GenSan News Online Mag

For the first time in the history of their group, four original members of the VIVA Hotbabes will perform in General Santos in what promises to be an exciting show dubbed as “Viva Hotbabes in the Flesh” – LIVE IN GENSAN on August 9, 2008, Saturday at the KCC Mall Convention Center.

A lingerie fashion event cum variety show which will surely excite the male generals, it features Andrea del Rosario, Jennifer Lee, Maui Taylor and Katya Santos.

General Santos City has recently been invaded this year by Manila-based performers like Pops Fernandez, Geneva Cruz, Jay-R, Danilo Barrios, Mocha, Sarah Geronimo, Mark Bautista, to name just a few. That only means one thing – the generals now know how to enjoy themselves and party!!!!

Viva Hotbabes In the Flesh – Live in Gensan is brought to us by Advision and the GenSan City Government.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Boy Scout of the Philippines – GenSan Chapter. Other sponsors are KCC Mall of GenSan, GRAB-A-CRAB, Coca-Cola, Citra Mina, Family Country Hotel and Convention Center, Coffee Club 101, Gregoria Printing Press, Fine Pixel and Media Partners ABS-CBN and MOR 92.7 For Life.

Viva Hotbabes In the Flesh is rated R-18.  In short, it’s FOR ADULTS ONLY.

My alma mater, Notre Dame of Dadiangas University now ranks #1 among the schools in Mindanao offering Nursing Courses.  This, according to the NDDU Alumni Office headed by Ms. Mea Dayot since her passing percentile is 83%, way above the national average of 43%.

To Notre Dame President Bro. John Tan, FMS, his staff, the teachers and the student passers, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Here is the list of passers from NDDU:

1. Jovelyn G. Alaba, RN
2. Kathrine Grace C. Aquino, RN
3. Jeslie Aiza O. Arco, RN
4. Irish Louie D. Arnado, RN
5. Jover Christensen A. Asentista, RN
6. Robelyn E. Atamosa, RN
7. Rochelle Kay G. Aure, RN
8. Ma. Cinthya C. Balayon, RN
9. Sherry Rose S. Bayron, RN
10. Rhodena Laurene P. Benedicto, RN
11. April Grace D. Bernaldez, RN
12. Conrado P. Bergundo Jr, RN
13. Rachel D. Bilbao, RN
14. Irish G. Blabagno, RN
15. Jo-ann A. Braga, RN
16. Rhodilyn V. Capili, RN
17. Keneith C. Castillon, RN
18. Efren T. Catimbang Jr, RN
19. Kristine Anne I. Chan, RN
20. Katrina Ivy D. Dafun, RN
21. Vener M. Damasco, RN

22. Princess Wendy V. Demaisip, RN

23. Renzie F. Diamante, RN

24. Leo Anthony T. Diongon, RN

25. Kirstine C. Domingo, RN

26. Jenny Rose S. Dusal, RN

27. Marie Conef V. Egano, RN

28. Cindy G, Empig, RN

29. Maria Rae C. Enad, RN

30. Jay B. Esgana, RN

31. Kristine J. Estaña,

32. Jowe L. Estrera, RN

33. John Dexter A. Fegarido, RN

34. Kristienne Marie M. Francisco, RN

35. Dulce Amor P. Fuentes, RN

36. Cecille Ruth G. Garciano, RN

37. Michael Kristoffer P. Hijastro, RN

38. Aisa Katrina Y. Irlanda, RN

39. Marve Joy M. Jandoc, RN

40. Marlon N. Japitana, RN

41. Jenny S. Javier, RN

42. Charmaine H. Labaniego, RN

43. Rochie Grace P. Lachica, RN

44. Antonette M. Lao, RN

45. Adelaida D. Leonar, RN

46. Catherine J. Lim, RN

47. Michael Lawrence M. Lu, RN

48. Catherine G. Macabenta, RN

49. Imee Clen O. Manlangit, RN

50. Abigail G. Miana, RN

51. Kareen D. Kaye Nacis,

52. Laverne D. Ninez, RN

53. Mohaliden A. Odasan, RN

54. Johanna G. Olarte, RN

55. Crystine Jel E. Olivarez, RN

56. James T. Oquendo Jr. , RN

57. Reich P. Oquendo, RN

58. Ray-Anne D. Pabalinas, RN

59. Mairille L. Paje, RN

60. Jollie Marie G. Palati, RN

61. Xy-za Graciela C. Panes, RN

62. Gillian Joy C. Paulate, RN

63. Charlene U. Reyes, RN

64. Angeline D. Rolan, RN

65. Xander Lyn P. Rollo, RN

66. Mira J. Rosali, RN

67. Kim Lochinvar M. Salamanca, RN

68. Keren A. Salvador, RN

69. Denver B. Sarabia, RN

70. Ma. Sheenah I. Sasam, RN

71. Danica Patricia A. Santos, RN

72. Kris A. Secreto, RN

73. Mary Keith Fanz A. Siotong, RN

74. Moniene C. Tabaco, RN

75. Ma. Aileen J. Tabingo, RN

76. Mairene Jane R. Tago-on, RN

77. Jackie Mae Lane G. Tatad, RN

78. Marvy G. Tirado, RN

79. Kenneth Jim L. Toribio, RN

80. Chrismae S. Vicente, RN

81. Nery M. Vigor, RN

82. Apple Llymar P. Vilaray, RN

83. Rochelle Lou X. Villaneza, RN

84. Cherrie Mae M. Ygot, RN

85. Carlo Christopher R. Yumang, RN

ategory A (100 examinees & up)

After a string of postponements due to my erratic schedule, I finally found time to visit and try the offerings of my good friends Noel and Sally Santos‘ first dining venture, the AforDabolz Oriental Native Food.

Located along Yumang Street (about 50 meters from Aparente Avenue), at the corner of Delfin Compound, the place has been a hit among passersby, mostly harried workers who are residents of the nearby subdivisions (Sarangani Homes, Lacap Subdivision, Villegas Subdivision, Pacheco Subdivision, among others) who are on the lookout for more than the usual barbecued fare.

