5th Chinese New Year celebration

Thousands of spectators attended the 5th Chinese New Year ‘09 celebration at Plaza Luz, this City last Sunday, January 25.
This is the 5th year of observing the Chinese New Year under the administration of City Mayor Sammy S. Co.
Accordingly, Pagadian is the only city in Mindanao celebrating the Chinese New Year, like the New Year celebration observed throughout the country.
Provincial Governor Auring Enerio-Cerilles, as guest speaker, together with Provincial Board Members Flaviano Fucoy and Boy Fernandez, City Councilors, City Department Heads, Regional Directors, City Tourism Council headed by Dra. Dicky Fernandez, Greenhouse Team headed by First Lady IlangIlang Co, the Filipino-Chinese Community and thousands of spectators attended the celebration.
At around 3pm the DepEd family conducted a Chinese Playground demonstration participated in by Elementary Schools, like Southern Mindanao Colleges (Elementary Department), Balangasan Central School, Ballesteros Elem. School, Sto. Niño Elem. School, Tuburan Central Elem. School, Camp Abelon Elem. School, San Pedro Central School, Santiago Elem. School, Kawit Elem. School, Sta. Lucia Elem. School and the Pagadian City National Comprehensive High School, (the only high school participant) actively participated in the kick-off the celebration.
The Chinese Food Festival by the Pagadian City Hotel and Restaurant Association (PCHRA) accentuated the celebration with their colorful booths inside the Plaza Luz selling variety of Chinese foodstuffs.
At around 6:30pm the program proper started with an invocation by the Pagadian City Chorale followed with the National Anthem by the SMC band.
Larry Selwyn Lim, Chairman of the Chinese New Year ’09 event, gave his opening remarks followed with a Chinese dance by the Pre-School and Grade 1 girls of the Pagadian City Chamber School.
Co, in his welcome message, expressed thanks to all who came, participated and supported the occasion.
Accordingly, Pagadian is the only city in Mindanao with the longest schedules of festivities since last December, followed by the Pasalamat Festival just a week ago and the Chinese New Year celebration.
Co said these series of events would not stop with the Chinese New Year celebration, but a lot more are underway.
“On February 14, for those who are living together but not yet officially married, I would like to invite you to join on a mass wedding ceremony,” Co said.
Adding, “Our City is also celebrating the Hari Raya with our Muslim brothers and sisters and on January 27, I am inviting you to witness Buklog Festival of our Subanen brothers and sisters which will be held at Brgy. Dampalan, this City.”
Co also detailed the on-going projects, such as the on-going concreting of the City Airport which, accordingly, shall be completed early in 2010, the expansion of the Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT), expansion of the Seaport, transfer of government facilities, concreting of the covered court at Plaza Luz, renovation of City Hall building now nearing completion, renovation of suggested air-conditioning of the City Gymnasium and putting up more government offices.
He also reported the 60% to 65% transfer of regional offices here and the “must-be” transfer here of the remaining 35 to 40% regional offices in Zamboanga City.
Moreover, Cerilles, in her message, lauded Co for his excellent leadership and remarkable accomplishments.
“It is only in his administration that in every event Pagadianons and Zambosurians are united,” Cerilles said.
Cerilles observed that “highlighting family affair, reunion, thanksgiving, peace and oneness are the essence of this festivity.”
“2009 as stated in Lunar Chinese Calendar is the Year of the Ox which symbolizes hardwork for us all to work even harder especially in this time of global economic crisis,” Cerilles pointed out.
Cerilles, in her parting words and wishes, said “to all members of the Filipino-Chinese Community, Kung Hei Fat Choi! Congratulations and be prosperous!”
The Department of Tourism (DOT) 9 Regional Director James Eldridge Adraincem also delivered his message.
Adraincem agreed that in the entire Mindanao, only Pagadian City celebrates Chinese New Year which is an opportune time to promote tourism.
“The positive reaction of the Pagadianons to this event signals the growth of tourism industry,” Adraincem said.
Co also thanked the Philippine Army, City and Provincial PNP, NBI, EOD, Maritime Police, Coastguard, Brgy. Officials, Brgy. Tanods for making series of events peaceful as well as the DepEd family, Religious Sectors, Civic Organizations and the youth performers.
“As we prepare to toast that Lunar New Year, we wish all Pagadianons and Zambosurians a happy, progressive and meaningful year ahead with more luck, good health and better opportunity,” Co remarked.
The Dragon Dance signaled the most awaited part of the night’s affair. Dra. Dicky Fernandez led the countdown for the Fireworks Display to start which only one word heard from everyone’s mouth over and over again, “WOW”
Gift-giving by the City Chinese Chamber of Commerce & the Filipino-Chinese Community added more excitement to the celebration while EMCOR also offered a free film showing at the Plaza Luz followed by a Live Band Entertainment.
This year’s Chinese New Year masters of ceremony are Mrs. Marivic Lopez and Miss Sam Tyra F. Co, daughter of City Mayor and Mrs. Sammy Co.

