Posted by bariles On February - 25 - 20107 COMMENTS
GenSan News Online Mag is inviting all its readers to tune in for the LIVE STREAMING of the SEARCH FOR THE QUEEN OF MINDANAO FESTIVALS, an official event of the ongoing Kalilangan Festival 2010, which is unfurling at the atrium of the Robinsons Place – General Santos City.
The date: Friday, February 26, 2010.
The time: 3:00pm, Philippine time (GMT +8).
This historical milestone, the LIVE STREAMING of the Queen of Mindanao Festivals 2010, in the two-year old life of this blog is made possible through the technical assistance of Blogger Lyle Santos and with the encouragement of Bloggers Dulce Rose Lada, Chattee Lara, Ria Jose, Brendel Balaga and Angel Abella.
Providing the WI-FI connection is Donna Mae Congson‘s Piyesta KTV Resto Bar and Envy Me Salon, both at Robinsons.
Posted by bariles On February - 25 - 20103 COMMENTS
In celebration of the 71st Founding Anniversary of General Santos City and the Kalilangan Festival 2010, KCC Mall of GenSan is bringing the famous band SUGARFREE to mount a concert here!
The Sugarfree Concert will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2010 starting from 8pm at the KCC Convention and Events Center. This is right after the Grand Fireworks at the the Ceremonial Closing of the Kalilangan Festival at the Oval Plaza.
How to get a FREE TICKET to the concert?
As their poster says, “For every P300 single purchase at the KCC Department Store, you can get a ticket. There is however, a maximum of 5 tickets per receipt. THESE TICKETS ARE NOT FOR SALE.
For inquiries, you may call KCC Mall of GenSan at their Trunk Line 554-5555.
Posted by bariles On February - 24 - 20105 COMMENTS
The Kalilangan 2010 Festival is now on high gear as the city’s multi-awarded dance- theater ensemble,Teatro Ambahanon opens its newest offering to the public today, Wednesday, February 24, 2010 after a highly-succesful private dinner show last night.
A Philippines Festival Arts Presentation, in celebration of NCAA’s National Arts Month, TECLA, is an original full-length contemporary ballet from Ramon Magsaysay Memorial College’s resident performing arts group.
For the very affordable prize of P50, you may choose to watch either the 2:00pm or 6:00pm performances of Teatro Ambahanon’s TECLA at the air-conditioned KCC Convention and Activity Center, 3rd Floor, KCC Mall of GenSan.
Wow! That’s even cheaper than watching a movie! And besides, you will be amazed at how far our very own and home-based dance artists of Teatro Ambahanon nurtured by the likes of RMMC Resident Director Bing Carino and CEMCDO’s Egai Cadiente have gone and why they deserve all those accolades from various award-winning bodies!
Halina’t mag-Kalilangan!!! Panoorin ang talentong-GenSan!
Posted by bariles On February - 23 - 20104 COMMENTS
Friday, February 26, 2010 is a Muslim Holiday, in observance of Maulidin Nabi or birthday of Proplet Mohammad (Peace be upon him), corresponding to the 12th day of Rab’ ul Awwal, 1430 Hijra.
This, according to Memorandum No. OMMA2010-FEB-IGST-0020 to the City Government Employees of General Santos City, signed by Mayor Pedro B. Acharon, Jr.
The letter states that “Per Presidential Decree No. 1083 and Section 4 of the Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 81-1277, in Regions 9 and 12, offices and agencies of the national and local government are closed, therefore, Muslims and non-Muslims are all excused from work.”
The Memo is dated February 19, 2010 and was released after a letter from the Office Of Muslim Affairs Field Director Guialil R. Kanda informing the Mayor of the holiday.
This then gives everyone an excuse to go out and party on Friday, February 26 which incidentally is the eve of the Kalilangan 2010 Festival.
Posted by bariles On February - 23 - 20102 COMMENTS
One of last Valentine’s Day‘s most patronized GenSan restaurants featured here is Red Trellis Seafood Garden.
According to owner George and Joni Sandoval, their Valentines Seafood Buffet attracted a lot of hungry customers who filled every nook and cranny of their garden restaurant that due to public demand, they are offering another one during this Kalilangan 2010 Weekend.
This time, it’s the Kalilangan Seafood Buffet!!!