For one, they serve TUNA & FISH DISHES TO GO at very affordable prices, since they source it directly from Sta. Maria Processors, Inc..  Second, they have a richly varied menu other than Pinoy food with a touch of Malaysian and Thai influences, also at friendly prices.  This is the very reason why Noel (grandson of Gen. Paulino Santos, founder of the city) thought of the name AforDabolz Oriental Native Food to make it easily stick on the minds of his clients.

Just recently, the back portion of their compound which have been converted into a dining area cum beer garden has been the favorite hangout of barkadas and families who want a dressed-down ambience. There they can stay under a roofed area or go al-fresco with the stars smiling down on them.

In fact, last night, I was there with my high school batchmates (Notre Dame 78) courtesy of Charles Lim who sponsored a get-together for my partner’s birthday on Saturday.   We had the time of our lives not only updating ourselves on each other’s “rakets” and laughing our hearts out, but also partaking some of Noel and Sally’s food bestsellers, pictures of which are posted below.

My high school batchmates (NDDU 78) all satisfied with AforDabolz delicious food

Thanks to Noel and Sally’s daughter, Ann Santos (of ABS-CBN) who took these photos.

Sizzling Spicy Tuna Sisig, made of tuna skin (!), drizzled with generous amounts of onions and green chili, is an AforDabolz exclusive priced at only P70. Tasty, tender to the bite, and healthy pulutan for LIVER LOVERS.

Stuffed Bangus: minced boneless bangus mixed with shredded itlog na maalat (salted egg), dashed with onions and tomatoes, wrapped in foil and steamed to perfection, this one is priced at P130. Coated with mayo, it is one pure drinker’s delight!

The Spicy Bagaybay (Tuna Gonad/reproductive organ) is my favorite. Flavored with Noel’s secret sauce, it doesn’t have that distinctive fishy taste (lansa) and is so tender to the bite that I could swear it easily melted in my mouth. Masarap pang-ulam, and matakaw sa kanin, this one goes for P70 ONLY!!!!

Hoisin Pusit (Squid) is a Malaysian dish cooked in Hoisin Sauce and is for people who prefer their dishes a bit on the sweet side. Still, since it’s from a Southeast Asian Country, it’s also spicy making it even more flavorful. Only at P50 per serving.

Afordabolz’s Honey Glazed Spareribs could give Ranchero’s a run for their money. Totally coated in Noel’s honey mixture, baked to tender-heaven and served with potato chips, this one does not disappoint. You will have to forget about using your utensils though and eat with your bare hands to get each morsel of glazed meat on the bones… never mind if you have to lick the sauce off your fingers. At P220, it’s a steal!

Now, what are you waiting for? Check out Afordabolz Oriental and Native Food at Yumang Street at the corner of Delfin Compound, Purok Malakas, Barangay San Isidro, GenSan.   Or better still, call them at 552-9411 to order your fancied menu in advanced and just let their server hand it to you while parked in front of their place when it’s time to pick it up.

And yes, tell them that Bariles sent you.

Grabe! Cebu Pacific has announced that it will now compete head-on with PAL Express by offering Cebu-Gensan-Cebu flights three times a week effective August 15, 2008!

A Cebu Pacific plane which just arrived at the GenSan International Airport.  Notice the cars?  Those are for the greeters of Pres. GMA when she visited the Tuna Capital last week.

According to Cebu Pacific’s press release:

Cebu Pacific is adding frequencies to its services from Manila to Bacolod, Tacloban, Cotabato, and Dipolog.

The airline will also expand its route network from Cebu with the launch of its direct Cebu-General Santos (GenSan) service starting 15-Aug-08.

CEB introduces the additional frequencies and announces its Cebu-GenSan operations with a seat sale which will run from 24-Jul-08 to 29-Jul-08. (Gosh! Tapos na! – BARILES) This is valid for travel from 15-Aug-08 to 30-Nov-08.

One-way fares to Bacolod, Tacloban and Cebu-GenSan is at PHP999 ‘all-in’ while fares to Cotabato and Dipolog is at PHP1,499 ‘all-in’.

Candice Iyog, CEB spokesman said, “We will continue to expand our operations and offer the lowest ‘all-inclusive’ fares especially to new CEB routes that have not been previously exposed to our low fares.”

The three-times weekly Cebu-GenSan service will operate every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The flight departs from Cebu at 10:30am and arrives in GenSan at 11:30am. It leaves GenSan at 12:00nn and arrives back in Cebu at 1:10pm.

CEB’s Manila-Bacolod service will grow from 21 to 24 flights weekly while its Manila-Tacloban service will increase from 21 to 25 flights weekly. The carrier will also increase its operations to Cotabato from five-times weekly to daily while Manila-Dipolog will grow from four times to five times weekly.

Now in its 13th year, CEB has the youngest aircraft fleet in the Philippines. It has a fleet of ten A319s, eight A320s, and two ATR72-500 aircraft.

So that makes it SIX FLIGHTS out of GenSan International Airport, 3x weekly. TODO NA ITO!

With that, am encouraging everyone from CEBU to book you tickets now and be here for the TUNA FESTIVAL which runs from August 29 to September 5, 2008!

LIPAD NA!!!

The government of the Philippines has announced that, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1083 of 1977, the date of Wednesday, July 30, 2008, had been chosen for this year’s celebration of Lailatul Izra Wal Miraj (Nocturnal Journey and Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad) corresponding to the 27th day of Rajab 1429 Hijra.

The new Cotabato City Hall

As per the same decree, and Section 4 of the Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 81-1277, this public holiday will be celebrated in regions IX and XII, and offices and agencies of the national and local government are closed.

Meaning….. Muslims and non-Muslims are all excused from work.

Great! Another rest day for most of us!

