TACLOBAN CITY — The regional office Department of Tourism (DOT) and Tingog party-list are to honor 12 individuals from Eastern Visayas for the inaugural Outstanding Eastern Visayas Awards (OEVA) slated this Friday night, July 31, recognizing their contributions to the region’s development in various fields.

Dubbed “Voices of Excellence,” the awards recognize Eastern Visayans who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, excellence, and service in areas such as arts and culture, education, entrepreneurship, environmental protection, health, media, public service, science and engineering, youth leadership, and faith-based service.

Among this year’s awardees are Stephen Lagarde (arts and cultural heritage), Janet Alexis de los Santos (education and research), Gilbert Trinchera (entrepreneurship and innovation), Margarita dela Cruz (environmental protection and sustainability), Aileen Riel-Espina (health and medicine), Michael Jude Casaljay (media, journalism and communication), Norman Sabdao (public service and governance), Ea Kristine Clarisse Tulin-Escueta (science and engineering), Aron Sedrick Caminong (youth leadership and community development), and Aldrin Norio (faith, religion and philanthropy).

Also recognized were Eliseo III Lucero-Prisno, who will receive the Eastern Visayan Regional Champion Award, and Lydia Escober dela Rosa, recipient of the Outstanding Legacy of Excellence Award.

The DOT-8 said the awards aim to recognize individuals whose achievements have helped shape Eastern Visayas while inspiring others to contribute to the region’s continued growth and development.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — About 100 public school heads in Tacloban City are undergoing training on psychological first aid to strengthen schools’ capacity to provide mental health and psychosocial support following the recent campus tragedy that claimed the lives of three students.

The three-day training, dubbed “Konekted for Resilience: Building School Community Mental Health,” is being conducted by PLDT and Smart Communications through their corporate social responsibility program in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) Tacloban City Division and the St. Therese Educational Foundation of Tacloban Inc. (STEFTI).

Marylou Gocotano, Visayas Relations head of the PLDT and Smart Public Engagement Group, said the program aims to equip school heads with the knowledge and skills to help teachers and learners cope with stress, trauma, and other mental health challenges.
She said participants are expected to integrate psychological first aid and mental health interventions into their respective school improvement plans to help create safer and more supportive learning environments.

The training, the first of its kind by PLDT and Smart in Eastern Visayas, includes a training-of-trainers session for school heads and STEFTI teachers, a psychological first aid session for the San Jose National High School community, and a symposium on stress management and secondary trauma for STEFTI students.

STEFTI School Director Mary Bernadette Palami welcomed the initiative, saying it would help school leaders, guidance counselors, and teachers better identify learners needing mental health support and provide appropriate interventions.

DepEd Tacloban Schools Division Superintendent Sherlita Palma said the workshop will prepare participants to serve as psychological first aiders in their schools and help foster safe, resilient, and mentally healthy learning environments.

The activity was organized in the wake of the June 22 shooting incident at San Jose National High School, which left three students dead and several others injured, highlighting the need to strengthen mental health support systems in schools.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The provincial government of Samar has officially opened the 2026 Tandaya Festival, launching nearly two weeks of cultural, tourism, and development activities anchored on the theme, “Tinikangan. Katungtungan. Kabubuwason.” (Our Beginnings. Our Present. Our Future.)

The province-wide celebration, organized by the Samar Provincial Tourism, Culture and the Arts Office (SPTCAO), runs until Aug. 11 in time for the observance of Samar Day, the province’s founding anniversary.

Provincial officials said this year’s festival celebrates the Samarnon journey—from its rich cultural heritage and resilience to its present achievements and aspirations for a sustainable and climate-resilient future.

Among the festival’s major attractions are the Tandaya Festival King and Queen Costume Competition, the Mutya han Samar 2026 pageant, the Samar Day commemorative program, the State of the Province Address (SOPA), civic parade, concerts, and the Agro-Industrial Fair.

The celebration also features cultural events such as the Ladawan Art Exhibit and Siday ngan Karantahay, as well as development initiatives including the Youth Entrepreneurship and Skills (YES) Start-Up Camp and the inaugural Line Fishing Olympics.

Provincial officials said this year’s festival has been redesigned in response to the national government’s energy conservation measures by consolidating evening events, maximizing daytime activities, and adopting energy-efficient logistics while preserving the province’s annual cultural celebration.

Institutionalized in 2005, the Tandaya Festival serves as Samar’s official provincial festival and culminates on Aug. 11, Samar Day, commemorating the province’s founding under Republic Act No. 12038.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)