This coming October 24, our most cherished community newspaper—Bicol Peryodiko—is celebrating its 11th foundation anniversary with a bang once again. For this year’s anniversary special celebration, our ‘Bossing’, Ferdz M. Brizo, brought out the idea of holding a songwriting competition dubbed “Festival of Music 2017” aside from the thanksgiving mass and the traditionally get-together party we do if every time we celebrate this annual event.
Today’s celebration is made more significant and strengthened by the birth of our one- year old broadcast sister outfit–Radyo Peryodiko, Ang Bagong Paborito (DWFB-FM, 96.7 mhz). The opening of the print and broadcast academy (PBA), another brainchild Bossing FMB, had given opportunities to students who wanted to hone their talents in broadcasting and newswriting.
Enrolees from the six batches came from the secondary level — Calatagan National High School, Catanduanes National High School and Pajo Baguio National High School—and college level mostly from the Catanduanes State University, particularly from the College of Agriculture and Fisheries, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Industrial Technology and College of Information and Communications Technology.
The blessing of the two-storey building of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was officiated last October 16 by the Most Rev. Fr. Bishop Manolo A. delos Santos after the ribbon- cutting ceremony made graced by Undersecretary_and DILG Regional Director Eloisa T. Pastor, Gov. Joseph C. Cua, Vice Governor Shirley A. Abundo, LGU-officials, heads/chiefs of national and local agencies, CSU and DepEd officials etc.
In the afternoon of the same day, the DILG conducted the “Provincial Federalism Forum” at Plaza Rizal covered court attended by barangay officials from the 11 municipalities. More details of this important political activity will be thoroughly discussed next issue due to space and time constraints.
The blessing and launching of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Catanduanes ASEAN Information Hub was held on October 17, 3:00 P.M. at the PIA Catanduanes Information Center, San Isidro Village, Virac, Catanduanes.
Rev. Fr. Eric Rojas officiated the blessing of the PIA information hub. Ms. Alicia A. Naz, PIA-V Regional Director led the ribbon-cutting ceremony and explained the rationale behind this project launching vis-à-vis the chairmanship of the Philippines in the ASEAN 50th Foundation Anniversary.
Messages were delivered by Mayor Samuel V. Laynes, Vice Governor Shirley A. Abundo, and Provincial Administrator Calem Surtida who represented Gov. Joseph Cua.
On the following day, October 18, PIA through the initiative of Provincial Information Manager Edna A. Bagadiong, hosted the ASEAN 2017 Multi-Sectoral Forum at ARDCI Corporate Inn, Virac, Catanduanes.
PIA-V Regional Director Naz delivered the overview and forum objectives. ASEAN thematic priorities were discussed by the following resource persons, namely: Ms. Daisy Tabirara, STIDS III, DTI, (ASEAN Integration: Its Impact to Trade and Industry); Ms. Jesica J. Amador, Project Dev’t. Officer, DSWD, (The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Context—Benefits to Bicolanos);
1Lt Darrel Kim Landicho, Company Commander, Bravo Co. 21B 9th ID, PA, (Regional Security and Cooperation: Terrorism in the ASEAN Context); Ms. Cynthia T. Soneja, EPS I-Araling Panliunan, DepEd, (ASEAN Integration in Education (The K-12 Program); P/CI James S. Ronatay, PCR Officer, PNP-CATPPO, (Domestic Security and Stability: The War Against Drugs), and the last but not the least, Mr. William T. Aldea, DILG, LGOO VI, (Understanding Federalism: A Boost to Philippines’ Attainment of ASEAN Integration).
Mike L. De La Rama, Ph.D., ASEAN 2017 Regional Focal Person-Bicol (Synthesis). Dr. De La Rama acted as master of ceremonies on both events. Ms. Bagadiong, PICM, Catanduanes delivered the closing messages after certificates of participation were awarded to the multi-sectoral groups participants.
