Gerwin finds meaningful life in 'Sawsaw'

Gerwin Yudelmo: 'Don't despair---things will improve.'

A meal is not complete without a delicious dip.  

That is what Gerwin Yudelmo, a former call center agent in Cebu City, thought to venture while he quarantined for more than a month.

The dip--Sawsaw Bojol Sukang Binaryo-- is now a well-loved blended spiced coconut sap vinegar. 

Gerwin, 30, said his dip is simple. The vinegar dipping sauce is made from a vinegar of organic coconut fragmented sap also known as “tuba” blended with garlic, ginger, chilli and other spices.

He said once the ingredients have been selected and chopped,  the next step is to mix them all together with vinegar. 

"Combine ingredients vigorously. It will be stored or fermented for two months," he said. 

But behind the delicious sauce is the  life story of Gerwin who lost his job in Cebu City due to the pandemic. 

He also founded the #ProjectHope with other volunteers to help fellow locally stranded individuals or LSIs in Cebu City .

He went home to Inabanga to rest and take new adventure in life.

"Sawsaw Bojol Sukang Binaryo" (Spiced Vinegar) is a perfect dipping sauce for grilled, fried and dried meats. Photo: Leo Udtohan

"At the quarantine facility, I thought of starting a business. But the big question is what business should I do? While we were eating with my colleagues there, I thought that the sauce is a big thing to make the food delicious," said Gerwin. 

The municipal government provided food for locals stranded at the quarantine facility. 

"So to make our food more satisfying, we put some sauce on it. So, I suddenly thought that the sauce would be my business after the quarantine was over," he added. 

His new business also helps farmer Rodel Punay, a tuba gatherer, who is also affected by the pandemic. 

"I lost my income because no one is buying  my tuba. I thank Sir Gerwin who buys my vinegar. Now, I can buy food for my family," Rodel said. 

Gerwin's "Sawsaw" became a hit in Inabanga, some parts of Bohol and Cebu.

It is a perfect dipping sauce for grilled, fried and dried meats. 

"The Sawsaw has become part of our meals everyday. It's our new favorite with my barkada and my family," said Simon Lastimoso. 

He said "Sawsaw" is really different from spiced vinegar. 

"It has the right flavor, right 'spiciness' , right 'sourness' , right 'sweetness' . It's just right," said Lastimoso. 

Simon Lastimoso says "Sawsaw Bojol Sukang Binaryo" has the right flavor and blend. Photo: Leo Udtohan

And for every purchase of "Sawsaw,"  one peso will go to #ProjectHope to help LSIs in Cebu and other parts of the Philippines.

Although Gerwin takes a different road in life, far from his job, Gerwin enjoys what he is doing right now.

What lessons he learned from this pandemic? 

 "First, don't despair---things will improve. Someone will always help us. I have witnessed it not only for myself but to all the Boholanos who have been stranded in Cebu. Second, we need to save something from our salary because we do not know what tomorrow brings," advised Gerwin. 

We rise by lifting each other.

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Shana Tova!

Rosh Hashanah is upon us -- soon we'll be hearing the sound of the shofar. 

Shalom!!! 

It’s hard to believe that more than half a year has passed since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) swept the globe and so drastically changed our world.

But some things stay the same. Rosh Hashanah is still Rosh Hashanah, and we are still G-d’s children.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, a day of judgment and coronation, and sounding of the shofar . .. In short, it is the birthday of the universe, the day G‑d created Adam and Eve, and it’s celebrated as the head of the Jewish year.

I am praying that G-d grant us a “good and sweet year”. 

Wishing you and yours a very healthy, happy, and sweet new year! 

Shana Tova!!! 

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This "7 Rules of Virtual Meeting Etiquette Every Professional Should Know" from Jeycelle Espejo-Inting of Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School:

1.Leave the keyboard alone. 

2.Dress appropriately. 

3.Be aware of your surroundings  ( No beds (unmade or made) in the background. No messy rooms or open closets where everyone can see your clutter. 

4.Mute your microphone when you’re not talking. 

