Showing posts with label Ateneo de Naga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ateneo de Naga. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon New Jersey ends fiesta with joyful anticipation of 300th year of Penafrancia devotion in 2010

9/22/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


















Rev. Msgr. Jeremias R. Rebanal, Our Lady of Penafrancia Devotees Association’s (OlPDA) spiritual adviser called faith-based activities like the Penafrancia fiesta in New Jersey, USA as instruments which help renew, strengthen, and enrich “our faith through our Ina.” According our insightful pastor, through Jesus’ mother, “we can live and enjoy the present with her, our future filled with hope, peace, and love that can only come from the Lord."

With undbridled gladness, similar messages had been said by Rev. Msgr. Romulo Vergara, the rector of the Penafrancia Basilica and National Shrine in Naga City and Rev. Jose C. Saltarin of St. Anne’s Church in New Jersey who emphasized Ina’s maternal protection wherever we might be. From a beautiful Filipino song Fr. Saltarin paraphrased:

Saan ka man naroon anak,
Sana’y malaman mo na mayroon kang Ina
Ang ‘yong Ina, Maria ang pangalan,
Bigay ng Dios sa iyong lahi.
Saan ka man naroroong bansa,
Pangarap ko ikaw, pagkat mahal kita.
Asahan mong sa habang panahon
'Ka’y anak ko pa rin, saan ka man naroroon.

Saen ka man magduman aki,
Sana mamidmidan mo na igua kang Ina
Ang saimong Ina, Maria an pangaran.
Ta'o nin Diyos sa saimong angkan.
Saen ka man napaduman na lugar,
Pangiturogan ta ika, dahil padangat ta ika
Asahan mo sa habang panahon,
Ika aki ko pa man guiraray, saen ka man magduman.

Such wonderful words to expatriate Bicolanos and all Filipinos worldwide couldn’t be said at a better time, when we start preparing for next year’s 300th year of Penafrancia devotion in Bicol.

This September, we were blessed to have well-intentioned Bicolano leaders of OLPDA and affiliate organizations---the Bicol Association Inc. of the Eastern Seaboard USA (BAES) and the Ateneo de Naga Alumni Association working in unity and cooperation. Energized by a team of supportive devotees, volunteers, and friends, Amado Cabaero, Jr., this year’s chairman, led the group to make the Penafrancia celebration in the Northeast a complete success.

Having gone through the nightly prayers and fellowship at the Our Lady of Victories Church (OLV,) the fiesta reeled with the traditional fluvial procession by ardent "voyadores." A rousing tribute to God and Ina followed on that clear sunny afternoon of Saturday, September 19, 2009 at CRRNJ Terminal Building in Jersey City, New Jersey.

As an expression of gratitude OLPDA once again invites devotees, families, and friends to come for a solemn mass at the OLV Church at Kennedy Blvd, NJ on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 3 PM.(Photo Credit: balaoglogo) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon UP Ibalon son among winners in China Math Competition

8/22/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


An elementary grader and two high school students of Naga City won bronze medals from the recently concluded international China Math Olympiad hosted by the People’s Republic of China.

In a rigorous mathematics competition held in Ziamen and Tianjin last August 11 to 16, 2009, high school students John Reiner Bulaong of Ateneo de Naga University, Brian James Masalunga of Hope Christian School, and 6th grader Joseph Maria de Leon bagged the medals among a total of 90 garnered by the Philippine team.

Bulaong is the son of UP Ibalonian Melissa Sieglinde Borromeo-Bulaong and Joseph Rommel O. Bulaong. A triumphant welcome awawaits the winners when they return home. Congratulations!!! (Photo Credit: tthanes) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Francis B. Pena, Singapore Airlines’ 2009 Awardee for Customer Service

3/09/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


It’s with unabashed pride and gladness that UP Ibalon-Bicol congratulates Francis B. Pena for being chosen as Singapore Airlines’ 2009 CEO TCS Awardee for outstanding customer service.

