Tacloban City Express

Eastern Visayas residents warned not to eat shellfish harvested from three bays due to red tide

2015-07-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

Eastern Visayas fishermen and/or residents are warned not to catch and/or eat shellfish and "alamang" gathered from three bays which have been hit by red tide.

Shellfish ban was implemented in Carigara Bay, Irong Irong Bay, and Cambatutay Bay.

“Seawater samples collected along these areas are positive of paralytic shellfish poisoning-causing organism that is beyond the regulatory limit,” said Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Juan Albaladejo.

Coastal areas in Eastern Visayas that are free of toxic red tide organisms are Cacabato Bay, San Pedro Bay, Ormoc Bay, Sogod Bay, Villareal Bay, Matarinao Bay and Maqueda Bay.

The BFAR further stated that fish, squid, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

Source: SunStar Tacloban

VIRAL: Pope Francis visits Yolanda survivors in Tacloban, Leyte

2015-01-16T22:53:00.004-08:00

Pope Francis, who arrived in Manila a few days ago with so many people waiting at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), waves to the people (mostly survivors of typhoon Yolanda from various parts of Region 8) in Leyte while riding his Popemobile, wearing a yellow raincoat just like the people who braved the rain to see him.

Post by Rappler.

Video Courtesy: Rappler

372 aftershocks after Samar quake, Phivolcs reveals

2012-09-02T23:09:00.001-07:00

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded at least 371 aftershocks since the 7.6 magnitude earthquake shook Eastern Samar Friday night, it revealed on on Monday.

The agency said aftershocks, mostly in Guiuan and Burgos in Surigao del Norte, reached as high as magnitude 5.

The tremor has affected 5,650 families or 28,064 persons in Surigao City, Burgos, San Isidro and Socorro, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

There were 115 houses damaged from the quake, 78 of which were totally damaged, mostly located in Giuian, Eastern Samar and Surigao City.

The cost of damages to infrastructure is estimated to be around P14.735 million.

Source: Inquirer Portal

Two earthquakes strike Leyte and Samar within a 3-day span

2012-01-31T22:51:00.000-08:00

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake has struck Samar, Philippines at a depth of 61 km (37.9 miles). The quake hit at 04:30:54 UTC Wednesday 1st February 2012. The epicenter was 75 km (46 miles) NNW of Guiuan, Samar, Philippines. Witnesses say that three consecutive mild shakes took place before reaching its peak. No tsunami warning nor reports of damage or casualties were learned as of posting time.

This follows a magnitude 4.9-earthquake that struck the province of Leyte last January 29. The weak quake epicenter was 8 kms southwest of Bagacay, at a depth of 606 km. No reports of damage to property or life were accounted.

DA, PNOC-EDC tie up to support Leyte vegetable farming project

2012-01-25T01:40:00.000-08:00

The province of Leyte is set to contest Cordillera's position as the country's premier salad bowl. An area as vast as 20,000 ha in the Tongonan mountain range will be allotted to the farm-and-harvest activity of high-value semi-temperate vegetables.

According to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala , the Department of Agriculture (DA) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) last December 12, 2011 with the PNOC-Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC), among other institutions and groups of Leyte farmers to press Cordillera in its crown as top salad greens producer.

Under the MOA, the DA and the PNOC-EDC will invest P92 million in the next five years to develop fit farming grounds enclosing the Leyte Geothermal Production Field (LGPF). The investment is said to benefit 5,600 farmers composing 23 farmers’ groups in Kananga town and Ormoc City.

The production area is 500 to 800 meters above sea level. It extends from Ormoc City to Kananga town. It will be managed by a five-year initiative referred to as the Agri-Pinoy integrated and diversified program for the development of the ‘OK’ (Ormoc City and Kananga) upland range.

With supporting reports from Manila Bulletin

Impending Tacloban landslide addressed, residents relocated

2012-01-17T07:06:00.000-08:00

Residents in Tacloban City have expressed fear to what is happening in some barangays. It is reported that large rocks and other debris have started falling on houses. The incident has served as warning for the killer landslide in Compostela Valley, which could happen anytime soon in the city.

