GenSan News Online Mag

In the spirit of the season and as a New Year’s gift to my subscribers, Bariles Republic is giving away FREE Manny Pacquiao 2009 Calendars, the boxing champion’s personally-commissioned calendar.

Above is a not-so-good shot of the 18×24 sized poster, the same one given to my fellow Mindanao bloggers who toured Manny Pacquiao’s mansion in GenSan last October during the 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit, through the courtesy of his private secretary, Bren M. Evangelio.  It features a nice picture of Manny’s wife Jinky and three kids.

To avail of one….

1. First you have to be a subscriber.   If not, subscribe now with by filling out the SUBSCRIPTION BOX with your email address below.
2. Then, you have to be based in the Philippines so that we can mail it to you thru the Post Office.  Sorry but we could not accommodate requests from other countries.   For GenSan based-subscribers, Bariles will hand it to you personally.
3. Thirdly, you have to leave a message below expressing your desire to receive one of the FREE Manny Pacquiao 2009 Calendars we are giving out.

I will then email you for the final instructions, asking your contact details, among other things.

So go ahead guys, and avail of one of these FREE Manny Pacquiao 2009 Calendars.  It is one collector’s item, I tell you of the world’s number one pound-for-pound boxer.

By the way, we only have 50 calendars to give out so leave a message now while Bariles leaves you with a wish for you to have a more PROSPEROUS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Thanks to our Major Sponsor Bren M. Evangelio who is helping us shoulder the delivery charges outside of GenSan and within the Philippines.

It has been all over the news that all the banks are prepared for the long holidays and have put in enough money at their Automated Teller Machines throughout the country to ensure that their clients would have ready cash anytime they need them.

But what happened to the LANDBANK ATM at the General Santos City Hall yesterday, December 24, 2008?  It was still a working day and yet, this is what greeted me when I was about to use it at 6:15pm.  (Click on the picture to enlarge it.)

The Landbank ATM says “MACHINE UNAVAILABLE“!!!!  GRRRR!   And to think that I was in a hurry for my last minute Christmas gift shopping at the mall???!!!!@#!%&*%$#

And you know what?  This happened to me more than a number of times already.   And last weekend, even their ATM’s at their main branch along Pioneer Avenue were also unoperational

Considering that this was placed here by the bank to offer convenience to local government employees, more often than not, it actually doesn’t serve its purpose, especially during weekends and holidays.

What’s up Landbank?  Hey!   You’re giving your Top Client, the local government of GenSan a disservice here.

Speak up readers.   Do you have similar instances to relate about perrenially offline ATM’s?

2008 was an eventful year for Bariles Republic not only because it was able to achieve its purpose of putting developmental news about General Santos up there in Google Search pages in so short a time (one year).   Making it even more special was the fact that General Santos City herself (the reason for Bariles Republic’s existence) grew and progressed at a pace unimaginable that Bariles (the author) hardly had time to keep up blogging about these developments.

Kudos to the administration of Mayor Jun Acharon and Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio and their constituents, most notably the business sector for making this happen.

Thirdly, it made Bariles realize that he was correct in his theory that yes indeed, the “generals” out there all want to be updated about the ongoings of their beloved hometown…. on a regular basis that is.  Proof is the more than 300 email subscribers and RSS readers that Bariles Republic now has, making it the #1 Blog in South Central Mindanao.

For this post, Bariles just wants to greet these people and their families plus the occasional reader a very merry Christmas and a bountiful and more colorful 2009!

And let him just say proudly, “Thank you for making Bariles Republic the #1 Blog in South Central Mindanao.  May God bless us all!”

2008 is about to end but the winning streak of the “generals” has not abated.

Just last week, General Santos City finished second overall in the National Championships of the 3rd Philippine Olympic Festival results held in Cagayan de Oro from December 11-16, 2008.

The Generals trailed overall leader Laguna in this competition among 65 cities and provinces meant to identify talents and train them to compete for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Here is the 3rd Philippine Olympic Festival results based on the Medal Standings of the top 25 participating localities. Click here for the complete tally.

Kudos to GenSan’s young athletes, their trainors, teachers and the local government of General Santos for their collective effort in ensuring a 2nd place overall finish.   Indeed, the 3rd Philippine Olympic Festival results should redound well to the battlecry for 2008 of Mayor Jun Acharon which is the “Year of Excellence”.

Mabuhay ang manlalarong general!  Mabuhay ang mga kabataang taga-GenSan!

Finally, Bariles was able to muster enough will to wake up early the other day to attend a Misa de Gallo.   It was almost 4:15am when I opened our gate door to leave the house when my brother’s vehicle arrived, along with it my nieces and sister.  They just came from the 1st mass which was at 3:00am.

3:00 am???  Gosh!  And all the while I was thinking that I was early?  Hahaha!

Anyway, my companion and I motorbiked to the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish upon passing by St. Michael’s which was jampacked with massgoers for what was just the 3rd Misa de Gallo.

