GenSan News Online Mag

His Excellency President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino is the Keynote Speaker during this weekend’s 12th National Tuna Congress unfolding here in General Santos City, the Tuna Capital of the Philippines!

This we got from a draft of the program of the 12th National Tuna Congress from the Congress Secretariat.

"PRES. NOYNOY AQUINO DURING THE QUEEN OF MINDANAO PAGEANT AT ROBINSONS PLACE-GENSAN DURING THE KALILANGAN FESTIVAL IN FEB 2010."

President Noynoy will speak before the biggest annual gathering of the tuna industry leaders and stakeholders during a time when the industry faces one of the most difficult chapters in its history with the imposition of a two-year ban on fishing for tuna on a large portion of the Pacific by regulatory bodies.

For sure, everyone will be very eager  to hear his take on the congress theme, “Be Counted… Face the Challenges And make a Difference”.  A test case for the President, his response would better be good and beneficial for everyone involved in this sector.

As a follow to P-Noy’s speech,  Undersecretary Segfredo R. Serrano, of Policy Planning & Research, will discuss the topic “Plans of  the New Administration for the Fishing Industry”.  Nice!

After the formal Opening of the Congress by 12th NTC Chair Marfenio Tan, GenSan City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio will be welcoming the delegates.  She will be followed shorty by a brief introduction of the President of the Republic by Representative Jun Acharon of the First District of South Cotabato.

For the rest of the topics and personages assigned to them, check out the draft of the program to the 12th National Tuna Congress below.  Our thanks to SFFAII Executive Director Aian Fredeluces for making this available to us.

12th NTC Draft Program_14

That same evening, all roads lead to Isla Parilla Resort in Alabel, Sarangani Province where the annual KARAGATAN AWARDS and Farewell Dinner will be held.

A Tuna Congress Exhibit will also be conducted at the congress venue, the Family Country Hotel and Convention Center beginning on September 2, 2010 and until the 3rd.. Watch out for it and check out the latest equipment and most modern trends in fishing, shipping, canning and processing tuna and other marine products.

Notre Dame of Dadiangas University or NDDU is now Mindanao’s #1 Nursing School.

This we got from the latest ranking of the Top Performing Nursing Schools in the Philippines by the Professional Regulation Commission.  Their basis was the July 2010 Nursing Board Exam results.

NDDU ranked 15th nationwide with a performance rating of 88.37% among nursing schools with more than a hundred examiness.  Only 18 of their 151 students did not make it.  In fact, two of its graduates even landed among the Topnotchers.  (Read related article here.)

The 50-year old Marist-run university however topped the Mindanao region!

It bested other educational institutions like Ateneo de Zamboanga’s #28 ranking (74.09%), San Pedro College of Davao’s #41 (64.36%), Zamboanga’s Western Mindanao State University’s #56 (54.19%), Notre Dame University, Cotabato City#62 (51.59%), Iligan Medical Center College Inc.’s #75 (45.70%), Brent Hospital Zambo City Inc.’s #88 (42.62%), Misamis University-Ozamis City’s #98 (39.45%), Brokenshire College’s #112 (34.78%), University of Southern Philippines’ #113 (34.42%), and Davao Doctor’s College’s #122 (32.41%) among others.

On a nationwide scale, NDDU got a higher rank than Cebu Doctor’s University at #16, Far Eastern University at #18, Makati Univesity at #31 and Centro Escolar University at #33, among others.

Below is the complete list of the Top Performing Schools with 100 and more Examinees from the country’s #1 Nursing Blog, Pinoy R.N.

Top Performing Schools with 100 and More Examinees – www.PinoyRN.co.nr

Being a Damean himself, Bariles is very proud of his High School Alma Mater’s latest achievements and is enjoining his readers to leave congratulatory messages below!

CONGRATULATIONS NDDU for continuing to be the premier educational institution for Nursing not only in Soccsksargen but all throughout Mindanao and the Visayas!

Mabuhay ang Notre Dame of Dadiangas University!!!!

Four young generals just very recently made GenSan proud again by landing in the list of the July 2010 Nursing Board Exam Topnotchers!

They lorded it among a total of 91,008 examinees where only 37,679 made it.

