TACLOBAN CITY- The more than 400 members Philippine Councilors League (PCL)-Leyte chapter elected a neophyte councilor from Palo town.
Elected unanimously by the members was Chiqui Ruth Uy, who is serving her first term as a councilor of Palo and is the wife of former PCL president, Wilson Uy, who was the president of the organization from 2004 until June 30,2019.
Uy was elected unopposed during the PCL elections held last August 9 at the Leyte Academic Center, Palo.
The PCL-Leyte has 412 members but only 336 of them managed to attend the event which was also graced by Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla.
The new provincial PCL president was a former barangay chairwoman of Barangay Pawing, one of the most important villages of Palo town as it is here where the Government Center and the historic MacArthur Landing National Memorial Park are located.
She served as a barangay chairwoman for nine years and also served the Palo Sangguniang Bayan as an ex-officio member being the municipal president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen for five years.
Uy expressed her gratitude to the PCL members in Leyte for giving them their trust and mandate on her as their new president whose term is to expire on 2022.
“I am thankful for the heartfelt support of my co-councilors and for the trust for choosing me as their leader. I would also thank Governor Petilla for his support as well as my husband,” she said as she called her colleagues to give their full support and cooperation on her and other newly-elected officials of the group.
Uy also vowed to listen to her colleagues, especially those who have more experiences compare to her.
According to her, she intend to accomplish several projects and programs that are all aim in improving the capabilities of the councilors of the province.
Among these are continuous trainings and seminars for all councilors to make them more competent in discharging their functions to the benefits of their respective constituents.
Also elected were Hilongos Councilor Edwin Faller, vice president; Tolosa Councilor Manny Martinez, secretary- general; Tanauan Councilor Bianito Fiel, treasurer; Burauen Councilor Vincent Enerlan, auditor; Leyte-Leyte Councilor Pedro Panis, PRO; and Kananga Councilor Resurection Capanas, business manager.
Elected as members of the board of directors were the following: Rosary Pearl Catudo (Babatngon) and Rodolfo Cabaluna Jr. (Alangalang) representing first district; Othello Crisostomo (Carigara) and Victor Cadyong (Dulag), for the second district; Carmichael Villarino (San Isidro), for third district; Adam Fuentes (Isabel) for fourth district; and Arnulfo Allera (Abuyog) and Rogelio Pua Jr. (Inopacan) for the fifth district. (JOEY A. GABIETA/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The jampacked crowd at the Tacloban Convention Center or astrodome had a field night as they watched with glee and amusement policemen from the region strutting their not-so-hidden talents, both in dancing, singing, and even comedic skits.
The policemen-turned performers entertained their audience headed by their regional director, Brigadier General Dionardo Carlos, and guests during the ‘Pulis Got Talent’ contest held Friday night.
And this year’s winner of the Pulis Got Talent contest, now on its fifth year, was the contingent from Eastern Samar Provincial Police Office.
Their performance involved a breath-taking aerial stunts that wowed the crowd.
The group, who dubbed themselves as ‘Tears of the East Movers’, centered their sing and dance performance on men’s relationship with nature.
The Leyte Police Provincial Office contingent, who presented a hip-hop dance, bagged the second place while the Biliran Provincial Police Office that presented a combination of hip-hop and comedic act was awarded the third place.
“We are doing this as a way to say thank you to the people of Eastern Visayas and to show to the people that policemen are also talented,” Carlos said.
The police regional director said that the ticket sales and even donations generated out of the more than three-hour event will be donated to a selected school which also include procurement of a service vehicle for the students of said school.
Carlos also expressed his gratitude to the individuals, organizations and his fellow regional police chiefs that helped the PRO8 made the event successful
For the past four years, the Pulis Got Talent search was held at the RTR Plaza as part of the annual activity for the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals nightly activities.
But for its fifth years, the Police Regional Police Office 8 decided to just do a teaser presentation at the RTR Plaza during the PNP Night and have a bigger event at the Astrodome.
“It took us six months of brainstorming and conceptualizing just to give these performances,” Carlos said.
The Pulis Got Talent 5th Season was supposed to be held in July but was reschedule to August.
During the presentation, the police regional director presented a Hall of Fame award to the Regional Police Mobile Battalion whose dance group was the perennial winner since the contest was started four years ago.
Aside from the performances of police personnel from eight PNP offices, actor Matteo Guidicelli made a special appearance and serenaded the audience. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)