CDC gears for ‘Grand Clark Fest’

CLARK FREEPORT – The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) is gearing for the upcoming “Grand Clark Festival” on Nov. 16-17, 2013 at the CDC Parade Grounds here.

CDC President Arthur P. Tugade said aside from the Freeport’s reputation as a business and economic haven, the two-day affair also aims to promote Clark as a destination for family-oriented events.

To guarantee the success of the Grand Clark Festival, Tugade said the CDC has partnered with other Clark stakeholders like the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA), Greater Clark Visitors Bureau (GCVB), Philippine Air Force (PAF), and locators like Global Gateways and Logistics Center (GGLC), Nayong Pilipino, and El Kabayo.

CDC Tourism and Promotions Office (TPO) Manager Noemi Garcia said the first day of the festival would be highlighted by sky diving and marching band exhibitions courtesy of the PAF and cultural dances and other presentations from Nayong Pilipino. “All these would be held at the stage area located along the parade grounds,” she said.

There would also be majorette and marching bands competition, cooking demo, Korean orchestra, musicale from St. Paul American School, native dances and jungle survival exhibitions from Paradise Ranch, cowgirl contest, and live band performances, Garcia added.

Also on the first day, El Kabayo and the CDC would be hosting the 2013 Horse Festival Exhibitions at the parade ground area near the Clark Museum. Soccer exhibition games and AME Football would be organized by CILA.

The first day would be culminated by a fireworks display at 10 p.m. at the stage area.

Garcia also said the second day of the festival would kick-off with a fun bike ride to be followed by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the stage area.

Other events at the stage area for the entire day would consist of Palarong Pilipino, animal show by Zoocobia, dog show, battle of the bands, Frisbee competition, second installment of the 2013 Horse Festival Exhibitions, rugby, and fireworks display.

Other simultaneous activities, Garcia said, are the (from Nov. 15-17) North Philippines Travel Expo at the SM City Clark, (from Nov. 16-17) Clark Speedway Motorcycle and Vintage Car Grand Prix, Export Overruns sale, organic market, food and non-food bazaar, “Great Clark Sale” – 50% off on selected duty-free products, hotel accommodations, restaurants, resorts, shops and theme parks, dinosaur land exhibition, static display at the PAF, and golf tournaments at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club and F Korea CC.

All system go for 2013 Singkaban Fiesta

CITY OF MALOLOS-   Continuing the tradition of showcasing the best of the arts and culture of Bulacan, Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado will lead the opening ceremony of the Singkaban Fiesta 2013 on September 9, at 7:00 a.m in front of the Provincial Capitol building in this city.

The governor said that theme of this year’s festival, “Makulay na Sining at Kalinangan: Bulacan, Ipagmalaki at Ikarangal,” urges Bulakenyos to be proud on the flamboyant cultural and artistic heritage of Bulacan.

“Bulacan is known as the cradle of heroes, filling a number of pages in the country’s history. Until the modern times, our province is continuously trudging the path toward a remarkable success not only in economic development but also in the promotion of arts and culture. We are inviting everyone to witness and join us in a weeklong celebration that includes cultural presentations, arts exhibits and other fun activities that you will surely enjoy,” said Alvarado. 

He said that the celebration will begin with a thanksgiving mass that will be attended by more than 3,000 Bulakenyos and will be followed by the “Parada ng Karosa at Kasaysayan,” a parade of floats which will feature achievements of Bulacan in 2012 such as in sports, beauty pageants, arts and governance. This will be participated by local government units and other private partner agencies.

He added that they will also open different exhibits and trade fairs that are conveniently located within the capitol compound. Among them are the Bulakenyo Trade Fair which is a display of Bulacan products like sweets and delicacies, gifts, toys, clothes, bags and fashion accessories; Manlilikhang Bulakenyo which features Bulakenyo inventors and demonstration of their inventions; Dakilang Bulakenyo and Lakan Sining Exhibit which will recount the life and contributions of Mariano Ponce in commemoration of his 150th birth anniversary and an exhibition of Bulakenyo visual artists; and Sining sa Hardin which will show performances of Bulakenyo artists and the Hiyas ng Bulacan Brass Band.