Taking the #3 slot is Allyce Joana Toledo De Leon of University of Santo Tomas who garnered an average of 86.0.  Ms. De Leon finished her high school at the Gen. Santos City Hope Christian School in Barangay City Heights.

She is followed by Joy Anne Acierto Tan of Notre Dame of Dadiangas University where she graduated Cum Laude.  Ms. Tan took the #7 spot in the topnotchers list.  (Check out her tribute poster below from the NDDU website.)

"THE TWO TOPNOTCHERS IN THE JULY 2010 NURSING BOARD EXAMS WHO ARE NDDU GRADUATES"

Then at #8 is Laurence Lester Gamboa Tan of UST again.  He is also a high school graduate of GSC Hope Christian School.

The fourth general to make it to the esteemed list of the July 2010 Nursing Board Exam Topnotchers is Jan Ronald Casinto Pomuceno who took the #9 spot.  The new nurse graduated from Notre Dame of Dadiangas University likewise.  (Check his photo in the tribute poster above.)

Congratulations to these exceptional nurses and to the rest of the generals who passed the July 2010 Nursing Board Exams.  Credit should also be given to their respective schools.

For the complete list of July 2010 Nursing Board ExamTopnotchers, please check out this list below from the blog Pinoy R.N. Thanks to blog owner Lyle Santos.

July 2010 Nursing Board Exam Topnotchers – www.PinoyRN.co.nr

After years and years of waiting, subscribers of SkyCable in General Santos City whose kids are followers and fans of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, the Jonas Brothers, Mr. Bean, Lilo & Stich, Hannah Montana, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, among others and who themselves loved the Disney Classics like Bambi, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Mary Poppins, etc. are in for a surprse.

The cable channel responsible for beaming them to the world, the Disney Channel will now be available in GenSan as part of SkyCable‘s new programming!

Yes, you read it right.

Beginning on September 1, 2010, the magical cable channel, The Disney Channel will be available in GenSan, joining other stateside family-oriented channels like Nickelodeon and The Cartoon Network.

For the uninitiated, the Disney Channel offers the best of the movies and cartoons from the vault of Walt Disney Productions plus its current line-up of wholesome teen-oriented series, new animated shows, musicals, comedies, and fun movies for the whole family.  It is available in other parts of the country excluding GenSan.  (Check out the Disney Channel Asia’s TV Guide by CLICKING HERE.)

This is all due to the innovation which SkyCable GenSan has done and the inclusion of the Disney Channel comes with their basic cable TV channel line-up which it now calls SkyCable Silver.

This new monthly plan will cost subscribers P570 beginning September 1, 2010.

Aside from the addition of the Disney Channel, the SkyCable Silver Plan will also include seven (7) other new and exciting entertainment channels like SOLAR Sports, 2nd Avenue, ETC, XING KONG, Phoenix International, CCTV F and CCTV 10.

Whoa!  Now that’s what you call the ultimate in home entertainment!

Now what other cable channel would you still want to be available in GenSan?

For more info, please contact SkyCable at Door #4 Ang Su Bee Building, National Highway, General Santos City.  Their Customer Service Hotline is (083) 552-3665; 301-3134.  Fax # is (083) 552-6088.  Or you may email them at CustomerCare.Min@skycable.com.

Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) is really hell-bent on making its presence felt in GenSan even more with its recent move.

With less than a year after it formally opened its biggest mall in Mindanao, the Robinsons Place GenSan, its housing unit, Robinsons Homes purchased 29.6 hectares of property in the Tuna Capital.

The property which was owned by the Integrated Credit & Corporated Services and the Star Two Inc., which deals with the acquisition, management and disposition of land properties will be for the development of a premier housing project.

According to various press releases, the future subdivision is located along the “National Highway in Barangay Labangal, is 25 minutes away from General Santos International Airport and within two to five kilometers from Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, Mindanao State University, Elizabeth General Hospital, Robinsons Mall and Makar Wharf“, an area which honestly, Bariles couldn’t pinpoint out where exactly.

According to Ms. Joan Cosico, GM of Robinsons Homes, they believe that GenSan is a growth market as evidenced by their investment in Robinsons Mall and are encouraged by the support of the local market.

