U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. and Lorenzo Tanada III, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (HOR), participated in the completion ceremony for the 11th group of the Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Leaders (CIPYML). With them is USAID Mission Director Gloria Steele (seated, far left) and Secretary Luwalhati Antonino (far right), Chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). CIPYML, a partnership of the U.S. and Philippine governments, is managed by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program and implemented in partnership with HOR. To date, CIPYML has provided 246 promising young people from Mindanao’s conflict-affected communities with the opportunity to observe and gain first-hand experience in public policy formulation, and to enhance their commitment to democratic values and institutions, through a rigorous four-month internship. The GEM Program is implemented under the oversight of MinDA. Young Mindanao Leaders At Congress
May 31, 2011 By
U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. and Lorenzo Tanada III, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (HOR), participated in the completion ceremony for the 11th group of the Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Leaders (CIPYML). With them is USAID Mission Director Gloria Steele (seated, far left) and Secretary Luwalhati Antonino (far right), Chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). CIPYML, a partnership of the U.S. and Philippine governments, is managed by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program and implemented in partnership with HOR. To date, CIPYML has provided 246 promising young people from Mindanao’s conflict-affected communities with the opportunity to observe and gain first-hand experience in public policy formulation, and to enhance their commitment to democratic values and institutions, through a rigorous four-month internship. The GEM Program is implemented under the oversight of MinDA. U.S. Ambassador Addresses Young Mindanao Leaders
May 31, 2011 By
Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. (at podium) spoke at the completion ceremony for the 11th group of the Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Leaders (CIPYML), which was held at the Philippines’ House of Representatives. CIPYML, a partnership of the U.S. and Philippine governments, has to date provided 246 promising young people from Mindanao’s conflict-affected communities with the opportunity to observe and gain first-hand experience in public policy formulation, and to enhance their commitment to democratic values and institutions, through a rigorous four-month internship. The Growth with Equity in Mindanao Program is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Development Authority. U.S. Ambassador Addresses Congressional Interns
May 31, 2011 By
Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. (at podium) spoke at the completion ceremony for the 11th group of the Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Leaders (CIPYML), which was held at the Philippines’ House of Representatives (HOR). Also participating in the ceremony were USAID Mission Director Gloria Steele (far right) and HOR Deputy Secretary General Ramon Roque (2nd from right). CIPYML, a partnership project of the U.S. and Philippine governments, has to date provided 246 promising young people from Mindanao’s conflict-affected communities with the opportunity to observe and gain first-hand experience in public policy formulation, and to enhance their commitment to democratic values and institutions, through a rigorous four-month internship. The Growth with Equity in Mindanao Program is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Development Authority. Unveiling of GSIS kiosk
May 30, 2011 By
ALABEL, Sarangani (May 23, 2011) – Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (4th from left) and GSIS manager Maria Cecilia Vega(right) unveil the newly installed GSIS kiosk intended for members of GSIS especially Capitol employees who can now easily check their account status without going to the GSIS offices in General Santos City. (Ritchie Tongo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) Unveiling of building marker
May 30, 2011 By
MALAPATAN, Sarangani (May 23, 2011) – You Against Corruption and Poverty (YACAP) Partylist Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez (right) and Mayor Alfonso Singcoy unveil the building marker of newly opened birthing home at barangay Lun Padidu as Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon looks on during the building inauguration Friday, May 20. YACAP funded the construction of the birthing home. (Ritchie Tongo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) Signing of MOA
May 30, 2011 By
ALABEL, Sarangani (May 23, 2011) – Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon signs the Memorandum of Agreement between the Government Service Insurance System represented by GSIS manager Maria Cecilia Vega (right) for the new GSIS Kiosk installed in the 2nd floor of the Capitol building Friday, May 20, as Governor’s Office Chief of Staff Pio Velasco looks on. (Ritchie Tongo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) JEEP Picks Up Pace
May 30, 2011 By
An abundance of teaching aids and reference materials was made available to college instructors like (l-r) Adrian Protacio of Sultan Kudarat State University, Rica Ali of Cotabato City State Polytechnic College, and Asliah Balindong of Cotabato City State Polytechnic College, at the Job Enabling English Proficiency (JEEP) Teacher Training Program held in Davao City recently. JEEP, which is designed and implemented by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, is a two-year program utilizing mixed-mode instruction to teach English specifically for employment in high-growth sectors, such as travel and tourism, nursing and allied health care, maritime services, and other areas of international business. It also prepares students to take international English tests as the gateway to employment in these sectors, and hones their skills in handling job interviews. More than 11,000 students in partner schools in Mindanao are now enrolled in JEEP. The GEM Program is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Development Authority. GEM Cheerdance by the bay winner
May 30, 2011 By
GUMASA, Sarangani (May 23, 2011) – Dragons Pep Squad from Kiamba wins the first prize for the cheerdance by the bay competition held in Rosal Beach at the third day of the 2011 Sarangani Bay Festival Saturday, May 21. (Russell Delvo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) Beach sports, bay bodies highlight Sarangani Bay Festival
May 30, 2011 By
GUMASA, Sarangani (May 23, 2011) – Seven teams competed in this year’s 15-kilometer swim relay from Tinoto Point in Maasim town to Tango in Glan, making the swim-across-the-bay the most challenging competition of the festival.
