Bohol media icon Fred Araneta, 74

By Leo Udtohan

Veteran Boholano broadcast journalist Fred Araneta, one of the most recognizable voices in Bohol airwaves, passed away last Monday, Sept. 12. 

He had been a broadcaster at station dyRD-Bohol Chronicle Radio Corporation for 49 years.

At 16, he started his broadcast career with dyML in the 1960. He then transferred to station dyRD where he practiced his craft from 1973 until his death.

He was the anchor of popular radio programs such as "Eveready Newscast", "7 'O Clock News" and "Inyong Alagad" with dyRD.

The "7  O’Clock News" with Araneta has maintained its popularity among radio listeners to this day that it serves as "alarm clock" to residents before going to offices and schools.

"Inyong Alagad" earned the program as one of the nominees as "Most Outstanding Radio Programs in the Philippines"  by the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters ng Pilipinas (KBP).

Araneta served as a longtime president of the Bohol Tri-Media Association (BTMA). 

Araneta’s colleagues, friends and listeners were among those who expressed condolences to his bereaved family, saying

morning radio will never be the same.

"Bohol and Tagbilaran lost an icon in broadcast media! Some shoes are just so difficult to replace. You are irreplaceable," said Rosalinda Paredes said Araneta, community oganizer and USAID-Surge project coordinator. 

"My life as a media person will never be the same without you, Fred. I will miss you forever in my life. FOREVER! Rest in peace, Dong," said Araneta’s sister, Ardy Araneta-Batoy, who is also a media practitioner, in a Facebook post.

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Taking risks to deliver the news

Just like the rest of frontliners, Rey Tutas of dyRD and Dave Charles Responte of dyTR are some members of Bohol media who risk life and limb to deliver the news for you. 

At times like this, media is crucial in bringing life-saving information.

Like the other frontliners (medical workers, policemen, security guards, barangay officials, et al), members of the Bohol media also take risks oftentimes at the expense of their loved ones.

They are being challenged like never before to cover an all-encompassing, relentlessly complex and fast-moving story.

Their task is to deliver the stories, especially updates on the raging virus, right into your home. 

In telling the stories of frontline workers and keeping government officials’ feet held to the fire, they’ve become frontline workers themselves.

Among them are Rey Tutas of dyRD and Dave Charles Responte of dyTR. They do it the normal way, still very visible in the field gathering facts for news. 

They wake up early to come to the stations. Rey comes from Lila town, at least 28 km from the capital city, while Dave lives in nearby Dauis town. 

While inside their respective studios, they have to wear face masks while on air. They also practise physical distancing and use alcohol and hand sanitizers nearby. 

Lately, Rey and Dave have purchased face shields to protect them while in the field. 

We have also seen how journalists use their own social media accounts for real-time news updates.  Rey has a “Facebook show” called "Kumbati Sa Serbisyo" to keep his viewers and followers updated. 

Othern frontliners are dyRD's Jun Gutierrez, Allen Doydora and Willie Maestrado and dyTR's Joshua Fullido, Ern Pahayahay and Lordina Vergara. 

Bob Galero is regularly anchoring his programs at both stations. 

Veteran journalist Ric Obedencio is busy doing the round in Bohol for big news breaks. So does Helen Castano. 

The senior anchors have been enjoined to stay home most of the time. They opted to do remote broadcasting on selected dates (including dyRD's veteran broadcasters Chito Visarra and Fred Araneta and dyTR's veteran broadcasters Pedi Bolanio and Ardy Araneta). 

Rey is pinch-hitting for Fred Araneta, the senior host of the "Inyong Alagad" with Tibbs Bullecer every Monday and Tuesday. 

Dave is also pinch-hitting for Lito Responte, anchor of dyTR's "Tomorrow's News Tonight". 

As frontliners, they carry on and do the work they think Boholano people deserve.

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A ‘high voltage’ experience in Leyte

The last time I looked, the mountain of Leyte was showing itself in full magnificent glory, breathtakingly beautiful.

