Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Benjie Oliva: A father in many ways

Just like great moms, Bohol is filled with famous dads who never shy away from doting on their children. These men are generally better known for their contributions to politics, engineering, music, and more.

Case in point: Benjie Sanchez Oliva who seriously takes his role.

Married since 2013, the former youth leader and community builder has two children with lawyer Joan. 

"I love being a father; it’s one of the joys of life," said Benjie, also known as "Bobong" to his friends and relatives. “My greatest achievement is my children and my family.”

The smart and talented Edelle Rose “Edroe”, 6, and bubbly and intelligent Ven Victor “Vin”, 4, are blessed to have a hardworking and dedicated man to be their father. Notwithstanding his busy schedule, he makes it a point to spend quality time with them.

Student leader

Benjie, 39, was born to Ben Segundino Cabillanes Oliva, a native of Barangay Baang in Catigbian, Bohol and Rosita Camiguing Sanchez of Misamis Occidental. His father passed away when he was four years old. His mother who was then a jobless widow was to get a job as a day care teacher in Catigbian to support and sustain his two growing children.

He finished his elementary education at Central West Elementary School, Poblacion Weste, Catigbian, Bohol with honors and secondary education at Immaculate Mary Academy also in Catigbian as first honorable mention.

He finished his Bachelor in Agricultural Technology degree as cum laude at Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology (CVSCAFT)- Bilar town now Bohol Island State University (BISU).  He also finished his Master in Agricultural Development, summa cum laude, at the same university. Currently, he is on dissertation of his Doctor of Philosophy in Community Development in the same institution.

Benjie rose from being a committee secretary and legislative staff assistant III at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bohol in 2002 to Commissioner of the National Youth Commission (NYC) in 2005 and administrator of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) in 2015 until his term ends in February 2020.

At present he is the chairman of the YO Prime Construction and Realty Corporation based in Tagbilaran City, Bohol; managing partner of the Pasion, David, Oliva, Durias and Associates based in Quezon City; and vice president of the Institute of Budget and Governance Studies, (IBGS) Inc. also in Quezon City.

 

‘Father’ to many youth organizations in the country

At 22, Benjie was appointed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Commissioner of NYC on December 19, 2005. He holds the record as the first and only Boholano commissioner at NYC.  

At the time of his appointment, he was considered as the youngest national government official in the Arroyo administration with an equivalent rank of an Assistant Secretary.

For almost six years in NYC, Benjie played as a “father” figure to many campus, church based and community youth organizations in the country whom he supported in many ways. He travelled in every corner of the country from Batanes to Tawi-tawi promoting values formation and character building to various youth leaders and youth organizations in partnership with the Presidential Commission on Values Formation and Good Citizenship Movement as well the advocacy programs on restorative justice of children in conflict with the law with the support of Consuelo Foundation and Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council.

He also managed to secure the computer literacy education and livelihood programs of the out of school youth and youth with special needs with the support of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). He also served as the NYC point person for the job generation program together with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through the Out of School Youth Serving Towards Economic Recovery (OYSTER) Program wherein out of school youths (OSYs) are employed as road maintenance workers.

He helped push for the passage of the Local Youth Development Council, SK Reform Bill, Magna Carta for Student Rights and the Free Higher Education Bill.

Benjie is also a ‘father’ to many youth organizations in Bohol. He was elected president of the Bohol Alliance of Student Councils (BASC), a conglomeration of student councils/governments in all colleges and universities in the province; federated president of the Supreme Student Government Federation of Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology (CVSCAFT) now Bohol Island State University (BISU); member, CVSCAFT Board of Trustees representing the Supreme Student Government Federation of the five campuses of Tagbilaran, Bilar, Calape, Clarin and Candijay; president, Supreme Student Government, CVSCAFT Bilar Campus; provincial president, Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) Bohol Chapter; vice chairman, Campus Ministry-Student Catholic Action Diocesan Council; president, Campus Ministry-Student Catholic Action (CM-SCA) CVSCAFT Bilar Campus; board of rirector, Parish Youth Ministry (PYM) Diocesan Youth Council; Vicarial Youth Coordinator, Mt. Carmel Vicariate; parish coordinator, Parish Youth Ministry (PYM) Immaculate Conception Parish, Catigbian, Bohol ; youth leader, Youth for Christ (YFC) Catigbian Chapter; and president of CVSCAFT Bilar Student Cooperative.

