Aklan Association celebrates 46 years

BY DAVID MERCADO JR for Bayanihan

Over 46 years, the Aklan Association of Guam has grown in size, prominence and civic duty. Founded in May 1965, the organization last Saturday celebrated 46 years with an Induction Ball featuring many of the island's business and political leaders at a reception Hilton Guam Resort and Spa's Marianas Ballroom.

Aklan is regarded as the oldest province in the country, located in the western Visayas region, consisting of 17 municipalities.
It was a full house, surprising to the organization's expectations, and the distance between tables was nearly wide enough for only one person to walk through.

Distinguished guests included Gov. Eddie Calvo and first lady Christine Calvo, businessman Emelio Uy, Filipino Community of Guam President Leah Beth Naholowaa, and Sen. Dennis Rodriguez Jr., to name a few.

What made the night even more special was when Calvo inducted the 12 new officers for the organization's 2011-2013 term. As for the board of directors, Consul General Bayani Mercado was given the honor of inducting them into the new term.

"I am very honored and humbled by the support from everybody," says newly elected Aklan Association of Guam President Annie Payne.

"Whether Aklanon or not, the fact that we are united together makes it great."

In her speech, she acknowledged the small diner table by the side of the stage, carefully decorated like any other table in the ballroom with a wine glass, a chair, table napkins, and a plate.

"This is a symbol of the people who cannot be with us today to celebrate this special occasion," Payne says.

There was a moment of silence to remember the past members who have "contributed so much to the formation and growth of the organization."

HOME PROVINCE
Florencio Miraflores, a representative from the Lone District of Aklan, was the night's guest speaker. He updated Guam Aklanons of the goings on in their home province, explaining how construction developments and tourism, like Guam, are priorities in the province of Aklan.

"Some 30 bridges have been allocated to the province, including the Ibahay Bridge, and currently, a 200-meter bridge is in the works," Miraflores says. "The new bridge will connect the municipality of Banga to the rest of Aklan."

Aklan is also known for the greatly celebrated Ati-Atihan festival, which attracts many tourists to the region, he said.

In addition, the island resort of Boracay, which can be found just less than 200 miles south of Manila, has made "Aklan as one of the popular tourist destinations in the Philippines," Miraflores says.

Following the inductions and speeches, the audience dined and enjoyed a night of entertainment. Engineer Tony Luces provided a rendition a la Elvis Presley, and the Aerobics Club of Guam performed a small dance number to the delight of the audience.

Payne deems the event as a success but she apologized to those who were unable to attend the anniversary ball due to the limited number of seats the hotel could support.

"But with the help of everybody from the organization, it's a success and I am grateful," Payne says.

"Even if we slept at two in the morning, I could not expect anything more."

Smart Travel poll: Boracay, Palawan in 2011 top Asia's holiday destinations
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

BORACAY - The island of Boracay is one of Asia's Best Holiday Destinations in the latest online poll of Smart Travel Asia, the region’s only dedicated online travel magazine with over one million readers worldwide.

The 2011 travel poll – now in its seventh year – is the readers’ perceptions and favourite travel brands based on substantial hands-on travel experience, word-of-mouth at dinnertime chats, as well as an idea of the brand drawn from advertising and editorial exposure in the online media.

Boracay Island, famous for its white sand beaches located in Malay, Aklan, was ranked No. 10 in the top Asian holiday destinations this year. Palawan shared fifth place with the island republic of Maldives in the latest online poll, which ran for three months from May to July.

Boracay and Palawan are the tourist destinations in the country named by the Smart Travel Asia online poll.

The scenic Bali, Indonesia was chosen as Asia's best holiday destination followed by Phuket in Thailand, Hongkong and Kerala in India. Hanoi in Vietnam moved up to sixth place with Shanghai, China. Hoi An ancient town of Vietnam jointly ranked in seventh place with Rajasthan of India and Seoul, South Korea.

Angkor, Cambodia was in 8th place with Langkawi, Indonesia. Goa in India, Koh Samui in Thailand and Penang, Malaysia were ranked in 9th place. Bali, an enchanting island in Indonesia, was ranked first in 2006, 2007 and 2009 as the top holiday destination in Asia by readers' votes of the online poll.

Cebu Pacific (CEB) was also ranked third among Asia's top low-cost airlines behind AirAsia/Air AsiaX and Jetstar Asia. The budget airline based in the Philippines has pioneered Go Lite fares, all-inclusive fares, prepaid excess baggage and e-ticketing since its operation in 1996.

Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa made it for the first time in the Top 25 Spa Resorts and Hotels. El Nido Lagen Island Resort, Amanpulo on Pamalican Island and El Nido Miniloc Island Resort in Palawan were also named in the Top 25 of the Leisure Hotels and Resorts.

Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu bagged the 18th spot while Mandala Spa and Villas was ranked 25th in the Top 25 Spa Resorts and Hotels.

According to Smart Travel magazine, their voters took an average 15.75 air trips over the past year and earned an average US$156.716 in household income. They travelled enough to tell the difference between crass and class.

Approximately 60 percent were based in Asia (largely Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and the Middle East), 20 percent in UK/Europe and 20 percent in USA and North America. As many as 92.4 percent of the voters said they drew their primary image of brands from the Internet and 88.8 percent said they made travel decisions online.

Boracay Dragons takes silver in Italy world frisbee tilt
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

For the second time, the Boracay Dragons won a silver medal in the prestigious 3rd World Championships of Beach Ultimate at Lignano Sabbiadoro in Italy on Sunday.

Slated from August 21 to 28 at the Getur Beach Sports Complex in northern Italy, the biggest world frisbee championships attracted 73 teams and more than 1,100 athletes from 31 countries across five continents. The frisbee tournament, held every four years, has six divisions: Open, Mixed, Women, Masters, Mixed Masters and Grand Masters.
Boracay Dragons frisbee team bowed to United States, 13-9, in a highly spirited game of the Open Division finals of the world tournament to clinch the silver medal.
In the 2nd World Championships of Beach Ultimate in Brazil in 2007, the Boracay Dragons also placed second against Italy.
Before the championship match against the United States, the Boracay Dragons edged Canada, 10-9, in the quarterfinals before thrashing defending champion Italy in the semifinals, 13-4. For third place, Switzerland defeated Italy, 12-6.
The Boracay Dragons line-up is composed of the following players: Benjamin Yap, Boboy Famorcan, Clyde Sullano, Datu Sumndad, Hendrix Maming, James Yap, Jason Lopez, Jeffrey Rodriguez, Joebert Buenaventura, Jude Lee, Karen Cabrera, Kristian Guerrero, Panoy delos Santos and Wendell Simbulan.