A friend of Ibalonians, Pena who hails from Naga City, Philippines is an alumnus of Ateneo de Naga HS Class’73 and the University of Nueva Caceres BSN ’78. For his exemplary work, outstanding company contributions, and admirable 25-year dedication to the core values of the organization, he will be feted in an evening celebratory reception at 6:30 at the Raffles Town Club in Singapore, on 22 April 2009. His selection to the prestigious distinction is announced by Patricia Ow, Customer Affairs Manager of the Singapore Airlines. =0=

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PostHeaderIcon The G7 Bank And Avenue Square

11/07/2008 | Posted by myty555 | Edit Post


Last August 1,  the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) padlocked the G7 Bank, a hi-flying, prominent chain of rural banks in Bicol owned by Fidel "Totoy" Cu. This heralded the final collapse of the bank which was experiencing liquidity problems for over three months already. 

I had been amazed by the rise of the G7 Bank.  When it was renamed I was not able to connect that it was the former Rural Bank of Nabua, Inc. (RNBI).  From the time Totoy Cu bought its solitary branch in 1979 it grew to 7 branches with a deposit base of P3.4 billion.   It was able to open a branch in Ortigas and Totoy Cu and the bank were receiving award after award.  I thought G7 Bank was already on the way.

In the past years I was a regular visitor to Naga and I was able to watch how the Magsaysay Avenue nightstrip developed.  Nobody questions that the queen of the strip is Avenue Square with its hotel and shops.  Suddenly, the old benchmarks of Naga were swept away.  Avenue Square looked modern in every sense. I can say that in comparing it to other cities' developments it does not look provincial!

Yes, I thought Totoy Cu was already in the way.  I thought, at last, here's another local who is big and brave enough to do battle with Manila real estate investors.  Just like Bigg's in the food business who fought Jollibee in more than even terms and New South Star Drug who is giving Mercury Drug a run for its money.

Do i have a bone against Manila chains or investors?  Only  if they rake in profits and move it out of the region because if that happens no real self-sustaining progress will happen in the region. And that is my fear in the coming of ShoeMart (SM).  Mercury Drug has already been in Bicol for the last 30 years.  Jollibee and McDonald's has been around for more than 15 years. The three might have served the consumers better but did it help develop the region?

I had been hoping that the Bicol Region can produce its own champions in the mold of Bigg's, New South Star Drug, Co Say, Candano, the bus makers of Tabaco, LCC.  There is no sense in just waiting for outsiders to come.  It might just be like waiting for rain on a summer day.

Then G7 Bank collapsed.  I am not sure if the jeering is warranted.

I had been all over the Philippines.  In other regions, people identify with its champions. Cebu identifies with Gaisano, Cagayan de Oro identifies with Limketkai, Davao with NCCC, Zamboanga with its fish canneries, Bacolod with Ceres Bus, etc. 

In Bicol I have heard a lot of negatives about some of its leading businesses. I am aware that at times the business practices of some is not exactly above reproach.  But do we wish them unwell? They could be our engine of growth. As they say, in business, like in politics, there are no saints.

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PostHeaderIcon OK Bikol Trade Fair: Providing a Niche for Bikol Products

10/24/2008 | Posted by dusktildawn | Edit Post


By: Imelda T. Cabañes

The Orgullo Kan Bikol Regional Trade Fair indeed has gone a long, long way. And every step of the way it has made its over-reaching goal to promote the distinct products of the region in the national and international market. Every year, Bicol’s unique and diverse products find center stage through the OK Bikol Trade Fair at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. Product focus includes home furnishings, giftware and holiday décor, wearables, fresh and processed food products, organic and natural products, cutlery and furniture.



"Orgullo Kan Bikol” has since evolved into “OK Bikol” - a fitting name to a project which has transformed Bicolano MSMEs into direct and indirect exporters, contributing significantly to the region’s socio-economic growth.

