House oks Timbaban hydropower project
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL/Panay News

KALIBO, Aklan – In line with the government’s goal of doubling hydropower by 2013, the House of Representatives passed on third and final reading House Bill 3679 that authorizes the establishment of the Timbaban hydropower project within the Aklan River Watershed Forest Reserve in Brgy. Maria Cristina, Madalag, Aklan.
The project also aims to avert an energy crisis in Panay Island.
Cong. Florencio Miraflores, vice chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, said “the hydropower project also exempts the 1,800-hectare protected zone in Madalag, Aklan from the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act.”
The $52.985-million Timbaban hydropower project will be funded by the Japanese government through the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC).
The 23.5-megawatt government project, endorsed by the Western Visayas Development Council, has the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) as the implementing agency.
The Western Japan Energy Consultants (Wesjec) did the feasibility study.
Miraflores also said the hydropower project funded by the California Energy International in Libacao, Aklan will supply, too, the power needs of neighboring provinces.
The American firm has substantially completed engineering and optimization studies for its $420-million Libacao hydroelectric project made by its engineering consultant Maunsell Philippines.
First Gen Renewables Inc., a Lopez-owned consortium, is also constructing micro-hydroelectric power plants generating 15 megawatts.

PAPI holds mid-year food security confab
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL/Panay News

KALIBO, Aklan – In celebration of its 34 years of service, leadership and advocacy, the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) will hold its 12^th Executive Session and Mid-Year Conference on June 23 to 24 at the Makati Sports Club, Makati City.
PAPI president Juan P. Dayang said the information industry and the community press are urged to perform a proactive role in the task of harmonizing multi-sectoral initiatives for food security.
”Agricultural production has always been a regular fare of countryside media endeavors, but owing to the confluence of local and international trends that has caused widespread food shortages, this vital driver of our economy requires new, more comprehensive approaches,” he said.
Bannered by the theme, “A Crucial Challenge: Media’s Strategic Role in Food Security,” the two-day conference is designed to enable PAPI network to enlighten the public and advocate reforms for food productivity.
PAPI is the largest and largest organization of journalists and publishers in the country.
Dayang pointed out the Mid-Year conference will consolidate the programs and projects including the PAPI News Service, nationwide PAPI “kapihans, regional and provincial young writers societies” and to deepen the personal relationships and professional commitments for PAPI conference attendees.
“The media event is also invites food security stakeholders, including farmers, fertilizer and farm input suppliers, technologists, aqua-culture producers, food processors, traders, cooperative leaders, finance and marketing managers to participate in round-table discussions,” he added.

PAPI president extols Panitan townmates

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

PAPI president Juan P. Dayang (left) proclaimed the Panitan Varsitarians Association Miss Summer Rose 2008 with Panitan mayor Katherine Dequina-Belo (right)/GCawaling

PANITAN, Capiz – Pubishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) president Juan P. Dayang extolled his Panitan townmates and the local officials for their hardwork, perseverance, loyalty to duty and a deep sense of service to fellowmen.
Dayang proclaimed the Miss Summer Rose 2008 during the 52^nd traditional summer affair of Panitan Varsitarians Association at Dadivas Civic Center here on May 17.
He was welcomed by former Capiz 1^st District Cong. Rodriquez Dadivas, Capiz Governor Victor Tanco, Panitan mayor Katherine Dequiña-Belo and Vice mayor Generoso Derramas.
“Your community may not have been as lucky as more fortunate communities of this region, with their rich natural resources and world-class sceneries but Panitan will not be left behind because its people have the spirit and determination to overcome even the worst adversities in life,” Dayang stressed.
Panitan, about 15 kms from Roxas City, is the birthplace of the late Buenaventura Delfin Dayang, father of the longest-serving PAPI president.
Dayang said Panitan mayor Belo is one of the ablest local leaders at the helm of local government today, leading the town into an unmistakable course for advancement.
“I had refused to be defeated by the dire circumstances of my origin, believing that the greatest asset of any given community are actually its human resources. Mayor Belo represents the idealism, the spirit of your generation. I urge you to support her dreams of transforming Panitan into a better place to live in,” Dayang added.
He also lauded the efforts of Dadivas for the various infrastructure programs – two-storey Panitan National High School Building , the President’s Bridge, the Dadivas Highway and the Dadivas Civic Center - for his Panitan townmates.
“The brilliance and winning ways of Dadivas, both in legislative work and in serving the needs of his constituents, have helped place Capiz in the map of good governance,” Dayang said.

