GenSan News Online Mag

This week,  the first in a series of national gatherings in General Santos for the year happens with the conduct of the Philippine Councilors League’s 1st Quarterly National Executive Officers and National Board Meeting.

For three days, from February 4 to 6, 2010, more than 1,800 delegates making up the officers of the Philippine Councilors League together with  councilor honorees will be converging at the Tuna Capital.  These honorees, numbering about 2,500 are councilors who are into their last and 3rd terms and will be given tokens for their accomplishment as THREE TERMERS.

With this big number of visitors to the city, the local secretariat headed by Councilor Richard Atendido, has tapped all available rooms for their lodging, be it at the big hotels like East Asia Royale and Sydney, smaller inns like Leah’s and Pensionne Alonso, resorts like Dolores Tropicana Resort Hotel and Isla Parilla and even drive-inns like Prince Field and King’s Valley.

Here then is the programme for the Philippine Councilors League 1st Quarterly National Executive and National Board Meeting:

FIRST DAY – LECTURES/DISCUSSIONS (General Santos City)

The two-day gathering kicks off on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at the KCC Convention and Activity Center, with lectures on two topics:

• Rules and Regulations on Automated Elections 2010 – by Atty. Ferdinand P. Rafanan of the Commission on Elections
• The Consequences of Global Warming and Climate Change – by Dr. Samuel P. Martin of the School of Environment Science & Environment, UPLB

This is followed by the Opening Program leading to the Welcome Dinner hosted by the Honorable GenSan City Mayor Pedro “Jun” Acharon.  Scheduled to speak that night are the Honorable Darlene Custodio, Representative of 1st District of South Cotabato.

Keynote Speaker, the Honorable Mar Roxas, Senator of the Republic of the Philippines.

SECOND DAY – TOUR AND FELLOWSHIP DINNER

Keynote Speaker is the Honorable Manuel B. Villar, Senator and Presidentiable.

Lunch will be hosted by Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes of South Cotabato.

Closing Program and Fellowship Dinner will be hosted by Hon. Migue Rene “Migz” Domingquez, Governor of Sarangani.

Keynote Speaker is Hon. Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, Jr., former Secretary, Department of Defense.

SHOWBIZ PERSONALITIES:

Expected to grace the proceedings are showbiz personalities who have moved into politics and are now councilors in their own hometowns.  So if you’re joining the Philippine Coucilors League in GenSan, you might be able to spot Councilors Alma Moreno, Aiko Melendez, Yul Servo, Franz Pumaren, Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez, and many more.

If the hosts of this national gathering pull it through and Bariles bets that they will, then it really be a testament to the fact that General Santos City is now ready to be CONVENTION CAPITAL OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINDANAO!

Thanks to the enterprising guys over at Skyscraper City, a top forum site, I was able to get hold of this very important news for those seeking GenSan jobs.

SM Supermalls has released a JOB VACANCY Announcement for its SuperMalls Management in Training Program (SMiTPro), requiring management trainees who qualifies to undergo training in Manila but will eventually be assigned in SM City – General Santos City.   Here’s the whole notice, thanks to nj_than.

SMiTPro Trainee (General Santos City honor students/graduates)

Responsibilities:

CALLING ON ALL APPLICANTS WHO HAVE LIVED, STUDIED OR WORKED IN GENERAL SANTOS CITY BUT ARE WILLING TO BE TRAINED FOR 6 MONTHS IN MANILA AND WILL EVENTUALLY BE STATIONED IN SM CITY – GENSAN!!!

Do you see yourself in a management position in SM Supermalls?

If so, then join and be a part of our Supermalls Management in Training Program (SMitPro) MANAGEMENT TRAINEES – 5th Batch!!!

SMitPro is a 6 month intensive training program designed to prepare our Management Trainees for mid-level management in the organization.

* The graduates of the first 4 batches of our Management Trainees were given the following career opportunities:

• meaningful career development opportunities as ASSISTANT MALL MANAGER or LEASING MANAGER
• high visibility in the organization
• frequent performance evaluation
• interaction with all levels of Management
• experience in a cross-section of function and operating environments
• intensive training program
• included in a pool of middle managers with extensive knowledge of the functions, operation and values of the SM Supermalls from which senior management positions can be filled in the future.

* SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL BE GIVEN HIGHLY CHALLENGING GENSAN JOBS!!

Requirements:

* So if you are:

• young, aggressive, highly motivated and career-driven;

• articulate, creative, and passionate about work;

• with experience in the areas of leasing, marketing, public relations, sales, management, customer service, tenant relations and / or operations;

• strongly committed to customer satisfaction, with high attributes of initiative, leadership and tenacity;

• keen on details and with good sense of judgment;

• capable of working on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; and

• willing to be trained in Pasay City and later to be assigned in different malls in the Philippines, including General Santos City.

YOU ARE THE PERSON WE ARE LOOKING FOR!!!

* We will only accept degree holders from reputable universities or colleges. Those with advance studies, i.e. Masters Degree have an advantage.

* Candidates with INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE, whether on business, work, pleasure or studies are encouraged to apply.