In the eliminations, the Boracay Dragons lost its first game to Italy, 12-9, but, the Philippine team came back strong in its succeeding games against India (13-3), Ireland (13-3), Germany (11-9) and Currier Island (13-4).

The Boracay Dragons suffered its second defeat against United States, 11-8, in its sixth game, however, it scored twin victories against Belgium (12-8) and France (10-6) to gain an outright quarterfinals seat.

Back home, the Boracay Dragons, considered the “Beach Kings of Asia,” is the eight-time defending champion of Boracay Open from 2004 to 2011 and the champion of the 1st Asian Championships of Beach Ultimate in 2009 held in Boracay Island.

The Boracay Dragons also captured the gold medal in the Singapore Beach Ultimate Tournament in Sentosa, Singapore in 2008.

Beach Ultimate is a fast-paced flying disc team sport practiced by men and women of all ages. The teams consist of 5 players on the field and 5-10 additional players on the sideline.

Kasafi announces Ati-Ati poster making contest winners
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – Two high school students bagged the top prizes in the On-the-Spot Ati-Ati Poster Making Contest sponsored by the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) on Saturday.

Kasafi chairman Albert Menez said 16-year old Mary Kristelyn Blas from Regional Science High School (RSHS) for Region VI got the grand prize of P10,000 for her award winning entry depicting the decades-old celebration of the Ati-Atihan festival.

Marc Jimley Crispino, a 15-year old high school student of RSHS for Region VI, placed second for P3,000.

Bannered by the theme, “Ro Ati-Ati it Kalibo,” the annual poster making contest attracted 73 high school and college students and out-of-school youth, aged 20 years and below.
“The poster-making contest was held as one of the activities of the upcoming Ati-Atihan festival in honor of Senor Sto. Nino come January next year,” he said.

Menez said the poster entry of Blas will be featured in the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival souvenir program and other promotional materials of Kasafi.

Other winners were 16-year old Paolo Magno of Garcia College of Technology, who received P2,000 for third place, and 19-year old Ryan Bolivar of the Aklan State University-College of Industrial Technology (ASU-CIT) and Winsis Leo Sison, 18, of Garcia College of Technology for the consolation prizes.

Bolivar and Sison received P1,000 each from Kasafi while 18-year old special child Ricardo Tiongson Jr. of Kalibo Integrated School got a special prize from Kasafi chairman Menez and Kasafi vice president Jemina Trinidad.

The board of judges were Cecilia Sumra Rojo, John-John Arevalo, Ma. Delia Ibesate, Archt. Jose Dureza and Archt. Ramon Duena, Jr.

The judges evaluated the entries according to four main criteria: creativity, lay-out and composition, relevance to the theme and color combination.

Kalibo mayor William Lachica and vice mayor Madeleine Regalado awarded the winners with cash prizes during the awarding ceremony at the Kasafi office.

All contestants also received certificate of participation from Kasafi and the local government unit of Kalibo. Since last year, the contest served as venue for local artists to express their creativity and talents.

Schools participation

This year, twenty-one schools participated in the Ati-Ati poster making contest, among others, Aklan National High School for Arts and Trades (ANHSAT), Marian High School, Northwestern Visayan Colleges, Linabuan National High School, Aklan State University-CIT, New Washington National Comprehensive School, Aklan Catholic College, Infant Jesus Academy, Wadeford School and Infant Jesus School.
Other schools were Our Lady of Fatima (Dao, Capiz), University of the Philippines in the Visayas (Miag-ao campus), Kalibo Integrated Schools, STI College Kalibo, Sto. Nino Seminary, Ochando National High School, Dela Cruz Institute of Business and Industry, Aklan State University-College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (New Washington, Aklan), Garcia College of Technology, Aklan State University-Banga and Regional Science High School for Region VI.

Saving those enchanting mangroves

The Manila Times

I have waited 14 years to give this speech. I first visited the Bugtongbato mangroves in 1996 when my former SEAFDEC assistant Junemie, now Dr. Lebata-Ramos, excitedly reported a beautiful mangrove patch she had seen in Ibajay.

I thought she was exaggerating until another colleague confirmed her story. When I came with SEAFDEC group in 1997, it was love at first sight! Never mind the mangroves I have seen all over the Philippines and SE Asia, Japan, Brazil, Ecuador, Africa and even Florida in the USA—the captivating BugtongBato-Naisud mangroves will always be my favorite.

However, I was shocked to find out during my visit that a lot of trees were girdled (barks were scraped off) so I asked the Barangay Head. He said he plans on setting them on fire (dag-oban kag patyon), following the advice of a government environment official who told him that in order to make a livelihood from the mangroves, he should only plant bakhaw (and clear all the mangrove trees).

As the forest is dominated by Avicennia, locally known as apiapi or bungalon, he thought he needed to cut these first. I pleaded—please spare the trees because I need them for my research—which was not really true at the time. On my return to Iloilo I scouted for research funds to study Mangrove-Friendly Aquaculture.

In the course of my field work during early 2000, I invited Filipino scientists, Dr. Rex Sadaba from University of the Philippines Visayas and Dr. Josette Biyo from Philippine Science High School, who brought their own students, and also foreign scientists from Japan, Sweden, UK, etc. One particular day, I remember walking in the Ibajay market with an Australian mangrove expert in tow, when a vendor asked me if he was my husband. She thought I was a native Akeanon who brought my Caucasian spouse to the famous beaches of Boracay. She didn’t know there is something far more beautiful and precious in Ibajay than Boracay.

My experiences suggest that these mangroves are not only enchanting but also enchanted. Please do not laugh at my story but the first time Junemie and I visited the centuries-old trees, it took more than an hour through the slippery jungle to locate where the Avicennia rumphiana stand. When we were done admiring the magnificent trees, we made our way back as the sun was going down.

To our dismay, our local guide confessed that he’d never seen that part of the forest so we kept going around in circles. After what seemed an eternity, we finally found the road. My own interpretation is that spirits of the forest were testing us and finally saw our good intentions. During the early 80s, a handful of local folks and officials prevented chainsaws from turning these forests into fishponds.I say to those who visit these mangroves—be pure in heart, respect the plants, do not cut their branches nor throw garbage.

