CC goes Coca-Cola

The Creative Circle or CC never fails to amaze me. From a small group of talented social work students of BUCSSP, CC is continuously evolving into something else and into something better. I believe it also continues to break expectations and go beyond the perception of other people. I guess pushing for the formal creation of this group is one of the best things that I did when I was the president of the Human Welfare Advocates way back 2011.

Just today, they qualified for the Grand Finals of the Coca-Cola Regional Dance Showdown (not really sure though of the name of the competition) and is in fact the official representative of Bicol University (and of Albay as well). I believe that they need to step up their dancing skills and push themselves to the limit in order for them to win. I know they can and I know they will try because that's what they have been doing eversince - improving and becoming better.

But I hope that the university and some Albaypeeps will also give them the support they deserve especially moral and physical support on the day of the competition (September 18, 2013 at JMR Coliseum) considering that if the criteria for judging will not be changed, audience impact amounts to a very big 20%. Kaya sana talaga sumuporta ang mga tao.

Of course, my support to them will not be change. 100% pa rin at dadagdagan ko pa ng dasal para sana mas maging effective!

Go CC! Go CC! Go CC! Kaya Yan! Laban Lang! :)

Big Ass Fans

Presenting... ang bad big ass fans ng LCC Mall Naga! At first, na-curious ako kung bakit big ass ang pangalan pero after some research, now i know that Big Ass Fans is a brand of industrial fans. hahaha. salamat sa Big Ass Fan ng LCC, may bagong learning ako! :)

Peñafrancia 2013

It's September once again and in a few days, all roads will lead to Pilgrim City of Naga as the city (and the entire Bicol Region as well as the whole country) celebrates the 303rd year of devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia. As a Nagueño and a devotee of Ina, I don't have any other words to say but VIVA LA VIRGEN and VIVA EL DIVINO ROSTRO! :))

PS. Pictured above is one of the stained glass pieces that can be found in the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. :)

At Dusk

I am always fascinated with the beauty and awesomeness that the sky has to offer during dusk and since I had the opportunity, I tried to capture a view of the Naga City CBD II Skyline at dusk from the window of a room in the third floor of the newly opened NICC Doctor's Hospital. I really like the pic and I hope you like it too! :)

Some of Isarog's Marvels

My father went to a hiking trip recently with his college org mates somewhere in Curry, Pili part of Mount Isarog and he went home with a breathtaking pictures of the two hidden and virgin falls with clean and cool waters. Makasama nga next time! :)

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Photo taken during the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in the Carmelite Chapel in Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City. :)

Flowers

These are some of nature's gift to humanity and such a good view to start the day! All photos taken at our house! :)))

SP Resolution No. 2013-167

One reason why I am proud that I am a Nagueño is because Naga is a haven of responsible and responsive leaders. The resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod is one of the testament that the City Council really serves as the voice of the Nagueños. Congratulations to all the councilors especially to Councilor Gabby Bordado! #Save651! :)))

photo courtesy of Councilor Gabby Bordado FB.

#Save651

I must admit that during the first time i heard about the project of DPWH about transforming the current two-lane maharlika highway to a four-lane highway, my ears clapped and my heart was filled with joy. Come to think of it, widened highways aside from booming infrastructure are somehow indicators of progress. But when things started sinking into me, i started feeling ambivalent towards it because of the immaterial and irreparable costs that it would give cause to the Nagueños.

After thinking things out, i decided that my conscience will haunt me if i say to the world that i would want things like this to happen. Besides, i really do not like the idea of cutting trees (i remember i once wrote an article about the cutting of trees in BU to paved way for the construction of the gate that is still closed up to now despite being completed some three years ago). Moreso, 651 good old tress will be cut and it's very much, too much. I just don't know but i find it not worth it to cut the trees just to have widened roads if there are alternatives. Alternatives that are not far from reality.

So to sum things up, i am one with the people of the city in saying #Save651.

PS. I am not against the project, i am against the cutting of trees. :)

photo courtesy of #Save651 FB page.

RSR and Gov. JOEY

it's october 26 and it's Raul S. Roco Day in Naga City if i am not mistaken. well, since my childhood, Raul S. Roco was my idol in public service and in politics. his ideals, his principles and his personality made me believe that he is the best president the Philippines never had. he died early because of prostate cancer a year after the 2004 Philippine presidential elections.

Also, this day is the birthday of the good and humble governor of the province of Albay. every passing day, he proves that he deserves to be an idol of many. his vision for Albay is very wonderful (Albay Rising like California in the next 30 years) but what is more evident is the results of what he is doing. if and only if, he decides to run for a senate seat in the next election, i'll vote for him and even campaign for him. haha.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RSR and GOV. JOEY!

***photos taken from the facebook page of governor Joey Salceda.

VIVA!