That was last January when I covered the swim of Atty. Ingemar Macarine a.ka. Pinoy Aquaman in Canigao Channel. Although, we stayed there for only thirty minutes in Barangay Guadalupe in Maasin City, the mountain of Leyte awed me.

And last week, I saw her again.  The mountain transfixed me in awe as we arrived in Leyte for a facility familiarization tour and power transmission briefing by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

Mary Hope Arcenal receives a warm hug from Mayor Richard Gomez.

  Courtesy: Ric Obedencio

Our group — Lito Responte (dyTR), Mike Ligalig (Bohol Tribune/Agence France-Presse), Angeline Valencia (Bohol Chronicle/PNA/Freeman), Ric Obedencio (Bohol News Today/Freeman), Andy Nalzaro (Bohol Balita Daily News), Fred Amora (Radyo Jagna), Frony Narisma (Bohol Tribune), Jessa Agua- Ylanan (DA 7 Bohol media liaison officer), Maryknoll Joan Porpor (Magic  92.7 FM), Ern Pahayahay (dyTR), Mary Hope “Dice” Arcenal (Bohol Light Company, Inc.), Rey Anthony Chiu (Philippine Information Agency –Bohol) and Janet Lim Villarojo (Effective Development Communication Unit)— was the latest batch to be invited by Betty Martinez, spokesperson of NGCP –Visayas who, we soon found out, was an energetic multi-tasker who could talk about power supply as fast as she could shuttle from one project/meeting to another.

We took an early trip to Cebu City. Travel time was two hours. At Cebu Pier, Maam Betty accosted us and made things easy for us to the next level of our sea travel. We took the 11 a.m. boat going to Ormoc City. The three-hour trip gave us the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Leyte from a distance. It also gave us breathless feeling when we saw islands/islets.  

At the Ormoc City port, we were reminded that Ormoc City is part of Leyte.

Leyte is divided into two provinces: Leyte and Southern Leyte.

  

Asked in jest if we had time to see Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, the city’s main tourist attraction, Maam Betty (so casual and so unpretentious that’s why she’s so easy to love) said, “We will find time!”  And she did find way to arrange our courtesy call to Mayor Gomez.

From the pier, the group proceeded first to the NGCP’s Leyte Area Control Center where the group had an NGCP Power 101 briefing. 

It was an opportunity for us to know how the facilities operate and how power interruptions takes place.

We all know that the province of Bohol is fully dependent on Leyte for power. And our visit was timely after Bohol had experienced the 21-hour total power outage in December last year.

Ormoc City Mayor Richard “Goma” Gomez 

warmly welcomes the members of the Bohol media and 

NGCP personnel. Courtesy: Ric Obedencio

We learned that NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country's state-owned power grid, an interconnected system that transmits gigawatts of power at thousands of volts from where it is made to where it is needed.

Its network of interconnected transmission towers and substations serves as the highway where electricity travels from various energy sources to the smaller thoroughfares of distribution utilities and electric cooperatives until it reaches the households.

NGCP's task is to ensure that the country's transmission assets are in optimal condition to convey safe, quality, and reliable electricity. NGCP does this through regular inspection and repair of lines and substations, clearing of Right-of-Way obstructions, and timely restoration during and after natural disasters.

Reliability of power is the company's utmost priority so it closely monitors the grid and immediately responds to any system disturbance. NGCP acts as System Operator that balances the supply and demand of power to maintain the quality of electricity that flows through the grid.

Bulk of the NGCP Ormoc Substation (Visayas Operations District 1) supply is primarily from geothermal power plants plus latest sources from solar.

Bohol has a declared maximum capacity supply of 90 megawatts from Leyte to Bohol via Ormoc-Maasin-Pitogo-Ubay submarine cable.

The actual power supply to Bohol ranges from 55-56mw, while the average supply at night is at 60mw.

The personnel of the NGCP told us that Bohol’s competitive edge as an investment destination is negatively affected until Bohol can find alternative power sources.

 At 5 p.m., we hurriedly went to Ormoc City Hall. Goma is running the 110 barangays.

The people of Ormoc have seen the kind of work that Lucy and Goma have been doing. “Maayos at matino,” said a staff.

