Southern Leyte’s tiny historic town backs Mar-Leni tandem

LIMASAWA, Southern Leyte, March 31 (PNA) -– This tiny historic island town is backing the presidential bid of Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas and running mate Leni Robredo, citing the need to continue what President Benigno Aquino had started.

Although presidential bet Rodrigo Duterte is popular in the province being a native of Maasin City, Limasawa town is loyal to Roxas-Robredo tandem, according to Mayor Melchor Petracorta.

“Personally, I campaign for Roxas because for me, he is the right guy. I'm worried that other candidates may not sustain the good projects of this administration,” said Petracorta, whose nine-year term will end on June 30, 2016.

His brother, Nilo will attempt to replace his post, running against Councilor Grace Joy Esclamado under Vice President Jejomar Binay’s party.

Limasawa, the only island town in Southern Leyte, has a voting population of more than 4,000. 

Despite small fraction of voters, Petracorta said their town was never neglected by the Aquino administration.

In 2013, the mayor ran under the National Unity Party, supporting then presidential candidate Guilbert Teodoro.

This is the smallest town in the province in terms of population. Its land area is only 6.32 square kilometers, but for 2016, the town will get PHP23 million for bottom-up budgeting (BUB) projects, the highest allocation in the province.

The amount will mainly finance the upgrading of the island’s water system, according to the official.

The 2016 BUB allocation is double than what the town got in 2015 for livelihood projects under BUB.

The town’s annual internal revenue allotment has increased to PHP28 million this year, from measly PHP150,000 when he was first elected as mayor in late 1990s.

The island of Limasawa was the site of the First Mass in the Philippines when Portuguese world explorer Ferdinand Magellan ended in the beautiful island looking for spices.

On Easter Sunday of March 31, 1521, Magellan ordered the expedition’s chaplain Fray Pedro de Valderrama to say the mass.

The event was seen to be the start of the Roman Catholicism in the Philippines. (PNA)
FFC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Limasawa, Southern Leyte remembers First Mass in the Philippines

LIMASAWA, Southern Leyte, March 31 (PNA) –- This island town celebrated the 495th First Mass on Thursday with thousands pilgrims flocked to remember how Spaniards introduced Christianity in the Philippines.

The island town, the smallest in Southern Leyte province, is considered as cradle of Christianity, the site the First Mass in the country on March 31, 1521.

In his message, Bishop Precioso Cantillas of the Roman Catholic Church diocese of Maasin echoed Pope Francis’ teaching on mercy and compassion. 

“As we celebrate at the door of the shrine of the First Holy Mass, we open the door of compassion that whoever will have faith and repent will receive forgiveness,” Cantillas said.

Gov. Roger Mercado said the celebration renews their commitment to continue the promotion of the island as tourist destination.

“We continue to promote unity for our people and take the challenge to continue the promotion of our island through Republic Act 7822 declaring Limasawa as a tourist zone,” Mercado said. The law was signed on Nov. 18, 1994.

The Sto. Niño de Cebu pilgrim image arrived in Magallanes village through a fluvial parade from Maasin City to Limasawa early Thursday morning on board a Philippine Navy ship.

The icon was brought to the village plaza for the Holy Mass. The town’s six villages displayed their best products to visitors.

The island of Limasawa was the site of the First Mass in the Philippines when Portuguese world explorer Ferdinand Magellan ended in the beautiful island looking for spices.

On Easter Sunday of March 31, 1521, Magellan ordered the expedition’s chaplain Fray Pedro de Valderrama to say the mass.

In the afternoon of the same day, Magellan instructed his comrades to plant a large wooden cross on the top of the hill overlooking the sea.

The original cross has been drawing thousands of tourists and pilgrims every year through a 450 steps trek going to the landmark. (PNA)

JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Candidates start wooing Leyte voters

TACLOBAN CITY, March 30 (PNA) -- Local candidates in Leyte province have launched their campaign activities in their bid to succeed in the May 9 elections.

In Palo town, Liberal Party candidates led by incumbent town Mayor Remedios Petilla started their house-to-house campaign on Tuesday.

The matriarch of Petilla clan, the leading political family in the province, is seeking a third and final term as the town’s local chief executive.

The team’s campaign is centered on medical and health assistance and services, and bringing services to villages.

