Wake-uppers:
Scene: Kristian Nikko
Chatto Geangan and Liezel May Lodonia Turtoga from the College
of Teacher Education (CTE) were crowned Mr. and Ms. Bohol Island State
University- Main Campus (BISU-MC) 2014, reported Christian Ariel Fementira. “Nikko was also adjudged Best in Interview, Best in
Shorts, Best in Production Number, and Fans Choice Award, while Liezel was Best
in Shorts and Best in Production Number.” Christian also added that “Nikko and Liezel will represent the Main Campus in the provincial
SCUAA Meet in October.” The pageant was the highlight of the one-week
celebration of BISU-MC Intramurals 2014.
 |
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (3rd from
left) with (l-r) Loon
Councilor Rex Masamayor, Bohol 1st
district Rep. Rene Relampagos,
Tagbilaran Councilor Jerry Pabe, Magdalo-Bohol
VP
Jun “Alerto” Gutierrez and Engr.
Roland Calipusan of Magdalo-Ubay chapter.
|
Seen: Spotted
in Bohol was Sen. Antonio Trillanes lV in a quick visit to Tagbilaran on Aug.
31 to meet the members of Samahang
Magdalo-Bohol chapter. The meeting
also served as the venue to discuss local concerns in membership and some needs
in medical and financial assistance to their members. The Samahang Magdalo is a non-government organization registered with
the Securities and Exchange Commission advocating good governance and social
justice.
Seen: Five survivors of the Bohol earthquake will
meet and eat with Pope Francis when he visits the country in 2015, according to
Bishop Leonardo Medroso in a radio interview on Radyo Veritas.
***
Do you smell Christmas in the air? Welcome the “ber” months!
The start of September also means that Christmas
is just around the corner as the world’s longest Christmas season unfolds in
the Philippines.
Now that the “Ber” month is finally upon us, US-based
Boholano socialite Mikey Gatal gives early Christmas presents to schoolkids
while enjoying his “makabuluhang bakasyun” in Bohol after visiting Thailand and
HongKong.
 |
Mikey Gatal continues his advocacy to change the
lives of schoolkids
through his tsinelas
and apple campaign.-LPU
|
“Giving warmth, love and hope. That’s what Christmas should
be all about,” said Mikey.
The moment he set foot on Bohol soil, Mikey went to the Holy
Trinity Orphanage in Albur town. He spent time at
the orphanage and gave Crocs slippers to kids through the One Heart for
Hope headed by Mikey’s friend Merlita Helms.
Last
Friday, Mikey and his angels (Wardiflex Vallespin, Mayen Gatal, Allysa Inting,
Joemar Gatal and Pham Marzon) donated slippers and apples to 309 pupils of Tamboan Elem. School in Carmen town.
Mikey and the team were warmly welcomed by master head teacher of Tamboan Julieta
Valentos and her colleagues.
Tamboan
Elem. School is also the home of the talented Tamboan Elem. School Ukelele
Ensemble. The 48 members of the group play and learn the tricks of the ukelele
musical instrument. These young kids were also the recipients of the OMG
charity event.
The
11--year-old Grade 5 student Novem Vallentos walks to school with her worn-out
slippers, beamed with joy as she received her new pair of slippers and apple from
Mikey.
Novem,
like many other poor children from the province, did makeshift repairs on her
rubber slippers so she can still use them. She used wire she picked up from the
streets to make her slippers wearable.
“Thank
you Kuya Mikey! I have a new slipper,” said Novem.
After the
sumptuous lunch served by the teachers and performance of the Tamboan Elem.
School Ukelele Ensemble, Mikey and his angels proceeded to Anda town.
In Anda, Mikey
and his OMG Team were welcomed by Virgen barangay captain Flor Flores of the
Flower Beach Resort (www.flower-beach.com, Phone: +63918 579 6166; Email:
requests@flower-beach.com).
 |
Mr and Ms. BISU-MC 2014 Kristian Nikko
Geangan and Liezel
May Turtoga
|
310 pupils of Virgen Elem.
School received their slippers and apples. “Nindot among tsinelas nadawat, tam-is
among apple nadawat,” echoed the pupils. .
“I
applaud Mikey and friends in America for this great work for the community. Thank
you for making these kids happy,” said school principal Valeriano Balo.
Inspired
by popular broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez’ tsinelas campaign and RJ Garcia’s apple drive campaign, Mikey’s Tsinelas and Apple Drive Campaign
originally started as a public service segment on his popular website www.mikeygatal.com
when Bohol was hit by a killer quake. Mikey learned that most of the
schoolchildren of Bohol had to either walk barefoot or wear tattered slippers
to school. Some of them get to eat apples for the first time. He also launched
the OMG alkansyang bagols (coconut
shell coin banks) to teach kids about saving money.
“Through
this project, we can restore their dignity and revive hope. It is our dream
that none of them will never attend school barefooted,” said Mikey.
Today, Mikey’s
Tsinelas and Apple Drive campaign is
in full swing as he is partnering with several friends in America, Merlita
Helms and Atty.
Sandy Roxas, who share his vision of ensuring that schoolkids in Bohol have a
decent slippers (and apples to eat) which they can use every day.
Next
week, Mikey will be back to the US, but the children hope he will be back
soon....with some goodies!
***
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