"A SAMPLE OF A HOUSING MODEL UNIT FROM ROBINSONS HOMES IN DAVAO CITY"

“We feel that we can continue to make lives better for GenSan residents by providing a well-master planned housing development with modern amenities,” she said.

GenSan is the third city in Mindanao, after Davao and Cagayan de Oro where Robinsons Land Corporation has invested heavily in the mall and property sectors.

It has Robinsons Highlands in Davao City and  Robinsons Hillsborough Pointe, Richmond Hills and Fresno Parkview in Cagayan de Oro aside from the Robinsons Malls in these areas.

Source:  Philippine Daily Inquirer and Manila Standard

Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio signed on Friday, August 13, 2010 Executive Order No. 23 declaring General Santos City as No-Firearm Zone.

The move is in response to the spate of armed violence and crime incidents involving firearms in the city since early this year which has reached an alarming level.

The E.O. cites Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991 which gives the City Mayor the power to:

“Act as the deputized representative of the National Police Commission, formulate the peace and order plan of the city and upon its approval, implement the same; and as such, exercise general and operational control and supervision over the local police forces in the city, in accordance with RA 6975,” and

“Call upon the appropriate law enforcement agencies to suppress disorder, riot, lawless violence, rebellion or sedition, or to apprehend violators of the law when public interest so requires.”

In relation to this, the E.O further states that pursuant to Philippine National Police Memorandum Circular No. 2010-008, “Rationalizing the Police on Possession, Bearing and Carrying of Firearms”, local government units are encouraged to declare their respective territorial jurisdictions as “gun-free zones”.

With this declaration, the mayor has called upon the PNP and other law enforcement agencies to fully implement Presidential Decree 1866 as amended and known as “Codifying the Laws on Illegal/Unlawful Possession, Manufacture, Dealing In, Acquisition or Disposition, of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives or Instruments Used in the Manufacture of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives, and Imposing Stiffer Penalties for Certain Violations Thereof and for Relevant Purposes,” and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations.

The E.O.  aims to address the use of loose firearms in the city and does not prejudice against civilians who possess firearms, which have proper licenses.

The E.O. takes effect until such time that the Sangguniang Panlungsod providing a more permanent solution to this problem, passes a proper ordinance.  Councilor Dante Vicente, who chairs the Peace and Order Committee is now finalizing the draft of said measure.

The GenSan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., the organization granted by the city government of General Santos to oversee the conduct of the GenSan Tuna Festival 2010 has finally released the schedule of this much-awaited annual fiesta.

A major change under the new administration of the Honorable Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio was the collective decision of the Tuna Festival Council which she chairs, to move the week-long conduct of  the major events from the first week of September to the 4th week, starting from the 18th and up until the 26th.

This is is response to the pleas of the schools who have submitted their intentions to join the Streetdance Competition (MardiGras) and the Tuna Cheerdance Competition to be given more time to prepare for their entries since the announcement to award the management of the Tuna Festival was just given late in July 2010 owing to transition blues in the city hall  after the elections.

September 5, 2010 which is the 42nd Charter Day Anniversary of General Santos City will still be commemorated in simple rites at the Plaza Heneral Santos however and will officially signal the start of what has now turned into the “Tuna Festival Month of September” which pays homage to the city’s #1 industy.

The three weekends prior to the Start of the final Tuna Fest week will be filled with warm-up events just like the “ASAP SESSIONISTAS Concert” and the like.  The city’s major malls will likewise be conducting their own crowd-drawing activities in the rundown to September 20.  So expect September to be one very busy and festive month for the generals!

Here now is the Schedule of Activities of the GenSan Tuna Festival 2010…..

Tunafest Schedule as of August 16, 2010

For more information about the Tuna Festival 2010, please contact the Gen. Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. at telephone #s (083)554-6108.

Representative Pedro B. Acharon, Jr. of the 1st Districtu of South Cotabato filed House Bill 39 seeking the regulation the proliferation of habal-habals or motorcycles-for-hire in a desire to protect both their drivers and the riding public.