They will also re-launch the Bulacan Pasalubong Center and Bulacan Packaging Service and Toll Packing Center to draw the attention of the public on the services they offer.

Thousands of participants also await the Bulacan Food Festival Exposition (BUFFEX) that will call together the sectors involved in food production in Bulacan, its partners and down-stream industries. The activity also includes selling, food sampling, on-the-spot cooking demo, “Chefs on Parade” and other competitions.

Tourism students from selected universities and colleges will also serve as tour guide of elementary and high school students from different schools in the province in the “24K Lakbay Aral” as they visit the capitol, museum, and mini-forest making them aware of the exceptional features of the province.

“We are proud of our cultural inheritance that reflects who we are as Bulakenyos… our talents, artistry and uniqueness. So we are inviting you to come, experience only the best, experience Bulacan, experience Singkaban,” the governor said.

Alvarado urges Filipinos to pay tribute to the Philippine flag

MALOLOS CITY- Hundreds of provincial government employees led by Gov. Wilhelmino  Alvarado gathered in front of the provincial capitol building for the celebration of the  National Flag Day on Tuesday, May 28.

The governor, on his speech, said that commemorating the importance of the national flag  brings back not only the spirit of patriotism but also the essence of being a true Filipino.

“Taglay nito na parang isang kaluluwa ang buong kuwento ng pakikibaka ng maraming  henerasyon para sa kalayaan at mga pagpupunyagi ng isang lahi upang kamtin at tamasahin ang isang buhay na dakila at marangal para sa ating lipunan sa habang panahon,” he added.

He also emphasized that the flag as a symbol of our democracy serves as a guiding light for  public servants of today’s generation.

“Bayaan natin ang bandila ay pumainlanglang at mamayagpag sa ating mga puso at isipan  upang sa bawat araw na dumaan ay paglingkuran natin ng buong katapatan at walang pagiimbot ang ating mga kalahi at ang ating bayan upang ang daang matuwid ang maghatid sa atin sa isang gobyernong naglilingkod… para sa lahat ng Pilipino,” the governor said.

Alex Balagtas of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines added that the flag is an important aspect of our citizenry and must be honored and respected.

 “Isa itong napakahalagang bagay sa mga Pilipino, dahil ang pambansang simbolo, ang  watawat, ay siyang naging gabay sa ating pakikipaglaban para sa kalayaan at pagkabansa. Kaya  nararapat na igalang natin bilang makabuluhang bahagi ng ating kasaysayan at maging sa ating  hinaharap,” he said.

In accordance to the Republic Act 8491 Section 7 also known as “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, the National Flag Day is being celebrated every May 28. The present Philippine Flag  was designed by Aguinaldo and sewn by Doña Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo and Delfina  Herbosa de Natividad in HongKong. The celebration of the National Flag Day also marks the  start of preparation for the Independence Day on June 12.

Coconut sugar and syrup are promising alternative sweeteners

Do you know that coconut sap, the fluid from coconut flowers that are cut

systematically can be turned into sugar or syrup? And do you know also that the

resulting sugar has a low Glycemic Index (or GI)? This is according to the Glycemic

Index of Commonly Consumed Carbohydrate Foods in the Philippines, a book

published in 2011 by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department

of Science (or FNRI-DOST).

This has made coco sugar and syrup popular alternative sweeteners among a

growing number of diabetics and health buffs, but health and nutrition experts still

advise consumption of cocosap sugar and syrup be done in moderation under their

supervision.

This message is brought to you by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of

the Department of Science and Technology, the government’s lead agency on food

and nutrition research and development. For more information, contact: Dr. Mario

V. Capanzana, Director, FNRI-DOST, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig

City; Telefax Numbers: 837-2934 and 837-3164; email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph,

mar_v_c@yahoo.com; website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S & T

Media Service/PIA Bulacan)

Pistang Balangueño captures tourists and businesses

CITY OF BALANGA, Bataan, April 27 (PIA) – The annual Pistang Balangueño of

this city has “evolved” not only into a tourism magnet but also as a lure to various

businesses in putting up shows to capture the masses, a top official disclosed.