Remedios, the mother of senatorial bet Jericho Petilla and Governor Dominic Petilla, is running against former Mayor Teodoro Sevilla, who is supported by the Romualdez family led by senatorial candidate Rep. Ferdinand Martin.

In Tanauan town, Mayor Pelagio Tecson, Jr. kicked off his campaign through a holy mass and motorcade around the town.

Recognized as model in post-Yolanda rehabilitation, Tecson’s campaign is centered on “integrity and performance” that serves as important benchmark of choosing a good leader.

"A leader who can deliver, find ways to bring life into reality and bring difference to the lives of people," Tecson said.

He added that performance of leaders after the devastation of super typhoon Yolanda is the new barometer of people in choosing the next leader.

Tecson’s re-election bid is challenged by Councilor Ina Gimenez, wife of former Mayor Mark Gimenez.

In Tacloban, Councilor Cristina Romualdez kicked off her campaign through a motorcade from San Jose to the northern village of the city and ended at the Tacloban City Astrodome.

Romualdez, a former actress now seeking to replace her husband, Mayor Alfred, said she will continue what the latter had started to improve the lives of this city's residents.

"I have to make sure of helping the poor by creating more jobs, increasing tourism potential and implementing livelihood programs," said Romualdez in a brief media interview before her campaign kick-off.

She admitted that her husband's performance in the post-Yolanda rehabilitation process has a great impact in her candidacy.

Meanwhile, her opponent Councilor Neil Glova, a former broadcaster, started his campaign through a house-to-house visit.

Glova’s team, composed of incumbent city councilors launched their house-to-house campaign, which according to him, “a way of showing the people that their group is sincere in serving the people and will not use government money to fund their election campaign.”

He labelled their campaigning style as "lakad-cade" and "pedi-cade" in contrast to what he calls lavish campaign of his opponent.

“This is our way of assuring the people that we will bring government services to those who are in need once we are elected,” he said.

For congressional position, in the second legislative district of Leyte, neophyte candidate Henry Ong held a motorcade and house visits.

Their campaign started at the eastern part of the second district going to the western part of the province. The 2nd district of Leyte is the biggest district in the province with 14 municipalities.

Ong is running against incumbent district Rep. Sergio Apostol, a veteran solon whose family ruled the legislative district for three decades. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA

Limasawa, Southern Leyte's 495th First Mass anniversary shuns politics

LIMASAWA, Southern Leyte, March 30 (PNA) -– There will be no political campaigning during the 495th anniversary of the First Mass in the Philippines in this town on Thursday, the local chief executive here assured.

Mayor Melchor Petracorta said they did not invite any national official to grace the celebration to shun political talks this campaign period.

More than 5,000 pilgrims from different parts of Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces will join the First Mass anniversary in Magallanes, a coastal village where historic and religious landmarks were built. 

“In fact, we postponed the kick-off campaign of our town candidates since we want to preserve the essence of historic and religious event,” Petracorta said.

No single town candidate has posted their campaign materials in the town’s six villages.

The mayor, whose nine-year term will expire on June 30, 2016, is endorsing his brother, Nilo to replace him. The official is a member of the ruling Liberal Party (LP). His opponent is former town councilor Grace Joy Esclamado. 

Southern Leyte Governor Roger Mercado and his brother, lone district Rep. Damian Mercado will address the crowd, but they agreed not to woo voters. The Mercado siblings, both LP members, will swap their posts in the May 9, 2016 polls.

Among the activities in line with the anniversary are Holy Mass, fluvial procession, sail-boat race, Sinugdan Festival, mass blessing of patrol boats from the Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources, exhibits, cultural presentations, 

The Sto. Nino de Cebu pilgrim image that arrived in the Diocese of Maasin last Monday will be joined by parishioners in the foot procession from the Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral to the port of Maasin which is about a kilometer distance.

From Maasin, there will be a fluvial parade up to Magallanes village in Limasawa where the icon will be brought to the plaza for the Holy Mass.

The island of Limasawa was the site of the First Mass in the Philippines when Portuguese world explorer Ferdinand Magellan ended in the beautiful island looking for spices. 

On Easter Sunday of March 31, 1521, Magellan ordered the expedition’s chaplain Fray Pedro de Valderrama to say the mass.

The event was seen to be the start of Christianity in the Philippines.