Acharon who is in his first term in the Lower House named it as “Motorcycles-For-Hire Act of 2010″ which grants local government units the power to regulate these vehicles.

In an interview, the neophyte congressman said that habal-habals are prevalent in many areas in the country and in some, it is the only mode of transportation.  These however are not registered and thus, their business operations are considered illegal and are not covered by insurance, he added.

“The proliferation of motorbikes-for-hire to transport passengers or goods is detrimental to the riding public because no one can claim any insurance benefit in case of accidents, ” the congressman from General Santos City said.

“The only way is by regulating their business operations to give them the chance to register their vehicles as public transport and thus, are governed by the law on common carrier.”

Under the bill, the LGU shall receive, process and evaluate all applications for the grant of franchise to operate “motorcycles-for-hire” within their territories.

Applications which pass all the requirements shall be endorsed to the local councils for issuance of franchise and a “”for hire” license plate.

Registered Habal-habals however are not allowed to operate, except to cross, along the national highway or on any road allowing a maximum speed greater than 40 kilometers per hour. Any LGU with jurisdiction over the roads can control and designate the routes.

P5,000 shall be meted the owner who fails to register the motorcycle-for-hire as a FINE and his motorcycle impounded unless it gets registered. (Based on a  report from congress.gov.ph)

It has barely been two months since the new mayor of General Santos City, the Honorable Darlene Magnolia Antonino-Custodio took over the reins of running the city affairs from now Congressman Pedro Acharon, Jr. of the first district of South Cotabato.

During these times, the lady mayor has been holding orientation meetings with the different departments of the city hall, with the business, civic and community leaders; and, going around the city’s 26 barangays, all in a move to consolidate her new administration’s efforts to streamline and improve the way it renders service to the city’s constituents.

On the side, she had to squeeze in not a few inaugurations of new business establishments and personally meet visitors from local and foreign shores who drop by her office to make the mandatory courtesy call as well as welcome delegates and guests of the numerous regional conferences and conventions being conducted at the Tuna Capital.

These, plus a million other consultative conferences from different sectors to orient herself on the intricacies of her new role as administrator of the South Central Mindanao’s premier city.

Through it all, Mayor Custodio has remained nonplussed and unperturbed and focused on the tasks at hand.  Being a workaholic just like her parents, the former Mayor Adelbert W. Antonino and former Representative Lualhati Antonino, her diligence and fresh work ethics have rubbed off on to her staff and co-workers.

Here then are some photos chronicling her first few weeks as the 8th City Mayor of General Santos City.  Although not complete, they show us the portrait of a young hard-working official who even just at the start of her term is proving to us that we were all right in getting her elected.

"Mayor Darlene addresses the assembly of City Government employees during her first Flag Raising ceremony at the oval covered court with the "Magandang GenSan" logo behind her. She thanked them for their support and warm welcome even as she urged them to think "global" when performing their duties."

"Here, Mayor Darlene pores over her notes during her first in a series of meetings with her department heads. Also in photo is the new city treasurer Gloria Castellano. Usually a bottle of water is all she asks as nourishment during the course of a meeting, which could be one of her secrets to her svelte figure."

"CSWDO Chief Becky Magante, City Hospital OIC Dr. Jacinto Maquilang and Dr. Ben Pagarigan are all ears to the new mayor as they discuss ways to improve the City Hall sa Barangay at her first CHB sortie at Barangay Dadiangas North and make it more significant to the lives of their constituents."

"The GenSan Mayor observes how the City Health Office staff handle their clients from Barangay Dadiangas North during the City-Hall-sa-Barangay at North Elem School."

"Mayor Darlene sharing a good laugh here with Barangay Captain Rommel Pacquiao of Apopong during a meeting with barangay officials at the City-Hall-sa-Barangay at the latter's Barangay Conference Room. Their meeting tackled the pending infra projects of the barangay, among other topics."

"With ABC President Lulu Casabuena and City Councilor Meg Santos, Mayor Darlene thanks educators from Manila who flew in to assess the city's much-heralded education program."

"This time, SMART Communications' Corporate Relations Officer Haydee Bernabe, and SMART GenSan's Jonette Almonia and Pritte Mae Rulete meet the Mayor for the first time after her meeting with them together with DepEd officials. SMART provides FREE WIFI at the City Hall lobby and CMO."

