GenSan News Online Mag

Allow me to take a break from the “happy” posts I have been churning out daily about the Kalilangan and give you a News Release from the Philippine National Police Office of General Santos City. This is with regard to an unfortunate blast incident which happened near midnight on February 27, 2008, the culmination day of the Kalilangan Festival , killing a vendor and injuring 5 civilians.

This is to correct the “news” and misinformation floating around that it was a “bomb blast” and that a “suicide bomber” did it. Here is the scanned official report.

Tomorrow, concert queen Pops Fernandez headlines the closing event for the Kalilangan Festival 2008, her DIVALICIOUS CONCERT Provincial Tour at the Lagao Gym.

GenSan is very lucky for it is Pop’s first stop in the provinces after mounting this successful concert at the Araneta Coliseum sometime in December last year.

Together with her are RnB Prince Jay-R who was just here last weekend, Geneva Cruz, Streetboys’ Danilo Barrios and Jimmy Marquez, former Star in a Million runner-up.

As far as I can remember, it has been a long time since a concept concert of this magnitude has been staged in the Tuna Capital and for sure, judging from its recent airing at ABS-CBN, the generals are in for a real treat.

With ticket prices pegged at P2,000, P1,500, P1,000, P600, P400, P200 and P150, people will have a lot of choices to consider. I just hope my townmates go all out for this event to show to the world once and for all that we are ready for concerts like these. I for one, am going with my whole family. HOpe to see you all there too!

Will be posting pictures of her concert here soon. Promise.

Pictures are worth a thousand words. So for this post, am presenting these shots taken at the oval plaza where 9 barangays (villages) performed their focal presentations to vie for the grand prize of P100,000 at the Kadsagayan Street Dancing Competition, the culminating activity of the Kalilangan Festival 2008.

Today is the V-DAY for Gensan being the 69th Foundation Day of the city and the culmination of the over-a-week long Kalilangan Festival.

Too bad I wasn’t able to catch the “SALUBONG” reenactment at the junction of Pioneer and Magsaysay Avenues because it was held at 5:30am, way too early for me. Anyway, will ask for pics from my brother Orman’s camera and will post his shots later.

As of now, allow me as I indulge you with the happenings of my city’s 69th Foundation day, the day when settlers who registered and applied for homesteads with the NLSA (National Land Settlement Authority) under then Administrator Gen. Paulino Santos through the directive of Pres. Manuel Luis Quezon, arrived on the shores of what was then known as Dadiangas in February 27, 1939.

This is the first in a series of posts of what is also the culmination day of the 11-day long KALILANGAN FESTIVAL….

Below is the deserted Pioneer Avenue which was closed for traffic early this morning for the “SALUBONG” reenactment when Christian settlers led by Gen. Santos were met by the original inhabitants comprised of lumads, muslims and the first wave of immigrants – the Acharons, the Natividads, the Olartes and the Lozanos, among others.

Ritual dancers from the b’laan tribe perform after the “Salubong” at the Carlos P. Garcia Park.

Folk dancers sway to the Kalilangan beat on the background unmindful of the early morning sun.

Young b’laan dancers perform their dance while waiting for the mass to begin.

Sydney Hotel at the corner of Pioneer and Pendatun Avenue looms large in the background as Mayor Acharon gives his speech in front of the city’s movers and shakers at the shrine of Gen. Paulino Santos, Sr. at the Carlos P. Garcia Park.

Above pictures – is the view of the ongoing celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the Carlos P. Garcia Park taken from the 6th floor of the Sydney Hotel and that of Mt. Matutum in the horizon.

The symbolic release of doves & balloons at the Carlos P. Garcia Park to signal the opening of the celebrations for the 69th Foundation Day of the city elicited cheers, shouts and jubilant reactions from these representatives of the various sectors of the Tuna Capital.

Tonight which is the eve of the culmination of Gen. Santos City’s Kalilangan Festival is one busy night again for the “generals” (as people here call themselves).

Aside from the presentations at the oval plaza, there’s another street party at the parking lot of East Asia Royale Hotel and this time, it’s a FOAM PARTY!

Based on this event’s poster, it’s going to be one wet and wild disco affair organized by the same company, Perfecom which brought the sexy all-Pinay sing-and-dance group Mocha to the Tuna Capital last year.

This time, music will be provided by 8 Miles Band of Davao together with DJ Super Mario, resident dj of Auto Dance Bar of Cebu City and local DJ’s Ice and Moko.

Although I don’t see myself paying P80 to get wet and cold at night in a parking lot, I might just be there to see what the fuss is all about. And while at it, a bottle of chilled San Mig light on my hand could be just a perfect partner.

