Atty.Boen Dorotheo Cabahug

Undoubtedly, the man to watch in the political firmament of Aurora town at the moment is a lawyer, who has been actively practicing his profession since he became one in 2001.

Atty. Cabahug is the Liberal Party’s official candidate for town mayor of Aurora and the son of incumbent, unbeaten and long-time Aurora town political kingpin, Mayor Enrique J. Cabahug.

A first timer as candidate, politics is not new to Atty. Cabahug, who was always in the thick of the fight every time his father and mother, BonemarCabahug, who had also served as mayor of Aurora were running for office. His involvement in those political exercises either as a planner or implementor of his father’s political strategies enabled him to have a good rapport with his father’s leaders, who have unanimously endorsed him as his father’s replacement for the 2013 midterm elections. Young and handsome, this soft spoken and sincere political new fight has a long way to go to reach his full stardom in politics. However, in the local politics of Aurora, people are saying Boen’s star is now twinkling in his hands. 

A Blissful Christmas in Pagadian City

Pagadian City – Mayor Samuel S. Co, serving his last term and celebrating his last Christmas as the city’s hizzoner gave his all to make the city’s Christmas celebration meaningful and surrounded by festivities amid an atmosphere of liveliness and carefree as throngs of visitors from neighbouring towns and cities and even provinces are expected to come and have a view of city’s famous and upgraded dancing fountain; that now blows fire as multi-colored water jets towards the sky.

         

The mayor feels it is the best way to make people, victimized by the financial scam which operated in the city forget the traumatic incident and move on. It is also a way to express the Pagadianon’s gratitude to the Almighty for sparing the city from the devastation brought about by natural calamities that hit and ravaged other places in the country.

The Paskohan 2012 was planned a month ahead. It involved the Tourism Council’s head of office and staff. Various departments of the city coordinated with the city tourism office. It kicked off last December 8, 2012 with the lighting of the giant Christmas tree that rises 100 feet from where it stood and lanterns, as well as a display of fireworks lasting for several minutes. Lanterns of varying designs were displayed as entries in a competition that gives handsome prices. The activity ended on December 31, 2012.

Atty. Carlos Madarang

Republic of the Philippines

Office of the Sanguniang Panglungsod

Pagadian City, 
Zamboanga Del Sur

Greeting:

Christmas season is yearly celebrations for its importance to refresh the birth of our almighty God, significantly the gifts giving connote love to each other as Jesus Christ loved by the 3- king who visited after he was born in Bethlehem.

I loved you all and my family extends greeting through this message.

ORIZ SUPPORTS SINULOG FESTIVAL

4^th celebration marks the dedication to the Blessed St. Anthony de Cebu

By: Alex Sanchez

Sto. Nino, Tukuran, ZDS – Mr.Macario “Dodong” Oriz, founder of the Sinulog festival in his barangay believes that he is so blessed because of his faith in the Sto. Nino, which has made him committed to celebrate the fiesta every first Sunday of the month of January.

Oriz is not a public figure but just a simple fisherman, who has a deep faith in God and who wants to acknowledge and repay in his own way the blessings showered upon him from heaven.

The sinulog festival started at exactly 1pm last January 6, 2012 from Brgy. Sto Nino participated in by various contingents like one from Liloy,Zamboanga del Norte led by its town mayor, James Lim, a contingent from Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte accompanied by its organizers and LGU officials and the contingent fro Sta. Lucia, Pagadian City. Others, who graced the occasion, were Pagadian City First Lady Ilang-ilang Co, who represented Mayor Sammy Co and some city councillors.

The festival was well attended and so lively. It enabled many Catholic faithful to participate in a sinulog festival in their own place instead of going to other places, particularly in Cebu.

Rated as grand champion was the entry Tukuran, the first runner up went to Kapatagan, the 2^nd runner up to Liloy and the 3^rd to Pagadian City.

CAUBA: PROFILE OF A LEADER

By: Alex Sanchez

Pagadian City- Santa Lucia District Brgy Chairman Nasser Cauba has fully organized the BantayPulisng barangay in his barangay to ensure peace in his community and safety of his constituents. Sufficiently equipped, his brgy police force is put into service to provide 24/7 security over its area of responsibility.

A retired police officer, Cauba is noted for his leadership in his own turf. He shuns and avoids political bickeringamong officials in the barangay council and rather focuson his efforts in securing projects for the development of his barangay.

Lately, he has become aggressive in providing livelihood for his underprivileged constituents to enable them keep abreast with the others in the community.