"The female members of the City Hall Press Corps smile for posterity in this photo taken after Mayor Darlene's first Press Conference with them. The CMO Press Conference is held regularly twice a month, on Tuesdays. Among those in the photo are RPN's Faith Barcelona, RMN's Ina Daven, ABS-CBN's Chat Ansagay. Also in photo is former radio broadcaster and now Councilor Beth Bagonoc."

"Raising their plates containing grilled Pangasius fish are SMED Council Prexy Tess Pacheco, Lagao Brgy Captain Meynard Avila III, Calumpang Brgy Captain Cirilo Forones, Bawing Brgy Captain Jerry Jugarap, DTI 12 ARD Doris Delima & GSC Chamber's Pilar Afuang, among others together with Mayor Darlene at Yaman GenSan's Pangasius Sinugbahan Night."

"Mayor Darlene signs an MOA accepting the donation of the Federation of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the SoCot Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, of six 2-room school buildings during turn-over ceremonies at FVR Elem School, Brgy Fatima. Together with her in the photo are SCFCC Prexy Kerwin Cue, past prexy Doming Teng, school principals of the recipient schools, among others. The recipient schools are H. Bayan, FVR, S. Saway, F. Oringo Sr., Upper Tambler and Katangawan Central Elementary Schools."

"Members of XB GenSan, the dance crew which won the Grand Prize of 1 Million at ABS-CBN's talent show "It's Showtime" make a courtesy call on Mayor Darlene right after their arrival at the GenSan Airport. The Mayor encouraged them to continue their studies while honing their skills, and suggested to do it through the Home Study Program of the DepEd. As the new Ambassadors of Goodwill of General Santos City, they were challenged by the mayor to be good examples of their fellow young generals. Also in photo is Bing Carino, XB's mentor and trainer."

All these photos were taken by Bariles, by the way.

Mindanao State University is holding their International Grand MSU Alumni Reunion and Convention starting today, August 6, 2010 up until August 8, 2010.

Hosting it is MSU GenSan which is ensuring that this will turn up to be the grandest ever for MSUans who will participate from all over the world!

Bariles might pop in during one of their events since he also studied for one year as a scholar at the Marawi Campus of this prestigious bastion of academic excellence for the sons and daughters of Mindanao!

For information regarding the activities of this 2010 International Grand MSU Alumni Reunion and Convention, please contact the following MSUans:

• Ting:  0928-5453956/ 0905-5982780/ (083) 380-7185
• Joan:  0910-4098929/ (083) 380-7193

We do not have words, as generals to express how we feel about XB GenSan Dance Crew’s MAJOR WIN at the Grand Finals of ABS-CBN’s nationwide talent search! (Check out an earlier article about them by CLICKING HERE.)

For taking home the GRAND PRIZE of P1,000,000 and being afforded the rousing and unanimous roars of approval from the thousands of witnesses at the stadium who gave them perfect scores while chanting the word, “GENSAN” over and over again, we could only cry with the boys from Barangay Bula for making us proud.

“Nakakakilabot kayo!”, as what a host Vhong Navarro said.  Very apt. We couldn’t find a better word.

Now watch the video below and relieve the moment when a group of young dancers from the Tuna Capital, who call themselves “XB GenSan” and who lost the first time but came back for revenge, made us weep in amazement and exhiliration and pride.

Thanks to ABS-CBN for the video.

Mabuhay ang XB GenSan!! Mabuhay ang mga kabataang generals!

SM Prime Holdings, Inc., the country’s largest mall operator, is finally pushing through with the ground breaking of its much-vaunted and much speculated multi-million peso investment in General Santos City -  their first mall in South Central Mindanao by the third or fourth quarter of 2010.

To be called SM City GenSan, the mall according to Bariles’ reliable source, is purported to fill up all of 90,000 square meters of a three-story structure inside the 6-hectare property of the Salazar Family straddling the corner of Santiago Boulevard and San Miguel Street, which they have leased for 50 years. Please note that SM City Davao covers only 50,000 square meters of floor space.