Alas!  At the OLPGV, it was even worse.  We could hardly get inside past the guardhouse.  But the good news is, they put up a wide screen at the courtyard fronting the Adoration Chapel for the people who could not be accomodated inside.  Great idea!  And there, under the acacia tree, we had to make do by standing for the rest of the Misa de Gallo.

We were just in time for the homily by parish priest Fr. Edward and his voice was ringing loud and clear through the audio speakers scattered all throughout the church compound.  The cameraman shooting the live feed was doing a good job because he also managed to show the lyrics of the songs, most of which are new to the congregation, performed by the choir.

During communion, we had to snake our way up through the middle of the crowd by the doorways of the church to approach the layco’s giving out the hosts.  In going back, I did not go back to our original position under the giant acacia tree.  Instead, I climbed up the rolling staircase to the loft and shot some pictures of the ongoing Misa de Gallo down below.

The mass finished while the sun’s rays were starting to illuminate the surroundings.  Then there was a slight pandemonium as the churchgoers rushed to the stalls infront of the church selling native delicacies or kakanin.   I would have wanted to buy some, but hey, I gotta get back home as fast as I can and recover some much-needed sleep.  Next time, I will just attend the anticipated Misa de Gallo at 7pm every night  at Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish.

Misa de Gallo masses until the 24th of December at the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish are at 3:00am and 4:30am.  Anticipated Misa de Gallo masses are conducted every night at 7:00 pm.   The Parish Economic Council and the General Santos City Camera Club is spearheading the “TAHANAN NI MARIA” PHOTO COMPETITION this week.  Top 30 photos will be exhibited on February 14, 2009 at the KCC Mall and published at the Parish Golden Anniversary Souvenir Book.

It was supposed to be exclusively “the” Manny Pacquiao birthday party, an event heralded all over the land, but the champion’s mother Nanay Dionisia would not let it pass by going unnoticed.   And so she did what could have been unthinkable a few years back before her son became famous.

She showed off her newly-acquired skills in ballroom dancing by yes, performing the “swing” with her instructor in a much-applauded surprise number before the presence of about 2,000 well-heeled guests, including the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Nanay Dionisia, the newly crowned Dancing Queen of GenSan

Oh my God! What would Tess Oreta say?

Hmmm… what if I dance up there myself? To Cha-cha or not to cha-cha?

Nanay Dionisia’s terpsichorean skills were not the only surprise for the celebrant and his well-wishers during the Pacquiao birthday party, which has been heralded weeks in advanced by the media, with its magnitude growing by the day in its grandiosity.

There was the presence of Manny’s Kapuso family, stars from television station GMA led by Richard Gutierrez, with his parents Eddie and Annabelle Rama in tow.  Then the performance of Journey “frontman” Arnel Pineda who did his own version of “Open Arms” plus two more songs.

But that is going farther into the meat of the celebration already.  Let me start from the very beginning, moments before Nanay Dionisia met Dyan Castillejo in this following picture….

But before that, here is the video of the ABS-CBN news report by Dyan Castillejo on the party:

VIP PASS

Even though Bariles got a VIP pass to the Pacquiao birthday party, I was advised by some members of the Events Group handling the party to come as early as 5pm since a free seating arrangement depending on your PASS will be practiced.

And so at exactly quarter past five, I was with my fat brother Orman and his staff from Asia United Bank together with my photographer at their bank all raring to attend the most-awaited event this side of the world, the Pacquiao birthday party.

Since the theme was “Las Vegas” and the Dress Code was “Red Carpet Glam” according to the invitation shown below,  we the guys were all wearing tuxedos.

The Pacquiao Birthday Party Invitation

It was my first time since I worked in Kuala Lumpur to wear such and was quite uncomfortable with my Amerkana. I could not close my neck buttons and my front buttons because it was too small for me. I had no choice since it was the only available rentable tuxedo at my ninang Deling’s Gift Shoppe. Orman almost did not want anything to do with me when he saw how pitiful I look in my beige tuxedo. Oh well, bahala na lang gyud!

We were at the rooftop parking lot by 5:30pm and were shocked that only a few slots were left for our vehicle.  We lost no time in entering the mall and whoah!  People were lining up both sides of the narrow passageway to the Convention Hall at the other end waiting for Pacquiao’s more famous guests.   I was so embarrassed that I walked so fast with my head bowed down because I knew that these people were disappointed that it was just me, and not Dennis Trillo.

We gave our VIP passes to the staff manning the huge doors of the convention hall and were made to pick out a playing card from a pile.  It was to serve as our ticket to the raffles later on.  In a short while, we were ushered inside by what appeared to be Pinay Playboy bunnies minus the long ears and the tail into the ENTRANCE ARCH with Manny’s initials emblazoned on top.

Well, this must really be it.  Welcome to the Pacquiao birthday party, Bariles.

The entrance arch with the MP initials

INSIDE KCC LAS VEGAS

KCC Las Vegas in full swing at the Pacquiao birthday party (foto by Ronald Velasquez)

Inside the VIP Section, our group chose a spot just behind the Presidential table which was in the middle of a small ring.