At P350 per head, you may again partake of all the seafood you can eat- crabs, prawns, squid, tuna, bangus, tilapia, name it! The fee comes with drinks, too.
For reservations, please call this famous GenSan restaurant at (083) 302-2722 or 0922-9914131.
So what are you waiting for, reserve your tables now because for sure Red Trellis Seafood Garden will be jampacked with diners again! You do not want to be late, do you?
Halina’t mag-Kalilangan! Tayo na’t mag-Kainan sa Red Trellis ng GenSan!!!!
Posted by bariles On February - 20 - 20101 COMMENT
Give it to hotelier Romeo “Rombar” Bartolome for putting GenSan in the map as the country’s “FOAM PARTY CAPITAL”!!!
For the past Tuna and Kalilangan Festivals plus the holidays in between, East Asia Royale Hotel‘s top honcho has been giving us spectacular and fun-driven foam parties never ever seen in other cities elsewhere in the region. If the street parties are the gauge to the vibrancy of a city’s night life, then GenSan should be the newest most “happening” city this side of Mindanao!
For Kalilangan Festival 2010, Rombar has prepared two nights of heavy foam-partying, complete with a Manila-based band again. This time, it is the turn of TRUE FAITH Band to turn the heat up and lead the merry-making for the generals on Kalilangan night!
On Thursday, February 26, 2010, the first night of the Kalilangan 2010 Foam Party at the East Asia Royale Hotel Car Lot, D’ Base Band of Davao City and GenSan’s Toolbox Band will be the entertainers.
On Friday, February 27, 2010, its the turn of TRUE FAITH Band and Birdseye Band to keep people from leaving the dance floor below them.
By the way, tickets to the Kalilangan 2010 Foam Parties are available at the East Asia Royale Hotel and the Giacomino’s Pizza oulets. They cost only P100.
Happy Kalilangan Foam-Partying guys!! Get soaked and have fun!!!
Posted by bariles On February - 20 - 20109 COMMENTS
Last week’s State of the City Address (SOCA) is the 9th and the last delivery of the Honorable PEDRO B. ACHARON, JR. as City Mayor of General Santos City.
The SOCA was delivered at the SP Session Hall of the New Legislative Building. Two days prior to that, at the inauguration of the new building, he remarked that the state of the city for the Year of Legacy will occur at the building which is testament to the stability of the local government of General Santos City.
Here is a short synopsis of the State of the City Address (SOCA) of the Mayor for GenSan. Thanks to Millette Kaindoy, Goddess of Milk Maidens.
RE-ENGINEERING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT
The SOCA first reported on the efforts of re-engineering the local government organization that made its personnel customer focused through the Total Quality Service of the Organizational Development Program.
The result of the redesigning has reaped tremendous positive gains for the city quantified according to the City Development Strategies of Good Governance, Competitiveness, Bankability and Livability.
INVESTMENTS SOARED
The city has become more competitive as manifested in the number of new investments registered, tourist arrivals, employment generated, money in circulation, infrastructure development, agricultural sustainability and food security.
Total amount of investments for 2009 soared high with new businesses registering 1.397 Billion pesos capitalization. Weighing high on the investment scale is the wholesale and retail trade, which registered 577 new firms.
Hotel and restaurant industry came by leaps and bounds with 83% growth from last year’s 73 to 143 new firms this year. Community, social and personal services listed 261 new businesses. Total number of new businesses for 2009 is 1,259 indicating a 126% accomplishment vis-à-vis the 1,000 yearly target.
These new business registrants paid a total amount of 3.121 Million for taxes and fees and generated employment of about 3, 765 jobs.
Tourism investments posted more than 100% increase compared to 2008. Based on approved capitalization, new investments of 615 tourism-related establishments registered 274 Million pesos as compared to 137 Million pesos of 2008. These investments generated 1,084 jobs for the generals.
MORE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED
Most noted among its various achievements for 2009 are infrastructure project implementation by the government and the private sectors.
68 projects were implemented with a total contract cost of 240 million pesos of which 56 projects were completed. Most of the projects fall under Buildings and Other Structures, which account for about 52% of the total number of projects and 46% of the total contract costs.
