The Region Eight Administrators League will hold its 1st Quarter General
Assembly and Leadership Seminar on March 21 at Matapat Hall, PNP
Headquarters at Camp Ruperto Kangleon, Campetic, Palo, Leyte.
The activity coincides with this year’s Women’s Month Celebration
and adopts its theme “Kababaihan: Gabay sa Pagtahak sa Tuwid na Daan” to
give the Filipino women due respect and recognition in helping the
P-Noy administration tread the path towards transparent, accountable and
inclusive government.
REAL has invited Msgr. Ramon Aguilos to talk on the topic How Women in Government Could Become Guides towards the Straight Path.
The activity aims to enhance the participants' knowledge and
insights to become better leaders and public servants. They are also
expected to share best practices with the other members and contribute
to group and roundtable discussions.
The REAL member-attendees will also earn CESO training points, Director Imelda Laceras of the Department of Budget and Management, who is the REAL president informed.
This is very timely as we are currently in the Season of Lent and are celebrating the whole month of March as Women's Month.
For more information regarding the conduct of the activity,
interested individuals may contact the REAL Secretariat Head, Ms. Aleli
N. Hernandez at telephone numbers 523-1162/523-1523.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Gearing up for the 492nd anniversary of 1st mass in the Philippines at Limasawa
Preparations are being made for the commemoration of the 492nd
Anniversary of the First Mass in the Philippines in the island town of
Limasawa, Southern Leyte on March 31, 2013.
History books have it that on a Saturday, March 16, 1521, the ship
of Portuguese circumnavigator Ferdinand Magellan,reached Homonhon,
Eastern Samar. “The natives seemed to be friendly. Unlike other people
who were fearful of white men, the Visayans approached them on their own
accord.”
“The natives took their leave and came back with provisions which the Spaniards purchased.”
“After the encounter, Magellan sailed to another island – Limasawa.
Through an interpreter, Magellan made known his intention. The Spaniards
were welcomed by Rajah Awi, chief of the island. On the island of
Limasawa, on March 31, 1521, the first mass was celebrated on Philippine
soil.”
“After the mass, from Limasawa the Spaniards sailed to the harbor of Cebu. They were accompanied by Rajah Awi.”
This same story is the storyline of the Sinugdan Festival in
Limasawa, which will be presented as soon as the image of Santo Niño de
Cebu arrives from Cebu.
The activity, which is a joint undertaking of Southern Leyte and the
diocese of Maasin, falls on an Easter Sunday just like 492 years ago,
thus, more guest and believers are expected to take part in the
celebration, Nedgar Garvez, province officer of Southern Leyte, said.
Both Governor Damian Mercado and Bishop Precioso Cantilla chose to
adapt the theme, “Duaw Sto. Niño sa Limasawa: Ang Sinugdan sa
Kristiyanismo,” Garvez said.
“We are promoting the importance of the observance of the First Mass
in Limasawa especially to the younger generation, the tourism officer
said.
For the second year, the Santo Niño de Cebu will make its historic
return to the island where Fr. Pedro Valderrama officiated the First
Mass.
The Santo Niño de Cebu is said to be the same image given by
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Queen Juana, the wife of King
Humabon during his baptism on April 14, 1521 in Cebu City.
The Santo Niño de Cebu Augustinian Social Development Foundation
Inc., under the leadership of Augustinian priest Fr.Tito Soquiño, the
caretaker of the Holy Image kept in the parish convent of the Santo Niño
Basilica, Cebu City.
The image will board the Philippine Navy ship in Cebu City and is
expected to arrive at 7 a.m. of Easter Sunday in Barangay Triana,
Limasawa. Augustinian priests, and religious and civic groups from Cebu
will join the journey.
Meanwhile, the faithful from Maasin diocese will join the fluvial
procession going to Limasawa, will depart Maasin port at 5 a.m. and will
arrive Triana port at 7 a.m.
From Triana, A foot procession will be conducted towards Barangay
Magallanes, the site of the First Mass that marked the first
Catholicism of the Philippines.
A festive welcome awaits the Santo Niño and guests. The Sinugdan
Festival contingent will perform and a six-gun salute will signal the
start of the holy mass to be celebrated by Bishop Precioso Cantillas of
the diocese of Maasin.
The commemorative program will follow after the mass with Department
of Energy Secretary Jericho “Icot” Petilla as guest speaker.
The Santo Niño de Cebu will be brought to Maasin at 1 p.m. The naval
ship will be accompanied by the Maasin delegation in a fluvial parade,
Nervez said.
In Maasin City, there will be a procession with the Santo Nino image
as the main feature up to the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral.
