Free Clinic for Guihulnganons: Triskelion’s 16th chapter Anniversary’s Advocacy

Free Clinic for Guihulnganons: Triskelion’s 16th chapter Anniversary’s Advocacy
Guest Writer: Amber Ross B. Ramos

In connection with the annual celebration of the Triskelion’s 16th chapter anniversary, the Tau Gamma Phi/ Sigma Fraternity and Sorority Guihulngan chapter conducted a Free Clinic Program for Guihulnganons today Monday, December 28, 2009.

Starting at around 9 in the morning, the event kicked off with a motorcade participated by members of the said organization. People coming from the different barangays of Guihulngan City converged at the city’s Multi-Purpose Gymnasium as they anticipated with much excitement the free clinic services offered by the organization.

Anatalio Bugwad, 60, a resident of Lagcagon Mckinley was one of the lucky participants who had availed the free clinic services. He pointed out that the program was really a big aid to him and to the others who, like him, could not afford buying medicines.

In an interview, Bonjon Palomares, Vice Governor General of Negros Oriental Provincial Council and Triskelion Global Coordinating Council Director for Visayas, said that it was their solemn advocacy to render an outreach program annually involving free clinic services.

Among the free services rendered were Blood Sugar Testing and consultations. Free medicines given in the outreach were donated by Rite Med Unilab and Pro health.

Aside from the free clinic, the organization also held a feeding program and rendered free hair cut services.

Palomares said they had been giving these services annually for the past eight years. He pointed out that feel more encouraged and fulfilled to offer such services to fellow Guihulnganons in their own little way as an organization. He added that they would be looking forward to render their services again in the coming years by God’s grace.

Duane Canillas, the President of Guihulngan Triskelion Alumni Organization (GTAO) expressed his gratitude towards the people who eagerly participated and cooperated to ensure the success of their event.

The event was a one day celebration and had been participated with the different Chapters in Negros Oriental including Ayungon Chapter, NORSU-G Chapter, Canlaon City Chapter, Pacuan Chapter, Guihulngan Triskelion Alumni Organization (GTAO) along with Guihulngan City Chapter. ( Amber Ross B. Ramos)

Pitogo farmers

Very recently, I was in Pitogo, in Brgy P Zamora,Guihulngan, where there is an ongoing seminar called the Farmer Field School on Corn. About 60 participants are attending this 4-month long seminar on corn production, each farmer is asked to attend regular classes every Monday morning.

Farmers are required to tend (by group) a plot of corn using different treatments (like trials on variety or trials on different organic fertilizers) and they report their findings to the big group. Afterwards, technicians from the Municipal Agriculture Office conduct lectures on various phases of corn production, and also on special topics. Last week, the special topic was on artificial insemination of large cattle conducted by Mr. Oscar Vittorio "Donga" Trinidad

I wish this group of farmers all the best in their endeavors. Congratulations to Guihulngan Municipal Agriculture Staff for showing much dedication in their work!

Guihulngan girds for Christmas celebration

Time flies by so fast, now, Christmas season is in the air....This year will be marked by simple celebrations, at least, for the Municipality of Guihulngan.
As with the previous years, our citytown of Guihulngan will celebrate 11 nights of Christmas to be spearheaded by various agencies.
Dec 11, Friday -- To be sponsored by ABC Kiddie Center
Dec 12, Saturday -- St Francis College
Dec 13, Sunday -- Bankers: Guihulngan Branches of Land Bank of the
Philippines, Philippine National Bank, Rural Bank of Guihulngan, Baptist Church, Guihulngan Retired Teachers Association (GRETA), Philippine Ports Authority, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Post Office, Senior Citizens
Dec 14, Monday -- Regional Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court, Public Attorney's Office, Prosecutor's Office, Parole and Probation Office, Philippine National Police,Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, National Food Authority, Governor William Villegas Memorial Hospital and Department of Public Works and Highways
Dec 15, Tuesday --Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) - Guihulngan Campus
Dec 16, Wednesday -- All secondary schools
Dec17, Thursday -- Guihulngan North District, Dept of Education
Dec 18, Friday -- Guihulngan South District, Dept of Education
Dec 19, Saturday -- Local Government Unit offices and Dept of Interior and Local Government
Dec 20, Sunday -- All accredited NGOs and POs, Roman Catholic Church, Philippine Independent Church and Couples for Christ, City of Guihulngan Lawn Tennis Association
Dec 21, Monday -- Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)

Happy Holidays, my fellow Guihulnganons!!!

