Suspect pleads innocence

PALO, Leyte- The spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Palo has issued a warning against a man who reportedly acted as a priest.
Father Chris Arthur Militante said that they have received reports that Algerico Cabilogan Jr., who identified himself as a Supreme bishop of the Aglipayan Church was reported to have administered masses in different towns within the Archdiocese of Palo.
“Algerico Cabilogan Jr.is not a Catholic priest and is prohibited from exercising any kind of ministry among the faithful of the Archdiocese of Palo,” the spokesperson of Archbishop John Du said in a press statement.
“As per our present information he has severed himself from the fold of the Aglipayans. Asserting his ‘priestly personality’ he went as far as celebrating sacraments among the Catholic faithful. Presumably he is ‘evangelizing’ and doing his ‘missionary’ work among the Catholics of the Archdiocese,” Militante added.
Cabilogan, based on information reaching the Archdiocese of Palo,“is exercising a ministry that is detrimental to the spiritual growth and sound spirituality of our faithful.”
“It is part of our pastoral solicitude that we take the matter seriously by informing our faithful to refrain from entertaining and participating in the celebrations by this priest,” Militante said.
Meanwhile, Cabilogan vehemently denied the allegations hurled against him.
“Mine is they should know how to respect. We have religious freedom,” Cabilogan said in a radio interview aired over dyXY based in Tacloban City.
He said that what happened was just a matter of “jealousy” among Catholic priests with the spiritual services he gave to the “poorest of the poor.”
“I hope everyone will be cleared over this that I have not committed any violation. I have legal documents to show that I can officiate marriage anywhere in the country, based on what is issued to me by the Philippine Statistics Authority,” Cabilogan said.
He, however, asked the Catholic leaders not to exaggerate everything against him.
Cabilogan expressed his disappointment that the Catholic Church has “degraded” his name and those of minority sects in the public.
“It has caused damage to my family, my name. Thus I am here to clear it. Their allegations that I collected money and hold a mass in a church that is not ours have no basis,” he added.
(RONALD O. REYES)

BORONGAN CITY-Information Officers of the Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH) in Eastern Visayas are taking on their responsibility of fighting fake news.
During their quarterly meeting held in Borongan City hosted by the DPWH -Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (ESDEO), District Engineer Manolo Rojas urged the information officers to become warriors against fake news.
“Because of the technology and accessible social media, a lot of information is now displayed on the internet, fake news is rampant,” he said.
“Unsubstantiated complaints are now spreading because of the tactics of dirty politics.”
He asked the information officers to write only factual information.
“You are the warriors against fake news!”
“As we now face the age of infrastructure, we at the DPWH are expected to perform with excellence,” he told them.
He added, since the government allotted the biggest budget to DPHW this year 2018, all eyes are now focused on their performances.
Rojas also urged them to write about the grandest project attached to the DPWH which is Build, Build, Build.
In return, he pledged his full support to the information officers.
The IOS meet in Borongan City for their quarterly meeting and some refresher courses on news writing and social media.
To the bidding of the DPWH district engineer, the IOs replied with a loud yes as they continue to learn ways to write press releases about school buildings, bridges, roads in underdeveloped places and public buildings. (NINFA QUIRANTE/PIA 8-E Samar)

ORMOC CITY- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte Fourth District Engineering Office (DEO) ordered all contractors to use the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law (TRAIN) logo in all signages they will be placing at all types of projects.
This includes warning signages and project billboards. This is to promote the Build, Build, Build Program of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte which aims to provide Filipinos more high-quality infrastructures to ultimately raise the Philippine economic standing.
This year the Leyte Fourth DEO is implementing 87 projects amounting to almost P4 billion. Currently, 27 are already completed, while others are speeding up and are expected all be completed this year. (PR)

