City Tourism to chair Panaad 2009 Committee

City Mayor Salvador G. Escalante Jr. recently issued an Executive Order N0. 001 Series of 2009 appointing Senior Tourism Operations Officer Juanily Pedrosa as Over-all Coordinator for the 16th Panaad Festival 2009 on April 18 – 25, 2009 in Bacolod City, with Cadiz City Tourism Council as in-charge of the Secretariat, Usherettes, Receptions and Tourism Promotions.

The Mayor also designated City Information Office as official documentor for the special coverage, including daily production of press releases during the duration of the festival. The documentation team consists of Celina Ibañez, MC Jesiree Monteposo, Erwin Mabugat, Helen Benedicto, Henry Barilea Jr. and Rodolfo Candilado.

Other committees are: Budget and Finance: Vicente Napoles, Delilah Fernandez and Feligande Delina; Physical Arrangement, Ground Preparation and Electricity: Engr Jimel Lopez; Pavilion and Interior Design: Nilda Ascura, Victor Parina and Tukib Group of Artists;Trade Fair: Jesus Diez and Shen Villena; Agriculture: Enrique Escares III.; Livestock: Dr. Josue Rabang; Sports: Councilor Vicente William Tabanao and Bany John Sarabia; Cultural: Nelia Ventura; Lin-Ay Sg Negros: Evelyn Porter; TESDA Skills Olympics: Charito Sauce; Motorcade and Festival Costume Display: Juvy Serios, Junjie Peñosa, Eden Osqueria and Ernalie Cacanog.

According to Pedrosa, the City will participate in the following areas of competition: Lin-ay Sang Negros, Folkdance, Dancesports, Composo and Pop Song Writing, Negros Pop Idol, Motorcade and Festival Costume, Best Destination Pavilion, Trade Fair and Pop Dance./*

CASAMA: Outstanding Inter Local Health Zone in Region VI

The Department of Health in Region VI, Center for Health and Development has awarded the CASAMA Inter local Health Zone comprising three LGU’s (Cadiz city, Sagay City, and Municipality of Manapla) as the Outstanding Interlocal Health Zone for 2008 bested other six nominees during the yearly Search for Outstanding Inter Local Health Zone of the Department of Health, in Iloilo City.

The award was made possible through the dynamic and oriented reform leadership of Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr.; Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Maranon Jr; Mayor Manuel Escalante of Manapla; Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan, Chief of Cadiz District Hospital; and, Zonal Action Officer supported by the members of the zone technical working group.

The group had implemented the health advocacy campaign to priority barangays of three LGU’s on diseases occurred on rainy season, allocated 165,000 filter cards for Newborn Screening Program, allocated 100,000 as seed capital for the operation of CASAMA Inter local Health Zone Pharmacy, conducted Surgical-Dental Mission in priority barangays in Cadiz, Sagay and Manapla; conducted surgical mission in cooperation with Alfonso Yuchengco (AY) Foundation; launched the search for Outstanding Barangay Health workers within the zone; conducted symposium in celebration with International Year of Sanitation and organized 2nd Maternal Death Review Team.

Cadiz City District Hospital is the only hospital in the region that actively implements the DOTS Program./*

Web-based Info Center gets more readers worldwide

The http://www.cadizinformation.blogspot.com/ has continued to enjoy more visitors and readers from around the world since its on-line publication has begun last February this year.

The blogsite publishes press releases and other features about Cadiz where local and international media outfits can pick materials, without fear of plagiarism or infringement, for their publications. It is updated monthly.

The City Information Office plans to submit the site to Google Adsense for better visibility on crawl system. Crawl system provides the site with prominent access to on-line readers worldwide.

The City Information blog is a web-based information center created and maintained by the CIO with email address at cadizinformation@yahoo.com and telephone number+63344931-142./*

1st Basura Summit 2009: a pre-lude to a zero-waste Cadiz

Cadiz City is a zero – waste society!

That’s how City Mayor Salvador G. Escalante Jr. foresees Cadiz in years as he initiated the 1st Basura Summit 2009 last March 3 at the Laura Seafront Beach Resort here.