Boxing Ring cum Presidential Table

To our left a beautiful chanteuse was dishing out standards accompanied by a pianist on a grand piano.

In a while, a backgrounder video on the birthday boy was shown on the large screen up front, to signal the start of the program, and the appearance of a group of dancers with what appears to be feather dusters on their hair obviously doing a Broadway-inspired number.

The feather duster girls ala Broadway

Then, the real program started.. and this time, it’s the entry of You-Know-Who.  Check out these pics.

Pacquiao’s Grand Entrance

Manny’s Birthday Girls, er, Cake

After Manny blew his birthday candles, he walked right out to the main door to fetch his number one fan, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  It took her the whole of 20 minutes to get to the boxing ring from the entrance because a lot of the guests discarded decorum and tried to have their pictures taken with her.  At this point, I must have seen a million PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS guarding her.

The President saying hello to GenSan Mayor Jun and First Lady Rose Acharon.

DENR Secretary Lito Atienza, President Gloria, Manny, TopRank promoter Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach

THE PARTY PEOPLE: Click on each for larger view.

Nanay Dionisia with (from right) Asia United Bank’s sales officer Dave Areglado, AUB AVP Orman Manansala, AXA administrator Yvette Areglado, AUB sales officer & soon-to-be-a-bride Lea Cunanan, with client Pacific Seas’ Mars B.

Premier fishing stalwart Mr. Doming Congson and wife, Vice-Mayor Flor Congson, seated with lovely GenSan First lady Dr. Rose Acharon and charming daughter Joahanna, a fresh graduate of Anglo-Chinese Junior College in Singapore.

Seen lining up for Blue Gre Coffee are gorgeous bosom friends (2nd from left) pediatrician Dr. Amalia Brana, banker wife Tess Laiz, top dermatologist Dr. Dina Calderon with sister-in-law leading obstetrician Dr. Cynthia Calderon, in green (would anyone know the other two at the leftmost part of the pic?)

ABS-CBN Socsargen correspondent, the elegantly pretty Chat Ansagay with Col. Ed de Leon, CO of the 173rd Infantry Batallion

Former Olympian boxer Onyok Velasco, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, former LTO-GSC head Gauvain Benzonan and Manolo Madria

Manny’s friends from Manila, and 2nd-timers to Gensan- former Manila Congressman Miles Roces, former Manila vice-mayoralty candidate Ali Atieza, DENR Secretary Lito Atienza and GenSan City Mayor Jun Acharon

Pacquiao Private Secretary, Lianne beautifully dressed for his boss and party director Joey C of ABS-CBN Socsargen

Young and pretty businesswoman Janice Tiu (seated in red) with her lovely friends Gingging Bualan, Janessa Bualan, Ann Bualan, Neneng Lenz. Standing are Jay-Ar Moxier & Ada Yap.

That’s Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez, smart in black chatting with Cookie Factory owner Mr. Munda

GenSan’s newest restaurateur Michael Wee (Grab-A-Crab) and hotelier Romeo Bartolome (East Asia Royale Hotel) with GenSan Sunday Riders prexy Ed Tombo together with two US army personnel.

Arnel Pineda, Pinoy lead singer of the American rock band, Journey, performing beside Ms. GenSan Tourism

Annabelle Rama with Mother Lily who left her after a while to have dinner at Grab A Crab

Painter/book writer Mila Royeca and Girlie Royeca

GenSan Mayor Jun Acharon & AFP Chief Gen. Alex Yano

Richard Gutierrez and his perfect nose (Kainis!)

Eddie Gutierrez

PNB Santiago Branch Head Jessica Nunez-Reyes and Ms. Tourism with Manny. Behind them is Edith Espinosa, Ocean Canning’s Finance Manager

A pencil-thin Jennilyn Mercado performing a forgettable and lackluster song number

Statuesque ABS-CBN SOCSARGEN news reporter Ann Santos all dressed looking for her partner?

Former Pacquiao nemesis, the dapper Mexican David Diaz

Stand up comedian Teri Aunor

Single dad Atty. Tom Falgui, Barangay Apopong Captain Rogelio Pacquiao, Mayor Jun Acharon & First Lady Dr. Rose

TO BE CONTINUED…… MORE PIX….. THE FOOD…. THE GUESTS…..

With the start of the Misa de Gallo or Dawn Mass this morning, the season for much-loved Pinoy delicacies has also began.  Coming into mind are suman, biko, puto kutsinta, halayang ube, kalamay hati,  and the “walang kamatayang” bibingka which are peddled before dawn right in front of the major parishes of General Santos City like the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish in downtown Dadiangas, St Michael Parish in Purok Malakas, Sts Peter and Paul Parish in Lagao, Sto Nino Parish in Bula, and Holy Cross Parish in Calumpang.

Alas, not everyone can wake up before 4 in the morning to catch these dawn mass and later partake of these traditional native food taken together with coffee or hot sikwate.

But that is not a problem anymore because one can just hie off to KCC Mall of GenSan, and visit the food stalls there scattered at its three floors.