Limasawa Island is situated at the southern tip of the Southern Leyte province. It is bounded on the north by Padre Burgos town, on the east by Panaon Island, on the south by Camiguin Island (Mindanao Sea), and on the west by Bohol province. (PNA)
FFC/SQM

Limasawa, Southern Leyte's 495th First Mass anniversary shuns politics

LIMASAWA, Southern Leyte, March 30 (PNA) -– There will be no political campaigning during the 495th anniversary of the First Mass in the Philippines in this town on Thursday, the local chief executive here assured.

Mayor Melchor Petracorta said they did not invite any national official to grace the celebration to shun political talks this campaign period.

More than 5,000 pilgrims from different parts of Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces will join the First Mass anniversary in Magallanes, a coastal village where historic and religious landmarks were built. 

“In fact, we postponed the kick-off campaign of our town candidates since we want to preserve the essence of historic and religious event,” Petracorta said.

No single town candidate has posted their campaign materials in the town’s six villages.

The mayor, whose nine-year term will expire on June 30, 2016, is endorsing his brother, Nilo to replace him. The official is a member of the ruling Liberal Party (LP). His opponent is former town councilor Grace Joy Esclamado. 

Southern Leyte Governor Roger Mercado and his brother, lone district Rep. Damian Mercado will address the crowd, but they agreed not to woo voters. The Mercado siblings, both LP members, will swap their posts in the May 9, 2016 polls.

Among the activities in line with the anniversary are Holy Mass, fluvial procession, sail-boat race, Sinugdan Festival, mass blessing of patrol boats from the Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources, exhibits, cultural presentations, 

The Sto. Nino de Cebu pilgrim image that arrived in the Diocese of Maasin last Monday will be joined by parishioners in the foot procession from the Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral to the port of Maasin which is about a kilometer distance.

From Maasin, there will be a fluvial parade up to Magallanes village in Limasawa where the icon will be brought to the plaza for the Holy Mass.

The island of Limasawa was the site of the First Mass in the Philippines when Portuguese world explorer Ferdinand Magellan ended in the beautiful island looking for spices. 

On Easter Sunday of March 31, 1521, Magellan ordered the expedition’s chaplain Fray Pedro de Valderrama to say the mass.

The event was seen to be the start of Christianity in the Philippines.

Limasawa Island is situated at the southern tip of the Southern Leyte province. It is bounded on the north by Padre Burgos town, on the east by Panaon Island, on the south by Camiguin Island (Mindanao Sea), and on the west by Bohol province. (PNA)
FFC/SQM

Sen. Villar reminds farmers to be less dependent on coconut

CARIGARA, Leyte, March 30 (PNA) -– Senator Cynthia Villar has called Yolanda-hit farmers anew to venture into intercropping and livestock raising and not just depend on coconut to rise above challenges.

Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said the only way for coconut farmers to recover is to replant fallen trees, but it takes six to seven years for a new tree to be productive.

“In the meantime, they can plant vegetables and other crops. We should not just rely our future on coconut. It is in addition and not a main source of our income,” Villar told reporters.

The lady senator, who was in this town on Monday as commencement speaker at the Eastern Visayas State University satellite campus here, said she’s been roaming around Yolanda-hit areas and encourage farmers to look for other ways to raise their income.

 

“What I cited about the intercropping of coconut farmers is just one of them. And this also includes livelihood diversification, disaster risk reduction, environmental resilience and tapping alternative agricultural procedures and processes,” she said.

Meanwhile, Villar is pushing for passage of comprehensive law on the use of coco levy funds to make sure that this will really benefit coconut farmers.

Villar said that there are some issues that should be clarified in order for the Senate to pass a “good law.” 

“I want the law to be clarified on the budget of PCA (Philippine Coconut Authority), projected income of coco levy funds and where to use it. We don’t want to pass a stupid law because it will not solve the problem,” she pointed out. 

The legislator noted that the PCA budget was reduced to PHP1.5 billion this year from PHP4 billion a year ago as government expects more earnings from coco levy assets.

“Coco levy fund income will be used for the benefit of farmers. It should be an addition and not in lieu of PCA budget,” she emphasized.

“What if the coco levy fund will not earn? Whatever is the income of coco levy fund will be an addition to PCA’s budget. Otherwise, we are not helping coconut farmers,” Villar added.

