GenSan News Online Mag

Never in my life have I ever come across a blog post as racist as this one written by supposedly “best-selling author and columnist” Chip Tsao of Hong Kong.

Entitled “The War at Home” and featured in the news blog, HK Online published yesterday, March 29, 2009, (but nowhere to be found now amidst calls for the editors to apologize together with the author) the write-up deals mainly on the Philippines’ opposition to China’s continued presence in the Spratlys” and his bitterly scathing remarks about the country which he calls a “nation of servants“.

Hong Kong’s author & award-winning columnist Chip Tsao: Philippines’ Public Enemy #1 for his racial slur on the country, “nation of servants”

He then related how he “summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.”

I won’t want to say much about Chip Tsao’s article and let you, my dear readers react to his remarks.  I am supposed to be sleeping now but after reading about it, I knew that I had to share it with you.

Although this post is not particularly about GenSan which this blog Bariles Republic is all about after all, still it pertains to the hundreds, no, make that thousands of OFW’s from Soccsksargen who are slaving it out not only in Hong Kong but all over the world, for the future of their families back home.

UPDATE:  4:30PM, March 30, 2009. As of this writing, Chip Tsao’s article on the “nation of servants” has been taken off the HK Online site but Bariles Republic has managed to save it.  You can view and read it in its entirety by CLICKING HERE

UPDATE 2: HK Online Magazine has publicly apologized but Chip Tsao himself remained defiant and unapologetic. Below is a SCREEN SHOT of the article.

How does one know that it’s summer already in General Santos City aside from the heat and frequent browouts?

Sirit?

Well, it is the proliferation of posters heralding events like this one:

Yes, you’re reading it right.  It is a Body Painting Show!

Now before I see those eyebrows rising, this is not one of those wet t-shirt events that crops up every now and then at some of the street parties here in the city.  This event features an activity called Body Painting which is actually considered as the most ancient form of body art.

Unlike other forms of body art like tatooo, Body Painting is temporary and can be washed off since it uses liquid latex which is non-toxic.  Some, like henna or “mehndi tattoo” can stay for days or weeks.

Anyway, according to my good friend, DJ Moko, who’s mixing the music for the  Body Painting Show, their event at Babes Bar on April 4 (Saturday) will feature only female models, some of the sexiest in GenSan.

And take note, the tickets only cost P100, very affordable for a show that is sure not only to display the skills of GenSan’s body paint artists but some of her finest and most daring models, courtesy of Ground Level Arts and Events.

By the way, the show starts at 9:00 at Babes Bar, East Asia Royale Hotel Arcade who is sponsoring it together with San Miguel Beer.  Be sure to be there early since the venue can only accomodate 200 eager, excited and panting young male “generals”.

Will you be one of them?

General Santos City Mayor Pedro “Jun” Acharon, Jr., in a letter dated March 26, 2009 to all the business establishments in the city, urged them to participate in the Earth Hour 2009 on March 28, 2009, Saturday.

The mayor’s request was his positive response to the Secretary of Energy Angelo Reyes‘ letter to him enjoining the city to support the move to switch off their lights for one hour (Earth Hour) beginning beginning at 8:30pm to 9:30pm. The Sangguniang Panglungsod, in their regular session on Thursday, March 19, 2009,  also issued Resolution No. 118, Series of 2009 “Supporting the Celebration of Earth Hour on March 28, 2009″.

This is the first time that the local government of General Santos City is officially joining what is hoped will be the world’s largest mass participation event, Earth Hour 2009.  It will culminate in the participation of one billion people around the globe, in more than 1000 cities, turning off lights and sending a message to world leaders in the lead-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009 that we need a commitment to actions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the short and long term benefit of the planet.

The Philippines will again join this league, just like 1 million Filipinos last year to literally “turn out the lights” for Earth Hour 2009. Leading the country is the WWF, in collaboration with the Department of Energy, The Green Army, and the SWITCH Movement in turning off lights nationwide – Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, aiming for the participation of 10 million Filipinos.

Earth Hour 2009 is a major call to action to every general, to every Soccksargen resident to take responsibility and play a role in ensuring a sustainable future.  Here in the Tuna Capital, the local government buildings will go dark, led by the General Santos City Hall building, up to the street lamps along the center islands of Pioneer Avenue and Pedro Acharon Boulevard, hoping that along with it are the buildings along the city’s major thoroughfares.

Remember that you do not have to turn off all your appliances.  Your extinguished house lights will do just fine in bringing a message of hope and action to the entire world.

