The three bells were taken from Balangiga amid the Philippine-American War in 1901. (Photo:US Embassy)
TACLOBAN CITY– U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson visited the historic town of Balangiga in Eastern Samar on Wednesday (Oct.19) to see for herself the Balangiga Bells.
In a statement, Carlson said that the bells are not just historical objects but represent in the pursuit of sovereignty and freedom.
“These bells have witnessed the entire arc of history between our countries—from the painful conflict of the early 1900s when we were adversaries to the moment four years ago when they were finally returned to the Filipino people with whom we now stand as friends, partners, and allies,” she said.
“The return of the bells reflects the strong bonds and mutual respect between our two nations and our peoples. These bells are more than just historical objects. They represent the quest for identity, sovereignty, and freedom,” Carlson added.
During her visit, Ambassador Carlson was accompanied by U.S. Army Col. Edward Evans, the senior U.S. defense official in the Philippines.
The US ambassador, who is in Leyte to attend tomorrow’s 78th Leyte Gulf Landing in Palo town, was welcome by Balangiga Mayor Dana Flynch de Lira and parish priests Fr. Serafin Tybaco and Fr. Manuel Lunario.
To recall, the three bells now enshrined at the grounds of the St. Lawrence the Martyr Church, were returned to the country on December 11,2018, 177 years after these artifacts had been in possession of the American government. (RONALD O. REYES)
Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez and wife, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez and Councilor Lalaine Marcos lead in the cutting of the ribbon of an exhibit initiated by the Energy Development Corp. as part of the 75th Charter Day celebration of Ormoc.
ORMOC CITY-Geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) honored its long-term partner, the city government here as it celebrates its 75th Charter day celebration through a revitalized Geo 24/7 exhibit at the Ormoc City museum.
The permanent exhibition highlights EDC’s Leyte geothermal power complex located between Ormoc City and the town of Kananga, home to the largest wet steam field and one of the biggest geothermal plants in the world.
The installation was named Geo 24/7, EDC’s own brand of geothermal energy that has been providing the country with much-needed carbon power.
The exhibit made use of actual artifacts from EDC’s Leyte facility such as the turbine that was used to generate power from its first- ever 3MW pilot Tongonan geothermal power plant almost 40 years ago. It likewise features a huge scale model of the same power plant that is bound to create more interest on how geothermal works from museum visitors.
Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez commended EDC for coming up with an exhibit adding that the company has been supportive to her even while she was a congresswoman.
She narrated that the RT-PCR laboratory being used by the city government was donated by the EDC.
The mayor added that the presence of the COVID-19 laboratory testing center alongside the city’s prevention makes Ormoc COVID-free for a long time.
The event was also attended by Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez (4th district), Councilor Lalaine Marcos and EDC top officials led by Jerome Cainglet, the company’s deputy chief operating officer.
EDC’s Leyte geothermal facility currently supplies more than 30% of the country’s installed geothermal capacity. It is also responsible for putting the Philippines on the map as the world’s 3rd largest geothermal producer and has been providing a reliable supply of clean power to the Luzon and Visayas regions for almost 40 years. (ROBERT DEJON)
SAN JUANICO AESTHETIC LIGHTS AND SOUNDS. President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. attended the switching on ceremony of the aesthetic lights and sounds show at the San Juanico Bridge last Oxt.19. With him were(from the left) Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez,DILG Sec. Benjamin Abalos,PMS Sec.Matia Zenaida Angping, Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan, DPWH Sec.Manuel Bonoan,Samar Rep.Reynolds Michael Tan, TIEZA COO Mark Lapid, and Sta. Rita Mayor Jade Kie Tiu. (PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY – The building up of traffic at the San Juanico Bridge must be properly addressed to preserve the integrity of the San Juanico Bridge.
Thus said Department of Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes amid the operation of the aesthetic lights at the famed bridge which the islands of Leyte and Samar.