Unfortunately, this was not the case during my past visits, for each time I would notice a cut tabigi or a burned piag-ao. These are just 2 of the 27 species of mangroves in this EcoPark, as documented in the Handbook of Philippine Mangroves (co-authored with Rex, Junemie and Jon Altamirano).

You can read their scientific and local names on the nameplates hanging from the trees and in the poster inside the Information Center. There are other posters that describe the importance of mangroves, their uses, and so on, so I will not go into that.

More recently, we simplified the 106-page book to a shorter, laminated Mangrove Field Guide which is cheaper and easier to carry.

I hope to see Filipinos, both adults and children (including my two apos surnamed Tirol who happen to be Akeanons) going to forests and appreciating its beauty. Toward this end, my grant from PEW has funded the writing and publication of Mangrove Modules for elementary schools. Last November, we distributed some 2,000 copies of these Modules with the accompanying Teacher‘s Manual to 80 schools throughout Panay.

This Mangrove Ecopark in Ibajay, Aklan is only one livelihood option for our partner people’s organizations (POs)—the Bugtongbato Fishers Association and the Naisud Marine and Aquatic Organization. There is also food processing in collaboration with the Aklan State University, and hopefully more research studies from University of the Philippine Visayas and even foreign universities.

In the early 2000s, SEAFDEC made it possible for me to do research in these mangroves. In 2005, the PEW grant provided PhP100,000 for the first part of the footwalk, but it was an individual project for me. In 2008 came the grant from Zoological Society of London (ZSL) which did not only provided funds, but also the best human resources available—my staff of nine from ZSL and PEW.

Without all of them, we will not be here today.Finally, on behalf of ZSL and SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (where I am Scientist Emerita), our deepest thanks go to our PO partners and LGU officials—Mayor Lulu (Ma. Lourdes Miraflores), Vice Mayor Sta. Maria, SB Solidum, Captain Inguillo and Captain Gregorio, and their support staff.

Kasafi ready to host Ati poster making contest

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - With the theme “Ro Ati-Ati it Kalibo,” the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) is hosting more than 70 participants for the On-the-Spot Poster Making Contest on Saturday.

Kasafi chairman Albert Menez said high school and college students from the private and public schools are joining the annual competition this year.

The grand winner will take home P10,000, the second and third winners will receive P3,000 and P2,000, respectively, from Kasafi. The winning poster will be used as cover of the souvenir program and promotional materials for the upcoming Ati-Atihan festival.

The contestants for the one-day poster-making contest will be given five hours to work around the central theme. Relevance to the theme, color combination, creativity and lay-out and composition are the criteria to be used by the board of judges in selecting the winning poster.

Menez said the briefing and orientation of the contest will start at 9 a.m. followed by the contest proper. The judging will commence at 4 p.m. and the awarding of winners at 5 p.m.

Kalibo mayor William Lachica and vice mayor Madeline Regalado are invited by the Kasafi for the awarding ceremony to be held at Kasafi office.

Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival, scheduled on January 9 to 15, 2012, is an annual feast in honor of Senor Sto. Nino. It draws ten of thousands of devotees and visitors from all over the world to celebrate the festive event in the capital town of Kalibo.

Last year, Kasafi held its first poster making contest to serve as venue for local artists to show their creative spirit for arts and to polish their craft.

Philvocs: Magnitude 4.5 quake hits Panay Island

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - A magnitude 4.0 quake rocked parts of Panay on Thursday morning and was felt as far as Negros Occidental, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs).

The quake was recorded at 10:17 a.m. and was tectonic in origin. No damage or aftershocks was expected.

The epicenter was traced 22 kms south of the capital town of San Jose de Buenavista in Antique province.

Philvocs bulletin said the quake was felt at Intensity IV in San Remegio and Valderrama in Antique, Intensity III in San Jose de Buenavista, Hamtic, Barbaza, Sebaste, Sibalom, Pandan, Culasi, Guimbal, Patnongon and Libertad in Antique and the City of Iloilo.

Intensity II in Baratoc Nuevo, Bingayan, New Lucena, Oton and Leon in Iloilo province and Lezo, New Washington, Malay and the capital of Kalibo in Aklan province. The quake was also felt at Intensity I in Bacolod City and Sipalay in Negros Occidental.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS), meanwhile, measured the quake at 4.9 magnitude at 10:17:22 a.m. The epicenter was recorded at 46 km (28 miles) west-northwest of Iloilo, 88 km (54 miles) west of Bacolod, Negros Occidental, 106 km (65 miles) southwest of Roxas City, Capiz and 438 km (272 miles) south-southeast of Manila.

Last August 14, a magnitude 4.8 quake also hit part of Antique, Romblon and Aklan at 3:38 p.m. Philvocs recorded the epicenter of the quake 53 km north of Buruanga, Aklan and was tectonic in origin.

It has a depth of 17 kms and was felt at intensity III in Looc, Romblon; Malay, Aklan and Culasi, Antique, Intensity IV at Libertad, Antique and Intensity V at Caluya Island in Antique.

ASU hosts first CHED-PASUC EEZ national forum
BY SALLY R. VILLASIS / RHEA V. MARTESANO

The Aklan State University (ASU) hosted the first of four Forums on State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)-Private Partnership on Education Economic Zones on August 17 to 19, 2011 at the ASU Review Center in Banga, Aklan.

The forum, sponsored by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), aimed to provide a venue for sharing of the best practices on SUCs-Private Partnership and explore potential partnership with the private sector.

Participants to the forum are the SUCs President, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Research and Extension, and Vice President for Production/Business and industry representatives from Regions VI, VII and VIII.

Oscar A. Torralba, Chair, Agri-Business Countryside Development Committee, Management Association of the Philippines/CHED Technical Panel for Business and Management, in his keynote address, discussed salient points about the Economic Education Zones (EEZ) as a Platform for Government-Industry-Academe (GIA) Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in SUCs.

He emphasized that with SUCs facing intense competition for opportunities and for priority in fiscal allocation with the rising threat of budget deficits and the increasing demand by the globalized market, it was imperative for SUCs to shift to an innovative approach in facing these harsh realities. It was along this line that EEZ was introduced.

EEZ envisions to transform a SUC from being traditional, budget based and grant-driven into an enterprising one through the development of its natural resource endowments and the commercial application of the SUC research knowledge with strong private sector participation for long term cooperation.

Dr. Virginia Resurreccion, Director VI, CHEDRO 6, Iloilo City, in her message, conveyed about the importance of raising the country’s human capital in addressing the global issue on poverty.