Barangay Secretaries meet in Villegas

Barangay secretaries and treasurers from different barangays of Guihulngan met in Brgy Villegas in the first week of this month to strengthen working relations, especially on coordination regarding barangay transactions. The meeting was also attended by Secretary to the Sanggunian Ms Marites Rizon, her assistant Mrs Romil Baguio Alangilan, Municipal Accountant Miss Genevieve Seno and SB Jessica Trinidad Villarmente.
Brgy Councilor Nemesio Fuentes of Brgy Magsaysay shared his experiences in processing vouchers for the barangay.
Congratulations to the Guihulngan Barangay Secretaries Association (GUIBSA) for coming up with this initiative of improving their services with an in-house training!

Old Picture circa 1952, before I was born

I have often wondeed what Guihulngan looked like before I was born, and there is nothing like those old photographs, black and white, that can answer this.
Mr Fernando Villegas, lent me a picture dated July 4, 1952, taken during the 6th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Independence Day. The shot was taken from the second floor of Dr Gualberto Rivera's residence, facing south.
We have a motorcade of old automobiles flanked by bicycles. Then Mayor William Billy Villegas (who later rose to boardmember, vice governor and eventually governor of the province of Negros Oriental) is here with his vice mayor, Hon Jose Tirambulo Trinidad.

On the foreground riding a bike with a box-like frame (maybe like a float?) is Mr Fructoso "Tusoy" Dorimon. Mr Tusoy Dorimon used to write legal documents, somewhat like a clerk in those days when lawyers were so scarce.

At the other side, Mrs Jesusa Penaflor Villegas (mother of Noy Fernando), then the only woman municipal employee (talk of discrimination against women, ha ha ha)at the municipio, with Raymundo Orcullo (principal clerk at MTO) ( with bike, how popular and a status symbol those days), and Gervacio Guzman (in checkered shirt, soon to become the policeman).

Those acacia trees is the parking area, and at the far end is Anoy Logronio's botica. All structures were of temporary materials, like nipa and wooden walls.

Take note, the third car is the weapon's carrier (model, that is, translated to the younger generation) of Mrs Memeng (Filomena)Alquizola Reyes, mother of incumbent mayor Ernesto Reyes.

The billboard advertizes Oriental Academy (one of the two secondary highschools here, the other one being Hibbard Institute which was a branch of Silliman University).

Noy Fernando recalls that every Independence Day (July 4 was later moved to June 12), the veterans were asked to recall their wartime experiences as Filipino soldiers defended democracy.

Fiesta in Barangay Kagawasan

Congratulations to Barangay Kagawasan which celebrated its fiesta last Sunday, September 20.

This place is one of the old places in the stories of my fathers and forefathers. My grandmother used to tell me it is where our greatgrandfather Vicente Villahermosa (Lolo Inting) Vergara and his wife, Margarita Tirambulo (Lola Garet) resided in one of their many travels during World War II. Although I haven't really lived here, fields of tobacco, corn fields and coconut trees register in my mind when people mention Barangay Kagawasan.

Kagawasan,it means freedom....Old man Uncle Doming Trinidad calls this place freedom hill! Along its boundery with Barangay Tinayunan Beach is a place called Tan-awan, where our old folks used as look-out against the Japanese soldiers during the war.

I feel joy when I visit Kagawasan, I feel affinity with my old folks, whom I have never seen but live in the places of memories, passed on through generations. I feel the beauty of the everlasting hills, to borrow a familiar phrase..the breeze that goes through the coconut trees must have been the same breeze kissing my greatgrandfather's cheeks, the same breeze that played with my father and his 9 other brothers....this is Guihulngan that runs through our veins, through our hearts and souls....

Much to thank for are the people who have been so blessed in life, they remember to give back something to the place...The heirs of Melanio Vergara has donated a lot for the elementary school, as well as fencing for the school .Thank you to the Vergara family of Tinayunan Beach, may you be ever blessed....!

NORSU Guihulngan Campus celebrates CAS Day

The Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) Guihulngan Campus celebrated its annual College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) day last Sept 3, 2009. Guest of honor was university president Dr. Henry Sojor.
An agro-fair and products display was one of the highlights of the celebration. Students from the different levels of the agriculture department displayed fresh farm products, including organically-grown vegetables. The department is led by Mr. Pete Gargar, Mr Vincent Anthony Nunez and Mrs. Rosalina Indab. Engr Bobby Bustamante, barangay captain of Brgy Trinidad and himself a practicing farmer and Guihulngan SB member Jessica Villarmente were among the guests.

The activities also included the Smokers Day, an annual tradition of the Department of Criminology which features criminology students in amusing poses. First year students dressed up in adult diapers, while other batches featured macho men in mini skirts and ladies in cowboy attire.

On the more serious note, Dr Sojor said the university is the meeting of two souls..."the soul of the student and the soul of the community meets in the university."