The mayor’s office staff said that Goma’s work ethic that he learned in showbiz in his work as a public servant is timeliness.

“Pag sinabing we start work at 8 o’clock, dapat before 8 o’clock ready na kami,” said another staff.

Members of the Bohol Media and personnel of the National Grid Corporation 

of the Philippines and Energy Development Corporation at Tongonan Geothermal 

Plant in Ormoc City. Courtesy: Ric Obedencio

Goma’s three priority projects are:

“No 1 is peace and order. No. 2 is tourism. No 3 is for Ormoc to be business-friendly,” said Goma.

“Ginagaya nga namin yung Bohol because you are one of the places na very successful ang tourism program ninyo,” Goma told members of the Bohol media.

He added, “Our thrust in Ormoc is to promote tourism, because we believe that ‘pag tourism, walang masyadong kalaban where you welcome people. You make them happy and at the same time, when people come sa isang lugar, you want them to spend money.”

                                                                                                

What can tourists see in Ormoc?

“One of them is our Lake Danao, parang Taal Lake. It’s very beautiful.”

Other attractions in Ormoc City are the Lake Kasudsuran, Lake Janagdan, Punta dela Reina, Ormoc’s oldest bridge, and sugar cane and pineapple plantation.

“We are aiming Ormoc to be a tourist destination. Maybe we are not as beautiful as Bohol but we have some areas that we can be proud of like Lake Danao,” said Goma.

While Goma was talking to us, I’d noticed that the women attentively  listened to him with sparkling eyes!  Goma, afterall, is still a hunk who is making women — and other creatures besides — swoon.  

Daghan na-dalaga og balik! Ha! Ha! Ha!

We were billeted at Ormoc Villa Hotel where we had a sumptuous dinner together with Ormoc-based media — Robert Dejon (PDI/GMA News), Lalaine Marcos-Jimenia, publisher of the Eastern Visayas Mail, Elvie Roa, et al.

The following day, we attended the briefing of Energy Development Corporation (EDC) facilitated by NGCP particularly on geothermal power plant.

The EDC personnel explained that since the Philippines is found in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the common heat source is magma, which transfers the heat from the earth’s core, where temperatures reach over 5,000 C.

The presence of water must be positive in a geothermal system. The water beneath the earth turns into that all-important steam used as geothermal energy.

They said that geothermal developers must take care of the forests because without trees, water will just run off to the rivers and seas and leave geothermal reservoirs empty.

From EDC Building, we went to visit the Tongonan Geothermal Reservation.  We missed the visit to the Tongonan Hot Spring National Park. Maybe next time.  The Tongonan Hot Spring National Park has a medicinal pool, a geyser that spurts hourly, and formations exuding sulphuric vapors. We were told that wild pigs, monkeys, deers and birds are also fund in the park.

Of course, we didn’t leave Ormoc City without buying pineapples and moron, and visiting the Saints Paul and Peter Parish Church where Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres and Mayor Goma tied the knot in 1998.

At past 1 p.m., we left Ormoc for Maasin City. We dropped by at the Albuera Town Hall and had photo ops with Mayor Rosa Meneses.  The town rings a bell? We had a stop-over in BayBay City to see the Visayas State University (formerly Visayas State College of Agriculture). It has a total land area of 1, 479 hectares that extends from the shores of Camotes Sea to the top of Mt. Pangasugan.

The group arrived in Maasin City at around 5 p.m., and proceeded to the NGCP-Maasin Substation, where Bohol province gets its power supply via Pitogo island-Ubay.

The NGCP has upgraded the second line, or Line 2 to the Leyte-Bohol grid that supplies electricity to Bohol through submarine cables.

“Line 2 has been in place to ensure continuous power supply in the future,” said Engr. Giovanni Torralba.

Hitches in Leyte grid clutched the whole Bohol to another total power outage on Dec. 4, 2016 which lasted for 20 hours. And we got irked for that.

