She shared her heart towards the needs of the special children. She emphasized the fact that educating them need not be expensive. We really just have to reach them out and exert effort to understand their needs which are kind of different to that of a normal child.

In fact, Dra. Lim opened a clinic which caters specifically to the developmental needs of these children. According to her, many parents expressed their gratitude and appreciation in the intervention that she has done.

She also stressed that Mayor Dan Lim is now letting her voice out her concerns and he also saw the need to recruit her expertise to advance this unique cause.

Then jumping out of the usual ceremony – a Visual Arts and Exhibition was opened to the public. Twenty-six artists participated in the event including non-governmental organizations like RARE, World Vision, CHARL, KALIPI, and BCIC.

They showcased their advocacies through paintings and visual novelties. Various activities were also prepared to enhance the children’s inclination towards the arts. An Acrylic Painting and Photography Workshop were conducted by Glen Lumantao and Liza Macalandag respectively. The day after, the children witnessed an Origami Art Demo of Lester Ouano and Art Mosaic Demo of Maryvelle Forte.

Almost 1, 411 children and adults enjoyed the creative workshops.

The entire occasion was capped off by a healthy ZUMBA dance exercise led by certified Zumba instructors, Jasmin Jabonite and Tripon Dollente.

“On July 1, 1966 by virtue of R.A. 4660, Tagbilaran became a chartered City. The political transition of Tagbilaran from a town/municipality of Bohol to its present status of a chartered city brought about a significant level of development in view of the increase in the share of the internal revenue allotment from the national government to the city.”

Tagbilaran City celebrated its 45th Charter Day last July 1, 2011.

The commemoration was signaled off by the ringing of bells and sirens at four in the morning, followed by the Run for Mabaw at 4:30. The athletic event aimed to increase the consciousness of the Tagbilaranons to protect and conserve the City’s coastal areas.

Also, the proceeds of the run will be used to supply some of the logistics for the on-going conservation program. Then a Holy Mass officiated by Msgr. Jeffrey Malanog soon followed.

At exactly 10:00 in the morning, Mayor Dan Neri Lim and Vice Mayor Nuevas Montes led the second part of the activities.

Noteworthy Tagbilaranons were recognized. Leading the pack was Mr. Hans Schoof as the Distinguished Adopted Son of Tagbilaran; the Couple of the Year Awards were given to Mr. and Mrs. Marianito P. Malanog, Mr. and Mrs. Primo Y. Yu, Mr. and Mrs. Warren U. Yap, Mr. and Mrs. Victoriano B. Tirol, and Mr. and Mrs. Crispin B. Mitra.

This year’s five Best Performing Barangays were also recognized: Brgy. Mansasa-Participatory Governance Award, Brgy. Manga-Health Services Delivery Award, Brgy. Cogon-Economic Governance Award, Brgy. Ubujan-Services for Education Award, and Brgy. Booy-Administrative Governance Award.

The Best Performing School for the Year goes to Ubujan Elementary School and Tagbilaran City Science High School.

A Plaque of Recognition was also given to P/Supt. Julius Cesar V. Gornez.

Two Service Awards were given to Avito Aguaviva and Mardonio Roxas for their dedicated support to the initiatives of the City Government.

While eight special awards were given P/Supt. Arcadio A. Jamora, P/Insp. Adriano U. Bacus, SPO2 Yolando M. Bagotchay, PO3 Jimboy Z. Villapaz, PO3 Reynaldo F. Calimbayan, PO3 Abraham B. Paeste, PO2 Alberto G. Kudemus, and PO1 Fernando U. Galan.

The day was made more special when the City Planning and Development Office, led by Ms. May Blanco, unveiled the City’s Roadmap –- a product of arduous and essential debates among City Government officials and legislators — it outlined the City’s direction in the next ten years.

And the excitement does not end there. Because the third part of the program surely made the Senior Citizens sang with gladness because the City Social Welfare and Development had chosen nine (9) senior citizens who each received P1, 500.00.

And of course, the City Government employees did not go home un-entertained; there were competitions on Ballroom Dancing, Kuradang Dance Competition, and Jukebox King & Queen.

The two-day training was facilitated by the Center for Local Governance of the Holy Name University headed by Ms. Josephine Cemine.

The training would enable these selected personnel to conduct and facilitate workshops effectively.

Technology of Participation (ToP) covers three methods for group facilitation developed by the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA), a US-based organization long involved in organizing work in marginalized communities throughout the United States.

