In a letter from Mr. Josef T. Yap, Ph.D., President of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) to Legazpi City Mayor Carmen Geraldine B. Rosal, he underscored the importance of policy research in development and poverty reduction. “The DPRM, with its broad-based and nationwide outlets for discussion, may present the needed venue(s) for this active and rigorous discussion. The various studies and activities to be presented and organized during the month-long celebration of the DPRM will hopefully provide the appropriate base and support in helping craft a roadmap for economic development and poverty reduction for the new administration.”, he explained.

The City Government of Legazpi will participate through the prominent displaying of a banner within the institution’s premises containing this year’s DPRM theme; featuring announcements about the DPRM and its theme in the City Hall’s Windows publication and website; and attending the ISSAAS Philippines National Congress 2010 sponsored by the International Society for Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences in collaboration with Bicol University.

The ISSAAS Congress shall be presenting papers and posters that will address the following thematic areas: climate change adaptation for sustainable agriculture, ensuring food safety, sustainable management of bio resources, agri-entrepreneurship for productivity and efficiency, and community empowerment.

In April 1898, he fought in the battle of Camalig. General Vito Belarmino, the Zone Commander of the Revolutionary Forces in the Bicol Region, designated him the rank of a Captain. Fully committed to the cause of the revolution, he also raised funds amounting to P42, 000.00, which he turned over to General Mariano Trias, Secretary of Finance of the Revolutionary Government.

On January 23, 1900, he was promoted Major after he successfully effected an ambush and captured three American soldiers: Dubose, Fred Hunter and Russel. In February that same year, his troops fought against the Americans in Arimbay, Legaspi. His cousin Jose Arboleda perished in the bloody battle.

American soldiers’ mighty firepower and combat training did not dampen his spirit; he continued to fight so that his men were encouraged and more men joined his army. With the army of Colonel Engracio Orence, he fought valiantly in the battle of Binogsacan in Guinobatan, Albay. His army rested for over a month in July 1901 when he accompanied General Belarmino to Manila.

He resumed his campaign in August by raiding the town of Oas, Albay. On August 12, 1902, he ambushed the American detachment at Macabugos, Ligao.

Ola became a marked man to the Americans. Although his troops were easily repulsed during battles, the Americans took him seriously. From March to October 1903, the Americans set up the reconcentration system as a means to stop Ola’s activities. Because of the damage it caused even to the innocent civilians, they turned into negotiations.

Monument to Gen. Simeon Ola at Camp Simeon Ola, Legazpi City

They sent Ramon Santos and Major Jesse S. Garwood of the Constabulary as emissaries to negotiate for his surrender, which he politely refused. Instead, he carried on his battle. On July 15, 1903, he ambushed the 31st Philippine Scout Garrison under the command of Sergeant Nicolas Napoli in Joveliar, Albay. The persistent effort of the peace panel and his battle weary men made Ola realized that he could never win the war. He became open to the agreement set by Colonel Harry H. Bandholtz, the Assistant Commander of the Constabulary in Lucena, Tayabas, for his surrender.

The agreement included general amnesty, fair treatment and justice to his comrades in arms. On September 25, 1903 the negotiating panel composed of Ramon Santos, Eligio Arboleda, Epifanio Orozco, Frank L. Pyle, John Paegelow, J.B. Allison and Joseph Rogers went to his camp in Malagnaton, Mapaco, Guinobatan. Eventually, Ola surrendered to Governor Bette and Colonel Bandholtz.

Charged with sedition, Judges Adam Carson and James Blount presided over his case. He was sentenced of 30 years imprisonment on November 10. 1903. Fortunately, he was granted executive clemency so he was released from prison on October 8, 1904. In 1910, he entered politics and won as town mayor of Guinobatan, which he served until 1913. He was again elected to the same position in 1916. He served the term until 1919.

Simeon Ola died on February 14, 1952 and was interred at the Roman Catholic Cemetery of Guinobatan. Camp Gen. Simeon Ola in Legazpi City is named after him. This was the former Regan Barracks.

