Surigaonon’s celebrates 39th year with Bonok-Bonok Fest

Collage of Photos taken from Bonok-Bonok Fstival 2008. This
years is more merrier with participants from other part of the Mindanao Region.

by PJTremedal

Surigao City – Dubbed as the shining jewel of Northeastern Mindanao continues to glitter amidst rich natural beauty and community initiatives to build an environment truly befitting that of a most livable City.

As a former capital town of Surigao del Norte, thru the initiatives of then Congressman Constantino “ Oguing” Navarro Sr thru Republic Act 6134 in August 31, 1970 and approved by President Ferdinand Marcos, it become a charter city.

Founded as a town in June 29, 1955, Surigao has 54 barangays, 21 of which are in more than 17 islands and islets with its jurisdiction, It become a destination of choice in the country today.

Mining as its primary economic base coupled with a robust services sector accounting for 49% of its total employment and followed by agriculture and fisheries, it become a compatible small city globally.

“ As of now, Surigao is growing strong small as it is but it had been adjudged and again nominated to compatible globally in the small category by the national government, and we will strive more after our 39^th year.” Mayor Alfonso Casurra said.

In 2005 Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project of the Asian Institute of Management, Surigao City was chosen among the most competitive and even topped in the field of cost of doing business.

In 2006, was chosen as a finalist of the Most Business Friendly LGU Award of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Last August 31, 2009 it celebrated its 39^th year.

Bonok-Bonok Festival 2009

Parallel to natural attractions and tourist destinations found only in Surigao City is the cultural traditions showcased in its annual festival, “Bonok-Bonok” A street dancing mardi-gras combining the pagan rituals of bountiful harvest of the Mamanwa Tribe with Chirstian adoration honoring the feast of city Patron, St Nicolas de Tolentino.

Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karajaw depicts the native’s merry making to show gratitude for bountiful and healthful harvest.

As one of the oldest and still existing tribes in the country are the mamanwas who are quite similar to the negritoes in physical profile, tho’ force to settle in the hinterlands because of advent development they still practice their customs and tradition. One of this is the belief about “Kahimunan”, a tribal festivity which offers dances called bonok-bonok.

Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw (Good Ridance)is a reflection of Surigao’s Rich cultural heritage.

Two days before the feast day, (Septmber 8) A streetdancing competition will be one of the happiest activities, this year ,six(6) groups will be participating, The Butuan City Delegation comprises of 250 street dancers together with their musical band, Tirbu Taga-Kanam of Abuyog, Leyte, the Misamis Oriental (MOIST) Kaamulan Champion 2009 of the Kagayan Festival 2009, locals Surigao West Central elementary School with its 230 streetdancers, the General Luna , Dive and Surfing greats contingent of Surigao del Norte, and the original Surigao Norte National High School street dancers with a participaton of 190 dancers.

With its cretiria this yar, Storyline and concept (20%), choreography (30%), Performance (35%) and production Design (15%) with a total of 100% big amount of cash prizes awaits the winners.

Grand prize wins 250-thousand with trophy, 1^st runner-up will get 200-T with trophy, 2^nd runner-up 150-T with trophy and the 3^rd runner-up will get 100-T with trophy. Bonok Bonok Culture and Arts Foundation, Inc will also give special prizes; Best in Street Dancing 50-T with trophy, Best Choreography 25-T with trophy, Best in Costumes 25-T wth trophy and Best in Musicality 25-T with trophy.

“Amidst challenging times in our country, one cannot help but feel proud and strong that despite seemingly growing adversity, our city manages to surge forward through the years.

With our sustained unity and dedication, we have stood through the test of times and our resolve to collectively craft our destiny continue to be strong. Rest assured that this administration will not rest on our laurels but shall remain focused in the attainment of our vision for better and competitive Surigao” Mayor Alfonso Casurra in his anniversary message.