For more info, log on to http://www.earthhour.org

Bariles just got word from the Alumni Affairs Office of the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University that the 50-year old premier educational institution in General Santos City will be offering the course Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management when school year 2009-2010 opens in June.

And in addition to that, under NDDU President Bro. John Tan, FMS‘ administration, an HRM Laboratory will also be built.  Here is an artist’s sketch of the proposed building designed by R.G. Salanatin Construction, Inc.

NDDU joins the growing list of schools in GenSan offering HRM after graduates of the course have proven to be in demand abroad especially in the UK, Canada and Middle Eastern countries.

With this development, Bariles hopes that NDDU gets the best teachers and instructors to ensure that what they produce in this new field are exceptionally trained and well-prepared and ready to face the challenges of their profession.

For inquiries regarding this post, please contact the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University through Tel. # (083)552-4444, local 2211.

General Santos City and the whole of Soccsksargen plus Davao and a host of other places in Mindanao have been suffering from a series of unscheduled power outages lately.

At one point, I could count a number of 3-4 brownouts during the 8-hour period in my office which causes a lot of strain on our computers.  I am just waiting for the time when my mini-Mac conks out due to this.

Anyway, below is the Press Release emailed to me by Ms. Belinda Canlas of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (formerly Transco, which used to be the Napocor), explaining their side on these irritating occurences and detailing the two (2) reasons why they have been happening.

Here goes their press release on the Mindanao-wide brownouts….. Highlighted contents are mine.

PRESS RELEASE from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines

March 23, 2009. General Santos City

All power customers served by NGCP-District 6 are experiencing rotational brownouts since March 16, 2009 due to a constrained power transmission network leading to southwestern Mindanao. A supply route, the Kibawe-Davao 138 kilovolt line no. 1 is out since 8:30 in the evening last Friday, March 20 when eight light-weight structures in Balintawak, Kibawe, Bukidnon, toppled due to strong winds and heavy rains, aggravating the situation.

National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Mindanao head Emmanuel Abellanosa said the parallel supply line to southwestern Mindanao, the Kibawe-Davao line no. 2 is being used currently to feed power to the whole of Southern Mindanao. The combined load of line nos. 1 and 2 is presently absorbed and carried by one line (line no. 2) which could not transport the whole load requirement. To prevent overloading which would affect the entire power system, the NGCP resorted to load-shedding.

Another double-circuit line, the Kabacan-Nuling 138 KV line and Kabacan-Tacurong 138 KV line, is undergoing repairs, specifically on tower 142 at Malabuaya, Kabacan, North Cotabato which was bombed last March 16, 2009.

The two recent incidents have reduced the capacity of the supply network going to General Santos, Sarangani, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, and Cotabato City. As a result, Abellanosa said, NGCP’s Southwestern Mindanao District (District 6) is being given 30 megawatt less its usual power supply. This will remain so until the completion of the repair of the Kibawe-Davao line no. 1 targeted within this week.

The area control center of District 6 is closely coordinating with NGCP’s customers in the implementation of the curtailment scheme. Abellanosa clarified though that NGCP only gives power utilities their corresponding load limits under the curtailment scheme, while the latter decide which feeders to drop at planned periods. The cooperation of power customers is very crucial at this time so implementation can proceed smoothly, Abellanosa said.

Abellanosa further said they are exerting all efforts to finish the repairs as early as possible to normalize the power situation in Southern Mindanao.

The NGCP is appealing for public understanding on the temporary abnormal power situation.

###

(Original Signed)
MANUEL A. HAMOY, JR.
Department Manager, District 6
NGCP

So there.  As of this writing, we will still be suffering from these brownouts and until when these will stop…. only God knows.

These Mindanao-wide browouts are brought to you by the renegade forces of the MILF and by Mother Nature herself.

As a sign of gratitude to all the readers, visitors and subscribers of GenSan News Online Mag, Bariles has come up with a Fun Page where they can test their knowledge about General Santos City. This is through a Top FREE Internet Game called Hangaroo, and its General Santos City Edition

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If you know the Hangman’s Game where the object is to guess all the letters of a mystery word to avoid the Hangman’s noose around your neck, then this top free Internet game Hangaroo has basically the same concept. This time, however, Bariles with the help of his SEO teacher Lyle Santos, did a few adjustments to be able to come up with an exclusive GenSan edition.