 

‘Father’ of creativity and innovations

At his stint at CDA, its employees considered him as the "father" of creativity and innovations.

Foremost, the new Cooperative Development Authority Charter is a landmark legislation in cooperative regulation and development in the country. There were many doubtful Thomases among the many officials and employees of the CDA starting from its inception until in the last stage of the approval of the two houses of congress. 

Benjie’s strong determination and bold move of pushing the agency’s reform bill is purposely to respond to the current challenges, opportunities and realities in the 21st century on cooperative regulation and development. The agency was strengthened in terms of its regulatory powers, additional manpower support, more developmental functions and a much closer partnership with the cooperative sector in terms of policy and program coordination through the organization of the national cooperative alliance.


The strong leadership of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri as chairman of the Senate Committee on Cooperatives Development was instrumental for the overwhelming approval in Senate with the support also of Deputy Minority Leader Senator Bam Aquino and Senator Risa Hontiveros who is the Vice Chairperson of the said committee. 

House Deputy Minority Leader Congressmen Anthony Bravo and House Committee Chairman on Cooperative Development Congressman Ben Canama were the champions at the lower house in advancing for its approval. And of course, under the leadership of Benjie in CDA together with the strong support of the cooperative sector and stakeholders, the new CDA Charter was enacted into law by virtue of Republic Act 11364.

Benjie is also the "father" of the creation of the Credit Surety Fund Department of the CDA Central Office, the creation of the CDA Region 4-A composed of the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan also known as the MIMAROPA Region. And the man responsible in securing the Three Hundred Five Million Pesos budget under the GAA 2021 for the Construction of the new CDA Office Building in Cubao, Quezon City.

He is known as an iron hand executive of CDA by initiating the Run Against Fraudulent Cooperatives (RAFC) to go after erring cooperatives used for illegal rice importation, investment scams like Ponce scheme, tax evasion, among others. RAFC was an inter-agency coordinating platform that includes the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Anti-Fraud Unit, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), PNP-Crime Investigation and Detection Group, and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

His last innovation before his term ended at the CDA was the Coop Film Festival. A documentary program together with GMA 7, Inc. to produce short films of successful cooperatives and members in the Philippines.

 

Father of Catigbian’s community development

In Catigbian town, barangay officials considered Benjie as the ‘father’ of Catigbian’s community development.

Catigbian has been known as one among the center of insurgency in the province from the 60’s to the 90’s. At present, intel reports showed that there are still sightings of their presence in the remote barangays but military operatives are there to ensure that insurgency will no longer thrive again in Catigbian. It can be recalled that it was in Catigbian when the CPP-NPA-NDF Regional Spokesperson and Secretary General Silvino “Ka Bino” Clamucha was killed in a running gun-battle with government troops in the hinterlands between barangays Liboron and Maitum in 2004.

Since then, Benjie reach out to the people and the insurgency affected communities to find out the root cause of the problem.

“Unsaon man intawon Sir nga nakalimtan naman me sa gobyerno amoang kalsada guba kaayo mao ang mga taw mahaylo gyud sa NPA. In an adjacent barangays Cang-iras and Liboron, the same sentiment was raised on the road problem. A woman, once approached and told him in barangay Cang-iras, pirteng paita Sir wala me tubig mainum hilabi ug ting-init ut ting-ulan usab ma lubog ang among mga tubod. Kanus-a pa kaha me malingi ug matabangan sa atong gobyerno,” a resident in Barangay Maitum told him.

With his connections in Manila, Benjie moves heaven and earth to secure the funding of the P50-million road concreting of Triple Union-Maitum-Kang-iras Road, the P60-M concreting of Baang-Liboron Road and the P13-M Waterworks Project for LGU-Catigbian. 