Due to this, authorities have started evacuating residents from Bgy. 56 in Upper Nula Tula and Bgy. 100. Residents from Bgy. 56 have already been relocated in Bgy. 74, to prevent the loss of lives if such a disaster takes place.

The rock falls were believed to be caused by the continuous downpour brought in by the tail-end of the cold front. Heavy rainfall has caused flashflood in Bgy. Luan, Dulag, Bgy. Inapayan, Isabela in Leyte, and 5 other barangays in the said province, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council expressed.

Government officials and members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) have met in Leyte as a joint response to stop the unwanted loss of lives and damage to property that these disasters will wreck havoc.

Moderate 5.7-magnitude earthquake hits off Guiuan, Eastern Samar

2012-01-17T06:36:00.000-08:00

A moderate 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Tuesday off the coast of Guiuan, Samar, the US Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center (USGS NEIC) reported.

The tremor was centered in waters off Samar, about 63 kilometers northeast of the town of Mercedes in Eastern Samar, and 93 kilometers (57 miles) east of Tacloban City, Leyte. It hit at 8:55 p.m. local time on Tuesday, and had an estimated depth of 42 kilometers, according to PHIVOLCS.

The quake was felt felt at Intensity 5 in Borongan City and Guiuan, Intensity 4 in Tacloban City, Palo and Tolosa, all in Leyte; Intensity 3 in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte and Catarman, Northern Samar; and Intensity 2 in Naval, Biliran.

As of posting, no casualties or damage to property have been reported.

5 dead in Leyte road mishap

2011-06-11T06:16:00.000-07:00

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – Five persons, including two children, were killed when the motorcycle they were riding collided with a mini-bus Saturday in Albuera, Leyte, police said.

The fatalities were identified as Nomer Durango, his wife Gloria, both 40; their daughter Julie Ann, 10; Regine Heredia, 2; and motorcycle driver Nilo Bernal, 43.

Heredia’s mother, Jenny, 21, was seriously injured taken to the OSPA Farmers’ Medical Center by members of the 78th Battalion based in Albuera, about 23 km from Ormoc City.

All of the victims were on a “habal-habal” – public utility motorcycles where passengers squeeze themselves in front and behind the driver that are common in the Philippine countryside. They were on their way from Albuera to the town of Baybay.

Inspector Pascasio Murillo Jr., Albuera police chief, said the motorcycle was about to turn left on the national highway in at Barangay Tinag-an when it was hit by a mini-bus headed for Ormoc.

The bus driver, Jiel Rubencia, 32, said he was cruising at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour when the motorcycle suddenly crossed the intersection.

He said he stepped on the brakes but they did not seem to work. The bus dragged the motorcycle about 50 meters away.

The bus owner, Edrito Deguiles, promised to shoulder the burial expenses of the fatalities as well as the medical bills of Jenny Heredia.

-with reports from Elvie Roa of Inquirer.net

1M Eastern Visayas students need 2,000 more classrooms

2011-06-05T06:21:00.000-07:00

TACLOBAN CITY—About one million pupils and students in Eastern Visayas face lack of teachers and classrooms when they go back to school today.

Imelda Parado, Department of Education in Eastern Visayas (DepEd-8) information officer, said the department was trying its best to address these perennial problems by tapping the help of local government units, business groups and nongovernment organizations.

“We don’t only rely on government resources,” she said.

The DepEd-8 was anticipating over a million pupils and students to troop to both elementary and secondary public schools as enrollment for this school year was expected to rise by 10 percent.

Last year, DepED-8 recorded 708,715 pupils in the elementary level and 288,740 students in secondary level.

The anticipated increase in the number of enrollees will worsen the problem of lack of teachers and classrooms in Eastern Visayas.

For one, there were only 5,381 public school teachers in the elementary level, and 431 in the high school level.

Parado said the DepEd was grateful for the local officials who hired new teachers for their localities.

For classrooms, elementary public schools need 869 new classrooms, and 1,184 in the secondary level for this school year.

Parado said several nongovernment organizations and business groups had built and donated classrooms in Eastern Visayas.

