GenSan News Online Mag

Today, February 28, 2009 is the final day for voting for your top choice as “BEST PHOTO” among the 30 +4 qualifiers to the “Tahanan ni Maria” Photo Exhibit which will be held in March.

Our Ladyof Peace and GoodVoyage Parish, circa 1965

A project of Bariles Republic and the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish together with the GenSan Camera Club, the Blog Viewer’s Choice Award contest has gathered so much participation and votes already which is  another show of  overwhelming support from GenSan News Online Mag’s readers from all over the world again!  Whew!  Thanks so much.

I have to clarify however that we will only be counting ONE ENTRY PER VOTER and if you submitted more than one, the rest of your choices will not be tabulated.

Watch out for the results Monday, March 2, 2009.  The photographer of the winning photo will receive P2,500 from the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage and a token from Bariles Republic during the launch of the Tahanan ni Maria Photo Exhibit next month (March).

Salamat uli sa lahat ng mga sumali.  I love you all.  Promise. 

Bariles did not finish the baptismal rites for Queen Elizabeth Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao’s daughter at the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish and proceeded to the KCC Mall of GenSan where the reception is going to be held.  The rooftop parking area was still one third full at that time (11:00pm) and his brother’s driver did not have a hard time finding a choice spot.

The alley going to the convention center was still free from onlookers, thank God!  Upon reaching the main entrance to the reception venue however, he found out that it was already full of people, obviously waiting for Manny Pacquiao’s other guests to appear.  The Ms. GenSan ladies and the Bodyfest men were at the door, dressed in princesses and princes and served as guides to the party venue of Queenie behind the large wooden doors.

The usherettes got my invite pass and ushered me inside the cavernous convention. Lo and behold! The sight which greeted me was straight out of a fairy tale book, courtesy of party organizer, Gatchi Gatchalian, owner of BluGre Coffee Shop.

Here is the gallery of pictures.  Click on them for bigger views.  The captions can be seen by hovering your mouse over each one.

That’s not all.  Here’s more…

To Queen Elizabeth Pacquiao, welcome to the Christian world!  May you grow as pretty as your mom, Jinky, as humble and generous as your dad Manny and as God-fearing and religious as you Lola Dionisia.

And here are more pictures…

Bariles with (standing from left) Kristine Lorn dela Pena, Ms. GenSan & Queen of Aliwan 1st runner-up Romarie Ivy Cunanan, RD Resorts Bikini Hunk Greggy dela Pena, Kristel Velayo, Rhyndyll Bartolaba, STI stude Marrell de Pedro, Macmac Pilapil. Sitting from left, Mr. & Mrs. Dave Areglado (Asia United Bank), Orman Manansala & Lea Cunanan.

Sitting from left, Manny’s personal secretary Bren Manansala Evangelio, AUB’s Orman Manansala, Rue Rama. Standing from left, CPIO’s Chris Sulit, Brigada’s Anter Alcos, actor-comedian Bayani Agbayani, Olympian Onyok Velasco, Bandera’s Paul Bernaldez.

Bariles is happy to announce that this blog, GenSan News Online Magazine already has more than 300 subcsribers as of today, February 25, 2009!  Not a large number compared to A-list bloggers, but hey!  The blog is only 1 year and 3 months old.

Here is a screenshot of his Google Feedburner Account which you may want to click to enlarge the image.

Just over a year ago, his subscribers consisted of just a few family members, office mates and close friends who have access to the Internet and who were coaxed, threatened, bribed and if those didn’t work, blackmailed the rest to subscribe to his feeds.

Being a place blog focusing on General Santos City, he also started targetting the “generals” and promoted it on his Friendster, Multiply, Hi5, Tagged and Facebook accounts.  And as advised by one of his mentors, Blogie Robillo, he also joined forums and mailing lists in case, a “general” who lurks there somewhere may be “misled” into checking out Bariles Republic.

He also optimized his blog title, changing it from purely Bariles Republic, to Bariles Republic’s GenSantos.Com to the current Bariles Republic’s GenSan News Online Mag, thus upping its standing in Google searches.  This definitely attracted a good number of “generals” who were looking for news about home.

Bariles started giving away freebies, spearheaded eyeballs (MBS2), sponsored contests to make his presence felt in his own turf in Soccsksargen.  In a big way, these too helped increase awareness of his little blog’s presence and subsequently, his subscriber base increased and increased to what it is now.

Now his goal is for Bariles’ email readers to grow to 500 subscribers by yearend, a feat which could be easier to achieve if readers like you tell your friends about this little blog and enjoin them to subscribe, just like you did.

Or if not, you can join my 300+ intelligent subscribers by entering your email address below.

