by anyajulia | Jul 28, 2009 | Headlines, National News
The findings of a 2008 study conducted by the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) supported by the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), revealed that “Excessive exposure to television is a leading cause of physical weakness, stress, poor appetite, aggression or violent behavior among children.”
“Excessive violence, sex, and foul language on television are threats to our children’s well-being,” said Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus.
To address the growing problem of “TV Overdose”, the DepEd, NCCT, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), and Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) will launch “Bantay TV Campaign” during the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on July 29.
The MOA between the education department, NCCT, MTRCB and SMART will mark the start of closer monitoring of television programs especially those that are shown between 6:00 to 10:00 a.m., the time period when majority of Filipino children watch TV shows.
Parents and concerned citizens can report “non-child friendly TV shows” via text by typing:
BANTAYTV (space) NAME/AGE/ADDRESS/MESSAGE to 700-6228(NCCT) or BANTAYTV (space)TV PROGRAM (space) DATE OF AIRING then send to 700-6228.
Complaints may also be filed by calling the NCCT hotline numbers 637-2306 from Mondays to Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or by sending an e-mail to bantaytv@ncctph.org. (DepEd)
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by anyajulia | Jul 28, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
CULTURE and music merge this Wednesday as an American pianist brings in classical music to Boholanos in a soiree of light music at the Meridian Hotel this Wednesday July 29 at 7PM.
A prodigy and outstanding American pianist, Angelo Rondello, 28, will render Beethoven’s Sonata in C Minor (Pathetique), Chopin’s Mazurka in A Minor and Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Liszt’s Tarantella from Venezia e Napoli and Avelina Manalo’s Katlala (Nostalgia).
Other talented Boholano music artists would join Rondello during the historic night of remarkable music in Bohol history.
Rondello began studying the piano at the age of 13 and was remarkably doing concerts within a year.
Since his New York debut in the Trinity/St. Paul concert series in 2005, he has appeared on TV playing St. Saens’ Concerto No. 2 in G Minor and has been interviewed for studio recordings. His playing of Bach was used in the award-winning film “Die Martins Passion”.
Concertist Rondello, also a teacher and dedicated advocate of music education, founded Melodia, a non-profit organization devoted to bringing educational music programs to schools and communities for aspiring musicians.
His writings on music education and philosophy of music have been published in prestigious US magazines, book and newspapers.
Rondello studied at the Seattle Conservatory, the Manhattan School, Mannes College and the Conservatory at Brooklyn College. His principal mentors were Mark Salman and Jeffrey Biegel.
Rondello’s unique take on the piano recital creates a form of presentation, which leads to new levels of enjoyment and understanding of music.
He achieves this with an innate gift of communication, illuminating music’s many facets through engaging commentary and example, his revues state.
For his Bohol musical sortie, proceeds go to the Center for Positive Futures, a private Catholic high school that provides children of disadvantaged families quality high school education.
Tickets are at P150.00, and for reservations, call CCAD Office at 5019287 or text 0916-3611786. (PIA)
by anyajulia | Jul 28, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
IN less than two months, the government raised at least 6,862 jobs here in Bohol, a testament that job generation has remained brisk in efforts to insulate people in this desperate time.
Data from the recent Full Council meeting of the Regional Development Council show that at least 9 of the government agencies led in emergency employment programs and allowed people some financial leeway to stay above water in this crisis.
Since June, the Department of Agrarian Reform in Bohol topped the hiring list with 2,212 people employed, followed by the Department of Labor and Employment at 1,703.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development came in third with 1,125 while the Department of Agriculture contributed 1,031.
National Irrigation Administration, Trade and Industry, Public Works and Highways, Department of Health and Environment and Natural Resources each contributed to a total of 1421 employed.
While the figures surface, the Department of Tourism has not put in its data, which, when added could even give records bigger employment.
The DENR, which has accepted application for its Bantay Gubat and Bantay Dagat operations in Bohol
Reportedly still has to report their hiring data, reports said.
DOT sources however said most of the people their agency has caused its hiring are into the informal sectors and still more inordinately attached to its tourism services.