She stressed that the achievement of this objective is through a strong curriculum that offers strong education and training of students who can compete in the global market and can match the emerging trends in the industry. While this can be hindered by lack of economic resources, it can be noted that this can be met through public private partnerships that can provide the key mechanisms for flexibility and accommodate growth in SUCs while creating jobs and spurring the economic growth in the newly conceptualized SUC curriculums.

With the possible partnership that will emerge between SUCs and the private sectors, Dr. Resurrecion noted the importance of all SUCs to focus in research, training and development it can provide an inexpensive offshoot to the growth of knowledge economy thus linking the need in providing the SUCs adequate financial support on R&D activities which can better achieved through partnering with the private sector.

The forum featured paper presentations on the following sub-themes: Curricular Enrichment/Development, Enterprise Development, Intellectual Property Management/Technology Business Incubation/Technology Commercialization, Business Process Outsource and Infrastructure/Physical Facilities Development.

Immigration: Foreign tourists staying longer in PHL

GMANews

Good news for the Philippine tourism industry: foreign tourists want to stay longer in the country — with some even staying beyond the date originally authorized in their visas.

According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Philippines is becoming a favorite destination among tourists in the Asia Pacific region.

“It appears that foreign visitors become more attracted to our country after arriving here to the extent that many of them would decide to prolong their stay instead of leaving before the lapse of their authorized initial stay or visa," Immigration commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said Tuesday.

David also clarified that foreign tourists may extend their stay in the country as long as they do the necessary paper work before their authorized length of stay lapses, stick to the conditions of their stay and pay the necessary fees to the BI.
Data from the BI showed that tourist visa extensions peaked in January to June, with 13,000 applications on average filed and approved monthly, These were at the lowest in July when only 9,000 applications were filed and approved.

Over 81,287 visa extensions applications were processed and approved by the BI from January to July of 2011, compared to the 20,804 applications processed and approved in the same period last year.

BI Visa Extension Office chief Rodelio Sapian said that under existing rules foreigners who don’t require visas are allowed in the country for 21 days while visa-required foreigners are given an initial stay of 59 days.

Tourist arrivals in the first four months of the year hit more than 1.3 million, according to the Tourism Department. The figure is a 13.33 percent increase compared to the 1,153,198 tourist arrivals during the same period in 2010.

Most of the foreign tourists, the department noted, came from East Asia — in particular, South Korea and Taiwan.

American and Canadian tourists came in second while Southeast Asian tourists were the third biggest chunk of Philippine tourists.

Top destinations
Earlier, the DOT reported that Cebu and Boracay were on top of the list of favorite destinations for Chinese tourists celebrating the Spring Festival Week with over 3,500 Chinese nationals visiting Philippine shores.

Last month, Boracay Island in Aklan was also hailed as the fourth best island in the world in Travel + Leisure Magazines’ annual “World’s Best Awards." — BC/VS, GMA News

Boracay is beautiful-even when it rains
BY JOY ROJAS/ Philippine Daily Inquirer ANN

The picture that came with the press kit of Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Convention Center Philippines looked, well, the way Boracay should-blue skies over cool, calm waters and sand with the colour and consistency of oatmeal.

What Boracay looked like when we arrived, however, was not exactly postcard perfect. Then smack in the middle of storms Egay and Falcon, the tropical paradise was wet and windy, its sky dreary and overcast.

Who would have guessed that our host, a triple A-rated beach-front resort, would boast a full house all year round, and even in the face of back-to-back typhoons?

Boracay Regency resort manager Dindo Miguel Salazar says Koreans and Taiwanese typically book weekends in the "honeymoon season" of July, August and September, while Russian tourists flee their bitter winters for Boracay's more pleasant climate from December to February.

At first, the thought of Russians making their way to our part of the world, and via chartered flights, no less, seemed unbelievable-until I noticed several hardbound Russian books propped on the shelves of the resort's well-appointed VIP lounge. "Oh, they like to leave their books here after reading them," notes Salazar with a smile. "They want to be able to share them with other guests."
Speaking of books, I packed a good one in my bag as a contingency to the bad weather. Catching up on my reading on the king-size bed of my luxurious suite for three days seemed like a plan-but only for a moment. Rain or shine, I decided to make the most of my stay in the world-famous white-sand beach.

With a colleague from another paper, I took a relaxing afternoon stroll from our hotel to the popular and nearby D'Mall and surveyed potential pasalubong as my companion took pictures of the lively commercial area.

Even with intermittent rains and huge, crashing waves, the beach attracted a fair share of swimmers and windsurfers. Vendors were also aplenty along the sandy strip, hawking everything from fresh lobsters and kitschy souvenirs to henna tattoos and a variety of massages.

D'Mall offers a range of dining options both unique and familiar (imagine Pancake House, Shakey's and Starbucks in the sand), but Boracay Regency guests don't even have to leave the resort to find good food.

Two of the restaurants we tried were the open-air, buffet-style Sea Breeze Caf? and the cozy Christina's, but easily the most unforgettable meals were served right on the beach, under a sturdy, weather-resistant tarpaulin tent.

Introduced by the hotel in November 2010 and measuring a total of 600 meters, the tent, which is securely held together by aluminum beams, runs entirely on electricity from the hotel.

Of course, the tent can be dressed up or down to suit any occasion. Chandeliers and a fancy table spread with gold-and-white motif were the appropriate accents for our first dinner, a six-course sit-down meal in a private, 100-square-meter section. The night before leaving the island, we savored a buffet of Pinoy favorites in a larger, more casual setting.

Our leisurely schedule had room for a massage at the hotel's own Kai Regency Spa, whose thoroughly Asian interiors and subtle ambiance were enough to make you forget where you were.
My Kai Royal Thai Massage was so relaxing, I secretly wished my very capable therapist Elaine threw in more stretches during our 60-minute session. Meanwhile, the traditional Swedish massage everybody else signed up for had a similar effect. At least three colleagues promptly fell asleep as soon as their therapists began kneading their tired, tense muscles with lavender oil.
With much time in between the massage and our meals, we were free to do as we pleased. Some of us trooped back to D'Mall, Boracay Regency umbrellas in hand, to return for the gifts we had spotted the day before.

Others chose to stay in their rooms to nap, monitor the storm's progress from the large, flat-screen TV, or catch up on work (and update their Facebook status) with the help of the hotel's speedy WiFi system.