And yes, once you have done that, make sure that YOU ACTIVATE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION by opening the ACTIVATION EMAIL sent to your email address and clicking the ACTIVATION LINK on it. Thanks a lot!

According to GMA TV Davao Manager Mariles Puentevella, in her email to Bariles today, their GMA Channel 8 – General Santos is now hiring for the following GenSan job openings:

TOC Technicians

Qualification Requirements:

• ECE graduate or equivalent  course
• at least 1 year experience in TV broadcasting
• must be between 22-28 years old
• can work independently with minimal supervision
• knowledgeable in system troubleshooting
• can prepare technical reports, computer literate
• willing to work long hours and during weekends
• above average written and communication skills
• works well with people/team player

Sales and Marketing Officer/Representatives

Qualification Requirements:

• graduate of any 4 year course
• preferably with Sales and Marketing experience
• has basic appreciation of accounting and accounting principles
• analytical skills to explain variances between expenses and budgets
• above average written and oral communication skills
• works well with people, team player
• computer literate

Messenger/Collector

Qualification Requirements:

• at least 2 years in college
• knows the terrain of the area
• computer literate
• with pleasing personality
• average written and oral communication skills
• between the ages of 20-25
• male
• applicant with own motorcycle has advantage

SEND YOUR APPLICATION LETTER AND RESUME WITH PHOTOS TO:  gma8gensan@yahoo.com NOT LATER THAN SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28/2009, 12:00 NOON.

This is a special shoutout from Festival Director Orman Manansala who is inviting all the GenSan-based readers of Bariles Republic to watch the Finals of the Search for the 2009 Lakandula at Lakambini ng Kalilangan Festival tomorrow, February 25, 2009,  3pm at the Gaisano Mall of GenSan Atrium.

Admission is free and seats are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Congresswoman Custodio with the candidates during the 2009 Kalilangan Opening

Here are some photos taken during their Talent Show.  Click on each for larger views.

Although only 12 of the city’s 26 barangays joined the Parada ng mga Barangay Competition last Friday, February 20, 2009 to herald the opening of the 2009 Kalilangan Festival, the preparations of the Deparment of Education under Schools Division Superintendent Estrella Lariosa more than made up for their lean number.

Then of course, the participating barangays’ enthusiasm and fervor made a huge difference in ensuring that the start of the city’s celebration of its 70th Foundation Anniversary would be as meaningful and as significant as Kalilangan opening pasts.

Cash prizes of P5,000 per contingent were given by the Festival Director Orman Manansala to Barangays City Heights (Most Entertaining), and Calumpang (Most Organized.  The Grand Prize of P10,000 was awarded to Barangay Dadiangas North for being the Most Colorful.

Barangay Calumpang which won as Most Organized Barangay with Kapitan Cirilo Forones

ABC President & Brgy City Heights Captain Lulu Casabuena singing with their Rondalla

Barangay Dadiangas North’s Most Colorful Contingent

Here are some of the pictures taken earlier that afternoon.  Click on each for larger views.

When dusk came and the stars started to come out,  Congresswoman Darlene Custodio addressed the crowd gathered infront of the stage. Then, dance numbers followed from the DepEd depicting the arrival of General Paulino Santos seventy years ago and something from China courtesy of the Junior Cultural Academy.

Later, Mayor Jun Acharon banged a gong to signal the opening of the Kalilangan 2009 Festival.  At that very instant, a  ball of fire came down from the roof of the stage down to the ground below which lighted a pile of dried wood, creating one big bonfire.  The Lagao National High School Dancers then started their Kalilang dance while up in the sky, a magnificent fireworks also began wowing the hundreds of generals down below.

City Councilor Richard Atendido, Councilor Monching Milleza, City Administrator Mar Dospueblos, Councilor Meg Santos, Congresswoman Darlene, Councilor Odjok Acharon, Dr. Rose Acharon, Councilor Lulu Casabuena and Mayor Jun all smile for Bariles’ camera

More pictures below.  Click on them for larger views.

Bariles managed to drop by GenSan’s Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish at 10:30am today, Sunday in time for the godparents of Queen Elizabeth, the precious 2nd daughter of King Manny and Queen Jinky Pacquaio to arrive one by one.

The parish priest Fr. Edward Loberiano, CP was kind enough to allow Queenie have her own Special Baptism, apart from the earlier 10:00am baptism for the rest of the babies of the parish.  “We don’t want a pandemonium here and make everything difficult not only for us but for Manny’s guests, most of whom having to fly here from Manila” he said while surveying the gathering congregation inside his church.