Volunteers urged to help redefine Red Cross

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL/Panay News/Manila Bulletin

CLOSER TO COMMUNITY. PNRC Governor Ramon C. Locsin urges Red Cross volunteers to help people through a more holistic approach, saying, the PNRC is more than just a source of life and first aid institution/GCawaling

KALIBO, Aklan – Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) volunteers in Aklan have been urged to be actively involved in the continuing transformation of Red Cross.
“Red Cross must redefine itself to cope with all the trials and hurdle obstacles that come its way. We must be pro-active rather than just re-active,” said Rotary International District 3850 Gov. Ramon Cua Locsin during the 26th PNRC-Aklan Chapter Assembly yesterday.
PNRC is determined to help people through a more holistic approach, Locsin said.
Red Cross has six major services – community health and nursing, disaster management, safety services, social services, blood services, and volunteer service.
“Red Cross is more than just a source of life and first aid institution,” Locsin stressed.
PNRC-Aklan Board Chairman Atty. Ronquillo Tolentino, Vice Chairman Dr. Ambrosio Villorente, Kalibo Vice Mayor Nilda Tambong, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Plaridel Morania and Daisy Briones, and Kalibo Councilor Madeline Regalado also graced the assembly at Nenette’s Garden here.
Also present were PNRC-Aklan Board of Directors Atty. Tomas Raz, Engr. Victory Fernandez, Augusto Tolentino, Dr. Cynthia Dela Cruz, Sefalina Peralta, Ernesto Melgarejo, Ramon Venus and Remia Donguines.
“We are challenged to bring Red Cross closer to the communities of people that cry for our aid, to bridge gaps in society so that those in suffering will not lose their human dignity but keep it intact,” Locsin stressed.
The citizens must see the Red Cross as a symbol of hope and a rallying beacon for all to come together and help one another, he added.
“We need to strengthen our corps of volunteers and enhance the skills of those who are already available, and increase our preparedness response mechanisms. We are summoned to be always there, making ourselves steadfastly available to lend a helping hand, aware that in many cases, our presence itself is service enough,” Locsin said.
Red Cross is now in an era characterized by great challenges posed by man-made and natural disasters, destruction of the environment and irresponsible development.

Agong Roland’s murder trial to resume May 26
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL/Panay News

KALIBO, Aklan – The hearing of Agong Roland Ureta’s murder case in Cebu City will continue on May 26.
State Prosecutor Hazel Valdez said a prosecution team from the Department of Justice’s Task Force 211 (Task Force Against Political Violence) is handling the Ureta and Bombo Herson Hinolan murder cases.
Task Force 211, headed by Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, has been tasked by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to address extrajudicial executions in the country.
“At least three prosecutors are handling the murder case and I thank them for their support,” said Emilyn Ureta, wife of the slain radio broadcaster.
Last May 9, the Regional Trial Court Branch 16 under Judge Sylva Paderanga finished hearing the direct testimony of Ureta and will continue the cross-examination on May 26.
Amador Ras, the suspect in the Ureta case, is presently detained at the Cebu City jail. State Prosecutors Peter Medalla and Leo Dacera were present to hear the murder cases.
Ureta, program director of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) DyKR, was killed by motorcycle-riding suspects while on his way home to Brgy. Bagto, Lezo, Aklan on January 3, 2001.
A lone witness, Gerson Sonio, claimed to have seen Ras and Jessie Ticar shoot to death the radio journalist.
Ticar died at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo, Aklan on May 2, 2008.
Ras told the court that he might seek the legal assistance of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) after his private lawyer failed to appear in the Cebu hearing despite proper court notice.
On May 26, the Cebu court will also arraign former Lezo Mayor Alfredo Arsenio, the prime suspect in the killing of Hinolan, Bombo Radyo station manager, on November 13, 2004.
The Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) hailed the Supreme Court decision on March 18, transferring the trial from Aklan to Cebu City, citing the safety of the victims’ families.