We stayed at Villa Romana Hotel. We capped the night with a sumptuous dinner together with Ormoc-based journalists- Jani Arnaiz (Inquirer), Monching Buyser and Frank Bandibas of dyDM-AM Maasin.  Others went to the city to buy slippers, while others had a video-k session.

Unfortunately, we spent barely 24 hours in Maasin City and proceeded to Bato, Leyte for our trip back to Bohol.

So much to see, so little time!

From the boat going to Ubay, I took a fleeting glimpse of the mountain of Leyte glittering in the summer sun. It seemed to bid us goodbye, inviting us to visit again. Paging Maam Betty! Ha! Ha! Ha!

 Thank you NGCP for the great experience. Thank you Maam Betty! Thank you Ms Michelle Visera! Thank you Ms  Ma. Edna Legaspina!

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Pedy & Glee tackle showbiz that is light and free-wheeling; Ray hunting threatens ocean's 'gentle giants'

Veteran broadcaster Pedy Bolanio and Glee Orcullo indubitably make a perfect pair. I am referring to the kind of partnership they have onboard their dyRD program, Rampa Showbiz.

Veteran anchorman Pedy Bolanio (in photo) 

and Glee Orcullo tackle issues in a manner

 that is light and free-wheeling on dyRD’s Rampa Showbiz. 

Courtesy: Jeanette Laila Busano

Try tuning in every Monday to Friday (except Wednesday) at 3 to 3:30 p.m., 1161 on your AM radio dial, and there you will find how Pedy and Glee tackle showbiz and boxing news and other issues in a manner that is light and free-wheeling. They make sure the community gets to hear  the latest showbiz and sports news as its finest.  Unlike other programs, when they laugh, they are free to laugh and their voices remain normally calm.

When Cindy Ella, Inday Tikling and Sister Rose left the program, Glee came in.  It’s been four years now since Pedy and Glee became partners on the airwaves. It was management’s decision to take Glee in as Pedy’s partner.

Pedy knows Glee’s strength as a journalist. She does write news and report news on radio with another veteran broadcaster Fred Araneta on dyRD’s Breakfast News (Monday to Saturday at 7 a.m.) for eight years. 

Pedy and Glee agreed listeners enjoy the lighter side of the world.

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Ray hunting threatens ocean's 'gentle giants'

They are known as the ocean's gentle giants, but an alarming rise in manta ray hunting could threaten the very existence of the species.

Manta fishing has become big business for fisheries who are selling their gills to be used in soups and traditional Chinese medicine.

Last week, a couple was arrested after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel saw the slabs of sliced manta ray, locally known as “sanga,” on the couple’s motorbanca in the port of Baclayon town.

The manta ray is known as the 'gentle giant' of the ocean, 

but hunting has become so common that experts

 believe the species could be close to extinction. 

Courtesy: Ralph Barajan/PCG-Panglao

They bought two tons of manta ray meat for P40,000 which they intended to dry and later sell for at least P300 per kilo.

But instead of reeking in profit, Gomer Valeroso, 49, and his wife Milagrosa Valeroso, 47, ended up in jail.

The two would face charges for violating the Philippine Fisheries Code (Republic Act 8550) that prohibits the hunting, killing or selling rare, threatened or endangered species listed in the Convention on

International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Manta ray, known as “gentle giant” is on the list of endangered species.

Violators face a fine of P120,000 or prison term of 12 to 20 years.

Erick Salcedo, deputy commander of Philippine Coast Guard -Tagbilaran City, said their personnel in PCG substation in Panglao and Pamilacan islands conducted a mobile patrol on Thursday afternoon near Baluarte in Baclayon town.

They spotted a motorbanca (MBCA The Original Double D) which was loaded with cut-up manta ray meat while still docked at the pier.

The manta ray is known as the 'gentle giant' of the ocean, 

but hunting has become so common that experts

 believe the species could be close to extinction. 

Courtesy: Ralph Barajan/PCG-Panglao

A Coast Guard personnel also later found slices of manta ray meat inside a yellow jeepney (with plate number 074807).

It turned out that couple transported the manta ray meat from Jagna town to Baclayon on board the jeep and then loaded these to the motorbanca so they could take these home on Pamilacan Island.