On April 1, a Holy Mass will be conducted in the different
vicariates of the diocese of Maasin. At 5 p.m. a Pontifical Mass will
be celebrated by Bishop Cantillas. The image of the Santo Niño and the
Cebu delegation will leave for Cebu at 9 p.m.
Commemorating the 492nd anniversary of Magellan Landing at Homonhon
With a two-storey galleon-like structure and the Magellan Cross as the
backdrop, the town of Guiuan, Eastern Samar recently commemorated the
492nd celebration of the landing of Portuguese circumnavigator Ferdinand
Magellan on Homonhon Island on March 16, 1521 which led to the
discovery of the Philippines.
Mayor Annaliz Gonzales-Kwan said the celebration was highlighted by a commemorative mass at Sitio Cantilado in Barangay Pagbabangnan with Eastern Samar Gov. Conrado Nicart, Jr., Vice Gov. Christopher Sheen Gonzales, and local government officials of Guiuan in attendance.
Cultural presentations that followed shortly after the Mass, was participated in by Homonhon’s eight barangays, including Suluan and Manicani Islands, and the performing groups from DepEd-Guiuan south district, Mayor Kwan informed.
A re-enactment of the historic landing was also held at Sitio Cantilado.
It was on this Island where Magellan leading a Spanish fleet landed in March 16, 1521. Chronicles had it that Magellan was surprised to be welcomed by the Sultan of Guian, Samar. He was offered fruits, fish, and meat by ancestors who were civilized, wealthy, cultured, and with a society that grew independent of external influence. They lived off a productive land that had offered them an abundance of fruits and game. The westerners were welcomed with joy as an equal, as a friend, Mayor Kwan narrated.
Mayor Kwan said a weeklong trade fair which started on March 13 was also part of the activities. The Trade Fair, a presentation of local products, was intended to attract buyers and investors. It also aimed to focus Homonhon Island as a tourism destination in the country, Mayor Kwan who has been advocating development capitalizing on the tourism potentials of Guiuan, said.
“We have been promoting Guiuan and surrounding islands as prime tourist destination since 2004. Right now our efforts are paying off as more tourists are coming to our place,” Mayor Kwan said.
The provincial government of Eastern Samar under the leadership of Governor Nicart has constructed the two-storey building galleon-like structure which has a museum, four rooms where visitors could rest, a living room area, guest room and a bar-like facility.
With the facility complete with water supply and electricity, important guests were able to use the facility this year.
Aside from the historic Magellan landing, Guiuan town is endowed with many historical and natural attractions.
The town also hosted the US’ largest naval base in the Pacific during World War II and serves as jump-off point to Calicoan Island, a surfing destination.
Mayor Annaliz Gonzales-Kwan said the celebration was highlighted by a commemorative mass at Sitio Cantilado in Barangay Pagbabangnan with Eastern Samar Gov. Conrado Nicart, Jr., Vice Gov. Christopher Sheen Gonzales, and local government officials of Guiuan in attendance.
Cultural presentations that followed shortly after the Mass, was participated in by Homonhon’s eight barangays, including Suluan and Manicani Islands, and the performing groups from DepEd-Guiuan south district, Mayor Kwan informed.
A re-enactment of the historic landing was also held at Sitio Cantilado.
It was on this Island where Magellan leading a Spanish fleet landed in March 16, 1521. Chronicles had it that Magellan was surprised to be welcomed by the Sultan of Guian, Samar. He was offered fruits, fish, and meat by ancestors who were civilized, wealthy, cultured, and with a society that grew independent of external influence. They lived off a productive land that had offered them an abundance of fruits and game. The westerners were welcomed with joy as an equal, as a friend, Mayor Kwan narrated.
Mayor Kwan said a weeklong trade fair which started on March 13 was also part of the activities. The Trade Fair, a presentation of local products, was intended to attract buyers and investors. It also aimed to focus Homonhon Island as a tourism destination in the country, Mayor Kwan who has been advocating development capitalizing on the tourism potentials of Guiuan, said.
“We have been promoting Guiuan and surrounding islands as prime tourist destination since 2004. Right now our efforts are paying off as more tourists are coming to our place,” Mayor Kwan said.
The provincial government of Eastern Samar under the leadership of Governor Nicart has constructed the two-storey building galleon-like structure which has a museum, four rooms where visitors could rest, a living room area, guest room and a bar-like facility.
With the facility complete with water supply and electricity, important guests were able to use the facility this year.
Aside from the historic Magellan landing, Guiuan town is endowed with many historical and natural attractions.
