Fellowships open for 16th Lopez Jaena Journalism Workshop in October

The University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) will hold the 16th Graciano Lopez Jaena Journalism Workshop from October 21 to 27 at the UP College of Mass Communication, Diliman, Quezon City. Fellowship slots are available for this workshop. Applications are open to full-time print, broadcast and online journalists, as well as selected journalism educators and students. This year’s workshop will focus on “Media and Elections: Safety and Governance.” Resource persons from the academe, government and non-government organizations will speak on issues like election coverage, governance and safety tips for journalists. Since its first workshop in 1985, the Lopez Jaena Journalism Workshop has trained hundreds of community journalists. Among the past fellows are Froilan Gallardo, Frank Cimatu, Ilang-ilang Quijano, Jo Clemente, Diosa Labiste, Danny Calleja, Flor Abanto and Maurice Malanes. Applicants should be currently engaged in the journalism profession with at least two years’ working experience. They should also be below 45 years old. They must submit an application letter; resume; two published/broadcast news reports; a story plan for an investigative report on media and the elections; and an endorsement from their editor, local press club president or a Lopez Jaena Journalism Workshop alumnus. Limited slots may be given to senior journalism students. Student applicants are required to an application letter, resume, sample works and an endorsement from their professor, department chair or dean. The fellowship will cover board and lodging. Participants will be billeted inside the UP Diliman campus. Interested journalists, journalism educators and students may send their application papers to The Project Director, 16th Lopez Jaena Journalism Workshop on Justice and Human Rights, College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. The deadline for applications is on September 14. For more details, please call Alex NP Tamayo at 920-6864 or 981-8500 local 2668 or email at lopezjaenaworkshop@gmail.com or alexnptamayo@yahoo.com.

Satellite registration schedules

Para sa mga nais magparehistro bilang botante, pumunta sa mga barangay na ito na malapit sa inyong sariling barangay: BENTUCO, Aug 13-14; BULACAO, Aug 15-16; RIZAL Aug 30-31; BAGACAY, Sept 6-7; CARRIEDO, Sept 13-14; PAYAWIN, Sept 20-21; TIRIS, Sept 27-28.

Jupi road concreting

Concreting of road segment going to Jupi funded by the provincial development fund.

Yoga lessons for free

Ang Australian volunteer sa munisipyo na si Karen Taranto ay magtuturo ng yoga at meditation. Kung gusto nyong subukan ang yoga bago kayo mag sign up sa programa, pumunta sa come-and-try day sa June 16, OSCA Building, Highway 54 (malapit sa Gubat South Central School). Senior citizens can come to try yoga at 9 AM, all others at 10:30 AM. Please share this announcement.

Abaca integrated farming training sa Bentuco

Noong nakaraang linggo, nagtapos ang mga magsasaka ng abaka sa Bentuco sa kanilang training sa integrated farming. Kasama sa larawan ang ilang opisyal ng Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) sa pangunguna ni Dr. Editha Lomerio. Ang layunin ng training ay muling pasiglahin ang industriya ng abaka sa aming bayan matapos ang pinsalang dinulot ng peste.

New operating room and delivery room at Gubat District Hospital

Noong isang araw ay nasa Gubat District Hospital ako kasama si dating Gobernador Sally Lee para sa launching ng bagong delivery room at operating room sa Gubat District Hospital.

Job opening: Education Officer

the educational research and development assistance (erda) foundation, inc. is looking for an education officer for a child labor and education project. here are some of the qualifications: 1. graduate of bs in education, master's degree is an advantaged 2. with professional experience in leadership role and implementing education initiatives 3. with program experience in supervising/managing functions 4. knowledge of child labor issues and experience in development of non-formal, formal, and vocational education of children 5. above average skills in public relations and networking 6. proficient in oral and written communication, both filipino and english 7. skills in program management 8. requires high level of flexibility 9. can work under pressure in a spirit of teamwork and cooperation and commitment to child labor 10. ability to work long hours and in difficult conditions 11. above average skills in computer, can operate MS software application such as MS word, excel and powerpoint 12. with passion and commitment to the cause of child labor if interested, please call 7413014, 7110010, 7327815 and look for ms. judy segismundo-hr officer, ms. aurora quiambao-hr staff or ann f.p. tadeo, jvp b19/20

Computer Van Aralan graduation

Congratulations to the 300 new graduates of the Computer Van Aralan basic computer skills training program led by Mr Eliseo Fresnoza. The program is a partnership of the municipality, the Office of Congressman Ramos and the Ai-Hu Foundation. This is our second time to graduate students of the Computer Van Aralan, the previous one being in October of last year.