PALAPAG, Northern Samar – The tourism stakeholders in the four Pacific Coastal towns of Northern Samar had requested the Department of Tourism (DOT) to conduct accreditation of their tourism facilities.
This was disclosed by Paul Go, tourism-designate of this town who said that getting accreditation from the DOT is important, both on their policy-making and in inviting tourists to visit their towns.
“Accreditation from the DOT is very important for the tourism facility operators because it will make the tourists feel more comfortable staying in the establishments and they will be assured of good services,”Go said.
Part of the training they want is for the DOT to teach them on gathering data on the number of tourists visiting their towns as this could help them in crafting their policies related to tourism promotion.
Go said that although Palapag is rich in natural wonders like beaches, rock formations and waterfalls, the local government unit wants to position the town as the accommodation capital of the four Pacific Coastal towns.
Aside from Palapag, the other coastal towns of Northern Samar are Mapanas, Gamay and Lapinig.
He added that aside from positioning as a place for accommodation, they will focus more in promoting the rich history of the town.
Palapag, which is one of the oldest towns in the region, is the birthplace of Agustin Sumuroy, a prominent figure in revolutionary movement in Samar Island against Spanish colonizers.
Sumuroy led a revolt in 1649-1650 in this town against the Spaniards which eventually spread to Luzon, and some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.
The town was also part of the galleon trade during Spanish period where some of its men were sent to force labor.
“We need to consider of taking away the competition between municipalities which is why we want to focus in this aspect of tourism, on historical, culture and heritage,” Go explained.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY- This year’s Miss Tacloban will become the first to wear a crown designed by a Venezuelan crown maker.
This was revealed by beauty pageant crown donor Richard White who said that the crown was made exclusively for Miss Tacloban 2018 and her successors.
The crown was made by famous Venezuelan pageant crown maker George Wittels.
The whimsical and bohemian inspired flower wreath crown was drawn from nature by Wittels with an intricate intertwining of lily flowers, leaves and branches gives this contour crown a total splendor.
The crown is a perfect homage to mother earth, White said.
The Ms. Tacloban crown symbolizes power, legitimacy, victory, triumph, honor, glory and righteousness and also represents the advocacies of the organization, therefore must be treated with utmost care, he added.
The crown is the official Miss Tacloban crown and must be worn by title holders only in public and private occasions and should be used only on coronations, parades and other official functions of Ms. Tacloban, White added.
An official crown keeper assigned by the donor will take good care of the crown in times that is not being worn by the titleholder.
Wittels, the designer of Miss Tacloban crown, according to White, is a Venezuelan jewelry designer, who designed and created jeweler collections for many famous fashion designers and retail outlets in his native country.
His designs and creations are exceptionally hand crafted with special attention to details. Most of his pieces are made of a variety of combinations of unusual materials like brass, tin, silver, gold, bone, wood, vintage glasses and beads and precious stones.
His name and pieces appeared in Fashion Week New York in 1999 and Paris pet a Porter fashion Week in 2004. Since 1999, the crown designer has created crowns for many beauty pageant titleholders from Venezuela, Bahamas, Spain, Poland’s Ms. Teen and Ms. World; Dominican Republic’s Ms. World & Ms. International; El Salvador’s Ms. Universe, Ms. International, Ms. Tourism & Ms. Earth; Ms. Caracao Universe and Ms. Teen Aruba International among others.
Twelve ladies will compete for the 2018 crown come June 22, 2018 coronation night at the Tacloban City Convention Center.
The candidates are Angel Raquel Gregorio; Ruth Marie “Pippay” Gavane; Pauline Clarisse “Pau” Carisma; Patricia Pauline “Patty” Labugin; Cassandra Marie “Cassy” Lee; Ivy Mae de Mesa; Christine Jane “Jin-Jin” Jara; Khristel Loirah “Jel” Pulga; Ashley “Ash” Ponce; Kimberley Rose “Kim” Ruedas; Marie Carmen “Carmen” Songalia and Dulcinea Yobhel “Bhel” Labanta.(GAY GASPAY, TISAT)

Part of the 11th year cityhood anniversary

CATBALOGAN CITY – The mayor of this city, Stephany Uy-Tan, expressed her gratitude for the successful holding of a jobs fair recently held to mark its 11th year as a city.
The jobs fair, held last June 16, was in partnership with Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and coordinated by the City Public Employment Services Office (PESO) and the City Tourism, Culture, Arts and Information Office (CTCIAO).
About 5,996 vacant positions were offered during the jobs fair from 23 participating offices where eight were government agencies.
Of the offered jobs, 907 were offered by local companies and agencies while 5,011 were for overseas employment.
Almost 200 job applicants were hired-on-the-spot according to Mayor Uy-Tan.
“I am so glad that we were able to offer again job opportunities again to our fellow Catbaloganons in this year’s celebration of our 11th Charter Day. Being a developing city as we are, we also strive to develop our people because both should go hand in hand,” Mayor Uy-Tan said.
Aside from the jobs fair, a simultaneous caravan was also held in City Plaza, Barangay Bunuanan Covered Court and Barangay Pupua Covered Court offering services from the City Health Office, City Civil Registrar Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Veterinary Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Agriculture’s Office and City Environment and Natural Resources Office.
Catbalogan City is one of the three cities in the region that celebrated its cityhood status last June 16 (Saturday). The other two cities were Baybay and Borongan.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)