* Should you be interested for this position, please send UPDATED RESUME and PICTURE to pjlj@smsupermalls.com and quote: SM Mall – MT Gen San.

So there, if you think you have got what it takes and possess all the qualities and requirement that a Management Trainee Position at SM GenSan require, then go for it! It will be one hell of a pressure-laden job am sure but it will prove as a worthwhile challenge to you and being a general, Bariles is sure you will make it!

If the training commences in February 2010, then by August 2010, these Management Trainees will definitely come home to start working for the owners of the biggest malls in the Philippines.

SM – GenSan, or more formally, SM CITY-GENERAL SANTOS is scheduled to being construction first half of 2010 and will open 3rd quarter of 2011.

Everything is ready for General Santos City’s hosting of the 11th PREX National Convention!  This is a gathering of 5,000 of the country’s Catholic faithful who took the PREX or Parish Renewal Experience Seminar in their respective parishes.

The PREX Seminar first started in Manila in the 80s and has since spread all over the Philippines, reaching Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish, dowtown GenSan  in 1988 and eventually, all the parishes in the Diocese of Marbel, including the most active for its number of outreaches, the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish of Barangay Lagao, GenSan.

(Trivia:  The parents of Bariles were graduates of Batch #1 at OLPGV while he himself was a member of Batch #81.)

When the first PREX National Convention was started, it was meant  to gather members and officers of the different PREX parishes (or parishes which conduct regular PREX seminar) to listen and learn from the talks and testimonaial speeches of invited speakers from the clergy and the laity.

The conduct of the 11th PREX National Convention in GenSan is the fruition of years of hard work of the the Kuya’s and Ate’s (as they call each other) from PREX-Lagao, which has conducted the most number of outreach PREX SEMINARS in Mindanao and the Visayas (including Cebu).  They also spearhead the annual PREX Family Day where they invite all their outreach parishes from Mindanao and the Visayas.

For this convention, PREX Lagao’s Kuya Bebot and Ate Meme Haw were designated as Convention Assistant Chaircouple.

THE PREX CONVENTION POSTER.

Anyway, about 5,000 PREX graduates are expected to converge in GenSan for the three-day affair and the local PREX Convention Secretariat has tapped different schools in the city to serve as billeting centers for those who could not be accommodated in the hotels.

And as with past and succesful conventions in General Santos, security is very tight especially for the whole month of February 2010 where we will also be hosting the National Conventions of the Philippine Councilors League, the Population, Health and Environment, and the Rotary Clubs of the Philippines.

The theme for the 11th PREX National Convention is “The Call to Social Transformation”. Convention dates are from February 19, 20, and 21, 2010.

Assigned to give talks and preside in the masses are the following:

• Most Rev. Dinualdo G. Gutierrez, DD (Bishop of Marbel) – Presider & Homilist for Talk 1:  “Social Transformatio, Where to Begin? Humility aand HOpe”
• Msgr. Jesus Romulo C. Ranada, NAPPS National Spiritual Director – Inspirational Talk
• Rev. Fr. Domingo Salonga, Parish Priest, Holy Cross Parish, Gen. T.De Leon Valenzuela City, Commission on Formation Chairman, Diocese of Malolos- Speaker for Talk2: “Mary’s Life: A Model of Discernment”
• Most Rev. Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB,DD (Bishop of Maasin) – Speaker for Talk 3: “Care for the Environment: A Moral & Social Responsibility”
• Most Rev. George B. Rimando, DD (Auxilliary Bishop of Davao)- Speaker for Talk 4: “Prayer & Social Transformation”
• Rev. Fr. Ramon Ramos, CP, Parish Priest, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Sun Valley, Paranaque, Metro Manila – Speaker Talk 5: “Building the Kingdom of God thru Social Transformation”
• Ambassador Henrietta “Tita” de Villa, Chairperson, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) – Speaker for Talk 6: “Discerning for the Common Good: The Call to Clean and HOnest Elections”
• Most Rev. Jose Colin M. Bagaforo, DD (Auxilliary Bishop of Cotabato) – Speaker for Talk 7: “Achieving Peace & Social Transformation thru Inter-Faith Dialogue”

We will be featuring the schedule of activities here later, so please check back for updates.  Thanks.

In its desire to attract more customers to their fledgling mall in GenSan, effective this Sunday, January 24, 2009, and once every month thereafter, Robinsons Place General Santos will be conducting a Family Day for shoppers.

"ROBINSONS' MONTHLY FAMILY DAY SCHEDULE"

The first Family Day this Sunday will start at 3:00pm at the Atrium or Activity Center of Robinsons.  Although it doesn’t say in the poster above, the games they have prepared is open to kids and adults, since it is a “Family” Day.

Robinsons Shopping Bags will be given out to the participants as prizes for the games.

In between the games and a Magic Show will be dance numbers from local artists XB GenSan Dance Group and an exhibition round from the MTM Taekwando Jins.

All these will be happening from 3pm to 5pm so that would keep you preoccupied if you’re in Robinsons Place -GenSan this Sunday.