See the GenSan MAP of the location by clicking here.

It is scheduled to open after eleven months of construction, in August-Seprember 2011.

Last week, the Human Resource Manager of SM City Davao, Ms. Rosemarie Beltran and three other managers paid a courtesy call on new GenSan Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio.  They discussed with her and City Administrator Atty. Jong Gonzales their company’s intention to seek for tax incentives for their upcoming investment in the city.

According to Mayor Custodio, the tax breaks or incentives would be granted in exchange for the mall’s assurance that 80% of their job vacancies would go to the city’s residents, among other things.

For their part, the SM City Davao people will be conducting a JOBS FAIR for their GenSan Mall sometime in October 2010, in coordination with the PESO (Public Employent Services Office).  This is on top of the regular job vacancy announcements they have been running for job seekers all over the Internet.

By the end of this month of July, it will be the turn of another group of SM managers, this time from Manila to visit Mayor Darlene Custodio.  Where that meeting will again lead to, we could only speculate of wonderful things for the future of General Santos City.

What do you think, dear readers?  Are you ready for SM City GenSan?

If you noticed very recently, the pesky brownouts are back!

In a television interview, SOCOTECO GM Rudy Ocat said that these were unannounced power interruptions from Transco, hence they had no or little time to inform their consumers.

Here is their Power Advisory.

NGCP MAINTENANCE TO EFFECT LOAD CURTAILMENT

ON SOCOTECO II FRANCHISE AREA

JULY 12-17, 2010

(2-2.5HRS,daily)

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) notified SOCOTECO II last Thursday, July 8, 2010, that repair of its 50 MVA power transformer due to oil leaks, will cause rotational brown-out on July 12-17, 2010.

The one-time rotational brown-out will range from two (2) to two and half (2.5) hours, daily. All SOCOTECO II feeders will experience this load curtailment, starting July12, Monday and will end on July 17, Saturday.

Meanwhile, a 15-minute outage will be felt by all areas covered by SOCOTECO II SARI, Glan, Ligaya, Main Office and Leon Llido substations on the switching operation on July 12                        (8-8:15AM) and July 17 (4:45-5PM).

SOCOTECO II has to implement this load curtailment notice to ensure protection of NGCP’s transmission system which supplies power to all SOCOTECO II customers.

For inquiries on this matter, please call 553-5848 to 50 or text 09177205365.

Thank you for bearing with us.

Approved for release:

(Sgd)GERONIMO C. DESESTO

Manager, Institutional Services Department

July 9, 2010

553-5848 local 133

____________________________________________________________________________________

Copy Furnished to:

Mayor’s Office (GSC, Polomolok, Tupi, Alabel, Malapatan, Glan, Malungon, Kiamba, Maasim, Maitum)

Governor’s Office (Sarangani, South Cotabato)

All SOCOTECO II sub-offices

ABS-CBN

Skycable

Radio stations (Bombo Radyo, RMN, Brigada, Campus, Wild FM, Home Radio)

Now, here is the new schedule for the period July 14-17, 2010.

July 14-17

Feeders as of Feb 2010

Please be guided accordingly dear readers.

The newly elected officials of General Santos City were sworn into office in a touching ceremony which had some of the guests in a jampacked PBA Sports Center teary-eyed.

The program started late since the earlier rains made the organizers transfer the original venue from the Plaza Heneral Santos to the oval covered court.  It was almost 7pm when everything began.

After a soulful rendition of the Lord’s Prayer by three former “GenSan Pop Idol” winners and the National Anthem by the GSC Government Employees Choir to start everything, the elected cityofficials were called singly by the two hosts, Atty. Elvie Albano and RMMC Dean Joana Banting-Lapore to ascend the stage.

The officials then had to walk from the main entrance of the covered court up to the stage and pass through the center aisle flanked by numerous seated guests, a good mix of generals from the private and public sector, most in their finery.

When it was time for the new mayor, Darlene Antonino-Custodio, resplendent in her sister Eliza’s ecru Oskar Peralta gown, to ascend the stage, the audience rose from their seats and cheered her on while walking across the aisle.  A mini-pandemonium ensued with people reaching out to her.