Free call center training

Job Opening

Project:

The Joint Learning Network (JLN) for Universal Health Coverage brings together countries from across the globe to share experiences and challenges in implementing reforms for Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Currently, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Vietnam are part of the network.

JLN shares information and supports research required for design and implementation of reforms to achieve UHC through practitioner to practitioner learning exchanges. It also enriches the knowledge of its member countries through expert driven collaboratives on the following focus areas.  

• Expanding population coverag
• Provider Payment Mechanisms
• Quality Management 
• Technology to aid implementation and decision making

  Job Profile: 

• Reporting to the Director Philippines / Program Manager – JLF, India
• Works with designated staff, conducts and/or assume primary responsibility for specific tasks including, but not limited to, assisting in compiling various reports, collecting secondary data,  reviews, researches and integrates relevant information as required
• Assists in the development of reports, briefs, compiling and documentation and archiving of knowledge resources
• Communicating effectively with project teams and customers and partnering with JLN expert resource persons, organizational liaison officers, and internal JLN resources to achieve customer and JLN objectives.
• Assisting in scheduling and planning for events – meetings, conferences, presentations, staff trips, etc. – including coordinating arrangements for participants, handling logistics, preparing and disseminating materials, etc.
• Responsible for developing partner outreach strategy. Including development of material such as presentations, technical presentations, elevator pitches
• Performing other duties as assigned

Desired candidate profile:

The ideal JLN Research Associate will be a highly motivated individual with outstanding communication, documentation and presentation skills. The ideal candidate for this position will possess the following qualifications:  

• 3+ years relevant background and experience in Research/ Public Health/Health Financing, International Health or related field desired in an office setting
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills in English
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office software
• Excellent proofreading and editing skills
• E-communications skills
• Ability to work independently and as a team member
• Experience and/or demonstrated interest in global health and development preferred
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Additional relevant skills: Experience with data collection, management and analysis, including solid knowledge of excel and other relevant software,

Compensation and Benefits: Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Please send your CV and 3 sample written works to elmer.soriano@accessh.org

Medical mission in June

There is going to be a medical mission on June 3-6 at the Gubat Distrcit Hospital. The surgical operations will be done by doctors from the UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungod  Corps of Volunteers. The mission is co-sponsored by UGAY,  Gubatnons of Australia, Rotary Australia World Community Services (RAWCS), Care and Share Army (CASA) and GNHS Class of 1992. The Municipality of Gubat and the Office of Congressman Ramos are supporting the medical mission.

Patients who are interested to avail of the free surgeries and free medication are advised to immediately contact Dra Carino of the Gubat District Hospital to sign up. There will be no circumcision and consultations. The medical mission will perform the following surgeries:

Major surgeries:
Hernia (Luslos)
Gallstones (Bato sa Apdo)
Goiter (Bukol sa Leeg)
Bukol sa Matris (Myoma)
and any other specific cases

Minor Surgeries:
Lumps and bumps (cysts)
Vasectomy

Dental Extraction (Bunot ng ngipin)

China in Ten Words

I am extremely fond of reading about China's Cultural Revolution. I think it is one of those rare episodes in human history when changes were of such speed, the break from the past so abrupt and dramatic, that human emotions and relationships were tested to their very limits. Hence, giving birth to many, many interesting stories of tragedy, inspiration, absurdity and comedy.

The stories of American-based exile Ha Jin are some of my favorites. Ha Jin presents his stories, funny and tragic at the same time, as works of fiction, but I suspect they were all loosely based on real people and events. Dai Sijie's Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, about two city boys sent for re-education to a remote mountain village and their discovery of forbidden French authors, is another book that comes to mind.