HAPPY 301st PEÑAFRANCIA FIESTA!

VIVA LA VIRGEN! VIVA EL DIVINO ROSTRO!

**i do not own the photo. :)

Ikaw ang Pag-ibig

Had the chance to watch 'Ikaw ang Pag-ibig.' a film about the devotion to Our Lady of Penafrancia. very timely for the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. ang masasabi ko lang, nakarelate ako and lastly, VIVA LA VIRGEN!

Just like what i said, the celebration of the 300th year of devotion to Ina officially ended but the devotion continues! :)

NAGA-gayon lalo

naga city, under the leadership of mayor john bongat and other city officials, is taking the good road ahead in terms of investments in making naga a more beautiful tourism hub and a city that gives importance to its glorious history as one of the golden seven cities of the sun (a name given by the great writer nick joaquin to the original seven settlements that the spaniards established upon their arrival in the philippines.

what i am referring here are the two plans of the city government to invest in the physical development of naga. maybe some would see it shallow but for me, investing in physical development of naga would help in promoting naga as an investment hub in the southern luzon area. kapag maayos, maganda at malinis, more investors and visitors will like naga. however, physical development should not be the only priority of the city administration (this is another issue)

first is the plan of the city government to revitalize the naga river which is of historical and cultural significance to the city. the salog kan buhay program of the city. the plan to relocate the informal settlers near the river and make walkways and parks along the river and of course, to clean the river and make it cleaner.

second is the plan of the city government to construct the monumento de naga which will become the fuente osmeña circle/el angel column(mexico)/july column(paris)/berlin victory column of naga city. the said monumento will be constructed at the magsaysay-roxas-panganiban-national highway intersection near the immaculate conception church. the said monumento will honor naga city's status as a pilgrimage capital. actually, just like the salog kan buhay project, this project is just on the drawing board. the city government is inviting architecture/engineering students or professionals and even ordinary people with ordinary lives to participate and they will receive a prize in exchange if their design will be chosen.

well, i commend the city government for their wonderful plans but i will commend them more if they will implement their proposed projects and walk their talk. :p

for more details, just click the link below

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ciudad-nin-Naga-An-Maogmang-Lugar-Naga-City-Bicol/110525158999311

300th year of Devotion to Penafrancia

yeah!

i can feel the festive mood in Naga City now. tomorrow is the grand celebration of the tercentenary of the devotion to our lady of peñafrancia - patroness of bicolandia and i'm very excited about that. hmm. just like what i have mentioned in my fb status, the show of the devotion of the bicolanos to our lady never failed to give me goosebumps. the sabay-sabay na pagwagagway ng puting panyo to the shouting of viva in chorus are among things that makes the peñafrancia experience unique as if it makes the sea of people one no matter what color he is or from what province or town he came from. it is an experience like no other. this tercentenary celebration is a must attend celebration for this is history. i am pretty sure that i will not be around anymore after a century where the bicolanos would celebrate Ina's 400 years. nonetheless, this tercentenary celebration is a testament of Bicolanos strong faith in God and a way of thanking the Lord for his blessings. This devotion is a gift we received and is a gift we must share.

VIVA LA VIRGEN! VIVA EL DIVINO ROSTRO!

its time!

just spent my day by missing my socio, philo and bio class to attend to our professor's mother funeral at Iriga City, laskwatcha sa Naga with my friends and eating at KFC, standing for hours while waiting for the clock to strike at 12 to signal the start of the tercentenary celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. well, ukie naman. i enjoy watching the UNC glee club doing their song and dance number, the USANT Band and so on and so forth. pero aside sa countdown, si john lloyd at si bea saw (kung oo man) ang inabangan ng mga tao. well, i have a clear view of the stage. medyo malapit nga eh. pro ano ba ang ginawa ni john lloyd? hmm. tumayo lang naman sya, nagpa-cute at nagsalita. nothing more, nothing less. iba nga naman ang sikat. tumayo ka lang sa stage pagtitilian ka na. nandun din si congressman villafuerte. ano ang ginawa nya? nagbigay ng perang papremyo sa raffle. haha. tsktsk, but then the highlight of the night was of course to welcome and to signal the official start of the celebration. all prayed a prayer for the tercentenary countdown and after that the 300 seconds countdown started but while waiting for it to end, i suppose all sang the resuene or the hymn of INA. when the countdown was ended, a major major fireworks display captured everyones eyes. (tila ba nakalimutan ng mga taong nandun sa john lloyd sa stage). after the fireworks display, umalis na din si john lloyd at nagsialisan na din ang mga tao. hmm. bottomline, IT'S NOW THE TIME FOR US TO CELEBRATE THE 300 YEARS OF DEVOTION TO INA. VIVA LA VIRGEN!

let's support jmr!

click the picture to vote!
remember that the persuasiveness of
your statement counts. :D

proud ako!

with SM and more businesses coming in and penetrating Naga's economy plus the tourism boom that Naga and CamSur is experiencing, its effects to Naga and its business or establishments are also coming. from my point of view, what is happening now is the Survival of the Fittest scenario. when the business establishment can catch up with SM and the new establishments, it will survive. hmm. if not, better luck next time. Naga's progression and regression during the last years, according to my observation are the following:

on the NEGATIVE:

• RED RIBBON and KFC Plaza Quezon closed down their Centro Branch after relocating at SM.
  