-with reports from Joey A. Gabieta of Inquirer.net

Tacloban's Best Band: Island Paradise

2011-06-05T05:40:00.000-07:00

The Pride of Tacloban City, the Island Paradise, triumphed in the Battle Robinsons Music Scene held at the Robinsons Place Tacloban last April 10, 2011.

I really look forward to seeing this band obtain regional and national spotlight, as it serenades its fans through its reggae-oriented music and enters the Waray-waray dialect into the local music scene.

Agencies in Region 8 commended over food security

2011-02-01T12:09:00.000-08:00

THE National Nutrition Council (NNC) lauded some government agencies and local government units for their efforts to secure food in Eastern Visayas, particularly in the nutritionally depressed province of Samar.

NNC regional program coordinator Carina Santiago said these recent development in Samar, where the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have recently launched several projects, is a big boost to the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

The DA and BFAR have recently launched big projects in Samar such as irrigation and mussel culture and the putting up of a multi-species freshwater fish hatchery.

BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo III said the multi-species freshwater fish hatchery would also supply tilapia fingerlings to farmers who would like to undertake inland fish pond projects.

"It's not only the fisherfolks who are benefited but also the farmers because they can convert a part of their land for fish culture," he said.

"We appreciate all their efforts because these will all contribute to the efforts of the NNC, especially the anti-hunger task force, to improve food security in the region," Santiago said.

She also cited the local chief executives who would be implementing the projects in their respected areas.

But she said it would be better if the local government units would implement a complementary program such as on education of mothers and care givers.

"We will appreciate the LGUs more if more nutrition programs will be implemented because we could see that one of the causes of malnutrition in the region is because the mother or care giver do not have enough knowledge on how to properly take care of their children like the giving of nutritious and proper food," she said.

According to the results of the 2010 Operation Timbang (OPT), the top two nutritionally depressed municipalities in Eastern Visayas are the municipalities of Tarangnan and Almagro, both in Samar.

Five other Samar towns are included in the top 20 nutritionally depressed municipalities in the region, according to results of the OPT 2010 in Eastern Visayas.

However, the overall results of the 2010 OPT showed that malnutrition among preschoolers that year has slightly decreased compared to the previous year.

Santiago attributed the decline to the people "now being aware that nutrition is important in development."

Source: Sun Star Tacloban

The owner of this blog does not intend to copy or violate the copyrights of the writer/ publication, but to disseminate and make Taclobanons aware of the current happenings in the city. If writer/ publication wishes to have this removed, just contact dancer.silent@yahoo.com.

100 Nego-karts already operating in Eastern Visayas

2011-02-01T12:05:00.000-08:00

MAASIN CITY -- At least 100 Nego-Kart (negosyo sa kariton) are now operating in the cities of Eastern Visayas, turning ambulant vendors into cart owners, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) reported.

Dole Regional Director Forter G. Puguon said the project is now being implemented in this city, Calbayog, Ormoc, and Tacloban with about 20 to 30 nego-kart units in every city.

Each vendor-beneficiary is provided with a total of P15,000 in assistance including a vending cart and accessory livelihood tools costing P12,000, along with working capital amounting to P2,500 and training assistance worth P500.

“Those vendors don’t have to worry that authorities will drive them away since they have permits and a permanent place to locate the cart,” Puguon said.

The project is in partnership with City Governments to ensure that securing necessary permits will be facilitated before the project was launched early this year. The role of local officials is to help vendors operate legally.

“This was implemented during the transition period from the old administration to the new administration since this was identified as deliverable,” he said.

The labor department is studying the possibility of expanding the project in capital towns and other areas of the region with many ambulant vendors.

Other than raising their income, Dole expects the initiative will provide the vendors with services that will enable them to increase, upgrade and diversify their products and services, and market the same to more buyers or customers.

One of the beneficiaries is 40-year-old Nene D. Roces of Barangay Abgao, this city. She said she’s been a vendor of soft drinks and instant foods for five years but she never learned how to deal with costumers and keep record until she was listed as one of the recipients of the project.

“Since I got this kart, my daily gross sales increased from P500 to P1,000. I hope this business would continue to support us in sending our children to school,” said Roces, a mother of two, said.