Salcedo said they contacted the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to check if the pieces of meat belonged to the endangered species of manta rays.

Pedro Milana, Jr. in-charge of BFAR-Bohol, confirmed that the cut-up marine animal belonged to manta alfredi and manta birostris both protected under Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 193 and Republic Act 9147, also known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

The couple, however, claimed they didn’t know that what they bought were endangered species.

They said they bought the 2,000 kilos of meat from Tita Oclarit, a resident of Jagna town, for P40,000.

The fishes measured at least two meters each.

“We didn’t know that what we were doing was illegal. We bought the meat because this is our livelihood,” said Valeroso.

The manta ray is known as the 'gentle giant' of the ocean, 

but hunting has become so common that experts 

believe the species could be close to extinction. 

Courtesy: Ralph Barajan/PCG-Panglao

Valeroso, who sells dried fish, said they intended to dry the meat and sell it P300-400 per kilo.

The confiscated manta ray was buried by BFAR in Calape town.

Manta ray can grow up to 25 feet across and weigh around 5,100 lb.

It is considered a “vulnerable” species in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species.

The BFAR also prohibits taking, selling, purchasing, possessing, transporting and exporting manta rays and whale sharks.

A fine of P500 to P5,000 and imprisonment for six months to four years or both will be imposed on the violator.

Still, hunting has become so common that experts believe the species could be close to extinction.

Salcedo said the manta ray may have been caught in the seas off Bohol where manta ray hunting has long been recorded in Bohol waters especially in Pamilacan Island, which used to be the lair of former hunters of dolphin, Bryde’s whales, whale sharks and manta rays in the area.

Fishermen catch manta rays, locally called “sanga,” to cook them as “kinilaw”(ceviche) or “linabog” (a stew-based dish cooked in tomatoes and chilis).

But some customers preferred the dried stuff.

Dried gills and meat from manta rays and stingrays are allegedly sold to Chinese pharmacies, as Chinese traditional medicine believes the meat can cure chicken pox, infertility and cancer.

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IN THE NEWS 

PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

Couplenabbed for trying to sell meat of endangered manta ray
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/875065/coupled-nabbed-for-trying-to-sell-meat-of-endangered-manta-ray

2,000 kgof manta ray meat seized from Bohol couple
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/875131/2000-kg-of-manta-ray-meat-seized-from-bohol-couple

GMA NEWS

Glee Orcullo enjoying the best of both worlds

Wake-uppers:

Loon’s Sidlakasilak or festival of lights is one of the most
 important and religious festivals in Bohol calendar.-LPU

Scene: The 15^th Sidlakasilak or Festival of Lights was held on Sept. 6 in Loon town.  Sixteen participants joined the first “indigay sa guriyon” (kite flying contest), while six contingents joined the Sidlakasilak Streetdancing parade in honor of the town’s patron saint the Virgen de la Luz or Birhen sa Kasilak (Our Lady of Light). This year’s celebration is meaningful after the Nuestra Señora De La Luz Church was destroyed by the killer quake last year. According to Reigh Monreal, Sidlakasilak chair, “Sidlak is to rise, Kasilak is to shine...that is to show what Loonanon culture is.” The Sidlakasilak is one of its kind in the Philippines because the street-dancing is done at night with the emphasis on the lights, on how to make it move and dance. “This year’s Sidlak festival of lights is really colorful, very elegant,” said Mary Grace Ramada.

 

Scene: The search for the best design for the Memorial Monument of the 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake is on. Deadline is on Oct. 6.  For more info, visit Padayon Bol-anon Facebook Page or Office of the Governor or call (38) 411-3063.

 

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There are many forms of mass media but turn the volume up on this fact: Radio continues to fare well.

 

One of those who believe so is broadcast journalist Analiza “Glee” Orcullo.

 

“Pang-masa siya. It can reach out to the far-flung barangays and remote areas. Early risers can bring their transistor radio while in the field...it’s very practical,” said Glee, who is hosting dyRD’s “CBB Breakfast News” with another veteran broadcast journalist, Fred Araneta, 7 to 8 a.m. Monday to Saturday.