“This festival in honor of St. Joseph is a promotion and advertisement of the city

itself and for the tourism likewise,” said city administrator Rudy De Mesa. He

explained that the real feast of the city’s patron is on March 19 but was moved to

April 28 as the former date occasionally concurs with Lent.

De Mesa said the residents of Balanga have started to get involved in the

celebration following the administration of Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III that

changed the former week-long celebration into a month-long extravaganza since

2008.

Various sectors were represented in the festival including the police, women,

market vendors and tricycle drivers among others who were given one night each

to perform.

Themed “Balik Saya Kada Dekada,” the Pistang Balangueño 2012 engaged the

sectors of bank, senior citizens, third sex, barangay enforcers, and businesses.

“The cooperation in the fiesta is great. The constituents are involved with the

activities they look up to yearly rather than going outside the city,” De Mesa said.

With this crowd support, De Mesa disclosed that business stakeholders have

continued rendering sponsorships to festival programs which minimized the cost of

operations and show prizes.

He said the “feeling of belongingness” was already established among private

businesses which provided shows like Gabi ng Ocampos Metromall, SMB Night and

Gabi ng Galeria Victoria.

“The festival draws up a lot of tourists. Bataan is a peninsula, covered with water.

So this festival should be the reason why they should come here,” he added.

Tonight, the coronation of the Mutya ng Lungsod ng Balanga will be held. On April

27, cultural shows La Torre and Serenata will be staged; on April 28, a battle of the

bands will be organized by UP Tangway and Republique Art; and on April 29 is the

Gabi ng Galeria Victoria. (CLJD/JMG-PIA 3)

Bataan farmers bags UN award

Local farmers group bags award for forest restoration in Bataan

 CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- A local farmers group in Bataan received this year’s prestigious United Nations (UN) Edouard Saouma Award for Excellence for successfully implementing a low-cost forest restoration project in a forest village in Limay town, environment authorities announced recently.

Ricardo Calderon, executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Luzon, said the 50-strong Alangan Farmers Producers Association, Inc. (AFPAI) received a plaque of recognition plus P75,000 cash from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, alongside two other people’s organizations implementing Community Based Forest Management Program (CBFMP), during the CBFM Practitioners Congress held recently at Clark Freeport here.

He said AFPAI successfully implemented a three-year Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) project over some 80 hectares of forests in the village of Alangan, which is one of only three pilot sites established nationwide in 2005.

“ANR is a cost-effective method of reforestation that nurtures and enhances forest tree wildlings already thriving in a forest area,” explained Calderon, adding that this technique has been useful in effectively implementing President Aquino’s National Greening Program (NGP) which aims to plant 1.5 billion trees in six years.

The Edouard Saouma Award for Excellence was named after Edouard Victor Saouma, the Lebanese Director General of the UNFAO who served for three consecutive terms from 1976 to 1993, and who was remembered for his efforts to establish a technical cooperation program that provides small-scale and short-term assistance to national or regional institutions.

The award was received by AFPAI President Rogelio Aucena who said the money shall be used to expand the group’s coconut midrib weaving and bamboo handicrafts enterprise which now earns an average of P24,000 a month for each active member of his group.

Calderon said AFPAI’s handicrafts project has been prominently featured in the newly released “Revised Guidebook on Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Community Enterprise Development and Management” published by the DENR Forest Management Bureau (FMB).

AFPAI’s coconut midrib and bamboo venture is a showcase for Limay’s “One Town, One Product”, with Aucena’s group doing the rounds for products display in malls and trade fairs, he added.

The two other recipients of the Edouard Saouma Award for Excellence are the San Miguel Association Resources Team of Bohol and the Balagunan Integrated Social Forestry Farmers Association of Davao del Norte.

The award-giving body was established in November 1993 and has since given recognition to groups which have implemented particularly successful projects funded by the UNFAO Technical Cooperation Program (TCP).