The Panganiban-Metro Manila Residents Association Inc., an organization of Catanduanes-born Bicolanos of Panganiban, Catanduanes province, who are residents of Metro Manila or Mega Manila, is inviting its members to attend a fun-filled annual Christmas party with big prizes awaiting the lucky winners in the raffle, at 7:30 Saturday night at Amoranto Sports Complex Daza Hall, on Don A. Roces Avenue, Quezon City.
The association, led by its president Rizaleo Sanchez, is also expected to elect a new set of officers.
1:37 am | Saturday, December 10th, 2011
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine National Railways (PNR) is studying additional trips for the Bicol Express after its ridership doubled during the last All Saints’ Day break.
PNR General Manager Jun Ragrario said the PNR board is considering a second trip for the Bicol Express, which runs between Tutuban in Manila and Naga City in Camarines Sur daily, after its passenger volume increased from October 28 to November 2 with only a minimal drop after the peak season for travel.
Ragrario said the Bicol Express, which can accommodate at least 152 passengers per trip, usually has 35 percent of its seats filled during lean seasons. But the passenger volume doubled during the traditional exodus to the provinces.
“Undas (All Saints) proved to be an opportunity for us to market the Bicol Express because only a few passengers knew that it was already operational,” he said.
“The ridership increased by an average of 80 percent during Undas,” he added.
Ragrario said the passenger volume during All Saints Day gave them a preview of what to expect for the Christmas break and is why they are mulling a second trip for the Bicol Express.
He encouraged commuters to take the PNR for their trips to Southern Luzon especially since fares are still on promotional rates. He said Manila-to-Naga passengers will only pay P548 for air-conditioned reclining seats or P665 for family sleeper cabins with four berths each.
The trip takes just about 10 hours
Source: www.mb.com.ph.
By KRIS BAYOS
November 7, 2011, 5:15pm
VIRAC, Catanduanes, June 9, (PIA) -- The municipality of San Andres will be celebrating its first ever Coconut Festival from June 12-18, 2011 dubbed as “BuruNIYOGan: Our celebration of Life in San Andres.”
The one-week celebration will highlight events that focus on one of the main agri-products of San Andres which is coconut. It is also an alternative contribution of the town to the OTOP (One Town One Product) platform in the province of Catanduanes.
The festival is also honoring the renaming of the town for the first time in 47 years. On June 18, 1964, through Republic Act 3984, the town was named San Andres from the old Calolbon in honor of its patron saint St. Andrew the Apostle and Gat. Andres Bonifacio.
The week-long festival shall open on June 12 and culminate on June 18, 2011. It will feature street dancing competition, parade, coco craft making competition, coco fashion design competition, coco trade fairs, art exhibitions, cultural presentations, concert and coco farming technology seminar. (PIA/Catanduanes)
by EA Bagadiong
Source: PIA Press Release
Thursday, June 09, 2011
The stakes have just gotten higher for those aspiring to become the next president of the Catanduanes State Colleges: Senator Chiz Escudero has assured that the bill seeking the school’s conversion into a university would be approved by the Senate before the end of 2011.
Escudero’s estimate of the length of time needed for every Catandunganon’s dream to become a reality may even be pessimistic, as the resignation of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has just removed the possibility that the Senate’s consideration of the Catanduanes State University measure would be delayed by the impeachment hearings.
In an interview at the Radyo ng Bayan DZVC station last Friday or a day before the Ombudsman’s resignation announcement, the senator said the now scrapped impeachment hearings would have reduced the Senate’s session hours to just four, with committee hearings reset for until after the impeachment.
The good news comes just as the CSC Board of Trustees announced the start of the search for the next president to succeed incumbent Dr. Asuncion V. Asetre as college president and, hopefully, become the first president of the university. The search committee conducted its first meeting in Naga City the other Monday (April 25).
According to a source, applicants for the coveted position must possess the following minimum qualifications: not less than 35 years old and not more than 61 years old at the time of application; a natural-born Filipino citizen; holder of an earned doctorate degree from a reputable higher education institution; and, with a proven track record as administrator, preferably in the academe whether in public or private HEIs for at least five years.
Candidates, who have not previously served as president of a state university or college, must not have been convicted of any administrative or any crime involving moral turpitude, wherein the penalty is more than six (6) months. On the other hand, incumbent presidents of other SUCs, whose term is set to expire within the six-month Search Process, shall be allowed to submit their applications for the vacant post at CSC. The deadline for the submission of application documents has reportedly been set on June 3, 2011.
Among the documents required include the applicant’s proposed Vision, Mission and Development Plan for the Colleges, detailed and notarized Curriculum Vitae, clearances from concerned government agencies, and result of neuro-psychiatric examination conducted by a government physician.
A source also told the Tribune that among those intending to file their bids are Dr. Magno Conag, president of the Don Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) in Masbate province who was once headed the Camarines Sur State Agricultural College (CSSAC); and, Dr. Patrick Azanza, son of the late CSC president Rodolfo Azanza and recently one of the candidates for the presidency of the University of the Philippines. Among the insiders widely considered to be qualified for the post are vice presidents Dr. Lily Custodio, Dr. Susan Santelices and Dr. Aida Dianela.
Sen. Escudero said the approval of the CSU bill could come ahead of the similar bill he filed seeking the conversion of the Sorsogon State College into a university. "We all deserve to have our own university," he stressed, referring to Bicol provinces which do not have a university unlike Albay and Camarines Sur.
London bus driver Josh West leaves his brand new shiny, red double decker in the garage and heads off to Manila to drive local people around in a vehicle designed in the 1940's.
Josh will be driving a Jeepney belonging to his host, Rogelio Castro. That's if he can learn how to! Over two weeks, with Rogelio's help, Josh finds out what it's like to live and work as a bus driver in megacity Manila.
In the second programme in the series where British workers accept the challenge to do their jobs in some of the toughest conditions in the world, London bus driver Josh West heads to Manila, the capital of the Philippines and the most densely populated city on Earth. Josh will be driving a Jeepney, a colourfully decorated, adapted jeep which has no power steering, dodgy lights and an uncomfortable seat.
His host is Rogelio Castro and together they brave the chaos of the streets. It's a hair-raising and often hilarious ride, but Josh also learns about the incredible over-crowding and devastating poverty of Manila. He forms a strong bond with Rogelio and is moved by the daily struggle of an ordinary Filipino working to feed his family. It's an emotional roller coaster and Josh returns a changed man, aware that all the separates his life from Rogelio's is the country he happened to be born in.
Disclaimer: The information in this weblog is provided “AS IS” with no warranties, and confers no rights. This weblog does not represent the thoughts, intentions, plans or strategies of the towns in northern Catanduanes, Philippines. It is solely my opinion. Feel free to challenge me, disagree with me, or tell me I’m completely nuts in the comments section of each blog entry, but I reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason whatsoever (abusive, profane, rude, or anonymous comments) – so keep it polite, please.