Now, if you are like me, I strongly recommend you read Hu Yua's China in Ten Words. Yu Hua discusses different aspects of China by using ten Chinese words as take-off points for his essays. There are amazing stories in this book, and the essay on how difficult it was to read books during the Cultural Revolution is heartbreaking to anyone who has fallen in love with reading. I wish I could tell some of the stories from the book here, but I fear I would do them no justice.

Delfin Fresnosa Municipal Reading Recovery Program

We are needing volunteers for the Delfin Fresnosa Municipal Reading Recovery Program. If you volunteer, we are going to assign you as a reading partner to an incoming Grade 2 pupil in your barangay to improve his reading skills.

Tigkiw Bridge inauguration

I was in Tigkiw today for the inauguration of the Huripay Bridge, a project funded by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund. Congressman Ramos also graced the event.

Pagburadol 2012 sa Breeding Farm, Buenavista

Burugkos, Inc in cooperation with Saranggola Blog Awards brings you PAGBURADOL 2012 – a kite-making and flying event on Easter Sunday, 8 April; 7-10AM at the Breeding Farm, Barangay Buenavista, Gubat, Sorsogon.

This family event which aims to promote local tourism and environmental awareness is a support to Gubat Bay Surfers’ Summer Camp 2012. For information on GBSi Summer Camp 2012, please click here.

Pre-register thru this post or thru Maria Glenda Domiquel Esperida/Jun Mar Buluran/Jhay-r Ermino in Gubat, Sorsogon or register at the venue on 8 April. Bring your kids and the whole family!

Hamus na!
8 April, Easter Sunday
7 – 10AM
Breeding Farm, Barangay Buenvista, Gubat, Sorsogon
Registration fee: Old sando bags, tingting, old/used sacks

All other materials for kite-making will be provided by the organizers at the venue.

This project is supported by the Office of the Second District Congressman of Sorsogon, Congressman Deogracias “Ding” Ramos, the Local Government of the Municipality of Gubat and Mayor Ronnel U. Lim.

Protocol for TB diagnosis at our health center

National TB Protocol being followed by our health center: Kung positive ang chest X-ray sa TB pero negative ang sputum test, kailangan kumpirmahin ng Provincial TB Diagnostic Committee ( pulmonologist, radiologist, the chief of technical services, prov'l TB program coordinator). Kung after two weeks wala pang rekomendasyon ang committee, ang ating Municipal Health Officer (MHO) Dr Anthony Lelis ang siyang magdedesisyon na.

Handog Barangay Project in Jupi

With Punong Barangay Paping Escasinas and Municipal Assessor Rene John Espineda, I have formally turned over this morning land titles to some 120 families in Barangay Jupi.

The agonies of a would-be writer

I was in Manila, attending the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Conference at SMX-MOA. On the way home one night, I dropped by Book Sale-Araneta and picked up Philip Roth's novella The Ghost Writer.

It is about a twenty-three year old Jewish writer by the name of Nathan Zuckerman, who had published four short stories, was favorably included in a list of notable young writers to watch in a national newspaper and is spending a weekend in a New England farmhouse of semi-recluse E.I Lonoff, his great literary idol. There at the farmhouse he met another literary groupie of Lonoff, a great beauty who is claiming she is the Anne Frank.

The young Zuckerman is being accused of betrayal by his family and local Jewish community because of a short story he intends to publish which incidentally showed a Jewish family squabbling about a family inheritance. His family and the Jewish elders think it would reinforce the negative stereotype of Jewish people as moneygrubbers. Upon meeting Anne Frank at Loboff's house, Zuckerman had this idea that if he could marry Anne Frank nobody would dare doubt his Jewish loyalty anymore.

It's a very funny quick read. I always enjoy reading about the lives of literary men, and this book reminds me of another fictionalized account of one other such man, Saul Bellow's Ravelstein (which I also heartily recommend).