When he inspected the project during the construction stage, a mother approached him and said, “Sir wala jud me magtu-o nga ma semento ang amoang lugar. Abi namo ug pareha ka sa uban nga miari lang ug gipangsaadan ming tanan. Salamat kayo Sir. A grandmother also said to him, wala jud me magtoo nga usa ko motaliwan sa kalibutan makabutan me ug hinlo nga mainum nga tubig.”

To date, an additional P35-Million Waterworks project in on-going in barangays Kang-iras, Mahayag Norte and Bagtic courtesy of Bohol 1st district Rep. Edgar Chatto with the strong lobby of LGU-Catigbian under Mayor Elizabeth Mandin.

Benjie is not yet done with these barangays, he initiated the proposal for the construction and opening of new roads like the Kang-iras-Mahayag Norte Road, Baang-Sitio Binaliw (Liboron) Road, Maitum-Liboron Road, Catigbian (Maitum)-Batuan (Behind the Clouds) Road to further advance the development of the area. Alongside with the infrastructure development is a social preparation for the proposed livelihood support program on coco sugar and cacao production in the community.

He was instrumental also in several infrastructure projects in Catigbian with the help of several senators and partylist congressmen like the covered courts of barangays Baang, Ambuan, Bagtic, Candumayao, Bongbong, Causwagan Norte, Mahayag Norte and Catigbian National High School in Poblacion and multi-purpose buildings like the Poblacion Barangay Hall and Catigbian Slaughter House with a total of more than P40-M.

His efforts in Catigbian started during the time of former Mayor Boy Lurot with the full support of then Rep. Rene Relampagos and continues today.

Yet, Benjie has one more dream. He wants to be the “father” in the Halls of Congress for cooperatives, farmers and fisherfolks through KOOP KAMPI Partylist by providing policies and programs that would uplift their lives and their living conditions.

KOOP KAMPI stands for Kooperatiba Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma ug Mangingisda sa Pilipinas with Rep. Anthony Bravo as its first nominee.

"Fatherhood is the best thing that could happen to me, and I’m just glad I can share my voice," he quipped.

 

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

 

Monday, June 21, 2021

The Academy elects 2021-2022 board of governors

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced its newly elected 2021–2022 Board of Governors.  The governors will take office at the first scheduled board meeting of the new term. 


Elected to the Board for the first time:

Rita Wilson, Actors Branch
Kim Taylor-Coleman, Casting Directors Branch
Paul Cameron, Cinematographers Branch
Eduardo Castro, Costume Designers Branch
Jean Tsien, Documentary Branch
Pam Abdy, Executives Branch
Terilyn A. Shropshire, Film Editors Branch
Laura C. Kim, Marketing and Public Relations Branch
Lesley Barber, Music Branch
Gary C. Bourgeois, Sound Branch
Brooke Breton, Visual Effects Branch 
Howard A. Rodman, Writers Branch

Incumbent governors reelected to the Board:

Susanne Bier, Directors Branch
Jennifer Todd, Producers Branch
Tom Duffield, Production Design Branch
Bonnie Arnold, Short Films and Feature Animation Branch

Returning to the Board after a hiatus:

Bill Corso, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch

They will join returning governors Kate Amend, Craig Barron, Howard Berger, Charles Bernstein, Jon Bloom, Rob Bredow, Ruth E. Carter, Kevin Collier, Laura Dern, Teri E. Dorman, Dody J. Dorn, Ava DuVernay, Linda Flowers, DeVon Franklin, Rodrigo García, Donna Gigliotti, Whoopi Goldberg, Lynette Howell Taylor, Mark Johnson, Larry Karaszewski, Laura Karpman, Christina Kounelias, Ellen Kuras, David Linde, Isis Mussenden, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Jan Pascale, Stephen Rivkin, Eric Roth, David Rubin, Steven Spielberg, Wynn P. Thomas, Nancy Utley, Mandy Walker, Roger Ross Williams, Janet Yang and Debra Zane.

As a result of this election, the number of women Academy governors increases from 26 to 31 and the number of governors from underrepresented racial/ethnic communities increases from 12 to 15.