I spotted Queenie’s richest Ninang and the lady to whom the soon-to-open Robinsons Place GenSan is named after, the simply elegant and gracious Robina Gokongwei-Pe.  I engaged her to a small tete-a-tete to which she revealed that she was supposed to be here for the Robinsons Tenants Conference but had to beg off due to a meeting for her son’s new school.  She then asked me who the pretty ninangs were beside her since nobody seemed to be introducing them to each other.  I had to get event organizer and Blue Gre owner Gatchi to help out.

In a little while, the other godparents trickled in.  You would know because of the ruckus which ensue once the gawkers inside the church spot them.  And they all came, kings and queens from far-away lands, to accompany Queenie on her first step to becoming a Christian – (in order of their entrance)  Senator Bong Revilla, Philip Salvador, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Senator Migs Zubiri, Senator Loren Legarda, Congressman Monico Puentevella, Vice President Noli de Castro, ABS-CBN’s Korina Sanchez, couple Eddie and Annabelle Gutierrez, among others.

Order was somehow restored when Davao Archbishop Armando Capalla, DD proceeded with the Opening Prayer leading to the christening ceremony.  That did not stop the photographers to hover around Manny and Jinky and their baby Queenie when it was time for the 30 or so present godparents to take turns in blessing the sleeping baby on the forehead with a sign of the cross.

Here are some of the pictures I took which you may click on for larger views:

Robinsons’ Robina Gokongwei-Pe and ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo

Cebu Boxing Promoter Ninong Wakee Salud

Ninong Senators Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada and Vice-President Noli de Castro at the front pew

Pink-cladded Jinky and Manny with Baby Queenie

Action Star Philip Salvador

Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla & OLPGV Parish Priest Fr. Edward Loberiano, CP

Annabelle & Eddie Gutierrez with ABS-CBN’s Korina Sanchez

Ninang Annabelle Rama and her jewels

Senator Loren Legards beside Manny, baby Queenie,  Jinky, Princess & Mommy Dionisia.  Take note of the people taking pics of the guests who seemed unmindful.

Philip Salvador, Quinito Henson, Congressman Monica Puentevella, etc.

Ninong & Former GenSan City Councilor Atty. Tom Falgui

Event Organizer and Blue Gre Cafe Owner Gatchi

Watch out for more pictures from the Baptismal Party at KCC Mall of GenSan Convention Center soon!

Good news to all the fans- Muslims, Christians, Lumads of Datu Khomeini Camsa Bansuan, lead singer of  Suara Mindanao Band D’ Khomeini Group!

The Kalilangan Festival in cooperation with Tulip Events Designs and Services is bringing this King of Moro Songs in a self-titled concert called “D’ Suara Mindanao Band Khomeini Group Live in GenSan” on February 22, 2009, Sunday, 6:00 pm at the General Santos City Gym in Barangay Lagao.

Datu Khomeini is a resident of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat and is very famous among the Muslim population in the Philippines.  He has played in various sellout concerts all over the Philippines and has also performed in the Middle East.

Judging from his video below, he is one charismatic performer and despite the fact that Bariles does not understand a word of the song (Embalingan Ka Den Tayan) he is singing,  he truly enjoyed the artist’s performance.

Tickets to the D’Suara Mindanao Band by Khomeini Group live in Gensan are priced at P200 (Courtyard); Lower Box (P100) and General Admission (50.00).  For inquiries, call 0921-7968792.  Show at GenSan Gym in Lagao starts at 6:00pm on Sunday, February 22, 2009.

On the occasion of the General Santos City Hospital’s 35th Foundation Anniversary this month, Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. delivered his State of the Hospital Address (SOHA) in front of the hospitals workers, staff and stakeholders, on Valentines Eve at the hospital corridor.

Mayor Jun Acharon delivering his SOHA on February 13, 2009 at the City Hospital

The numbers he dished out were impressive:

• 2,950 babies were delivered in 2008;
• 4,800 patients received 75% indigency hospital assistance;
• 2,000 patients were fully subsidized;
• 500 patients were given 50% discount;
• P12 million pesos were appropriated for the Hospital Assistance Program for indigent patients;
• P4.5 million pesos per year was invested in the Philhealth Cards given to the city’s constituents since 2003;
• Inauguration of 24 units of Private Rooms with 33-bed capacity;
• Inauguration of a fully-renovated OB-GYNE Complex with 35-bed capacity;
• Inauguration of a four-bed Intensive Care Unit or ICU;
• Inauguration of the Water Processing Facility in cooperation with Dow Chemicals Limited;
• Inauguration of fully-automated and expanded clinical laboratory equipment for hematology, clinical immunology, etc.;
• All the Nursing Service Managers and Supervisors underwent formal training on Supervision and Personal Effectiveness;
• The entire Nursing Staff, from Regular to Job Orders, completed their Personal and Inter-personal effectiveness Training;
• With the P100 million peso-budget for the City Hospital, the annual per capita appropriation for hospital services is P1,800 pesos.  However, after converting it into an economic enterprise, a Cash Revenue of P30.2 million pesos was realized.  This excludes receivables from patients and government agencies like Philhealth, Sarangani LGU’s and the City’s Indigent Hospitalization and Medical Assistance Program.
• The investment of the Department of Health of P10 million pesos in 2008 for the upgrading of the hospital infrastructure, equipment and facilities.
• The P30 million peso Fund Assistance from the Department of Health to upgrade the hospital into TERTIARY LEVEL.
• The unveiling of the perspective drawing of the GSC Hospital Facade followed by a Ground-Breaking Ceremony.