.

Glee Orcullo on radio: ‘Radio is very popular among
 the masses. It has become more interactive
because of the Internet.’

Glee once asked herself if AM radio is still relevant what with various forms of media already flourishing.

 

She got her answer with the positive feedback from the listeners on her programs, which are still very popular among the masses,beefed-up as it is by its social media components like live streaming and text.

 

“It has become more interactive thanks to Internet,” shared Glee, who worked as a field reporter, anchor and TV actress on CCTN TV Channel 47 in Cebu City. “Listeners can send their feedback or reaction through text and the Internet. Paspas kaayo angfeedback sa mga listener.”

 

Glee is also hosting Rampa Showbiz from 3 to 4 p.m. on dyRD Monday to Friday with veteran broadcaster Pede Bolanio. It is as casual and light. It has lively discussions and incisive analysis of current issues on showbiz.

 

Does she have time to relax?

 

“Of course! Zumba helps me,” exclaimed Glee.

 

Glee is joining the new dance craze in town that claims to melt fats away--zumba.

 

Zumba classes are everywhere—in hospitals, offices, community recreation centers, and even schools and churches.

 

Many Filipinos are already getting hooked on zumba which allows one to enjoy the exercise while shedding off unwanted pounds.

 

Glee Orcullo (3^rd from left) and her zumba buddies
are getting hooked on zumba to shed off unwanted pounds.

Introduced in 2001, zumba is now considered the world's largest  and most successful dance-fitness program.

 

Glee found today’s radio intellectually demanding and zumba helps her to fulfil the task.

 

“Zumba helps me to focus and relax,” said Glee.

 

“Unlike any other fitness program, zumba truly is a dance party. The No. 1 benefit of zumba is burning of calories.  We are moving to the music and we don’t even feel like we’re working out,” said Glee who is doing her solo zumba session last June.

 

"Music is the key ingredient to zumba classes," added Glee. The music sets the tone of the class, and the instructor and students add their own style.

 

From 138 pounds, Glee trimmed down to a fit 113 pounds.

 

“I am very comfortable now with my weight. I feel like I can do everything, healthy and sexy,” she added.

 

City Hall employees doing the zumba after
office hours.  Courtesy: Fiel Gabin

Zumba borrows from the dance styles of cumbia, flamenco, salsa, mambo and even hiphop. In a one-hour class, one can supposedly lose more than 50 calories while having fun.

 

To be more effective, zumba classes should be attended at least 3 times a week.

 

“If you have time, you can make it as your daily exercise,” said Glee.

 

“I am enjoying the best of both worlds. I love the radio and I love zumba,” exclaimed Glee.

 

There are free zumba classes at the Island City Mall, BQ Atrium and Luisa Galleria. Englewood Hospital has free zumba session to its employees, patients and guests, courtesy of Dr. Disi Alba, hospital owner and administrator.

 

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Jun Gutierrez is always alerto, Miss Silka Bohol 2012 and other juicy items

•Jun Gutierrez is always alerto

•Salamat po, doctor and other juicy items

 

Wake-uppers:

Scene: The much-awaited fight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. will be shown live and for free in some places in Bohol today, June 10. The Pacquiao-Bradley fight will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, with 14-year-old Filipina and New Jersey-based Kirby Asunto rendering the Philippine national anthem and AI first runner-up Jessica Sanchez singing the American national anthem. Where to watch for free? For the nth time, Geresonic (along Ma. Clara Street) and Diccion Electronics (along CPG Avenue fronting the Bohol Cultural Center) will have free showings for their parokyano. If you want to witness the fight on a wide screen, go to Island City Mall Screenville Cinema and BQ Mall Cinema.

