fencing Burnham Park is a project that was conceptualized by the city's Centennial Commission, thru the Baguio Centennial Parks Committee (BCPC) with Bishop Carlito Cenzon as the point person to coordinate and oversee the various programs, projects and activities in relation to the beautification, renewal and rehabilitation of the parks in the City.

According to Bishop Cenzon, it was decided by the group of volunteers he heads, to animate all the people who love Baguio, whether they reside in the city or elsewhere in the country or abroad, to adopt a portion or span of the Burnham Park fence.

In a press conference, Friday, Bishop Cenzon said that after a year of the "Adopt a Fence" program, there are 110 spans that have been done and on-going. There are also pledges that they already received, though overall the project needs 864 sponsors for the 864 spans needed to complete the project.

In line with the project, Bishop Cenzon is reiterating the call for the people to get involved, individually or as a group, and help it become a project of the people, a people's movement.

"The city government also signified its intention to help, but what is important is for the people, in line with our centennial theme of "Fostering a Culture of Caring," to help us secure and beautify the whole park," Cenzon said.

"This park is ours, your children are there and maybe your grandchildren will be there also," added the bishop.

For her part, Baguio pioneer journalist Cecille Afable expressed the need for the public to know that there are people participating in the project. She also appeals to the people of Baguio to believe that we own the park, (through the project) we are serving the people and that we will fight for this park. "We have to tell the people that the park is beyond the commerce of men," she said.

For those who will be part of the project, maybe someday they can say, "Once upon a time, I was in that park and I helped fenced it" and maybe someday when they return, to the once beautiful park, it is now again a place, "wherein everyone can sit and dream, where every children can play and young lovers to walk hand in hand, a park for everybody," Afable added.

According to Vic Agcaoili, BCPC chairman, each span or section of the Burnham Park fence, is three meters by six feet and will cost each sponsor, P60,000 and with its planned 864 spans it will cover the entire outside perimeter of Burnham Park.

Agcaoili also expressed optimism that donors will always come, as there are a lot more kind hearted people out there. Bishop Cenzon also assured that the project will go on even after the city's centennial celebration ends on December 31.

To learn more about the Burnham Park Fencing Project you can log on to www.bpfp.org.com or for more information, you can also call their office at 3042715. (PIA)

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PGMA's SONA project, RP's tallest bridge, now rises; turnover in August

Tacloban City (July 25) -- Thanks to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Eastern Visayas has another claim to fame. It will no longer be known only as the home of the longest bridge in the country, the San Juanico Bridge which connects Leyte and Samar Islands.

This time, Eastern Visayas will also be known as the home of the tallest bridge in the country, as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's SONA Project, the Agas-Agas Bridge, has been completed before the end of July and is set to be turned over in the early part of August 2009.

The Agas-Agas Bridge located at Barangay Kahupian, Sogod, Southern Leyte, is an engineering masterpiece, the first-ever in the country that would be supported by 85-meter piers with heights equivalent to a 25-story building.

In an interview with Department of Public Works and Highways Region 8 Director Angelito Twano, he said that the P995 million project was undertaken by the Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd., and was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency- Official Development Assistance under the second phase of the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway Rehabilitation Project.

Built over a gorge on the Agas-Agas mountain, the bridge majestically spans 1.5 kilometers in a breathtaking view, connecting mountains of lush forest abundant with flora and fauna.
Even DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane was so struck by the spectacular panorama of the Agas Agas Bridge that he ordered the construction of a viewing deck at the middle part of the bridge so that motorists will be able to better appreciate the view of the surrounding mountainous areas and forests.

Having a keen eye for beauty, Secretary Ebdane saw the tourism potential of the area. He said that the bridge could in the future be used for bungee jumping, for adventure tourism. He also ordered the construction of comfort rooms and sheds on both sides of the bridge where weary motorists can relax and rest.

Right now, a parking space has been developed as the area has been found to be a very good picnic or camping site.

"Because it is considered as an engineering feat in the country, the Agas-Agas Bridge has the potential of becoming a tourist destination in Eastern Visayas," Secretary Ebdane said.

The construction of the bridge was seen as a permanent solution to the natural movements of loose soil aggregates, or landslides, in this mountainous area during rainy days reportedly due to a fault line that hinder traffic when the highway is blocked, sometimes resulting to loss of lives and properties.

The project was included in the rehabilitation of Daang Maharlika Project under the "Super-Regions" concept of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inasmuch as the road network served as a vital link connecting Luzon and Mindanao via the Maharlika highway through the Liloan Ferry Terminal and the newly completed ferry terminal in Benit, San Ricardo, Southern Leyte. (PIA 8)

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Tagalog News: Quezon Eco-Tourism Road, malaking tulong sa promosyon ng turismo at pagkakaroon ng karagdagang trabaho

by Ruel M. Orinday

Lucena City (24 July) -- "Ang tinatapos na Quezon Eco.Tourism Road ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH- 2nd Engineering District)) sa lalawigan ng Quezon ay malaking tulong sa pagpapaunlad o promosyon ng turismo bukod pa sa ito ay makapagbibigay ng maraming trabaho sa mga taga Quezon".

