LGU Creates a Municipal Council for Culture and the Arts

LGU Creates a Municipal Council for Culture and the Arts

The Municipal Hall has been working to create a Municipal Council for Culture and the Arts through a series of brainstorming meetings that started September 8, 2016. The Council is meant to be a policy-making body composed of retired professors, school teachers, school officials, and municipal officers invited to take part voluntarily in setting the direction the town will take with regard to activities meant to promote or enhance its cultural heritage, including artistic pursuits.

Among those invited from the private sector were retired Pangasinan State University professors Januario Cuchapin, Dr. Clarita Jimenez, and Dr. Annie Manalang, Bayambang National High School Principal Mary Ann Payomo, District 1 Supervisor Candra Penoliar, PSU professors Ramil Dacal and Rosabella Mendez, Municipal Librarian Leonarda Allado, Library, Museum and Tourism Consultant Gloria Valenzuela, events consultants Ayen Garcia and Jaime Siybauco, and Hermano and Hermana Mayor Cesar and Judith Ramos.

The meeting was moderated by Levin Uy and Councilor Mylvin Junio in his capacity as Chairman on Education, Culture and the Arts, together with Municipal Administrator Raj Sagarino, aided by Municipal Planning Development Coordinator Ma-lene S. Torio as Secretary.

Two topics discussed at length were the formulation of an executive order defining terms and delineating tasks and the election of executive director and other officers.

Among the activities proposed for the year-round culture and arts activities are the commemoration of the town’s becoming the country’s fifth capital, binasuan dance festival, language festival (Agew na Tawir), animated Christmas display and bazaar, most decorated house contest (also for Christmas), Laro ng Lahi, street-dancing on town fiesta with freshwater catch as theme, etc. (PIO/Media Affairs)

Municipal Employees in Clean-up Drive

Hundreds of employees gamely changed to white uniforms Saturday morning (Sept. 17, 2016) in support of Mayor CTQ’s push for waste segregation and proper solid waste management and in time for National Clean-up Day.

Armed with trash bags, sacks, broomsticks and dustpans, they went around the Poblacion areas sweeping, raking, plucking and collecting discarded objects lying around.

Before the employees from various departments were sent out to their respective assignments, however, Solid Waste Management Office chief Rogelio dela Peña briefed everyone at the Municipal Covered Court.

“This is the day you will prove for yourself that most Filipinos are hard-headed when it comes to following the law on waste segregation and solid waste management.” Dela Peña reminded everyone of the existence of a law on solid waste management, Republic Act 9003.

In behalf of Mayor CTQ, Vice-Mayor Raul Sabangan encouraged everyone by saying that the day’s activity would encourage volunteerism among the citizenry in support of the aim towards proper disposal of solid waste. “In one tourism seminar I had attended,” he said, “I realized that we have no beach and we have no mountain in Bayambang to offer tourists. But I have also realized that there is no need. As long as our town is clean, Bayambang can be the best town in which to invest and live.”

In a touching gesture, members of the local senior citizens organization also made their presence felt by joining the clean-up drive, unmindful of the humid weather.

Their unspoken message, of course, rang loud: “No excuses – everyone must get involved in the clean-up drive.”

Drug Surrenderers Complete Reflexology Course

Thirty drug ‘surrenderers’ from Manambong Sur receive applause during the completion rites in September 15, 2016 for the reflexology course they took under a TESDA-certified trainer. The livelihood project was an initiative of the Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation Inc., and the graduation rites were held at the KKBFI Center in Brgy. Amanperez.

Inspiring messages and greetings were extended to the surrenderers by KKSBFI Managing Director Levin N. Uy, Bayambang Police Chief Cirilo Acosta Jr., Rotary Club of Bayambang Secretary Gloria Valenzuela, and Mayor CTQ through Municipal Administrator Atty. Raj Sagarino.

In his message, Levin Uy said that our past mistakes cannot be undone, but the good news is we can write a new chapter in our life in order to have a happy ending. He then related the success story of one ex-surrenderer who now earns P150-200 per client as a TESDA-certified reflexologist. You can even use your skill to find work abroad, he said.

PSupt. Acosta took the opportunity to inform everyone that “there are 525 surrenderers as of today.” “I am proud of you because you have chosen the right path. I hope you continue on with that choice.”

“We have only four months left to make every barangay to be drug-free. The PNP cannot do it alone. We need your cooperation, the LGU…” he said.

For her part, Atty. Sagarino told this batch of graduates that they were lucky to have an NGO like KKSBFI and commended how a Drug Council created by the LGU is holistic in that it is community-based and works at the grassroots level in helping turn the surrenderers into productive members of society.

In their testimonies, the drug surrenderers were profuse in expressing their gratitude to the heads of all organizations involved in the project, and in particular to their resident trainor and assessor, Ms. Cristina G. Reyes of TESDA who is also an entrepreneur. Reyes herself was overcome with joy as she presented the graduates and confirmed their completion of the course through the awarding of certificates.

An intermission number by the Pak Ganern Boys followed. Dancing to Bruno Mars’ “So High,” they injected the afternoon event with a good dose of fun and laughter.

In her closing message, Rotary Club Secretary Gloria Valenzuela inspired the graduates to continue seeking the path to improvement not just for himself but also their respective families.