Counting the gains

We are now, therefore, counting our gains.

In terms of sales, some P92.60 million pesos were generated since its inception which in many ways perked up the business transactions in the region. This figure does not include the sales generated after the staging of the fair. It has also contributed much to job generation in the countryside.



Relative to this, DTI Region V tapped the services of local designers to assist the OK Bikol participants in developing new designs, aside from the resident designer from the Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines (PDDCP). Recognizing the important role of designers, DTI organized the Bicol Designers Association, Inc. (BIDEAS) last year. All the members are currently under contract with DTI in its product development program.

“BIDEAS was organized by DTI Region V to assist Bicolano entrepreneurs who are joining the OK Bikol Trade Fair to come up with new and trendy products to be exhibited for order taking by institutional buyers”, DTI-Bicol Regional Director Jocelyn L.B. Blanco bared.

This year’s OK Bikol was considered very significant since for the first time it showcased the untapped raw materials abundantly found in the region which can be transformed into beautiful and artistic novelty products. These raw materials include tikiw, salago, pagokpok and sorghum.

CARP Beneficiaries are OK Bikol’s clients

This year, 43 Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) with a total of 428 beneficiaries joined the OK Bikol Fair. These CARP beneficiaries are also given full-cycle business assistance until they graduate to become regular clients of DTI (meaning without CARP assistance). From this level, they are groomed to be qualified to the prestigious annual National Trade Fair and eventually to international trade expositions.

Fact is, a number of CARP beneficiaries have already graduated to become DTI regular clients and about three became participants to the National Trade Fair, one of whom went all the way to the International Food Exposition (IFEX).



Youth Entrepreneurship Program for Students (YEPS)

Another sector benefiting from the OK Bikol Trade Fair is the student sector. Since the year 2000, students from the Bicol University were allowed to participate, through the Youth Entrepreneurship Program for Students (YEPS) of DTI–Albay Provincial Office, in coordination with the Bicol University College of Entrepreneurship. Believed to be the next generation businessmen of the region, graduating students are given the rare chance of experiencing how it is to be in real business. A special program package was initially conceptualized by DTI-Albay for these students to make sure they will truly appreciate how it is to be in business someday.

Ateneo De Naga University and Camarines Sur State Agricultural College (CSSAC) are of late the new clients of DTI under this program. As no mean feat, the “Tatak Atenista” of Ateneo De Naga qualified to participate in the International Food Exposition (IFEX) in 2006 in the Retailers Zone. Students this early are exposed to actual marketing which is truly a stepping stone for future business ventures. And two groups of Ateneo graduates who put up their own business were proud participants to the OKB 2008 - Sweetven Enterprises and Choco Naga Enterprises.



The OK Bikol Association, Inc.

To keep pace with the changing times, DTI Region V organized the OK Bikol Association to be its private sector partner. Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last September 15, 2006, this association will eventually become the frontrunners of OK Bikol Regional Trade Fair in the next years, although DTI will still be very much around to support this activity.

Determined to make this association succeed, the newly elected officers, have already drawn their projects for next year as they work on strengthening their membership. Initially, the members are the participants to the OK Bikol Regional Trade Fair but the association is open to other MSMEs who are willing to be members and avail of the benefits derived from an association.

OK BIKOL partners with GAYON BIKOL

Since last year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has become a partner of the DTI. With this tandem, “OK Bikol back to back with Gayon Bikol” has drawn a lot of people to the fair. Tour destinations and the rich cultural heritage of Bicolandia were highlighted which indeed brought to the fore the beauty and bounty of the region.

Much remains to be done

As we have counted our gains, much still has to be done for Bicol to move steadily forward on the road to progress. ‘A continuing partnership of all concerned sectors is much needed. It is heartening to note that our partners in development have taken worthy steps to strengthen the collaboration. As the partnership moves toward more substantial outcomes, we remain optimistic that the gains of our Orgullo will remain to be our pride.’

Mabuhay an Bicol!

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