One good find is BIBINGKINITAN! – Freshly Baked Mini-Bibingka, a stall at the lower ground, right below the stairs leading up to Jollibee.

Here, you can get your mini-bibingka straight from their oven and you will notice right away that it is prepared the Tagalog way, with slices of itlog maalat (salted egg) and cheese on top of it.

I bought one Bibingkinitan! which costs P20 and it was still piping hot while I was trying hard to hold its equally hot banana leaves wrapper.  God!  It was pure delight as each fluffy piece proved so soft and tender to my every bite, while the “saltiness” of the “itlog maalat” and cheese were the perfect foil to the mild sweetness of the bibingka.

So much satisfied with what I just discovered, I immediately ordered 10 pieces of the mini-bibingka for take out, planning to heat them in our microwave in time for breakfast the following day.  Imagine how pleasantly surprised I was upon finding out that my purchase comes with a beautifully-printed gift box where they were packed, giving me a good idea on what to give some of my food-loving friends this Christmas. 

Ever since Enchanted GenSan was launched on in time for the Yuletide Season on December 5, 2008 at the oval plaza, hundreds of families have visited and were enthralled by the dozens or so themed pavillions, castles, palaces, magical kingdoms and Christmas villages  mounted by the city’s 26 barangays and participating public and private schools.

There is so much to see and enjoy at the oval plaza in itself that a good number of these Christmas revelers miss out on another attraction within the city government center which is also worth visiting.

I am referring to the General Santos City Hall facade which has been made up to look like a really big enchanted castle but view is obstructed from Pioneer Avenue because of the ongoing renovation of the Gen. Santos Park across it.

The Enchanted GenSan City Hall. Click on the pictures to enlarge it.

So after taking your fill of the wonderful attractions of the city oval plaza, go out through the exits across the oval covered court and walk  a few meters to the city hall building farther up south.

There in the stillness of the night, as opposed to the noisy merriment and clutter of oval plaza, the breathtaking sight of the enchanted gensan city hall will surely lull you and your families into the dreamy world of Sleeping Beauty….. which is basically the best way to cap a Christmas evening.

Enchanted GenSan will run until January 4, 2009.   Catch the christmas magic from 6pm to 1am nightly.  This is a major project of the local government of General Santos through the Office of Kagandahan Gensan, chaired by Dr. Rose Acharon.

Yes, it’s confirmed.  Other than the news reports announcing it, I was able to confirm from Pacman’s secretary Lianne herself that indeed, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be the Guest of Honor at what promises to be another star-studded Manny Pacquiao birthday party in General Santos City on Wednesday, December 17, 2008, a few days after the exciting Dela Hoya-Pacquiao Fight where he emerged victorious.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo (R) presents a glove-shaped cake with inscription “World’s Number-One Pound For Pound Boxer” to World Boxing Council lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao (L) in Manila on December 10, 2008. (PHOTO/JAY DIRECTO/AFP/Getty Images)

The Pacquiao birthday party, which will have a LAS VEGAS theme, will be in celebration of his 30th natal day.

It will be held at the KCC Convention Center at the 2nd floor of the KCC Mall of GenSan on the evening of December 17.  Last year, his 29th birthday celebration was at the Family Country Hotel and Convention Center.

Other guests will include Mexican boxers David Diaz (from whom he wrested the World Lightweight Crown last June 2008), World Boxing Association super featherweight champion Edwin Valero , Marco Antonio Barrera, Cabinet Secretaries, Governor Chavit Singson, Freddie Roach and some Kapuso stars plus other entertainment and government personalities.

Right now, Manny’s staff are trying to figure out what to do with their guest list which has now ballooned to almost 2,000 people since only 1,500 can fit in inside KCC.

A lot of “prominent” people have been calling them at any time of the day, demanding for their “invitations” and a good number who have already received theirs, were requesting for additional invites, causing a lot of adjustments in the party’s seating arrangments.

It just goes to show that with the latest victory of the Philippines boxing hero over another Mexican-American, an Invitation to the Manny Pacquiao birthday party in Gensan is proving to be the hottest “must have” item in the country right now.

For those who are not invited, they may opt to go to the OVAL PLAZA where they can avail of FREE FOOD while being entertained by a leading band from Manila, most likely, BAMBOO at the stage, again as part of the city-wide Pacquiao birthday party in GenSan.

From all of us here at Bariles Republic, we can only say, “A MILLION MORE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS, MANNY!”

Watch out for exclusive photos on the Pacquiao Birthday Party in GenSan, only here at Bariles Republic.

I received a note yesterday from a fellow blogger from General Santos City, Mary Michelle Carillo who maintains a blog called Ana Filibini.

Miss Carillo is based in Kuwait but even though she is far away from her hometown, she has managed to conduct a Christmas Day FOOD CARAVAN program last year, sort of like a feeding program for GenSan’s street children.

GenSan Streetchildren with their food packs last Christmas.  Photo courtesy of AnaFilibini

This laudable project which she calls “Pay if forward, GenSan” has fed 100 streetkids the first time and for this year, they are targetting 200.