It’s all systems go for the 10th Tuna Festival, in commemoration of the city’s 40th Charterhood Day slated this year from August 29 to September 7, 2008. Although the Charter Day falls on September 5, Friday, two days were added to the line-up of activities to give way for more merriment.

For this year, the festival theme is: A decade of fish-tivities and oppor-Tuna-ties. Below is the poster designed by Print Factory which you may click for a larger view.

Major events not to be missed are:  FISHFEST SA FISHPORT (a hit among foreigners), Search for Ms. Gensan, Bodyfest Modeling Competition, Fishdance – Mindanao Showdown, the 1st GAGAMBA Fighting Competition, LGU Employees Showcase, the Tunafest Badminton Competition, the Tuna Float Parade, the KARAGATAN AWARDS, the Sashimi Night, the BANCARERA and the National Tuna Congress, among others.

Here is the SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES which Festival Director Bebot Haw emailed to Bariles Republic.  KITA KITS!!!!

A few minutes after we docked at the port of the town of Mabila in Balut Island Paradise, two motorized bancas approached the M/V Song of Dolly II at her right side, apparently pre-arranged by Ms. Tata Mondido (VP of Dolores Hotels and Resorts) to pick us up, while we were still groggy for lack of sleep but nonetheless excited for what lies ahead.

From afar can be seen the smaller Sarangani Island (which makes up the other half of the municipality of Sarangani’s two land masses) and its lush forest of coconut and other tropical trees.

My cameraman Marzz and I took the 2nd banca with the rest of the Dolores staff and their families, about 12 of us.  The Bikini Babes and Hunks from last summer’s 2008 BIKINI OPEN at Dolores Tropicana Resort rode the 1st vessel.

One of the two bancas we rented to take us island hopping in Balut Island

After loading our things and a few gallons of fuel from island, we set off to our first destination:  OLANIBAN ISLAND.

Enchanted Olaniban Island, about an hour and a half-ride away, is a 16-hectare coconut-filled island lying 1.5 nautical miles north of Patuco, the barangay to which it belongs.  Owned by the RD Group of Companies, it is encircled by three kilometers of fine sugary white sand.

Olaniban Island, here we come!

Sailing past Sarangani Island, I had fun admiring the lushness of its forest cover and the colorful marine life underneath us which was clearly visible from the boat.  It was almost mid-morning when we spotted Enchanted Olaniban Island Enin the distance.

The crystal clear waters of Balut

Upon arriving, and finding out that  it was low tide, our bancas had to anchor quite a distance away from the shores of Olaniban.  We all had to jump into the water and walk our way to the beach while our baggage were transferred to an even smaller boat.

Arriving at Enchanted Olaniban Island

We immediately unpacked our things at our campsite near the hut of a caretaker while Pastor Danilo Domingo, RD’s Farm Manager and our tour guide, announced that first-time visitors must first walk around the 3-kilometer beachfront as a tradition, to appease the “gods of the island” for “disturbing their peace”.

The two bancas a few meters from where we camped

Not wanting to anger some invisible force around us, I agreed to go but not before noticing that Olaniban’s sand has the same texture and same off-whitish color as that of Boracay’s.

Olaniban Beach, beach trekker’s paradise

But unlike Boracay, Olaniban’s beach is free from the green-algae which seemed to have permanently settled there due to the island’s poor garbage and waste disposal systems.  It is also free of the numerous ugly buildings and resorts which have lined up Boracay’s beach fronts.  In fact, Olaniban only has 2-3 makeshift huts peopled by her caretakers and their families and the whole island is heavily blessed with coconut and mangrove trees.

Olaniban’s settlers waiting for us

In short, Olaniban could have been Boracay about 30 years ago before tourists and developers came rushing in.

We immediately started our trek around Olaniban reminding me of Camiguin Island‘s Good Friday’s PANAAD.  Even though the sun was shining down mercilessly upon our backs, a strong breeze was fanning the heat away.

We passed by an old lighthouse tower built by the Americans during the American regime and it since it was painted white it must have looked ghostly in the evening on a full moon.

Olaniban’s old lighthouse built by the Americans during the American regime to guide their warships enroute to Australia

We also reached the part where instead of sand, flattened rocks dotted the beach, a good area for picture-taking with Sarangani Island in the background.

Dolores Tropicana Resort Hotel’s Bikini Babes & Hunks pose dramatically at Olaniban’s flattened rocks at the beach

The trek which seemed like forever for chubs like me finally ended when we reached our point of origin at the camp site.  All in all, the whole walk-around-Olaniban thing took 45 minutes.  Gosh!  Am sure, the islands gods were very pleased with us, especially me.

More of the Bikini Babes and Hunks at the Olaniban Island beach

At the camp site, Tata’s staff bought some fish caught by the island fishermen and had it grilled immediately.  Since it was to be our BRUNCH, they also cooked omelets and other breakfast food that only the Dolores Hotel staff could deliciously whip out.

“Isda-sa-bato” grilled over live coals, Olaniban style

While partaking of the sumptuous feast laid before us, I noticed some small weird-looking hairy pigs eyeing us from under the trees.  I found out later that these are wild pigs and there are about 20 or so in the island, whose ancestors were maybe brought in by stranded seafarers ages ago.

Wild pig of Olaniban

Pastor Domingo then announced that we have to leave before 12 noon, before the peak of the low tides forcing our boats to anchor farther up the sea.   We then spent the next hour or so swimming and having our fill of the island’s allure.

Aisa, Olaniban muse, in her feeling mermaid pose.

Now for this part of the post, please make sure you are aged 18 and above.  Don’t tell me that I did not warn you. 

Bariles and all his republic in almost its full glory.

Then it was time to go.  Since the small banca couldn’t carry all our baggage back into the two boats moored farther away at the sea at once, Tata’s men fashioned two large styrofoams into a floating vessel by tying them together.  As for us,  we started  wading in the water again back to our waiting boats.

Time to go home by wading thru the water back to the boats

At this time, because of the chaotic waves caused by the now strong winds, I had so much difficulty balancing myself.