Even with the rains, it was still possible to indulge in typical beach activities. One or two colleagues couldn't resist a dip in the stunning pool at the center of the wing where we were billeted, but braver souls can do what the trio of tourists did with every major downpour.

Clad in skimpy swimsuits, they charged wildly into the big, crashing waves on the beach, then padded contentedly back to their room once the sky cleared. One of two treadmills in the resort's fully equipped gym kept me indoors, but I promised that I would run the 4-km stretch of white sand on my next visit.

A next visit, in fact, was what we were all talking about as we checked out of the resort days later. Family was the first on our minds: Boracay Regency's rooms were spacious enough to share with loved ones, and with the Seair tie-up, transfer from Caticlan airport to the Station 2 resort would be quick and hassle-free. As to when we would book our next Boracay.

Echoes From

BY JOHNNY DAYANG

'Daang Matuwid' comes to Boracay

Finally, the tedious, rambunctious, and exasperating dispute concerning the owning of land, as well as the rights to property, in the paradise that is Boracay Island will soon come to an end.

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading House Bill No. 4796 that allows long-term land occupants on Boracay Island to have their properties titled.

Word has it that the bill, authored by Rep. Florencio Miraflores, will pass the third and final reading and will hopefully be ratified into law before the end of August.

It wasn't long ago when Boracay residents were locked in an acrimonious fight with then Environment Secretary Michael Defensor over property rights.

Back in 2005, small resort owners that have been living and doing business in Boracay for decades grew upset over Defensor's plan to declare portions of the island as alienable and disposable. More unsettling was the government push to have the declared lands open for public auction.

Had it pushed through, the Defensor plan would have given government opportunity to take over properties already developed by small resort owners. Being all untitled - their only evidence of ownership being their tax declarations - they could have been subjected to direct and collateral attack by other parties claining ownership of their properties.

Even today, about 98% of the 1,032-hectare island-resort are untitled and most property holdings are substantiated only by tax declarations. This condition has given the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and those holding dubious titles to engage in property scams.

Last April, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje ordered the relief of several DENR officials on Boracay and in Aklan for alleged irregularities in the issuance of land titles involving properties costing hundreds of millions of pesos. Paje also ordered an investigation of the issuance of homestead patents covering 9.75 hectares to 31 land title applicants.

Immediately ratifying House Bill No. 4796 is pure and unadulterated proof that President Benigno Aquino III's 'Daang Matuwid' finally reached Boracay. No more fears reached about going full throttle in expanding one's resort business, only to find the government taking it all away the next day.

With the law in place, PNoy and the DENR can bank on a more vibrant, definitely world-class Boracay.

Aklan towns to benefit from US grant

The government has approved two anti-poverty projects worth a total of P22.05 million as part of the the $434-million grant from the United States’ Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

The province of Aklan has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Millennium Challenge Account-Philippines (MCA-P), the enforcing arm of the grant, the agency said in a statement.

The municipality of Libacao will receive P11.25 million for its 25 barangays through the agreement, while Madalag town will get P10.8 million for its 24 barangays.

The grant will finance the municipalities’ community projects for the next three years under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).

It will also fund capacity-building and institutional support to monitor and evaluate the anti-poverty projects.

"[The MCC support is] the key to unlock the chains of poverty in Aklan and will help bridge the gap between the rich and the poor," Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez said in the statement.

Mayors Charito I. Navarosa of Libacao and Rex T. Gubatina of Madalag welcomed the grants, saying these "will give inspiration and hope to the people, especially those who live in the uplands."

A total of 19 municipalities nationwide will receive grants from the MCC through KALAHI-CIDSS, the statement said.

KALAHI-CIDSS, which will get a total of $120 million from the MCC grant, is designed to spur community development by funding crucial local government projects and improving social services for the poor.

It is expected to benefit over five million Filipinos over the next 20 years.

Two other projects will also receive funding from the MCC.

The Secondary National Roads Development Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways will get $214.44 million. It aims to rehabilitate the 220-kilometer Samar Road which passes through 15 municipalities in Western and Eastern Samar provinces.

The project seeks to reduce transportation costs and improve access to markets and social services for an estimated 290,000 residents in these provinces.

On the other hand, the Revenue Administration Reform Project will get $54.3 million to help strengthen tax collections and detect corruption in revenue agencies. The grant will fund the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s initiative to redesign its policies and implement the electronic Tax Information System.

It will also support the Revenue Integrity Protection Service by funding the training of personnel and the acquisition of case management software.

Another $8.6 million will also be used for the monitoring and evaluation of MCAP programs, while $36.91 million was set aside for program administration and oversight. -- DCJJ

Aklan Photographic Society holds free photography seminar for students
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – The premier camera organization in Aklan will be offering a Basic Photography Workshop for students in cooperation with the Department of Education (DepEd) Aklan.

Registration is free for the one-day photography session of Aklan Photographic Society, Inc. (APSI) scheduled on August 30 for interested students.

DepEd Aklan Division Superintendent Dr. Victorina Laroza has endorsed this activity to enhance the photography skills and develop enthusiasm and creativity among the students in the art and craft of photography.

The workshop at Arthur S. Juada Hall in DepEd Aklan Office beginning 8:30 a.m. will take the students to the numerous aspects of basic digital photography being handled by top-notch photographers in Aklan today.

Taught by APSI president Ramel Buncalan, the seminar is designed to familiarize the students of the digital camera use, techniques on digital exposure and to learn how to use the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) settings, aperture and shutterspeed effectively.

As a bonus topic, beginners will be guided with step-by-step instructions in an outdoor session by lecturer-photographers of the principles and the basic knowledge on photography.
Participants should bring their own digital single-lens reflex (dSLR) camera, lunch and snacks for the photography workshop.

The Aklan Photographic Society, inc. (APSI), a SEC-registered non-profit organization, was established in 2008. Now on its third year, APSI members share their expertise in photography through seminars, classes from basic to advanced photography and regular outdoor photoshoot workshops.

APSI is also an affiliate member of Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF), an organization created in 1987 for the upliftment of Philippine photography and the welfare of Filipino photographers.

APSI is currently holding a photo exhibit dubbed “Kalibo Ati-Atihan” of never-seen digital photos of the annual Ati-Atihan festival at the main lobby of Kalibo town hall.

In partnership with festival organizer Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi), the APSI is the lead implementer of the Ati Photo Contest for the second year in a row.

