Tagbilaran Christmas decors spread joy and love

TAGBILARAN CITY — Residents here were treated to a spectacular and meaningful Christmas display at the city hall on Monday night, Nov. 28.

Known as the "City of Friendship," the Christmas lighting aims to bringing more cheers and fun to the residents in a more meaningful celebration especially coming and recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Christmas 2022 takes on a more significant meaning for all of us, that is why the City Government of Tagbilaran is offering this to the one and only “Balaang Batang Hesus” as our way of paying homage to the birth of Jesus, our Savior, from whom love, hope and peace emanate," said Mayor Jane Yap during the lighting ceremony. 

"With Him, we have successfully overcome the past challenges.  All these beautiful decorations are part of our thanksgiving to Him for all the blessings we have received this year 2022," she added. 

 

Former mayor Baba Yap, Vice-Mayor Adam Jala, members of the city council, and the different department heads were also present at the event. It was also attended by former Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) assistant secretary and now Bohol provincial administrator Aster Caberte and Tagbilaran Bishop Abet Uy. 

The  Holy Name University Chorale, Tagbilaran City Choir and Koro Seraphim Chorale provided Christmas songs. 

Yap said Christmas will always be for children.  For this reason, the City Hall park and building are adorned with Christmas lights that brightly illuminate the entire grounds. It would be open to everyone every night so Tagbilaranons especially the children will be able to enjoy the merry and colorful season.  

Adding to the festive atmosphere, the different government departments and offices that are bedecked with wonderful Christmas decorations.  

There are also lanterns and other decorations placed along the city’s main roads that were lit up on the same night.

Also, contributing to the happiness of the season, the musical fountain is back every evening beginning Monday night.

The “Pasko Para sa mga Bata” is held every Fridays and Saturdays until December 17, as well as children’s activities from 7 to 8 p. m. at the City Hall Atrium. 

"Let us remember that Christmas is a celebration of the Christ Child that will always give us that eternal hope for a better, peaceful, and kinder world for all of us," said Yap.  

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Photo caption: 

The Tagbilaran City government in Bohol province holds its  Christmas lighting ceremony at the  City Hall on Monday, Nov. 28, 2022 to bring cheees and fun to the residents in a more meaningful celebration especially coming and recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.  Photo courtesy of Mayor Jane Yap 

DepEd handsover classroom building to Tagbilaran

By Leo Udtohan

TAGBILARAN CITY- The Department of Education (DepEd) turned over a four-story 24–classroom building to Tagbilaran City Central Elem. School (TCCES) in Bohol province on Thursday, Nov. 24.

The project, which is a modified calamity resilience building funded by the DepEd's

Basic Education Facilities Fund through the Department of Public Works and Highways, funded at P57.2 million.

Lawyer Revsee Escobedo, DepEd's Undersecretary for Governance and Field Operations, in his video message, emphasized that DepEd is putting up structures that are ideal to the students’ learning environment ensuring that these spaces will allow young people to flourish and learn.

TCCES has a student population of 1,700.

Grades 4, 5 and 6 would occupy the new building.

One classroom has at least 35 students unlike before that most class advisers go beyond the ideal ratio of 45 students in one classroom to accommodate the growing number of students.

Mayor Jane Yap expressed her gratitude to the national government for its continuous support especially in its various projects and activities.

"We know that education has the power to transform lives. We have seen with our own eyes how the lives of many people have been transformed because of the knowledge, skills, and abilities they have acquired in school and this is what we want for the thousands of students of Tagbilaran City,"said Yap.  "We want them to have the opportunity to improve themselves, for them to have a fighting chance to reach for their dreams... and for our students to envision themselves as successful members of society.  Thus, we shall continue to provide our students with adequate classrooms and facilities, learning materials, and quality education," Yap said. 

Also present during the event were Rep. Edgar Chatto, provincial Deputy Chief of Staff Anne Mariquit Oppus, City Division Supt. Dr. Erwin Lagura, Assistant Provincial Schools Division Supt. Casiana Caberte and barangay Poblacion 3 officials. 

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Photo caption:

The Department of Education (DepEd) handed over a 24-classroom, four-story building to Tagbilaran City Central Elem. School on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. Leo Udtohan

Painted crosswalks in Tagbilaran to spread positivity

By Leo Udtohan

The TaskUs-painted lanes in Tagbilaran City, Bohol serves to brighten the city and uplift Boholanos morale as the province recovers from the physical and financial losses brought by super Typhoon Odette (Rai). Photo: Leo Udtohan

TAGBILARAN CITY-  TaskUs, a global provider of outsourced digital services with a site here, gave three frequently used pedestrian lanes a much-needed and "ridiculously" refreshing revamp. 

The project, dubbed “Ridiculous Roads: Bohol”, painted lanes on JLU Building and the Island City Mall on Rajah Sikatuna Avenue, and another one in front of the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral Parish Shrine in Plaza Rizal Rotunda. 

The artworks catch the eye of motorists to remind them to slow down while approaching and to make a complete stop before crossing pedestrian lanes, while encouraging pedestrians to actually use the lanes for their safety.

The painting of the pedestrian lanes was approved by and met the standards of the Public Works Department and the Tagbilaran City government.

The project serves to brighten the city and uplift Bol-anons morale as the province recovers from the physical and financial losses brought by super Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai), which hit the country late last year and left 108 casualties in Bohol. 

These hardships, according to TaskUs, were made doubly challenging by the rising prices of gas and basic commodities coupled with an unprecedented national inflation rate. 

The colorful crosswalks are placed by TaskUs in Tagbilaran City, Bohol to inspire hope and positivity and to remind its locals about the island's promising progress. 

Photos: TaskUs 

Created by Pahid Murals, a local arts group in Bohol that paints murals across the island, the colorful crosswalks are placed in the city to inspire hope and positivity; it also serves to remind its locals about the island's promising progress. 

The project is a follow-up to the company's voluntary employee donation campaign from December 2021 to January 2022, which managed to collect P2.6 million (US$46,200) that supported affected teammates in building back their damaged homes. Furthermore, in 2020, TaskUs also painted crosswalks in Antipolo City, Rizal to advocate for road safety. 

"TaskUs has always remained committed to supporting the communities in which we serve," said Anna Victoria Alcachupas, TaskUs' Division Vice President of Integrated Marketing. 

"Bohol is a very special place for us as it is one of the first sites that we opened during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have always been inspired by the resiliency of the Bol-anons, and we hope that, through this project, we can give them back that inspiration and hope especially during these trying times, " she added. 

All three pedestrian lanes were chosen as these were among the most frequently used by Bol-anons in the city. 

The colorful crosswalks are placed by TaskUs in Tagbilaran City, Bohol to inspire hope and positivity and to remind its locals about the island's promising progress. 

Photos: TaskUs 

Each of the pedestrian lanes boasts a dynamic, vibrant, and inspiring combination of colors with green and blue predominating the design. Bohol, after all, is known as a tropical haven for its lush greenery that houses one of the world's smallest known primates called the Tarsier, along with its pristine blue seas that serve as one of the country's most popular diving spots. 

Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap expressed delight at the colorful pedestrian lanes "which give hope to our locals as well as welcome the talents who are coming from and outside of the island."

"These pedestrian lanes add color to the continuously developing city of Tagbilaran, which is now considered one of the Philippines' 20 Most Competitive Cities with a burgeoning business process outsourcing workforce," said Yap. 

"In light of these recent developments in the city, we are happy to have these colorful pedestrian lanes which give hope to our locals as well as welcome the talents who are coming from and outside of the island," she added.