Call for Volunteers for the Delfin Fresnosa Municipal Reading Recovery Program

The Municipality of Gubat *Sangguniang Kabataan Federation * Department of Education * Gubat PTA Federation

Call for Volunteers for the Delfin Fresnosa Municipal Reading Recovery Program


Reading skills are very important. Without a solid ability to read, children will be unable to make use of whatever improvements in our local school system.

This summer, the Municipality of Gubat, the Sangguniang Kabataan , the Department of Education and the Gubat PTA Federation are launching the Delfin Fresnosa Reading Recovery Program from third week of April to May, 2012. Selected incoming Grade 2 pupils will each be assigned a reading partner. The reading partner will visit the pupil at his own home three times a week ( 30 minutes - 1 hour per meeting) during the summer vacation.


We need volunteers

We are looking for volunteers who can serve as reading partners to children in their own barangays. The municipality will provide the training and instructional materials. To volunteer, please contact the Mayor's Office at (056) 311-7962, 0949-9483191 not later than April 8. You may also sign up with your barangay's SK chairman.


About Delfin Fresnosa

Perhaps the finest Gubatnon writer, Delfin Fresnosa was born on May 23, 1915 in Barangay Bulacao. He taught at the National Teachers College and the University of the East. He served as the editor of Boy's World, the official organ of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines .

Fresnosa was part of the group of thirteen writers who called themselves the Veronicans (after Veronica who mirrored the true face of Christ), which included Francisco Arcellana and NVM Gonzalez. Fresnosa's short stories regularly appear in anthologies of the best Philippine short stories. He died on December 19,1988.

Electrification of Bagong Silang in Barangay Rizal

We are almost done with the electrification of Sitio Bagong Silang in Barangay Rizal. The project was prioritized by the municipality as per the result/recommendation of the participatory budgeting project we had last year in partnership with the Philippine Center for Civic Education and Democracy.

The participatory budgeting project was basically like this: general assemblies in all the barangays elected their representatives who deliberated on what projects are needed in their barangays. The electrification of Barangay Bagong Silang in Rizal was one of those needs that came up during the participatory budgeting activities. A formal proposal was submitted to the municipality and the municipality, in coordination with SORECO 2, funded the project.

We are going to have participatory budgeting again in the municipality this year. We are going to roll out a much bigger and better version of what we experimented last year and we hope people from the barangays will participate again.

PHP 1 M water project for Barangay Tagaytay

Today, March 22, is World Water Day, and I am happy to announce that we have a PHP 1 M water project for Barangay Tagaytay to help solve their water problem and prevent diarrhea cases. Sana lang ay hindi matuyo ang ma-iidentify na water source sa barangay.

Early Childhood Care and Development Center to rise in Gubat

The municipality has received a 2.3 M grant from the Early Childhood Care and Development Council (ECCDC) for the construction of a child development center to be hosted by the Aguinaldo Elementary School. The center will serve the children (0-5 yrs old) of Cota na Daco, Balud del Sur/Norte and other barangays, and should help train our day care workers in every barangay in properly aiding the learning process of small children.

Job Opening: Medical Waste Campaigner

Organizational Overview

Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia is committed to transforming the health care sector so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to the public's health and the environment. To that end, HCWH is working to implement ecologically sound and healthy alternatives to health care practices that pollute the environment and contribute to disease.

Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of hospitals and health care systems, medical professionals, community groups, health-affected constituencies, labor unions, environmental and environmental health organizations and religious groups that advocates globally eliminating healthcare practices that harm people and the environment.


Position Overview

Health Care Without Harm is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to work as MEDICAL WASTE CAMPAIGNER to assist the organization to counter the threat from medical waste.

The Medical Waste Campaigner will work closely with the different programs of Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia, and will have primary responsibility to develop and execute plans that will promote key areas of the program such as waste minimization, promotion of appropriate alternative technology and model hospitals.