Roads and Bridges represent about 35% of the total number of projects but 41% of the total project costs. By the year-end, an aggregate of 3.1 kilometers of roads were concrete-paved, 1 bridge was completed, 6.6 kilometers of farm-to-market road were improved and opened, a total of 1.4 lineal meters of sidewalk were constructed, 2 intersections were improved and traffic signal systems were installed.
Lastly, comprising the remaining 13% in the number of projects and in project costs are the construction of gabion dikes at Barangays Fatima, Mabuhay and San Jose amounting to 24.56 million pesos under our disaster preparedness and prevention projects charged to calamity fund.
BOOST IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR
Increased certified palay seed producers from 8 in 2008 to 17 in 2009 or an increase of 210%, thus ensuring continuous supply of certified seeds for our local rice producers. Area of seed production likewise increased 137% from 16 hectares in 2008 to 22.00 hectares in 2009. Average yield per hectare increased by 124% from 6.30 metric tons per hectare in 2008 to 7.82 metric tons per hectare in 2009.
Under the animal health and disease control program, there were 32,395 vaccinations undertaken, 15,401 animals treated against different animal diseases, 33,051 given Vitamin Supplementation, 16,026 animals dewormed.
STATE OF EDUCATION STRENTHTENED
The city becomes increasingly livable as more Generals and their families enjoy a healthier and safer environment. More Generals have access to health and medical services, more are able to send their children to school, more are able to live decently in homes within a secure community.
There was a 100% participation rate in our public early childhood education program. Participation rates for public elementary and secondary levels are at 93% and 80% respectively.
Two new schools were opened, Dadiangas North High School that decongested Ireneo National High School, and Samboang-Ngilay High School at Barangay Batomelong. These were made possible through our local Special Education Fund and through the generosity of the Honorable Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
HEALTH MAINTENANCE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND KIDS
6,749 pregnant women have been provided with pre-natal care at our public health facilities. According to the 2007 NSO census, there are 65,506 children who are five years old and below; among these 58,774 or 90% of this age group are well nourished. Of the 507 TB smear positive detected among the Generals, 411 have already been cured; thus reducing tuberculosis mortality rate in the city.
DISASTER PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS AND CRIME PREVENTION
All of our 26 barangays have disaster prevention and disaster preparedness plans. THE PNP reported that of the 126 Index crimes committed, 117 have been solved, and of the 124 non-index crimes that occurred, 121 have been solved, giving a 93% and 98% crime solution efficiency, respectively. This makes General Santos City a very livable city.
BILLIONAIRES CLUB
The city is in a healthy financial condition. It is bankable. Local revenue collection is at its highest which says much about the trustworthiness of the local government. Thus, people are more willing to pay taxes and fees.
Year 2009 was when General Santos City hit the billion level in its revenue collection, a total of 1.238 billion pesos. The first time in the history of the Local government unit, which include the share for the special education fund of 69.1 million pesos and 30.6 million pesos for the baragnay.
The net revenue of 1.138 billion pesos is 24.93% over our estimate, the highest ever.
The aggregate expenditure (2001-2009) was 6.259 billion pesos, of which:
36.89% or 2.309 billion pesos was used for general public services,
32% or 2.003 billion pesos for economic services, particularly on infrastructures;
23.52% or 1.472 for social services that include health and education programs;
Finally 7.58% or half a billion pesos were used as statutory accounts such as calamity fund and interest payments.
According to the latest report from the City Bankers Association of General Santos (cbags), total money in circulation in 2007 reached 14.1 billion pesos and it increased to 16.9 billion pesos in 2008. This is the combined total of peso and dollar deposits in the 45 banks operating in General Santos City.
In 2002, volume of deposit was only around 7 billion pesos. we have doubled the volume of money in circulation in the city within 6-year’s time.
CLEARER PERSPECTIVE
In conclusion, there was also a short reiteration of the accomplishment highlights of the entire nine-year term GenSan Mayor Acharon. This hindsight provides a clearer perspective in the continuity of programs and projects and its significance in the future development of General Santos City.
For the whole copy of the Mayor’s State of the City Address (SOCA) for 2010, scroll down…
Posted by bariles On February - 18 - 201010 COMMENTS
In retaliation to Robinsons Place GenSan‘s month-long promotion for their Movieworld, “Barkada Treat” which gives away a FREE EXTRA MOVIE PASS for every 3 movie tickets purchased, KCC Mall of GenSan has also come up with theirs.
