DOST’s ‘best’ Capiz graduates recognized

The best graduates  from Capiz were recently recognized by  the Department of Science and Technology.

Capiz DOST Information Officer Juafe Abareles disclosed that  five DOST graduate scholars of said agency were  recognized during the In Touch with Excellence Activity during the National Science and Technology Week celebration.

She said those recognized  during the regional event held in Iloilo City were Angel Lyka Martizano and Jerlyn Joy Villanueva, who both graduated Cum Laude in their Bachelor Secondary Education Major in Physical Science course.

Also given recognition were Wilden Espinolo and Fred Valentino who graduated Magna Cum Laude in their Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Physical Science course.

The four DOST scholars graduated from the Capiz State University- Roxas City main campus.

On the other hand, Jobee Navia who graduated Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Mathematics from  CAPSU- Burias, Mambusao campus was likewise recognized.

Department of Science Education Institute Director Dr. Josette Biyo, Capiz DOST Director Gerbe Dellava and CAPSU representative Dr. Lucille Marquez led the recognition rites.

The Touch with Excellence is DOST’s activity to honor its scholars who have graduated with flying colors and contributed to the industry or to their field of specialization, Abareles said.

by:  Jemin B. Guillermo

Female DJ banners Ati-Atihan opening salvo ‘DJ Battle’ finals

A 10-year old girl disk jockey is giving her older competitors a run for their money in the elimination round of DJ Battle for the Kalibo Ati-Atihan opening salvo.

Lhaarney Grace Gregorio, a student of Central Panay College of Science and Technology in Kalibo, Aklan, demonstrated her DJ skills in music mixing behind the decks to qualify in the finals.

Pretty in white shirt and black cap, the lone female and the youngest DJ competitor outclassed 10 other DJs from Boracay Island and parts of Aklan on October 14 elimination.

DJ Lhaarney will face-off Wilbert ‘DJ Q2’ Andrade, Alex ‘ DJ Alex’ Buday and Joey ‘DJ Joey’ Daulong in the finals on October 22 at Kalibo Magsaysay Park, a sidelight of Kaledeiscope Party of festival organizer Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) in partnership with the municipal government of Kalibo.

The seven other aspiring DJs – DJ Kenth, DJ Joshua, DJ Chris Fader, Naughty Boi, DJ Lou Bryan, DJ RJ, Clusta and DJ Zee, also showed off their music mixing skills and creative styles before a capacity crowd at Lorraine’s Tapsi main along Mabini Street.

On October 22, catch also the crowd-rocking live sets of DJ Angel Villaronte, Jeano Zamora and the Philippine’s Remix King DJ Santi in the much-awaited Ati-Atihan salvo party.

The event is hosted by Naughtiee Jerry of Iloilo and McYang of Manila.

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Aklan has a lot to offer for Miss Earth beauties

Sounds, sights and sun.

Yes, it is no surprise that Aklan has a lot to offer as the Miss Earth beauties visit Boracay Island and Kalibo on October 21. The young women will be treated to a number of eco-friendly activities plus a rare opportunity to celebrate a Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival event.

During their arrival in Aklan, thirty out of 84 candidates (Group 2) will travel south from Caticlan airport in Malay town to Kalibo’s environmental treasure, the Kalibo Bakhawan Eco-Park.

The ladies will commune with nature and plant mangrove trees in the multi-awarded mangrove reforestation site in support of their advocacy in protecting the environment. They will also take their lunch in the mangrove park and will proceed to downtown Kalibo in the afternoon to witness the vibrant Ati-Atihan festival.

Ahead of Miss Earth visit, the Ati-Atihan festival organizer  announced that international beauties will experience the “Mother of All Philippine Festivals” street dancing on the rhythms of ‘thousand drums’.

School children and well-wishers are also expected to line the streets leading to Kalibo Pastrana Park and wave flags to welcome the Miss Earth candidates.  

A must-see for Miss Earth ‘warriors’ and visitors is the merrymaking of 42 tribal and modern Ati-Atihan groups as if the dancing never stops along the streets of Kalibo.

As the tribes converge in Kalibo Pastrana Park, thousands of people will also flock for the colourful, lively and festive Ati-Atihan ‘Tamboe Salvo’ with the Miss Earth candidates on stage.

The Miss Earth beauties are set to leave Kalibo in mid-afternoon and move north some 65 kms to their new destination – the Boracay Island, known for its pristine beaches and exciting nightlife. 

In Movenpick Resort and Spa Boracay, the candidates will strut their stuff for an evening of swimsuit and resort wear competitions. 

On October 22, the candidates will unite with locals in a coastal beach cleanup program in the White Beach before their trip way back to Manila via Kalibo airport.  

This year's Miss Earth pageant finals will be held on October 29 in the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Aklan LGUs get P15M funds for BUB projects

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) released P15,281,190.90 worth of locally-funded projects for the six towns in the province of Aklan.

Regional director Atty. Anthony Nuyda handed over the checks to six Aklan LGUs during the  25th Local Government Code anniversary celebration of the DILG Regional Office VI last week in Iloilo City.

The town of New Washington received the first tranche amounting to P8.4-million while Tangalan got P4.9-million for their bottoms-up-budgeting (BUB) evacuation projects.

DILG also distributed P950,000 to finance various infrastructure projects in Makato; P286,199.48 for rehabilitation and improvement of roads in Buruanga; P594,991.42 for flood control projects in Madalag and P250,000 from Recovery Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) projects (RAY) 2 savings for the municipality of Altavas.

BuB is a government budget reform program that empowers and promotes people’s participation in the budget process in more than 42,000 barangays since 2012.

The government program has been recognized as one of five Best Practices in Fiscal Transparency from around the world during the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Summit held in Mexico City last November.

Meanwhile, DILG also launched the Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga (MASA-MASID) community-based program in the region which primarily envisioned to create a drug-free and safer communities.

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Bello orders 17 Regional Office to cancel or suspend Certificates of Registration of illegitimate contractors and subcontractors

Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III directed the 17  Regional Offices to cancel or suspend  the Certificates of  Registration under Department Order 18-A of contractors and subcontractors practicing  illegitimate contracting and subcontracting arrangements, including ‘endo’.

“All Regional Offices are directed to cancel and suspend the Certificates of Registration of establishments which are violating the law of security of tenure. This is consistent with the Department’s effort to eliminate illegitimate forms of contractualization,” said Bello.

He added that the DOLE Regional Offices shall assess the contractors and subcontractors in their respective regions to determine which establishments are   practicing labor only contracting.

“After the Regional Office conducted the proper proceedings, and they found out which  establishments in their area are practicing ‘endo’ or other forms of illegitimate contractualization, I am ordering them to suspend or cancel the Certificate of Registration of these business  establishments,” said Bello.

The 17 Regional Offices are also tasked to submit the list of contractors and subcontractors whose Certificate of Registration were suspended or cancelled.

Meanwhile, Bello also said that the Department already sent a letter to the big establishments in priority industries to comply with the law of security of tenure.

“We already sent a letter to big companies and corporation telling them to comply, otherwise we will also cancel their Certificate of Registration,” said Bello.

He added that the said companies are given 15 days to voluntary comply with general labor standards, including the regularization of their contractual workers to  avoid the suspension or cancellation of their Certificate of registration.