The Academy’s 17 branches are each represented by three governors, who may serve up to two three-year terms (consecutive or non-consecutive), followed by a two-year hiatus, after which eligibility renews for up to two additional three-year terms, for a lifetime maximum of 12 years.  The Board of Governors sets the Academy’s strategic vision, preserves the organization’s financial health, and assures the fulfillment of its mission.

Thursday, June 17, 2021

The Latin Grammy Awards return to Las Vegas


Photo: Latin Recording Academy
The Latin Recording Academy announced today that The Biggest Night in Latin Music, the 22nd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. The three-hour telecast will air live on Univision beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central), preceded by a one-hour pre-show starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
 
"This past year was full of unknowns but also new opportunities for those who adapted quickly," said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. "Drawing from our strength in music, we welcome our resilient community of Latin music lovers back to Las Vegas for a 13th year to celebrate our culture, ethnicity and diversity, and to honor excellence in music; the force that helps us heal and continues to unite us."
 
The Latin GRAMMY Awards are the preeminent international honor and the only peer-selected award celebrating excellence in Latin music worldwide. Nominees for the 22nd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will be announced on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021.  
 
"We are thrilled to bring back the 22nd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards to Las Vegas to honor musical excellence," said Jessica Rodriguez, Chief Marketing Officer and President of Entertainment at Univision. 

"Music is a powerful force in our community. It binds us together as a culture, inspires us and move us, and this year's show will celebrate our shared love of music with the brightest stars, unforgettable performances, and special moments that will entertain our audience," she added.
 

Photo: Latin Recording Academy


The Latin Recording Academy and Univision Communications Inc. will continue to exercise careful precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of all attendees.
 
Chris Baldizan, MGM Resorts' Executive Vice President of Entertainment, said, "MGM Resorts has had a long-standing, successful partnership with The Latin Recording Academy.

 As a leader in Entertainment, we look forward to once again hosting The Latin GRAMMYs at MGM Grand, providing music fans worldwide the opportunity to celebrate Latin music's biggest night in the Entertainment Capital of the World."
 
The previously announced gala tribute for the 2021 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year™ honoring Rubén Blades will take place Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. 

For information on purchasing tickets to the 22nd Latin GRAMMY Awards and the 2021 Latin Person of the Year event, please contact The Latin Recording Academy's ticketing office at 310.314.8281 or ticketing@grammy.com. Additional details about ancillary events occurring during Latin GRAMMY® Week will be communicated at a later date.
 

 


Academy launches 50th year of ‘Gold Rising’ program

The Academy Gold Rising Program is a talent development, diversity and inclusion initiative designed to enhance internship experiences under the Academy brand. The initiative ultimately helps cement, strengthen and clarify long-standing but independent efforts to address concerns of accessibility and opportunity for underrepresented communities throughout our country.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is proud to announce commitments from 25 partner companies in the fifth year of its Academy Gold Rising program.  Gold Rising, formerly called Academy Gold, is an entertainment industry internship enhancement and mentorship program for students and young professionals from underrepresented communities.  The summer program will be virtual for the second time, enabling interns to participate from anywhere in the world.

Alongside the Academy, participating partners include AMC Networks, Annapurna Pictures, The Black List, BRON Studios, Circle of Confusion, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), DTS (part of Xperi Corporation), The Walt Disney Company, Dolby Laboratories, Evolve Entertainment Fund (Mayor’s Office), Formosa Group LLC, FotoKem, Fremantle, Illumination Entertainment, Monkeypaw Productions, Moving Picture Institute, NBCUniversal Filmed Entertainment Group, Paradigm Talent Agency, Paramount Pictures, Participant, Shout! Factory, Streamland Media, United Talent Agency (UTA) and WarnerMedia.

“Over the past five years, the Gold Rising program has steadily evolved and grown, ushering hundreds of alumni into the start of their careers.  We are eternally grateful to our incredible partners who help open doors to a more inclusive field and bring dreams closer to reality for this talented group of young people,” said Academy governor and Education and Outreach Committee chair Wynn P. Thomas.  “Along with my fellow members of the Academy, I look forward to meeting and mentoring this new class as they begin their journeys.”

