Seen: The giant Santa Claus, which measures 25 feet high,
in Sierra-Bullones, Bohol colors the Yuletide Season! The biggest and tallest
Santa Claus in Bohol and probably in the Philippines has been attracting visitors for years.
Scene: Supreme Court
Associate Justice Roberto Abad will visit Bohol on Monday, Dec. 17 to give
a lecture to judges, prosecutors, government and private lawyers and police
investigators on the Judicial Affidavit Rule (A.M. No. 12-8-8-SC).
Seen:
3rd District Rep. Arthur Yap is the only
Boholano solon who showed up and voted against the Reproductive Health Bill in
Congress. Yap cited some provisions
in the Reproductive Health Bill that need to be scrapped or heavily amended for
being unjust, unconstitutional and harsh or unnecessary at all.
Seen:
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Manager Rey Anthony Chiu received the "Most Prolific Writer." He
has written the most number of news stories and features for 2011. PIA-7 RD
Minerva Newman assisted by PCOO Sec. Sonny
Coloma presented the award to Chiu.
Seen:
Paul Emerson Salinas Almontero was
recently adjudged as one of the Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy (Overseas Filipino
Worker) Children - Ibang Klaseng Talino
Category - 2012. He is the first Boholano to receive such prestigious award
from the Bank of Philippine Islands search for outstanding expat children that
made its final judging from among 86 national finalists nationwide.
***
What a busy, busy schedule I had last week! After
watching Pacman-Marquez IV, I hurriedly went to JJ’s Seafoods for the
preliminary interview of the Mr and Ms
Teen Bohol 2012 organized by Sangguniang
Kabataan (SK) Provincial Federation headed by Jethro Nathaniel Imboy.
The
28 contestants sat down for a conversation with Jeycelle Espejo and yours
truly. I could say, this year’s contestants are “one of the best batches”
of Mr and Miss Teen Bohol. Many of the contestants were recruited from the modeling
field so we’re seeing familiar faces. There were also neophytes and veterans.
Last
Friday, Dec. 14, Adryan Mila of
Panglao and Thea
Rose Rizaldo of Tubigon were crowned Mr and Miss Teen Bohol 2012.
Rep. Sonny Angara |
As we were about to end our interview, I saw Alvin Acuzar and Myttee Palo
who were busy preparing the function room for senatorial aspirant Aurora Rep. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara. Rep
Angara was the guest of honor during
the State Colleges and Universities Athletic
Association (SCUAA)- Regional Meet.
Rep.
Angara, who was named one of the country’s Ten
Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 2010, is the author of the measure seeking to
create a Philippine High School for Sports (HB No. 3825). This will answer the
clamor for a stronger national grassroots sports program that will help young
Filipino athletes become more competitive in the global arena.
Rep.
Angara gladly listened to the queries and concerns from the people’s
organizations/civic organizations and from the media.
We
ended the night saying, “What a Sonny Day! Angara
ang buhay!”
The
next morning, Edward Guyano, Janet Villarojo and other media friends
went to Pilar to cover the inauguration and turn-over ceremony of the modern Bohol Rice Processing Complex (BRPC)
funded by the Korean International
Cooperation Agency (Koica).
The
BRPC intends to improve efficiency in the rice postproduction system through the
reduction of postharvest losses, enhancement in the quality of milled rice,
improvement of the distribution system and maximization of rice by-products.
It
is very modern that Edward and I witnessed how brown, red, pink and white rice
separate from each other. The rice processing complex has post-harvest
facilities like modern rice mills, mechanical dyers and warehouses.
According
to Gov. Edgar Chatto, Bohol is
considered as the rice granary of the Central Visayas and farmers from the 18
towns of Bohol will be benefited from the modern rice complex.
"Ang
RPC po ay magbibigay sa mga magsasaka ng mataas na kalidad ng bigas
dahil sa makabagong makina nito," said Usec Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, DA for Special Concerns.
Hon. Lee Hyuk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines, stressed the importance of Korea-Philippine relationship. He said that BPRC is a testament to the continuing and deepening commitment of the governments of the Philippines and Korea to develop the agricultural sector of the Philippines.
Hon. Lee Hyuk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines, stressed the importance of Korea-Philippine relationship. He said that BPRC is a testament to the continuing and deepening commitment of the governments of the Philippines and Korea to develop the agricultural sector of the Philippines.
"I hope that this PRC project will set a milestone, a starting point for the national growth of the Philippines as well as the helping and empowering of the Filipino farmers."
Jerome Sala |
Rep.
Arthur Yap recalled that the project was proposed in 2009 during the
administration of then Bohol Governor now 2nd district Rep. Erico Aumentado. Yap said, "As
our population is increasing, we have also to increase the use of our land and
we have to increase rice production. Koreans and Filipinos stand side by side
together in this battle against poverty, in this battle for self sufficiency in food.”
Also
spotted during the event were Pilar
Mayor Wilson Pajo, Mabini Mayor
Esther Tabigue, Pureza Chatto, Ae Damalerio, Larry Pamugas, and other officials.
The
event was also an opportunity to see ABS-CBN Star in A Million 2005 grand champion
Jerome Sala who sang the Philippine
Anthem after years of inactivity.
***
The
nine-day Simbang Gabi (Tagalog term that literally means "Night
Mass") or Misa de Gallo (Spanish term for "Mass of the
Rooster") begins today, Dec. 16, officially starting the Christmas season,
the longest Christmas celebration in the world.
Young entrepreneur Dalareich Polot and her tableya. |
The
Catholic Church says that the nine-day dawn Masses are held at 4 a.m. to
commemorate the actual birth of Christ. The liturgy for nine consecutive days
is in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The
tradition dates back to 1587 in Mexico, when Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the
convent of San Agustin Acolman, petitioned the Pope to hold Christmas Mass
outdoors to accommodate the huge number of mass-goers.
However,
the novena Mass has no longer been strictly held before dawn. The Catholic
Church has adjusted to modern urban schedules.
In our times, the Misa De Gallo has also become an opportunity to keep in touch with relatives and friends. And, ehem, it is also the time for young boys to court girls and many lovers also tend to spend more time in the churchyard rather than inside.
Some
people still challenge to complete all nine masses especially if they have special
petitions this Christmas. A friend told me that if someone can attend the
nine masses, wishes will be granted.
During
Misa de Gallo, our love affair with
food is heightened. We don’t have puto bumbong (sweet taro steamed in
small bamboo tubes) here but we have native rice cakes such as bingka, suman and puto maya. To
keep warm during the cold weather, there are salabat (ginger tea) and sekwati.
One
who is excited for Misa de Gallo is the
young entrepreneur Dalareich Polot,
owner of Dalareich Tableya (Booy
District, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Tel No:
038-501-9549/411-0584/+63939-902-3462/+63927-214-1456, website: www.dalareichtableya.com, email: info@dalareichtableya.com), Bohol’s finest homemade
native chocolate solids.
“I
can't wait for simbang gabi.. hot chocolate after mass!” Dalareich posted on
Facebook.
Dalareich, who started her tableya
business years ago, shares how to make sekwati (hot chocolate drink): Add 3 pieces of
Dalareich Tableya on a cup of boiling water. Stir for two minutes. Remove from
heat. Add sugar. Milk maybe added to make it creamier. Serve hot.
Make
sure you have something in your stomach to have a memorable Misa de Gallo experience.
Meanwhile,
join Bared for a look back at all the
buzzed-about newsmakers who made the year -- and decade -- so unforgettable. Send
your feedback to leoudtohan@yahoo.com or text +639212446791.
***
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