This is according to the report by Cyrain Cabuenas of the Inquirer Visayas bureau.

Eleven of the students study at the Eugenio Daza Pilot Elementary School in Borongan, while the other three are students of Guiuan Elementary School in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
Classes in these schools will be suspended until July 21, says Eastern Samar schools division superintendent Niña villalon.

Read more about this new by reading Cyrain Cabuenas’ article, “Swine flu downs 14 pupils in Eastern Samar”.

The NFDRI’s “Wind Energy Resources Atlas of the Philippines”, lists the Samar region as one of the six major wind resources that can be harnessed to produce renewable energy for the country. This is according to a report by The Philippine Star’s Rudy A. Fernandez.
The atlas is based on the, “wind resource analysis and mapping study on the archipelago… by the United States Department of Energy-National Renewable Energy Laboratory,” according to Fernandez’ report.

Aside from that, there were also information provided by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), National Power Corp. (NPC), and US National Climatic Data Center.

The six regions with the best wind resources are the following:

* Batanes and Babuyan Islands in the northern part of Luzon.

* Northwest tip of Luzon (Ilocos Norte).

* The higher interior terrain of Luzon, Mindoro, Palawan, Panay, Cebu, Negros, Leyte, Samar, eastern Mindanao, and adjacent islands.

* The east-facing coastal locations from northern Luzon to Samar.

* The wind corridors between Luzon and Mindoro (including Lubang Island).

* Between Mindoro and Panay (including the Semirara Islands and extending to the Cuyo Islands).

Read more about this report by reading Rudy A. Fernandez’ article, “6 RP regions pack ‘wind power’ – study”.

What do you think are its implications on the provicnce and the country? Share your thoughts on this post by writing a comment on the comment box below.

Then, an uncle of mine from Tarusan came in, looking for his brother my father. He handed him a compact disk (CD) and said that he was part of it. The fact that my uncle mentioned that he was part it brought about gazillion of questions in me, one of it if he was singing considering that it was an audio CD.

Out of curiosity I opened up the CD and it was labeled as “Banat Reprezent”. The label jerked a bone in me because of how it was presented – unique I would say.

Anyways, continuing on with my bewilderment as to the CD’s content, I played it. The feeling was like this. I was one time in my pad in Intramuros, Manila spending a boring Sunday when suddenly out of nowhere a familiar tune hit my ears.

Guess what, it was the “Kuratsa Mayor” being played nearby.I rushed to locate the source of the music and then eventually met my neighbor who was from Samar too. What was the feeling then? It is basically like being in a far away place – missing everything about home then I heard the beat.  The song melted away my longing of Borongan and resurrected in me the pride in being a Waray.

Listening to my uncle’s group was like that. I know that there is a group called “La Familia” but they are from Tacloban, not from Borongan. I like the fact that they are just from the neighborhood and that they are rapping it with a true Boronganon accent.

It is a known fact for everyone in Eastern Samar that, the whole province is in a situation that I call “cold chaos” brought about by a lot people dissatisfied. We actually need not to go to Samar to experience it.

Nowadays, all you have to do is sit and check iborongan.com, and in there you would see and experience for yourself how the I define discontentment, turmoil and disunity.

Basically, everyone is disgusted as to how the province is run today. For my part I have seen a lot of people with many reasons to loose their pride in being a waray or for that matter a Boronganon.

To add to that, a lot of us would not even want to go home and suffer the rugged roads – undermining the beauty of our town. We all hope for a knight in shining armor to rescue all of us. However, that is not the solution!

This is situation that we have right now a”social volcano” (quoting the words of the Chief Justice)  waiting to erupt if I may add.

But in spite of this here is a young group shouting to the top of lungs a phrase like “kaupay hit Borongan”. Their CD contains phrases that would remind us how  beautiful is it to be a Boronganon. Their rap let me reminisce my afternoons in “pantalan” with my friends. The unforgettable love affairs that I had in there that would still draw a smirk from me remembering how funny it was.

These guys are the boys from the neighborhood that is continually shouting in waray that they love Borongan and she is beautiful. The funny thing is, they lit in me the dying flame of pride (of being a Boronganon) for that fact, that I came from where they are.