PHILIP JAMES MONGAYA TREMEDAL
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Super Ferry 9 Tragedy (update)

By PJTremedal

Zamboanga City - One more victim is still missing after a two day search and rescue that conducted to the ill fated Aboitiz Trnsport Systems Corp-WGA Super Ferry 9 tthat sink off Batorompon Point in the Zamboanga Peninsula, while 958 were rescued and 9 were confirmed dead.

This was disclosed by Philippie Coast Guard Chief Adm Wilfredo Tamayo in an TV interview. The PCG said that without the help of everybody involved in the rescue operations more casualties and dead passengers will be experienced.

This the Government thank the successful operation amidst controversies issued by the survivors, however, ATS-WGA denies thatth crew of the ill-fated seacraft did not do their job right.

In the interview, PCG Chief Adm Tamayo further disclosed that Malacañang had order the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI)to seat and investigate before Friday(September 10).

As of this time, one is still missing, 958 were rescued and given assistance by the responding government and non-government agencies, while 9 persons perished in the sea tragedy.

Super Ferry 9 Sinks at Batorompon Point in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte at about 10:30 AM September 5 after it tilted to its right side in a rough seasat 2AM in its trip going to Ilo-ilo City from Gensan and Zamboanga ports.

As of Monday night, four of the nine fatalities have been identified as James Patrick Gallego, 2; Ferdinand Apolonio; Carina Ampere, 23; and Fernando Estrada.

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has suspended the operations of Aboitiz Transport System Corp. (ATSC), owner of the SuperFerry 9 vessel that sank off the coast of Zamboanga Peninsula last Sunday, killing nine people.

Meantime, all ATSC ships will be inspected for its seaworthiness.

PHILIP JAMES MONGAYA TREMEDAL
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2nd Mindanao Vegetable Expo Opened

By PJTremedal

Cagayan de Oro City – The 2^nd Mindanao Vegetable Exposition 2009 had just opened for its second year in hosting vegetable production as an industry to this northern part of Mindanao.

Themed: “Gulay sa mesa, Dagdagan and sustansya”, DA Region 10, RD Lealyn Ramos welcome participants and members of clusterized stakeholders and other participants of Northern Mindanao Veggies led by President/ Director Marcelino E. Remotigue at the SunRiva Restaurant.

Normin Veggies as a clusterized industry of vegetable growers/farmers from Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, and Camiguin provinces has been a Presidential Awardee in 2007 by DTI for its organization to become vegetable grower,producer, importer and exporter of the country today.

Metric tons of high valued and ordinary vegetables are now in full marketing scheming throughout the region and the whole country because of the scientific/clustering method adopted by Normin Veggies which is a marketing oriented scheme before producing for its vegetables.

“Although 40 kgs per year consumption per family, vegetables produced must not be the only reason to adopt such measures, this is farmer’s economic boom individually” Dir Remotigue said.

Meanwhile, Deparment of Agriculture-Region 10 as a its measure and implementation has organized more or less 25 industrial organization for specific farm produced had been successful for the past years, metric tons of farm products produced are now in the market all over Mindanao and the whole country as well.

“|We started clustering this specific group now we called industry in the late 2007’s and the department was successful as we can see it today how Normin farmers are producing.

Because of our commitment to help this farmers/growers, DA has extended beginning this year 3-M worth of “Rain shelters” for this farmers, as of now there are 20 farmers had been extended the program because of climate change problem. Vegetables are easily ruined with too much rain.” RD Ramos said.

“Rain shelters” are like green houses, and uses UV plastic to cover the vegetables.

Bukidnon is the largest high valued vegetable growers- producers, because of its high elevation, vast areas of production, and scientifically proved planting arena of vegetables. Farmers are even tapped as industrial partners of hotels, food chains, and other vegetables needs.

The 2^nd Mindanao Vegetable Expo is expected to come with new culinary art and techniques using vegetables as main ingredients and its healthful contents, came up with increase market utilization, and promotes confidence among farmers-growers.

Meantime, the said exposition is also a part of the Agro Tourism Week celebration of the province where municipalities of Misamis Oriental also established their promotional booths of their local produce and showcases their local agro tourism destinations and development.

