CEBU CITY- Her appointment by President Rodrigo Duterte as chair of the National Youth Commission (NYC) is a big step towards recognizing the LGBT community.
Thus said Cariza “Aiza” Seguerra who formally took the post on Tuesday (August 16).
Seguerra, one of the country’s best singers, said that she is happy that Mr. Duterte appointed her to the position which she could use to advance the interests and welfare of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
“I am happy that the President is very inclusive,” Seguerra said when interviewed during a small media forum on LGBT rights held in Cebu City last August 13.
According to Seguerra, members of the LGBT community, especially those still young, are the most prone to discriminations and abuses which she want to address as the new NYC chairperson.
“Napakaraming beses na ang mga tao na tu-turn away sa mga trabaho dahil lang sa kanilang sexual identity. I heard a lot of stories na sobrang qualified sa trabaho but she is a transwoman, hindi tinatanggap dahil ayaw ng boss,” Seguerra said.
As an LGBT advocate, Seguerra said that she will encourage establishments and government offices to stop discriminating LGBT and accept them on the basis of their qualification and not reject them because of their sexual preferences.
Promoting the rights of the LGBT community will also be one of her agenda as the new NYC chairperson.
“Because I think, the mere awareness is already a big step in understanding who we are.Nawawala yung takot, yung hate,” Seguerra said
Seguerra describes herself as a “transman” or a woman by birth but whose gender identity is a man but has not undergone sex change, and wants to be addressed by the pronoun “he.”
“His” wife Liza Diño was also named as the chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines by Pres. Duterte.
The couple supported the presidential bid of Duterte.
But Seguerra insisted that they were named to their respective posts by the President on the basis of their qualifications and not as a reward for supporting Mr. Duterte. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY- City Mayor Cristina Romualdez has extended her gratitude to all the Rotarians who made possible the existence of the newly- built Abucay Health Center located at the back of the New Bus Terminal during the induction of RC Makati South Officers held recently at Dusit Hotel in Makati City. In her message, Mayor Romualdez graciously thanked especially the Rotary Club of Makati South, its counterpart the Rotary International Dist. 2750; RC Tokyo Shirogane; RC Tokyo Jonan, Japan; RC Tanglin, Singapore together with its foreign and international sister clubs and other local and foreign benefactors for joining hands with the city government of Tacloban under the administration of then Mayor Alfred Romualdez in building the Abucay Health Center and Lying-in Clinic. The health center, according to Mayor Cristina, will serve hundreds of marginalized Taclobanons, especially those living near the Abucay area, Nula-Tula, Anibong and the commuting public or passengers from other part of Eastern Visayas.

The health facility will provide primary health medical and dental care services and a lying-in clinic for pregnant mothers. Other benefactors of the establishment of the Abucay health center project includes: RC Makati South D3830; RC Tokyo Shirokana, D2750 and RC Tokyo Jonan, Japan D 2750; RC tangin, Singapore (D-3310); RC Jakarta Gambir, Indonesia (D3400), Sta. Elena Construction Development Corp., DDT Konstract Inc., Hilmarc’s Construction Corp., Officers and members of RC Makati South.

The P15 million-worth Abucay Health Center is a complete mini- hospital and will qualify as an infirmary mini hospital with birthing facilities that has an emergency room, delivery room, labor room, recovery room, doctor’s room and dental room with portable X-ray machine and ultra sounds, open to public service 24/7.
The establishment of the health center building to include its facilities was a consolidated effort made by the local and foreign kindhearted and compassionate Rotarians, Mayor Cristina said.

The building marker unveiled during the turn-over ceremony stipulated that the aftermath of supertyphoon “Yolanda” that devastated Tacloban in 2013, laid bare the need to provide long term primary medical services to the less fortunate communities of the city. In answering to this call, the Rotary Club of Makati South, together with its foreign and international sister clubs and other local and foreign benefactors joined hands with the city of Tacloban headed by then Mayor Alfred Romualdez to put up the Health Center and Lying-in Clinic for the benefit of the citizens of Tacloban City. The center is dedicated to the service and care of the less privileged members of society and is a testament to Rotary International motto- “service above self”. The Rotarians were likewise responsible in facilitating some 200 Canadian donated mechanical medical beds of which the city government was the recipient. Rotary Club Dist 3860 past governor Salvador Estudillo disclosed in an interview that said mechanical beds were distributed to the Tacloban City Hospital and various health centers and lying-in clinics in the City. (GAY B.GASPAY/TISAT KANHURAW MEDIA TEAM/Photo: BILLY CINCO)

TUNGA, Leyte- This coming 27th of August, 2016 will mark a milestone in the history of Leyte III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Leyeco III) as it holds its 37th Annual General Membership Assembly (AGMA).
During last year’s AGMA, the coop’s made history for having President Rodrigo Duterte, who was then the mayor of Davao City that time, as its resource speaker.
The President then graciously attended Leyeco III’s 36th AGMA and spoke before a 5,000 awe-struck crowd. His presence during that AGMA was indeed an accomplishment that is hard to duplicate.
Not one to rest on its laurels, Leyeco III, this time, brings to the AGMA as its resource speaker no other than the fourth most powerful person in the country, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez.
General Manager Allan L. Laniba personally invited Speaker Alvarez day after the State of the Nation Address of President Duterte.
“He committed to come and visit Leyeco III, and he would also like to see what had happened to our region after supertyphoon Yolanda,” assured GM Laniba.
Mr. Alvarez represents the first district of Davao del Norte and was endorsed by the PDP-LABAN as the Speaker in the 17th Congress.
Last July 25, 2016, he was elected overwhelmingly as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Alvarez was voted by 251 out of 293 members of the House after being nominated by his predecessor, Quezon City 4th District Rep. Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. Congressmen from other political parties seconded Belmonte’s nomination.
“The presence of the House Speaker is a great blessing for Region 8 because he is very much close to the President, mag-kumpare yan sila. This would be a great opportunity to air our concerns and issues in the electric industry,” GM Laniba stressed during his announcement to his employees.
His statement pertains to the agenda of their AGMA, namely:
1. Request to abolish the 12% VAT in electricity
2. Request to convert Leyeco III calamity loan into subsidy
3. Request for appropriation of calamity fund for ECs
4. Approval of meter deposit as donated capital
5. Confirming Board Resolution Nos. 2016-05-79, 2016-07-113 and 2016-07-114
The registration for their AGMA will start on August 22, 2016 until August 27, 2016 at 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, at Leyeco III main office, Tunga, and its sub-offices under their coverage area.
Non-member-consumers of the coop are also welcome to witness the presence of the House Speaker during the AGMA. Indeed, this is an event worth looking forward. (PR)