A task that the politicians failed to do. Their songs touched me so much and I can really say that they can compete with others. They are simple dudes who had a simple plan and that is “to let us know that we should love our hometown”.

Basically their chant solved a mystery in me, it answered the biggest question that I had. In their CD I realized that if you aim for the betterment of your place, one has to love it first and from that point on you would know what to do!

Well, to finish this one let me put it this way. Buy their album now because it is affordable before they become famous and you cannot.  Kudos to all of you!

Forty days after her death, I long for her strong voice. The voice that would reverberate during my dark days to lead me out of it. I long for her presence that stood as a pillar where I can lean on. Many times I dared to venture out of her grasp and proudly said, “I will stand in my own two feet.” Yes, I was standing on my own two feet but she was there to support me in spite of her illness. I was standing but she was holding me tightly because in reality I could not . There were those nights when I didn’t have anything to eat and just with one text sent to her, the problem was solved. There were those days where I didn’t have any dough in my pocket and just with one text, another problem solved. Talked about independence, what I become was a pain the butt. She was always there ready to help her son. She was always there ready to lend a hand but never was I. Life was hard, but she was still there in her own ways of making sure that I was all right. She was a mother in her own right, not maybe the ideal one but the best. That is all that is left for me to say. Now I tread this harsh life without her. I don’t have her all embracing arms anymore to guide me, to help me, and to perk me up with her warm love. The painful part, I didn’t relish her love. I didn’t even kept my promise to give her a McDonald rice burger every time I would get my salary.

Forty seven years of my mother’s life was spent to help others. She got married and reared children but still have not forgotten her other role in this world. She was a daughter, an elder sister, a cousin, a friend, a Catholic servant and a government employee, all these she took up with no complains and she was the best. She was called by various names by others depending on how close she was to their lives. I can still remember my childhood days when our house would be visited by teachers from different places of the province who wanted to inquire about their salaries. She would always find time to explain stuff to them and clarify the matter. At church, she was always hyper-active to lend a hand during her young days much more when she got married. She was a friend that was always ready to help. For me, she is my mother that deserved so much love but I failed to impart it. Forty seven years later she’s gone. I would like to think of it as though she took a trip somewhere but with that thought comes the hope that she will return. But the she ain’t, she ain’t…

Forty days since her death, I remember when I saw my mother at UST’s morgue placed on a platter lying in the freezer. She was in deep sleep. No one could wake her up even if I tell her how much I loved her. At that time I really wished she was “Sleeping Beauty”. Hoping, that with a whisk of something magical or the kiss of my father she would wake up and all is well. But not, it was not gonna happen. It was the time that I accepted the fact that she was gone. The events that followed after, came in a fast paced mode. The nine days of wake was like a television scene happening in front me. It came so fast and ended up quickly. Nevertheless, I could not forget the people that were there to help our family to give their condolences, their love and some financial help. Their presence lifted us up during those days. I would like to express my sincere admiration to the batch mates of my mother in Saint Joseph (Batch 76). When they learned that my mother died they were there immediately to lend a hand. Tito Arnel, a man that I first met during my mom’s wake made sure that she would get the best service from the funeral parlor. I really felt that they loved my mom. Ninang Bejoy was one of them, she was with our family from day one. She has been on mom’s bedside. As my mother’s best friend, I can still remember how Ninang would be quick to respond whenever she was called by her. Ninang Bejoy was a friend who manifested love and care at the outmost level. I would like to thank her and the rest of Batch 76 for making my mother’s last months a cheerful one with their visits. There are a lot of people that I need to thank besides from our relatives but they are practically too many to be named. My father was right indeed when he said that mother had a lot of friends because I felt and saw them. To all of you, our family is forever grateful in being with us and helping us during those days.

Let me end this with Josh Groban’s song entitled: “She’s Out of my Life”. The lyrics goes, “she’s out of my life and I don’t know whether to live or die and cuts like a knife she’s out of my life… “Thank you Nanay, no one in this world can be in par with the life that you lived and the love that you gave. Again, you might not be the ideal mom but you were the BEST!