The Styrofore Boat

I also discovered that farther into the sea where our bancas were, the sea floor has now turned into a bed of corals and rocks, making it an even more difficult terrain for us city folks, causing some of us to slip and fall.

We finally decided to plop ourselves up into the styrofore floater so that we can easily reach the banca and transfer there.

The styrofore boat to the rescue against the chaotic waves of Olaniban

Almost there…

Finally, after we all transferred to our respective boats, some with scratches on their legs, feet and torso due to the corals, we again set sail, this time to Balut Island’s Sabang Sulphur Spring.

Watch out for the 3rd part of Balut Island Paradise, the Series…. soon!

Finally, I am submitting my list of nominations to Janette Toral’s writing project.  This is the search for The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of 2008.  It took me awhile to come up with my own list even submitting it during the last qualifying week, because there are just sooo many of them around.

I hope you find these blogs wothy and interesting as much as I did.  Read on…

1. Davao Delicious – a food blog by Davao’s blog guru Blogie Robillo.  I am including it here not only because it has influenced the way I write about food and events but as a tribute to the person who has been unwavering in his desire to spread bloging in Mindanao, and has been open to helping noobies like me to be more effective bloggers in our own niches.
2. Work With Ria – I first met the author, Ria Jose even before I read her blog at the Blog Seminar in Koronadal where she was one of the speakers.  By the time she opened her mouth to talk about her numerous blogs and regale us with her amusing experiences as a blogger, I turned into a disciple.  Ria rules!
3. Mar Roxas for President – you should hand it over to blog author Kevin Ray Chua for coming up with this political blog which has gathered  so much praise and flak at the same time.  Although 2010 is still far away, Kevin’s blog has sure influenced a lot of still undecided young voters.
4. Homeward Bound -  blog of a young teacher from Alabel, Sarangani Province.  Ariel Lalisan‘s blog has taught me a lesson or two on writing from a first person’s personal point of view.  His takes on his job, the environment, his students and a whole lot of varied topics is always welcome reading in my INBOX, being one of his RSS subsribers.  
5. Bong S. Sarmiento – a photo journalist based in Koronadal city,  he is one prolific writer!  My idol when it comes to feature writing, Bong has influenced me on how I currently do my stories… although I know that I still have a long way to go. 
6. Build That Geek – the blog of a fellow general but decades younger Mikko Gozalo.  Now a freshman at UP Diliman, he is one of the youngest Pinoy brainiacs I have come across in the blogosphere.  He writes exceptionally well and he rants and raves like nobody in his age bracket ever does… which is a compliment of course.  Another future millionaire, mark my word!
7. Techy Kid – authored by my Bariles 1.0 theme designer, Winston Almendras who is one of the best, and the youngest in his field.  His posts are decipherable to the non-techie since he writes in simple layman’s terms.  He will soon be a millionaire, mark my word! 
   
8. Flavored Tongue – blog of a student nurse, Richard Diongson from the cool hills of Kidapawan who writes in both Tagalog and English with the vitality of the youth of today.   
   
9. Socsksargen Discourses – columnist Ben Sumog-uy‘s collection of his write-ups, editorials and news features.  Might be heavy reading for some but insightful and provocative for his fans, including myself
   
10. Bariles Republic’s GenSantos.Com – what can I say?  Am not here to toot my own horn but hey, according to YOU (you know who you are) …. I deserve to be here.

And hey, if you find this blog worthy of being one of 2008′s TOP 10 EMERGING INFLUENTIAL BLOGS, why not blog about it?  Deadline is on August 4, 2008.

It has been almost three weeks since new WBC World Lightweight Champion Manny Paquiao arrived in his hometown General Santos City to another Hero’s Welcome and  a few people have been asking about it.

As promised, I am posting some of the photos I took during that morning of July 7, 2008 when he arrived at the airport, during the motorcade and up until the victory dinner at night tendered by Mayor Jun Acharon and Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio, which I emceed with Ms. Gensan 1972, Cora Tito. 

Since they are quite many, I am dividing the pictures into two sets, one set per post.  This is the first set, taken during the motorcade from the airport.

MSU High School Dancers at the GenSan International Airport

Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio and Dionisia Pacquiao while waiting for the champ at the VIP Area

City Tourism Officer Cora Tito (extreme left) & City Sports Development Officer Ernie Nanali (extreme right)

Manny alighting a PAL plane

Mayor Jun Acharon meets the champ
Manny with Congresswoman Darlene and Mayor Jun Acharon

Pacquiao’s Parents (Rogelio & Dionisia) at the motorcade float

Pacquiao with his parents, Congresswoman Darlene & Mayor Jun behind him
Passing by a jeepful of supporters at the airport road
A shot of the motorcade convoy at the airport road
Students from Fatima High school cheer for the passing champ

Residents of Uhaw, Barangay Fatima wave at Manny
Students at Calumpang Central School
Onlookers along the Calumpang Highway
Fishermen aboard their truck pass by the Pacman motorcade
Labangal High School students near Manny’s former residence
Passing by the old Silway Mosque
That’s Sarangani Rural Bank at the Pioneer Avenue-P.Acharon Blvd. junction
Queen Tuna Park (formerly Lion’s beach)

Passing in front of the Central Public Market along P. Acharon Blvd.
Entering Magsaysay Avenue & passing by this colorful bldg.

Still at Magsaysay Avenue, corner Bañas Street

School kids from South Elementary School run beside the float
The Marieta’s Barbecue Bldg.


Pioneer Avenue and the RCBC Building at the back

Turning left to Pendatun Avenue with Sydney Hotel in the background

Pendatun Avenue and the RD Plaza at the background

TO BE CONTINUED… More photos from the Presscon and the Victory Dinner… SOON!!!

Business Mirror, one of the nation’s leading business dailies ran an opinion piece entitled “YAMAN GENSAN” by famous columnist-writer Atty. Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr.

Atty. Cristobal was at the Tuna Capital last July 19 to keynote the Intellectual Property Forum at the NDDU Auditorium, one of the official events of GenSan Business Month or YAMAN Gensan 2008.

