The activity with the theme “Dugo Mo, Dugtong ng Buhay Ko,” seeks to augment the supply of blood in the province-owned hospitals needed for dengue patients and mothers with postpartum hemorrhage.

Some 400 blood donors from Local Government Units (LGUs) and other agencies of San Fabian, Calasiao, Mangaldan, Bautista and the City of San Carlos are expected to participate in the blood-letting activity.

Bayambang LGU will also conduct similar activity on June 21 in said town.

The PHO led by Ma. Anna Teresa De Guzman in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has been conducting blood-letting activity along with the birthday celebration of Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. every June 20 annually.

Meanwhile, Healthy Habit Day check up for capitol employees is scheduled by the Provincial Human Resource Development and Management Office (PHRMDO) on June 26 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC).

The following health services and physical check up will be offered: pneumococcal vaccines for 70 persons (50-year-old and above), blood sugar and cholesterol determination, blood pressure checking, massage and reflexology and sauna.

Employees who are interested to avail of the pneumococcal vaccination are advised to register at the PHRMDO on a first come, first served basis. (PIO/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca)

Provincial Health Office chief Dr. Anna De Guzman said the two-day medical mission will be spearheaded by the ABS-CBN Regional Network Group Channel 32 Dagupan in coordination with the Provincial Health Office and the PPH.

The project dubbed Lingkod Kapamilya-Libreng Operasyon sa Pangasinan which will cater to Pangasinense indigent families in need of surgical assistance is in partnership with the Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists, Philippine College of Surgeons and the Operating Room Nurses of the Philippines.

The medical team from Manila will be on hand to perform major operations such as thyroidectomy and surgeries on patients afflicted with goiter, hernia, ovarian cyst, breast tumor, cleft lip and palate, myoma and hemorrhoid for two to three days cutting period, apart from minor surgeries with about 80 to 100 patients.

PHO nurse Cristina Alcantara said the mission has already listed some 60 indigent beneficiaries who have been pre-screened before undergoing major surgery and identified the beneficiaries for the minor surgery.

Simultaneous with the conduct of the medical mission at the PPH, another free health service from the province will be availed of by residents of the island barangays of Bolinao.

Dubbed the “Kilatis Kutis” program, the PHO will hold a free skin disease consultation on June 27.

De Guzman said the activities are in line with the advocacies of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. who recognizes the value, health and life of Pangasinenses especially the poor with the resolve to make Pangasinan as home of the healthiest Filipinos.  (PIO/Angeline D. Villanueva)

GATE’s chess clinic prodigy earns FIDE title.  This file photo shows Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (seated, left) and chess wizard Samantha “Glo” Revita (seated, right) performing a ceremonial move in one of the Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.’s GATE) Chess Clinics and Tournaments.  The 13-year old lass from Rosales town recently earned the Women FIDE Master after her excellent performance in the 14th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships 2013 winning two gold and three silver medals at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand held last June 5 to 14.  (PIO file photo)

Provincial Government-supported Pangasinan woodpushers posted a remarkable performance in the 14^th ASEAN Age Group Chess  Championships 2013 bagging 20 out of 65 medals snared by the Philippine team in that prestigious chess tournament held last June 5 to 14 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Pangasinan gold medalists include Haridas Pascua (Under 20 category) from Mangatarem who pocketed five gold medals and one silver, Samantha Glo Riveta (Under 14) from Rosales won two gold and three silver medals, Giovanni Mejia (Under 16) from Labrador captured two gold and one silver medals.

Other rising stars in Philippine chess include Jodilyn Fronda (Girls Under 20) from Alaminos with three silver medals, Istraellito Rilloraza (Under 12)  from San Fabian with two silver and bronze medals and John Bravo from Lingayen, a board player of the Philippine Team which romped off as team champion of the under 10 years old category.

All Pangasinan woodpushers are regular participants of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.’s chess clinics and tournaments launched several years ago by the governor to provide full support to homegrown athletes who are equipped with special talent on the world’s oldest and most popular board game, according to Pangasinan Chess League President Don Sison.

Philippine Chess Federation executive director and Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales said that collectively, Pangasinan hauled the most number of medals among all provinces in the country which sent delegates in the Asean chess joust.

Dubbed as the next big thing in chess world, Revita is now a Woman FIDE Master with her improved chess ratings after the tournament, according to Rodolfo Cardozo, the country’s first International Master.

Revita is set to compete in the Asian Chess Championship starting June 20 in Iran.

Except for Rilloraza who plays for the Far Eastern University and resides in Las Pinas, the rest of the chess wizards are based in Pangasinan.

