Wake-uppers:
Seen: Rep.
Dennis Laogan of Ang Kabuhayan Partylist
visited Bohol on Friday (Sept. 28). Laogan introduced the Negosyo Caravan for
cooperatives and micro, small and medium
enterprises (MSMEs) as well as the P3 program that will serve as an alternative
source of fund for the underprivileged entrepreneurs in Bohol. The “Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso” (P3)
was introduced by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to help business of the underprivileged
entrepreneurs grow. “This P3 program is one way to combat the 5-6 loan sharks,”
Laogan told Bohol reporters. Laogan, the chairman of the House Committee on
Small Business and Entrepreneurs Development, is the youngest representative in
the country. He
officiated the oath of office of then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez
and the newly installed House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as a tradition that the youngest congressman
will administer the oath of the speaker.
Laogan was accompanied by Benjie Oliva, the acting Cooperative
Development Authority (CDA) chairman of the Board of Administrators, who at 36
years old is the youngest person to have held the highest post of the
regulatory body.
 |
| Rep. Dennis Laogan (center) of Ang Kabuhayan Partylist |
Scene: Red
Tide Alert: In its shellfish bulletin no.
25 dated Sept. 25, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned
that the coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol province are
still positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) based on the latest
laboratory results the bureau conducted. All types of shellfish gathered from
the said areas are not safe for human consumption.
Scene: The mayors’ troubles in Panglao town are far
from over. Despite the order from the Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) recognizing Pedro Fuertes as the legitimate mayor of Panglao
town, embattled Mayor Leonila Montero defied the department’s memorandum and
still carried on her duties last Monday, Sept. 24. Montero and Fuertes both
attended last Monday’s flag raising ceremony and gave speeches before
the municipal employees. Montero explained she can’t honor the DILG decision
ordering her to leave office as it was based on opinion and not valid. “It was
done hastily, arbitrarily and very unlawfully,” she said. Fuertes, however,
said that it’s only the law that could make him leave the mayor’s office. “The
DILG knows who follows the law,” he said. “Your full-fledged mayor has followed
the law. If we follow the law, mahapsay unta ang atong pagpangalagad.”
***
Siblings Gerwin and Jan Vier Yudelmo went home
to Inabanga town in Bohol to witness the town’s “Christmas tree lighting”
ceremony on Saturday night, Sept. 22.
 |
| Inabanga residents and
tourists gathered last Saturday, Sept. 22, for the historic "Christmas Tree Lighting," the first town in Bohol to come alive this Season. Photo by Leo Udtohan |
Yudelmo, 28, a call center
technical representative in Cebu City, said he didn’t want to miss Christmas
celebration which came early to his hometown.
Residents and tourists
gathered at the town plaza to witness the spectacle of holiday lights,
fireworks, live music and a tree-lighting ceremony.
Yudelmo said the town
plaza infront of the town hall which sparkled with glowing lights melt their
hearts.
“We are happy that our
municipal plaza is full of Christmas lights because since the earthquake in
2013 up to the Abu Sayyaf siege, finally Inabangnons are able to celebrate
Christmas without fear,” said Yudelmo.
“And for that it’s a
merry, merry Christmas,” he added.
 |
Inabanga was one of the
towns severely damaged of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake which brought Bohol to
its knees in 2013. Still recovering
from the aftermath of the quake, four years after at least 10 members of Abu
Sayyaf, with the help of an Inabanga native, entered the town and tried to set
up a base there.
After authorities got wind
of the terrorists’ presence in Inabanga, operations were launched to finish
them off which lasted for more than a month.
The celebration was a
manifestation that the town had moved on.
There were 21 Christmas
trees and 100 parols
(star-shaped Christmas lantern).
The highest Christmas tree measured 20 feet.
The materials made out of
indigenous materials. They used bamboo
slits and dried “kabkaban” leaves that grow on the barks of trees that are
abundant in the place.
Inabanga was the first
town in Bohol to celebrate Christmas so early.
 |
| At least six persons with disabilities (PWDs) received free wheelchairs from the municipal government of Inabanga during the lighting ceremony which was dedicated to them. Mayor Josephine Jumamoy said the event gave importance to PWDs. Photo by Leo Udtohan |
But for Mayor Josephine
Socorro Jumamoy, the Christmas celebration was more than the vibrant Christmas
lights illuminating the plaza. It was dedicated to persons with disabilities
(PWDs).