Miss Universe 2010 Winners:

Fourth Runner-up – Maria Venus Raj of the Philippines
Third Runner-up – Anna Poslavska of Ukraine
Second Runner-up – Jesinta Campbell of Australia
First Runner-up – Yendi Phillipps of Jamaica
Miss Universe 2010 – Jimena Navarrete of Mexico

Special Awards:

Miss Congeniality – Australia
Miss Photogenic – Thailand
Best in National Costume – Thailand

Legazpi City (18 August) — Errol John Suarez of the Bicol University Integrated Laboratory School (BU-ILS) won one of the gold medals among the 136 medals and merit awards haul of the Philippine team in the recently concluded 2010 Singapore International Mathematics Competition (SIMC). In an e-mail to PIA News Service, Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild (MTG) Philippines and head of the country’s delegation, said Suarez joined the team of young Filipino mathematicians who placed second overall, edged out by China which won a total of 282 medals, in the 10-nation contest held August 6-10, 2010.

Suarez, a Grade 4 pupil of the BU-ILS, was earlier chosen from hundreds of qualifiers from different schools nationwide to represent the country in the said international math competition. The BU-ILS pupil is also the lone Bicolano named to the elite group of young Pinoy math wizards. Suarez, at his age of nine, also made it to the national limelight in February last year following his feat as the youngest Kumon Math completer in the country.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1hTEEa7jWk

The entire Philippine team garnered 12 gold, 26 silver, 54 bronze medals and 44 merit awards or runner-up certificates in the competition. MTG, an organization of math experts, trains Filipinos for math competitions abroad.

China bagged 39 gold medals in the SIMC. South Korea was third with eight, followed by Hong Kong (7), Taiwan (6), Indonesia (5), Malaysia (4), Thailand (3), host Singapore (2), and India, which failed to get any medal, said Chua in an e-mail to the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Tuesday. A total of 92 elementary and 44 high school students represented the country in the SIMC. Chua and other MTG officials commended the Filipino math wizards for “another job well done.” “They’re among the world’s best. No doubt about it,” said Chua.

This year, MTG wards have so far won 91 medals, including four golds, in four international math competitions -- the 13th Hong Kong Primary Math World Contest, 2010 Korea International Math Competition, 51st Math Olympiad in Kazakhstan, and the 2010 Canadian Math Competition. Chua noted that this year’s medal harvest increased compared to last year’s contest where the Filipino math wizards won 102 medals. (PIA V)

Source: Philippine Information Agency V

In the same event, BSP also held the Awarding Ceremony for BSP Stakeholders who have provided exemplary support to the BSP’s statistical undertakings and advocacies. There are two (2) awardees from Region 5. Bicol Hair Export Corporation and New Naga Alta Agri Corporation will receive the Business Expectations Survey Outstanding Respondent for Large and Medium Firms and Outstanding Respondent for Small Firms awards, respectively.

Meanwhile, the BSP will also launch the Albay Mayon Credit Surety Fund (CSF) in partnership with the Provincial Government of Albay today, August 12, 2010. The CSF is a fund created from contributions by well-capitalized and well-managed cooperatives with a counterpart contribution from the provincial government and other donors.

It aims to help small businessmen who are members of cooperatives, as well as cooperatives that have their own business, obtain loans from the banks even without the usual hard collateral requirement. The surety cover which will take the place of collateral, issued by the CSF, will guarantee their loans with the banks.

The CSF Program is expected to increase lending activities in the province, as well as stimulate business and economic activities, generate employment and increase the local government’s revenues. It will be one of the flagship equity initiatives under the Albay Rising Program which aims to turn the Province of Albay into one of the most livable provinces across the country.

BSP BUILDING INAUGURAL — Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, BSP Gov. Amando M. Tetangco, Jr., and Legazpi City Mayor Geraldine B. Rosal (from left to right) lead the ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the blessing and inaugural of the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Legazpi Branch Building last Wednesday, August 11, 2010. Other photo shows 2nd District Rep. Al Francis C. Bichara (right) and Monetary Board Member Alfredo C. Antonio. (Alex Cal/PIA)

The Albay Mayon CSF will be the first CSF to be launched in the Bicol Region and the twelfth since the program’s inception in 2008. The other eleven (11) CSFs that have been established are in the provinces of Cavite, Aurora, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato, and in the cities of Iloilo and Cebu.

