ALABEL, Sarangani (February 3, 2012) – Board Member Virgilio Clark Tobias takes part in a surprise birthday bash for Governor Migs Dominguez organized by Capitol employees Friday, February 3, at the Capitol lobby. Board Member Tobias delivered his message of appreciation to Governor Dominguez, who turns 35 on February 5, for instituting education reforms in all public schools in the province that resulted to noticeable increase of levels of literacy. For more news and updates, please visit the Province of Sarangani (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (February 3, 2012) – Governor Migs Dominguez receives from Jun Ramos, provincial information officer, a birthday token during the surprise birthday bash for the governor organized by Capitol employees Friday, February 3, at the Capitol lobby. Governor Dominguez, who will turn 35 on February 5, reminded employees to “keep the fire burning” in serving the constituents. For more news and updates, please visit the Province of Sarangani (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

MAITUM, Sarangani (January 30, 2012) ­– Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (extreme left) together with Board Member Cornelio Martinez Jr. (2nd left) and Board Member Alexander Bryan Reganit (extreme right) award prizes during the Pacman’s basketball league culmination of congressman Manny Pacquiao as part of the celebration of 5th Bangsi Festival. For more news and updates, please visit the Province of Sarangani (Ivan Arroyo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

MAITUM, Sarangani (January 30, 2012) – Photographers from General Santos City and Davao City camera clubs take time to enjoy the competition during the Bangsi Festival Thursday, January 26. Through the years, the Maitum Safari Photo Contest has attracted scores of photographers across Mindanao. Awarding of winners will be during the Binuyugan Festival culmination program on May 7, 2012. The first prize is P10,000 plus trophy, second prize is P8,000 plus trophy and third prize P6,000 plus trophy, with seven consolation prizes of P700 each. For more news and updates, please visit the Province of Sarangani (Afren de Guzman/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE

MAITUM, Sarangani (January 30, 2012) – Photographers from General Santos City, Davao City and Sarangani take a group shot Friday, January 27, at Cresing’s Food Products, maker of the Cresing’s brand of rice coffee and corn coffee and distributor of marinated flying fish or bangsi. Cresing’s has been the traditional host of the Maitum Safari Photo Contest which is now on its 8th year. The contest has attracted scores of photographers across Mindanao. Awarding of winners will be during the Binuyugan Festival culmination program on May 7, 2012. The first prize is P10,000 plus trophy, second prize is P8,000 plus trophy and third prize P6,000 plus trophy, with seven consolation prizes of P700 each. For more news and updates, please visit the Province of Sarangani (Joseph Tanedo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Surigao del Norte – An indigenous community of 40 Mamanwa families from the impoverished barangay of Mabuhay, Sison, has received on Saturday a P450-thousand potable water system from the joint undertaking of Wallaby Corporation, Rotary Club of Metro Surigao and Rotary Club of Brimbank Central (Australia) during a turn-over ceremony attended by local officials and NGO representatives. The water system was officially received by Bae Soledad Cañete, Mamanwa tribal chieftain, witnessed by Sison Mayor Leicester Fetalvero, Wallaby Corp. Manager Jon Felipe Agcol, Metro Surigao Rotary President Edgar Guerra, Caraga Tri-Media President Roberto Parada, Jr., Brgy. Captain Alfredo Palin, DENR-MGB community relations officer Angie Pacillos, NCIP staffers Juralyn Lorchano and Jose Boboy. “This is a God-given project for us. Our fellow Mamanwas won’t have anymore difficulty in securing potable water for our households. It used to be our problems for decades already,” Cañete said. Fetalvero thanked Wallaby Corporation for being helpful to the Mamanwa tribe despite the existing moratorium on their application for mining exploration in the area. “Aside from this water system, Wallaby had completely rehabilitated the one kilometer Mabuhay barangay road, which connected to the national highway, which was cut off by flashfloods in January 2011. It has also shouldered the salary of a Mamanwa teacher through its “Adopt a School Program,” Fetalvero said. He also expressed gratitude to the two Rotary groups for humanitarian endeavor in helping the plight of the indigenous people in his town. The water system has a 14 cubic meter capacity tank made of concrete materials with 350-meter pipeline, measuring two inches in diameter, distributing potable water to Mamanwa households.

ALABEL, Sarangani (January 29, 2012) – “Olive and Kirks” (enterprise) with Leonilla Baring as proprietor (center) from Glan is feted as the most innovative entrepreneur from the ranks of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of the province. One of the key bases on determining the recipient of this award is the passion for continuous product improvement. Thirty-five entrepreneurs particularly food and craft producers province-wide joined the MSME Summit 2012 with the theme “Strengthening Cooperation towards Sustainable Growth” at the Capitol gym on January 25. (Russell L. Delvo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICER)

ALABEL, Sarangani (January 29, 2012) ­– Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon administers the oath to provincial officers of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) during the MSME Summit 2012 with the theme “Strengthening Cooperation Towards Sustainable Growth” at the Capitol gym January 25. For more news and updates, please visit the Province of Sarangani (Russell L. Delvo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (January 24, 2012) – Gov. Migs Dominguez assists Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe, chief executive officer of Home Development Mutual Fund, in a tree planting activity Tuesday, January 24, at The Capitol Residences park and playground as part of the turnover ceremony of the first batch of houses to its beneficiaries. The Capitol Residences is a provincial government housing project which aims to improve performance and productivity of its employees. For more news and updates, please visit the Province of Sarangani (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)