So if you have spare money to give away, why not donate to her group, Proud Art Entertainment?  Or better still, donate in kind – pasta, juice in tetra packs, rice, vegetables, to name just a few.

You can also join them during the Food Caravan on December 25, 2008 after the 5:00pm Christmas Day mass and bask in the glow of delighted faces of the children.

For more details, try contacting them  through Joy  at +639095089279 and Mackay  at +639282882878.   You may also email them at proudart(dot)entertainment(at)gmail(dot)com.

Or better still, check out Ms. Carillo’s blog post by CLICKING HERE.

As for Bariles, he is 100% for this and is looking forward to spread joy and cheers to these kids on Christmas Day.

How about you, reader?   Are you joining us to celebrate Christ’s birthday in a more meaningful way with these underprivileged kids, who are closest to His heart?

In General Santos City, one wouldn’t miss the sight of a “lechon manok” cart or “grilled whole chicken” stall standing on almost every corner, especially on the roads leading to the city’s suburbs where most of the subdivisions are situated.

Sporting names as only the Pinoys can cook up such as Sanok’s, Banok’s, Kini Rogers, Kurdapoy’s, King Jan’s (!?), Tikboy, BJ’s, Jo’s Manokan, etc., they all offer the “generals” the most convenient and inexpensive “take-out” dinner for the family – roasted or grilled chicken.   Basically, all these offer the same thing, chicken cooked evenly in a rotisserie, rotating them over live coals.

If you are tired of chicken cooked this way, and are wary of the views of many experts who say that grilling over high temperatures over charcoal creates chemicals linked to cancer (like carcinogens), then ROASTERS ABLAZE is for you.

Roasters Ablaze which offers oven-roasted chicken in a rotisserie is owned by cousins Ronald and Arlan Velasquez.  Its first outlet can be found near the entrance of the Arnevel’s Restaurant, the first and only “eat-all-you-can” diner in the city.

The cousins have adopted the slogan “healthier, tastier even” because aside from cooking inside an oven where it is not exposed to any contaminants, they do not use MSG or vetsin in their Roaster Ablaze chickens.

Cousins Arlan and Ronald Velasquez at their 1st Roasters Ablaze stall

I had the chance to taste one yesterday and I must say that at only P130 per whole piece, you get your money’s worth.  Not only does its meat’s aroma smell good but but it also tastes good.

Bariles swears that he could actually savor the distinct taste of the chicken’s juicy meat, which he opines was tenderized overnight in a gracious mixture of the Velaszquez’s very own herbs and spices. And of course, it doesn’t have the burnt charcoal or “uling” smell in it.

And one last thing – here’s a tip for the budget-conscious general – Roasters Ablaze Chicken can be bought at half its size at only P70.

That is more than enough reason to go and visit them at Arnevel’s National Highway and find out why Bariles is drooling all over while writing this post. 

Roasters Ablaze Oven-Roasted Chicken can be found at the Arnevel’s Restaurant entrance, along the National Highway across the Philhealth Office. For orders, please call them at telephone # (083)304-8125.

This must be Bariles’ fourth time to join a homecoming welcome motorcade for MANNY PACQUIAO.  The first time it happened was in 2003.  Then it went on and on until today, December 12 which, judging from the turnout of his kababayans, must be the most rousing welcome the generals gave the world’s best pound for pound boxer in a long while.

The whole thing started early in the morning with people from the city government of Mayor Jun Acharon, media reporters and their crew, Manny’s friends and supporters plus his parents and daughter Princess convering at the VIP Lounge of the General Santos City International Airport.  A local school band completed the set-up.

Later, when Manny’s PAL plane arrived at 9:10am (it was late), it was shooting time for Bariles and for the numerous media people and souvenir shot hunters at the vicinity,

Here are the other pictures taken from the camera of Bariles.  (Click on them for larger views.)

Now, pictures taken at downtown General Santos…. Please hover over each picture for their descriptions.

More pictures coming….. stay tuned.

In one of my regular nightly motorcycle jaunts with my partner, I chanced upon a brightly-colored neon sign in what once was the Anchor Hotel along the Cagampang Road Extension.  Upon nearing it, we read out the word AMIGOTEL.

Puzzled, I mentally noted this discovery and vowed to come back the following day and do some investigation.

I only made it back after a few more days and these are what I gathered.

The new Amigotel Hotel and Suites is now managed by myHometel Incorporated with offices at 5th Floor, Net One Building, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.  They are renting the whole building from RD Realty, who owned the old Anchor Hotel.

Amigotel Hotel and Suites also manages Sampaguita Inn in Davao City and their niche basically covers “Budget-Conscious Travellers“.

