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?