In his write-up, the writer observed that IP is alive and well in Gensan, “thanks to the trailblazing work of Trade Assistant Regional Director Doris Delima and the Intellectual Property Alliance of Soccsksargen.  The support of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council and, of course, the youthful mayor of Gensan, Pedro Acharon, Jr., made the mainstreaming of IP in the city possible.“

What struck me most about his article however, was his tailender which goes:  “Tuna production is still dominant in Gensan, but judging from the powerful currents of creativity and talent in the city, its second wave of economic development might just come from its creative industries.”

To read the full write-up, CLICK HERE.

If you have been noticing lately, I have started featuring the activities of the 2008 Tuna Festival (scheduled on the week prior to September 5, 2008) here beginning with the Searh for Ms. GenSan and the Bodyfest Modeling Competition.

For this post, I will focus on the FISHDANCE – the Mindanao Showdown.  This is an island-wide search for the best hip-hop dance groups. A series of auditions will be held both at the Gaisano Mall of GenSan and Gaisano Mall of Davao.

For details on how to join this competition, click on the poster below.

Fishdance Poster

You may download the APPLICATION FORM by clicking this link–> fishdance1.

New upstarts once again dominated this year’s YAMAN Awards, General Santos City’s own brand of recognition for exceptional and outstanding local entrepreneurs, which is now on its 4th year.

In a formal black tie dinner hosted by the city government at the KCC Convention Center, seven companies took home trophies and cash awards amounting to a little over half a million pesos in prizes.

Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 Chito Bugayong of Kuya Chito’s Takuyaki with Vice Mayor Flor Congson

For two years in a row now, Kuya Chito’s Takuyaki again got one of the top citations, the Entrepreneur of the Year (individual category) Award.   The guy who filipinized the Japanese snack delicacy  tacoyaki, my PREX kuya, Chito Bugayong, received the award himself and announced during his acceptance speech that they now have 79 outlets all over the country and that they are aiming to reach the 100-mark by the end of 2008.

Entrepreneur of the Year (Juridical Category) AMA-CLC represented by Atty. Rey Cartojano with Mayor Jun Acharon

The other awardee in the juridical category is 4-year old AMA Computer Learning Center (Skep-Tron Ventures, Inc.), represented by my dashing friend and family lawyer Atty. Rey Cartojano.  The young lawyer-entrepreneur revealed to the audience that the award gives them more reason to develop the city into the becoming the south’s Animation Capital considering the impressive number of digital artists-graduates who have received offers to work in international firms.

The rest of the winners, with their corresponding cash awards are:

• Local Taxpayer of the Year – Cargill Philippines, Inc.; Cash Prize- P50,000
• Loyal Entrepreneur of the Year – Sarangani Rural Bank; Cash Prize- P50,000
• Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year – KM Foods; Cash Prize- P50,000
• Product Innovator of the Year – KM Foods; Cash Prize- P80,000
• Employer of the Year – Allied Pacific Packaging Solution Corp.;  Cash Prize- P80,000
• Entrepreneur of the Year (individual category) – Kuya Chito’s Takuyaki;  Cash Prize- P100,000
• Entrepreneur of the Year (juridical category) – AMA CLC (SKEP-TRON Ventures, Inc.); Cash: P100,000

Mayor Jun Acharon with 2008 YAMAN AWARDEES (L-R) Cargill Phils, Inc (Local Taxpayer of the Year); Sarangani Rural Bank (Loyal Entrepreneur of the Year); KM Foods (Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year); Allied Pacific Packaging Solution, Inc. (Employer of the Year); KM Foods (Product Innovator of the Year); Kuya Chito’s Takuyaki and AMA-CLC.

The two-hour program directed by Egai Cadiente and stage-managed by Bing Cariño, unfolded in a breathtaking five-part spectacle of lights, images, dance and song; each part embodied in the following ideals: DREAM, BELIEVE, SURVIVE, ASPIRE and EXCEL.

Making sure that each segment segues beautifully into the next and that each VIP’s name was called on stage accordingly are veteran and amiable program hosts Joana Grace Banting-Lapore, Atty. Elvie Albano and Glenville Gonzales (of the government talk show, TODAY WITH THE GENERALS).

The minimalist set design was a product of the minds of Egai, Bing and Architect Michael Ang while doing its magic on the backdrop are the combined forces of ABS-CBN, Leonard Pe and Jun Pilapil.

The Genrythmics Band with GenSan Pop Idols

A colorful mix of talents made up the list of performing artists.  These are:

• Genrythmics Band
• GSC Government Employees Performing Arts Company (Choir and Dance Divisions)
• RMMC Teatro Ambahanon Contemporaryo
• RRMC Gymnastics Team
• Extreme Boyz and Renegade 360
• Street Fire
• Karen Maye Martin
• Sam Salih
• GSC Dance Sports Council
• Serafin Villodres
• Gensan Pop Idols:  Mia Rocacorba, Cris Lyn Rotor, Theresa Villas, Rodney Valencia
• Empress of the Milky Way and Diva Millicent Hope Kaindoy

Lending their presence is the CEMCDO Staff headed by Ms. Coralynn Gacal-Espinosa who happens to be the show’s producer, together with the SMED Council (headed by Ms. Tess Pacheco) and the Office of the City Mayor.

Executive Producer of course is GenSan City Mayor Jun Acharon who went out of his way to thank the lady who started it all, four summers ago, DTI-ARD Doris Delima.

THE PROMISE. Ever since I found out early this year that the RD Group of Companies has launched a commercial vessel to ferry passengers to Balut island (READ ACCOUNT HERE), I started setting my sights on it, promising myself that it should be my “must-visit” destination this year.

Balut Island can be seen at the bottom of this map beside Sarangani Island. Both belong to the Municipality of Balut under the province of Davao del Sur. It is four hours away from General Santos City via the much-faster M/V Song of Dolly 3

Balut Island has always been a mystery to me.  There are only a few references you can gather from the internet.  And except for a few photos and an informative history of its first settlers from the Multiply site of a staffer of Gov. Migs of Sarangani Province and a 4 year old account of a trip there by a foreigner, nothing much can be read about it.

