Endot: Paraw Fisherman From Catanduanes

The Philippines competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing and Qingdao, China. The country was represented by three athletes, sailors Pedro Sollique and Cherry Pinpin in the 2-person keelboat event, sailing and Adeline Dumapong for powerlifting. The Philippine Paralympic delegation was headed by the IPC-recognized NPC, PHILSPADA, with support from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The PHI SKUD helm: Endot, paraw fisherman from Catanduanes, said his mom liked to eat crabs when she was carrying him.

Diamonds in the Rough

Diamonds are found among rocky terrains and mountains. Diamonds are hard to dig up and tedious to polish, but shines like no other stone.

The same is said about doctors willing to work in underserved communities with substandard qualities of life in the Philippines.

“They chose a simple life of service over luxury,” said Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity alumnus Dr. Jose Tiongco during his opening address at the fraternity’s “Diamonds in the Rough” (DITR) Awarding ceremony last March 3 in Century Park Hotel, Manila.

Tiongco said that we should be thankful for such doctors. “Sixty-two percent of Filipinos die without seeing a doctor, 88% of doctors and nurses are abroad,” he said.

The three major awardees are doctors from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. All have been progressively helping their communities in terms of the population’s health and well being.

Vietrez Panganiban David-Abella, M.D. is the winner from Catanduanes, Luzon. Mennie Cabacan, M.D. is the winner helping in Eastern Samar, Visayas. Afdal B. Kunting, M.D. is the winner from Zamboanga, Mindanao.

“These doctors’ hearts are big and strong like diamonds. And our search for them is as hard as finding diamonds,” said Lucie Medina from the Rotary Club of Paco Manila who co-sponsored the event.

“It is also the Phi Kappa Mu’s 75th or diamond anniversary,” she added. Thus the name of nationwide search for young, community doctors.

Abella’s leadership

Abella’s community in Virac, Catanduanes has a population of over 64,000, but only has two physicians.

“Being a doctor in the community, I am empowered to be the leader,” she said. Being thrown to a leadership position was not one she chose, but openly embraces.

In the communities, she said, doctors are given “instant respect.”

Because people look up to Abella, she said she has the power and people’s support to solidify different organizations to improve the overall quality of life in Virac.

“It is possible that everyone improves together,” she said.

She has organized various literacy programs, Cataract missions, anti-drug campaigns, a breast cancer group and a lot more. She is doing a lot but her main project is the blood drive.

“There is so much we can give from ourselves, donating blood is so simple. But above anything else, in giving, I have to be the best person I can be to serve others well,” Abella said.

By Maria Althea Teves, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak | 03/08/2009 6:04 PM
as of 03/08/2009 6:05 PM

Source: ABS-CBN News - Diamonds in the Rough

The Way We Were

Traveling or driving going to northern Catanduanes was really thrilling, challenging and fun particularly during the construction of the Catanduanes Circumferential Road Improvement Project (CCRIP) - Phase I. I used to drive at the 60 kilometers stretch many times. Maneuvering requires some intuition, guts and lots of common sense so as your vehicle would not be stuck in the mud and loose earth. Indeed, a big difference if one is used to city driving.

During my frequent trips, I used to wonder that the whole stretch could be a good venue for an off-road car rally. All the challenges were in placed, muddy and dry in some section, blind curves, uphill and downhill drives.

For the commuting public, at that time, one has to squeezed-in into overcrowded public vehicles. Average travel time then was 3-4 hours, yet I never heard anyone complained about their horrendous trip. All were anticipating for a better road.

In October 2007, the CCRIP - Phase I was completed and inaugurated.

In progress is the 120.36 km. from Viga to Codon, San Andres (CCRIP - Phase II) with an estimated budget cost of Php 2.8B.

RELATED LINKS:

• The Road Going to North - Travelling from Virac to northern towns of Viga, Panganiban and Bagamanoc is much better off now compared to 4 years ago.
• Catanduanes Skyway - Wild suggestion to initiate development of a cable car system to run from Bicol mainland up to northernmost town of Pandan.
• The Catanduanes Circumferential Road Improvement Project (CCRIP) - October 22, 2007: Inaugurated was the 79.818-kilometer road stretching from San Andres to Viga and five (5) bridges, which are components of the fourth phase of the Arterial Road Links Development Project.