On 12-13 August 2010, the BSP will also conduct a series of activities under its Economic and Financial Learning Program (BSP-EFLP). The BSP-EFLP brings together the outreach educational activities of the BSP under one flagship program. It aims to promote greater awareness and understanding of essential economic and financial issues to help the public acquire the knowledge and develop skills needed to make well-informed economic and financial decisions and choices.

Source: BSP Inaugurates New Office Building, Launches Credit Surety Fund, and Conducts Economic and Financial Learning Program Activities in Legazpi City, BSP Media Release, August 10, 2010

That’s because almost all government resources, activities and efforts had to be focused on the reconstruction of the damages, diverting the attention from tourism to rehabilitation, the neophyte lady mayor who won last May’s elections to replace her husband, Noel Rosal after completing a nine-year term last June said.

“Before I took the reign from my husband, he had already completed all rehabilitation efforts for the reconstruction of the damaged public infrastructures and installations and even rearranged the lives of the thousands of villagers displaced by the calamity,” she said. That means, the lady chief executive said, “I started with a newly refurbished city that left nothing for me to do but return to where the city was before it was ruined by the super typhoons in terms of tourism and economic development.”

“Actually, following that four-year rehabilitation period, the city is better now than before the 2006 calamities. Today, we have new and additional roads, better drainage system, more lighted streets, healthier environment, cleaner rivers, more basic services delivery facilities, more businesses, improved peace and order, ample employment opportunities and better livelihood prospects,” Mrs. Rosal said.

Given all these, she said her administration’s focus is on restoring the city’s prominence in Bicol’s tourist arrivals aspect being home to Mt. Mayon, the region’s tourism landmark.

New Legazpi Boulevard

The city had new tourist facilities established hand in hand between the city government and the private sector. This partnership concept of tourism development is what her administration is promoting for a more robust tourism industry, the lady mayor said.

As an initial effort, she said the city had lately awarded to a private firm the contract for the operation of a Ligñon Hill View Deck Park commercial facility that would offer world-class amenities and services to tourists and visitors who want to enjoy the ambiance as well as a fantastic view of Mayon and the city.

Ligñon Hill View Deck | Photo by Mark Nakpil

Ligñon Hill is a prominent spot in the northern sector of the city’s downtown that stands about 150 meters above sea level. It is situated between the city and Mayon Volcano. The property belongs to the Albay provincial government but its development into a tourist facility has been delegated by the province to the city government. A two-kilometer long winding concrete road has been constructed by the province from its foot up to the hilltop.

Mrs. Rosal said, the private tourist development firm that won the Ligñon Hill contract, JEDI Property Management would develop the area and operate the facilities to be established in a leasehold agreement with the city government. In the agreement, JEDI will pay the city government P40,000 monthly for the first year of operations, P42,000 for the second and third year and P44,000 for the fourth and so on.

Nighttime view of the Legazpi City skyline from Ligñon Hill | Photo by Yves Yu

The private firm will also be in-charge of the maintenance of the entire park including the cleanliness of the pathways, parking area and view decks by way of employing maintenance workers from the city’s labor force. The privatization of a portion of Ligñon Hill is more advantageous to the city government as it will no longer spend for the maintenance and improvement of the place, adding that the rentals will also be used for other local tourism projects in the area, Mrs. Rosal said.

Also, the new deal will allow the private sector take part in the development of the city in line with its desire to attract investors that could open more businesses in the locality which serves as the commercial center of Albay. The city’s booming commercial district also caters to the shopping needs of Sorsogon and the island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate.

Among the newly established commercial and tourist facility within the city is the Embarcadero de Legazpi, a posh shopping and entertainment complex that offers world-class services and amenities. It is a P1.5-billion private investment put up by Sunwest Group, a local firm engaged in real estate and tourism development.

Embarcadero de Legazpi | Photo by Dacel Andes

With the aggressive tourism and investment promotion the city government is undertaking, the lady mayor said “we are confident to win back the city’s glory as the most tourist visited city in Bicol which it lost to Naga City during the past three years while it was so occupied by its recovery works.”