PHILIP JAMES MONGAYA TREMEDAL
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ZDS PNP urges individuals to surrender and register their guns

By Mike Medina, ZampenNews

THE Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZPPO) under Provincial Director Sr/Supt. Ramon Ochotorena is urging individuals with patently loose guns to avail of the firearms amnesty which will end on October 31, this year.

Ochotorena called on gun holders to take advantage of the amnesty program and process their application as early as possible or face stiff penalty and imprisonment if caught after the amnesty period is over.

President Gloria Arroyo issued Executive Order 817, which grants a “final general firearms amnesty” from Oct. 1 to 31.

Earlier, in August, the PNP started the first amnesty, processing those who have expired and unrenewed firearm licenses. The upcoming Oct 1 to 31 will be for patently loose and never-been-registered firearms.

Ochotorena said such an amnesty would lessen the chance of loose guns being used in the upcoming 2010 elections.

The PNP estimates the number of unregistered firearms to about 1,110,277, including 559,326 with expired licenses. Loose guns reportedly account for 97 percent of crime incidents involving guns.

It was also learned that the PNP leadership has long been pushing for the procurement and establishment of a Ballistics Information System, which will do “gun fingerprinting” to speed up the resolution of crimes committed with the use of firearms.

High-powered guns include .40-cal. pistols and up, including automatic rifles and machine pistols while low-powered firearms include .9mm-cal., 38, .32, .25 and .22 guns.

Meanwhile, C/Insp. Rafael Odevillas, during the recently concluded seminar with media members tackling threat detection, counter surveillance, personal security, gun safety, handling and proficiency, said “paltiks” are not allowed for registration or licensing.

Odevillas said a registration payment of P1,000 will be asked for each loose firearm while holders of firearms with expired licenses will pay only P650.

Gun holders who renewed or registered their guns will then be given a temporary license pending the issuance of permanent, laminated gun license.

The ZPPO is authorized to accept and process unregistered guns and those who want to avail of the amnesty may visit their office at Camp Abelon in Lumbia District, this city.

In a related development, Pagadian City COP Mike Palermo of the PNPCO, also urge pagadianons to avail the amnesty in relation to Presidential E.O. 817 for the final general firearms amnesty until October 31, this year.

“It is the duty and responsibility of neither persons whose firearms are nor registered, they better surrender it to the police and avail the amnesty or otherwise they will face legal litigations” He said.

Pagadian City had been tagged as killing fields because of unsolved cases in shooting and killings in the past years but local and police officials denied this, however, authorities are now doubling their efforts to solve such crimes proliferated by drugs abuse and loose firearms.

“With this administration, we are now doubling our effort to solve this cases and strengthening our strategies to capture criminals in proper time” Palermo added.(with reports from www.pag-enews.tk)

PHILIP JAMES MONGAYA TREMEDAL
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Super Ferry 9 Sinks!

By PJTremedal

Zamboanga City – More or less nine hundred and sixty two (962) passengers were rescued while fifteen (15)were confirmed injured and 5 were dead three of whom are minors and some 60 are still missing.

Superferry 9 of the Aboitiz Shipping Trasport-WGA was last seen off Batarompon Pt. West of Zamboanga del Norte near the waters of Siocon tilting to its right side and ultimately sank at 10:30 September 5, 2009.

Resecuers from the Philippine Coast Guard with the help of other agencies from the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council of Zamboanga City with the support from the US Armed Forces here in the country rescued mor or less 962 passengers in the rough seas.

Mr. Vic Lioso, regional chief of the PNRC said in a radio interview that, all measures had been taken led by Mayor Celso Lobregat as chair of the disaster coordinating council to give immediate assistance to survivors, while the Philippine Coast Guard and the WGA conducted the rescue operations.

In a pres conference conducted by the Western Mindanao Command under Major General Ben Dolorfino confirmed that there were casualties on the said tragedy. The report confirmed that 14 were reportedinjured while 5 were dead of whom are three minors.