Upon reaching the front row where they were seated, Mayor Darlene then kissed her parents, the former mayor Adelbert Antonino and the former representative Lualhati Antonino.

Representative Pedro B. Acharon, Jr. was the last to traverse what was supposedly a short distance but it took him a while to do it.  Almost everyone who were seated at the courtyard rushed to the middle aisle also to shake the former mayor’s hand hand to congratulate him.  There were so many that he could only execute “high fives” with the rest.  He finally reached center stage after more than five minutes with a few people near him noticing that he was teary-eyed.

With everyone accounted for, Judge Oscar Noel then administered the oath of office of the 12 city councilors and Vice Mayor Shirlyn Banas.

"COUNCILORS BAGONOC, ATENDIDO, LEYSON, LLIDO, OCO, DE CLARO TAKE THEIR OATHS OF OFFICE"

"VICE MAYOR SHIRLYN BANAS IN BLUE EMI ENGLIS TAKES HER OATH OF OFFICE BEFORE JUDGE OSCAR NOEL."

"COUNCILORS SANTOS, LAGARE, VICENTE, NATIVIDAD, DINOPOL & RIVERA TAKE THEIR OATH OF OFFICE"

Then it was Mayor Custodio’s turn to be sworn into office with her parents and husband businessman Benjie Custodio.

Finally, the new Congressman Pedro B. Acharon, Jr. was joined on stage by wife Dr. Rose, brother Yolando and children PJ, Honey and Pedro III.

Mayor Custodio then delivered her inaugural address, which focused on her administration’s agenda, based on the SHEEP Program.  She also revealed that together with Congressman Acharon, she will push for the establishment of the GenSan Economic Zone.

The inaugural rites ended on a high note with small kids representing the youth of the city handing out tokens which are representations of the different committees that they will be heading.

Note:  Thanks for Gandaeversomuch for some of the pictures.  Check out his blog’s first birthday contests.

Good news for all those seeking available GenSan jobs!  

Silver Finance Incorporated (formerly Silver Lending and Investor, Inc.), one of the leading lending companies in the Philippines is soon to set shop in General Santos City!  And before that happens, they are on a hiring mood!

Silver Finance Inc.  with main offices at 181 Bonny Serrano Road, Murphy, Cubao, Quezon City was incorporated and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 27, 1986, initially as a lending investor.

Less than twenty years later, in July 26, 2004, Silver Finance was granted by SEC to operate as a Financing Company.  

Currently, Silver Finance Inc. has twelve (12) branches scattered all throughout the country.  It has recently identified Panganiban Drive in Naga City as its next branch location, prior to the establishment of its GenSan Branch.

And for their GenSan office, Silver Finance is announcing the following job vacancies:

• Branch Heads

- Male or Female

- Age not more than 35 year old

- Graduate of Management or Marketing

- With experience in handling & recruiting sales teams (Agents)

- Local resident

- With excellent interpersonal skills

- Computer literate

• Credit Assistants

- Male or Female

- Graduate of any four year course

- Age not more than 35 year old

- Fast learner and can handle daily transactions

- Computer literate

- With good communication skills

If you know of somebody whom you think could fill in these GenSan Job vacancies for this top-ranked lending company, please inform them to submit their application letters and resumes with their latest colored photographs (jpeg file) by emailing them to slvrfinance@gmail.com.

But what’s most important is to indicate in your email that you managed to find out about these job vacancies through GenSan News Online Mag.  

Now that La Nina is upon us and that summer is officially over, SOCOTECO has again come up with a Power Curtailment Adjustment meant to make everyone (their consumers, at the very least) happy.

Effective June 14, 2010 to June 27, 2010, the area of coverage of the whole of SOCOTECO II will experience ONLY 2.5 hours brownouts ONCE A DAY!!!

Below is their letter containing SOCOTECO II’s New Brownout Schedule:

june14-27

Now, if they could only do something about the VERY PROHIBITIVE POWER RATES which has increased our household’s power consumption bill from P3,000 monthly on the average to P6,000 last April and now up to P9,000 this month!

STILL A TWO THUMBS DOWN FOR SOCOTECO II AND COHORTS

Because of this, BARILES is still giving them and their cohorts at NGCP two THUMBS DOWN rating.