For Merylou Dalida, 32, the cart draws more buyers because it is more presentable than the old table she used before. “Now, I earn more money to buy medicines for my sickly father,” she added.

Fe Norma Valuis, head of the Dole Southern Leyte field office, said recipients are paying taxes since they have necessary permits to operate cart business.

“We asked the City Government to designate a place where they can stay after roaming around during daytime,” Valuis added.

The Nego-Kart project, which has been implemented in major cities of the country, caters to ambulant vendors who trade their goods or services without the necessary market business permits in sidewalks, buses, community market places and other public places.

Source: Sun Star Tacloban

Leyte positive in EVRAA

2011-02-01T11:55:00.000-08:00

CALBAYOG CITY -- Department of Education (DepEd)-Leyte Division officials believe that they will once again bring home the beacon in this year's Eastern Visayas Regional Athletics Association (Evraa) here.

For four years now, the Leyte delegation has always been declared as the overall champion of Evraa.

Rogelia Urbino, of the Leyte DepEd Division, said athletes from their division are prepared for the competition.

Around 500 athletes from various elementary and secondary schools in the province of Leyte compete for the Evraa, to include around 100 coaches, officiating members and DepEd officials from their division and staff.

Urbino, who is also the regional physical education supervisor, said that among the expected athletes to produce medals for the Leyte delegation are the scholars of the Leyte Sports Academy, a priority program of the Provincial Government of Leyte through Governor Jericho Petilla that helps enhance the ability of every student athletes in their respective field of sports.

"We are thankful for the support that the governor had provided to all our athletes from the start of our training until this very day of competition," she said.

She added trainings provided to the athletes in the academy ensure an exemplary performance for an athlete, thus they are hoping to top once again this year's regional sporting event.

Among the sports they are expecting to win gold medals are boxing, taekwondo, athletics, baseball, softball, swimming, chess, table tennis, sipa, sepak takraw and tennis.

Meanwhile, Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy said he is not hoping for their athletes to top the medal standings in the competition.

The City Government of Calbayog had allocated P5.9 million for the staging of this year's Evraa competition, while Samar first district Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento provided P500,000 as support to the City Government.

"We are hosting the competition right now and we are not expecting to be on top of the medal standing but what we can only assures is we will provide a good fight in every field of sports were our athletes are to compete," Uy said.

Source; Leyte Samar Daily Express, Sun Star Tacloban

The owner of this blog does not intend to copy or violate the copyrights of the writer/ publication, but to disseminate and make Taclobanons aware of the current happenings in the city. If writer/ publication wishes to have this removed, just contact dancer.silent@yahoo.com.

Calbayog City Mayor supports charter change

2011-02-01T11:53:00.000-08:00

CALBAYOG City Mayor Reynaldo Uy said he supports the move to amend the Constitution through Charter change (Cha-cha).

Uy, who is a former representative of Samar first district, said there are some provisions in the present Constitution that should be amended, like its economic provisions and the term of office of all elected officials.

Uy said extending the term of office of all elective officials would ensure that they could provide better service to their constituents.

He also said the number of economic provision of the Constitution hampers the country's economic development.

"Yes to Cha-cha because for a good elected government official, three years is not enough. We need to have more time," Uy said.

The present term of elected officials, according to him, is too short for them to carry out all their intended programs and projects intended to their constituents.

Uy also said the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution should be amended as the strict restrictions of foreign business and property ownership in the country had put us at the tail end among our neighboring Asian countries.

"We have to re-think and re-visit the ownership of lands and properties in the Philippines by foreigners if we are to embark on the massive invitation of foreign investors to put investment in the country," Uy explained.

At present, the 1987 Constitution only allows Filipino citizens to own properties and businesses in the country.

"If want more flow of capital in our country, I think this provision in the Constitution should be amended to invite more foreign business investors to come," Uy added.

The talks on Charter change was ignited anew when Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone proposed that any move to tinker the Constitution should now be started.

The first attempt to change the Constitution was during the presidency of former President Fidel V. Ramos who sought to change the present system of government into a parliamentary form of government and lift the term limits of public officials.