By the way, management has announced that its weekly regular Sunday Mass is cancelled until after the Presbyterium of the Diocese of Marbel in February 2010 where it will be taken up for approval.

Bariles  just received an invitation from the owners of Sydney Hotel and Isla Parilla to the “soft opening” of their newest baby – the Isla Jardin Del Mar, a beach resort at Gumasa, Glan, Sarangani Province on Saturday, January 23, 2010.

"THE PICTURE FILE OF THE INVITATION TO THE ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR SOFT OPENING OF JANUARY 23, 2009"

Situated at what was once a secluded cove along the shorelines of Gumasa, right after the property of the Salazars and the Adarna’s,  the whole resort occupies a total of 34 hectares, half of which have earmarked for development.

Isla Jardin Del Mar which literally means “Island Garden of the Sea” in Spanish is managed by Charlemagne “Wanchin” Tan-Delfino.  She gushes about how the provincial Governor Migs Dominguez and Glan Municipality Mayor Yoyong Yap were instrumental in the resort’s development with their provision for a road to be built from the highway to the beach.

Why that name?  Because if viewed from the air, Isla Jardin del Mar looks like a “peninsula connected to a small island… with the cottages and a restaurant floating over two separate white sand bars.”, according to the Sarangani Provincial Office P.R. The P.R. continues:  “The pinkish white shoreline stretches and curves 750 meters, which gives one an impression that the beachfront is part of a small island”.

"TWO OF THE COTTAGES AVAILABLE FOR OVERNITE STAYING VISITORS. PHOTO COURTESY OF SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFO OFC"

Each available airconditioned bamboo cottage with terrace and private bathroom may be rented out for P2,000 per day and is inclusive of free breakfast for two.  Ten more fan-equipped cottages are cheaper at P1,500 and is good for four people.  There is also a line of open cottages for those who don’t plan to stay overnite.

There is a lagoon at the other side of the road and a fish pond is being readied for fishing hobbyists.  Mountain trek activities have been arranged for would-be nature enthusiasts and the views from the hills which serve as boundaries for the property should delight everyone. Just at the other side of the road is a lagoon.

"SANDRA MATUTINO, REIGNING PEARL OF SARANGANI PLAY WITH THE PINKISH-WHITE SAND OF THE 750-METER BEACHFRONT OF ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR. A FEW METERS TOWARDS THE SEA BEHIND HER IS A CORAL GARDEN FOR SNORKELERS TO ENJOY. PHOTO BY COCOY SEXCION."

“There will be crabs and a fish pond in the future so we can do fishing,” Wanchin disclosed. The lagoon has a breathtaking view of a small lake and the Sarangani Bay atop the hills which serve as the boundaries for Isla Jardin Del Mar.

At the beach there is a coral garden about 25 meters from the shoreline which can be enjoyed by snorkelers and divers due to this thriving school of colorful coral fish.

So what are you waiting for?  Get that phone and contact the following numbers for your reservations:  Sydney Hotel – 552-5479 to 81 or 0910-758-1239.   Tell them Bariles sent you.

Watch out for a follow up article on Isla jardin del Mar, this time with more pictures.  Bariles and his friends will be at the opening where a Beach Volleyball competition and an SMB Beach Party with live band await them. Yey!

Bariles, our beloved author of GenSan News Online Mag is taking some time off to celebrate his natal day today, January 19th.

He will be off partying with personal friends, childhood friends, office friends, Plurk friends, Facebook friends, blogger friends and forever-friends at his brother Orman‘s mansion.  Orman is the author of Ganda Ever So Much, a funny blog that is starting to make waves.

Right now, the Capricornian, who was born on the Year of the Tiger is busy preparing the venue hoping that his Potluck Party will have enough food and drinks for everyone.

By the way, since you are a regular reader here…. you are invited to the Party tonight.

Just make sure you bring something to eat… or drink… or both.

Happy Birthday Bariles!!!

For those with high-end cellphones, Instant Messaging (or IM) and Mobile Email are now the new ways of keeping in touch with friends, family members, business associates or just about anybody who’s wired to the Internet. Since almost everyone needs to constantly stay connected with other people, doing so without missing a beat is the ultimate high!

Bariles has been doing it with his Nokia E63 which is his free retainer phone from Smart when he signed on to another two years of post-paid services.   His wish however is to get the higher model – the Nokia E72.

According to its P.R., “The Nokia E72 is a high performance device tailor-made for seamless business and personal communication – perfect for blasting emails and instant messages!”

WOW!  Now stop drooling and listen to this:

Anybody can stand a chance to win this awesome phone!

How?

By answering the following question in English and in not more than 100 words “Why would you use Email or Instant Messaging on mobile to connect with your family and friends?” in their promo site www.winNokiaE71.com/ph.

This promotion is applicable  to all Smart subscribers who activate their Yahoo! Mail via Nokia Messaging on their Nokia phone*.

Nokia Messaging by Smart Gold costs only Php 299 per month for unlimited push email on Nokia devices.

Visit the nearest SMART Wireless Center to activate and subscribe to Nokia Messaging.  Here in GenSan, the SMART Wireless Center may be found at KCC Mall of GenSan upper floor.

