ORMOC CITY-This city will be celebrating its 75th Charter Day anniversary for the whole month of October starting off with the presentation of candidates vying for Miss Ormoc title on Sunday(Oct. 2).

This early, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez said that health protocols will still be strictly observed as big number of people are expected to see the various events relative to the celebration.

At present, Ormoc has two active COVID-19 cases, based on the record of the Department of Health.

Aside from staging the Miss Ormoc, several activities have been lined up to mark the city’s diamond founding anniversary which includes concerts featuring some of the country’s big-name artists; business seminars; agri-aqua fair; sports competitions, and its diamond jubilee parade on October 20, its founding day anniversary.

The city mayor said that after almost two years of having no celebration of the city’s founding, they will be making a series of activities considering this year marks its 75th year.

“This year’s celebration is really a milestone for Ormoc……from being labeled as Eastern Visayas illegal drug capital into its richest city,” Torres Gomez said.
She, however, gives much credit on the transformation of Ormoc to the six-year term of her husband, now congressman Richard Gomez.

The former mayor had prioritized in ensuring the peace and order of the city for him to invite investors, which included addressing the proliferation of illegal drugs in the city.
Under his watch, Ormoc City was regarded by the Philippine National Police as one of the safest cities in the country on top of solving its illegal drug activity.

It was also during the term of now congressman that several investors came to Ormoc like the establishments of two shopping malls and operations of several hotels, among others.
On Sunday, 20 lovely candidates coming from different villages of the city were presented before the public and guests at the city’s main public plaza.

This year’s candidates are Abiah P. Dicdican, Dianne A. Espinosa, Jorochelle Euliza Swartz L. Grafilon, Crissa Althea B. Colon, Francheska Terese C. Matiga, Ma Kim Bocao, Desiree Solejon, Angel Mae R. Duallo, Donna P. Ramada, Alexandra P. Juanillo, Liezle N. Jones, Hannah Grace Caintic Yuson, Zeljemer del Rosario Castro, Quintine L. Saligue, Jessajane P. Belic, Lerrish Frances Dawa Belarmino, Erice Beatrice Tan, Charybel Faith Dizon, Mitzi Lucaban, and Marie Carmen Songalia. The coronation is on Oct 15, 2022.
Noted singer-composer Rey Valera also entertained the with his smash hits. The event was hosted by Mr. Fu.

Among those in the audience of more than 10,000 people were Rep. Gomez and his wife, Mayor Lucy, and other city officials.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Now on its 121st year

BALANGIGA, Eastern Samar- A very low-key event marked the 121st year commemorative program of the Balangiga Encounter was held on Wednesday (Sept. 28) with town Mayor Dana Flynch de Lira leading the historic occasion.

The town mayor said that they are planning some ways to market the town, especially among tourists, with the return now of the ‘Balangiga Bells.’

“We are already known for our bells. It’s just a matter of marketing, kasi what’s happening right is the bells are not that much appreciated, we are reaping the benefit out of it. So if we can only make a little improvement siguro to help recover economically and financially,” Mayor de Lira said during the simple anniversary.

She added that she will be talking with tourism officials in the region to help them prepare tourism plans and programs to market not only the bells of Balangiga but also other tourist destinations of the municipality that are waiting to be developed and promoted.
To recall, after many campaigns by the national government, Church, and some private sector, the bells were returned by the United States on December 11, 2018.

The three historic bells were eventually installed at the Saint Lawrence the Martyr Church on Dec.15, 2018 with former President Rodrigo Duterte witnessing the event.
Vice Governor Maricar Goteesan, representing Gov. Ben Evardone, said just like 121 years ago, the people of Balangiga continue to fight and this time it includes poverty, social injustice, and insurgency.

“But we are no longer using bolo or offering our lives instead what we need to do is to keep our beloved Eastern Samar as a zone of peace. Let us bravely face the trials of today because it is us who can save ourselves from adversity,” Goteesan said, reading the message of Gov. Evardone.

For her part, Tourism Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina Frasco urged the people of Balangiga to make the Sept.28,1901 as an inspiration as the country is slowly recovering from the pandemic caused by coronavirus disease(COVID-19) which also affected the tourism industry.

“Our goal in the industry is still in the early stage of planning and implementation, yet we are confident that we can achieve this with the support of people like you here in Balangiga who are more than willing to work hand-in-hand to improve the country’s economy,” Frasco said in her message read by DOT-8 tourism operations officer Rina Apostol.

The Balangiga Encounter happened on Sept. 28, 1901, when the town residents led by Valeriano Abanador initiated an attack against US soldiers who are part of the Company C of the 9th US Infantry Regiment.

Dubbed as the biggest defeat of foreign troops during the Philippine-American war, villagers who were armed with bolos defeated the American soldiers who are armed with a much sophisticated guns.

The incident however resulted to the death of around 2,500 Filipino men, women, including children when the Americans’ launched a retaliatory attack as ordered by Gen. Jacob Smith transforming Samar into a “howling wilderness.”

The Americans then took the three Balangiga Bells as war booty that resulted for a more than a century call for the US government to return them back to the country.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY-As part of the observance of World Rabies Day, the city government through the City Veterinary Office (CVO) made available its services to the public on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at the CEO gymnasium.

Pet owners in Tacloban City were able to free neuter, anti-rabies vaccination, and deworming services for their pet dogs and cats.

According to CVO Head Dr. Eunice Alcantara, pet owners 50 slots for the free neuter service have earlier registered through their official Facebook page, while they accepted walk-in clients for their other services such as anti-rabies vaccination and deworming.

On the other hand, spay services were not available during the day-long activity because of the influx of pet owners who want to avail of the free veterinary services. The office will have a separate schedule for the said service.

In the meantime, Alcantara said that the primary purpose of the activity was to eliminate cases of rabies and advocate for responsible pet ownership.

She emphasized that the CVO enforces the Animal Code of Tacloban City (City Ordinance No. 2006-09-264) as a counterpart measure to R.A. 9482, or the Anti-rabies Act of 2007, which penalizes irresponsible pets and mandates against stray dogs.

As a result of the campaign against rabies, the CVO also maintains an impounding facility for stray dogs.

Under R.A. 9482, irresponsible pet owners can be penalized from P500 to P25,000 depending on the violation.
(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)