Curiously enough, the official website of the provincial government of Davao del Sur doesn’t say much about the island except for a few geographical data.

I then planned to go there last Holy Week but my brother who was supposed to travel with me, backed out.

Luckily, after judging for Dolores Tropicana Resort Hotel‘s Bikini Open Competition last summer, Ms. Tata Mondido, VP of the Dolores Resorts and Hotels invited me to come along with them on a weekend trip two weeks hence, to Balut Island along with some of the finalists of the competition plus her staff.

THE SHIP. We were to leave Saturday midnight via the M/V Song of Dolly 3 which had berthed at the old makeshift dock at the Queen Tuna Park (formerly the Lion’s Beach) right behind the Bayside Petron Gas Station and beside the houses on stilts of the illegal settlers at the notorious Barrio Tinago.

There were about 24 of us, including Bikini Babes Aisa, Ivy, Joelde; Bikini Hunks Jolo, and the 2 Michaels;  Director Al-nezzar Ali with his assistants and Tata’s staff with their families.  Together with me was Marz, my cameraman.

M/V Song of Dolly 3 looked quite small from where we were at the shore of Lion’s Beach.  We couldn’t see much of it because of the poor lighting from a lone flourescent hanging from a post which tried but failed to illuminate the short expanse of the dock made of coco lumber.

Passengers at the Lion’s Beach waiting for the signal to board the ship

Lots of cargo were still being loaded into the boat and when I say lots, I really mean LOTS of it.  Bricks, furniture, fuel in blue drums, cases of softdrinks, applicances, vehicle tires of all shapes, LPG tanks, groceries, bed mattresses and every imaginable house fixture seem to be finding its way into the boat and filling up her every nook and cranny!

Before the boat runs out of space for passengers, we decided to go aboard and look for our seats.

Bricks being loaded into M/V Song of Dolly 3, 5 bricks at a time…..

Earlier, we were given photocopies of what passed off as tickets with handwritten seat numbers we could barely make out.  We were in luck, as we were told, because we reserved 50% of the seats in the supposedly air-conditioned section of the ship. We had to shoo away some passengers who thought that it was free seating and luckily, there were no fights… just a few ruffled feathers.  This was around 11:00 midnite mind you.

THE VIP ROOM. The air inside the room was stuffy and we all started perspiring heavily inspite of the aircon.  Much as I wanted to sleep, I couldn’t and so, I tried to squeeze my way through the piles of cargo and baggage along the pathways and eventually, reached the ship’s upper deck.

There, I was welcomed by the cooling effects of the Sarangani Bay breeze and by the sight of the lights of P. Acharon Boulevard on the shore. At that time (around 12:30am), the ship was slowly inching her way away from the wharf and I stayed on to watch until finally all I could see were just tiny  flickers of light coming from the Tuna Capital.

We were definitely on our way to Balut Island!

In a few minutes, it was all pitch dark from both sides of Sarangani Bay.  If not for the moon above us, one couldn’t make out the bodies of land we were passing.

I would have wanted to stay longer on the upper deck if not for the humming drone of the ship’s engines which was lulling me to sleep.  And so before i accidentally fall into the dark waters of Sarangani Bay I again navigated my way through the mountains of cargo until finally reaching my seat in the VIP room and eventually finding out that the airconditioning has conked out earlier.

Doesn’t matter.  Too happy to have my own seat.  In a little away, I was away in dreamland.

THE SUNRISE. I must have been sleeping for 3-4 hours when I was awakened from a nudge by Marz.  He wanted to take shots of the sunrise from the upper deck.  I looked at my watch.  It was only quarter past five in the morning but I got also excited at the idea that I agreed right away.

At the upper deck, everyone is stirring, some were like us, waiting for the sunrise.  We were now out of the Sarangani Bay and sailing through Sarangani Straits.  To our left is Davao del Sur, while at our right is the beckoning distance of what seems to be Balut Island.

These are just some of the shots we took.

The sun is still behind these mountains of Balut Island

Breathtaking view, isn’t it?

Passengers of M/V Dolly at the upper deck looking out into the sunrise

The captain’s cabin

Finally, the sight of Mabila Port, Balut Island, Municipality of Balut

M/V Song of Dolly while docked at Mabila Port, Balut Island

WATCH OUT for the next installment of My Journey to Balut Island, The Series: Olaniban Island Paradise

Project O! Consultants, the group behind the Tuna Festival’s Search for Ms. Gensan 2008 recently announced this year’s conduct of their BODYFEST Modeling Competition.  Auditions will be held at the Gaisano Mall of Gensan Atrium.

The Finals will be on September 3, 2008 back-to-back with the FISHDANCE Mindanao Showdown at the same venue.  Please click on the POSTER BELOW for a larger view and to read details on the competition.

Bodyfest Poster

The Bodyfest Poster

Bodyfest, an official event of the Tuna Festival is now on its second year.   Screenings will be held at Gaisano Malls of Davao and Gensan while the Finals will be in GenSan.

LAST YEAR’S BODYFEST 2007 WINNERS. Gensan City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. and Congresswoman Darlene Custodio flank the top winners of the 2007 Bodyfest Modeling Competition Finals conducted on September 1, 2007 at the Gaisano Mall Atrium. Ms. Dora Pulikit qnd Mr. Joey Baran both earned the titles Top Female and Male Model respectively to bring home a cash prize of P12,000 each.  Other winners are RJ España & Cindy Tarzona (Best Male & Female Ramp Models); Greggy dela Peña & Alexis Flores (Best Photographic Models) and Jenel Labiana & Aina Sarion (Model Discoveries of the Year). The Bodyfest Modeling Competition is an annual event of the Tuna Festival.

