GenSan News Online Mag

Thanks to the City Planning Development Office where Bariles got it from, we are giving to you, our dear readers, the GenSan Government Center Map.

GenSan Government Center Map

You may click on the + button to enlarge it and scroll from left to right and up or down to find your way around the map of the General Santos City Government Center.

Congressman Pedro “Jun” Acharon, Jr. of the First District of South Cotabato was present in all of the 45 sessions of the 15th Congress last year.

This makes him one of the 43 members or 15% of the House of Representatives who have scored a perfect 100% attendance record since regular sessions started on July 26 and adjourned on December 14, 2010.

Below is the list of the congressmen/congresswomen with a sterling attendance record at the 15th Congress:

• South Cotabato Rep. Pedro Acharon,
• Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop,
• DIWA Partylist Rep. Emmeline Aglipay,
• Isabela Rep Rodolfo Albano Jr.,
• Batangas Rep. Tomas Apacible,
• Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado ‘Dato’ Arroyo,
• Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing,
• Quezon City Rep. Jorge John Banal,
• Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga,
• Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil,
• Pasay Rep. Imelda Calixto-Rubiano,
• Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo,
• Capiz Rep. Jane Castro,
• Tarlac Rep. Enrique Cojuangco,
• Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog,
• Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza,
• Cebu Rep. Rachel del Mar,
• Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III,
• Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone,
• Zamboanga City Rep. Erico Basilio Fabian,
• Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas,
• Camarines Sur Rep. Salvio Fortuno,
• Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia,
• Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez,
• Butil Rep. Agapito Guanlao,
• Tawi-Tawi Rep. Nur Jaafar,
• Senior Citizen Rep. David Kho,
• Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman,
• Romblon Rep. Leandro Jesus Madrona,
• An Waray Rep. Neil Montejo,
• An Waray Rep. Florencio Noel,
• Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos,
• Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez,
• Bataan Rep. Herminia Roman,
• North Cotabato Rep. Jesus Sacdalan,
• Sultan Kudarat Rep. Raden Sakaluran,
• Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento,
• Western Samar Rep. Mel Sarmiento,
• Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro,
• Iloilo Rep. Neil Tupas Jr., and
• Bukidnon Rep. Jose Ma. Zubiri.

Representative Acharon, together with North Cotabato Rep Jesus Sacdalan and Sultan Kudarat Rep Raden Sakaluran are the only congressmen from Region XII (South Central Mindanao) who are members of this esteemed list.

They plus four more were the only seven representatives from Mindanao who made it.  (Refer to list above with emboldened names)

Out of the 43, seven were on their third term while Congressman Acharon is on his frist.

As a recognition for their feat, Rep Acharon and his 42 colleagues were given a Parker pen each as a token of appreciation.

Congratulations Congressman Jun!!  Continue making us proud.

The employees of the General Santos City local government unit will soon be sporting new uniforms after a long search and deliberations among the members of the committee tasked to scout for the design.

For the past six years, the workers of GenSan’s biggest public employer have been wearing a blue polo shirt for men and blue blouse and skirt for women.  In a few weeks time, it will be a totally new look for all 1,800 of them as they will be wearing a totally new color – PEACH TWILL 207, which basically looks PINK from a distance.

This is how the new uniform looks like…

For the first time, the official slogan of General Santos City, which is “Magandang GenSan” is embroidered on both the left chest of the male and female uniforms, its hues beautifully matching its new color.

So there, dear readers.  What do you think of the City Hall Employees’ new uniforms? Let me hear from you…

With the month of hearts, fast approaching, it’s also the time when various dining establishments in General Santos City start unveiling their Valentine’s Day promotions.

One of the earliest birds is the Ranchero Group of Restaurants made up of Ranchero Grill and Paseo del Sol.   For lovebirds and their families on Feburary 14, 2011, they are offering “WITH STRINGS ATTACHED: A 2011 Ranchero and Paseo del Sol Valentine Special“.

From 6:00 pm onwards and at only P395 per person, guests can choose to dine at the ranch style ambience of Ranchero or the garden setting of Paseo del Sol.  They could also opt to partake of their generously laid-out Buffet Dinner inside Paseo del Sol’s air-conditioned function hall.