After a show-stopping opening number interrupted momentarily by rain, the Pageant Night for the Search for the Lakandula & Lakambini 2008 (the real deal this time) went on without a hitch last night (Feb 23) at the Oval Plaza Stage.

Eight lovely ladies (the prettiest batch i’ve seen) and eight young hunks showed their stuff to prove that they have what it takes to bring home the Kalilangan Festival‘s most prestigious beauty and talents search titles.

In the end, the judges which were composed of First Lady Dr. Rose Acharon, commercial model Ariel Atendido (brother of Councilor Richard), international make-up artist & TV celebrity Ms. Ivory Malagena, Assistant City Administrator (and kabarkada) Glennville Gonzales, Bro. Yourli Estrellan, GSC Chamber Exec Director Pilar Afuang (who stays with us) among others, chose multi-awardee and heavily-favored Ms. Jehan Untao, a Maranao nursing student at GS Doctor’s  Medical School Foundation, Inc. and Mr. Gilton Samilin, a practical nursing enrollee of Holy Trinity College as Lakambini & Lakandula respectively, besting their opponents from bigger schools MSU and NDDU.

Other winners were 1st runners-up Mr. & Ms. Joey Butulan & Eden Torrecampo and 2nd runners-up Mr. & Ms. Dino Lapiz & Christine Rabanos.

The affair finished around midnight which did not give me a chance to watch either the Aiza Seguerra Concert at the Lagao Gymm or the HALE Streetparty at East Asia Royale Hotel where sexy girl-group Mocha & performed last year and the Browman Revival the previous day. Instead, to cap the night, I had noodle soup with my brother & event manager Orman’s staff at the Kalilangan Coffee Shop of East Asia where we stayed until my eyes could barely open themselves and my mind was flying elsewhere.

By the way, earlier that night, someone pointed out to me the reigning Binibining Masayahin 2008 (Ms. Gay 2008) among the people at the backstage. Sans make-up & wearing only a casual get-up, she was, I guess, still pretty and carried it like the beauty title holder that she is.

While I am writing this, an ongoing seminar on Dance Sports is happening at the GenSan City Hall lobby organized by the Dance Sports Council of Socsksargen. The city has already produced a good number of champions since this sports was introduced many years back and judging from the appearance of so many interested boys and girls when at the seminar, there is no stopping its winning streak.

This undertaking which is billed as the Dance Sports Seminar and Workshop at their handout will end at 5:00pm today.

City Mayor’s Office’s Gaygay Llido, whose mother Tita Virgie Tiongson-Llido, is one of the pillars of dance sports in the region, emailed me the poster featured here.

This one topbills their big event at the Gaisano Mall Atrium at 2:00PM tomorrow Sunday, which is the 10th Kalilangan and 7th Mindanao-Wide Open Dance Sports. That should be a treat for the shoppers of GenSan’s oldest mall. Have to be there!

The Search for Kalilangan’s Bb. Masayahin (Ms. Gay) 2008 Beauty Pageant last night was an eye-opener for a lot of people.

14 young gays paraded at the Oval Stage in their fantasy costumes, swim wear and long gowns looking every inch like the real deal! It was hard deciding at first on the winners (I was a judge) but as any beauty competition goes, things can only get easier when the question-and-answer portion starts.

Here is a photo I took of the top 3 winners, with James Roble Dime, the Bb. Masayahin 2008 (Ms. Gay 2008) who is a law student at the Mindanao State University-GenSan and the wittiest of them all, being flanked on both sides by the 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up winners.

The United Architects of the Philippines- Socsksargen Chapter opened yesterday (Feb 22) the 1st Socsksargen CONBEX (Construction & Building Exhibit) at the atrium of the KCC Mall of Gensan as part of its commitment to join the the 2008 Kalilangan Festival.

Running until the 24th (Sunday), the exhibit (according to its flyer) “aims to update professionals and stakeholders of the contruction industry on information on the latest trends in technologies, services, materials, products, buildings system and solutions for the entire construction industry”. (whew!)

I must say however the products & services featured really offer valuable info for people who are planning to build or renovate their homes. Even Mayor Jun Acharon who inaugurated the event was impressed. Well, the people of Gensan only has the UAP to thank for especially its president, Architect Marissa Ober. As for myself and my friends from the CPIO, we are grateful to Architect Cecille Dinopol-Dellosa for the free lunch afterwards.

Good work guys!

My friend Dodie Ladera, Station Manager of K101-FM informed me today that their Search for Ms. Silka 2008 Beauty Pageant at KCC Mall yesterday afternoon was a success.

Silka is the name of a brand of whitening soap and lotion. Hundreds of people crammed inside the air-conditioned Convention Center of the mall for the event. Making it doubly special is the guest appearance of Silka endorser, sexy Pinay actress Iya Villania.

Since I still don’t have pictures of the event, am posting their poster instead which DJ Kabayan Joe emailed to me. Congrats guys!