Responsibilities:
• Ensure that key stakeholders such as national and local government agencies, as well as other government related agencies and health care facilities, are informed and involved on issues of the campaign.
• Develop and oversee the planning, development and implementation of campaign related policies and programs, more specifically on the issues of health care waste minimization, promotion of alternative appropriate technologies for hospital waste disinfection and the creation of model hospitals.
• Maintain effective relationships with partners in health care waste management.
• In coordination with the Communications and Press Campaigner; design strategic media plans targeting general media, social media and other publications that caters key stakeholders.
• Other duties that may be assigned by the Executive Director

Qualifications:
• Commitment to the missions of Health Care Without Harm
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Good management and leadership skills
• Flexible, adaptable and goal-oriented
• Must possess the ability to think strategically
• Strong organizational skills, has the ability to take initiative and manage campaigns
• Willingness to travel on a regular basis
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required. Degree in Engineering and Health Sciences preferred.

To Apply:
Please email your resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills and experience will benefit the campaign to Merci Ferrer, Director, merci@no-harm.org, and cc Joyce Lanuza, Admin Officer, joyce@no-harm.org with the subject line “Medwaste Campaigner”. Deadline for submission of application is on April 9. Screening and interviews will begin immediately. No calls, please. Shortlisted applicants will be informed via email.

Health Care Without Harm is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Training Camp for Gubat Youth Peers

Over the weekend, we held a Training Camp for Gubat Youth Peers at Likas Ridge in Irosin in cooperation with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). Topics discussed were conflict resolution and sexual health among young adults. Directory of the participants in the training can be found here.

Concreting of Paco road section

Concreting of road section going to Paco financed by the provincial development fund, as prioritized by Governor Lee. I took this picture on the way home from Barangay Patag, after a Baragat sa Barangay general assembly.

Free Japanese language course

The free Japanase language course to be facilitated by our Japanese volunteer Atsushi Nakanishi is set to begin on March 21 at the MTESD Training Center on Highway 59 (street adjacent to Gubat South Central School). For inquiries, see Ms Rowena Fajardo or Mr Atsushi Nakanishi at the Municipal Registrar's Office.

Repair of public market

Kasalukuyan naming ginagawa ang ilang mga daanan sa ating pampublikong palengke. Dahil po ito sa mga concerns lalo na galing sa mga senior citizen na natitisod o nadadapa dahil sa baku-bakong daan sa palengke.

Communicating for social change seminar-workshop

Join this four-day seminar workshop to provide opportunity for young leaders to find their voice, gain new skills as facilitators of change, and grow their capacity for citizen action towards a more just world. Only for twenty-six years olds and below though.

World Read Aloud Day

To celebrate the World Read Aloud Day, I spent the whole day telling the story of Si Langgam at si Tipaklong to Grade 1 and kindergarten pupils in six schools: Buenavista, Villareal, Rizal, Bagacay, Tiris and Cogon. Picture below is Grade 1 class in Tiris. Namaos ako, ang hirap din pala magkwento nang magkwento.

Raul S. Roco Youth Achievement Awards 2012 (RSRYAA)

The City Government of Naga and Raul S. Roco Foundation, Inc. thru its Secretariat, the Raul S. Roco Library, are launching the 6th edition of the Raul S. Roco Youth Achievement Awards 2012 (RSRYAA), to all the youth organzations in the Bicol region. To become a participant in RSRYAA, youth organizations are required to submit a proposed project (proposal) that will address/resolve community problems in their respective area which they are going to implement for six (6) months.

THE PRIZES

Five (5) projects will be chosen as finalists which were successfully implemented by the youth organizations and will receive:

A cash prize of P50,000.00 and a trophy designed by National Artist Salvador Bernal for the grand prize winner.

Trophy and a cash prize of Php 10,000.00 for the four finalists.

Deadline of proposal is MARCH 30, 2012.

For inquiries, please call the THE SECRETARIAT @ (054) 472-7095, CP 0917-512-2776 or email at library@naga.gov.ph

Job Opening: National Coordinator

The Ecological Waste Coalition of the Philippines, Inc. (or the Ecowaste Coalition) is seeking a highly motivated and committed team worker to be its NATIONAL COORDINATOR to assist the Coalition in attaining its overall purpose of pursuing ecological solutions towards a Zero Waste goal.

The National Coordinator will play a key role in the ongoing effort to strengthen and expand the Coalition’s membership and reach, and in implementing strategic programs and activities geared at understanding and realizing the Zero Waste goal.