Police torch run reinforces reform initiatives - Durana
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL/Panay News

The Aklan Police Provincial Office, a pilot site of the Model Police Station project, supported the Integrated Transformation Program (ITP) since last year/GCawaling

KALIBO, Aklan – Aklan Police Director Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. said the Transformation Torch Run of the Philippine National Police (PNP) reinforces what the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) is doing.
“This is nothing new to the APPO since we have been implementing reform programs last year. Although, we don’t really follow the Integrated Transformation Program (ITP) projects identified, we took some initiatives, in our small ways, to allow real transformation to take off,” he stressed.
The eighth leg of the ITP torch run was attended by Supt. Larry Decena, Supt. Arnold Ardiente, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Insp. Benjamin Tulayan and Provincial Administrator Diego Luces at Camp Pastor Martelino in Brgy. New Buswang on Monday.
Senior Supt. Bartolome Tobias, chief of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, said “the ITP torch run promotes genuine change, unity, cooperation and fellowship. This is a testimony that the PNP personnel could transform while they perform their duty to make the PNP an effective, credible and capable police force.”
Durana said the transformation run is one of the advocacies of the Program Management Office (PMO) to build awareness and understanding of the PNP ITP.
“It is a challenge for the APPO, the pilot site of the Model Police Station (MPS) project. The real transformation is something that is unseen and internal. It should come from within,” he said.