 

Seen: At 63, Virgilio Ganade Penticase of Catarman, Dauis, is the oldest student in Bohol. He is a Grade 7 student at Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School (DCPNHS).  Nong Viriglio is one of the 1, 183 Grade 7 students of DCPNHS. Nong Virgilio said: "Para makamao ko. Guwapo gud makamao ta gamay. Mao nga nakahukom ko moeskwela karung tuiga para naay hibal-an gamay. Sagaran tuntuhon sa mga tawo karun mao ang mga ignorante." Also DCPNHS Head Teacher III Mrs. Concepcion Bagotchay confirmed the increase of students this school year.

dyRD field reporter Alerto Jun Gutierrez with Virgilio Ganade Penticase, a Grade 7 student of Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School.

 

Scene:  Thirty-five elementary students of Totolan Elem. School in Dauis were hospitalized for food poisoning after eating the fruit of 'tuba-tuba' last Friday, June 8. According to the victims, a classmate gave them the nuts to eat, not knowing they were poisonous.  School principal Saturnina Arcamo said they gave first aid to the kids before bringing them to the hospital.  In July 2007, 21 pupils were downed for eating tuba-tuba nuts. In 2005, more than 100 schoolkids were hospitalized and 22 died in Mabini Food Poisoning. Tuba-tuba or jatropha, is considered as one of the country's most promising source of bio-fuel today because its nuts contained oil that can be processed into biodiesel fuel.

Some of the victims of the mass poisoning

 

Scene:  Women want the perfect thighs and butt. Beauty watchers said that nothing is sexier than the thighs and gluteus maximus built to perfection. Case in point: These two women from “the other side of the Choco Hills” who want to increase the size of their booty. They sought help from a cosmetic doctor in Cebu City only to find out that the doctor is fake and their buttocks got infected following injections of collagen. The two complainants, aged 34 and 37, sought the help of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) to trap the fake doctor. The suspect, Gloria Rabor, allegedly performed buttock augmentation procedures on without a license and charged them P60,000 each. Health authorities have also issued a warning against using the services of unlicensed cosmetic surgeons or practitioners, saying consequences could be fatal.

 

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Babam turns 4

 

The birthday girl Princess Jasmine Babam with her birthday cake.

Athalia Jezka  Karielle, known by everyone as Babam, turned 4 last June 3  with  a children’s play party celebration. Babam and her friends and loved ones had a great time playing at the Playhaus at ICM Mall, which was made exclusive for her group at that time. After the fun at the Playhauz, everybody proceeded to The Prawn Farm, also at ICM Mall, for another sumptuous treat.

 

Babam looked so cute in her Princess Jasmine costume which was prepared by her dotting grandma Leah Tirol-Magno. The very pretty fondant cake was specially made by Charmaine “Cheng” Dumadag-Usares following the design that Babam herself chose. 

 

Babam is the daughter of Tsino Y. Lim and Karla “Am-Am” Tirol Magno.

 

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15 candidates vie for Miss Silka Bohol 2012

 

Some of the candidates

Fifteen candidates are vying for the Miss Silka Bohol 2012 title.

 

The contestants aged 15-21 years old were presented to the public last Friday at the Island City Mall Activity Center. They are Christine Mae Cuarto, Maeveen  Marie Durban, Marie Joy Pabon, Gladys Mae Sinconiegue, Marie Gigi Galacio, Michelle Juguan, Candy Cumayas, Erica Jane Mejos, Marylle Paloso, Mitch Ara Acebu, Dina Tangub, Jeza Bucog, Lara Ann Lumayag, Karen Montreux and Irish Mae Cleunar.

 

The talent competition on June 23 at the BQ Mall at 4 p.m. Coronation night will be on July 19 at the Holy Name University gym at 8:30 p.m. And the winner will represent Bohol in the annual search for Miss Silka Philippines in Manila.

 

The search for Miss Silka is an annual endeavor of Cosmetique Asia Corporation, makers of Miss Silka beauty products which have been growing each year in terms of prices and grandeur. 

 

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Jun Gutierrez is always alerto

 

Alerto Jun Gutierrez reports the news as it is.

Last Friday, while we were attending a presscon, some schoolkids were brought to the hospital for food poisoning. Our media colleague, Jun Gutierrez, had to leave the venue in the name of news. I’d noticed it many times that if there’s big or breaking news, Jun would report it right away. Very alerto!