“Rilloraza’s father is from San Fabian. Everytime the young Rilloraza competes, the father would come to the governor to solicit support. And, each time he ask for support, Gov. Espino extends a helping hand because he believes so much in the ability of these young woodpushers to someday make it in the international scene,” Don Sison noted.

In related development, the Province of Pangasinan earlier launched a bid to host the next ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships.

Subic Freeport, Olongapo City hosted the same event in 2010.  (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio B. Coloma, Jr. (front row, center) and Asst. Sec. Cathryne Jone T. Licudine (front row, 3^rd from left) join the staff of the Provincial Information Office (PIO) headed by PIO Chief Orpheus M. Velasco (front row, 4^th from left) for a souvenir shot at Malacañang’s Press Briefing Room during the PIO’s Lakbay Aral at PCOO in Malacañan Palace last June 13.  Sec. Coloma urged the province of Pangasinan through the PIO to maximize the use of social media and even encouraged the creation of “Pangasinan application” to further the provincial government’s agenda, programs and projects. (Photo courtesy of Malacañang Photo Bureau)

‘Eat just enough.’Although Pangasinan is the third largest rice-producing province in the country, Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard F. Baraan urges every Pangasinense to “eat just enough” to help reduce food waste as the province joined the entire nation in the celebration of World Environment Day 2013 last June 17 at the Capitol Plaza in Lingayen.  This year’s theme, “Think. Eat. Save,” focussed on anti-food waste and food loss campaign.  (PIO photo by Meinard Sadim)

“Starting today, eat the right food and eat just enough.”

This was disclosed by Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard F. Baraan during the regular flag-raising ceremony on June 17 at the Capitol Plaza here wherein the main highlight was the celebration of the World Environment Day 2013 which anchored on the theme, “Think, Eat, Save.”

Baraan said that eating  food beyond  what the body actually needs is a punishment to the individual’s system.

“We must think before we eat and by doing this, we must first exercise responsibility and discipline,” he said.

Meanwhile, Provincial Environment Officer Leduina “Wendy” Co disclosed that based on statistics, one in every seven people in the world suffers hunger or starvation.

Some Filipinos (especially those living in Metro Manila) resorted to picking “pagpag” (referring to left-over food thrown in the garbage) just to feed themselves or make money out of it by selling re-cooked leftovers to customers.

Co said that Pangasinan which is a province that is endowed with vast agricultural land and diverse marine resources is an ideal place to produce sufficient food production provided that the people exercise industriousness and self-sufficiency.

World Environment day is the biggest annual celebration which is widely celebrated to earn and solicit positive environmental action. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)

A nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill was conducted by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in cooperation with the provincial government of Pangasinan and San Roque Power Corporation last June 10 at Brgy. San Vicente in San Manuel. (PIO Photo by Jun Moran)

Lingayen- – -Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. (currently Acting-Governor) led the distribution of scholarship assistance worth P8,000 each to some 100 incoming first year college students who made it in this year’s new rooster of Provincial School Fund Board (PSFB) Scholarship Program.

Out of the 100 academic scholars, 50 are automatic qualifiers having graduated as high school valedictorians and salutatorians for school-year 2012-2013 while the other half made it as top 50 in last month’s academic scholarship qualifying examination administered by the province.

Calimlim congratulated the batch of scholars for a job well done as he commended their parents and guardians for molding responsible youths who are considered the future of the province and the country as well.

Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard F. Baraan urged the scholars to give their best shot and dedicate their achievements to their parents who are exerting their best effort to provide the needs of the family.

“It is only proper to return to your parents all the sacrifices and hardship just to provide a brighter future for you,” he said as he noted that while it is the parent’s obligation to provide the needs of their children, the latter also has obligation to fulfill which is to study harder and aim for excellence.

The scholarship program forms part of the sustained efforts of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.’s administration to help financially-challenged but intellectual and deserving Pangasinense students to acquire college education.

Scholars have the option to choose the school they want to enter but have to get satisfactory grade to maintain the scholarship.

The scholars led by this year’s qualifying examination topnotch Ferren Velasco thanked Gov. Espino for the program which she dubbed the “best government program for poor but deserving students.”

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa kabutihan ng ating mga lider lalo na si Governor Espino dahil binigyang pansin niya ang kapakanan ng mga kabataan. Malaking tulong sa aming mahihirap ang programang ito,” the number one scholar said.

Each scholar will receive P8,000 per semester or P16,000 for one academic year. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)

The governor has entrusted the affairs of the province to the vice-governor prior to his trip to the United States of America to attend to his mother’s medical needs.