The coco levy funds were forcibly collected from coconut farmers for more than nine years during the martial law period under President Ferdinand Marcos, supposedly for investments in the coconut industry.

The funds were allegedly diverted to various financial instruments by his cronies. The government sequestered the funds after the fall of the Marcos presidency in the people power uprising of 1986. (PNA)
FFC/SQM

Ormoc acquires 6 brand new police vehicles

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, March 30 (PNA) -– To deter the commission of crimes and ensure public safety, the city government here turned over to the Ormoc City Police Office six brand new vehicles.

Mayor Edward Codilla said the local government has spent PHP4.04 million in the procurement, taken from the unappropriated surplus of the mayor’s office expenditures as of end 2014. 

The vehicles consist of two units of patrol jeeps worth PHP1.42 million each and four units multicab worth PHP300,000 each. The vehicles have a modular seating arrangement that have been reconfigured to face outward to provide tactical and quick deployment of police forces.

The vehicles will capacitate the local in performing its duties, facilitate its immediate response to incidents, and enhance its capability to provide services in law enforcement and crime prevention. City police director Ferdinand Garay formally received the vehicles. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/FNC/EGR

Tacloban vice mayor says Roxas ‘did his best’ during, after ‘Yolanda’

TACLOBAN CITY, March 30 (PNA) -– The second highest official in this city reiterated his observation that presidential bet Mar Roxas did not waste any time helping disaster victims in the immediate aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda.

Reacting to reports that a comic book depicting Roxas as a hero has drawn flak from netizens, Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin said that Roxas exerted all efforts on post-Yolanda relief operations. “Considering the magnitude of the disaster, it was a no-win situation for Mar.” 

Yaokasin is running unopposed in his bid for a fresh term. 

He was one of the elected officials of Tacloban together with lawyer and Councilor Jerry Uy who was always present during the coordination meetings conducted daily by then Interior and Local Government Secretary Roxas for two weeks after Yolanda. 

The coordination meetings aimed to fast track relief operations, security, bank operations, communication facilities, rehabilitation, management of the dead, migration of survivors to Manila or Cebu, medical missions, and the coordination with the international humanitarian organizations among others and created the relief hubs of the cities of Tacloban, Ormoc and Guiuan, Eastern Samar. 

The national government in the coordination meetings also created the Foreign Aid Transparency Hub (FAiTH) where all foreign donations were accounted for. 

“If I was Secretary Roxas, I could make a fuzz out of it, or made it known that Romualdez only arrived in Tacloban on November 4, 2013, while other local government units were already busy preparing for its constituents’ safety and evacuation,” said a retired banker who refused to be named.

She recalled that Romualdez was also hard-headed and instead spent at his beach house after roving the city and didn’t evacuate his family to safer grounds. 

“Romualdez also left the city and his people in a huff after Yolanda. But like a true statesman, Roxas didn’t make it an issue or was not politicking,” she added.

Yaokasin said that Roxas was in Tacloban during those crucial times after Yolanda. “Whatever we say now will be prone to misinterpretations because it’s campaign period.” 

“But I stand that Secretary Mar and the national government did its best and what it can, after that catastrophe,” he told PNA. 

Roxas received a lot of flak from netizens after a comic book on his life was released on Sunday depicting him as hero during and after super typhoon Yolanda. The comic book was released during the Liberal Party’s rally in Imus, Cavite. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ

Limasawa, Southern Leyte marks 495th year of the First Mass

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, March 30 (PNA) -- The 495th anniversary of the First Mass in the Philippines will be celebrated in the island town of Limasawa on Thursday.

A simple celebration will usher the activity with the Opening of the Door of Mercy at the Holy Cross Chapel Shrine in the island before the mass to be officiated by Bishop Precioso Cantillas of the Diocese of Maasin.

According to Nedgar Garvez, tourism officer of Southern Leyte, this year’s theme is “Eucharist, Gift of Mercy to the Family.”

“Being devout Catholics, Southern Leyte Governor Roger Mercado, Congressman Damian Mercado and the Mercado family will be there in Limasawa to attend the Mass. They are in Limasawa yearly for this activity,” Garvez said.

The Sto. Niño de Cebu pilgrim image that arrived in the Diocese of Maasin last Monday will be joined by parishioners in the foot procession from the Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral to the port of Maasin which is about a kilometer distance.