“During a time with so many unprecedented challenges for artists, filmmakers and young professionals looking to explore their futures, the Gold Rising program will continue to offer participants meaningful, relevant and hands-on experiences to help them find their way in our industry,” said Academy COO Christine Simmons.  “As we continue to push towards equity and inclusion across all aspects of the Academy and greater film community, we’re excited to support new and past Gold Rising interns throughout their careers and can’t wait to see how they make their mark on the future of filmmaking.”

This summer, 100 students (including six interns placed within the Academy and the Academy Museum) from across the United States and abroad will participate in Gold Rising.  The eight-week program, which concludes with a graduation ceremony on August 7, offers participants networking opportunities with Academy members and industry professionals, a variety of panel discussions on every aspect of filmmaking, and career preparation sessions.

Each of the partners will sponsor up to three of their interns for the program, which kicks off today, June 16, with a two-day orientation that includes Academy governors, members and other industry speakers, studio and agency panels, virtual tours of the Academy’s Film Archive, Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, and a look into the Oscars® and Scientific and Technical Awards.

The program also has a production track with online technical workshops and masterclasses for students interested in cinematography, costume design, film editing, production design and sound.  The 35 participants in this track are from California State University Northridge, Exceptional Minds Academy, Los Angeles Film School, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, New York Film Academy and select local community colleges from the Academy’s Community College Film and Media Arts Consortium.

Gold Rising interns will hear from more than 120 panelists and speakers over the course of the program. Highlights include:

Social Justice in Film
Panelists: Arthur Dong (writer-director), Laura Kim (EVP Marketing, Participant), Dawn Porter (director-producer), Marjan Safinia (director-producer)
Moderator: Rosalina Jowers (Senior Manager, Social Impact Communications, Participant)

Authentic Storytelling in the LGBTQIA+ Space
With GLAAD’s Associate Director of Transgender Representation and documentary film producer Alex Schmider

Getting to the Soul of “Soul”
Panelists: Matt Aspbury (cinematographer), Pixar Animation Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter (director-writer), Ian Megibben (cinematographer), Kevin Nolting (editor), Kemp Powers (writer-director), MontaQue Ruffin (animator)
Moderator: Audrey Cleo Yap (multimedia journalist)

Let’s Talk About It: Hollywood and Mental Health
Presented by Shaina Gonzales (licensed clinical social worker and founder of Therapeutic Bridges) 
Moderator: Dana Richie (filmmaker, producer, and founder of Backlot Productions)

Upon completion of the program, all Gold Rising interns will be paired with an Academy member for an eight-month mentorship.  This past year, members from every branch volunteered their time and support to the program, including such mentors as Khadija Alami, Ruth Carter, Nicolás Celis, Jon M. Chu, R.J. Cutler, Hugh Jackman, Yong Duk Jhun, Meg LeFauve, Tom McCarthy and Virgil Williams.

Gold Rising affords top film entertainment, technology, production services and digital media companies an opportunity to recruit and educate a nationwide pool of diverse talent.  To date, there are 365 past Gold Rising program participants.  The 2021 class is from 45 universities and is composed of 78% underrepresented racial/ethnic communities, 61% women, 43% LGBTQ+ and 17% with disability.

Gold Rising, led by program directors Bettina Fisher and Niti Shah, is a part of Academy Gold, a global talent development and inclusion initiative that provides creative individuals of diverse backgrounds with access and resources toward achieving their career pathways in filmmaking.  Programs under the Academy Gold umbrella also include Gold Fellowship for Women, the Student Academy Awards, and the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.  All past participants and award recipients of these programs become a part of the Gold Alumni Program, which provides networking opportunities, access and career advancement services and offers affinity groups for Black and African American, Latinx, Asian American and Pacific Islander, LGBTQ+ and women alumni to network with others who share similar identities, backgrounds and experiences.  The program also tracks participants’ career progression and successes through a database, offering a diverse talent pipeline for the industry.