ToP was introduced in the Philippines by ICA twenty-five years ago. It was re-introduced and used extensively in the Governance and Local Democracy (GOLD) Project by the Associates in Rural Development (ARD) to enhance and sustain the participation of many stakeholders in the expanded operations of local government units (LGUs) brought about by the passage of the Local Government Code of 1991. (Barcillano, Malu www.adnu.edu.ph)

At present, Mabaw’s Reef coral cover is within good to excellent condition.

As a stakeholder of this City, it is our responsibility to protect and maintain its ecological and economic value which would eventually benefit the local communities.

To advance this pursuit, we will be launching an awareness campaign dubbed as “RUN FOR MABAW REEF” on July 1, 2011 as part of the 45th Charter Day Celebration of Tagbilaran City.

You can now register at the office of Councilor Butchie Zamora in the 2nd Floor of the New City Hall Building.

Thus, the SK Federation President Mary Liene Shaene Karaan spearheaded the Inter-Barangay Sports League 2011 to pave for an exciting and competitive summer vacation for the youth.

The tournament was formally opened last April 16, 2011 at the Cogon Sports Gym; the event is open to all young Tagbilaranons ages 12 to 21 years old that are in good physical condition. The activity will showcase three main sporting events – Basketball which would have three divisions: Midget, Junior and Senior Division; Volleyball which was split into two, the Male and Female team, and Badminton which will be played in both Singles and Doubles Category.  Try-outs were held last March 19 at the City Hall Atrium.

Cash prizes, trophies and medals would be given to the winners. All the uniforms and sporting paraphernalia’s were provided by the City Government of Tagbilaran.

After the signing, a two-day training dubbed as “Trash to Craft Livelihood Project,” was conducted among selected participants endorsed by the City Social Welfare and Development. This two-day workshop advocates ecological waste management practices such as recycling of raw materials, livelihood skills training, and production of cottage and industry items.

The IPI Foundation has been collaborating with the private sector, local government units, non government organizations, and government line agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development for almost three years now.

They had been undertaking social development and humanitarian programs and services which helps the various vulnerable sectors of society in the form of welfare, livelihoods, child protection, and community development.

These accredited CSOs will revive the People’s Council – an advisory body to the Sangguniang Panglungsod which shall be actively involved in the policy-making, planning, implementation, resource-generation, mobilization, monitoring, and evaluation of the City Government’s programs and projects.

This is in line with the Participatory Governance Ordinance of Tagbilaran City which states that, “This Ordinance is enacted to institutionalize people’s participation in governance by strengthening the partnership between civil society organizations (CSOs) and the City Government of Tagbilaran by integrating participatory processes in all governance.”

Right after the awarding ceremony, an orientation about the People’s Council was held at Saya’s Restaurant, this city, wherein they selected the members for the Local Special Bodies (LSB). DILG City Director Mardonio T. Roxas and City Planning & Development Coordinator Eduardo C. Macalandag led the event.

The elected members to the LSB were Marietta Gasatan of BCCI for the Economic Development Committee, Juliet Quijada of BCCAP for the Social Development, Rita Ballener of TUNHAI for the Infrastracture Development, Panfilo Azares of FCB for the Development Administration Committee, and Ann Dy of CASEC for the Environment Development Committee.

The City Government recognizes the NGOs/POs as representatives of the people in decision-making and other processes affecting them, since they have a keen grasp of the problems and needs of the local communities, having worked in the grass roots, they are more in tune to the sentiments and aspirations of the common folk.

Thus the City Government adheres to the principle of governance that the will of the people shall always reign supreme. Making CSOs an active partner in running the City will definitely push the goal and programs they have set within the next three years, the creation of the People’s Council is just the start of the many development projects that will open doors to progress.

*Civil Society Organizations (CSO) – a collective term for non-government and people’s organization.

Two groups will participate starting from the Tagbilaran City Hall Compound for Group 1 and Bohol Wisdom School for Group 2. Both will converge at the C.P.G Sports Complex.

Group I will be led by the Lions Family and Kiwanis Family, with the Bohol Island State University, Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School and Holy Name University drum and bugle corps and the City Health Office to provide first aid.

Leading Group II are the Rotary Family and Bohol JCI Family, supported by the Capitol Band, Bohol Institute of Technology – International College, Bohol Wisdom School, Grace Christian School and University of Bohol drum and bugle corps and the Provincial Health Office and Philippine National Red Cross – Bohol Chapter to compose the first-aid team.

Moreover, agencies, offices, departments, institutions, establishments, organizations and associations that will be joining are reminded to bring banners on the day of the walk.