Tiopes said that they will be meeting with local officials of Sta. Rita town and Tacloban City in the coming days to discuss the possibility of crafting an ordinance that will prohibit vehicles from stopping at the bridge at in any time.
During the formal switch-on ceremony of the San Juanico Bridge Aesthetic lighting project led by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. last Wednesday (Oct. 19), thousands of spectators went to the bridge after the President left to have a picture taking.
The big number of people and vehicles on the bridge resulted to heavy traffic.
“In the days to come, we will be sitting with the local government unit of Sta. Rita and Tacloban City to come up with an agreement kung paano natin mako-control ito. Kasi for now sinasaway lang, walang ini-impose na fine for any violations. Siguro it will require, a certain degree of, something that will restrict them really,” Tiopes said.
Rep. Reynolds Michael Tan of Samar’s second congressional district said that one of the solutions of the provincial government to ease the traffic at the bridge is by constructing a boardwalk where visitors and tourists may stay while watching the light show.
Tan said that they are still waiting for the funding from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for them to start the construction of the boardwalk.
Mark Lapid, TIEZA chief operating officer, said that since restrictions of travelling outside the country had only just resumed recently, their office had no sufficient funds to provide some projects like that of the proposed boardwalk.
TIEZA generates funds from the travel tax collected to individuals travelling outside the country.
The boardwalk will have a parking space, food kiosk, restaurants, souvenir shops among others to usher in and jumpstart economic development in communities along the areas through the help of tourism.
“Hoping by next year the boardwalk we can implement it na, so that there will be a viewing site for the tourists na pupunta kasi right now, medyo mahirap pa, so inaayos pa namin yang hoping na matapos namin by next year. Not only for Samar side but also for Leyte side,” Lapid said. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY – Only three months and four days ago when lawyer Robert Anthony Yu, then regional director of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Eastern Visayas, turned over his post to Ismael Aya-ay. On Tuesday, Aya-ay relinquished it again to Engr. Reynaldo Anfone.
By virtue of Department Special Order No. 573, series of 2022 issued by Agrarian Secretary Conrado Estrella III on October 6 this year, Anfone, the regional director of Central Visayas, was transferred to Eastern Visayas replacing Aya-ay.
On the same document, Aya-ay, who was concurrent Assistant Regional Director for Administration (ARDA) will now focus on his work as ARDA.
An agricultural engineer, Anfone said in his acceptance message, “I am expecting so much with regards to the tasking of the mandates of the Department.”
“I will assess everything,” he stressed.
Anfone, the 22nd regional director to serve this region since the agency was created on September 10, 1971, is a native of Pikit, Cotabato.
He joined the DAR in 1985 as Agrarian Reform Technologist (ART) and rose from the ranks.
From ART, Anfone was promoted to Engineer II. Then he became Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) for 23 years. In 2018, he was appointed Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II (PARPO) by then president Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
In March this year, Duterte appointed him Director IV. His first assignment as regional director was in Central Visayas.
As a regional director, Anfone said during his installation that he reads and analyzes all the documents before signing them, but emphasized he is not used to micro-managing.
He assured the PARPOs and the MARPOs “I will not interfere on all your affairs. I will just be directing the PARPOs and the MARPOs.”
Anfone hopes that his assignment here will not be as short as his stay in Central Visayas. According to him, he just stayed in Region-7 for only three months and 21 days. “I hope to stay here for quite a long time, so we will really know each other,” Anfone quipped. (JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA)
ORMOC CITY-An elderly village councilor was killed after the single motorcycle he was driving was hit by another speeding single motorcycle driven by an 18-year old student at about 7 am last October 17, at Barangay Rawis in Laoang, Northern Samar.
Police Major Ricardo Banjawan, town police chief, identified the fatality as Romeo Irinco, 75, and a councilor of Rawis here while the driver of the other single motorcycle was also identified as Alfred Grajo, 18, senior high school student and a resident of Brgy Gibatangan of the same municipality.