Here are the details:

QUALIFICATION OF CONTESTANTS:

• Must be Single, Male or Female
• Age between 18 and 25 years (during reign period)
• Female:  At least 5 feet and four inches tall
• Male:  At least 5 feet and seven inches tall
• Completed at least secondary schooling (High School graduate)
• Must be pleasant-looking with healthy, smooth and blemish-free skin (body should be tattoo-free)
• Must have good figure proportional to height
• Conversant in both english and tagalog and has pleasing personality
• Must have a good moral character
• Must not be a current title holder of any pageant

REQUIREMENTS NEEDED FOR SCREENING APPLICANTS:

• Filled up Application Form which can be downloaded here—>bodyfest_form1
• Submit two pictures: one close-up and one full-body photo
• Certificate of Good Moral Character from school’s Guidance Counselor or Barangay Captain
• Outfit for Screening (Applicants must come in full make-up)

a.  Swimsuit (Should not be vulgar or could be cause for disqualification)

i.  Female – Two-piece

ii.  Male – Trunks

b.  Denim Outfit

i.  Female – Maong pants with mid-rib sleeveless shirt and high-heeled shoes

ii.  Male – Maong pants and body-fit shirt and rubber shoes

DATES TO REMEMBER

• July 14 – August 14, 2008 – Application Period (Davao and GenSan)
• August 16, 2008 – Screening and Elimination (Gaisano Mall Davao)
• August 24, 2008 – Screening and Elimination (Gaisano Mall GenSan)
• September 1, 2008 – Presentation of Candidates (Gaisano Mall GenSan)

Yesterday, July 15, 2008, New WBC World Lightweight Champion Manny Pacquiao announced his intention to return to the political ring again.

This came after witnessing the State of the Municipality Address of his good friend, Mayor Bong Constantino of Malungon, Sarangani Province, where he is the chairman of the Tourism Council.

FRIENDS NOW & SOON-TO-BE-MANNY SUPPORTERS? Manny Pacquiao waving to his townmates from his float during the motorcade after his arrival at the GenSan International Airport last week.  Beside him is Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio and Gensan Mayor Jun Acharon.

According to a report by Isagani Palma, the Champ will once again run for Congres…. but not in the 1st District of South Cotabato where he lost to incumbent Darlene Antonino-Custodio in the 2006 elections but in the lone District of Sarangani this time, a post which will be vacated soon by Congressman Erwin Chiongbian who’s in his last term.

That would be good news for some Sarangans if this plan of his materializes and if he wins his second foray into the political arena.   One thing he made clear though is, he will run only as soon as he retires from boxing.

And with Manny now out of their political radar, will the Acharon’s and Antonino’s now support Manny in his political dream?

Oh well….we could only wait in the ringsides with bated breath.

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata…

For more of the report of Isagani Palma, CLICK HERE.

Gen. Santos City’s 2nd most populous barangay (population: 67,000++) Barangay Fatima finally gets its wish, its very own Parish!

The new parish’s makeshift tent during its canonical erection

After years of being under the Holy Cross Parish (administered by the Passionists) of Barangay Calumpang (the city’s most heavily populated), the Bishop of the Diocese of Marbel Most Reverend Dinualdo D. Gutierrez, DD, administered the rites for the Canonical Erection of its own Parish on July 14, 2008.  This was aptly christened as the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima.

Situated in a one-hectare lot donated by the local government of GenSan in NASA Village, Purok 12 in the barangay, the new parish was also given its very own parish priest by the Bishop, namely Rev. Fr. Joseph S. Benitez, 43 years old, a native of Maasim, Sarangani Province.

Our Lady of Fatima Parish Priest Fr. Joseph Benitez reads the Prayers of the Faithful while behind him is mass presider Rev. Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, DD of the Diocese of Marbel

Fr. Joseph has been given the exciting job of building his church building from scratch.  During his speech before the congregation which included more than 20 priests from all over the Diocese and City Mayor Jun Acharon, he revealed that he can’t do the job all alone by himself.  He needs the help, support and prayers of his new parishioners and other generous-minded people.

The multitudes during the mass, including City Mayor Jun Acharon, in the center

So if you have time, drop by the new parish and give your financial or material support.  It’s not difficult to locate.  Whether coming from the airport or driving from Calumpang, just follow the colorful pasandalans or tribal flags at the road sides leading to the site.

Fr. Joseph Benitez, will be more than happy to see you.

Our Lady of Fatima Parish now joins the roster of other Gensan parishes, namely Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in downtown Dadiangas, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Barangay Lagao, St. Michael Parish in Barangay San Isidro, Sto. Niño Parish in Barangay Bula and the parish from where it was weaned, the Holy Cross Parish in Barangay Calumpang.

In celebration of the National Tourism Week on September 22 – 27, 2008, the City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office (CEMCDO) of the local government of Gen. Santos, has just launched their Photo Contest, open to hobbyists and professionals.

For this year, their theme is: Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change. Below is the poster designed by Jing Velos. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

For more details, please CLICK HERE.

General Santos City, fresh on its bid to become the Convention Capital of Region XII, will be the site of the biggest gathering of bloggers everywhere in the island -  the 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit or MBS 2, for short.

A temporary MBS 2 semi-poster designed by Sir Ariel Lalisan

This came after the organizers of the 1st Mindanao Bloggers Summit held last September in Davao City led by Blogie Robillo, and his group, The Usual Suspects, felt it was time for the Tuna Capital to take the lead.

I and my small group of Socsksargen Bloggers have been thinking about it ever since Mark Aethen Agana of Koronadal, spearheaded a Blog Seminar last February which gathered almost two hundred participants at the Notre Dame of Marbel University.

The positive response of young people from Socsksargen to that seminar led me and seminar speakers Hecky Miñoza, Bro. Vince Celeste, FMS, Sir Ariel Lalisan, together with Gensan Trade portal owners Job and Liezl Oberio, photobuff Toto Lozano, Website designer Dennis Paul Custorio, and teacher Sandra Bonrusto to go a step higher – host an even bigger event, this time to be held in GenSan.