The town also hosted the US’ largest naval base in the Pacific during World War II and serves as jump-off point to Calicoan Island, a surfing destination.
Philippine Eagle abounds in rich forests of Taft. Eastern Samar
The ecologically important bird species, the Philippine Eagle with the
scientific name of Pithecophaga Jefferyi naturally inhabits the rich
forests of Samar.
The recent citing of the Philippine Eagle at the Taft Forest Wildlife (Philippine Eagle) Sanctuary confirmed this, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Executive Director Manolito Ragub said.
“The sighting of the Philippine Eagle is something which the people of Eastern Visayas must be proud of,” Ragub said. "It is in this part of the country where this important bird species naturally abound," he added.
He said that the presence of the Philippine Eagle is an indicator that there is still an ecologically-balanced forest in Samar.
He added that while the government is spending so much money just to propagate this species in captive breeding like what is being done by the Philippine Eagle Foundation Center in Davao, Eastern Visayas has its own naturally breeding Eagles in the forests of Samar.
The Taft Forest Wildlife¸ the Philippine Eagle¸ was sighted on March 10, in the forests of San Rafael, Taft, Eastern Samar which is part of the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary, Samar Island Natural Park Protected Area Superintendent Angelito Villanueva informed RED Ragub in a report.
The Philippine Eagle was sighted by Ms. Ruth Francisco, a member of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines in the course of her bird watching activity. Together with Ms. Francisco was Mr. Joselito Sierra, a local tour guide of the SINP.
Ms. Francisco who has been conducting birding activities for two years already, has been to different forested areas in the country like the Mt. Kitanglad in Bukidnon.
Francisco said that she usually sees wild birds in flight and the Philippine Eagle in captivity.
At the Taft Philippine Eagle Sanctuary, however, she actually sighted a Philippine Eagle in the wild just about 100 meters away from her standpoint.
Ms. Francisco was on her second visit to the SINP to look for the Mindanao Bleeding Heart, a species of bird in the pigeon and dove family (Columbidae) so named because of a red blotch on its breast, which is endemic to the Philippines.
At 7:55 a.m. of March 10, while hiking amidst the forest on a cloudy with occasional rains morning, we heard the call of a Rufus Hornbill, Ms. Francisco excitedly shared to DENR Region 8 Regional Public Affairs Officer Purificacion Daloos.
“Expecting that the Mindanao Bleeding Heart will follow, I positioned my camera and was excited to see a raptor… the Philippine Eagle,” Ms. Francisco narrated.
“The Philippine Eagle was preening while perching for about five minutes, on a leafless tree on top of a cliff. It stayed there until three Rufus Hornbills flew in and perched on a nearby tree. Disturbed by the noise of the Hornbills, the Philippine Eagle flew away,” Ms. Francisco recounted.
She added that other birds seen in the thickly forested area with surrounding perching trees were two Samar Hornbill, two Yellowish Bulbul, one Amethyst Brown Dove, four Red¬-keeled Flowerpecker, four Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, two Philippine Bulbul, and one Sunpride Species.
RED Ragub said the sighting of the Philippine Eagle is not only a moment of pride and rejoicing, but more so, a challenge and reminder to every Filipino especially the people of Samar to help protect the remaining forest of Samar.
The continued existence of the Philippine Eagle and other wildlife species depends on the condition of the forest, their habitat, RED Ragub said.
The Philippine Eagle was first sighted in Paranas, Samar on June 15, 1896 by a British collector John Whitehead. The various sightings of the Philippine Eagle in the forests of Samar prompted then President Joseph Estrada to declare on July 31, 1999, the 3,720 hectares of the said forests as Taft Forest Wildlife (Philippine Eagle) Sanctuary through Presidential Proclamation No. 155.
The recent citing of the Philippine Eagle at the Taft Forest Wildlife (Philippine Eagle) Sanctuary confirmed this, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Executive Director Manolito Ragub said.
“The sighting of the Philippine Eagle is something which the people of Eastern Visayas must be proud of,” Ragub said. "It is in this part of the country where this important bird species naturally abound," he added.
He said that the presence of the Philippine Eagle is an indicator that there is still an ecologically-balanced forest in Samar.
He added that while the government is spending so much money just to propagate this species in captive breeding like what is being done by the Philippine Eagle Foundation Center in Davao, Eastern Visayas has its own naturally breeding Eagles in the forests of Samar.
The Taft Forest Wildlife¸ the Philippine Eagle¸ was sighted on March 10, in the forests of San Rafael, Taft, Eastern Samar which is part of the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary, Samar Island Natural Park Protected Area Superintendent Angelito Villanueva informed RED Ragub in a report.