Throughout the night, they will be serenaded by musical performers and their stringed instruments, so think violins, accordions, guitars….all the works  essential for a romantic evening!

As early as now, Ranchero and Paseo del Sol are accepting reservations.

You may call them at telephone #s (083) 303-1120 or 553-9298.  Tell them you got word from Bariles.

Happy Valentine’s!

Maalaala Mo Kaya, the top-rating and longest-running drama anthology on Philippine Television is coming to General Santos City!

From January 28-30, 2011, a small group representing this ABS-CBN weekly weeper will descend upon the Tuna Capital in what they call as three days of “STORY GATHERING”.

Yes, you read it right.  For three days, this group will be stationed at the Gaisano Mall of GenSan Atrium to gather stories from residents of Soccsksargen which could be worthy of being featured at Maalaala Mo Kaya.

So if you or know somebody whose life story has enough twists and turns to make it interesting or cinematic enough to share to the rest of the world, then write it down and submit the manuscripts to any of the MMK staff around during these 3 days.

You might be lucky if your sob story will be chosen and who knows, John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo, Sam Milby, Pokwang or even Piolo Pascual may be tapped to play your character?

Now that would surely be one fine episode surely not to be missed.

So what do you think?  Is your life story worthy of Maalaala Mo Kaya?

Just got an invitation to the opening of what is being touted as General Santos City’s newest hangout, Where Else Bar.

Formerly an establishment which offered online bingo games but has since closed down late last year, the new Where Else Bar has been transformed by its new owners into a happenings place.  As such, it will offer performances from acoustic singers, on weekdays and stand-up comedians and videoke singing with comic sing-along masters much like the ones in Manila like The Library, Zirkoh, Klownz, Laffline, among others, during weekends.

Here is their weekly line-up:

Monday -  Bar Music
Tuesday – Search for Comedians Competition
Wednesday – Acoustic Music/Performers
Thursday – Videoke with Sing-along Masters
Friday – Acoustic Music/Performers
Saturday – Stand-up Comedians from GenSan and Davao

Cover charge is P100 per person.

This new incarnation of Where Else Bar will be unveiled on January 28, 2011 at 8pm.  Located at the 2nd floor of the Building A of East Asia Royale Hotel Arcade, this one promises to be another fab and fave hangout of GenSan’s fickle-minded night owls and partyphiles!

But with its novelty, and hopefully a good mix of talented performers, Where Else Bar will undoubtedly soon develop into one of South Central Mindanao‘s must-visit landmarks!

See you there on the 28th!

To give respite to their harried daily grind, the commuters of GenSan were treated to a show of awesome dance moves combined with traffic management skills by 14 of the city’s traffic enforcers, more popularly known as the Orange Boys at the city’s major highway junctions.

After a short but impressive performance during the launch of the Dancing Traffic Enforcers Project of the City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio during the Flag-raising ceremony of the City Hall employees, the first batch of “dancers” were dispatched to their respective assignments mostly at the city’s highway crossings where they started showing off their newly-acquired terpsichorean skills beginning at 4pm today.

The “Dancing Traffic Enforcers Project” was undertaken under the tutelage of Assistant City Administrator Glennville Gonzalez who requested for 12 MP3 Players for his men and had them trained to dance to the tune of “Billy Jean”, combining it with their traffic hand signals.

And so everyday, from Monday to Sunday, this first batch of 14 traffic enforcers will be seen in the following junctions:  RD Plaza Junction, Pendatun-Highway, Roxas-Highway, Leon Llido-Highway, Gaisano Entrance-Highway, Bula-Lagao Road-Highway (near Robinsons).

Here is a video taken this afternoon and uploaded to VIMEO by Alexis Chua.

Maitum, Sarangani once again toasts its One Town, One Product – the marinated flying fish or bangsi – with the 4th Bangsi Festival on January 27 and 28. The celebration also honors the fisher-folk who capture the bangsi for livelihood.

Around a thousand households depend on the bangsi industry, with average annual catch of more or less 600 tons.