1 dead, several missing

A 7-year-old boy was reportedly killed Tuesday afternoon in Dolores, Eastern Samar after falling to the river due to the strong winds.

Two fishermen from Hernani, Eastern Samar and two other fishermen from Guiuan, Eastern Samar were reported missing by the Office of Civil Defense yesterday.

Read more about the news here:

• Strong winds kill 1, cause damages in E. Samar
• Tornado, big waves leave 6 hurt, 5 missing

‘Feria’ wreaks havoc in Can-Avid

According to reports, a tornado-like wind struck several villages in the town of Can-Avid, Eastern Samar, wounding six people and damaging 26 houses.

Aside from that, a number of classrooms and school buildings were damaged and 500 were left homeless in the town due to the tropical storm.

Read more about the news here:

• “Feria” leaves 500 homeless; Samar PDCC activated

Storm causes power outage

There were also reports of power outages throughout the province as the typhoon struck the area.

I for one would endorse to have the Constitution amended when there’s a need to address current issues that have not been foreseen by the people who originally drafted it.

But that’s not where the problem lies. It’s on the people who want to change it.

These people who want to change the Constitution in less than a year are the same people who cannot create any significant change in their respective districts in three years.

Presenting the representatives of the Republic of the Philippines.

I am ashamed that Eastern Samar’s congressman, Teodulo M. Coquilla supported House Resolution 1109. Why? Because I don’t think he has the credibility to change the highest law of the land.

He presented himself during the 2007 elections as the opposite of who the previous congressman was. He promised to have the roads fixed where his predecessor neglected them. And by being the previous congressman’s opposite, Coquilla should have reversed the trend of corruption that was steadily eating up the province.

And I believed him. I voted for him. Only for this current congressman to remark that he has given up and cannot do anything anymore to repair the roads of Eastern Samar (a remark that he gave in a dialogue with several concerned citizens of the province).

I am ashamed because I have voted for this guy who hasn’t done anything really tangible to change the province in his first 2 years in office. More than the roads, corrupt people still dominate the province. And he engages in petty fights with Eastern Samar’s governor in which the governor is guilty of as well.

And now I am ashamed because he is one of the people with no credibility whatsoever who want to change the Philippine Constitution of all things.

Do you want your country’s future shaped by these kind of politicians? Tap away at the comments box.

Note: Here’s the complete list of the representatives who voted yes to HR 1109.

The Australian national arrived in the country last May 28 before heading immediately to his fiancee’s hometown in Hernani, Eastern Samar. On June 1, he began experiencing high fever and cold, symptoms of the H1N1 virus.

Within the same day, he was sent to a private hospital in Tacloban City before being transferred to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC). The EVRMC is the hospital designated to handle H1N1 cases in the Eastern Visayas region.

Read more by reading the news on Australian tested for H1N1 flu in Tacloban.

Hello:

I would like to request assistance in locating the family of a friend. He was found dead earlier this week, we, his friends have been trying to locate his family. Below are the details.

JIMMY CASTILLO LIM, graduate of UP Diliman, Metallurgical Engineering and Quezon City Science HighSchool. Contact Person is Mark Hael 09209105069

As far as we know, he still has family in the Samar region. He was living alone here in Manila. His body will not be released by the funeral parlor until a next of kin/relative appears and claims it.

Please help us air this message in your public service program/sections. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Emerson Maitim

Unfortunately, he was unable to specify where exactly in Samar Jimmy Castillo Lim is from.

So I extend my condolences to my Blano and his family.

Mana Tessie is one person you won’t easily forget because she always made it a point to greet you everytime you meet her at practically place. When I was still staying in Borongan, I usually saw her in the corner store in Sevilla while on my way to the plaza. She always asked me, “kumusta na Botoy?” She also never forgot to ask me how my family is.

I knew that she was already suffering from cancer for several years now, I think. But then again, we can never really be prepared for death. At least I’m sure she’s in a good place now.

Again, my condolences to you, Blano, and your family.

Can any of our Waray experts help him/her? Check out the post by visiting this link: http://forums.sinirangan.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5

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