In this GenSan edition, a player needs to guess the words associated with General Santos City, most of which came out in Bariles Republic’s GenSan News Online Mag. Hangaroo GenSan Edition’s initial set of mystery words have been divided into categories which serve as the words’ clues – STREETS, RESTAURANTS, LEADERS – POLITICAL, LEADERS – BUSINESS, LEADERS- RELIGION, TOURIST SPOTs, FESTIVALS, COFFEE SHOPS and a few more.

These will be updated later on and more words/categories will be added. So what are you waiting for?  Play on the board below or you can go to Hangaroo-GenSan Edition’s own page by CLICKING HERE.

Bariles recently renewed his passport and eventually received his new machine-readable copy, thanks to the Department of Foreign Affairs Consular Office here in General Santos City, headed by Mr. Daniel Te.

This is how the old and the new versions look, side by side.

The old Philippine passports have green covers while the new version shifted to maroon. Other than that, the new passport is now machine-readable. Meaning, the data on the identity page (which has been moved from the Inside Back Cover to Page 2) is encoded on optical recognition format.

This is more advantageous for international travelers due to the faster processing of their arrival at airports by immigration officials. No more long slow queues this time because the immigration staff would only have to swipe the passports’ identity pages on their machines.

It’s actually very easy now to apply for a MRP (Machine-Readable Passport).

If you’re in GenSan, just go to their office beside the Big Chow Restaurant which is adjacent to Shakey’s inside the Gaisano Mall compound.

Inside the spacious, white-washed office, you may wait for your turn before you report to the table under a sign which says STEP 1 manned by Ms. Edel Mae Patugan.  You may then show her your documents.

If you are renewing your passport, these are the things you need to give to Ms. Edel for verification:

1. Photocopy first two and last two pages of old Passport;
2. Photocopy all stamped pages (all travel, arrivals, departures, visas, etc.);
3. Bring any two documents to support your Middle Name:
   • Voter’s Affidavit
   • Driver’s License
   • Baptismal Certificate
   • GSIS Policy/SSS E-1 Form
   • PRC/Postal ID
   • NBI Clearance
   • Government Service Record
   • Seaman’s Book
   • Income Tax Return
4. 3 pieces Passport sized ID pictures (4.5cm x 3.5cm) colored picture with Royal Blue background
5. Processing Fees:   64 pages – P750

If you are applying for a new passport, then submit these for verification to Ms. Edel:

1. Authenticated Birth Certificate
2. Authenticated Marriage Contract (for married women & minors only)
3. OMA Certification (for Muslims only)
4. Any 2 of the following docs to support your Middle Name:
   • Voter’s Affidavit
   • Driver’s License
   • Baptismal Certificate
   • GSIS Policy/SSS E-1 Form
   • PRC or Postal ID
   • NBI Clearance
   • Government Service Recort
   • Seaman’s Book
   • Income Tax Return
5. 3 pcs. Passport Sized ID pictures – (45 cmx3.5cm) colored pic with royal Blue Background)
6. Processing Fee:  64 pages – P850

After your docs have been verified and approved, proceed to the table under the sign which says STEP 2 and submit them to Ms. Helen Grace Acharon for processing.

You may then approach Mr. Eric Camina at a table behind her under the sign STEP 3 for the encoding of your data.

Then, proceed to the Cashier’s Table for payment of the Processing Fees to Ms. April Joy Afinido.

Easy and simple right?  Now come back two weeks after to get your new (MRP) machine-readable passport from the cheerful and helpful Mr. Elmor Maglunsod at the 2nd floor.  Two weeks, no more, no less. 

Sunday, April 26, 2009 could now be one of the most anticipated days in history by teeners and adults alike in General Santos City and outlying areas after ABS-CBN announced that the auditions for Pinoy Dream Academy Season 3, Pinoy Big Brother Season 3 and Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Season 2 will be held at the Tuna Capital.

GenSan Mayor Jun Acharon allowed the free use of the 8,000 capacity General Santos City Gym (the biggest in Mindanao) in Barangay Lagao for the auditions after ABS-CBN wrote him a letter requesting to utilize the venue. He has also agreed to provide security for the expected 6,000++ audition hopefuls who will be coming in from as far as Cotabato and Zamboanga.

At one point, he even thought of opening up some of the classrooms at the nearby Lagao Elementary School to be used as sleeping quarters of out-of-towners.  I just don’t know now if he is still pushing through with this plan.

Gen. Santos City Gym is Mindanao’s biggest airconditioned gymnasium

That means that GenSan will be paying overtime to the more than 100 police, military and security personnel who will ensure that everything goes well, aside from providing for the 3 meals that day.  Not only that.  The city will also have to shoulder the costs for the electricity and water consumption during the two days that ABS-CBN would be needing the General Santos Gym.