A resolution passed by the Sangguniang Bayan created the festival, citing marinated flying fish or bulad as “highly significant to the municipality because it is one of the top producers of marinated flying fish and other fish by-products within SOCSARGEN area.”

The festival would give “more meaning to its One Town, One Product for purpose of promotion to boost the morale of its fisher-folk aiming for higher family income as well as its diverse culture, tourism, and economy.”

This year’s  festival’s theme is “Masaganang Karagatan, Yaman ng Mamamayan”.

Coastal barangays here offer high economic potential due to the abundant catch of flying fish, availability of local skills in fish processing, and unique technology on marinating fish being practiced by residents.

Majority of the fishing households has pamangsihan, a gear used in catching flying fish.

This indicates how significant flying fish catching plays in the livelihoods of the community, which is done whole year round, with peak season noted during September to May. The men are the ones involved in capture fishing while the women are in fish drying and marinating activities.

Below is the schedule of activities of Maitum’s Bangsi Festival 2011.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

BANGSI FESTIVAL 2011

26 January:  Day 0

Discover Maitum Safari

27 January:  Day 1

4:00am – 11:00 am – Hudyat ng Pagdiriwang
Jogfest
Hataw sa Dagat
* Opening Prayer
* Thanksgiving Prayer
* Opening Remarks
* Launching of Photo Safari Contest 2011 & introduction of participants
Fluvial Parade
Sand Sculpture
Lumba Bugsay/Lumba Langoy
Nipa Shingle Making
1:00pm  -  Mun. Hall-  Opening of Nindot PAKURA
2:00pm  -  Municipal Gym -  Drum and Lyre Competition
7:00pm  -  Municipal Gym -   Munting Mutya ng Maitum

28 January: Day 3

7:00am Parade around town,  Municipal Gym - 
Bangsi Street Dancing Competition/ Aquatic Mascot Competition
11:00am  -  National Highway-
Sugba sugba sa Kadalanan
1:00pm  -  In front of Mun. Hall/Children’s Park -
Bangsi Cooking Contest/ Slowest Drag Race
Coconut “Tupa” Derby
7:00pm  -  Mun. Gym  - 
Disco Party

Thanks to Ms. Elizabeth Palma Gil for this info and for the photos.

Unlimited now has a new flavor!

For those residing in General Santos City and anywhere else in Mindanao using SUN CELLULAR either as their primary or second mobile line, here is some piece of great news!

The country’s fastest growing cellular company is pleased to introduce Sun Unlimited Mix only in Mindanao!

This one gives unlimited voice call and text messaging services for Mindanaoan subscribers for only P10 per day!

The Gokongwei-owned company has already rolled out their new “Sun Magic Zone Mindanao” SIM Cards, available for only P20 each.  This allows savings conscious subscribers such as Bariles to save as much as P20 per day while being provided with “reliable and affordable unlimited Sun-to-Sun service in the Island,” according to their press release.

“Users may also make calls and send messages to subscribers of other networks, international numbers, or Sun subscribers outside of Mindanao by loading any Sun prepaid load such as Sun’s Call and Text Unlimited and Call and Text Combo,” the company said.

Their other affordable load denominations for Sun Magic Zone Mindanao are: P15 unlimited call and text plus 10 texts to other networks valid for a day, P50 unlimited call and text valid for a week, and P200 unlimited call and text good for one month.

So what are you waiting for?

PAG-LOAD NA DONG!

GenSantos.com is pleased to announce that the honorable chief executive of General Santos City, Mayor Darlene Magnolia Antonino-Custodio now has a Facebook Fan Page.

This Facebook Fan Page of the hardworking mayor is the result of numerous requests from her supporters and admirers  who couldn’t get enough of her and wished to be informed regularly of her activities and programs through the world’s #1 social networking site.

Below is the widget of the Mayor Darlene Facebook Fan Page.  You might want to click the LIKE BUTTON to be in the loop.

Now, go out and tell your friends that the Mayor Darlene Facebook Fan Page is now up. Let’s try to hit at least 5,000 Likes by February 27, 2011, in time for the Foundation Anniversary of General Santos City.

Carry kaya natin?