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.