Icban visits Kalibo Bakhawan, joins Kapihan sa Aklan anniversary
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL / Panay News

KALIBO, Aklan - Press Secretary Crispulo ' Cris' Icban, Jr. took time off from his hectic schedule in Malacañang to visit the province of Aklan on Saturday.
Icban flew to Aklan, his first visit in the province, to lead the ceremonial tribute for Atty. Ronquillo Tolentino during the 2nd anniversary of Aklan Media Forum and Kapihan sa Aklan. Tolentino was bestowed the Lifetime Achiever Award for his dedicated, outstanding and unparalleled achievements as a journalist, educator, lawyer, socio-civic and political leader, parlimentarian and historian.
Before heading to Manila yesterday, Icban was treated to a sumptuous lunch with local tamilok courtesy of Atty. Allen Salas Quimpo, chairman of Kalibo Save the Mangrove Association (Kasama) and president of Northwestern Visayan Colleges (NVC) at the community-based eco-tourism project of Kalibo Bakhawan Eco-Park in Barangay New Buswang.

Quimpo also introduced to Icban, former editor-in-chief of the Manila Bulletin prior to his designation as the 9th press secretary under President Gloria Arroyo, the energy saving charcoal briquetting machine used in the making of small round tablets of charcoal.

Icban also met incumbent Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Jean Rodriguez and Nemesio Neron and Kalibo Sangguniang Bayan member Lillian Quimpo-Tirol at the Kalibo Bakhawan for the tour.

Icban's convoy also stopped at the Dela Cruz House of Pina and at the historic sites - Museo it Akean, Kalibo Cathedral and the Aklan Freedom Shrine before going to Kalibo International Airport for his mid-afternoon flight via Philippine Airlines.

Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) president Juan Dayang, for his part, described the Kapihan sa Aklan anniversary as memorable, historic and sentimental where it was graced by Press Undersecretary Romeo Junia, Aklan Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo, Provincial Administrator Atty. Diego Luces, former Minister of Information Assemblyman Jose Tumbokon, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) chapter president Augusto Tolentino, former Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Santiago Regalado, Secretary to the Sanggunian Odon Bandiola, barangay captain Mary Jean Rebaldo, Shirly Regalado of Aklan Joycees, Libacao mayor Charito Navarosa, and Integrated Bar of the Philippines Aklan chapter president Atty. Ricardo Ibarreta, Jr.
Besides receiving recognition for his achievements and service to the Aklan community, Tolentino was treated to the audio-visual greetings of Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez, Manolita Acevedo of Soroptimist International, RGMA DyRU station manager Butz J. Maquinto and Aklan Red Cross administrator Araceli Pelayo.

The anniversary featured Mary Krisdel Panadero, who sung the doxology and the Philippine National Anthem, and ballroom dancing of selected NVC Mass Communications students.

Tolentino's family was also in full force - wife Ellen Isberto-Tolentino, daughters Dr. Ma. Katrina and Dr. Ma. Rosario in the 2nd anniversary, one of the biggest media night in Aklan, organized by the Aklan Media Forum in cooperation with PAPI and the Aklan Press Club.