See you on the 27th for your Bugno sa mga Rockista.

I am posting Gen. Santos City Mayor Jun Acharon’s 1/4 page ad for the city’s local print media which will hopefully come out in time for the culmination of the Kalilangan Festival on February 27.

This is a product of my friend Ronald Velasquez who did it in less than 15 minutes for me!!!!

A group calling themselves as SWAT (Special Weapons Airsoft Team) is also joining GenSan’s Kalilangan Festival 2008 with a competition on February 23-24 at the NDDU Soccer Field called “KINGDOM OF GENERALS“.

Airsoft game enthusiasts have started to make their presence felt in the city as early as 5-7 years back but this is their biggest participation in one of the city’s festivals so far. Would like to try it out one of these days since my chef-niece Claudine‘s boyfriend is a player too. Who knows? This might be the sport I might excel in one of these days, aside from web surfing. Hehehe!

My beloved Alma Mater Notre Dame of Dadiangas University is transferring its elementary division to its Barangay Lagao Campus effective June 2008, in time for the opening of classes for the new school year. Its high school department has long been transferred there, merging the former Notre Dame of Lagao and Notre Dame of Dadiangas secondary schools.

With this move, the whole block of NDDU at National Highway now belongs to the college department. Incidentally,the school has just conducted its 1st University Days.

Gen. Santos City’s premier home-away-from-home, the East Asia Royale Hotel joins the city in celebrating the Kalilangan Festival with not 1, not 2, but 3 Street Parties at their Arcade Parking lot.

First to regale GenSan’s party people with their kind of music are reggae band Brownman Revival and the country’s R&B Prince Jay-R in a concert sponsored by Sun Cellular dubbed, what else but “SUN INVASION”.

Tickets are priced at only P100 for this February 22, 2008, Friday affair designed to kick-off the long weekend of partying fun for the Kalilangan 2008 Festival.

This is one event am not gonna miss because after my first trip to Boracay in the 80s where most of the tunes played were reggae, I got hooked to it!  And although am not a fan of Jay-R, his repertoire of rhythm and blues is something am looking forward too.

I just need to ask somebody to take over my judging chore that night at the oval plaza for this Binibining Masayahin Pageant Search organized by the Golden State College.

Or maybe, I could finish  that one first and proceed to the street party later.  Yeah, why not?!  This is gonna be one busy Friday for me.

Gen. Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr.’s proclamation of 2008 as Year of Excellence continues to gain good ground as once again, a young general (as people from the Tuna Capital of the Phils. are called) won in a national competition and earned the right to represent the country abroad.

High Schooler Steven Tan of Quantum Academy, joined 10 other students from all over the country in winning awards for the best projects in Life Science & Physical Science categories during the Intel Philippine Science Fair in Tagaytay City last Saturday, February 16, 2008 which was co-sponsored by the Department of Education.

Steven’s entry was “Pharmaceutical compounds (antibacterial immunobooster) from Barringtonia Asiatica and Garcini Mangostana (mangosteen).

His winning will take him and the rest to Atlanta, Georgia in May for the “Intel International Science & Engineering Fair.”

With this accolade, Steven just added another feather to his city’s cap as “WOW GenSan” – Wellspring Of Winners.

For more about the competition, click here.

Mr. Phillip Teng, whose family owned TSP Kimball Plaza of yesteryears gave me a ticket to the 2008 Kalilangan Festival offering of his Orange Bistro which features his brother, John and his band “MINUTEMEN“.

An invitational dinner concert which is dubbed “Another Blast From the Past“, this will be held on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at The Tent, an air-conditioned portion of his Orange Bistro along the National Highway, Lagao, GenSan City.

Kuya Phillip says that his brother does this only as a hobby and that his band plays mostly music of the 60′s and 70′s. People who can afford the P500 tab (which comes with a CD of the band and dinner) should expect songs from the Beatles, Gary Lewis, Dave Clark Five, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Bee Gees, and more.

Dinner will start at 6pm and the show follows soon after at 8pm at this new GenSan restaurant.

A matinee performance but without dinner this time will be held a day in advanced (February 20) at the Family Country Hotel and Convention Center where the tickets are priced less at P300.

These are some of the pictures I took during the Opening of Kalilangan Festival 2008 on Saturday, February 16, 2008 which was covered live by ABS-CBN at their affiliate SkyCable Channel 28. The festival commemorates the 69th Foundation Anniversary of General Santos City on February 27th where everything culminates in one big street party invoking the city’s multi-faceted cultural heritage.

Little Kalilangan Festival Queen

Young Kalilangan Folk Dancer is all smiles for the camera

Folk dancers from a public primary school looking cool

Wacky Folk Dancers and their parents and teachers

Young Maria Claras

Mayor Jun Acharon leading city officials, guests & festival staff in releasing the Kalilangan balloon signaling the formal opening of the festival.