Christmas Wishes of Local Celebrities and Politicians

An interview of personalities and celebrities like Sharon Cuneta, Sen. Dick Gordon and others on how they would spend their christmas holidays.

Philippine Style Parental Wisdom

Hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ang mga mumunti ngunit ginintuang butil na payo na nakuha ko sa aking mga magulang.

• Si Inay, tinuruan niya ako HOW TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE: "Kung kayong dalawa ay magpapatayan, doon kayo sa labas! Mga leche kayo! kalilinis ko lang ng bahay."
• Natuto ako ng RELIGION kay Itay: "Kapag yang mantsa di natanggal sa carpet, magdasal ka na!"
• Kay Inay ako natuto ng LOGIC: "Kaya ganyan, dahil sinabi ko."
• At kay Inay pa rin ako natuto ng MORE LOGIC: "Pag ikaw nalaglag diyan sa bubong, ako lang mag-isa ang manonood ng sine."
• Si Inay din ang nagturo sa akin kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng IRONY: "Sige ngumalngal ka pa at bibigyan talaga kita ng iiyakan mo!"
• Si Inay ang nagpaliwanag sa akin kung ano ang CONTORTIONISM: "Tingnan mo nga yang dumi sa likod ng leeg mo,tingnan mo!!!"
• Si Itay ang nagpaliwanag sa akin kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng STAMINA: "Wag kang tatayo diyan hangga't di mo nauubos lahat ng pagkain mo!"
• At si Inay ang nagturo sa amin kung ano ang WEATHER: "Lintek talaga kayo, ano ba itong kuwarto nyong magkapatid, parang dinaanan ng bagyo!"
• Ganito ang paliwanag sa akin ni Inay tungkol sa CYCLE OF LIFE: "Malandi kang bata ka, iniluwal kita sa mundong ito, maari rin kitang alisin sa mundong ito."
• Kay Itay ako natuto kung ano ang BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION: " Tumigil ka nga diyan! Huwag kang umarte na parang Nanay mo!"
• Si Inay naman ang nagturo kung anong ibig sabihin ng GENETICS: "Nagmana ka nga talaga sa ama mong walanghiya!"
• Si Inay naman ang nagpaliwanag sa amin kung anong ibig sabihin ng ENVY: "Maraming mga batang ulila sa magulang. Di ba kayo nagpapasalamat at mayroon kayong magulang na tulad namin?"
• Si Itay naman ang nagturo sa akin ng ANTICIPATION: "Sige kang bata ka, hintayin mong makarating tayo sa bahay!"
• At si Itay pa rin ang nagturo kay Kuya kung anong ibig sabihin ng RECEIVING: "Uupakan kita pagdating natin sa bahay!"
• Si Inay naman ang nagturo sa akin kung ano ang HUMOR: "Kapag naputol yang mga paa mo ng pinaglalaruan mong lawnmower, wag na wag kang tatakbo sa akin at lulumpuhin kita! "
• At ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat, natutunan ko kina Inay at Itay kung ano ang JUSTICE: "Balang araw magkakaroon ka rin ng anak...tiyak magiging katulad mo at magiging sakit din sa ulo!"
  

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Have You Ever

This promotional video was taken by World Team missionary Bryan Martin from California, USA and now based in Panganiban, Catanduanes.

World Team exists to glorify God by working together to establish reproducing churches focusing on the unreached people of the world.

Boses Nin Catandungan

If I remember it right, Musika Tanog Bikol was a fund raising drive for typhoon victims in Catanduanes. I was still in college back then, the first concert composed of Catandunganon talents at the then popular hip venue in Greenhills, San Juan.



RELATED LINKS:

• Is There an English Equivalent Word for Pantomina? - Pantomine is it?
  
• Usual Sights - Take a photo tour of Catanduanes.
  
• Must See Sights in Catanduanes - What makes the island unique? Check this out.

Happy Birthday Mother Mary!

The feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated each year on the eighth of September. Usually it is the custom of the church to celebrate the feast day of a saint on the date of their death as this is truly their "die natalis", the day remembered as their birth into everlasting happiness.

Mary, however, entered this world sinless through the privilege of the Immaculate Conception and is the firstborn of the redeemed. Her nativity is a cause for great joy as it is considered the" dawn of our salvation" as Pope Paul VI wrote in the document, Marialis Cultus in 1972.