How about you?  Tell us your POWER CONSUMPTION BILL HORROR STORIES below….. NOW NA!

Note: Thanks to clipart.com for the smiley.

Although the French, Japanese and Canadian governments have not totally lifted the whole of Mindanao in the list of areas to avoid by its citizens, they have already excluded the tourism and financial hubs of the island, according to a report filed by Sunstar Daily.

This means that cities like General Santos, Cagayan de Oro and Davao are now excluded in their travel advisiories.

For instance, France in its latest advisory urges its nationals to avoid the “western half” of Mindanao, including Zamboanga Peninsula up to the Sulu Archipelago, then down to the provinces of Lanao, Misamis, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindano, even Sarangani, with the exception of General Santos City.

According to Sunstar, “The travel advisory has been primarily premised on the areas of activity of the armed terror group, Abu Sayyaf.”

The Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, for its part advises “against all travel the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which includes Basilan, Sulu, Tawi Tawi, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Sharif Kabunsuan, as well as the Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga del Sur, Saragani, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Sur (excluding urban areas of Davao City), South Cotabato, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat“.

These welcome developments would hopefully encourage more investments to come into these cities which in turn,  could also help the rest of the countryside in the long run.  We have to give credit to the improving peace and order climate in these urban centers and in their burgeoning trade and commerce.

And of course, we in GenSan News Online Mag have always believed that the more favorable news from these areas, courtesy of their vibrant blogging communities (Soccsksargen Bloggers, Davao Bloggers, CDO Bloggers) have also been instrumental in changing how foreign governments’ perceive them.

From a report at Australian Food News, GenSan News Online Mag learned that local tuna processor and canning firm Alliance Tuna International Inc. will expand its joint venture project with New Zealand seafood firm Prime Foods under a new name “Big Glory Bay Salmon and Seafood Co.”

 Alliance operates two canneries in General Santos City supplying pre packaged tuna products to over 50 different countries around the world, generating a turnover of US$51.6 million dollars in 2008 rising to over US$70 million this year.

The new joint venture company will this year build a new seafood smoke house operation close to Alliance’s present factory. This will allow access to their existing management, engineering and maintenance facilities and source staff from existing resources.

Both factories will in the future expand their product ranges to include other smoked fish products, marinated salmon products, and ready to eat ranges such as gravalax, soups, pates and sauces.

The news report also said that Alliance Tuna is considering a name change to Alliance Select Foods International, to reflect its expanded range.

Bariles and GenSan News Online Mag received an email from Socoteco II yesterday.

The email which seemed urgent included two attachments. 

 One is the notice of Power Interruption from National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) effective tomorrow, May 30, 2010, Sunday, from 8am to 6pm (11 hours).

The affected areas are those served by the Socoteco II main office, the Ligaya and Leon Llido Sub-stations. 

Below is National Grid Corporation of the Philippines‘ (NGCP) letter.

Please scroll it down to read the whole thing. 

may_30

The second attachment is this new schedule of browounts (3 hours once daily) effective May 31 – June 13, 2010.  That is still another half-month or two weeks of scheduled daily browouts in GenSan.

3hrs Once a Day 4 Groups May31-June13

Bariles is certain that the title of this blog post really got your attention and your ire!

Although it is already May 21, 2010, Bariles only got word today through his email that the management of SOCOTECO II is applying an increase in the power rates of their residential consumers for May 2010.

The increase which will be reflected in the May billings is eighty five centavos per kilowatt hour (P0.85).

Here below is their letter.  Just scroll down to read the full content.

 
Rates for May

The letter also states the reason for the increase and if you  just read it thoroughly, you will notice that the blame goes back to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and NPC-PSALM.

Please note that in April 2010, SOCOTECO II also increased by around the same rate.  This makes it a total rate adjustment of almost P2.00 for just two months!

At the end of the letter, SOCOTECO II reveals that the company, together with other electrical cooperatives in Mindanao are asking the Energy Regulation Commission’s clarification on the ancillary charges for the past two months.

Meaning, dear readers, SOCOTECO II is also in dire need of explanation for all these “pahirap sa masa”.