Smoke Free Guihulngan

Guihulngan legislators finally took time to talk about a proposed ordinance on regulating smoking of cigarettes in public places. The proposed ordinance, sponsored by Hon Leticia M Pasigna, a medical doctor, and Hon Jessica Villarmente, a mother of 3 young men, was filed last June 7.
It will be noted that Guihulngan Sanggunian has an equal number of legislators who smoke cigarettes, and do not smoke at all.
Hon Rock Candido and Hon Bobby Bustamante, who are non-smokers, are supporting this ordinance. Hon Jekjek Masicampo, an occassional smoker, is also supportive. Hon Edison dela Rita and Hon Popoy Mimis, themselves smokers, asked for the regulation of smoking (instead of prohibiting it totally) and for the assignment of smoking areas.
The proposed ordinance will go on public hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

Guihulngan Fiesta church activities

May 21, Guihulngan -- Still shaking off the dust and grime of very recent political activities, Guihulngan My Hometown comes back to cyberspace....slowly, surely, victorious! I will make up to you dear readers, on the interesting details of a campaign trail in the reverse...just like riding a pedicab facing the backside!!! Ha ha ha!

Meanwhile, following is the mass schedule for the Guihulngan fiesta. Our patron is Our Lady of Buensuceso y Bien Viaje, my mother translated that for me as Our Lady of Good Success and Bon Voyage.

We used to have novenas or 9-day masses for this at the Catholic church, but in keeping up with these "modern" times, we've opted for a triduum instead. Three-day mass.

May 22, Saturday, 5:00 pm mass will be sponsored by Sangguniang Panlungsod office.

May 23, Sunday, 8:30 mass will be sponsored by Mayor's ofice.

May 24,Monday,6:00 am mass will be sponsored by Treasurer's office.

May 25, Tuesday, 10:00 am mass will be a Thanksgiving Concelebrated Mass with 7 priests attending.


So, happy fiesta everyone....Let us remember to thank God for our blessings, and to share with the poor our bread! Take your lechon with Suka sa Pangi, it's available at Admiral Store and ST Jude....Ciao!!!!Smile, smile, smile!!!

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.