The Philippine Eagle was sighted by Ms. Ruth Francisco, a member of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines in the course of her bird watching activity. Together with Ms. Francisco was Mr. Joselito Sierra, a local tour guide of the SINP.
Ms. Francisco who has been conducting birding activities for two years already, has been to different forested areas in the country like the Mt. Kitanglad in Bukidnon.
Francisco said that she usually sees wild birds in flight and the Philippine Eagle in captivity.
At the Taft Philippine Eagle Sanctuary, however, she actually sighted a Philippine Eagle in the wild just about 100 meters away from her standpoint.
Ms. Francisco was on her second visit to the SINP to look for the Mindanao Bleeding Heart, a species of bird in the pigeon and dove family (Columbidae) so named because of a red blotch on its breast, which is endemic to the Philippines.
At 7:55 a.m. of March 10, while hiking amidst the forest on a cloudy with occasional rains morning, we heard the call of a Rufus Hornbill, Ms. Francisco excitedly shared to DENR Region 8 Regional Public Affairs Officer Purificacion Daloos.
“Expecting that the Mindanao Bleeding Heart will follow, I positioned my camera and was excited to see a raptor… the Philippine Eagle,” Ms. Francisco narrated.
“The Philippine Eagle was preening while perching for about five minutes, on a leafless tree on top of a cliff. It stayed there until three Rufus Hornbills flew in and perched on a nearby tree. Disturbed by the noise of the Hornbills, the Philippine Eagle flew away,” Ms. Francisco recounted.
She added that other birds seen in the thickly forested area with surrounding perching trees were two Samar Hornbill, two Yellowish Bulbul, one Amethyst Brown Dove, four Red¬-keeled Flowerpecker, four Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, two Philippine Bulbul, and one Sunpride Species.
RED Ragub said the sighting of the Philippine Eagle is not only a moment of pride and rejoicing, but more so, a challenge and reminder to every Filipino especially the people of Samar to help protect the remaining forest of Samar.
The continued existence of the Philippine Eagle and other wildlife species depends on the condition of the forest, their habitat, RED Ragub said.
The Philippine Eagle was first sighted in Paranas, Samar on June 15, 1896 by a British collector John Whitehead. The various sightings of the Philippine Eagle in the forests of Samar prompted then President Joseph Estrada to declare on July 31, 1999, the 3,720 hectares of the said forests as Taft Forest Wildlife (Philippine Eagle) Sanctuary through Presidential Proclamation No. 155.
Preventing iron deficiency among pregnant women, babies
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte -- Four out of 10 pregnant Filipino women are suffering from iron deficiency anemia (IDA), the result of the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), shows.
Based on the criteria set by the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of IDA among pregnant women in the Philippines is of significant public health problem, said Czarina Teresita S. Martinez of the FNRI-DOST.
According to the FNRI-DOST, the best method of combating iron deficiency in pregnancy is to promote high intakes of available iron by women of reproductive age so that she enters pregnancy with adequate iron stored.
The FNRI-DOST said that iron is present in both animal and plant origins. Liver and glanular organs are the richest sources of iron while meat, fish and poultry are the other good animal sources of iron.
Iron-rich plant foods are the legumes family, green leafy vegetables such as gamet (seaweeds), kulitis (spineless amaranth), dahon ng malunggay (horse raddish leaves), kangkong (swamp cabbage), dahon ng gabi (taro leaves), dahon ng kinchay (Chinese celery leaves) , dahon ng saluyot (jute leaves), talbos ng kamote (sweet potato leaves), and some dried fruits like prunes.
IDA could also be avoided by consuming foods that may help in increase iron absorption and metabolism like vitamin A, Vitamin C, and riboflavin that are abundant in fruits and vegetables.
The Department of Health (DOH) is advocating the consumption of foods with the Sangkap Pinoy Seal; this includes iron fortified foods. The FNRI-DOST develops fortified food products including iron fortified foods that will help increase the consumption of iron.
Martinez quoted Dr. Helen A. Guthrie, Professor of Nutrition at the Pennsylvania State University, who said that a woman who has been well-nourished prior to conception enters pregnancy with a reserve of several nutrients that can meet the needs of the growing fetus without jeopardizing her health.
During pregnancy, the body conserves iron since menstruation ceases and iron absorption increases three folds. The blood protein responsible for iron absorption likewise increases.
However, iron stores may decrease during pregnancy because iron needs also increase. On the last trimester of pregnancy, much of the available iron and maternal iron stores are taken up by the fetus to create its own iron stores for the first three to six months of life.
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