Grand Success!

Pasalamat Festival '09

The 8-day long Christmas vacation last year did not stop the City Government in making the Pasalamat Festival ’09 a grandiose and successful festivity.
The week-long Pasalamat Festival celebration with the theme: “Sr. Sto. Niño: Tinubdan sa Gugma, Kaayo, Kalinaw ug Kamatuoran,” was highlighted with the Fluvial Parade and Street Dancing competition last Saturday and Sunday.
Headed by City Mayor Sammy Co and his City Councilors, with the City Tourism Council led by Dra. Dicky Fernandez, and other local provincial officials, thousands of devotees gathered and joined the Novena Mass at the City Wharf Area at around 4:30am.
A fluvial competition was also conducted before the start of the fluvial procession at the coastline.
Thousands of people were expected to join the fluvial parade but were surprised that only hundreds of them were accommodated due to tight security measures.
Accordingly, boarding passes were distributed before the fluvial parade started to ensure public safety.
At around 7:00am the 3rd Pasalamat Mountain Festival was also performed separately at Brgy. Kagawasan and Mt. Palpalan with J. Barrios and W. Guillar of the City Tourism Council.
To ensure that the cultural and religious aspects of the Pasalamat Festival would not be in deviation with each other, all activities always started with a mass.
A concelebrated mass at the Sto. Niño Cathedral at around 8:30 Am which was also attended with numerous devotees signaled the most awaited part of the festivity, the Street Dancing Competition.
In 2 categories composed of urban barangays and schools, almost 30 contingents participated in the Street Dancing competition.
Each group’s colorful costumes (in uniform) and props with their orchestrated strokes made the audience amazed which caused them to really smile and clap their hands.
Winners of Pasalamat Street Dance contest in the urban barangays category are: Brgy. Napolan (1st); Brgy. San Pedro (2nd) and Brgy. Dumagoc (3rd).
ZSNHS-Main got the 1st place followed by ZSNHS-Sta. Lucia as 2nd placer. The Pagadian National High School-Danlugan settled down as 3rd placer.
MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando as the guest of honor was represented by his wife Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando who graced the occasion.
Governor Auring Cerilles, Congressman Tony H. Cerilles of 2nd District and Congressman Victor J. Yu of 1st District were also present during the occasion.
Gov. Cerilles, in her message, lauded City Mayor Sammy Co, and other City officials for the remarkable improvements that the City of Pagadian has achieved.
Co, in his message, thanked all the Pagadianons, Zambosurians, especially the provincial government of Zambosur, and the 2 Congressmen for their all-out support in making Pagadian more progressive.
Co also detailed some projects soon to be completed, such as the City Airport, Seaport and the coming in of different business investors.
Accordingly, the quality performance of the contingents, more disciplined crowd and the improved security measures implemented were just few signs of Pasalamat Festival’s grand success.

My Attorney

After living what I felt was a "decent" life, my time on earth came to the end.The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what Ithought to be a court house. The doors opened and I was instructed to come inand have a seat by the defense table.As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor." He was a villainous looking gent whosnarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person I have everseen.I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, a kind and gentlelooking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him.The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes. Hecommanded an awesome presence as He moved across the room. I couldn't take myeyes off of Him. As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, "Let us begin."The prosecutor rose and said, "My name is Satan and I am here to show you whythis sinner belongs in hell." He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, thingsthat I stole, and in the past when I cheated others. Satan told of otherhorrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, thefurther down in my seat I sank.I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own Attorney, asthe Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about. As upset as Iwas at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at MyAttorney who sat there silently not offering any form of defense at all. I knowI had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life --couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I'd done?Satan finished with a fury and said, "This sinner belongs in hell, and is guiltyof all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise."When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench.The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned Him tocome forward. As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in Hisfullsplendor and majesty. I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesusrepresenting me, my Lord and my Savior.He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, "Hi, Dad," and then Heturned to address the court. "Satan was correct in saying that this man hadsinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wage of sin isdeath, and this sinner deserves to be punished." Jesus took a deep breath andturned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died onthe cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me ashis Savior, so he is Mine."My Lord continued with, "His name is written in the book of life and no one cansnatch him from Me. Satan still does not understand yet. This man is not to begiven justice, but rather mercy."As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said,"There isnothing else that needs to be done. I've done it all."The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following wordsresounded from His lips... "This man is free. The penalty for him has alreadybeen paid in full. Case dismissed."As my Lord embraced me and led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving,"I won't give up, I will win the next one."I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you everlost a case?" Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to Me andasked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you, "PAID IN FULL.""Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big yourGod is!"