Misibis Bay Resort at night | Photo by Karen Kho

This city on the other hand is also jumping point towards Misibis Bay, a luxurious island destination that has been drawing thousands of foreign tourists because of  its first-rate eco-tourism facilities. The resort that sits within the 40-hectare island of Misibis in Bacacay, Albay, is a 45-minute boat ride from the Embarcadero de Legazpi, its sister company.

Legazpi also serves as the take-off point and housing area for tourists visiting Donsol, Sorsogon for its whale sharks. Almost all of those who go to that place for whale shark (butanding) watching or interactions house themselves in hotels here and not somewhere else because of the city’s proximity to the area. “That makes us city a prime beneficiary of the Donsol tourism,” the city mayor added. (PNA) V3/LQ/DOC/cbd

Source: Philippine News Agency

Photo by Parvin Dabas

Albay is abundant in amazing geological formations, with its landscape dominated by the sensuously symmetrical Mayon Volcano. But Mayon isn’t the only star in Albay’s constellation of geological wonders. There’s also the lush and forested Mt. Malinao and the mystical Mt. Masaraga. In Legazpi, we can find the famed Ligñon Hill, an extinct cinder cone that is now the site of a park and view deck, and the peculiarly-shaped Kapuntukan, fondly called Sleeping Lion, standing right beside the port and the new Embarcadero.

The undulating hills can be considered one of Albay’s hidden geological gem. It is hidden in the sense that most Albayanos are not even aware of it. But for visitors and locals who travel by plane to Legazpi, an impressive aerial view of these hills is one of the first things that welcomes them when the plane approaches Legazpi Domestic Airport.

If Bohol has its ‘Chocolate Hills (so named because they resemble ‘chocolate kisses), maybe we can name ours as the ‘Pili Nut Hills’, in honor of one of Bicol’s best known products. The hills can be accessed through the nearby town of Camalig, home of the Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave. For now, there are no tourist facilities in the area and these hills remain as one of Albay’s best kept secrets.

Here are some photos of Albay’s ‘Pili Nut Hills’ (Click on image to view larger version):

The hills at eye level | Photo by Jed Villanueva

Photo by Mark Nakpil

Satellite view of the ‘Pili nut hills’

View Albay’s Pili Nut Hills in a larger map

To prepare for the competition, 21-year old Venus underwent rigorous physical training and mental calisthenics. Ms. Raj has flown to Las Vegas, USA for the pageant.

A Filipino-Indian native of Bato, Camarines Sur, Raj graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts at Bicol University. She almost lost the opportunity to represent her country in Miss Universe when she was dethroned due to issues with her birth record. She was eventually reinstated.

Ms. Raj currently leads a worldwide online popularity survey sponsored by the Miss Universe Organization. You can vote for Venus by logging on to the official Miss Universe website: http://missuniverse.com/members/contestants/.

Ms. Raj will become the country’s third Miss Universe title holder if she wins.

All photos courtesy of Raymond Saldaña

Sources:

‘Venus Raj banks on spiritual strength’ by Cet Dematera, Philippine Star
‘RP beauty bet leads popularity survey’ by Robert Requintina, The Manila Bulletin

Ligñon Hill View Deck | Photo by jr3

Rosal elaborated that private firm JEDI Property Management, Inc. won the bidding to operate the view deck portion on the Lignon hilltop. Previously, the City Government was authorized by the Provincial Government of Albay to lease the area and ensure a reasonable return of investments or stable income through a Memorandum of Agreement dated October 16, 2006.

In the new privatization agreement, JEDI will be responsible for the full operation and maintenance of the view deck. The firm will pay the City Government P40,000 monthly for the first year of operations, P42,000/ for the second and third year, and P44,000 for the fourth until the sixth year.

Rosal further said that the privatization of a portion of Ligñon Hill is advantageous to the city government as it will no longer spend for the maintenance and improvement of the place. Portions of the hilltop park will also be up for rental for additional revenue.