As a convergence of diverse public interest groups working on waste, pollution and other environmental health issues, the National Coordinator is to perform - creatively and patiently – the essential tasks of involving, coordinating and mobilizing the membership in the pursuit of the Coalition’s objectives and priorities.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS:

Knowledge and Critical Skills
· Share EcoWaste’s vision and have track record in environmental advocacy
· Excellent leadership qualities and “people skills”
· Good oral and written communication/media skills
· Good mediation/conflict management skills
· Good management skills
· Computer literate
· Experience in preparing project proposals; preferably has been able to get some proposals approved
· Basic knowledge of financial management and financial report preparation

Physical Demands
· Work involves a lot of meetings and consultations, and some traveling to places at risk like dumpsites and pollution-impacted communities.


DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
· More than five years of experience in coalition and organizing work in the environmental and/or sustainable development field

· Knowledge of Zero Waste principles, issues and methods


WORK RESPONSIBILITIES
· Manage the Secretariat and oversee the planning, development and implementation of strategies, policies and programs.
· Facilitate provision of support services to the Steering Committee and Task Forces
· Ensure that the Steering Committee members, Coalition members, partners and volunteers are informed and involved on issues of concern
· Manage the public profile of the Coalition
· Take the lead in generating resources for the Coalition through fund raising and grant seeking activities
· Prepare consolidated reports of Coalition programs and activities

ACCOUNTABILITY
The Coordinator is accountable to the Steering Committee of the Coalition.

For interested applicants, please send your letter of intent and CV to info@ecowastecoalition.org before March 31, 2012. No calls, please. Writing samples will be requested from successful candidates later in the process. Screening and interviews will begin immediately in April 2012.

Call for volunteers: Delfin Fresnosa Municipal Reading Recovery Program

About the Project

Reading skills are very important. We are always seeking to improve our schools, but without a solid ability to read, children will be unable to make full use of any of those improvements. Reading is, in this sense, foundational.

This summer, the Municipality of Gubat, the Sangguniang Kabataan , the Department of Education and the Gubat PTA Federation are launching the Delfin Fresnosa Reading Recovery Program from third week of April to May, 2012. Incoming Grade 2 pupils who can make use of extra help in developing their reading skills will be identified throughout the municipality. Each pupil identified will be assigned a reading partner who will visit the pupil at his own home three times a week ( 30 minutes - 1 hour per meeting ) during the summer vacation.


We need volunteers

To provide each pupil with a reading partner, we are looking for volunteers who can spend at up to 3 hours of his time per week for the program. The municipality will provide the necessary training and instructional materials for the volunteers. With this program, we can help our pupils improve their reading skills and at the same time encourage volunteerism among our youth and people.

If you are interested to volunteer, please contact the Mayor's Office at (056) 311-7962, 0949-9483191, 0918-9850130 or email mayor.gubat@gmail.com not later than March 31. You may also contact your barangay's SK chairman to sign up.


About Delfin Fresnosa

Perhaps the finest writer Gubat has ever produced, Delfin Fresnosa was born on May 23, 1915 in Bulacao, Gubat. He was educated at the University of the Philippines and the Far Eastern University and taught at the National Teachers College and the University of the East. He served as the editor of Boy's World, the official organ of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines .

Fresnosa was part of the group of thirteen writers who called themselves the Veronicans (after Veronica who mirrored the true face of Christ), which included among others Francisco Arcellana and NVM Gonzalez. Fresnosa's short stories regularly appear in anthologies of the best Philippine short stories. He died on December 19,1988 and was buried at the Gubat Municipal Cemetery.

Vote for your preferred nominee to head the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA)

As per Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, the senior citizens of Gubat have nominated their members to head the municipality's Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA). The nominees, whose background and plans of action you can see below and who have all been recommended by the Sangguniang Bayan, are: Mr. Jaime Espineda of Barangay Tiris, Ms. Lilia Hernandez of Barangay Paradijon and Ms.Azucena Nerida of Barangay San Ignacio.