For details, please call *888 through your SMART cellphone or (02) 888-1111 through landline.

Four lucky winners will receive a brand new Nokia E72 each in the weekly draws.

Deadline of submission of entries will be on January 15, 2010, January 22, 2010, January 29, 2010, and February 5, 2010.  That gives everyone 3 more weeks to do what they have to do to win this must-have Nokia phone.

Good luck everyone!!!  Meanwhile, care to exchange IM names?

*To check if your phone is compatible with Nokia Messaging go to http://www.nokia.com.ph/nokiamessaging

Yes, dear readers.  You read it right.  Geoff Eigenmann, a Kapuso talent will be in General Santos City for a mall show at Robinsons Place GenSan.

This will happen tomorrow, Saturday, January 16, 2010, 5pm at the mall’s wide activity center.

"KAPUSO STAR GEOFF EIGENMANN IN HIS COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE SPREAD."

Geoff started his career with ABS-CBN and is the son of thespians Michael de Mesa and Gina Alajar.  With his transfer to GMA-7 last year, he was given lead roles in their soap operas, the latest of which is “Rosalinda“.

For the Robinsons GenSan Mall Show, he will be frontacted by up and coming singer Carl Guevarra.

You must have heard the story of how a pregnant woman gave birth inside a tricycle, while on her way to the General Santos City Hospital through Fernandez Street, the hospital road from the National Highway-Gaisano junction.  The ride was so bumpy owing to the wide craters along the asphalt road causing the poor woman to have contractions, which immediately resulted to her giving birth even before reaching the hospital gates.

Whether that story is true or just one of those urban legends developed overtime, one thing is certain though.  The hospital road is definitely one of GenSan’s ugliest and almost impassable city artery.  Although it is the shortest route to the City Hospital (formerly called District or Emergency), drivers try to avoid it due to its moon-surface condition.  The craters are wide and deep and although they are constantly filled with gravel, this solution is only temporary since rain water washes them away just as fast.

But now, we have good news for everyone.  The GenSan Hospital Road or Fernandez Street is now fully concreted!

"The newly concreted hospital road, Fernandez Street."

Finished at the cost of P6.26 million, including the construction of a drainage system, the whole concreted road measures 700 linear meters and stops right the the corner turning right to the hospital entrance and about 10 meters ahead to the GenSan City Water District Building.

Other than that, the first batch of 11 million worth of Hospital equipment from the Department of Health has arrived and turned over to city officials yesterday.  This was through the initiative of Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio and Mayor Jun Acharon who were present at yesterday’s presentation of the following equipment:

• 1 unit Radio Fluoro X-ray 500 ma with film processor  – P 4.6 million
• 2 units Operating Table @ P480,000 each -  P 900.000
• Mobile X-ray unit 300Ma  -  P1.56 million

For delivery anytime this month are the following:

• 1 unit Generator  -  P2.45 million
• 2 units Operating Room LED lights @ 785,000 each -  1.57 million

"GENSAN CITY MAYOR JUN ACHARON, HOSPITAL EO DESIGNATE RONALD GONZALES INSPECT THE P1.56 MILLION MOBILE X-RAY WHICH WAS TURNED OVER TO THE CITY HOSPTAL AS PART OF THE 11 MILLION WORTH OF HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT FROM THE DOH."

Noteworthy is the delivery of the Generator Set within this month at because that will pave the way for the full use of the Intensive Care Unit of the GenSan Hospital.  The 400 KVA genset can reportedly service a whole city block and once this happens, the hospital patients and workers can expect an uninterrupted power supply 24/7.

According to City Mayor Jun Acharon, once the ICU is operational, this strenghten’s the city’s bid to be elevated from being classified as Secondary Hospital currently to being a Tertiary Hospital.

With these in place, and many more improvements on the GenSan City Hospital coming up, we can only hope for a better services coming from them.

"CONGRESSWOMAN DARLENE CUSTODIO WITH GENSAN HOSPITAL OFFICIALS AND STAFF DURING THE INSPECTION OF NEW HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT FROM THE DOH. ALSO IN PHOTO ARE CITY ADMINISTRATOR MAR DOSPUEBLOS, HOSPTIAL CHIEF DR. ARVIN ALEJANDRO, RONALD GONZALES, DR. HERCEDA, ASSISTANT HOSPITAL ADMIN ZENY ETURMA, AMONG OTHERS. "

If you have been a frequent traveller along the GenSan National Highway near the East Asia Royale Hotel for the past two months, you must have noticed this conspicuous presence of an establishment which is undergoing frenzied construction right beside the 18th Hole Driving Range entrance alley.

"THIS MYSTERIOUS BUILDING ALONG THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY BESIDE THE 18TH HOLE DRIVING RANGE WILL BE GENSAN'S NEWEST DINING COMPLEX"

The two-story building, now almost nearing completion sits in a half-hectare lot beside the Mabuhay I.T. Park at the back end.  Reportedly owned by a consortium led by Mitchy’s Car Accessories, Davao City’s Chimes and   Davao Golden Hardware, among others, the edifice will house various dining establishments meant to cater to the AB market of Soccsksargen.