Koronadal City’s Sea Lions team with top swimmer Bonifacio Pagunsan made it to the finish line at 3:41:42 time as champion. The Philippine Army’s Tinoto Pirates got the second prize (3:53:28) while Gensan Torpedoes bagged the third place (4:05:19). Sea Lions took home the P50,000 grand prize.
Lumba bugsay (boat race), a 4-kilometer boat paddling competition started in Kapatan to Tango. Brothers Wenard and Ronald Insik, both fishermen from Kapatan, bagged the first place. Lumba bugsay is a yearly Sarangani Bay Festival event organized by SPECTRUM (Sarangani Province Empowerment and Community Transformation Forum).
Beach sports such as volleyball, football and Frisbee played among teams from Davao, General Santos, Koronadal and Sarangani province were held in Coco Beach.
Gumasa’s white sands made fine sculptures for artists who joined the sand sculpture competition in Rosal Beach with the contest’s recurrent theme, “Protection and Conservation of the Bay”.
Entry from Maasim sculpting into sand the protection and preservation of endangered marine life such as marine turtles, dolphins and a mermaid won against nine other entries. Entries from Glan Poblacion and Kiamba won second and third respectively.
The bay bodies competition in the evening got the biggest crowd drawing about ten thousand spectators in Coco Beach. Paired by highest points, Luis Reyna III from Davao City and Kristine Jagus of Alabel, won the bay bodies and bikini competition.
The Bay Fair in Coco Beach showcased food and souvenir items for tourists at the Sarangani Bay Festival 2011. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
Sarangani Bay Festival 2011 ends with a blast
May 30, 2011 By
GUMASA, Sarangani (May 23, 2011) – This year’s Sarangani Bay Festival closed with an all-night party and a colorful “splash in the sky” fireworks display as guests filled Coco Beach on its Saturday night culmination.
The Sarangani Bay Festival 2011 is the 6th festival since 2006, held each May. Sarangani’s charter anniversary as a province is May 19. The culmination night featured local bands from Sarangani and General Santos City with the guest band Rocksteddy from Manila. The concert was followed by a party by the bay with DJ and Beat Lab Academy from Davao City.
At 12 midnight a crowd of over 5,000 at the party zone and the shores joined the countdown for the fireworks display.
Gumasa cove has three adjacent resorts of the Adarnas – White Haven, Rosal and Coco beach – usually co-hosting the yearly event with about two-kilometer stretch of powdery white sand. Other tourist-ready resorts here are Davak, Yoshikawa, Brod Louie Resort and Spa and Isla Jardin del Mar.
“I would like to thank Governor Migs Dominguez and Vice Governor Steve (Chiongbian-Solon), for without them, there can be no Sarangani Bay Festival,” Mayor Victor James Yap, Sr. said as the night began.
Meanwhile, championship games were played during the day. Ultimate Frisbee in White Haven Resort was played between Davao City’s Mulatto and Davao Disk Squad. DDS beat their city-mates by two points (15-13).
Organizer Ken Aldrin Paradela said ultimate Frisbee is an honest, gentleman’s game with no physical contacts among players. This year, eight teams competed for a trophy of the champion
Skimboard competition played at Rosal was champed by Jemar Flora, Julius Atol and Mark Tinunki for second and third respectively.
Bombo Radyo’s bancarera was won by Tata Macagcalat “White Dragon” from Maasim against 29 other contenders with 00:03:02. Beach volleyball was played between the University of Mindanao team from Tagum, Davao against Mindanao State University- General Santos City.
Kiamba’s Dragons pep squad has won against two municipal team opponents, Alabel’s Kala and Maasim’s Green Pines at the cheer dance by the bay competition in Rosal Beach.
Event organizers and the Sarangani Tourism and Investment Promotion Center (STIPC) will conduct a post-activity evaluation immediately after the three-day festival. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