From these nominees, I, as the mayor, am required to choose the one to head our OSCA for three years. As the nominees are all equally competent and qualified in my opinion (and since I don't have personal acquaintance of their personalities because obviously the age gap is too big), I think it would be wise to resort to internet democracy: Let the people vote the nominee whom they think is the best choice.

I will be posting the pictures of the nominees in my Facebook account. The nominee who gets the most likes gets to head the OSCA. Please vote until midnight of March 4.



NOMINEE NO. 1
JAIME AQUINO ESPINEDA

Tiris, Gubat, Sorsogon
July 13, 1942 – 69 y/o


EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
Mandaluyong Elementarey School, 1958
Alternative Learning System (ALS) High School Graduate 2010

WORK EXPERIENCE:
●MILUDECO – 1971-1980, PETROLA INTERNATIONAL KSA – 1982-1984, PROTECTORS SEC. INC. 1986-1996

PLAN OF ACTION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS:
●Protect the rights and benefits of the senior citizens.
●Create livelihood project.
●Earn extra income for their needs.
●Assist and help the Senior Citizens Federation for their programs and activities.




NOMINEE NO. 2
LILIA JOVEN FERNANDEZ

Paradijon, Gubat, Sorsogon
311-0331
SEPTEMBER 1, 1935 – 77 y/o


EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
1948 - GUBAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (GUBAT NORTH CENTRAL SCHOOL)
1949-1952 – GUBAT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
1967-1970 – A.B. POLITICAL SCIENCE
Manuel Luis Quezon University, Manila (MLQU, MANILA)
1970 – Methods of Teaching and Child Psychology
Manuel Luis Quezon University, Manila (MLQU – MANILA)
9971 – 1973 – Student – LAW PROPER
MANUEL LUIS QUEZON UNIVERSITY, MANILA


WORK EXPERIENCE:
●1957-1973 – Employed and Supervisor Newfounland Printers (Binondo, Manila)
●1977-1980 – Store-owner – Market site, Gubat, Sorsogon
●Lumber Dealer – Manook St., Gubat, Sorsogon
●Video Store – Vivo’s Residence, Manook St., Gubat, Sorsogon
●Store and Pocket Book (Villaroya’s) – Manook St., Gubat, Sorsogon

OTHER EXPERIENCE:
● Barangay Kagawad – Brgy. Paradijon, Gubat, Sorsogon
●Brgy. Secretary – Brgy. Paradijon, Gubat, Sorsogon
●Brgy. Associaton of Secretaries – President
●1998-2004 – Federation of Senior Citizens – Secretary – Under Mr. Holaso
●2004-2011 – Federation of Senior Citizens – Secretary - Under Atty. Mel D. Encinas
●2012 – Federation of Senior Citizens– President

PLAN OF ACTION:
●Explain the meaning of life for senior citizens
●Widen and differentiate being an OSCA member and the Federation and unite them to oneness for a purpose.
●Initiate programs toencourage the elderly that at age 60 still they are productive, capable, self-reliant and self-sufficient in their age.
●Adult education is also needed for the non-readers elders especially in remote Barangay.



NOMINEE No. 3:
AZUCENA ESPALLARDO NERIDA

San Ignacio, Gubat, Sorsogon
09284990533
December 14, 1941 - 70 y/o


EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
BS Industrial Engineering, Adamson University

WORK EXPERIENCE:
Lecturer at Sales, Department of Radio wealth
Applicant Interviewer of Department of Labor
Supervisor Agent of Insular Life-Cebu
7 years Treasurer of PTA Gubat Central Elementary School
7 years Treasurer of PTA Saint Anthony Academy
3 years Secretary – Treasurer of San Ignacio Senior Citizens
Presently Board Member of Senior Citizens Federation


PLAN OF ACTION:
●Disseminate information regarding rights and privileges of senior citizens of Gubat
●Organize senior citizens in barrios who had not been informed of their Privileges
●Do the best of my capacity
●Read and study the law regarding Senior Citizens.

Photo contest

You can join this photo contest on how we can adapt to climate change, organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.