The ill fitted SuperFerry 9 with 968 passengers, 114 crew and 4 sea marshals to include the Sdtar Cinema Crew of 28 left Ganeral Santos City last Sept 4 and at 2 A.M. the boat tilted at it right side and ultimately sank 10:30 A.M. at Batarompon Pt.

In the press conference, terrorism act is dowplayed and and all measures had taken place to save the passengers, Gen Dolorfino said.

The Government agencies (Marina and PCG) are now fully investigating the said sea tragedy.

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Tacurong City gains 4 Gold; Zamboanga City 2nd Place

By PJTremedal

Cagayan de Oro City – Tacurong City with its best muay thai boxers recently wins and qualified for the National Muay Thai competition to be held at Robinson’s in Metro Manila, slated on September27-30.

With the support from the local government of Misamis Oriental under the leadership of sportsminded Governor Oscar Moreno, the 2009 Mindanao Muay Thai Qualifying Games was hosted September 4-5 at the capitol grounds.

Muay Thai players from Tacurong City, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Davao City, Cagayan de oro City and Misamis Oriental exchanges blows, kicks, elbow hits, and ultimately challenges each boxer in a three rounds matches.

In it finals, September 5, Tacurong muay thai boxers led the competition by gaining 4 gold medals,0 Silver, and two bronze. Zamboanga City who place second garnered 3 gold, 3 silvers, and 0 bronze.

Gold medalist and silver medalist from all the teams will represent Mindanao in the National Finals on September 27-30 at Robinson’s Square at Metromanila.

Dubbed as “Muay Thai sa Mis Or” Governor Oscar Morena was indeed happy and supported enough to facilitate the Mindanao Qualifying Games of the Muay Thai Association of the Philippines.

On the medal standings, Misamis Oriental landed on the third place with 1 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze, Davao City who is in the fourth place has 1 gold and 2 bronze, Zamboanga Sibugay who place fifth in the finals gathered 1 silver and 1 bronze and the last was Cagayan de oro with 1 silver medal.

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FPP: Fathers are Important Too!

Pagadian City – Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ma. Corazon S. Ariosa underscored the importance of the role of fathers in family planning the country’s priority public health program to achieve a healthy and responsible community.

“It is the social responsibility of the fathers to help their wives in family planning,” Ariosa said in a message.before the first-ever held men’s forum at Hotel Guillermo recently . It was sponsored by the Department of Health –Center for Health and Development (DOH-CHD), Region IX in coordination with the Provincial Government thru the Integrated Provincial Health Office.

Dr. Ariosa acknowledged the vital role of men under our culture, saying that they are the “pillars, provider, and decision-maker of the family.”

“We look up to the fathers as our children’s models-- giving directions to our family,” Ariosa explained.

She disclosed that in the province, several “women died due to teenage pregnancy and many of the deaths were caused by abortion.”

In the 2008 data gathered from the Field Health Service Information System and Infant Morbidity, it reported that some 121 women in Zamboanga del Sur, ages 15 to19 yrs. old died due to abortion.

With the sad news, the DOH in collaboration with IPHO personnel, appealed to the men’s sector, to provide assistance to their wives in the implementation of family planning, to prevent the recurrence of this health problem.

Ariosa was very optimistic that through the forum, and with the active participation of the men’s sector in the family planning program, they can achieve their desired goal in the improvement of the health and welfare of mothers, children and other members of the family, and to avoid the death of mothers.

The activity was part of the culmination of the Family Planning Month which provides information and services to the couples of reproductive age to plan their family according to their beliefs and circumstances through legally and medically acceptable family planning methods.

It was attended by some 200 fathers and future fathers composed of selected rank-and-file employees from the national, provincial and city governments, members of the AFP and PNP, barangay offocials, market vendors, and tricycle drivers.

The participants lauded DOH and IPHO personnel for involving them sufficient information in the family planning methods. (PIA9-Pagadian City)

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