5.Speak up. 

6.No food allowed ( Do not eat while your video is on).

 7.  Stay seated and stay present. 

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The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Officials of Alburquerque, Tau Gamma Phi (Albur Chapter) and Youth Volunteers conducted the 2020 International Coastal Clean-up Day on Saturday, Sept. 19. 

Kien Alphe Garsuta, SK Alburquerque municipal president, they collected a total number of 85 sacks of trashes worth 850.85 kilograms. 

Volunteers during the 2020 International Coastal Clean-up Day on Saturday, Sept. 19. 

Photo: Kien Alphe Garsuta

"A shameful load that could have still been polluting our shores, rivers and seas" Garsuta posted on Facebook.

He said "volunteerism and passion to save our #Environment in this #NewNormal era is so alive!" 

He said it was another proof that youth can lead and do so much for the community. 

"Let's make it a habit to be part of the solution not the pollution," said Garsuta. 

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Online schooling has a tech issue

Last month, some schools across the country have had to quickly shift to remote learning as they adapt to social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

In Bohol,  six-year-old Arvin Jay Curangcurang climbs on a makeshift tree house on  top of a hill in Barangay Cabatang in Alicia town to attend online classes. 

Arvin is a Grade 2 pupil of Advance Christian Academy-Banawa Inc.

When I visited Arvin, I'd learned that before classes opened last August 18, his grandfather, Martin, built a “tree house” on Gmelina tree located on top of a hill because it is the only place in the area where cellular phone signal is strong.

The tree house is actually made up of wooden floor with no walls and tarpaulin as roof. It has a small table and small chair. 

His android phone is on a small table, leaning on the tree trunk, to keep it steady while Alvin listens to the teacher.

Arvin's aunt, Giecel Marie Curangcurang, said Barangay Cabatang is a dead spot along with the other neighboring barangays. 

"We really have no signal at all," she said. 

The tree house was inspected by Pastor Eleazar Banawa, the school administrator, to ensure Arvin's safety.

He said he told the family not to bring the boy to the treehouse if the weather was bad since the area was landslide prone and exposed to lightning and snakes. 

Banawa assured that the school would provide a module as well as  video and audio recordings if Arvin failed to attend the online class.

In order to access stable internet connection, 6-year-old Arvin Jay Curangcurang in Alicia town, Bohol has to go to a small tree house to attend his online classes. Photo: Leo Udtohan

But the main problem remained connectivity.

Even if Arvin was already in the area where cellular phone signal was supposedly strong, it was not consistent. The classes have been bogged down by interconnectivity issues.

Many students from low-income families like Arvin’s lack the basic technology they need to study online, including access to a laptop and a reliable broadband connection. 

Broadband access has been a problem long before the pandemic, with limited competition, high prices, slow speeds, and a simple lack of coverage affecting communities nationwide. 

The  Department of Education (DepEd) -Division of Bohol is also  struggling to keep education accessible to all in this pandemic. 

In its August 26 report to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, DepEd-Bohol said 61% of schools in Bohol have no internet connectivity in schools, while 39% have limited internet access (insufficient bandwidth given by providers). 

My friends-- Butch Bernas, Ph. D and Edison Gumapac of Manga High School in Tagbilaran City said they and other educators are scrambling to teach themselves software like Google Meet, Google Classroom, Zoom, Facebook Chat to create interactive content to help students at home stay engaged. 

To address the problem on lack of internet connectivity, DepEd was eyeing radio stations and local cable providers to air its learning programs to be able to reach more students.

But in the province's biggest public school in terms of population, their blended learning of choice is the delivery of printed copies to their 6,339 students.

But the parents don't have to pay for these modules, said Maurine Castaño, principal of  Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School (DCPNHS) in Tagbilaran. 

“They will get the printed copies here and return these after use,” she said.

Pastor Eleazar Banawa, the school administrator, checks the place to ensure Arvin's safety. Photo: Leo Udtohan

Castaño explained that they could not go into online classes because most of their students come from low-income families.

She expects some adjustments since even teachers are learning from this new normal.