Academy Gold Rising is supported by a grant from The James Irvine Foundation.  Additional support is provided by The Walt Disney Company, Gucci Changemakers, and the Ruderman Family Foundation.

The Academy Gold Rising Production Track is made possible in part by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation and the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund.

Other funding is provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, Critics Choice Association in honor of Chadwick Boseman, and Leon Silverman.

For more information about the Gold Rising program, visit https://www.oscars.org/gold-rising.

 

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Jessyville Laviña Ugat now an official candidate for Miss Philippines Earth 2021

Jessyville Laviña Ugat of Baclayon town has barely one month to prepare for Miss Philippines Earth 2021. Photo: Chromatel Photography

The call came last month.


“Are you willing to be the Miss Philippines Earth 2021?” asked Khim Roger Magtagad Laway, owner of The Art Nouveau Models. 

No further question. Not one to shy away from any challenge,  Jessyville Laviña Ugat
said, yes, of course. More calls and meetings and the deal was done.

Jessyville, one of the five province's  country’s bet, will compete in the pageant on July 20. 

But given the very limited time, Jessyville Laviña has to train harder. 

Jessyville Laviña, 21,  hails from Baclayon town. She holds a degree in BS Tourism Management major in Travel and Tour. 

She stands 5’7” and weighs 113 lbs. She was crowned as Miss Baclayon Earth 2019. 

An environmental awareness advocate, Jessyville Laviña used to work as a car sales representative in one of well-known companies in Bohol.

She is now an ESL teacher who loves traveling, dancing surfing the net, and reading inspirational messages.

“I join Miss Philippines 2021 because I want to be the catalyst of change. I want my advocacy to be heard, our Mother Earth is trying to get our attention that is why it’s time for us to hear her cry, " she said.

"Let’s be part of solution. Let’s save our Mother Earth,” she added. 

* * * 
These money tips forwarded by Anthony Ceniza:

*Don’t bring your money with you.
*Cook at home.
*Buy your groceries in Public Market not in Malls weekly, not daily, not monthly. (Market: Ampalaya 50/kl vs Mall 147/kl)
*Remove unimportant expenses.
* Lower down the cost of your important expences. (Ex. Ganador 55/kl while Sinandoming 42/kl)
* Buy your own tumbler and bring your own water. Avoid buying outside. (Natures Spring 500ml 15.00 while if you bring its FREE)
*If you’re not in business don’t buy CAR.
COMMUTE: plete ka 8.00 x 2 x 26days = 416.00/month

While Car Expenses: 15k/month car + 5k/mo gas + 2k/mo parking = 22k/month
*Always set aside 20-30% of your income to your mandatory/disciplined savings. 

What makes us poor is our bad spending habits.

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


Saturday, June 5, 2021

Chocolates overload at Marilou Beach

Edison Gumapac loves to shop! The souvenir shop at Marilou Resort/Dumaluan Beach Resort in Panglao offers different kinds of chocolates.

Edison Gumapac went to Panglao town on Saturday to escape from the city due to 12-hour power interruption in Bohol province.


"I want to relax here because it's hot and humid at home," said Edison, an educator. 

Other residents sought air-conditioned environment like mall to cool down. 

In Tagbilaran City, some business establishments used portable generators to cope with the power outage.

However, some small shops, most of them power-dependent, closed for the day.

In an advisory, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said  there was a 12-hour power outage on Saturday for 
line stringing activity and annual preventive maintenance works. 

After  "The Doctor Is In" (hosted by Dr. Doloreich Dumaluan), Edison, Helen Castano and I enjoyed the white sand beach at Marilou /Dumaluan Beach Resort. Other media friends-Dave Responte (dyTR), Rey Tutas (dyRD), Allen Doydora (dyRD), Rene Daling (dyRD), Angel Guimalan and Kit Bagaipo went home. 

We also tried the "ganggangan" (sauna) with the supervision of Anthony Ceniza. 

"Ganggangan" is the new place for relaxation in Panglao. It can be more than relaxing. It can be a place to cleanse body and soul for  P250/30 minutes.  

