Showing posts with label benjie oliva. Show all posts
Showing posts with label benjie oliva. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 12, 2014



Wake-uppers:
Scene: Blind hymnist and composer Onecimo “Onie” Oclarit passed away on Oct. 10. His renowned compositions are Balik sa Bohol Balik, CPG songs, and countless liturgical songs, most famous of which is O Senior San Jose. He served at St. Joseph Cathedral as organist/ vocalist and choir director for 35 years. “We thank God for the gift that Onie was to us! He was a "class act!" You will be sorely missed, Nie! REST IN PEACE!!,” said former city councilor Romana Darunday-Bullecer.

Scene: Lunel Ryan Boyboy of BISU-Candijay campus and Liezel Tortoga of BISU-Main Campus were crowned Mr. and Ms. State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) 2014.

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It has been one year since Bohol’s 10/15 tragedy, the Oct. 15 earthquake that set off a cascade of disasters on a scale scarcely imaginable. The 7.2 magnitude quake, the deadliest and most destructive earthquake to hit the country, devastated the province claiming nearly 200 lives, making thousands homeless and leaving five missing.


10/15: We remember!
As what Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso said, “Ours is to see the hand of God out of the calamities that we have experienced.”

Meanwhile, Judith Uy-Sumatra of the Provincial Planning and Development Office has something to say one year after the tragedy:

After the 7.2M earthquake happened a year ago today, I became more disaster conscious.

Now that it's raining steadily in the City of Tagbilaran, I fear for the low-lying areas that might get flooded.

I worry about the soil and rocks loosened by the earthquake and aftershocks last year.

Will the torrent of rainwater cause further downward movement of the soil that may result to landslide?

Lord God almighty, thank you very much for saving our lives and properties from the tremor, but I pray that you keep your people safe from rainfall-induced landslides and flash floods.

Let the rains wash away the dirt on earth - pollution, corruption, and sins of omission and commission.

Let the rumbling sound of the thunder remind us of your goodness and greatness.

Without you, Boholanos would not have recovered from the disaster and stand strong and resilient.

Thank you, Lord God, for always being there for us.

(In this page are pictures which happened during the 10/15 anniversary.)

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Benjie and Joan Oliva welcome a girl

Former National Youth Commission (NYC) official and now Department of Agriculture administrative officer Benjie Oliva and lawyer Joan Jagonos-Oliva, welcomed their first child, a daughter, on Friday.

The little girl arrived early; Joan was expected to give birth on Oct. 26.

Edelle Ross was born on Oct 17 at 9:59 a.m., weighing 6.3 lbs.


Baby Edelle Ross Oliva is here! Courtesy: Benjie Oliva
Benjie was by Joan’s side during the delivery via CS at Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center in Manila.

 “We are so excited! Our baby girl brings hope and inspiration in the family,” Benjie told VRS yesterday.

No further details on the baptism of the baby have yet to be released. But a close friend of the couple confirmed that it will be on Jan. 25, 2015 to accommodate the schedule of actor and NYC Commissioner Dingdong Dantes.

“Dingdong said yes as ninong. Since is busy with his wedding preparations and showbiz commitments (Marian and Dingdong will get married on Dec. 30),  the first and second week of January will be their honeymoon, so the baptism of baby Edelle Ross will be in the third week of January,”relayed VRS.

Benjie and Joan were to be wed on the afternoon of Oct. 19, but the 7.2 earthquake rocked Bohol and destroyed the Dauis Church on Oct. 15.  The couple postponed their wedding and donated their honeymoon funds for relief operations in the affected areas of Bohol.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Start your days right in 2014



With the New Year comes the opportunity for a fresh start. The best way to greet 2014 is to start its first day on a healthy and a fabulously positive note. Thus, I am sharing with you some “reminders” to welcome your most awesome year yet.