Call for Proposals: 2012 Climate Advocacy Small Grants Fund

Drawing Linkages between Population, Reproductive Health, Gender and Climate Change Adaptation

Population Action International (PAI), a Washington, D.C. based non-profit organization that advocates for women and families to have access to contraception in order to improve their health, reduce poverty and protect their environment, is soliciting proposals for our 2012 Climate Advocacy Small Grants Program: Drawing Linkages between Population, Reproductive Health, Gender and Climate Change Adaptation. Only organizations based in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal, the Philippines, and Tanzania are eligible to apply.

Several grants of up to $20,000 USD will assist civil society organizations in identifying opportunities to promote the integration of reproductive health and gender considerations into national strategies and plans to address climate change. These one-year grants will support organizations in their efforts to document entry points for advocacy at the national and regional levels; strengthen cross-sectoral research, communication and collaboration; and build national-level support for the integration of reproductive health, gender, and climate change in national policies.

The deadline for proposals is no later than Monday, February 6, 2012 at 6 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST). For further information and to receive application materials, please contact Roger- Mark De Souza atrmdesouza@popact. org

Sangguniang Kabataan Planning Session

I was with our Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen for a planning meeting over the weekend at LIKAS Ridge Hotel in Irosin. We have scheduled things to do for the next six months, the biggest being our Learning To Read Program for Grade 1 pupils this summer.

Free urological surgical operation

Para sa mga kalalakihan: Magkakaroon ng libreng operasyon sa provincial hospital kung kayo ay mayroong prostate enlargement, orchitis o filariasis (boyong). Pumunta kay Dr Lelis sa Municipal Health Center bago mag Feb 15, Lunes, Miyerkules o Huwebes ng hapon) para magpalista at checkup.

Who wants to start a local film club?

Earlier today, I picked up this book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die from Book Sale Gaisano in Legaspi and reminded me just how many great films I haven't seen yet, which in turn reminded me of another thing in my bucket list: organize a local film club which will hold weekly private film showing among friends. If you are also interested in starting a local film club, please contact me. We can arrange meetings at the municipal hall or maybe Mr Nace, the Bicol University administrator, might even allow us the use of the Monreal Ruins for the film meetings. We can start trimming down our list of must-see films using the book as a checklist. What do you say?

Medical mission for surgical operations

May medical mission para sa ilang surgical operations sa darating na Hunyo: hernia (luslos), gallstones (bato sa apdo), goiter, bukol sa matris, cyst . Pumunta agad kay Dr Carino sa Gubat District Hospital para magpalista. Sponsored by UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Medical Team, Ugay (Gubatnons of Australia), Rotary Australia World Services Community, GNHS Batch 1992.

The Charles Dickens Bicentennial

Come February 7, the world will be celebrating Charles Dickens's 200th birthday, and as you can see at Dickens2012 many activities have been lined up for the commemoration of this bicentenary. Over at Jessica Zafra's blog, she is attempting a collective effort at translating the novel Great Expectations (here's the free Gutenberg text of the novel) into Filipino.

Embarrassing to admit, but I have never read any Dickens myself. I figure this year would be a good year to remedy this, so I am starting with Great Expectations. I am also going to write the high school English teachers to ask if I could interest them to organize with the municipality a Charles Dickens film festival for their students.

Let the Bullets Fly

Let the Bullets Fly is a brilliant film. Ostensibly, the story is akin to what we would imagine the lives of Mao Zedong and his comrades were like back when they were rebel bandits dedicating their lives to redistributing wealth for the poor and freeing one town after another, but, take a closer look at the brilliant ending, and it could be a criticism of the Chinese people who do not rise up against the present-day Chinese government, with the town square in the film standing in for Tiananmen Square. The film is directed and starred in by Jiang Wen. Chow Yun Fat also stars in the film.

I strongly recommend this film. Where else can you see a film about corruption and political tyranny become a highest-grossing film?

Surfing in Gubat

The adventures of our local surfers, which remind me of one thing still in my bucket list: learn surfing.

Training for barangay health workers

Our selected barangay health workers ( with our municipal health officer Dr. Lelis) after their five-day health training held at the Municipal Conference Hall (MCH) last December 2011.