According to Mayor, the summit aimed to awaken the local religious sectors and get them involved in all government programs on environmental protection and solid waste management. It was also to eliminate the sectarian attitude of the church leaders.

The one-day symposium tackled the focal issue on the implementation of R.A. 9003. Mr. Elmer Espeja, project officer of the Provincial Environmental Management Office, advocated on the Climate Change and Key Features of R.A. 9003.

Mr. Cesario Juele, Consultant for CMO, presented the LGU Solid Waste Management Plan of Action for 2009.

Engr. Jimel Lopez, Consultant for SWM, along with Mr. Juele, talked about the Overview of Problems in the Implementation of R.A. 9003.

Open forums and workshops for SWOT analysis and the role of each sector in the implementation of R.A. 9003 were conducted immediately every after discussion./*

CIO throws farewell pary for "Sir Rudy"

Kind words from the heart, tears of gratitude and joy, laughter, fun, surprises and heart-touching songs filled the evening of February 23 at the City Information Office as the CIO family threw a memorable ‘Thank-You-Sir-Rudy-Party’ for Mr. Rudy Vargas as he leaves his public life after serving the City for 44 years as City Government Department Head - 1.

Attended by Sir Rudy’s family members including his wife, children, grandchildren and sons-in-law; and, close friends, contemporaries in public service, office personnel and other invited colleagues; the party was packed with surprises and greetings from distant friends here and abroad. Beads of tears fell from Sir Rudy’s eyes as his CIO family read a letter of thanksgiving for him and collectively sang two of his life songs.

Hosted by this writer, the evening was similarly highlighted by greetings over the video from two of his contemporaries in the office in the persons of Mrs. Mildred Terencio, retired Information Officer II and Mrs. Dolores Ranile, retired Senior Tourism Operations Officer.

Having been blessed with 44 fruitful years as a public servant, Sir Rudy, in his words of response, expressed his gratitude to the LGU especially to City Mayor Salvador G. Escalante, Jr. for trusting and giving him the opportunity to bloom where he was planted. He added that the best thing he learned throughout his entire service is to value people, praise effort and reward performance./*

Cebu City extends P1M aid to Cadiz

CEBU CITY Officials turned over a PI Million check to City Mayor Salvador G. Escalante, Jr and City Vice Mayor Samson C. Mirhan last February 4, 2009 in a ceremony held at Cebu Sangguniang Panlungsod Hall.

Nine months ago, super typhoon “Frank” mercilessly whopped Cadiz leaving 48 fishermen dead, 82 persons missing and many seriously wounded. Massive damage to agriculture and crops was estimated to have reached 195 million pesos; the fishing industry suffered a shattering loss of almost 80% due to wrecks of fishing vessels and incapacitation of the fishermen.

Neighboring provinces were astounded with the fate of the Cadiznons that they too have felt a compelling sentience which moves them to a sense of commitment.

Cebu City officials headed by City Mayor Tomas R Osmeña and City Vice Mayor Michael L. Rama extended a financial assistance to the City of Cadiz in the amount of One Million Pesos. The check “is intended to provide assistance to the victims particularly to the widows and the families of those who perished”.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cadiz City in its regular session assembled on motion of Councilor Wilfredo F. Cervantes which was duly seconded en masse enacted SP Resolution No. 2009-09 expressing gratitude and appreciation to the City of Cebu, thru its city officials headed by City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña and City Vice Mayor Michael L. Rama for extending assistance to the City of Cadiz in the amount of One Million Pesos for the victims of typhoon “Frank”./*

Dynamic Coop holds General Assembly

More than five hundred government workers attended and received their dividends during the 13th General Assembly of Cadiz City Government Employees Dynamic Multi- Purpose Cooperative with a theme “Soaring on High at 13” held last February 14 at Drilon’s Covered Court in PNU Campus.

City Vice Mayor Samson Mirhan congratulated the officers and members for having a strong organization, financial stability and has achieved a net surplus of 5 million pesos. Being a very successful cooperative, he encouraged the cooperators to help the small cooperatives to be more self-reliant and economically developed.