In a letter to Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, Gov. Espino has requested the DILG secretary for an authority to travel to the USA to seek medical experts whom the governor could invite to the Philippines  or find a hospital that would admit his mother, Victoria Totaan Espino for medical check-up and medication.

It will be recalled that the old Espino suffered from stroke in December due to the various black propagandas hurled against the governor during the election period.

Disheartened about the negative reports against his favorite son, the old Espino  succumbed to a stroke last December 31, 2012 that put her into a temporary comatose condition.

The governor’s travel to USA will also include his family’s visit to a daughter who just gave birth. (PIO/Angeline D. Villanueva)

Champion team from Malasiqui town hauled 32 golds. Shodokan Escote Dojo (SED) from Antipolo City was 1^st runner-up (21 golds) while Sta. Rosa Educational Institute School of Martial Arts (SREI SOMA) from Laguna province settled as 2^nd runner-up (14 golds).

Top three teams were followed by Mugenkai Martial Arts Association – Pangasinan (3^rd runner-up), Shorin Strike Bataan (4^th runner-up) and Athena Martial Arts – Quezon City (5^th runner-up).

OSKA Shikodan Philippines President Jeremy Escote thanked the provincial government led by Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. for the “all out support and best accommodation” of the two-day national tournament.

“In my four years as President of the association, this is the best hosting I experienced so far,” he added.

As he congratulated the participants for doing their best in the contested events, he cited the good potential of Pangasinense athletes in playing Karatedo.

“I think ‘yung drive ng provincial government ay dapat masuportahan ang mga young Pangasinenses to mold their personality sa paglalaro ng karatedo,” he said.

He added that discipline in playing karatedo must also be developed among Pangasinense enthusiasts.

Even as Karatedo athletes commended the provincial government for the best accommodation they’ve received throughout the event.

Amazed of the sports facilities of NRSCC, Shahira Ibrahim (SREI SOMA) and Jerol Escote (SED) said, “the best ang NRSCC, at lalo na ‘yung dorm kung saan kami nag-stay ay airconditioned at maayos.”

Myca Malig-on from De La Salle University (DLSU) – Dasmariñas, Cavite, on the other hand, hailed Gov. Espino, saying “nagpapasalamat kami kay Gov. Espino kasi ginawa nyang free ang accommodation namin dito sa NRSCC.”

Five-year-old Nicole Valdez of Falcon team was the youngest participant who competed in both Kata and Kumite competitions.

Oldest participants were: 44-year-old Jaime Ballesteros from DLSU (Kumite) and 74-year-old Felino Ampil from SREI SOMA (Kata).

Other delegations to this national sports spectacle were: Philippine Cats Claw Martial Arts Association (Kuwait), DLSU Shodokan, OSC PRC, Shorin-Yu Shodokan Clan (Bicol) and Mugenkai Martial Arts Association (Bataan).

About 300 participants (athletes, trainers and coaches) participated in the national tournament. (PIO/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca)

LINGAYEN—The Employees Wellness Center of the province opened yesterday, March 20, with Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., together with Vice-Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, Jr. leading the inauguration of the center located inside the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here.

The blessing and inauguration took place right after the first flag raising ceremony led by the province’s top two officials following their sweet victory against their opponents during the recently-concluded mid-term elections last May 13.

Gov. Espino and Vice-Gov. Calimlim were joined by the department heads and employees of the provincial government who are the beneficiaries of the wellness center complete with gym equipment and spa facilities.

After inspecting the various equipment and facilities, Gov. Espino tried the treadmill.

The fitness gym and spa will be opened to all employees of the provincial government of Pangasinan regardless of employment status.

Services available include massage and reflexology, fitness gym, sauna and aerobics/zumba dance exercise.

It will be recalled that in 2011, the prov’l gov’t through the Human Resources Management and Development Office conceptualized the Health Risk Management Program and organized the Healthy Habit Club.

HRMO Chief Janet Asis said the program is a health and wellness program which intends to provide privileges to provincial employees to enable them avail of various health services to ensure that they achieve optimum level of fitness and wellness and prevent the incidence of disease among the workforce.

The following year, in 2012, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved Provincial Ordinance No. 168-2012 institutionalizing the Employees’ Health and Wellness Program of the province.

The program is specifically designed to promote the health and well being of the employees, encourage their participation and establish ownership of the program.

After the program was institutionalized, Asis said that all provincial employees have become automatic members of the health program which is in tune with Gov. Espino’s advocacy to transform Pangasinan as the “home of healthiest Filipinos.”  (PIO/Angeline D. Villanueva)