ADDITIONAL PROJECT – MAHAYAG ZDS

By Alex Sanchez

MAHAYAG ZDS – Town Mayor Lorna Espina is working hard to provide more development for her town. Last December 4, 2012 a 43M proposed plan has been finished

for the concreting of the road from Lower SalugDako junction to Daniel C. Mantos, formerly barangay Sicpao; farm to market road FMR worth 12M from Purok 5 in Sicpao to Purok 6 also in Sicpao, funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) with a counterpart from the local government unit of Mahayag.

The 10.5 M DAR-ARCPII 6 km traversing barangay Balamban and San Jose.Anotner proposed project 40 M road concreting traversing Lower Sto. Nino to Upper Sto.Nino and Brgy San Jose from DAR and from the office of the President NGALGO with a counterpart from LGU-MAHAYAG.

Napci one of the 606 municipalities

Mahayag can receive projects for potable water system, which is a grant project from SalugDako, Kaangayan, Bonyao and Mangilis.

Espina wished to extend her greetings to all her constituents and asks that they work hand in hand for the development of their town and to look forward for 2013 as a fruitful new year.

JESUS BAJAMUNDE

JESUS BAJAMUNDE

City Councilor

Pagadian City

This is a great moment to say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2013.

Do remember I am your “IDOL”, who will give a 24/7 service as long as you need it. Sincerely, I vow to do it, just try me…

PRISCILLA “ILANG-ILANG” CO

This pretty and amiable “First Lady” of Mayor Sammy Co of Pagadian City is not only a partner for life in family affairs but has been an invaluable partner of Mayor Co in his almost nine years of exemplary governance of the new regional center in Western Mindanao.

Almost a stickler for cleanliness with a weakness for ornamentals, she has seriously assumed the task of ‘cleaner’ or ‘sweeper’ of the city streets, canals and public markets, so that with a brigade of volunteers reinforcing city hall employees, it is not uncommon you see her garbed in working clothes leading the cleaning force in their attack of garbage and other wastes. On other occasions, especially when the city celebrates important events, you also see her leading the group that places lights and other ornaments to beautify city streets and plazas for the events.

                     

Caught in the political turbulence that has changed the political profile of Zamboanga del Sur and Pagadian City, she has filed a certificate of candidacy for City Mayor of Pagadian City under the Liberal Party, of which Mayor Co who is running for Representative of the 1^st district of the province is the provincial chairman.

A darling of local media, Ilang2x Co’s many contribution for several years as first lady in making what Pagadian is now today since Mayor Co took over is well known to Pagadianons who unanimously gave their nod when she threw her hat in the political arena.

OLUTANGA’S TRIED AND TESTED LEADER

Proof of peaceful management

By Alex Sanchez

Dr.Joel Capotulan, M.D. has served Olutanga as its Municipal Mayor for 9 consecutive years with distinction. He served his constituents honestly, sincerely and with the utmost commitment of attaining the long sought development of Olutanga and of improving the lives of its people.

Leadership of a town executive is often measured by ones accomplishment in terms of project/program implementation and how they impact on the people. Mayor Capotulan’s watch can be characterized as the approach of the golden age in Olutanga with the various projects he implemented. And the achievement that makes him taller than his peers is his contribution to peace in the Island earning him the monicker of Peace Maker Mayor.

As “love begets love”, respect begets respect. These values Mayor Capotulan had held so dearly during his watch enabled him to get the attention of people and their respect for him.

Dr.Capotulan is not the typical person, one can easily sense to possess courage or boldness. And yet, his refine manners and the confidence he exudes generates an impression of a strong determination in the man to pursue and attain his goals.

His simplicity, meekness and mild manners are his invincible weapons in attaining his successes such as, a farm to market road in all barangays with 20% counterpart from LGU funds, which were implemented last year. Acquisition of heavy equipment by the LGU through a multi-million loan in 2011, which are very useful for road maintenance. A livelihood program through the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) under the Department of Agriculture (DA) is forthcoming. Aware that education is the most potent tool in eradicating illiteracy in his town, he has thrown his 100 % support for the Department of Education.

SOMINAL TAUG

by Alex Sanchez

A resident of Muricay, Pagadian City, SominalTaug lives simply with a daughter and a son. To support the family, she sells dry goods. She owns four dry goods store at Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila and in other parts of Manila. Sominal enjoys her life and is quite happy. Her secret is adopting the principle “ what you own you get hold of it and don’t let it loose”.

          Unmistakably a courageous woman, she can easily anticipate problems, which gives her more time to find solutions. She has influence and frequently travels all over the country and abroad in connection with her business.