This puts KCC Mall of GenSan at par with Robinsons GenSan’s Movieworld‘s Valentine Month’s gimmick.
Now if they could only do something about their steep steps inside the moviehouses and their defective guide lights on the floors plus their opposition to allow food bought outside to be brought inside, then that would mean that they really put the customer’s comfort, convenience and safety first and foremost on their minds.
Bariles hopes that this promotion won’t stop in February 29, 2010 for both KCC and Robinsons but will be a regular thing from that time on.
Posted by bariles On February - 17 - 20109 COMMENTS
For the interest of our South Central Mindanao OR SOCCSKSARGEN readers who have yet to make up their minds on whom to vote among their local candidates, we are releasing to you their names.
Thanks toBlogger Lyle Santos for the help in embedding the list of 2010 Soccsksargen Local Candidates here.
First table below is the list of South Cotabato’s local candidates, including General Santos City‘s at page 4 and that of Koronadal‘s.
Below are the Provincial and Congressional Candidates of Soccsksargen (1st & 2nd Districts of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani).
Remember to start writing down your preferences from this list of 2010 Soccsksargen Local Candidates, which includes the GenSan local candidates, in a paper so you do not have to cram during the day of elections. Vote for the local 2010 candidates who have done much positive impact in your community, whether it’s in South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sarangani, Koronadal, Kidapawan, Cotabato or General Santos City.
Now if you want to find out who Bariles is voting for in General Santos City, all he could say is, “Your guess is as good as mine’”.
Posted by bariles On February - 15 - 201012 COMMENTS
It’s all systems go for the conduct of the 2010 Kalilangan Festival in General Santos City!
A cultural festival which commemorates the Tuna Capital’s Foundation Anniversary on the last week of February, this year’s celebration has adapted the battlecry, “Honoring the Past, Understanding the Present and Embracing the Future“.
For this year, the GSC Chamber of Commerce and Industry which has been appointed by City Mayor Pedro B. Acharon, Jr. as the lead agency to oversee the Kalilangan Festival has prepared a compact but more fun-filled schedule of events. This includes not only regular crowd-drawers like the Kadsagayan Street Dancing Competition, the Lakan and Lakambini Pageant, Doble-Kara Singing Contest, Raprapan and Sayaw Barangay Competition, among others and but incorporates new events which are sure to add more pomp and oomph to the festivities.
These are the Search for the Queen of South Mindanao Festivals Pageant (February 26) and the Festivals of Mindanao Street-dancing Competition (February 27). Both events will pit the reigning queens of the festivals of Soccsksargen and the grand champions of the region’s local festival street dancing competitions respectively. The pageant addition will be held at Robinsons Place.
Another notable addition is the Kasalan sa GenSan Wedding and Tourism Fair at the Gaisano Mall which will showcase the wedding products, services, customs and tradition of South Central Mindanao and highlight their prime wedding and tourism destinations. This spectacle runs on February 26 to 28, 2010.
Again, as in the past years the GenSan Oval Plaza will serve as the main festival area, and will house the entries of the city’s 26 barangays in the Barangayan sa Kalilangan, the Fiesta Carnival, the Kandagang sa Padiyan Flea Market, Coke Happiness Zone and Food Court, the Asia Brewery Pistahan Zone; and is the Opening and Closing Ceremony’s official venue.
Bariles is a Filipino word for “Tuna”, the primary source of income of the people of General Santos City which hosts 6 of the Philippines’ 8 tuna canneries and more than 80% of its tuna processing plants.
The city boasts of the only “Tuna Festival” in the world celebrated every September 5 in commemoration of its charterhood anniversary.
Bariles is also the alias of this blog\'s author who would like nothing than to write about his beloved city by the bay and share it with his kababayans from all over.
He has worked throughout Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea. Currently, he devotes his time, beauty, and talent in the fields of Communications, Marketing and Media.
He is also the unofficial leader of the Soccsksargen Bloggers, a motley group of online writers who share a common goal to write what\'s true, good, progressive and beautiful about South Central Mindanao and her people.
Bariles is a Filipino word for “Tuna”, the primary source of income of the people of General Santos City which hosts 6 of the Philippines’ 8 tuna canneries and more than 80% of its tuna processing plants.