The grand fireworks display!

Gen. Santos City’s Kalilangan Festival 2008 which is in celebration of its 69th Foundation Anniversary was formally opened yesterday afternoon at the Oval Plaza Stage. A Folk Dance Contest and a Grand Fireworks Display preceded the formal opening ceremony which was spearheaded by the Department of Education. I am reposting the poster in its final version and posting a picture of the stage.

For the schedule, please click HERE. Will be posting more pictures later.

Although belatedly, I am posting pictures of the Mini Crown Roast which was our main course during the New Year’s Eve dinner whipped out by my four nieces, headed by Claudine who is a 3rd year Hotel and Restaurant Management student at the Golden State College in GenSan.

It was our first NY dinner since my 82-year old Mom left us April last year. This time, my siblings wanted a menu which we haven’t tried before and which our mom would surely have loved if she were still alive.

To our rescue was the December issue of Yummy Magazine which featured a mouth-watering cover of this pork dish called Mini Crown Roast. We lost no time in hieing off to the nearest Monterey Meat Shop at P. Acharon Boulevard to get the specially-packed pork ribs.

We then left the kitchen under the leadership of Claudine who, with the Yummy Magazine as her guide set down to work on  her and her sisters’  challenge  to make the dinner most memorable and  special.

To make the long story short, the dinner was a smash and as these pictures attest, we have now a budding chef in the family.

My Internet Yahoo Group ICON (International Circle of Online Noranians), with GANAP (The Grand Alliance for Nora Aunor Philippines) and the Federation of Nora Aunor Followers, Inc., is proudly announcing the celebration of GUY an PIP DAY (in honor of Superstar Nora Aunor & her former screen partner Tirso Cruz III) slated on Monday, February 25, 2008 as part of the opening of STARS CONVERGE: The Stellar Art and Career of Elwood Perez, a film retrospective of the University of the Philippines Film Institute.

This film retrospective will also give recognition to two movie production outfits who were instrumental in the evolution of the craft of director Elwood Perez, the Sampaguita-VP Pictures and Regal Films.

GUY AND PIP LOVETEAM DAY

During the Guy and Pip Day , two movies of the greatest Filipino loveteam of all time will be screened at the UP Film Institute in Diliman, Quezon City. First to be shown at 5:00pm is “Till We Meet Again“, their “comeback movie” which destroyed all cinema box-office records in 1985.

This is followed by “I Can’t Stop Loving You” at 7:30pm. This movie is one of the top-grossing movies during the 1985 Metro Manila Film Festival. Incidentally, an exhibit of Guy & Pip memorabilia will be conducted at the lobby of the UP Film Institute.

Another Guy & Pip movie showing on February 26, Tuesday at 7:30pm is the classic “Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit” which was shown on 1989 and reaped a lot of trophies from award-giving bodies the following year.

On February 27, Wednesday, as a finale to the retrospective, the movie, “Ang Totoong Buhay ni Pacita M.“, another multi-award winner for Nora Aunor will be shown.

Tickets for all the screenings cost only P80.00. Student discounts will be available as part of ICON’s objective to inform and enlighten the new generation on the remarkable body of work of Nora Aunor.
GABI NG PARANGAL (AWARDS NIGHT)

The night of February 25 is also the “Awards Night” for the the 2nd ICON Awards which are given to showbiz personalities who have contributed a lot to the growth of the Pinoy movie industry. Some of the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2008 are Director Elwood Perez (film directing), Ricardo Lee (Screenwriting), Tirso Cruz, III (Film Acting), Nestor Torre (Film Journalism) and Ronald Constantino (Film Journalism).

Expected to grace this event are the children of the Superstar, Lotlot de Leon, Matet, Kiko and Kenneth and other close friends of the Noranians. The trophies are donated by Antonio Flores of ICON-Canada.

Note: As far as I can recall, I have been a Noranian since I was 8 years old when the Superstar first came into the consciousness of the Filipinos after winning the then #1 Singing Competition in the land, “Tawag ng Tanghalan”. My mom used to feed us with local showbiz magazines Kislap, Liwayway and the pre-Martial Law tabloids The Sun and similar print materials with her on the covers and since there was nothing else to read, that got me and my younger siblings hooked.

For his part, my Dad bought all the long-play vinyl records of the young Bicolano he could find. These made us fanatics of the diminutive singer-actress that I remember joining a local “Guy and Pip Forever” Fans Club with my brother, Orman which was organized by Ate Linda, who was a box-office ticket seller at the Capitol Theater along Pioneer Avenue, just beside the Arenas Building where we were renting a unit for my Dad’s tailoring shop.