Guest Speaker Councilor Roy Vijandre, SP Chairman of Committee on Cooperative, said “soaring high at 13 is a breakthrough to the cooperative movement. It has already penetrated the local markets as one of the providers of consumer’s goods and productive services to each member. These are good indicators of a genuine cooperative making all your members become self-reliant.”

On the other hand, the Top Ten Capital Share Holders for 2008 were Dr. Merle Jane Regalado with 112,428.93 share capital; Cristina Wong - 103,345.84; Ferdinand Quirao - 60,599.30; Guillermo Replentes - 60,522.28; Enrique Escares, III - 55,893.64; Mary Grace Bedayos - 54,742.,52; Mary Rose Zamora - 52,934.49; Gladys Digna Escares - 52,246.39; Edilberto Arcenia - 51,902.50; and, Jessica Wong - 51,630.36.

The top 10 who got patronage refund for Grocery were Mary Grace Jimenez - 8,013.21; Anna Miravalles - 3,865.55; Wynnefredo Acevedo - 3,672.49; Marilou Supremo - 3,566.91; Marites Beatingo - 3,379.55; Marivic Fernandez - 3,278.77; Corazon Pabalan - 3,274.55; Ma. Daisy Revalez - 3,174.41; Teresa Mansueto - 3,013.15; and, Jahara Bermejo - 2,786.14.

The new sets of officers for 2009-2010 are Board of Directors Reynaldo Macaraig, Daisy Revalez, Mary Jean Gumban, Belinda Napoles, Rafael Pido and Jerry Artuyo. Audit and Inventory committee is composed of Gerardo Batislaon, Joel Ferrer, Anna Miravalles, Ma. Fe Balazuela and Marie Claire Santiago.

Newly elected Credit Committee members are Manolito Rebada, Mary Rose Zamora and Bernardo Caceres and Election Committee consists of Jose Azucena, Arlene Adelantar and Lowella Villa./*

Pastor Rabina, 59

A famous writer, composer, preacher, singer and a public servant Pastor Primo Ruiz Ravina who succumbed to cardio pulmonary arrest secondary to far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis died last January 14, 2009 at St. Anne District Hospital. He was 59. Pastor Ravina had been suffering from respiratory illness for 4 years since 2006.

His greatest contribution was the composition of Cadiz Hymn ‘Dakbanwang Nalulutan’ which won during the songwriting competition last January 1995 and became the official city hymn through SP resolution in 1998 and is now sung in all public and private schools all throughout the city. The song was originally sung by Ely Mayo Diola , Ruben Demonteverde, Pastor Ravina and Noel Magbanua who also arranged into 4 voices and accompanied on his keyboard by Jun Torreverde.

City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. bestowed him a Posthumous Award in recognition of his superlative artistry and lasting contribution to the city as composer and lyricist of Cadiz City Hymn “Dakbanwanmg Nalulutan” and for his illustrious achievement in successfully bringing honor to the city as four time champion in “Search for Ilonggo Traditional Composo Competition” from 2001 to 2004 and two time champion in Pop Songwriting Competition at the PANAAD sa Negros from 2001 to 2002. He also won second place in Composo Songwriting Contest in the recently concluded PANAAD sa Negros 2008.

Ravina, who has a deep concern for the church and for the community, composed several Christian and secular songs for the people of Cadiz. He organized a group known as SIGLO. A musical tribute reminiscing all his songs was launched at the Cadiz Evangelical Church last Jan. 22, 2009.

Pastor Ravina had served the government for 34 years. He was the Administrative Officer IV at the City Budget Office when he died.

Nissi, his daughter, described him as the best father she ever had. She said “He has not given us so much wealth or material things but he always gives us words of wisdom to live a righteous life and to be led by the word of God. His favorite verse is “Whether we live or die we are the Lord’s”, she added.

Pastor Ravina is survived by his wife Doren Millona and seven children; May Ann, 3rd third year commerce student; Jireh, 32 Motocross rider who ranked no. 3 for the whole Negros Motocross Competition. Nissi, 30, graduated Magna cum laude for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Theology; Nash, 26 fourth year at PNU taking up Secondary Education; Ivy Glee, 23, graduated her Stewardship in NONESCOST; Grace Dee, 22; and, Rophe Dee,19, both studied Business Administration at North Negros College./*