The order of the participants in the group will depend on whoever arrives first at the jump-off point. In the case of the secondary schools, only third year and fourth year students are enjoined to participate.

Alay Lakad 2009 raised a total amount of P243,774.50 funding scholarship programs for financially-challenged but deserving students, livelihood projects for unemployed women and skills trainings for out-of-school youth.

The top donors last year to be awarded on Sunday during the program are Department of Education – Division of Bohol (P21,000.00, Department of Education – Tagbilaran City Schools Division (P19,041.00), Bohol Institute of Technology – International College (P15,000.00), Bohol Bankers’ Association (P11,030.00), CVSCAFT-TCC now Bohol Island State University (P10,630.00), Bohol Water Utilities, Inc. (P11,000.00), Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol (P5,300.00), Bohol Electric Cooperative I (P5,000.00), Holy Name University (P5,000.00) and Englewood Hospital (P5,000.00).

As in the previous years, awards for Best in Uniform, Most Lively Group, Most Colorful Group and Most Creative Group will be given. Reigning Miss Teen Bohol 2010 and last year’s winner Jert Torregosa from Buenavista, representing the Department of Education – Division of Bohol, will crown the Miss Alay Lakad 2010 to be determined based on the highest amount collected for the fund-raising activity.

This is the third year that the Alay Lakad Executive Committee, presently headed by Gibyrlu Lumayag of the JCI Bohol Sandugo, with the Miss Alay Lakad committee headed by Leonila Paredes Montero, president of the Rotary Club of Tagbilaran, decided to make it an added attraction, at the same time, a way to increase donations.

DepEd – Division of Bohol’s Manami Sobrabas was crowned first Miss Alay Lakad in 2008.

To promote the activity and gather pledges, airathon sessions will be done in the radio stations starting September 22-24, 2010. Donations may also be given directly during the Alay Lakad program at the CPG Sports Complex on Sept. 26 or to the Alay Lakad 2010 Secretariat, care: Dr. Teresita Q. Villafuerte, Alay Lakad Action Officer, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), E. Calceta Street, Cogon, Tagbilaran City, Tel. No. 411-3128. Official receipts (OR) will be issued by the collector designated by the CSWDO, to be published in Bohol’s leading newspapers.

Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim is the Alay Lakad honorary chair. (Fiel Angeli E. Araoarao-Gabin)

Last April 3, the screening for Ms. Tagbilaran 2010 was held in the City Hall Atrium grounds. Sixteen promising candidates strut their stuff as the screening committee threw questions at them.

With grace under pressure, the girls candidly answered the judges, showing their wit and confidence. One candidate even showed her modelling skills when she was asked what her secret was in winning a ramp modelling competition.

Another lass from the University of Bohol serenaded the judges’ with her melodious voice.

This year’s batch proved to be promising, expect more glitz and glamour in the upcoming swimsuit competition on April 19 at the Miravilla Resort. Tickets are priced at P50.00. For inquiries, you can call Ms. Leizel Aquino at 09309309614.

The City Government of Tagbilaran wants to give credit where it is due. Last July 1, in celebration of the Bohol Charter Day. Mayor Dan Neri Lim recognized Tagbilaranons for their distinctive contributions to the city. Together with Vice-Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso and the members of the 10th Sangguniang Panglungsod, department heads, employees, barangay officials, city-based national agencies and guests. Mayor Lim honored those people who made the city strong, the awards were not limited to distinguished or learned people but included those ordinary folks who have been honest and hardworking. Those people who put others first instead of themselves.

The Mother of the Year award were given to Dolores Yap and Nazaria Matig-a Bantilan for their loving, patient and selfless ways in nurturing highly successful children who became business pillars in the city. The Father of the Year Award was given to Ong Guat for his pioneering spirit of building a business empire while successfully raising hardworking and highly competitive children in the field of business, trade and industry.

The Distinguished Plaque of Recognition was mostly given to entrepreneurs who took risks and invested in Tagbilaran. They were Ricardo Lim Brito, Ko Sum Beng, Juan L. Apostol, Frederick Ong and Marlito Uy. They were cited for their contributions to the city in terms of employment and revenues.

Plaques of Recognition were given to Faro M. Cabalit for his service to city as President of Liga ng mga Barangay, Kurt Adolph C. Bungabong for passing the 2008 Bar Examinations, Warren Yap, Jr. for topping the 2006 CPA Board Examinations and to Reynaldo R.F. Calimbayan for being the Chief of the City Monitoring Team who is mainly responsible in the peace and order of the city.

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