Just look at their room rates below:

• ECONOMY (FAN) ROOMS – NO AIRCON
  • Single Economy  – P275 (1 single bed, Toilet with hot shower, Cable TV & telephone)
  • Matrimonial Economy -  P360 (1 double-sized bed, Toilet with hot shower, cable tv, phone)
  • Twin Economy -  P375 (2 single beds, Toilet with hot shower, cable TV & phone)
• STANDARD (AIRCON) ROOMS
  • Single Standard – P450 (same as Single Economy)
  • Matrimonial Standard -  P560 (same as Matrimonial Economy)
  • Twin Standard -  P575 (same as Twin Economy)
  • Family Standard -  P725 (3 single-sized beds, toilet with hot shower, cable tv, phone plus 1 single-sized extra bed, free of charge)
  • Executive Standard -  P775 (1 queen-sized bed, toilet with hot shower, cable tv, phone plus 2 single-sized extra beds, free of charge).

The new hotel has a coffee bar and restaurant and is offering FREE WI-FI at their lobby.  I haven’t been inside any of their rooms but I am hopeful that judging from their slogan, “Come Home to Affordable Luxury”, one could expect nothing less.

Amigo Hotel & Suites, formerly Anchor Hotel is located at corner Santiago Boulevard and Cagampang Extension, General Santos City.  For reservations, please contact them at (083) 552-4575 and 552-4660 or email them at amigotel_gsc@yahoo.com.

On Saturday, the 13th of December, all roads lead to the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Main Campus at the National Highway, General Santos City for the conduct of the 2008 NDDU Grand Alumni Homecoming which is doubly special since it happens right during the .

Spearheaded by Golden Jubilarians HS Batch 58 and Silver Jubilarians HS Batch 83 (who call themselves the Warhogs), this year’s theme is “Surviving the Global Challenges through the Empowerment of Notre Dame Spirit” which I say is very apt in the midst of the worldwide economic tsunami.

This is the cover of the invitation emailed to me by Reuben of the Office of the Planning, Development and Alumni Affairs.

Here are the officers of Batch 83 from both the Dadiangas and Lagao Campuses who filled the year with a lot of fund-raising activities meant to fund the Alumni events, just like the Halloween Comedy Show:

And here is the 2-part Programme on Saturday, December 13th:

Emcee is Mr. Francis Caberoy of HS Batch 83.

A Grand Fireworks Display will cap the night where City Mayor Jun Acharon, himself an alumnus (HS ’75) is Guest of Honor.

Congratulations to the Warthogs (including my sister Maravel, her close classmates Tina Espanola and Ayi de Leon and my restaurateur friend, Noel Santos of AFORDABOLZ) for exceptionally carrying out your duties this year as Jubilarians.  I am pretty sure, my brother and Alumni Federation President Orman (HS ’79) will also agree.

Mabuhay ang mga Dameans!!!  Mabuhay ang mga Marista!!!  Mabuhay ang HS Batch 83!

For more details re the 2008 NDDU Grand Alumni Homecoming, please call Reuben at telephone #s 301-0034 or 552-4351 local 2270.  See you Dameans!

After a delay of 4 days, General Santos City’s last festival for the year, the Pasko-Sa-GenSan 2008 or more popularly known for its theme, Enchanted GenSan:  Once upon Yuletide Season was finally launched last Friday, December 5, 2008 at the Oval Plaza stage.

Below is the panoramic shot of the oval plaza from A Photographic Saga,  photoblog of my friend Leonard Pe. He shot this photo from the stage, minutes after the Fireworks Display to mark the official start of Enchanted GenSan.

More photos below from Bariles, except otherwise indicated.  Please click on each image for a larger view.

The next pictures are courtesy of Kyawster.  Click on each image for a larger view.

Bariles searched far and high across the Internet for the complete Dela Hoya-Pacquaio Fight Replay video and couldn’t find one until a blogger friend, Dave left a message in my earlier “Dela Hoya-Pacquiao Fight results” post regarding the matter.

I lost no time in emailing him yesterday, asking if he could provide me with the link to this Dela Hoya-Pacquiao Fight Replay video.

And you know what?

This morning, in my INBOX I found Dave’s response obliging me with the link to one of the greatest boxing fights this century (since this century is only 9 years old…hehehe!).

So here it is readers and faithful subscribers, the Dela Hoya-Pacquiao Fight Replay video.

Again, thanks to Dave for this Dela Hoya-Pacquiao Fight Replay video.

If you want to stay updated on accounts about Pacquiao’s homecoming in General Santos City this week, plus his Victory and Birthday parties at the Tuna Capital, please subscribe to Bariles Republic.

Finally, the so-called Dream Match has come and gone and has truly lived up to its monicker.  The Dela Hoya-Pacquiao Fight Results is one of most anticipated game results in the world.

The whole world now knows that General Santos native Manny Pacquiao  won over Oscar dela Hoya after 8 rounds when the latter conceded the fight.  View the replay of the fight by CLICKING HERE.

Here is a fresh report from the Associated Press on the Dela Hoya-Pacquiao Fight Results.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The end for Oscar De La Hoya on this night came as he sat in the corner after the eighth round, his left eye swollen shut and his face bruised by punches Manny Pacquiao seemed able to land almost at will.

The decision to call it a night was easy. The decision to call it a career may be a lot tougher.

“My heart still wants to fight, that’s for sure,” De La Hoya said. “But when your physical doesn’t respond, what can you do? I have to be smart and make sure I think about my future plans.”