One is them is reportedly Cafee Firenzo, a Davao-based coffee shop which also has two branches in the Durian City and a branch in Tagum City.  Read Davao blogger Blogie Robillo‘s take on the place by CLICKING HERE. Blogalag’s blog post can be accessed by CLICKING HERE.

Other occupants of the 1480 square meter available space of the building include fine-dining restaurants to be put up by more investors from Davao.

Only one existing local GenSan restaurant will be joining them, having passed the standards and requirements of the building owners.  This distinction goes to “Gusteau’s Shrimps and Crabs“, which GenSan News Online Mag featured last year.  The resto is one of the many along the famous dining strip in Lagao -Tiongson Arcade.  Take a bow, owner Allan Lopez.

Although we still have no idea on the identities of the other establishments in this new GenSan restaurant complex which, according to Bariles’ source, will be unveiled on April 2010,  Bariles is hoping that it would include a Thai Restaurant, an authentic Japanese restaurant, a Mediterranean restaurant, a purely seafood restaurant (to cater to non-pork eaters) and a resto-bar with a nightly band.

But whether they materialize or not, and whatever new dining haunts would fill in this new GenSan restaurant complex, this new development will surely strengthen the Tuna Capital’s bid to be the entertainment and dining capital of South Central Mindanao.

Owing to his fame and with the Filippino’s innate sense of humor and creativity, World Boxing Champ and former GenSan resident Manny Pacquiao has been immortalized in a lot of photoshopped photos.

In these Pacquiao funny pictures, he has taken on the identity of every movie, cartoon, super hero, political, showbiz or everydayman character possible already. But there seems to be no stopping his artist-fans to churn out new personifications of Pacman on a regular basis and new Pacquiao funny pictures turn up every now and then.

Of course, even the members of his family – Jinkee his wife, Dionisisa his mother plus members of the Team Pacquiao, Freddie Roach, Bob Arum; his boxing opponents and whoever has been linked to him have not been spared. They also figured out in some of the Pacquiao funny pictures that have been passed on via thousands of email daily all around the world, and in Facebook walls or Multiply pages of admirers.

Here then are some of the latests Pacquiao funny picture finds. If you have more, please email them to be included here and we will acknowledge your contribution.   If you are the artists behind the ones featured here, please leave us a note below so that we could give you the proper recognition for your work.  Thank you very much.

"BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE AVATAR GETS ITS DOSE OF PACQUIAO MANIA AS MANNY DONS THE CHARACTER OF JAKE SCULLY'S AVATAR" "MANNY LOOKS GOOD HERE WITH HIS NEW DO AND PALE SKIN BESIDE TEAM EDWARD OF THE TWILIGHT SERIES"

"ANOTHER TAKE ON THE TWILIGHT SAGA, THIS TIME WITH OTHER CHARACTERS FROM PACQUIAO'S LIFE. CAN YOU RECOGNIZE WHO THEY ARE?"

"MOMMY DIONISIA PACQUIAO TAKES OVER MEGAN FOX AS LEAD FOR 'JINNIPUR'S BODY"

"MUST BE THE SEXIEST PACQUIAO FUNNY PICTURE EVER WITH HIS PRIVATE PARTS COVERED ONLY BY APPLE RIBBONS"

"THIS TIME, MANNY PACQUAIAO IS AN ANIME CHARACTER WHO BEAT OUT ALL OPPONENTS IN THE RING"

"THE MOST FAMOUS FHM MAGAZINE COVER GIRL OF THE DECADE IN ONE OF HER BOLDEST POSES"

"MANNY PACQUIAO IN ANOTHER SEXY RENDITION, THIS TIME WITH EX-OPPONENTS"

"MANNY AS A HITMAN. MADE BY KTFOTOGRAFIA."

"PACQUIAO AS AN OLD MAN WITH A LONG BEARD, BY KTFOTOGRAFIA"

"JT ARTWORKS AND HIS VERSION OF A MOTHER SQUAW AND HER BOY ALA-PACBOY AND MAMA ROACH."

Of course, the Jinkee vs. Krista Ranillo brouhaha has to be here somewhere…

"THIS POSTER OF THE IMAGINARY BOUT BETWEEN JINKEE PACQUIAO AND KRISTA RANILLO CAME OUT AT THE HEIGHT OF THE CONTROVERSY LATE LAST YEAR"

And finally, the Floyd Mayweather CHICKEN PICTURES….

"HERE'S ONE OF THE FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. CHICKEN PHOTOS CIRCLING THE INTERNET AFTER HIS UNREASONABLE DEMANDS FOR BLOOD TESTING BECAME UNACCEPTABLE TO THE PACQUIAO CAMP. ARTWORK BY ART GARCIA."

"ANOTHER MAYWEATHER CHICKEN PICTURE"

Pacquiao Funny Pictures to follow here…. Check back soon!

As a public service to GenSan News Online Mag‘s readers and subscribers, it is proud to present the 2010 Philippine Public Holidays, based on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Presidential Proclamation 1841; together with the 2010 Muslim Holidays and GenSan City Local Holidays.