Under former President Joseph Estrada, a similar attempt was also proposed with a process called Concord or Constitutional Correction and Development proposing for amending the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution that is seen as impeding to the entry of more foreign investors in the country.

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also sought for Cha-cha only to met strong resistance from various sectors.

Source: Leyte Samar Daily Express

Eastern Visayas exported $55.05 million in 2010

2011-02-01T11:50:00.000-08:00

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Eastern Visayas reported that export sales from small medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region have reached $55.055 million in 2010.

Cynthia Nierras, DTI regional director, said the increased direct export generation was a result of the government's Export Pathway Program (EPP) aimed at penetrating the international market.

Greet your friends and families this Sinulog season. Sun.Star covers Sinulog 2011 live!

Nierras said majority of the income generated from export was contributed by SC Global Coco Products Inc., one of the EPP-enrolled SMEs that the DTI assisted in developing plans of expanding its export market.

"Through our referrals, SC Global realized around 419 percent increase on volume sales order from its market in Europe, the United States, Taiwan and China," Nierras said.

For 2011, the DTI has targeted at least 10 percent increase in export sales as a result of the agency's initiated and facilitated events from One-Stop Documentation Center (OSEDC), international trade fairs, market matching and trade centers.

At least 219 SMEs in the region have been assisted by DTI for the EPP program in 2010.

Meanwhile, the DTI reported the region earned some P212.052 million from domestic investments in 2010.

The top contributors were financing facilitation, P80.821 million; National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (Nerbac), P51.97 million; and investment facilitation, P45.949 million.

"Total investments generated for the last period in review is 21 percent higher than the accomplishment in 2009," Nierras said.

For this year, Nierras said the agency projects an increase in domestic investments at least 15 percent through trade fairs, market matching, SMEs displays and financing facilitation.

Meanwhile, Nierras said that in an effort to increase income from SMEs, the DTI will continue its capability development program by training them on export awareness, export readiness, market readiness, and market entry and export sustainability.

According to Nierras, literacy training will also be conducted to SMEs for them to become globally competitive by increasing its capability in assessing market through the Internet.

A total of 55 SMEs have been trained last year and they were introduced to different portals and acquired working knowledge in surfing the Internet, skills in uploading and updating marketing information, skills in transacting safe and business, and working knowledge in using Google applications for documents, talk and e-mail.

Source: Leyte Samar Daily News

5 Leyte towns possible tourism hotspots

2011-02-01T11:47:00.000-08:00

FIVE towns in Leyte province are currently targeted for a “selling mission” for tourism investment to be undertaken by the Provincial Government together with the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The towns were identified as Matalom, Baybay and Inopacan in the fifth district and Palompon and Tabango in the third district.

All of the five towns have identified local tourism attractions as well as potentials that could be developed.

Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla said in the “selling mission”, tourism is being viewed as the prime mover for local economic development in the identified areas.

The governor added there have been many efforts towards tourism development in the province but tourism still has yet to go on full-swing for the province.

The governor recently called a meeting together with local municipal officials, tourism officers, and district representatives for the identification of tourism-investment potential and consolidates efforts and programs for tourism.

Among those who attended were Representatives Lucy Torres-Gomez and Carlos Cari of the fourth and fifth districts of the province.

Island beach getaways, diving and eco-tourism spots, spa and wellness attractions, as well as cultural destinations are to be identified, validated and consolidated along the named towns, which will become the province’s main offerings to travel trade players in trade exhibitions, which the province targets to participate on March this year and on a later date in various areas such as Macau, Hongkong and China.

The governor explained that the purpose in joining “selling missions” is to attract investors to the area.

“Admittedly, the government is not a good investor. We cannot do this on our own, we rather need investors to invest on us,” Petilla said.

However, above all, the selling mission to be undertaken would largely convince investors to build hotels in the province.

Each of the identified towns in Leyte’s western side has their tourism destinations to boost: Matalom has the Canigao Island; Palompon has Kalanggaman Island and the Tabuk Marine Park and Bird Sanctuary; Inopacan has Digyo Island; Tabango has the Seven Island Destination; while Baybay is considered as a prime area for hotel investment.