Some, like Hector however wanted to go big time and apply for the hosting of the 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit.  Why not?, we all chorused.  I then relayed our intent to our friends in Davao.

After a few informal talks and meet-ups with The Usual Suspects, famous kikay blogger & The Usual Suspect Muse, Ria Jose announced to me through a phone call, “We’re giving you the MBS 2.  Congratulations!”

Oh God!

Although The Usual Suspects will be behind us in this project, it will be Socskargen’s show all the way.  So far, in our email and text exchanges between our small team and that of Blogie’s, here are some details we can share to you…

NAME OF EVENT:  The 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit (MBS 2)

THEME:  Mindanawan: Paminawon Intawon. Blogging the Mindanao Consciousness

DATE:  October 25, 2008, Saturday, during the GenSan E-Business Week of the DTI and the city government.

We are still finalizing a suitable venue for the summit and will seal the deal hopefully this month.

The 1st Mindanao Bloggers Summit in Davao drew more than 150 participants and so to reach that record, we have invited nationally-famous bloggers (along with Mindanao-based personalities) to make up the exciting list of resource speakers.

So far, I have received word from Inquirer columnist and Cable TV’s The Explainer, Manuel L. Quezon III himself that “It would be an honor to attend, please let me know the details.”

Oh my God!  Now the ball is really rolling!

And since this is GenSan, the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, our culmination activity will be the most-sought after among visitors, the SASHIMI NIGHT!

Now, if those aren’t more than enough reasons to be in GenSan, for the 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit on October 25, 2008 I really don’t know what else will be.

If you are a Socsargen-based blogger and would like to volunteer your services to the MBS 2, please leave a message here and indicate your talents and skills.  Daghang salamat!

UPDATE (July 30) -  We just conducted a Planning Workshop for the MBS 2 Gensan Convenors Group composed of volunteer students and bloggers from the Alabel National High School (students of Sir Ariel Lalisan) and Notre Dame of Dadiangas University.  Workshop facilitator was Hecky Miñoza who did a very good job coaxing out from us a lot of good suggestions and plans.

Check out too the blogs of some of our 1st batch of volunteers:

• Loreen Buenavista
• Joanna Eve Alexandra Ramos
• Karen Siadora

We are still currently looking for more volunteers in time for the 1st GENSAN BLOG SEMINAR this August which will be in preparation of the MBS 2 in October.

The next Gensan Convenors Meeting will be on August 9, 2008 at the City Mayor’s Office of Gensan.  Please leave a note here or a PRIVATE MESSAGE at the CONTACT BARILES PAGE somewhere up on the screen if you want to volunteer your services.  Leave your contact number please.

With the never-ending escalation of fuel prices in the country comes reports of car owners using less and less of their vehicles, opting to take public transport instead.

That should be “bad news” for gasoline station owners themselves because that would mean fewer and fewer customers for them.

But look!  Just very recently, three (3) SHELL Stations opened in General Santos City simultaneously on the same day!

One is located at the corner of Yumang Street and Mabuhay Road which has recently seen the mushrooming of new villages.  The other one is at the business district of Santiago Boulevard and the last one is along the the Lagao Highway.

If this isn’t “bucking the trend“, then I wouldn’t know what to call it.   Or maybe, the owners are seeing the silver lining behind the clouds and have too much faith in the economy of the city for them to be bothered with current events affecting us on a national level.

Talk about “positive thinking“.

And before I forget, at least five more gasoline stations owned by minor players Eastern Petroleum Corp., Flying V, Seaoil, and Unioil Philippines have also opened or are in the process of opening very soon.

Wow! Does Gensan really have that much vehicles to sustain all of these?  Or are these gasoline dealers sensing something rosy in the future for them to invest here?

Whatever it is, all these are redounding to the benefit of the people of Gensan.

What do you think?

Shell Station along Mabuhay Road at the corner of Yumang Street, owned by Ed Dumaran

Shell Station along Santiago Boulevard, at the corner of Laurel East Avenue, owned by Marfin Tan

Shell Station along Lagao National Higway, at the corner of Lagao Parish Road, owned by Divino Tan

The 10th Tuna Festival is still months away on September 5, 2008 but the organizers of the Miss GenSan Beauty Pageant have already began their lookout for probable candidates for a bigger and more prestigious staging this year.

Ms. Gensan poster

Poster for Ms. GenSan 2008 featuring encumbent Ms. Belle Esteban. CLICK ON IT FOR A BIGGER VIEW.

According to pageant chair Orman Manansala, to make the pageant more well represented, each of the 24 barangays of the city will be asked to send a representative.

Ideally, each beauty should come from the barangay she represents but this is not necessary in this competition.  All the ladies however should satisfy residency rules of the Ms. GenSan pageant.

LAST YEAR’S MS.GENSAN 2007 & HER COURT. 20-year old NDDU Nursing Student Belle Esteban of Barangay Apopong was crowned Ms. Gensan 2007 on the night of September 2, 2007 in a jampacked ceremony at the KCC Convention & Trade Center. With her in the foto is her court (L-R) 1st Runner-Up Jen Cachuela and 2nd Runner-Up Lynn Menong. 

Cash Prizes for the winners are as follows:

• Ms. GenSan 2008 – P25,000
• 1st Runner-up – P15,000
• 2nd Runner-up – P10,000
• Ms. Talent – P2,000
• Best in Festival Costume – P3,000
• Best in Swimswuit, Gown, & Ms. Congeniality – P1,000 each
• 7 Consolation Placers – P2,000 each.

The Ms. GenSan 2008 Pageant Night unfolds on September 4, 2008 at the Gaisano Mall of Gensan Atrium while the Talent Night and Ms. Gensan Sponsors’ Fashion Show happens on August 3.

The Sashimi Night 2008 at Gaisano Mall of GenSan’s Port Cafe will precede the staging of the Finals of Ms. Gensan.

Interested applicants may download the Ms. Gensan Application Form here.