LANCE CO – SK FEDERATED CHAIRMAN – PAGADIAN CITY

Republic of the Philippines

Pagadian City

Office of the SangguniangKabataan

Greetings:

Once a year, Christmas is celebrated and everybody is pre-occupied in preparing gifts for friends, relatives and especially for family members.

While giving of gifts is a long tradition in Christmas that traces its beginning when the 3 kings visited the infant King of Kings in the manger, the essence of Christmas is actually love. With love you could be forgiving. And forgiveness can be the greatest gift you can give to those who might have offended you.

As a youth leader, being the SK Federated Chairman of Pagadian
City, I sincerely wish that through this message, I shall be able to reach the innermost recesses of your hearts, as I sincerely greet all of you, a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

70th Founding day of Aurora – Badak Festival 2012

by Alex Sanchez

FLUVIAL PARADE – FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Aurora – Municipal Mayor Enrique J. Cabahug inspired heads of offices, other LGU staffs, as well as the people of this premier town that is nestled atop mountainous terrain in the eastern part of Zamboanga Del Sur province to celebrate a memorable occasion as Aurora is ushered into the 7^th decade of existence as a political unit.

          The festival last November 22, 2012, dubbed “BADAK FESTIVAL 2012 was unique in its exotic setting, highlighted by a Fluvial Parade, which started at Barangay Lintugop, then heading to the barangay on a sand strip called Balas. LGU officials, balikbayans and visitors, including those from foreign countries like, Malaysia, Australia and Ireland boarded on boats ran by engines.

          When the fluvial parade stopped at barangay Balas, a well- attended presentation participated by pupils and teachers was held at a stage in Mohammad Ali Dimaporo Elementary School. BalasBrgy Chairman shared a warm welcome to the LGU officials, visitors and village folks. Thereafter, the parade returned to Lintugop near the dry land where mangroves and nipagooves are aplenty, which is owned by the family of Mohammad Ali Dimaporo. There the subli-saysay activity was presented by different dramatists and student dancers of the Dayak Arts Guild; among the presentation was the re-enactment of the coming of the 16 pioneers of Aurora, which refreshed the town’s history.

          Earlier, it was mentioned by Mayor Cabahug that the Municipality of Aurora town was carved from Labangan town during the regime of Manuel L. Quezon by virtue of Executive Order 353 and given the name AURORA QUEZON, wife of President Quezon.

          After the re-enactment, an heiress of erstwhile native leader Sultan Sumadsad was introduced by the barangay chairman to the visitors and the public. A citation was given to the heiress by Mayor Cabahug, assisted by first lady Ms.BonemarCabahug, who has also served as Mayor of Aurora town.

Pasalamat Festival– 2013 – Pagadian City

by Alex Sanchez

Pagadian City – As earlier announced by Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co during a press conference the street dancing, which was one of the major highlights of the Pasalamat Sinulog festival was participated in by contingents’ from  different towns and provinces in Mindanao. Kapatagan town in Lanao del Norte sent a contingent that topped the competition staged on the 20^th day of January and ran away with a cash prize of P500,000.00, while Tukuran town in Zamboanga del Sur garnered 2^nd place and earned P350,000. The third place that got P200,000 went to a national high school contingent from Pagadian City.

On the 18^th day of January was the “Kapuso night” and true to Mayor Co’s promise entertainers, actors and actresses and other personalities of GMA7 captivated the audience with songs and plays for more than two hours. On the next day was the “Kapamilya night”,where not to be outdone, entertainers and glamorous personalities from Abs-Cbn treated the public free of charge to a musical extravaganza that lasted also for more than two hours.

A structure that stands out and was noticeable to all, who attended the nocturnal shows and presentations at Plaza Luz was the one hundred feet Christmas tree, dazzling with lights of different colors. Lighted lanterns were also displayed in the entire duration of the celebration not to mention the well lighted city streets.

Summing up these activities with a fluvial parade participated by several boats and ship, which were ostentatiously decorated and preceded by a holy mass celebrated by about a dozen priests, headed by Bishop Cabajar of the diocese of Pagadian together with the other minor activities, the Pasalamat festival was quite successful and above all it was peacefully  celebrated, thanks to the support of the Philippine National Police headed by its newly assigned Provincial Director in the person of PSSUPT Thomas Abellar, who Mayor Co lauded for extending an invaluable support to ensure peace and order in the city during the entire celebration of the city’s fiesta in honor of the Holy Child, dubbed the Pasalamat Festival.