Top 10 New Year’s resolutions for 2014 from statisticbrain.com:

1. Lose Weight
2. Getting Organized
3. Spend Less, Save More
4. Enjoy Life to the Fullest
5. Staying Fit and Healthy
6. Learn Something Exciting
7. Quit Smoking
8. Help Others in Their Dreams
9. Fall in Love
10. Spend More Time with Family

Top five (well, six) tips for staying healthy in 2014 from Cambridge News:

1. Eat breakfast – Ensure you have a substantial breakfast which includes some protein and fat, and aim to eat it within an hour of getting up. This will help your body to maintain balanced blood sugar levels and that’s key in order to reduce your cravings. And do yourself a big favour and skip the fruit juice - it plays havoc with your blood sugar levels.

2. Get active – Find an activity that you enjoy and actually look forward to, such as cycling, dancing, running or yoga – and do it twice a week. Current research suggests sitting for long periods can increase the risk of heart disease, weight gain and diabetes, so if you’re office based ensure you get up several times a day and take a walk.

3. Protein – Include some with all meals and snacks: think eggs, chicken, fish, pulses, nuts and seeds, approximately the size of your palm. This will slow down the insulin response and help keep your weight stable.

4. Get into green tea - Replace some of your tea and coffee with green tea. It is rich in polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant that will not only help to keep you healthy this winter but may also slow down the ageing process as may encourage faster metabolism. Start with two cups a day and experiment by adding fresh mint and a slice of lemon.

5. Cut back on carbohydrates such as potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, biscuits - and ensure you load your plate up with healthy seasonal vegetables instead. Make them interesting by stir-frying, sautéing, baking in the oven, adding garlic and chilli - whatever works for you.

6. One final tip... Include mushrooms in your diet. They contain powerful compounds called beta glucans which have long been studied for their immune enhancing properties.

And some inspiring words from Elvie Bongosia of PIA-Bohol on New Year's resolutions - The Pope Francis list:

1. Don't gossip.
2. Finish your meals.
3. Make time for others.
4. Choose the "more humble" purchase.
5. Meet the poor "in the flesh."
6. Stop judging others.
7. Befriend those who disagree.
8. Make commitments, such as marriage.
9. Make it a habit to "ask the Lord."
10.Be happy. This joy should translate to love of neighbor.

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VRS asked you to share your greatest moment of 2013. These are your stories...

Volunteerism-“It's being able to rediscover myself by realizing my capacity to help. The 7.2 earthquake and typhoon Haiyan were my greatest moments because it helped me realize not only that I can actually help but it let me witness the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen – the Filipinos and other countries helping each other to give aid to the victims. As they say, it is in times of disaster that brings out the best in the community.” -Anna Maris Igpit

Daughter’s Birthday-“When Cielo celebrated her 16th birthday with our family, her Grandma Wincie and Mommy Lou in attendance; when Jerome and I put on her medal for her victory in the Regional Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge in Cebu City, and when I escorted Cielo to the University of the Philippines-Diliman upon her college entrance.”- Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin

Heaven’s Bliss- “When I met Padre Pio in Boracay that made me back sincerely and religiously with God in the Catholic Church. I swear! Isn't that amazing?”- Joy Suarez

Partner-“My greatest moment of 2013 is that I met and married the woman that I'll love for the rest of my life, Atty. Joan Jagonos.” – Benjie Oliva

For Art’s Sake- “When I was chosen by the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) fellowship grantee for visual arts here in New York for six months to observe contemporary arts.”- Sam Penaso

Beauty with a Purpose-“As usual, the success of Anyag sa Tubigon 2013 with Daniel Padilla as special guest and when I was able to defend my master’s thesis en route to my Master in Business Management Degree at the Graduate School of Business and Administration of the University of San Jose-Recoletos.”-Raymund Delgado

A Helping Hand- “Co-convening the Oplan Bangon Bohol and doing relief and rebuilding missions in Bohol but still getting a year-end Performance Award from our Law Firm.” – Atty. Julius Gregory Delgado

Youth Service- “Winning the "Outstanding Barangay Official of the Year 2013 (Toboy Awards)" SK Category among 3,003 SK chairmen of the whole Region 7 and elected as Barangay Kawagad in our beloved Barangay Booy.” - Clement Ingking

Happy Feet- “The best moment for me this 2013 is when I went to the Grand Canyon...I felt God's presence there!!!”- EJ Relampagos

2013 was a good year for VRS as he was interviewed and featured on CNN.


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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.