South Korean volunteers serve Aklan school

The Republic of Korea government dispatched an Information Technology (IT) team in a school in Aklan province and helped it through donations.

"On The Air" Korea IT Volunteer (KIV) team was in Aklan State University (ASU) Ibajay Campus from July 3 to August 12, donating several equipment and conducting IT education and Korea culture education.

Among the donations given to ASU were Notebook-i5 core (1), digital camera (1), beam projector (1), external hard drive 1TB (1), CD-ROM(200), DVD ROM(100), ballpen with pencil (500), t-shirts (50), computer virus vaccine (100), Korean traditional game set (60), Korean traditional handicraft (50), hair band (500), and Korean traditional postcard (50).

The team members, who worked together at Kumoh Broadcasting System for five years, also conducted an IT training class, which centered on Microsoft office (Excel, Powerpoint) and Photoshop.

A culture class that included introduction to Korea's history and culture, introduction to Korea's Multimedia through MTV, introduction to Korea's traditional games (Yut game, Jegi-chagi (like SIPAK)), and cultural exchange (Korean alphabet-Tagalog) was also conducted.

A Korea Culture Festival was also held at ASU on August 12.

Among the activities during the festival were the introduction to Korea's famous IT company, quiz for students, and cooking Korea's traditional food and tasting.

The On the Air team members said, "We choose ASU for the programs and donations after we saw introductions of the school on the Internet homepage."

"It is little bit difficult to find the location of ASU Ibajay campus on the Internet and that place was unfamiliar in South Korea. The reason why, we thought we can serve with devotion," the group added.
The group also said that it chose to be in the Philippines after one of the team members, who has wide experience in the country, praised Filipinos' kindness and introduced the Philippines picturesque scenery.

Members of the group include: Team Leader - Nam Su-Hun (Luke); culture part - Kim Dae-Woo (Torr); IT part - Yoo Da-Jeong (Taya); and Lee Hui-Eun (Heeny).

The group said it aims to make people proficient in IT, which is a stepping stone for the Philippines to go IT power.

The On the Air team also wants to spread KIV Program to other regions to help them. (Tashuana Alemania/Sunnex)

Pinoy Fiesta in Vancouver hailed
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – The second Pinoy Fiesta: Unang Hirit sa Tag-init held in Vancouver City, Canada was a huge success in terms of Filipino communities and associations in attendance.

Jojo Quimpo, a native of Altavas, Aklan and chairperson of the Filipino Cultural Street Dance and Parade, acknowledged the support of various organizations to celebrate the Filipino culture in the summer festival last August 6 at the Olympic Village on False Creek.

“The Pinoy Fiesta is a dream comes true for the Filipino-Canadian community. We have provided the opportunity and the avenue for the Filipinos to proudly showcase and share the beautiful Filipino culture to other ethnic groups,” he said in his blog of the Pinoy Fiesta Vancouver.

“Pinoy Fiesta 2011 was a history making event. It was the biggest and the best Filipino event produced and organized in British Columbia,” Quimpo added.
The Paradang Pinoy featured the world famous Ati-Atihan Festival of Aklan, Moriones Festival of Marinduque, Igorot Culture/ Panagbenga Festival of Baguio, Masskara Festival of Bacolod, Sinulog Festival of Cebu, Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo and the Kalilangan Festival of General Santos City.
Quimpo, former president of Aklanon Sto. Nino Association of British Columbia said “these Philippine festivals showcased culturally inspired floats with participants wearing ethnic and colorful costumes while street marching and dancing to the beat of the drums and pinoy music.”
Filipino communities all over the Province of British Columbia, Toronto, Calgary, Seattle, Washington and California also joined the parade in their own regional costumes.
Another event was the Fiesta Extravaganza at The Olympic Village on False Creek ground with a full day food fair, trade exhibits, business expo and live entertainment by ABS CBN Kapamilya artists and popular local Pinoy bands and artists.
Last year, City Mayor Gregor Robertson proclaimed a “Filipino Fiesta Day” to highlight the significant contributions of the local Filipino-Canadian communities in Canada.

JAIME CARDINAL L. SIN birth anniversary
Congress okays bill on 2nd reading declaring August 31 as special non-working holiday
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – The 15th Congress of the Philippines has passed on second reading last week House Bill No. 3374 declaring August 31 of every year as a special non-working holiday in the whole province of Aklan to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late Jaime Cardinal L. Sin.

Authored by Ang Kasangga Party-List Representative Teodorico Haresco, Jr., the measure was filed in recognition of the role that Jaime Cardinal L. Sin played during his lifetime, as an icon of religion, a freedom fighter and a true blooded Aklanon.

Last year, Haresco filed House Bill No. 4863, which was substituted by HB 3374. It was referred to the Committee on Rules on July 27 of this year and was approved by the body on second reading on August 10 as contained in Committee Report No. 1243 and submitted by the Committee on Revision of Laws.
“Jaime Cardinal Sin led the Filipino people in fighting for their rights amidst oppression, and advocated the use of peaceful means following the Gospels' teachings, to change the political situation in the country during the tumultuous years of Marcos regime,” Haresco said in his explanatory note.
Haresco, vice chairperson of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, said Jaime Cardinal Sin from New Washington, Aklan became one of the prime movers of the Peoples' Power Movement, following the famous EDSA Revolution.
The Filipino populace, he stressed, continued to be under the spiritual guidance of this charismatic religious leader during the Aquino, Ramos and Estrada administrations, and in the early years of the Macapagal administration.
“Jaime Cardinal Sin, a revered Roman Catholic leader and former Archbishop of Iloilo and Manila, played an important role not only in the Catholic Church, but also in the country's political arena,” he added.
Sin was born on August 31, 1928 to a Chinese immigrant father and a Filipina mother. He entered St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, was ordained to the presbyterium and became a priest of the Archdiocese of Jaro on April 3, 1954.

He was appointed its auxiliary bishop on February 10, 1967. On March 18 of that year, he was ordained as bishop of the titular see of Obba. On March 15, 1972, Sin was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Jaro, taking on administrative roles in the archdiocese, while holding the titular see of Massa Lubrense.

On October 8, 1972, Sin was appointed Archbishop of Jaro, taking full control of the archdiocese. He led the Archdiocese of Manila as its Archbishop on March 19, 1974, and was later made Cardinal by Pope Paul VI on May 24 of 1976.

He was only the third native Filipino Archbishop of Manila, following centuries of Spanish, American and Irish episcopacy.