At 6,862 Boholanos employed under the government’s Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP), the province also tops Visayas in jobs generation.
Cebu follows Bohol with 4,890 then Siquijor at 2,946 and Negros at 2,088 jobs generated in the past two months.
Since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has vowed to generate million jobs as her administration’s agenda to help insulate people from the effects of the global fiscal crisis, government line agencies here put into gear their emergency employment plans to push into motion the efforts to empower people by lending them spending power.
Over the country, government infrastructure projects have provided 344,895 employment opportunities to Filipinos, all to spur economic growth in the locality, the DPWH reported. (PIA)
by anyajulia | Jul 28, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) assures Boholanos anew: as set, Panglao Bohol International Airport (PBIA) civil works would roll by December this year.
The Presidential assurance came amidst rumors that the Project Management Office has met “minor problems” with the facility’s works.
Many believe “minor problems” are basically procedural for government acquisition, but President Arroyo said DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza has reported acquisition at 100%, completed.
In her update during her recent Bohol Day Celebration attendance, PGMA bared the need for the project to go through the National economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board.
But before the NEDA Board could take on projects, they need to be approved by the NEDA Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC).
The President however does not see this a problem with the airport project.
According to the President, Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza fast-tracked the timetable of the project and needs the NEDA ICC to approve the final costing of the Bohol airport facility this week to get it to NEDA Board by the first week of August.
The NEDA Board, which gives the final nod for the project’s cost, meets in August, in time when the President would be in Washington for a state visit.
On this, Mrs. Arroyo said she would let Vice President Noli de Castro preside over the board to assure facilitated project nod.
Reports bared that the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is mainly bankrolling the P4.17B project by putting in P3B. The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) puts up the remaining P1.7B.
It may be recalled that President Arroyo herself broke ground and buried the time capsule for the project in May of 2008. When she did this, she pronounced that the project should be done before her term ends in 2010.
As Boholanos waited for the civil works to commence right away, only the promised road access widening leading to Panglao happened, while the days off the President’s term tick off.
PGMA’s Bophol Day announcement elated the Boholanos, including those who came home for the triennial worldwide gathering set this week, who anticipated major statements from the President’s adopted project dreamt by local officials.
The anticipation of a major statement from the President was also borne out of the fear that the project may have been dumped because of local opposition here.
Apart from the President’s pronouncements, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who also talked with DOTC Secretary Mendoza bared an “all systems go” status for the airport facility in Panglao. (PIA)
by anyajulia | Jul 28, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
TRUE to his personal conviction, Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera tied up with Catigbian local officials to use every little opportunity for agricultural production as a way to enhance family income and care for the environment.
Through a tree-planting program that the town has put up as a legacy to their younger generations, Herrera mainly provided seedlings to 793 graduating students from Catigbian’s local public and private schools.
Herrera responded to the town’s tree-planting project, which Mayor Roberto Salinas dubbed as a precious gift for the next generation.
The vice governor, who also sits as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Agriculture Committee Chair has always advocated for increased agricultural production to pull Bohol into that dream of becoming the real food basket of the Visayas.
The activity was also in consonance with the municipal ordinance mandating all graduating students to plant fruit bearing trees before they can breeze through school.
In a synchronized fruit bearing tree-planting activity organized to coincide with the 155th Bohol Foundation Day, Herrera gave 800 coconut seedlings, 281 chico seedlings, 576 mango seedlings, 594 guava and 800 lomboy seedlings.
Herrera’s help also included 207 jackfruit seedlings, 562 star-apple, 160 marang, 85 santol, 164 guyabano and 75 rambutan seedlings.
According to Salinas, the activity is also in support of the Bohol Day celebration adopted theme, which is “Together we can build a greater Bohol.”
It is quite ironic that when we want to buy fruits, we have to go to Tagbilaran where we have all the available space to plant here, Salinas said.
We want to make Catigbian a green haven for peace, progress and development and we are doing exactly that, the former league of mayors president shared. (PIA)