Bariles hopes that all these support for their top-rated programs from the city government will make the notorious ABS-CBN’s Talent Center think twice before always singling out GenSan as a “MUST-AVOID” place for its stars, including homegrown PBB Teen Edition winner Gerald Anderson,  the first PDA Little Grand Dreamer Philip Nadela (of Barangay Fatima, GenSan) and Sultan Kudarat’s Laarni Lozada (PDA 2 Grand Star Winner).

Mga taga-rito na ang mga iyan, pinagbabawalan pang pumunta rito ha?  Tsk-tsk-tsk!

Anyway, here are the classifications and requirements for the auditions:

• For Pinoy Dream Academy:
  • 18-25 years old
  • Bring Photocopy and original copy of Birth Certificate, Close-up and full body pictures, Valid ID and ballpen.

• For PBB Teen Edition 2:
  • 16 to 19 years old by April to June 2009

• For PBB Season 3:
  • 20 – 35 years old by August to December 2009.
  • Bring Photocopy and original copy of Birth Certificate, Close-up and full body pictures, Valid ID, and ballpen

So there, good luck to all the auditioners.  I hope somebody from South Central Mindanao will make it again this time.  If only I were younger than my age, I would be the first in line to audition.  As PBB and PDA Director Dyogi Laurente keeps on saying, “IT’S NOT THE LOOKS.  IT’S THE PERSONALITY.”

O di ba?  Laban ka? 

Watch the trailers below.

Here is another one:

And as for the identity of KUYA, here is his most recent pix:

South Osmena Street, known to some as the Heart of General Santos City, has been pulsating with life for the past fifteen or so years ever since a string of restos, bars and coffee shops made it their home.  The latest, BluGre Cafe just had a star-studded opening.

Two weeks before that however, another new entrant in the food and beverage business opened its doors to the public ahead of Manny Pacquiao’s establishment.  This time, it is a restaurant simply called as Kiko’s Family Restaurant located beside the building housing the DTI office

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Kiko’s Family Restaurant is owned, managed and operated by Gary and Cherry Ocampo, a couple who loves cooking and showing off their recipes among friends, who regularly drop by to feast on their personalized take on various native dishes. Late last year, upon the  prodding of their friends and families, they decided that the time has come to open up their very own dining establishment and let more people sample their kitchen creations.

I first visited Kiko’s in time for dinner one warm, stuffy night last week excited on what lies in store for me.  I was a bit worried however because I knew beforehand that Kiko’s was not airconditioned and at that time, I was having a slight case of asthma.  To my delight, upon entering the spacious venue, I found out that this new GenSan restaurant was properly ventilated by an open air garden on one side where an artificial drizzle cools the ground and its surroundings.

We were immediately served the Kiko’s Specialties by the Master Chef, owner Gary himself.  This was his famous-among-friends’ Greaseless Fried Chicken, which I swear is comparable in taste and softness to Chickenjoy and wife Cherry’s tender with every bite’s Beef Estofado.

Kiko’s Greaseless Fried Chicken       and Cherry’s Beef Estofado

Master Chef and owner Gary hinted that he painstakingly deep-fries his chicken drumsticks for at least 20 minutes before serving it to his customers, making sure not to overcook them.  The rest of the dishes from the menu which we had were a must for visitors to the Tuna Capital, and for those who are into healthy, seafood dishes – his crispy, crackling Fried Tuna Panga and his tender and savoury Grilled Tuna Belly, both served with side garnishes.

Kiko’s Fried Tuna Panga                                Kiko’s Grilled Tuna Belly

Then, for foodie meat lovers like me, Gary served the chicharon-like skinned Lechon Kawali, which were soooo yummy while dipped in vinegar with lots and lots of garlic was to “die” for.   Then it was Gary’s very own version of the “Leche Flan” for dessert which had just the right amount of bittersweetness to it!  Perfect!

Kiko’s Sinful Lechon Kawali                     Kiko’s Leche Flan

We couldn’t take in all that Master Chef Gary was offering, so stuffed with what was laid before us and so we promised to come back the following day, in time for lunch.

And thus, the day after we were served more of Master Chef Gary’s masterpieces:  Bulalo, Bicol’s Laing (Spicy Gabi Leaves with coco milk), Seafoods Chopsuey, Steamed Pompano and Ginataang Casile (Eel in coco milk).