On June 21, 2005, Jaime Cardinal Sin died at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy that will be best remembered for his rallying the people to defend their rights and liberties.

House approves bill to allow land titling on Boracay
BY NESTOR P. BURGOS, JR. Inquirer Visayas

The House of Representatives has approved a bill that allows long-term land occupants on Boracay Island to have their properties titled.

The House approved House Bill No. 4796 on second reading on Aug. 3 and is expected to formally pass it on the third and final reading this week, said Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores, the bill’s principal author.

The bill titled “Establishing a Mechanism for the Sustainable Development and Use of the Island of Boracay, Municipality of Malay, Province of Aklan” seeks to resolve ownership questions and disputes on lots on the 1,032-hectare island-resort.

“Hopefully, when the bill becomes a law, this will once and for all resolve the land ownership problem on Boracay,” Miraflores said in a telephone interview on Sunday.

The proposed law would exempt property claimants in Boracay from certain requisites for land ownership under the Public Land Act and other laws.

The bill allows occupants of land on the island to be issued free patent if they have been continuously occupying their lots for at least 30 years prior to the passage of the bill. The patent is limited to a maximum of 12 hectares per applicant.

The 30-year period would also include the occupancy of previous occupants of the property being applied for patent.

Under present land ownership laws, land claimants over public lands will have to wait for 30 years after the land is declared alienable and disposable before they can apply for titling.
In the case of Boracay, that would mean 30 years after the issuance of Presidential Proclamation (PP)1064 in 2006 or in 2036.

PP1064, issued by then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on May 22, 2006, categorized 628.96 hectares or 60.94 percent of the island as alienable and disposable, and the rest as forest land and protected areas.

Only about a third of the island (292 hectares), belonging to the heirs of Ciriaco Tirol, are titled, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Most land claimants on the island pay tax declarations, many for more than 30 years, as proof of ownership or rights over properties.

But the boom in the island’s tourism industry has attracted property claimants and investors. This has increased the number of lots from 270 in the 1970s to more than 6,000 at present.
The price of land on the island has also risen significantly ranging from P15,000 to P50,000 per square meter for properties near the beach and from P5,000 to P15,000 per sq m for those inland.

Miraflores said the bill would correct the flaws of Proclamation 1064 and exempt Boracay from existing laws deemed unsuitable for the island.

Be authentic in our devotion to Sto. Nino, says Bishop Tala-oc
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc, the new head of the Diocese of Kalibo, reminded the devotees and all the people to continue their love and religious devotion to the Sto. Nino.

In a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI last February 2011 in the Vatican City, Tala-oc said the Pope has urged the devotees to remain authentic in their faith to the Sto. Nino despite the fashion trends.
“My only wish and prayer, therefore, is for us, not only for the Kalibonhons but the Aklanons, to be authentic in our devotion to the Sto. Nino because He is the Son of God and our Redeemer. As with our faith in the Lord Jesus, I am confident that we will not allow that this devotion be corrupted by the trends of fashion or by the latest commodities,” the Pope said to Bishop Tala-oc.
Tala-oc, who hails from Tangalan, Aklan, expressed optimism that the Aklanons will thrive more for riches from the Holy Father rather than the marketing and monetary benefits of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival.
“It may be the unpopular way of doing it, but I believe, it could bring us the free expression of devotion to our Sto. Nino,” he added.

Bishop Tala-oc was officially installed as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Kalibo on July 20, 2011 following his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on May 25, 2011.

In his message on Thursday at the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) office during the courtesy call and blessing of the replica of Sto. Nino de Kalibo, Bishop Tala-oc said he was overwhelmed by the warm welcome by his kasimanwa, saying he accepted the challenge as Bishop of Kalibo and that “he is with us to discover the plans of the Holy Spirit for us.”

"I thought I have to be appointed as Bishop of Masbate. But the Papal Nuncio said I am appointed by the Holy Father as Bishop of Kalibo after two years of looking for a possible Bishop here. I am happy to be back to the Diocese of Kalibo. The Holy Father was saying 'go back, you bishops, to where you where when you were a priest,” the prelate said with a smile.

Tala-oc said, “in his almost eight years as Bishop of Romblon, he urged the devotees to bring back the century old practice of celebrating the fiesta of Sto. Nino de Romblon.”

Romblon Province is consists of three main islands – Sibuyan, Tablas and Romblon lying in the Sibuyan Sea. The capital town of Romblon celebrates the dancing and revelry of the ‘Biniray festival’ every 2nd week of January to pay homage to the Sto. Nino de Romblon.
“For the past two years, we managed to revive the original uniforms and preserve the century’s old-tradition of celebrating this event,” Tala-oc said, who was appointed as Bishop of Romblon in 2003 by then Pope John Paul II.

2012 Kalibo Ati festival activities bared – Kasafi
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – Various activities are scheduled by the Kalibo Sto.Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) to lure thousands of tourists and devotees for next year’s festival.

Lilibeth Goboy, Kasafi vice president and chairperson for marketing and promotions, bared the plans during the courtesy call of the foundation with Kalibo Bishop Most Rev. Jose Corazon Tala-oc on Thursday afternoon.

Goboy said the Ati-Atihan festival will start on January 9 until January 15, 2012. She stressed that the Kasafi has identified four major areas for the festivities to attract more visitors.

A must-see venue is the Kalibo Magsaysay Park which will accommodate food stalls and nightly merrymaking of bands and entertainment for the weeklong festival.

“The streets all around Kalibo during the festival are the ideal place for merrymaking, dancing and partying. The streets, as expected, are full of tribes, devotees and guests gyrating to the beat of the drums,” she said.

The flea market for entrepreneurs at the Veterans Avenue is an alternative venue to decongest the traffic in the streets around Pastrana Park and Kalibo Shopping Center.

This will be handled by the local government of Kalibo through its Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Office (MEEDO).

Activities of the festival in the historic Kalibo Pastrana Park include the Product Showcase of the local handicrafts made of pina and abaca, nito and processed food products and the garden show participated in by world-class exhibitors.

The Kalibo Ati-Atihan Tourism Council (KATC) will also manage the ‘Kaean-an sa Plaza’ where food stalls will display an array of Aklanon delicacies and food.
The competition of drums and lyres corps of the different schools will be open to the public on January 10, 2012.

On January 11, the Sadsad Panaad of schools and colleges will take centerstage with costumes and float. The provincial government of Aklan will also showcased the annual Aklan Festivals Parade and Higante contest of the 17 municipalities on January 12.