"THE 2010 CALENDAR OF GENERAL SANTOS CITY LOCAL GOVERNMENT FEATURING PLAZA HENERAL SANTOS, SHOT BY LEONARD PE."

2010 Philippine Regular Holidays

• January 1 – New Year’s Day
• April 1 – Maundy Thursday
• April 2 – Good Friday
• April 9 (Friday) – Araw ng Kagitingan
• May 1 -  (Saturday) Labor Day
• June 14 (Monday nearest June 12) – Independence Day
• August 30 (Last Monday of August) – National Heroes’ Day
• November 29 (Monday nearest November 30) – Bonifacio Day
• December 25 (Saturday) – Christmas Day
• December 27 (Monday nearest December 30) – Rizal Day

2010 Philippine Special (Non-Working) Days

• August 23 (Monday nearest August 21) – Ninoy Aquino Day
• November 1 (Monday) – All Saints’ Day
• December 24 (Friday) – Additional Special (Non-Working) Day
• December 31 (Friday) – Last Day of the Year

2010 Philippine Special Holiday (for all schools)

• February 22 (Monday nearest February 25) – EDSA Revolution Anniversary

2010 Muslim Holidays (Region XII including General Santos City, ARMM, Zamboanga Region) - actual dates to be determined by the Office of Muslim Affairs

• Feast of Maulidin Nabi – March 2010
• Feast of Izra Wal Miraj – July 11 9, 2010 (MONDAY)
• Feast of Eid’l Fitr – November 2010
• Islamic New Year – December 2010

2010 Local Holidays in GenSan:

• 81st Foundation Anniversary of Gen. Santos City/Culmination of Kalilangan Festival – February 27, 2010
• 41st Charterhood Anniversary of Gen. Santos City/Culmination of Tuna Festival – September 5, 2010

Based on these 2010 Philippine Public Holidays, here are the LONG WEEKENDS declared by Malacanang:

• April 1 to 4 (Holy Week)
• April 9 to 11 (Araw ng Kagitingan)
• June 12 to 14 (Independence Day)
• August 21 to 23 (Ninoy Aquino Day)
• August 28 to 30 (National Heroes’ Day)
• October 30 to November 1 (All Saints’ Day)
• November 27 to 29 (Bonifacio Day)
• December 24 to 27 (Christmas and Rizal Day)
• December 31 to January 2, 2011 (New Year’s Day)

With all these lists, doesn’t that make the Philippines the country with the most number of Public Holidays??? Not that I am complaining of course.

Inspired by the example set by their Davao Blogger friends, Bariles and Orman, with the help of some people, organized a Photo-Journalism Workshop for Bloggers and the Soccsksargen Bloggers X’mas Eyeball last December 21, 2009.

"THE FARM'S TARP BEHIND ONE OF THE WOODEN BENCHES SCATTERED ALL OVER THE RESORT. PHOTO BY HECTOR MINOZA"

To make the event more exciting and fun, it was held out-of-town, in a sprawling resort hotel in Carpenter Hills, Koronadal City, simply called The Farm.

Just like the Davao leg, the lecturer was no less than famous Davao media personality Jojie Alcantara, who wears so many hats (TV product endorser, event host and manager, photo journalist, blogger).  This time, responsible for her trip was Asia United Bank’s VP Orman Manansala of  Ganda Ever So Much.

Together with her were her friends, the fun-to-be-with-fotog  Joyce Mariscal and artist-partner Bogs San Juan, who had to drive from Davao City as early as 3am.

Eventually, all the excited bloggers and budding photographers who travelled from GenSan and the rest of Socsksargen in the morning set off to Koronadal City.  They weren’t prepared though for the grand accommodation which awaited them at The Farm, the official venue arranged by blogger Gilbert Tan.

As soon as their vehicles entered the resort’s main gates, passing through a  tree-lined roadway,  in the midst of lush vegetation and all sorts of flora, their fascination with The Farm immediately took over.  Once inside, they were directed by its amiable staff towards the workshop venue at the farther end of the sprawling compound.

Welcome to The Farm‘s Japanese Hall.

"THE FARM'S JAPANESE HALL WHERE THE WORKSHOP CUM XMAS PARTY WAS HELD."

The Japanese Hall was a separate building which had two ascending rock walkways from both sides.  Once inside, the workshoppers were gushing about how the venue was arranged for them.  It was perfect for the activity, to say the least.

"WHITE CLOTH ACCENTUATE THE HIGH CEILING OF THE JAPANESE HALL WHICH WAS FITTED WITH A LARGE SCREEN AT ONE END AND A BUFFET TABLE AT THE OTHER END."

The workshop began with an introduction by Bariles himself, laying out the agenda for the whole day which was divided into 3 parts:  Morning for the Workshop Lecture; Noon for the Xmas Party; and, the Early afternoon for the Photo Safari, Search for the best photoshots and Graduation.

That paved the way for the lecture of the effervescent Jojie Alcantara, an exercise which as everyone soon found out, was as much fun as it was practical and informative.