The governor believes that it is very important to assess the destination first before it is included in a tour package to encourage investors.

The validation will also include the readiness of the place and community preparedness in accepting the visitors.

Source: Leyte Samar Daily Express

Relief operations, Mayor Alfred said

2011-02-01T11:42:00.000-08:00

This article is courtesy of Ms. Gay Gaspay from Tacloban.gov.ph. To proceed to the original site, click this link. The owner of this blog does not intend to copy or violate the copyrights of the writer, but to disseminate and make Taclobanons aware of the current happenings in the city.

Tacloban City – As the Chief Executive of Tacloban City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez leads the city government in conducting a series of relief operations in aiding flood stricken barangays of the city.

Mayor Alfred together with his wife Councilor Cristina Romualdez went on a series of relief operation to affected families in different barangays of Tacloban City which started the day the city was declared under State of Calamity.

Mang Raul, 70 years old of Palanog went home smiling with a bagful of relief goods thanked Mayor Alfred personally for the aid they got from him.

A pregnant mother of five, Mana Adela was happy to get her share for according to her will save them from hunger for days. The three kilos of rice can go along way for her kids, she can make a variation of rice porridge at their table for their meals.

Lola Kikay on the other hand, could hardly walk asked her granddaughter to accompany her in order to avail of the relief operation, was so happy to see among the goods inside a blue bag was a blanket which according to her will kept her warm on cold nights.

The 70 year old man, the pregnant mother of five and a lola who could hardly walk benefited the relief goods given by the City government in several barangays of Tacloban City affected by flood.

Relief goods were distributed in Barangay Alimasag, Costa Brava, San jose, Barangay Cogon, Barangay Diit, Palanog GE, Palanog proper, Barangay 95 & 96 Calanipawan and other barangays.

Mayor Alfred has assured his constituents through his constant presence in every calamity the city is undergoing that he will just be around to help them 24/7 together with the City Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Team.

Tacloban City is right now under a State of Calamity for experiencing a unusual phenomenon of having concentrated heavy downpour of rain attributed to it cold tail front flooding 25% of its total barangay.

ADFC students win in the National Water-Boosted Rocket Launching Competition (SEI-DOST)

2010-10-17T19:13:00.000-07:00

Truly, Tacloban City has produced really bright and talented youth.

Recently, Julius Dacoycoy, a fourth-year high school student and Edward Louie Chua, a junior, both from Asian Development Foundation College, emerged as winners in the National Water-Boosted Rocket Launching Competition, conducted by the Science and Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (SEI-DOST). The event-turned-sport was held at Riverbanks in Marikina City and was attended by 24 schools.

Tacloban City Express congratulates both Julius and Edward, together with their adviser, Ms. Ma. Lourdes Gonzales-Tan for lifting the name of Tacloban City. We, Taclobanons, are very proud of you!

Cebu Pacific Flight Attendants Dancing to the Beat of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry

2010-10-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

I saw this video awhile ago through a post in Facebook, mainly discussing the undeniably irresistible promotional video made by Cebu Pacific to entertain its customers in the cabin and, at the same time, to allow the customers to learn the emergency procedures to the music of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. Currently, the video has gained 1.8 million viewers and apparently, it's receiving concise, significant recognition from various viewers across the globe.

Well, what's can we say? Filipinos are becoming more and more innovative today. :) Kudos Cebu Pacific!

Tacloban Mall Prank

2010-08-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

I really laughed my ass out when I saw this word photo published on Facebook about the general concern of cashiers. Just read through what the picture below shows. Happy giggling!

Photo Courtesy: Facebook user

Speak out your gags! Comment on this. :)

Philippines Bus Hostage Crisis Ends, NineDead

2010-08-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

Various units of the Philippine police have stormed a hijacked bus and shot dead a former officer who had killed seven Chinese tourists after taking them hostage for twelve hours.

17 people survived, while nine were killed, including the hostage-taker. Twenty-two of those on board were tourists from Hong Kong, with three Filipinos - a driver, a guide and a photographer. It took hours of negotiations before a bloody ending was unveiled. Hostage-taking crisis like this do not usually occur in the Philippines.