 

So what’s the stuff that Jun Gutierrez is made of? How far would he go in pursuit of a hot lead?

 

Jun Gutierrez (Alfredo Gutierrez, Jr. in real life) enjoys a unique place in Bohol broadcasting. His forte isn't limited to hospital beats but expands to interesting news stories.

 

Alerto Jun, as the broadcaster with that trademark name is better known, dishes out fresh news stories Monday to Saturday, morning (as early as 5 a.m.) and evening (11 p.m.) on dyRD’s toprating programs such as Radyo Balita (hosted by Cil Remolador), Patrol Balita (hosted by Atoy Cosap), Inyong Alagad (hosted by Fred Araneta, Chito Visarra and Jerry Pabe), Balita sa Udtong Tutok (hosted by Atoy Cosap), Aksyon Line (hosted by Fred Araneta), DYRD-DYZD Patrol Balita and Luyo sa Balita (hosted by Richard Bompat).

 

In the evening, Jun is the on-call field reporter of the toprating Tagbilaran By Nite (hosted by Jerry Pabe and Tonton Aniscal), where his beats are among the most listened news stories.

 

Since he took his bow as a field reporter five years ago, Jun has been, as the dyRD blurb says, travelling every nook and corner of Tagbilaran City and towns, unlocking sealed lips and going beyond the limits in search of a good story, sigh, putting his family his "second" priority? (“Not at all, I still have time for them.”)

 

Jun joined the radio despite his commitments as federated president of Hatod-Bohol Private Motors Service Association, president of Tagbilaran Private Motor Association, board of director of the PTA of Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School and chair of the credit committee of the Bohol Tri- Media Association.

 

In so short a time, Jun has established an image of credibility and affinity with his listeners. He is aware that he has giving information. “I have to double check the facts before reporting it. I see to it that is fair and square,” he says.

 A self-confessed workaholic, Jun vows to look for a lot more good stories to share to the Boholano listeners worldwide.

 

“I will always be a broadcaster at heart,” Jun says.

 

Did Jun ever suffer from burnout? He is covering the same hospital beats such gory and violent incidents. “No. I try to inject a fresh perspective in every story.”

 

Jun cites a bank security guard who was killed years ago and land fissures in Sierra-Bullones as one of his most memorable breaking news stories.

 

For the third time, Jun is awarded as “best reporter for special events” by the Association of Writers and Radio Announcers (Awra).

 

Maintaining many reports can only mean a punishing schedule. Jun researches, writes the stories, and reports live as possible while the news is happening.

 

A father of four, Jun says love for his work is what drives him, next, of course, to his family.

 

Unknown to many, Jun has helped hundreds of people as a reporter. He doesn’t adapt a "stone heart" when he reports the news, especially the poor fellowmen in the hospital (those who have no money to pay the excess hospital bills, no food to eat, no money to buy a medicine) who ask for help. “I am also affected. It’s always good to be human.”

 

Jun has always aimed to make a difference.  In some instances, while we were covering a dengue story at the Dr. Celestino Gallares Regional Memorial Hospital, an old woman approached Jun. She’s asking for help to buy medicines for her apo. Why Jun? She said: “Among nakit-an nga makatabang siya namo sa among kahimtang karun diri sa hospital (We see that he can help us in our needs).”

 

“It’s out of my job as a reporter pero as human being we need to help other people. I look for resources as possible to help them. I told them to go to dyRD’s Inyong Alagad for help or find help from our leaders,” he says.

 

When Jun was somewhere in Bilar for a coverage, an old woman came to hug him. Surprised, the woman told him, “ako to imong gitabangan Sir nga makagawas sa hospital kay walay ikabayad. Dako akong pasalamat nimo (It’s me whom you have helped when I was not able to pay my hospital bills. I am forever grateful to you).”

 

“It’s personal, walay labot sa akong job pero malipay ko makatabang basin ginagmay (It’s not part of my job, I am happy I can help)” he says.

 

That is how Jun put his heart on his news.

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Email leoudtohan@yahoo.com.