At the Marilou Souvenir Shop, you can buy chocolate, nuts, and, sundry. So once you enter the shop, it feels more like picking up groceries (oh, S&R and Landers!) than entering a souvenir shop. They have different kinds of chocolates and nuts. 

"They have wines and spirits, too," gushed Edison. 

Well, he shops till he drops. 

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


Monday, May 31, 2021

Santacruzan in the new normal

The mother and son pair of Fiel Angeli and Renji as Empress Helena 2021 and Prince Constantine, respectively.

Most Filipinos, including Boholanos, are devout Catholics. They honor and celebrate saints on feast days. 

In the Philippines, May is a merry month not only because it is the season of fiestas with gastronomic treats, but of the “Flores de Mayo” - Spanish for "flowers of May", one of the devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary starting from the first until the last day of May of every year. 

It is the time when girls believing in “Ad Jesum Per Mariam” – to Jesus through Mary – offer flowers and implore her intercession to bring their prayers and supplications to Jesus.

The Santacruzan, derived from the Spanish term “santa cruz” or holy cross, is being held on the last day of the Flores de Mayo. It depicts Saint Helena (Reina Elena) and Constantine the Great of Constantinople’s search for the “true cross”. 

Some trace its connection to May from the May 3 date of “Roodmas” commemorating the finding by Saint Helena of the true cross in Jerusalem in 355 observed on May 3 in some Christian churches and rites. 

In the Philippine setting, Santacruzan is made a colorful festival and has become an integral part of Filipino traditions identified with youth, love, and romance  because of the personalities who portray the biblical figures and traditional personifications during the procession with Reina Elena holding the holy cross beside Prince Constantine. 

In Bohol, even with the pandemic, Birhen sa Barangay Shrine Parish relived the Santacruzan offering of flowers to Mary spearheaded by Msgr. Jeffrey P. Malanog, JCL, VG, parish priest, that started with the rosary, novena, holy mass, and ended with a motorcade around Barangay Cogon, the biggest barangay in the Tagbilaran City in terms of population. 

Following the COVID-19 health and safety standard protocols, the sagalas as well as their escorts wore face masks and face shields. 

This year is special because there are, indeed, so many things to be thankful for, especially the “angels” here on earth for their outpouring of generosity for the fundraiser which totalled P421,670.75 for the church improvement projects, specifically the completion of the counseling room and priests’ rooms.
Cogon Birhen sa Barangay Shrine Parish' Msgr. Jeffrey P. Malanog, JCL, VG with Empress Helena 2021 Fiel Angeli E. Araoarao - Gabin and her son, JF Regelbert Johnson "Renji" as Prince Constantine, and John Nino M. Dacullo, Santacruzan 2021 Committee chair.


Empress Helena 2021 is Fiel Angeli Espejo Araoarao - Gabin, daughter of Rep and Wincie Araoarao and a resident of Graham Avenue, Cogon’s Purok 2 for the past 51 years. 

She is married to Engr. Jerome John Gabin from Siquijor and has 2 children, AJ Wincielou Johanna “Cielo” and JF Regelbert Johnson “Renji” Gabin who escorted her as Prince Constantine. 

The “sagalas” were Luzviminda Bayne, Purok 5 (Queen of Sheba); Lolita Acedo, Purok 6 (Rebecca); Leonisa Eroy, Purok 4 (Reina Caridad); Rebecca Yecyec, Purok 1 (Deborah); Marie Anne Udtohan-Diores, Purok 3 (Reina Fe); Irenea Tocmo, Purok 8 (La Divina Pastora); Rosa Nina Aranilla, Purok 12 (Hagar); Cecile Vitor, Purok 7 (Reina Esperanza); Maricris Tumale, Purok 10 (Esther); Lovely Pilayo, Purok 11 (Ruth); and Debbie Calabria, Purok 9 (Reina Madre). 

The fundraiser was coordinated by John Nino Dacullo, chair of the Parish Youth Coordinating Council, together with Flor Anabelle Cesar, Venice Doron, and Merlita Cagata. 

Fashion designer Aileen Sendrijas Pasagad designed Empress Helena 2021’s white Philippine terno.

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