“Why so early? It’s
because TEAM Inabanga wants to create an atmosphere for the spirit of
Christmas. It is really our direction for the PWDs, for the persons with
disabilities, that we can help them out,” said Jumamoy.
She added, “We are
providing assistance to marginalized sectors such as the PWDs kay gusto
ipaambit nato kung unsay nindot sa atong balatian kay klaruhay lang kitang
tanan lumabalay lang.”
Bebencio Balaga, a
resident of Barangay Ubujan, expressed deep gratitude for the new wheelchair
given to him during the event.
 |
| Gerwin Yudelmo with Mayor
Josephine Jumamoy (center), Jan Vier Yudelmo and a friend to celebrate early Christmas. Contributed |
He was among the six
beneficiaries who received the wheelchairs. Others were Dominador Boiser
(Lapacasan Sur), Cyrell Namocot (Dagohoy), Jocery Luzon (Lawis), Mark Vincent
Delos Santos (Poblacion) and Rey Acupinpin (Tungod).
Acupinpin said he felt
special since the Christmas celebration was dedicated to them.
The Christmas display aims
to bring back the Inabangnon to the meaning of Christmas as it upholds faith
and resiliency.
Your VRS asked Mayor Jumamoy for her plans in 2019 elections. She said
she wants to stay as mayor. “I would like to continue working for Inabanga as
Mayor," she said.
Inabanga, the hometown of
Francisco Dagohoy who led the longest revolt in the country, is also popular
for its weaving industry, producing crafts sold locally and abroad.
***
Alturas to
grow 1 million trees
A single tree offers a
burst of green, a cooling canopy and an antidote for frayed nerves. But we need
more trees to improve air quality, provide
shade, offset climate change, reduce stress, and make people happy.
That is what the
Alturas Group of Companies (AGC), a local multinational company in Bohol
province, has been aiming to do.
 |
| The
Alturas Group of Companies (AGC) aims to plant one million trees to make our province and the world sustainable. Alturas big boss, Marlito C. Uy (left), and Bishop Abet Uy, lead the ceremonial tree planting of Alturas "Plant A Million Trees" Project during the launching in Tabalong, Dauis, in Panglao Island. Contributed |
On Sept. 9, employees and
volunteers planted more than 500 trees on the first day of AGC’s “Plant A
Million Trees,” a record-breaking environmental drive in Bohol province—a starting
point in the million trees campaign in making the province and the world more
sustainable.
Through its Alay Marcela
Foundation and volunteer group Alta Citta, the AGC aims to plant and grow one
million trees all nothing but for the sake of the environment and food
security.
The provincial environment
and natural resources office (PENRO) and the Dioceses of Tagbilaran and
Talibon, which are both actively participating in many other tree planting
activities, are coordinating the said activity.
Trees are important to the
environment through their ability to absorb carbon dioxide and lower ambient
temperatures. They also contribute to the overall health of communities,
wildlife and aesthetics.
During the launching last
Sept. 9 in Panglao island, Bishop Alberto Uy
of the Diocese of Tagbilaran blessed the first 500 seedlings after a
holy mass and joined with the Alturas Vice President and General Manager,
Marlito C. Uy, for the ceremonial tree planting.
Uy said the activity was
“for God’s glory and for the good of humanity” as this is for the best interest
of not just the environment but mankind in general. He hopes other
multinational companies like Alturas will follow suit.
The AGC, which operates
two malls and three super stores in Bohol; and two Colonnade supermarkets in
Cebu, and twenty more subsidiaries, will tap its vast manpower from its
thousands of employees, customers, business partners and more in planting the
trees.
Still, planting one
million trees wouldn’t be easy. To meet the goal of planting a million trees,
Alturas had already identified all those possible areas for the year-round tree
planting; and the DENR PENRO is very committed with 100 percent assurance to
produce and provide the needed thousands of seedlings. Anyone can also exchange
a tree seedling for P10 at Alturas. Likewise, Alturas plans also to produce its
own nursery for the seedlings.
This September, thousands
of tree seedlings were already planted in Lourdes, Cortes; Tabalong, Dauis; and
San Pascual, Ubay. More will be planted
in Untaga, Alicia; and the coastal areas of Panglao.
***
Thanks for
your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com,
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