My Calbayog Diary

See you at the Department of Tourism

2017-01-19T10:28:00.001+08:00

Chuck and Lyianne

2016-12-28T21:23:00.000+08:00

Chuck Balmes and Lyianne Grace Oraya got married today. Their Wedding Mass was held at the San Damiano Chapel at Christ the King College. Rev. Fr. Roland Cajegas presided over the mass. Reception was held at the Calbayog City Convention Center.

Here's their on-site video courtesy of Mr. Jonathan Lumasag.

Darius and Tyne

2016-12-23T22:35:00.000+08:00

Darius Rebosura and Kristine-Lou Cortado got married today. Their wedding mass was held at the San Damiano Chapel with Monsignor Niceas Abejuela as mass presider. Concelebrating with him were Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Figueroa and Rev. Fr. Gil Cabujat. Reception was held at the Pavilion of Ciriaco Hotel.

Here's the on-site wedding video shown during the reception.

Calbayog cook fest picks ‘tinapa humba’ as best

2016-10-14T21:16:00.000+08:00

(From Northbound Philippines Online News)

CALBAYOG CITY – A group of students won the tinapa (smoked fish) cooking festival in this city for preparing “tinapa humba” with taco chips.

The hotel and restaurant services students from the STI College transformed the smoked fish into humba, a sweet pork dish that resembles the famous pork adobo in appearance but students used the tinapa as substitute to pork.

“They also mixed it with taco chips since the theme was Mexican cuisine,” said the group’s coach Jasmine Villa. The group received PHP5,000 cash prize. Last year, the STI contenders landed 2nd place in the cook fest.

Other winners (2nd to 4th place) were Macgil Bayog, Nilo De Paz and Shindler Guinte.

Showcasing various tinapa dishes in a festival is part of the city’s 68th Charter Day celebration on Wednesday. Tinapa is the city’s major product with processing concentrated in Matobato village.

For this year’s contest, 13 groups from various secondary and tertiary schools in Calbayog competed in the one hour challenge.

Among the judges were restaurateur and Via Mare owner Glenda Barreto, a native of Calbayog City.

The city government provided the tinapa to all groups during the cooking contest.

Before the announcement of winners, Barreto suggested to the participants to present their dishes well when joining cooking competition.

“Tinapa needs something that cuts if not enhance its flavor, so you need to look for vegetables that will enhance or compliment it. Before you enter a competition you also need to try your dish several times to get the right texture,” Baretto told contestants.

Ronald Ricafort, city tourism officer said that the conduct of annual cooking festival encourages producers to looks for ways to add value to tinapa.

Calbayog’s tinapa is popular but it is usually consumed for breakfast.

Ricafort added that in the future, they are aiming to promote other local cuisines aside from tinapa.

Samar 1st district Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento has called tinapa producers to improve their product and find ways to extend tinapa’s shelf life.

“Since this is a perishable food, we need to ensure its quality,” Sarmiento said.

The solon added that he already asked the Department of Agriculture to provide equipment to prolong tinapa’s shelf life. Roel Amazona/PNA-northboundasia.com

The “Waterfalls City” of Calbayog, Samar is a must-see this summer

2015-05-12T17:35:00.000+08:00

(From Out of Town Blog)

AN ALTERNATIVE SUMMER DESTINATION, CALBAYOG IS THE UP AND COMING TOURIST DESTINATION IN VISAYAS.

The City of Calbayog in Samar province is becoming a growing tourist destination in the Visayas region. As the first crowned city of Samar, it is the center of arts and culture in the province and is fast rising in terms of economic progress.

An aerial view of Calbayog City. (Picture courtesy of Mr. Nelson Petilla)

The city is located along the coastal part of Samar, making it abundant in aquatic sceneries. Calbayog City is rich in natural sights that are prime tourist attractions. (read more . . . )

GMA-7's Mav Gonzales as she reported on the CKC Youth Symphony Orchestra. (01-14-14)

2015-01-15T05:51:00.000+08:00

Abner Mercado's news report on the CKC-YSO

2015-01-12T05:27:00.000+08:00

Sharing with you a news clip containing the report of ABS-CBN's Abner Mercado on the Christ the King College Youth Symphony Orchestra and other artists as they prepare for the Papal Visit.

Some CKC-YSO members in the news report of GMA-7 Reporter Dano Tingcungco

2015-01-10T23:56:00.000+08:00

It's been 50 years since the first Monghas arrived in Calbayog

2015-01-10T05:12:00.000+08:00

Happy 18th Bday FrolineF

2014-12-30T22:28:00.000+08:00

Froline Sheane Lauderes Dalmacio turned 18 years old today. Her parents Froilan and Evangeline (Lauderes) Dalmacio tendered a dinner-dance for her at the Cardinal Rosales Hall of the Centennial Pastoral Center.