A priest blesses the four-bed Intensive Care Unit or ICU and its new state-of-the art equipment

The next two years will see the following projects completed, co-funded with the DOH:

• Installation of Piped-in Oxygen for the ICU;
• Completion of Hospital Warehouse;
• Additional room for the Operating Room Complex;
• Renovation of the Outpatient Department, Emergency Room, and the entire Hospital Facade;
• Renovation of the Pediatric Ward with Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; and
• Operation of a Dialysis Center.

These six projects will be given a budget of P7 million pesos from the local government and P16.56 million pesos from the Department of Health, for a total of P23.5 million pesos.

City officials (from left) including City Administrator Marcelino Dospueblos, Chief of Hospitals Dr. Arvin Alejandro, First Lady Dr. Rose Acharon, City Mayor Jun Acharon, and Councilor Rick Atendido during the inauguration of the 35-bed OB-Gyne Complex.

The 35-bed newly renovated OB-Gyne Complex

On top of the infrastructure fund, DOH gave an additional fund of P13.44 million pesos for various sets of hospital equipment.

All these are in preparation for the approval of the Tertiary Level License Application of the GenSan Hospital with the DOH, thanks in part to Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio for her untiring legwork and connection with the DOH along these projects.

Mayor Acharon wait for the priest as he was blessing the new ground floor wing of the City Hospital with its 24 Private Rooms, with a 33-bed capacity.

One of the 24 New Private Rooms of GenSan Hospital

The Water Processing Facility for the GenSan Hospital Drinking needs while being blessed by a priest.  This is a joint project of Dow Chemicals Pacific Limited Inc. and the local government.

Chief of Hospitals Dr. Arvin Alejandro and Mayor Jun Acharon unveil the design for the perspective of the future facade of the GenSan Hospital after which they performed the groundbreaking ceremony.

Yesterday, I got a pleasant surprise waiting for me at my office table.  It was pink cardboard canister with the name QUEENIE printed in front.  Inside is a pink linen scroll with wooden rollers on each end and a separate pink linen page, obviously trying out a “royale” theme.

Upon perusing through its contents, I found out that it is the invitation to the Baptismal of Manny Pacquiao’s daughter two-month old daughter, Queen Elizabeth!  Wow!

The invitation states that Queen Elizabeth Pacquiao or “Queenie” will be “christened” or “baptized” at the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 10:00AM along with other babies in the parish.

The reception for the (what I heard) 1,000 or so invited guests will be held again at the KCC Mall of GenSan Events and Convention Center, the same venue for his birthday last December 2008.

The invitation however did not mention any dress code which is good since that I do not have to rent an ill-fitting tuxedo again! 

I then checked the 2nd page of the invite which contains the names of the 48 godparents (!) of Queenie Pacquiao.

I looked for my name but sadly, it was not in the list which includes among others, a vice president (Noli De Castro), the AFP Chief of Staff (General Alex Yano), seven Senators including 3 Presidentiables (Villar, Legarda, Estrada, Revilla, Zubiri, Honasan and Escudero),  a Tai-pan’s daughter (Robina Gokongwei-Pe), a famous TV & Radio personality (Korina Sanchez), Kapuso bigwigs (Wilma Galvante and Annette Gozon), a beauty and makeover Diva (Vicky Belo), an actor and former son-in-law of a former President (Philip Salvador), a political kingpin (Luis Chavit Singson), a PAGCOR Chair (Epraim Genuino), a mother of a beauty queen (Annabelle Rama), a governor (Sarangani’s Migz Dominguez), a member of the Congress (Monico Puentevella), wives of prominent politicians in Luzon, and even a former gambling lord (Charlie Ang)….. but no full-pledged BLOGGER!!????!

Oh well, better luck next time.   I am sure Kumpareng Manny would want more kids every year anyway and by the time he rans out of famous people to get as godparents, I will be very famous by then. 

But now, the next immediate question should be – what gift should somebody like Bariles give to  Baby Queenie, the small royalty  who has everything already?