Initial investigation conducted by responding police disclosed that the two motorcycles were traversing in opposite directions and upon reaching to the place of the incident, the motorcycle driven by Grajo accidentally bumped the motorcycle driven by the Irinco after he suddenly took a U-turn from the other side of the road.
As a result, the victim sustained serious injuries and was brought to St. Scholastica Hospital in Pambujan town, also in Northern Samar but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Grajo and his companion, Claire Grego,20, were brought to Dr. GB Tan Memorial Hospital here for immediate medical attention. (ROBERT DEJON)
LEYTE GULF LANDINGS ANNIVERSARY. President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. was joined by US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson and Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla during the 78th Leyte Gulf Landings commemorative program last Oct. 20 at the MacArthur National Landing Memorial Park, Palo, Leyte. (US Embassy)
PALO, Leyte– President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., graced the 78th Leyte Gulf Landing Celebration on Thursday (Oct.20) at the McArthur Landing National Memorial Park, this town as he gave honor and assurance to the war veterans.
The President also calls for Filipino to remember the courage and sacrifices of the war veterans to liberate the country from the hands of the Japanese Forces.
“We commemorate this event, but let us remember the courage and heroism demonstrated by our war veterans, fellow Filipinos, allied forces, and for that matter, even the Japanese forces, who offered their lives in a quest to attain peace and freedom that we now enjoy,” he said in his speech during the commemorative program.
“They who have fought and died in and for this land will have their names forever etched in the pages of history. We express our most profound gratitude for the sacrifices that they had made in reclaiming our freedom and for ushering in a new age of peace for our people and for the world,” the President added.
The President said that the war veterans can be assured that under his administration, they can be assured of protection and assistance.
“This government will always continue to look after the welfare of our war veterans. For as we commemorate on this hollow ground sanctified by the blood, the life and the sacrifices of our brave veterans we cannot allow our memories to lapse, we must always remember that this was the best of Filipinos,” he said.
Of the 30 surviving World War II veterans in Eastern Visayas, only three were able to attend the commemoration this morning.
They are Gregoria Badeo, 97 from Burauen, Leyte; Eugenia Maglinte, 94 from Macrohon, Southern Leyte; and Alfredo Matobato, 94 from Alangalang, Leyte.
Maglinte said that she was happy to attend this year’s program and see the President in the event.
She was also thankful that the provincial government of Leyte which extended them financial assistance worth P15,000.
The veterans also received a congressional gold cross medal award from the United States of America through the US Embassy as represented by Ambassador MaryKay Carlson and the Veterans Federation of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, in his message, Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla emphasized the importance to immortalize the stories of the war veterans for the future generations to know their sacrifices for the country be liberated from the foreign invaders.
“Like many stories, our stories are dying with the veterans and it is our job as local officials, national officials to keep the story alive not for ourselves but for the future generation,” he said.
Petilla suggests that the stories of Leyte Gulf Landings be part of the lesson in the curriculum of the Department of Education.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Department of Tourism Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina Garcia-Frasco, Presidential Management Staff Secretary Zenaida Angping, and US Ambassador Carlson also graced the event.
Among local officials present were Leyte Vice Gov. Leonardo Javier and his wife, Rep. Lolita Javier; Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan; An Waray party-list Florencio ‘Bem’ Noel; and Palo Mayor Remedios ‘Matin’ Petilla who profusely expressed her gratitude for the President attending the event.
The Leyte Gulf Landings commemoration is a celebration of the arrival of the Allied Forces in Leyte on Oct. 20, 1944 led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, together with President Sergio Osmeña and Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, setting foot again in the Philippine soil after they left Corregidor in 1942.
Their arrival started a battle that spanned 100,000 square miles of sea and was fought for three days, from Oct. 23 to 25, 1944, during the invasion of Leyte by the Allied forces.
The battle signaled the fulfillment of MacArthur’s famous words, “I shall return.”