When everyone had their fill of “rule of thirds”, “lines”, “perspectives”, “worm’s eyeview”, “reflections”, etc, lunch was called.  That was when the Sox bloggers were treated to a mini-feast courtesy of THE FARM.

"BLOGGERS SHOOT THE SUMPTUOUS FOOD PREPARED BY THE FARM BEFORE EATING THEM, AS USUAL"

"CHOW TIME AT THE CLASSY JAPANESE HALL OF THE FARM."

Then it was time for Alexis Chua of MSu-GenSan to deliver his orientation on OPERA, assisted by Xril.

ALEXIS CHUA, CAMPUS COORDINATOR OF OPERA IN MSU-GENSAN ORIENTS PARTICIPANTS ABOUT WEB BROWSER.

After the distribution of the cute OPERA shwags, it was officially Christmas Party Time (12:30-1:30pm) as the different gifts and freebies we brought were raffled off to everyone.

"GIFTS, FREEBIES AND SCHWAGS ALL READY TO BE RAFFLED"

When all have received the free stuff from Asia United Bank, Opera, SMART and the bloggers themselves, the PHOTO SAFARI began.  Ms. Jojie ordered everyone to take pictures inside the compound of The Farm for the next one hour and the best photos will be rewarded prizes.

To take a look at the pictures, please check out these other blog posts by these bloggers:

• Hector Minoza
• Orman Manansala
• Rabsky Villanueva
• Kristan Franco
• Dr. Remo Aguilar
  

At the end of the day, the group did not leave The Farm without capturing the Christmas decors adorning the premises.  The whole place at night transformed into a Wonderland of lights and sights.

"ONE OF THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGES INSIDE THE FARM. PHOTO BY BARILES."

With all these, surely, not one among them will not have the fondest memories of their Photo-Journalism Workshop cum Christmas Party at Koronadal’s famed The FARM.

"THE SOCCSKSARGEN BLOGGERS AT THE STEPS LEADING TO THE JAPANESE HALL OF THE FARM WHERE THE WORKSHOP CUM XMAS PARTY WAS HELD. PHOTO BY BOGS SAN JUAN."

GENSAN NEWS ONLINE MAG'S THREE AWARDS AT THE PHILIPPINE BLOG AWARDS MADE THE YEAR 2009 MOST MEMORABLE FOR BARILES.

Finally, Bariles is back after a hiatus of over a week caused not so much by the holiday “lazy virus”  but by a “writer’s block” so powerful that it knocked out all his resolve to go back to writing, after living and eating like a boar during the long Christmas break.

Anyway, all that is past now and so with your indulgence, dear readers and subscribers, here is Bariles’ first blog post for the Year of the Metal Tiger, 2010,

For this article, Bariles reviews the year gone by, starting with this item, on the most read articles for 2009.

I.     GENSAN NEWS ONLINE’s TOP 10 POSTS for 2009:

1. More Funny Pictures of Manny Pacquiao -     8,517 pageviews
2. Dionisia Pacquiao and Presidentiables’ Funny Pictures -     4,716 pageviews
3. More and more Pacquiao Funny Pictures by Popular Request -     4,231 pageviews
4. Jinkee Paquiao’s Fashion World -    3,861 pageviews
5. Happy 60th Birthday, Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao -     3.727 pageviews
6. Pinoy Big Brother Double Up Housemate is from GenSan -     3.476 pageviews
7. An Invite to Manny Pacquiao’s Daughter Queenie’s Baptismal Party -     3,398 pageviews
8. Dolores Tropicana Resort’s 10th Bikini Open, A Visual Delight -     2,958 pageviews
9. Manny Pacquiao fetes Dionisia in Grand Debut Party -     2,870 pageviews
10. Hong Kong Columnist calls Philippines a Nation of Servants -     2,715 pageviews

The Top 10 posts which received the most number of readers were mostly about Manny Pacquiao and his Family, including wife Jinkee, Second Daughter Queen Elizabeth and mother Dionisia.  This just goes to show how even more popular GenSan’s former resident has become for the past year and with fame, he and his loved ones have become favorite subjects of cartoonists, caricaturists, photoshop artists and anime artists.  And as a sort of tribute to them, this blog gathered most that it can find out there in the Internet.

Bariles has also noted that readers would like to peek into Pacquiao’s family’s parties and grand celebrations in General Santos City.  This is the reason why his blog posts on the birthdays of the Champ, daughter Queenie and mother Dionisia also got a lot of pageviews.  Bariles is very fortunate to have been invited to these events and was able to relate first-hand the star-studded ongoings during those fabulous gatherings.

II.  YEAR OF AWARDS.

2009 turned out to be a Year of Achievement for this 2-year old blog about GenSan  with its three awards from the Philippine Blog Awards for Mindanao, held during the 3rd Mindanao Bloggers Summit in Cagayan de Oro in October 2009.

These are the Chikka Reader’s Choice Awards for Mindanao (chosen by text voting); one of the 10 Globe Tattoo Digital Tribe Awardees; and, the Best Destination Blog for Mindanao.

One award was actually enough for Bariles to keep him going with his advocacy to promote GenSan but having been given three awards unexpectedly has made this a lifelong commitment… wherever this may take him.

