'Yolanda'-hit Oriental Hotel Leyte to reopen in October

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 24 (PNA) –- After it completely shut down in the aftermath of supertyphoon Yolanda, Oriental Hotel Leyte located in the historic town of Palo is targeting to reopen this October, just in time for the 72nd commemoration of the Leyte Gulf Landing.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla disclosed that rehabilitation of the devastated hotel is now in full swing, but the October target is only for the partial opening of its facilities.

“It’s not for the full hotel yet as all of its facilities took a big setback after it was lashed with the typhoon and the storm surge in 2013,” Petilla said.

The main building which houses its offices, restaurants and function hall are among the priority for the October dateline for reopening.

Petilla said that it may have taken a while for its owner LKY Resorts and Hotels to rebuild the whole facility; however, its reopening this year is a welcome one which provides a bright hope in the restoring tourism in the locality.

The Oriental Hotel Leyte, formerly the MacArthur Park Hotel, in Palo, totally stopped operation after the Nov. 8, 2013 typhoon as huge waves from a storm surge damaged all of its 110 hotel rooms.

When it shut down, international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, converted a portion of the hotel complex and function rooms into a warehouse.

Petilla admitted the hotel’s shut down cost the local government unit of Palo and the province in tourism receipts and in turn, economic and livelihood opportunities for the locals nearby.

The Oriental’s convention hall which can accommodate up to 1,000 persons, was already functioning in full and was a venue of national conventions and other gathering before it got totally wasted.

The governor meanwhile added that the province may provide the hotel’s owner and developer a reprieve considering the additional amount they have to put into its rehabilitation.

The hotel is owned by LKY for 25 years under the built-operate transfer scheme. The provincial government, which is the former owner of the property, awarded 25-year contract to LKY in 2009.

The hotel sits on a 5-hectare property and sits next to the historic Macarthur Landing Memorial, a historical landmark in Leyte.

LKY projected the hotel to cost a PHP300 million budget, but another PHP200 million was to be poured in for its total construction before it was struck by the typhoon. (PNA)

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Leyte ‘narco’ mayor’s lawyer killed in Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY, August 23 (PNA) -– The legal counsel of embattled Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa was gunned down Tuesday afternoon in this city.

The local police identified the victim as Atty. Rogelio Bato. Also killed was Angelica Bonita, 15, a high school student who was with the lawyer inside the Toyota Hilux during the incident.

The shooting took place in Lumbang 2 village, this city around 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

Sr. Supt. Rolando Bade, city police chief, said the two victims suffered multiple gunshots when perpetrators riding a white van without plate number, opened fire at them using caliber 45 and M-16 rifle.

Bade said the city police launched manhunt operations against the suspects, adding that they are still facing a blank wall on the motive of the killing.

“We still need to conduct investigation if the incident is related to illegal drugs,” he added.

In previous interviews, Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar, Eastern Visayas police regional director, confirmed that Bato is one of the professionals being probed for their alleged link to illegal drugs trade.

Bato has been the legal counsel of Espinosa family. He reportedly helped in the dismissal of several drug-related cases of Kerwin, the mayor’s son.

He also provided legal services to some drug personalities in Eastern Visayas region.

City Mayor Cristina Romualdez, who immediately proceeded to the crime scene, condemned the killing and urged authorities to conduct thorough investigation.

Romualdez commended the national government’s efforts to eradicate illegal drugs, but said this should not involve killing, especially of innocent civilians. (PNA)
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Tacloban native is among world's most influential Filipina

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 23 (PNA) –- A native of this city is one of the recipients of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World in 2016.

Bernadette Schlueter, 44, is the only one with Filipino ancestry from Eastern Visayas nominated to the prestigious award. She is currently the principal of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) American School at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) based in Casteau, Belgium. This is the position she held for the last two years.

Shape Elementary School is under the Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and one of the 181 schools in 14 districts located in 12 foreign countries, seven states, Guam and Puerte Rico.

SHAPE is the biggest of the 13 international schools in the NATO installation in Casteau, Belgium. There are 600 students enrolled in the school with the large percentage of Americans and the others are students from 28 NATO member countries and 22 partnership for peace nations.