Ito ang inihayag ni Ms. Gladys Mayo ng Quezon Provincial Tourism Office sa ginawang pakikipanayam ng Philippine Information Agency (PIA- Quezon) kaninang umaga, July 23.

Ayon kay Mayo, ang pagkakaroon ng maaayos na kalsada, mga kakaibang okasyon o gawain, mga masasarap na pagkain at mga tourist destination sa mga bayan sa Quezon ay isang paraan upang dayuhin ang Quezon ng mga lokal at dayuhang turista.

Aniya, sa pagkakaroon ng maayos na kalsada sa Quezon, hindi na rin mahihirapan ang mga taga karatig lalawigan nito at maging ang mga taga Metro manila para magbiyahe sa mga bayan sa Quezon kagaya ng pagtungo sa mga beach resorts sa Sariaya at iba pang mga tourist attraction sa Quezon. Bukod dito, malaking tulong din ang mga isinasaayos na kalsada sa mga nasasakupan ng proyektong Quezon Eco. Tourism Road hindi lang sa mga lokal at dayuhang turista kundi gayundin sa mga biyahero o nagdadala ng mga produktong agrikultura mula sa bayan ng Candelaria at Sariaya patungong Lucena City at mula Lucena City patungong Sariaya at Candelaria.

Kabilang sa mga natapos nang proyekto sa ilalim ng Quezon Eco. Tourism Road ay ang Guisguis- Talaan Section sa Sariaya, Quezon na may habang 7.44 kms (Phase- 1); Guisguis- Bantilan Section sa Sariaya (7.72 kms/ Phase-II) at ang Talaan- Salinas- Lucena City Diversion Road (11.63 kms/Phase- III). Ang proyektong ito ay mula Candelaria, Quezon hanggang Diversion Road Lucena City at may kabuoang pondo na 630 milyong piso.

Ang Quezon Eco. Tourism Road ay isa rin sa mga pangunahing proyekto ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa Region IV-A na naglalayong maisaayos ang mga pangunahing kalsada, maitaguyod ang turismo at makalikha ng milyong trabaho. (PIA Quezon)

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Tourist arrivals in Central Visayas remain upbeat

By Rachelle M. Nessia

Dumaguete City (23 July) -- Tourist arrivals in Central Visayas continue to gain momentum despite the global economic meltdown that has affected industries worldwide.

National Economic Development Assistant Region7 Director Efren Carreon said that tourist arrivals in the region have been upbeat and continue to be a strong sector in the regional economy.

"One good thing happening in our regional economy is that our tourist arrivals continue to increase. The tourism is one strong sector as far our economy is concerned," said Carreon in a recent media interview.

He however noted a slowdown in foreign tourist arrivals recently. "But it is still increasing, only it's at a lower pace now," he added, stressing that the slowdown may be due to the financial crisis.

"People are not getting the income that they used to have before so the tendency is for travels around the world to go down," he said.

The global economic meltdown has affected the regional economic situation, especially the region's export market which suffered a dip in orders for furniture and other export products this year compared to last year. "In Cebu, the furniture and exports industry have been affected the most because some of the customers from abroad cancelled or cut down their orders due to a drop in the demand in export markets especially in the USA," said Carreon.

USA, which has been hardest hit by the economic slump, is one of the region's biggest markets in the export industry.

Exports in the region went down to around 40% as of first quarter of 2009 compared to that of 2008, said Carreon.

"The tendency during the financial crisis is that the purchasing power of people reduced because their employment is affected, and demand for products made in the Philippines likewise went down especially in Region 7," explained Carreon.

The NEDA official is however positive that the export industry in the region will pick up before the year ends.

"We are hopeful that in the later quarter of this year and in 2010 our export industry can recover because there are signs in the international markets that orders are starting to come in," he added. (PIA/RMN)

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Pangasinan beauty pageant on

Lingayen (9 March) -- The search is on for the Limgas na Pangasinan 2009, considered the biggest beauty pageant in the province.

Dr. Jackson D. Soriano, provincial health Officer-in-Charge and chair of Limgas na Pangasinan '09 search, said that the screening will be held on March 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Malong Conference Room, 2nd floor of the Malong building inside the provincial capitol complex.

Interested ladies must be single, 16 to 23 years of age (at least high school graduating student), at least 5'4" in height, of good moral character and with pleasing personality.

Applicants are required to bring the following during the screening: copy of high school or college diploma or certification from her school where she is enrolled, endorsement of the mayor or the local chief of police, two-piece swimsuit, casual dress and at least three-inch high heeled shoes.

The Limgas na Pangasinan is one of the highlights of the annual Pista'y Dayat celebration.

For more inquiries and information, contact Ms. Florence Nipales-Berba or the Limgas na Pangasinan Secretariat at (075) 542-4327 or mobile number 0917-5043567. (PIA-Pangasinan/PIO)

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