Arvin's touching story get inside our hearts that some have helped him in some ways. 

Thank you Ms Eden Descallar-Ceballos of Globe Telecom-Tagbilaran for the Globe At Home Prepaid Wifi for Avin! 

And thank you Ms Marissa Flores, senior vice president of GMA News for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8 for Arvin! 

Indeed, if there's a will, there's way. 

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44 former rebels receive livelihood kits from DTI-Bohol

A total of 44 former rebels in Bohol who voluntarily surrendered to authorities received livelihood starter kits from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Friday. Photo courtesy: DTI-Bohol

While other areas in the country are hell-bent on fighting the long-standing insurgency problem, the province of Bohol, with an open heart, is embracing and helping those who returned to the folds of law.

Some 44 former rebels became recipients of the Livelihood Seeding Program (LSP) under the Pangkabuhayan sa Pag Bangon at Ginhawa (PBG) Program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) during the turnover ceremony on Friday at the Bohol provincial Capitol. 

The   PBG   program   is   a   DTI   initiative   aiming   to   uplift   and   provide   livelihood   assistance   topotential and existing entrepreneurs, especially micro enterprises, in areas hit by both naturaland man-made disasters, including those affected by local armed conflicts. 

Each livelihood package  granted to  each  of the  beneficiaries are  in the form of informationmaterials,   entrepreneurship   training,   business   counseling,   and   actual   goods   amounting   to P10,000 supporting the establishment or re-establishment of their business activities.

Arist and environmentalist Pedro Angco shows his work  using old slippers and other discarded materials he collected from the sea. Photo courtesy: Kien Alphe Garsuta

The beneficiaries who came from 17 towns in Bohol is the second batch of PBG beneficiaries in the province who were former rebels, as 24 individuals were also given such assistance by DTI-Bohol last May 2020. 

Types of projects selected are sari-sari store package, rice and agrivetsupplies retailing, hog, cattle, and goat raising, eggs trading, bahalina production, bread andpastry making, and farming.

Personally conveying their support and encouragement to the beneficiaries were DTI Assistant Secretary Asteria C. Caberte, DTI-Bohol Provincial Director Marisol L. Balistoy, Governor ArthurC. Yap, Vice-Governor Rene L. Relampagos, 1st  District Congressman Edgar M. Chatto, 2nd District Congressman Aris C. Aumentado representative Nelson Pon, and Major Mozart Jaque,Executive Officer of the Philippine Army (PA) 47th Infantry Battalion stationed in Carmen, Bohol.

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This interesting information from the National Museum of the Philippines-Bohol: 

DID YOU KNOW?

Bohol nests the most precious Dinosaur Egg the country ever has, in the form of "Asin Tibuok". 

This art of salt making in Bohol dates back to the pre-colonial period wherein our ancestors trade salt for rice and vice-versa.

Now, only two families in Alburquerque produces this rare artisanal sea salt.

Dinosaur's Egg? Now, only two families in Alburquerque produces this rare artisanal sea salt. Photo: Asin Tibook Facebook

Nestorio Manongas and his family have their production area in Eastern Poblacion and Mario Baluarte and family in the village of Sta. Filomena.

It takes a lot of passion and love for their work to create this masterpiece since it is a very labor-intensive activity in which the entire process may take three to four months from soaking the coconuts into the sea to burning these using local hardwoods and then slowly roasting the clay pots containing the salt. It boasts of its rare flavor: smoky, sweet salt which comes from different ingredients used to make the "Asin tibuok".

It may be a dying industry but unless it's completely gone, this art can still be preserved and passed on to the next generation of Alburanons.

Another interesting person is Pedro Angco Jr., an artist from Baclayon town, who creates artworks using old slippers, discarded wires, and plastics that washed up on the shore of Barangay Laya. 

Angco and his works became viral in the social media when a youth leader Kien Alphe Garsuta and his fellow youth leaders discovered him at his humble hut. 

Angco won the second prize in the sculpture category at the GSIS Art Competition in 2017. 

Interesting! Interesting! 

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