Missing Tacloban City

2010-08-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

Oh God, I'm really submerged into homesickness especially now that I am aware how Tacloban City has continuously grown and matured into one safe lifestyle, economic and political haven for Taclobanons and tourists.

I would really want to visit Tacloban City this month. Sadly, I can't since I have to finish all the requirements of my full 20-unit academic load. I am also not capable of coming to the city since it's costly in terms of time and transportation expense. But, I really have to give myself some sort of a break. Can someone take me out of the Metro?

The significant interest in this city makes me wonder how people have gone through the days of realizable change. Development exists big time. Somehow, it seems weird that I'm situated within metropolitan Manila but I have not been able to visit any shopping center outside my school's vicinity. It seems that I have been already used to imprisoning myself within the bars of scholarly development. I'm not telling anyone I'm going insane here, lol.

Studying afar yet enjoying a morally independent state-of-mind should have manifested. Nonetheless, the opposite seems to overrule. I don't understand why I can't get myself too much of an escapade. Yeah, I'm enjoying my every stay here in Metro Manila, but admittedly, I'm missing a lot of Tacloban City - the people, the culture, the cuisine, the ambiance, and you. Please let me know if you're there.

Tacloban City Photos

2010-07-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

Calling all amateur and professional photographers, if you want to publish here in Tacloban City Express Blog your original photos of Tacloban City landmarks, hang-out places, interesting associated stuffs and the highlights of the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival, just send your photos to dancer.silent@yahoo.com.

Photo courtesies will be made so do include your full name or pen name and a small caption for each photo. The best photos will be compiled and placed in an official Tacloban City Tourism Video to be promoted online in youtube. The video will be used to introduce Tacloban to the world, not only in slideshow or Movie Maker format, but in a more appealing, sophisticated way. The promotional video will be used for non-profit purposes.

Contribute and be exposed!

Leigh Michiyato
A Proud Taclobanon

Commercial Tacloban City

2010-06-13T06:05:00.000-07:00

I've always been proud of being a Taclobanon.

There's this immense outburst of comfort that I feel whenever I hear of anyone speaking Waray-Waray in my school here in Metro Manila. It feels great to know that there are Waray-Waray people hanging around.

The Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival Park opened yesterday, according to Philippine Information Agency. I really wish I were in Tacloban right now to celebrate the city fiesta and commemorate its traditions. Looking back, Tacloban City was once a small city with few establishments. Now, it boasts one of the most progressive local economies in the Philippines, which is evident in numerous openings of shopping centers, retail shops and other entrepreneurial and industrial areas.

Sometimes I wish progress in the city was not this fast-paced. Majority of the people living there cannot cope up with the inflation of prices and the influx of lifestyle pressure. The effects of being a Highly Urbanized City are now undeniably surfacing up. In ten years time, this city will be able to compete with bigger local economies like Cebu's and Davao's.

As I've said earlier, I've always been proud of being a Taclobanon, but the stress of being in a highly urbanized region is building up, morally pressing the low-to-middle income-earning households which make up a large portion of Tacloban City.

Romualdezes Spent Least Last May 10 Polls

2010-06-10T05:20:00.000-07:00

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines - Based on the statements of election contributions and expenditures passed to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in Tacloban, the Romualdezes who ran for different positions in the local government did not use up too much money during their election campaigns.

Here are the numbers:

Mayoral Post

Reelected Mayor Alfred Romualdez - P 46,350

Defeated Runner Ranulfo Abellanosa - P210,490.73

Vice Mayoral Post

Defeated Runner Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez - P87,877

Reelected Vice Mayor Arvin Antoni - P303,003

Councilors

Alfred's Wife Cristina Romualdez (placed 2nd) - P119,000

Reelected Councilor Jerry Yaokasin (topped the list) - P251,9860

The Omnibus Elections Code states that a candidate is only allowed to spend P3 per voter. Tacloban has more than 101,000 registered voters, thus election runners can only spend about P300,000.

This article is based on a report from Inquirer.net by Joey Gabieta. To see the original article, click here.