III.  YEAR OF THE BLOG CONTESTS

For 2009, we conducted a total of 8 blog contests, with restaurateur Mr. Michael Wee as perennial partner in most of them.  Mr. Wee represents the new breed of entrepreneur in GenSan, young ,very dynamic and in tune with the times where Internet presence is now a necessity for business sucess.

1. Vote For Your Best Photo in the TAHANAN NI MARIA PHOTO CONTEST QUALIFIERS
2. David Pomeranz in Concert Blog Contest
3. Pooh-K “Laugh Out Loud” Concert Blog Contest
4. Side A Band All-Hits-Live SEO Contest
5. “What Air Supply Song Are You?” Blog Contest
6. The 2nd Blogoversary Ultimate Greeting Contest
7. PBA Coca-Cola Tigers vs. Talk n Text Tropang Texters Game Contest
8. The Next One – Sarah G. Concert in Gensan Blog Contest

GenSan News Online gathered about 250 entries to all these contests and the winners were given their very own row of choice VIP seats during the concerts.  For 2010, Bariles will again conduct contests and promises to make them more exciting and with more prizes.

IV.   THE YEAR OF EYEBALLS, PLURK FIESTAS AND SCHWAGS:

The Soccsksargen Bloggers Group which Bariles helped organize with partners Hecky Minoza, Bro. Vince Celeste FMS, Ariel Lalisan, Job Oberio and Mark Aethen Agana in 2008 have gone a long way since the time they first eyeballed at Coffee Club 1o1.

Now boasting of more than 160 members from all over the globe (from 83 in January 2009), 40% of which are the more active ones based in GenSan, the bloggers have been busy in a good number of gatherings, together with Davao Bloggers (Blogie Robillo, Lyle Santos, Brendel Balaga, Jim Haw, Angel Abella, Chattee) as immortalized in the following blog posts:

• Plurk Fiesta at Generals Brew
• GenSan Bloggers at St. Elizabeth Hospital’s New Modern Wing
• Bloggers Plurk Fiesta at Ranchero Grill
• Plurk Feista at Orange Bistro
• Taaz Bar Welcomes the Bloggers
• Rediscovering Giacomino’s Pizza
• Rediscovering Olaer Springs Resort
• Soccsksargen Bloggers Grand Eyeball at Robinsons Place (by Hector Minoza)
  
• Photo-Journalism Workshop for Bloggers and Christmas Eyeball
  
• GenSan Google Mapping Party
  

V.  THE YEAR BARILES GOT EXPOSED:

Two publications took notice of Bariles and this blog and exposed him to its thousands of readers.  We have not even included the few times that ABS-CBN Socsksargen featured him in their news reports.

• Cebu Pacific’s Smile Magazine
• M Magazine

V. THE YEAR OF FACEBOOK:

• GenSan News Online Mag built its own Fan Page last year on Facebook.  To date, it has over 1,500 fans, mostly generals, some of which are now based abroad.  To check it out, log on to:  www.facebook.com/gensannews .

VII.  THE YEAR OF RECORD-BREAKING PAGEVIEWS:

For 2009, General Santos Online Mag received almost 400,000 Pageviews, according to the blog’s Google Analytics.

Next year, we are aiming for at least HALF A MILLION.

VIII.  THE YEAR TO BE MOST THANKFUL FOR.

The year 2009 came and went by so fast and despite some issues on personal health and work, everything went better than what Bariles expected.  Shout-outs of gratitude are therefore given to the following for making our 2nd year of existence more meaningful and eventful.

• Bro, the Great Editor-in-Chief.
• Orman, Bariles’ #1 Fan and Critic who has now become a well-loved blogger himself — www.gandaeversomuch.com/.
• The Planetman who has been Bariles’ formidable companion throughout all his blog sorties, acting as photographer, listener and wake-upper when sleep takes over at the middle of an occasion.
• GenSan News Online Mag’s 500++ subscribers.
• Bariles’ mailing list consisting of uncomplaining friends worldwide who receive his updates everytime there is a new blog post.
• Generous readers of GenSan News Online Mag who have touched Bariles so much with their personal gifts (George, Eve, Marilou, Ate Guy aka Mimi, Bobby, Lelen, Bambi, Ging and Roi, Ate Sen, Kimberly, Peng, Sir Ernie, Malou and Tito, Cecille D, Kuya Ely, and others whose names will be added here later once Bariles remembers them).
• GenSan News Online Mag’s Contest Sponsors.
• GenSan News Online Mag’s Sponsors for two years in the running:
  • East Asia Royale Hotel
  • RD Hotels and Resorts
  • GenSan City Mayor’s Office
  • Amie Zonio of My Fairways and Bunkers
• Bariles’ close-knit blogger friends who have been his constant companions for the most part of 2009, sharing his triumphs and joys and giving him the much needed wind to spread his wings and fly even higher (flying fish huh?).  You know who you are.
• And of course to YOU, dear reader for always finding the time to visit this blog, leaving a note or two and telling other people about it.  Thank you very much, Magandang GenSan and  Happy New Year!