According to Goboy, the Kasafi chaired by Alber Menez has added more exciting activities in the festival such as ‘Sponsors Day’ to allow the sponsors to parade their mascots and higantes and the ‘Higante Party’ for the children, families and guests in the Kalibo Pastrana Park.

“The Ati-Ati of the big and small tribes, Balik-Ati and modern group is on January 14 for the judging. This is the most exciting and rewarding moments for photo opportunities and Ati-Atihan festival experience where everybody can join and dance with the tribes,” Goboy added.

On Sunday, the pilgrimage field mass is scheduled at the Kalibo Pastrana Park followed by the religious procession of Sto. Nino images in the afternoon.

“The scheduled activities will be done with proper planning and coordination of Kasafi, the municipal government and other stakeholders coupled with the prayers and devotion to our dear Sto. Nino,” she concluded.

Dateline LIBACAO
BY ALEX E. DIONELA

An Affair to Remember

(The Inspirational Message of Mrs. Editha Sia-Seraspi during the Reunion and Installation of Officers of the NVCnians, Incorporated held on July 16, 2011 at Saylo Restaurant, Kalibo, Aklan)

To my good friend whom I have not seen for a long time, Shirley Arrieta Regalado, my fellow NVCnians and former students, good afternoon.

When Araceli Magno Macalalag and Merlyn Solidum Mabasa informed me barely a month ago that they, together with some former classmates, were planning to hold a reunion of NVCnians, I told them it was a splendid idea. When they invited me to join you, I did not hesitate to accept the invitation because the occasion would afford me the chance to see my former students again, and this reunion would not only be a reunion of former classmates, former NVCnians but also my reunion with my former students whom I have not seen for a long time and whose lives, I would like to believe, I have touched.

I am very happy, really I am. Seeing you all again bring fond memories of those days when you were in my classes, listening to me, jotting down notes, perhaps getting nervous and jittery each time I shuffled the class cards and called your names to answer a question.

Alma Manzanares, did I make you and your classmates feel bored or hungry in the 11-12 A.M. class? Did I make you feel sleepy in the one o’clock class? I hope I did not because if I did, that means I was a boring teacher just like that boring college professor of mine in history. Perhaps some of you prayed hard that you would pass my subject, maybe some called to their favorite saints to intercede for them. But you were all good students, even bright. Some of you graduated cum laude and most graduated with honors or with distinction.

And look at you now. You are successful in your fields of endeavor, contributing to the progress of your communities as educators, public servants and businessmen, and contributing to the building of our nation just like what Rizal envisioned of the future Filipinos more than a hundred years ago. You are achievers. Gentlemen, each of you is a picture of a man of confidence and in control of himself – one who is on top of his own world. Ladies, each one of you exudes the pulchritude of a happy and fulfilled woman – the Filipina of the 21st century. NVC should be proud of you.

It has been thirty or forty years, but I still remember Teresita Balino, Al Garcia, Manuel Pelayo, Sammy Sarabia, Merrylaine Templonuevo and Minerva Patron in a stage play for our college festival, memorizing their lines, rehearsing at the NVC Skyhall until ten or eleven o’clock every night for one moth just to give a good and creditable performance. The stage play proved to be very meaningful and unforgettable to both Tessie and Tawi because their romance blossomed during the rehearsals and ended at the altar.

Ida Inocencio graduated cum laude. As a student, she was never lacking in talent. As NVC’s bet in the Spanish Declamation Contest to the APRISAA, she was unbeatable. With the lines, “Quieres dinero, mucho dinero?”, she bested all the contestants and as Aklan’s bet to the West Visayas PRISAA, delivering the same piece she brought home the bronze medal and honor to her Alma Mater and to our province.

I still remember the grade of 1.0 I gave to Virgilita Yacub in Psychology 1.

I still feel amused each time I remember how Alex Dionela untiringly, incessantly and with the determination of the conquerors of Mt. Everest pursued the pretty and demure Rizalita Zapatos, the girl of his dreams. I am sure Alex serenaded Lelith because he has a good voice.

How can I forget Nena Relente, the dusky, curvaceous and voluptuous beauty from Banga, who is Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida rolled into one?

And the Maribojo siblings? Georgyn must have been elated and made her father proud of her with remark “excellent” which I used to write on her whitebook after every periodic examination because I could not find any mistake in her answers. I was fault-finder. I would read and reread her answers. I wanted to find even a single error -- a misused preposition, perhaps or a dangling modifier or a wrong tense, but I could not find any. Georgyn’s examination were always perfect whether in grammar or in essays. Selmar too, was an excellent student, a good campus writer and a gold medalist in oratorical and extemporaneous speech contests. Elvin is a Maribojo. Need I say more about her? You can read between the lines. I have been informed that she is now a public school principal. Congratulations, Elvin. I am proud of you.

George Quimpo and the Lim sisters succeeded in getting my support for the campus paper they put up as alternative to the Student’s Forum.

Is Grace Castillo still singing? She used to delight and entertain NVC with her beautiful voice. Her renditions of the kundimans did justice to the compositions of our Filipino composers.
How can I forget the initiations of the Sinag-Tala Sorority? It was a riot of fun. Ludmilla was asked to catch a dozen of Kamamangi in Buswang Beach. For her initiation Nema Inocencio dressed like a beggar and begged for alms in front of St. John the Baptist Cathedral while another aspirant cleaned the men’s room. On the night of the sorority ball Lorcine Cunanan was in a quandary whether to attend the ball or not because she had no escort.

I have a treasury of fond memories of you – memories I will forever cherish and will relate to my children and grandchildren. I am sorry if I cannot mention everything or mention all your names now because it will take me until midnight to reminisce. But this I would like to tell you: I feel so privileged to have been your teacher.

I am thankful that I am still respected and appreciated. What could be more rewarding to a teacher like me than to hear from her former students that they learned from her and cannot forget her? I am very proud of you. If only I could write like a journalist, I would write my memoirs with you as my subjects. Do you think it will become a bestseller with each one of you buying a copy? Promise me that.

Thank you, Merlyn and Araceli. Thank you, everyone, for inviting me to this wonderful affair. I am very happy to be in your midst. I am so glad to see you all again. I feel young. I feel I am only twenty – the age I started teaching. Thank you, my dear students. I will never forget this date. Should I be able to write my memoirs, I will surely include this reunion of ours as a vignette to those memorable days. Indeed, this is an affair to remember.

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