Life’s a beach
BY DIANA UY

Truly when the beach calls, everyone pays attention.
And when it spells B-O-R-A-C-A-Y, expect everyone to scram.
A trip to Boracay, after all, is not your ordinary beach holiday. It’s not called the party island for nothing, making it the ultimate venue for the much-anticipated Nestea Beach volleyball competition.
That said, who wouldn’t want to see cute, well-built college hotties tough it out on the white sands of the island, not to mention, glamorous celebrities and pretty and handsome models getting wasted with free-flowing booze?
Needless to say, the 12th Nestea Beach was flocked, mobbed, and packed when it commenced its five-day series of activities that included the final leg of the college beach volleyball competition, a celebrity match championship, a fashion show courtesy of Penshoppe and Nautilus by PJ Arañador; a beach cleanup, concerts, and party, party, and did I mention, party?
Let the games begin
The first few days saw 18 teams from 14 schools compete for the semis and final rounds. At stake was a whopping half a million pesos worth of prizes. Champion teams get to receive P100,000 cash each with their respective coaches taking home P25,000.
At the end, Rolando Agus and Arnel Amadeo of Foundation University won the men’s title while Janelle Tabio and Florian Gutierrez of Southwestern University won in the women’s division.
Runners-up in the men’s division were Jonrey Sasing and James Ryan Rivera of University of Southern Philippines Foundation and Emmanuel Marlon Luces and Mark Sabusap of University of St. La Salle Bacolod who won P80,000 and P55,000, respectively. Janez Armie Igot and Jusabelle Brillio of University of the Visayas and Mylin Que and Liezl Manatad of University of Mindanao-Tagum, meanwhile, were runners-up in the women’s division.
Of course, Nestea Beach would not be complete without the celebrities trying their hand at one of the most beloved sports of all time. Pinoy Big Brother housemates like Riza Santos, Gaby de la Merced and Will Devaughn, together with the other members of the Nestea team like Brad Turvey, Maggie Wilson, Cesca Litton, Lian Ramos, VJ Drei, VJ Sanya slugged it out with the members of the Penshoppe Team including Victor Basa, Matt Evans, Vicky Herrera, Melissa Ricks, Einar Ingebrigsten, and Dawn Balagot.
The next day, we saw Team Pinoy Big Brother, which now includes PMAP model and Nestea Beach Volley alumnus Ariel Atendido, beat Team Binibining Pilipinas with members like Maggie Wilson, Lian Ramos, TV personality Brad Turvey and columnist Armiel Cabanlig. Gaby de la Merced, of course, was the crowd favorite while the off-line hits of beauty queen Wilson proved to be more entertaining than annoying, thanks to her uncanny ability to laugh at her mistakes. Leave it to another beauty queen and PBB housemate Santos to remain poised and graceful as ever even while diving and eating sand just to keep up with her team members. Now, there is the mark of a true beauty queen, indeed.
Joining these celebrities were columnists JR Isaac and Philip Cu-unjieng, TV personality Sam Oh and the PJ Arañador male models.
Nestea Beach also announced the newest Nestea Beach VJs: Thistle Guevarra (Luzon), Shenna Hernandez (Visayas) and Cheska Mempin (Mindanao) at the welcome dinner held at La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel.
A night of fashion
The highlight of the following night was a fashion show featuring the latest island wear collection of PJ Arañador for Nautilus and the Penshoppe Summer Collection, at the Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Convention Center. PJ Arañador showcased a four-themed collection including Angel Lovers, Adventurer, Naturalist, and Explorers.
Angel Lovers featured beautiful cherubs in red and white skimpy wear on the catwalk. While Adventurer showcased sporty beach wear in summer colors like lime, orange and powder blue. We saw stripes, hooded tops and huge back pockets stitched on board shorts.
The Naturalist proved the most summer-y of the collection with the profusion of colors and flower prints predominating the line. Lastly, it was all metallic in the Explorers set. We saw gold and silver mixed with animal prints, which Arañador says is his ode to “wildlife conservation especially in this day and age of industrialization.”
The Penshoppe Summer Collection showcased funky prints and colors. Heart Evangelista and Nikki Gil, together with the other Penshoppe models, starred at the fashion show.
Beach cleanup
As part of its environmental effort, Nestea Beach conducted a beach cleanup, in partnership with Boracay Scuba and Boracay Foundation, in Boracay’s Station 1 and 2. The cleaners were Brad Turvey, Cesca Litton, Lian Ramos, and joining them were Devaughn, Santos, De la Merced, Sam Oh, and Myx VJs Drei and Sanya.
The five-day event culminated with a victory concert featuring Parokya ni Edgar at the Paraiso Bar. Despite the heavy rain, beachbums (drunks included) crowded the Paraiso Bar and rocked the night away with the “Banda ng Bayan.”

1st Aklan Media Bowling Cup wraps up
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL/Panay News

KALIBO, Aklan – Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI)/Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Aklan ruled the 1st Vice Gov. Gabrielle V. Calizo - Aklan Media Bowling Cup at the Q-Zone Bowling Center.
PAPI/PIA-Aklan rolled 648 pin falls against the Aklan Cable TV/Kalibo Cable TV team (534) for an easy victory in the championship game. The crowned champion remained unbeaten in the six-team bowling tournament.
With a 3-3 card after the semifinal round, CBIS 98.5 Hot FM/DyMT Tambuli Community Radio put together 608 pin falls to beat RGMA DyRU Super Radyo/IBC DyRG Budyong (585), in the battle for third place.
Aklan Print Media captured fifth place and the DyIN Bombo Radyo/RMN DyKR for sixth place at the close of single-round eliminations.
The competition from May 8 to 14 was supported by the Aklan Police and Defense Press Corps (APDPC), Aklan Press Club, Inc. (APCI), Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)-Aklan and PAPI.
Calizo, who graced the awarding ceremony, lauded the organizers of the weeklong tournament. It promoted friendship and camaraderie and enhanced interest in the bowling sport among the Aklan tri-media practitioners.
"The bowling event also strengthened the solidarity and understanding, fitness and fun of the tri-media members," she stressed.
Also awarded by Calizo were Arnel Arrieta (191) for the highest individual score (men), PAPI/PIA-Aklan for highest team score (653) and Dulce Besario (153) for highest individual score (women).