She is an educator who has always taken leadership roles she was assigned to. She was assistant principal at CDR William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School in Guam, as a teacher in Korea and Japan, and as the school administrator of JE Mondejar Computer College in Tacloban City. 

Among her awards as a teacher was Korea District Teacher of the Year in 2012 and Awardee of the Scroll of Appreciation from US Forces Korea General Walter Sharp in 2010.

Schlueter was nominated under the Builders category by Leonor S. Vintervoll, founder of Philippine Women's Organization Resource Center based in Oslo, Norway.

Builders, according to the FWN website have demonstrated exceptional business impact at a large workplace environment; displaying deep passion for a cause through collaborative initiatives or alliances with corporations or nonprofit organizations on behalf of her own organization; demonstrates high potential and skill with measurable result.

The awarding is one of the highlights of the 13th Filipina Leadership Global Summit, a gathering of influential Filipina around the world is slated on Aug. 21 to 24, 2016 at Shangrila Hotel, Cebu City.

These Filipina women made a difference through their leadership and influence in their respective fields and communities globally creating a change in the world of Filipinas in diaspora.

There will be an action group discussions, reflections, collaborations, book launching and sharing to help gain insights on the future leadership of Filipina woman in the global workplace.

Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Loren Legarda are among the distinguished speakers in the three-day event.(PNA)
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Calbayog seeks more policemen to secure village polls

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Aug. 23 (PNA) -- The city government here will pass a resolution requesting the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office for an additional police troops to secure the upcoming village elections in remote areas here.

Mayor Ronaldo Aquino said there is an increasing concern about the city’s political stability as conflict erupts in some upland villages.

The village poll in October 2016 is expected to be closely contested, and it is potentially opening the door to violence, according to the mayor.

Calbayog City’s 157 villages are politically subdivided into three districts - Calbayog, Tinambacan and Oquendo.

“There has been a history of violence and conflicts being incited by some political parties here in previous elections,” Aquino said.

“Politics is politics. We cannot blame anyone. We all know that village elections is a litmus test for our young democracy,” Aquino stressed.

The conflict, which is happening as early as this month, according to Aquino, is very much driven by political maneuvering.

“We cannot wait out the storm. In our quest for peace, we feel the need of urgency. We’ve decided to pass a resolution to request for additional number of police forces here especially in our remote villages, so that we can stop violence,” Aquino said.

The Special Action Force and some police personnel deployed in the city last May 2016 National and Local Elections has been pulled out mid last month by the PNP regional office.

“Today’s village elections is really promising to people in Calbayog, who will stand better chances of being heard and influencing decisions that directly affect their everyday lives under improved democracy,” Aquino said.

And with the right support, according to Aquino, change will create space and an opportunity to city residents to really take development and poverty issues seriously and overcome the many challenges we are facing.

“I’m really proud of what Calbayog has achieved. We will not tolerate politicians who want to create chaos and panic as a way of campaigning for votes,” the mayor added. (PNA)
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Leyte athlete to compete in Poland’s World Powerlifting Competition

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 23 (PNA) -- A Leyte Sports Academy (LSA) scholar will leave this month to compete in the World Sub Juniors and Juniors Powerlifting Championships on Aug. 29 to Sept. 3 in Szczyrk, Poland.

For the second time this year, Rowella Abrea, 16, will again represent the country in this sports event after winning gold last June at the Asian Powerlifting Championship held in Udaipur, India.

Abrea competed for the 47-kilogram open division at the Asian Powerlifting Championship in sub junior squat, bench press, dead lift including the overall rank.

“Believe in yourself, discipline and always be thankful and have trust in God,” LSA administrator Ruben Tamayo’s reminded Abrea.

To prepare Abrea for the competition, she will undergo rigid training until she leaves for Poland, according to Tamayo.

Tamayo said Abrea’s joining in the world competition is a testament that LSA had gone a long way in achieving the dream of producing world-class athletes.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla asked Abrea to perform well in Poland, for her to bring gold just like what she did in India.

“We are very happy for Andrea and definitely, your success in Poland is an honor not just for the province, but for the country as well,” Petilla said.

Petilla added that with the impressive performance of LSA athletes in local and international competition, time will come that athletes from the region will represent the country in future Olympics. (PNA)
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