Pacquiao gave De La Hoya a lot to think about by beating and battering him around the ring for eight rounds Saturday night before De La Hoya declined to answer the bell for the ninth round. The domination was shocking enough, but the fact that it came at the hands of a fighter who just nine months earlier had been fighting at 129 pounds had to be even more troubling for De La Hoya and his legions of fans.

De La Hoya absorbed such a beating that he was taken to a hospital afterwards for what was described as a precautionary examination. The most popular fighter of his generation won just one round on one ringside scorecard and none on the other two against a smaller opponent who fought bigger than him from the opening bell on.

“We knew we had him after the first round,” Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said. “He had no legs, he was hesitant and he was shot.”

Roach trained De La Hoya in his last big fight a year ago and said then that De La Hoya simply couldn’t throw punches when he needed to anymore. That was magnified even more against Pacquiao, who not only was as elusive as Floyd Mayweather Jr. but threw punches back that kept De La Hoya off pace.

“Freddie, you’re right,” De La Hoya told the trainer after the fight. “I just don’t have it anymore.”

If De La Hoya’s career is over, it will be the end of a remarkable story that began when he won the Olympic gold medal in Barcelona in 1992 and went on to become the biggest box office attraction in the sport. But while he sold tickets, De La Hoya hadn’t won a big fight in six years, and there were whispers long before the fight that he had nothing left.

He certainly had nothing against Pacquiao, who fought a lot bigger than he looked and who proved that speed was a lot more important than size against a fighter who at the age of 35 has seen his better days.

“That’s what we were focused on every day in the gym, speed, speed would be the key to this fight,” Pacquiao said. “I trained hard for this fight, and that’s why I deserve tonight.”

De La Hoya’s left eye was swollen shut as he sat on his stool after the eighth round and the ring doctor, referee and his cornermen discussed his condition. De La Hoya offered no complaints when his corner decided he had enough, getting up from his stool and walking to the center of the ring to congratulate the victor.

“You’re still my idol,” Pacquiao told him.

“No, you’re my idol,” De La Hoya said.

It was lopsided from the beginning, with Pacquiao landing punch after punch while De La Hoya chased after him, trying to catch him with a big blow. Pacquiao was winning big even before the seventh round, when he was pounding De La Hoya against the ropes in his corner and catching him with huge shots that knocked him across the ring.

De La Hoya remained upright, but with one eye closed and his reflexes seemingly gone there was no chance he was going to land the big punches he would have needed to turn the fight around. Ringside statistics showed Pacquiao landed 45 power punches in the seventh round to just four for De La Hoya, statistics which will be memorized by heart by everyone who have been waiting for the Dela Hoya-Pacquiao fight results.

“He’s just a great fighter,” De La Hoya said. “I have nothing bad to say about him. He prepared like a true champion.”

Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 knockouts) came up two weight classes to fight for his biggest purse ever, while De La Hoya dropped down to meet him at 147 pounds. Though De La Hoya (39-6) towered over Pacquiao and had a big reach advantage over him, Pacquiao had no trouble getting inside what few jabs De La Hoya threw to land his shots.

Pacquiao was credited with landing 224 of 585 punches to just 83 of 402 for De La Hoya.

De La Hoya not only dropped down to fight for the first time at 147 pounds in seven years, but actually came into the ring unofficially weighing less than Pacquiao. Both fighters got on scales in their dressing rooms and De La Hoya was 147 while Pacquiao was 148 and a half.

Pacquiao will earn a guaranteed $11 million, while De La Hoya was expected to make at least twice that by the time all the pay-per-view revenues are totaled up now that the Dela Hoya-Pacquaio fight results are in.

I was at the General Santos city Gym with Mayor Jun Acharon and Congresswoman Darlene Custodio seated beside me, and like the rest of 9,000 of Manny’s hometown fans, we whooped it up everytime Manny landed a punch at Dela Hoya’s baby face.

When it was clear even before the end of the 8th round that the Dela Hoya-Pacquiao Fight results would go in favor of their hometown hero, the whole GenSan gym stood up and cheered with no let-up.

Again, it was goosebumps galore for Bariles.

As the feisty congresswoman jokingly said afterwards, “It was a mismatch”, while beaming with pride for her kababayan.

A few days before the much-awaited Dela Hoya-Pacquiao fight (which will be shown in a FREE live telecast at GenSan Gym), US magazine Sports Illustrated in its latest issue datemarked December 8, 2008, featured Manny Pacquiao in a four-page article.

The Sports Illustrated Photo of Manny Pacquiao

Titled POLITICAL PUNCH, it is an amusing insight into General Santos City’s most favored son and is one of the better written profiles about him, chronicling his rise, his unlucky election gamble in GenSan, and everything that comes in between, even his “womanizing”, and as this excerpt at the end of the article conveys, his imminent retirement from boxing and eventual return to test his mettle in politics.

But unlike De La Hoya, Pacquiao has already traced a clear road map to retirement. No more than three bouts after this one—two of which may well be megafights against Britain’s Ricky Hatton and Mayweather—he vows to hang up his gloves for good, likely at age 31. Why then?