The onsite video of Ralph and Kristel

2014-12-24T21:28:00.000+08:00

JR and Denise

2014-12-20T21:26:00.000+08:00

JR Durniendo and Denise Bandal got married today. The wedding mass was held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Reception was held at SOS Children's Village.

Ralph and Kristel

2014-12-19T23:19:00.000+08:00

Francis Ralph Irigon and Kristel Omega got married today. Their wedding mass was held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral with Msgr. Romulo Montero as presider. Reception was held at the Calbayog City Convention Center.

The Lights are on for Pasko sa Calbayog

2014-12-16T21:30:00.000+08:00

The City Hall Stage and the facade of the City Hall

The Rosales Bridge

The Stage at the Nijaga Park

The road leading to the Obrero Chapel

The CKC YSO at the Papal Mass

2014-12-12T22:20:00.000+08:00

Alfie and Rosalie

2014-12-11T21:29:00.000+08:00

Alfie Monsanto and Rosalie Maglinte got married today. The groom's brother Fr. Nilo Monsanto presided over the Wedding Mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Reception was held at the La Milgorsa Academy Auditorium.

The Celebrity Hound struck again

2014-12-03T17:36:00.000+08:00

This is the nearest that I can get to Acting DOH Secretary Janet Garin - a selfie with her sister-in-law Rep. Sharon Garin. This was after the Closing Ceremony of the 1st National Conference on Agritourism held at the Heritage Hotel.

GMA news report on the CKC YSO

2014-11-29T21:15:00.000+08:00

The Celebrity Hound Struck Again

2014-11-22T09:32:00.000+08:00

That's me with Cultural Anthropologist and Author Dr. Katrin De Guia; aka the wife of Kidlat Tahimik. She was a resource speakers in one of the forums during the Maharlika Sunrise Festival.

Nahinumdum ka pa sini?

2014-11-12T05:17:00.000+08:00

At half past lunchtime a year ago today, Calbayog got "chaotic" after it was "hit" by a Tsunami scare. I still have no idea how or where it started, but certainly those good-for-nothing individuals who were behind the scare succeeded in sowing panic among a good number of Calbayognons all over. But on the other hand, considering the resiliency that characterize many of us, we all had a good laugh about the whole thing after the panic has settled down.

Here are some pictures (I don't remember who gave me these) which i would like to share with you as we recall those unforgettable moments.

The Celebrity Hound struck again

2014-11-09T20:26:00.000+08:00

DOT Undersecretary Ma. Victoria Jasmin visited Calbayog today. After our dinner at Marcial's Grille, as expected I had my picture taken with the Usec. Well, this is the closest that I can get to Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez.

A Year Ago

2014-11-09T06:30:00.000+08:00

A year ago (at past 9:00 p.m. of Nov. 9, 2013) a composite group from LGU-Calbayog led by Mayor Ronald Aquino made it to Tacloban. The Calbayog LGU Team was the first group from outside Tacloban to deliver water and relief goods for some residents of the city devastated a day earlier by Typhoon Yolanda.

The Celebrity Hound struck again

2014-11-06T19:55:00.000+08:00

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario Montejo was in Calbayog today. Mayor Ronald Aquino tendered a small dinner for him to which I was invited (at the last minuet). Anyway, the most important thing for the celebrity hound in me was this picture with the DOST Secretary.

(A Calbayognon) Filipino priest in Sierra Leone won’t leave Ebola-stricken people

2014-11-05T09:05:00.000+08:00

Filipino priest in Sierra Leone won’t leave Ebola-stricken people
By Jennifer Allegado

Fr. Anthony Patrick Santianez, flanked by two Sierra Leone faithfuls, decides to stay with his parishioners despite the threat of Ebola virus. FILE PHOTO/CBCP NEWS/Inquirer Photo

CALBAYOG CITY, Philippines — Relatives of Anthony Patrick Santianez, a missionary priest in Sierra Leone, say they fear for his health and even his life as he has insisted on staying on with his parishioners in the Ebola-stricken West African country.

The priest’s elder sister, Flerdeliza Santianez-Gaviola, who resides in Barangay (village) San Joaquin in this city, said their family worries about him but they have strong faith and believe God would protect him. (read more . . . )

Ray and Ariane's On-site Video

2014-10-27T12:18:00.000+08:00

Our group did the on-the-day coordination of the Wedding of Ray Cabasa and Ariane May Napiñas who got married on October 25, 2014. The groom is from Cebu while the bride is from Sta. Margarita.