Of all these, I particularly love the Laing which made me eat more rice than the usual and the Guinataang Casile which had me licking my fingers and sipping the fish bones.  As the Ilonggos say it, “Kanamit gid!”

Then of course, also highly recommended are the previous night’s Beef Estofado and  Gary’s Greaseless Fried Chicken, which I bet will be the talk of the town once word gets around.  Just give Master Chef Gary 25 minutes to prepare it perfectly for you.

Kiko’s Family Restaurant is open from 10am to 10pm.  They can be found along South Osmena Street, beside the DTI office.  For reservations and advanced orders, please call

Got an email courtesy of SOCOTECO II (South Cotabato Electric Cooperative II) containing their Notice of Power Interruption for the March 14 and 15 weekend.

Knowing of how hot it is these days, you better be warned of this so that you can properly plan your electricity-less weekend.  If your habitat is on this list…. go to the beach, climb up Lake Sebu, make babad in the swimming resorts in the city, go watch a movie, go malling, etc.  Do anything but stay at home.

I still remember the time when our electric power cooperative used to be called KORELCO (Koronadal Electric Cooperative).  Those days, power outtages were more frequent than the hours when there was electric power.  Back then, we had to use gas lamps (or gasera) to light up our house and to be able to study and do our homework until late into the night.

The following day, our nostrils will all be blackened from the soot coming from the gasera’s smoke.   At school, you would then know which of your classmates had brownouts the previous nights by looking at their faces.  

Now, we have fewer night time brownouts, thank God, except in extreme cases when Transco (formerly NAPOCOR) poles get toppled, either by nature’s forces or by the currently disgruntled outlaws of this Promised Land.

Here is the scheduled Brownout from SOCOTECO II:

March 14, 2009, 8am – 5pm (9 hours):  Reason – Installation of recloser and Load Transfer

All areas connected to Calumpang Substation (All nearby areas of Pioneer Avenue, Dona Soledad, Calumpang, Labangal & Fatima

• Feeder 1-1

PI 16, LAUREL NORTH, BO. OBRERO, SPRINGVILLE, NDDC, PRK. PALEN, JOHNNY ANG PARADISE, VILLA, CONSUELO, MARIN VILL. PRK. SAN VICENTE, CR. MAKAR, BO. B’LAAN, BAGANGGA, SOGOD, YU, VILLAGE

Feeder 1-2

FILDEN, PRK. OLAER, MORALES, TOLEDO, SOLEDAD ESTATE, PROVIDO,ORINGO SUBD , DAGOHOY PARADISE.

Feeder 12-4

RBS BANK, PG ANG ENT., SKY CABLE, ST. ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, CAMIAS, RAMBUTAN, KADULASAN, CAMACHILI, LAUREL EAST, QUIRINO, CHAMPACA, ZAPOTE, KASOY, SENEGUELAS, LAPU-LAPU, WALING-WALING, ILANG-ILANG, SOUTH OSMEÑA, NARANJITA, MARANG, DELA PAZ, MANSANITAS, ROSAS, GUMAMELA, BEATILES, SALAZAR, MAGSAYSAY AVE. SOUTH, NIYOG, SAGING, CAGAMPANG, VETERANS ,CASQUEJO

Feeder 14-1

NATL. HIGHWAY (TROME MARKETING – DXCP RADIO STATION), j. cATOLICO SR. AVE.(dXCP – PETRON/COOKIE FACTORY), Leon Llido St., Loveland Subd., Munda Subd., General santos doctors hospital, QUEENIES SUBD., CAMIAZ EXT., bROKENSHIRE COLLEGE, sANTOS SUBD., ROYECA SUBD. ST. PAUL OF THE CROSS NOVITIATE, DXCP, GENSAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL(1 PHASE)

March 15, 2009, 8AM-3PM  (7 HRs) Reason:  Erection of pole at Santiago Boulevard

• Southern Union Hardware & GSIS Office

• *Note: Nearby areas will experience 15-min outage on the start & towards end of line activity.

MARCH 14-15, ‘09,  11PM-7AM  (8 HRs) Reason:  Oil Filtering

• All areas connected to Polomolok Cannery Substation

Yehey!!! Our neighborhood is not in the list!  Thank you, SOCOTECO II. 

By the way, why do we Pinoys call these power outtages as BROWNOUTs?  Why not BLACKOUTs?

For inquiries & details, please call SOCOTECOII hotline nos. 553-5848 to 50 or text   @  09177205365.