The hero of the Philippines grins.

“In 2010,” he says, cracking his knuckles, “I’m going to run for congress again.”

Here is the cover of the Sports Illustrated issue:

Written by Pablo S, Torre, the full article, obviously meant to drum-up interest on the Dela Hoya-Pacquiao Fight, can be accessed by CLICKING HERE.

Yes, you read it right!  And no, this is not a hoax!

Bariles Republic is giving away TICKETS to the FREE Dela Hoya-Pacquiao Live Telecast of their December 7th match!!

And where is this FREE Dela Hoya-Pacquiao Live Telecast gonna be?

Where else but at the 8,000-seater General Santos City Gymnasium at Barangay Lagao, General Santos City!!!

This GRATIS airing sans commercials of the FREE Dela-Hoya-Pacquiao Live Telecast is a joint project of the 1st Congressional District of South Cotabato (under Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio) and San Miguel Corporation in coordination with the local government of General Santos (under Mayor Jun Acharon).

This is the umpteenth collaboration of Congresswoman Custodio and Mayor Acharon in their desire to give their constituents the chance to witness at the airconditioned gym the FREE Dela Hoya-Pacquaio Live Telecast.  Our hats off to them!!!!

The tickets will be distributed through the 26 barangay offices of GenSan starting Saturday, December 6th.   If you want to avail of them, just coordinate with your local barangay leaders.

But if you are a regular SUBSCRIBER of Bariles Republic, just write a message after this post below and you will surely get one.

If you are not a subscriber yet, and is based in GenSan, just write your email address down below to be able to subscribe.  Then leave a message in the RESPONSES/MESSAGES portion.

The first thirty subscribers will get COURTYARD TICKETS while the next thirty will get GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS to the FREE Dela Hoya-Pacquiao Live Telecast at the General Santos City Gym, slated on Sunday, December 7th, starting at 7am.

What are you waiting for?

Subscribe now and leave a message!

The FREE Dela Hoya-Pacquiao Live Telecast at the General Santos City Gymnasium on December 7, 2008 is brought to us by the Congressional Office of the 1st District of South Cotabato and San Miguel Corporation, in coordination with the local government of General Santos City.  Please contact your barangay offices for more information.

Long before the ubiquitous beauty salons and spas became vogue in General Santos City, there was the corner barbershop catering to the grooming needs of the local men (and women).

At that time, crewcut was the “only” acceptable hairstyle for the men and kids like us, and so off we went to our friendly barbers at least once a month with our dad.  Every visit then was a squirmy proposition for me, since I was ticklish behind the ears and at the back of my neck, and every time the razor blade touches these parts, i go zonkers.

Despite that, a trip to the neighborshood barber at least once a month became a lifelong habit.  Yes, there were times when I’d rather visit the parlorista but most of the time, whether I was in Lahug, Cebu City; Tandag, Surigao; Ipoh, Malaysia or Chiang Mai, Thailand during the later course of my showbiz career, it was always Mr. Barber for me.

During my latest visit to my favorite barber, Nong Abel of Ric’s Barbershop and Massage Clinic along Pioneer Avenue, I decided to ask him about its history in GenSan after noticing from their signboard that the shop was established in 1968.

The other barbers when hearing our conversation, also volunteered additional information.

There are what I gathered:

• Ric’s Barbershop is the oldest standing hair grooming establishment in the city having been established in yes, 1968, making it 40 years old (!).
• In 1968, its old name was Jimmy’s Rendezvous (this word was common then) since its original owner was a certain Mr. Jimmy Gomez.
• Later, the barbershop changed hands from Mr. Gomez to Rolando Caballero, and later, to Ricky Custodio.
• In 1980, it was bought by one of its customers, a Mr. Rodrigo Rivera, who has been a customer since he was the former manager of International Bank of Asia and America (IBAA).  Mr. Rivera changed the name to Ric’s Barbershop and gave it to his brother to manage. (Pssst!!!  He now owns GenSan’s largest privately-owned company, RD Group of Companies.  )
• Right now, Ric’s Barbershop employs three of most senior in the grooming scene in GenSan, namely:
  • Frank (who has been cutting hair since 1959);
  • Abel (my Dad’s and my suki who has been a barber since 1962);
  • Jerry (barber since 1967).

I had so much fun listening to the mini-history lessons from these guys plus a few extra naughty tidbits on some formerly living GenSan personalities (may their souls rest in peace). With all the info I gathered that day, I got more value for the P40 fee I paid for that hair trim, courtesy of Nong Abel of the oldest barbershop in General Santos City.

Ric’s Barbershop is located between Ramon Magsaysay Memorial College and Landbank, Pioneer Avenue, General Santos City.  Other than haircut, it now offers hair rebonding, hair relax and ionic hair (!).  It also offers Shave, Pedicure, Manicure, Hot Oil, Facial spa, Hair Relax, Massage, ear cleaning, Swedish Massage and Shiatsu Therapy.