View of Legazpi from Ligñon Hill | Photo by Joyce Tan

The Ligñon Hill Nature Park is one of the city’s pride. The top of this 156-meter hill was developed in 2006. It now has a view deck offering a sweeping 360 degree panoramic view of the city, Mayon Volcano and surrounding areas. A winding road up the hill has become a favorite of joggers and fitness buffs. Decorative lights along the uphill road and on top of the hill make it a lovely sight at night. The hill also offers a bit of history with an old 40-meter long and 7-feet deep tunnel used by the Japanese to hide their arsenal during WW2.

Visitors can also enjoy a variety of exciting activities including a 320-meter zipline (Php200) where the adventurous can soar through the air harnessed to a cable.The hill also offers other adventure activities and extreme sports, such as hiking, biking, rappelling, paintball, and airsoft – all managed by Globe Quest Adventure. Zipping and rappelling are at P200 per person while paintball costs P300 for 50 bullets, mask, vest, and a paintball gun.

Zipline at Ligñon Hill | Photo by Joyce Tan

Another adventure sport is biking on dried up gullies at the foot of Mayon. The gullies serve as pathways of loose sand and volcanic rocks swept away by heavy rains from the volcano’s slopes. Four-wheel All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are available for rent at P1,500.

Starting July 31, 2010, an entrance fee will now be collected from visitors at Ligñon Hill:

Albay Students: P5
Albay Residents: P10
Filipino Non-Albay Residents: P20
Foreigners: P25
Free: Senior Citizens, children under 3 feet height and joggers from 5am to 9am

How to Get to Lignon Hill?

From the airport: Turn right to Magayon Drive (you will pass through a private subdivision). Turn left at the junction with Bogtong Road and proceed until you reach the tennis courts, just before the gate to the Albay Wildlife Park. You may start your trek up the hill at the entrance (near the tennis courts). You can also drive your vehicle up the hill.

From Legazpi Port: A Legazpi-Daraga Loop 1 jeepney will take you directly to the foot of the hill.

From Daraga: Take a tricycle from the centro to Tagas and ask the drive to drop you off at the tennis courts.

Ligñon Hill Map

View Larger Map

Sources:

Philippine Information Agency
“4 Side Trips from Mayon” by Ephraim Aguilar, Sunday Inquirer Magazine

He said the tax revenues were derived mostly from withholding taxes from fixed income earners, business, professions, and value added tax (VAT). Mendoza said P1.8 billion in taxes was collected last year, surpassing with P548 million or 29 percent against the 2009 target.

Mendoza said his agency is expected to raise some P4.4 billion this year, and half of the goal had been already achieved by the first half of this year.

Based on tax collection efficiency, Albay was consistent for several years as the leading in tax collection because of the industries and business centers set up here, making the province the rising business and economic center in the region.

Albay Governor Salceda said the province’s economy is gaining grounds because of investors’ confidence on the province’s socio-economic platform that would firmly position the province in the country’s economic road map for investment and tourism.

Salceda said the platform has 5 Es which stand for Economy, Education, Environment, Equity and Health. This, he added, would place Albay in the map of the country as trade, investment and tourist center.

“This should carry us into the next sequel of the Albay Saga to be called Albay Boom which should commence once the international airport is completed,” the governor said.

Salceda, has committed to “attain development through low-carb, low-energy intensity, low-rise strategies compatible with the regeneration capacity of our environment so that future Albayanos will benefit not pay for the current entitlements.”

The notable projects of 5 Es include, among others: the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA), Guicadale Business Platform, National Renewable Energy Program, Barangay Capacity enhancement, 4Ps, Education Quality for Albayano (EQUAL), Albay Higher Education Contribution Scheme (AHECS), Bicol University and the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital modernization and the Universal PhilHealth coverage.

Meanwhile, the BIR would intensify tax collection target in Bicol by launching tax campaigns that would run after tax evaders and cheats. Mendoza said they are in pursuit of P320-million worth tax evasion cases involving persons and companies with businesses in the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco, Masbate and in Camarines Sur.

To further improve tax revenue generation and monitoring and prosecution of tax cheats, the bureau also launched campaigns such as “Txt-Tax Brigade”; Tax me Not campaign (Knowing the Limitation of Tax Exemption) and “Be inspired with Reward”. (PNA)
LAP/LQ/MSA/cbd

Source: Philippine News Agency