• ADVENT, EMILY and BICHARA are closing down (or are closed, i just don't know).well, the blame can't be given to the Naguenos. after all, what does they dusty old emily and bichara has to offer compared to what SM Cinema offers. but then, they are institution when it comes to Cinemas in Bicol. i think, what the Bichara and Emily Cinemas should do is to upgrade their Cinemas here in Naga just like what they have done in Legazpi with their Silverscreens.
• small business are continuing to shot foul. some even decided to closed due to low income.
  

on the POSITIVE:

• Establishments continues to rise at CBD 2 alongside with the Metro Naga Coliseum, Bicol Access Health Centrum, CBD Plaza Hotel, STI-Naga Campus.
• Existing businesses continues to fight by repackaging themselves. for instance, the Baker's Plaza.
• With the arrival of SM, new establishments are arriving and will arrive just like the Starbucks Cafe which will be brewing its coffee soon at Magsaysay Ave.
• Caramel Bakeshop opened its branch at Naga City Old CBD.
  
• McDonalds Plaza is upgrading its structure.
• LCC continues to fight with SM by branching out not just inside the city but all over the region.
• Molino Grill remodeled itself while ClubM8 is currently having its remodeling.
• Electromart in Centro will be replaced by Goldilocks thus having a three cornered fight in that area with Baker's Plaza, Caramel Bakeshop and Goldilocks.
• Citi Hardware Naga, VIVA Home Center opened along the Concepcion - Del Rosario Growth Area.
• Hotels continue their upgrades and some have opened to accompany tourist and locals alike.
• GMA 7 constructed their Regional Station at Naga.
• UNTV opened their News Center.
• Robertson Mall will construct its New Mall Grounds in front of the old Robertson.
• alongside the entertainment establishments, new branch of Bank of the Philippine Islands.
• Magsaysay Avenue continues to grow as the entertainment hub of Naga
• more and more establishments continue to come in Naga.

as a Nagueno, it makes me proud to see that my home city is becoming BIGGER and BIGGER. and as a Nagueno, i am excited for more and more developments that can be seen in the city. God bless Naga! :D

PHOTO GALLERY

photo courtesy of NagaCityDeck.blogspot.com and Cuidad Nin Naga Facebook FanPage

lets talk about TV.

for the whole summer, one of my pet peeves is watching tv aside from surfing the net and eating. come to think of it, since school time is once again here (just days or exactly one week before classes will start), it would simply imply that watching tv for me will be limited. when the classes starts, i will live again in albay (of course, i study there!) and living in a boarder house is not that comfortable like the life in my own home which, for me, justifies the saying "THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!." i will surely miss my time watching tv programs in discovery channel, natgeo, disney channel, abs-cbn, anc, star movies, etc. especially that the tv programs that our small black and white tv in albay only offers program from local channels such as abs-cbn, gma and nbn. thats why sinusulit ko na ang aking panahon habang nakakapanood pa ako ng programs from cable channels.

well, speaking of tv, did you know that Naga City hosts most of the regional stations of the local channels in Bicol. Naga City have the ABS-CBN Naga - Studio 23 which also serves as the regional station, GMA 7 - Naga - QTV, UNTV 39 News Center (all of them located along Panganiban Drive) and the TV5 affiliate PBN TV5 Naga. While ABS-CBN offers local programming, GMA 7 has yet to offer local programming. Noticeably, GMA is just starting up its Bicol operations by constructing their station. Right now, GMA have improved the quality of their signal along with QTV 28. Currently, the Bicol Region as a whole enjoys a couple of local programs like Marhay na Aga Kapamilya, TV Patrol Bicol and MagTV na Oragon of ABS-CBN, Bareta sa Singko of PBN TV 5 Naga an affiliate of TV5.

in summation, TV Stations such as PBN TV 5 Naga, ABS-CBN, GMA, Studio 23, QTV and UNTV have their regional stations in Naga City. in the case of the state-run NBN, they have a station in Naga but their regional station is situated at Legazpi City being the Regional Government Center.



information and pictures used above are courtesy NagaCityDeck.blogspot.com
in photos above: ABS-CBN Naga Tower and GMA 7 Naga Tower