From the port of Maasin, there will be a fluvial parade up to Magallanes village in Limasawa where the icon will be brought to the plaza for the Holy Mass.

The island of Limasawa was the site of the First Mass in the Philippines when Portuguese world explorer Ferdinand Magellan ended in the beautiful island looking for spices. 

On Easter Sunday of March 31, 1521, Magellan ordered the expedition’s chaplain Fray Pedro de Valderrama to say the mass.

The event was seen to be the start of the Roman Catholicism in the Philippines.

In time for the celebration, there will be sail-boat race, and Nine-Man boat paddling race, aside from the Sinugdan Festival and the mass blessing of patrol boats from the Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)

The Catholic Church has declared the new era of evangelization for the life of the church in the Philippines in preparation for the Fifth-Centennial of the First Mas in the Philippines and in the far east of March 31, 2021, also an Easter Sunday

For over a nine-year period since 2013, the nine pastoral priorities of the church in the Philippines has the key themes especially formulated for this huge event.

After the Holy Mass officiated by Cantillas, the Holy Child Sto. Nino will be brought to Cebu City.

Limasawa a sixth-class town with 6,500 population, was visited by the International Cruise Ship Caledonian Sky with 100 foreign guest on board and had land excursion in the Island. (PNA)

JMC/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ

DOLE releases PHP1-M assistance to Ormoc poor families

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, March 30 (PNA) -- The city government here distributed more than PHP1 million worth of livelihood assistance under the Integrated Livelihood Program of the Department of Labor and Employment, benefiting 214 residents.

Six village livelihood associations received a total of PHP157,000 to be lent to their 157 members. The associations will roll the money by lending PHP10,000 to each member payable within two years with minimal interest, after which the members can borrow again, said Mayor Edward Codilla.

The associations are Bagong Community Association, Margen Farmers Livelihood Association, Linao St. Mark Association, Boroc Layer Sustainable Livelihood Program Association, Kalangkoy Matica-a Livelihood Association, and Mahayag Livelihood Association.

On the other hand, 44 families of child laborers working in sugarcane fields were each lent PHP15,000 worth of grocery items for their community store business payable within two years to their associations. The recipients come from villages of Liloan, Dayhagan, Patag, Cagbuhangin, Sumangga, and Valencia.

“Another 13 familes of child laborers from Lilo-an, Patag and Cagbuhangin villages were also lent cash for their rice-retailing business also payable within two years to their associations,” Codilla said. 

Six of them are repeat borrowers who have fully paid their previous PHP15,000 loan by each one of them while seven new borrowers got PHP10,000 and one unit weighing scale each. (PNA)
JMC/SQM/FNC/EGR

Private sector backing to reduce impact of election jitters on summer tourism

TACLOBAN CITY, March 30 (PNA) –- The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the private sector will take the lead in the promotion of tourist destinations in Eastern Visayas as election fever hits local government officials.

DOT Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said that tourism activities should not be disrupted with campaign activities more so that many tourists will be coming to the region this summer.

“Our goal is to have the private sector lead the promotion. We should not stop because we have a lot of areas operated by people’s organization. If we will not support them, they will not earn this summer,” Tiopes said.

Early this year, the tourism department and stakeholders joined the Travel Tour Expo 2016 and ASEAN Tourism Forum, both held in Metro Manila. The events provide venue for the region to showcase ideal destinations this summer.

“We’re able to establish links with foreign and Manila-based tour operators who are looking at Region 8 for historical tours and adventure activities,” she added.

In the past few weeks, the national government have invested on training of local tourism workers in the bid to enhance their quality of services.

The DOT expects influx of tourist to tourist-ready destination such as the Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte; Sohoton Cave and Natural Bridge in Basey, Samar; Ulot River extreme boat ride in Paranas, Samar; Biri Rock formations in Biri, Northern Samar; and diving sites in Southern Leyte.

“Our promotion will also cover other sites because we can capitalize on the volume of traffic going to icon destinations to promote nearby tourism sites,” Tiopes told PNA.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) tagged tourism as one the region’s economic growth driver. Revenue from tourism activities in Eastern Visayas rose to PHP8.08 billion in 2015 from PHP7.09 billion a year ago.

Tourism activities have increased hotel accommodations to 6,314 in 2015 or a 67 percent growth than a year ago. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO