Sunday, March 28, 2010

Palm Sunday Starts Holy Week

Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast which always falls on the Sunday before Easter Sunday. The feast commemorates an event mentioned by all four Canonical Gospels Mark 11:1-11Matthew 21:1-11Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19: the triumphant entry of Jesusinto Jerusalem in the days before his Passion. It is also called Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion.

In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday is marked by the distribution of palm leaves (often tied into crosses) to the assembled worshipers. The difficulty of procuring palms for that day's ceremonies in unfavorable climates for palms led to the substitution of boughs of boxyewwillow or other native trees. The Sunday was often designated by the names of these trees, as Yew Sunday or by the general term Branch Sunday.

According to the Gospels, before entering Jerusalem, Jesus was staying at Bethany and Bethphage, and the Gospel of John adds that he had dinner with Lazarus, and his sisters Mary and Martha. While there, Jesus sent two disciples to the village over against them, in order to retrieve a donkey that had been tied up but never been ridden, and to say, if questioned, that the donkey was needed by the Lord but would be returned. Jesus then rode the donkey into Jerusalem, with the Synoptics adding that the disciples had first put their cloaks on it, so as to make it more comfortable. The Gospels go on to recount how Jesus rode into Jerusalem, and how the people there lay down their cloaks in front of him, and also lay down small branches of trees. The people sang part of Psalm

..Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father, David. ... (Psalms 118:25-26). Where this entry is supposed to have taken place is unspecified; some scholars argue that the Golden Gate is the likely location, since that was where it was believed the Jewish messiah would enter Jerusalem; other scholars think that an entrance to the south, which had stairs leading directly to the Temple, would be more likely (Kilgallen 210).
In Palompon, Leyte the blessing of palms was started at around 6:00 AM and followed by a procession in the streets around or near the parish church. What is noticeable is the number of parishioners joining the traditional Lenten blessing of palms or the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem being celebrated or remembered  is somewhat dwindling as the years passed by.

It seems that more and more people are becoming indifferent and slothful with regards to the religious practices and beliefs of their forefathers. They don't give a damn anymore about their spirituality and they are giving more emphasis on their physical needs. And many are more concerned of going home after the rites leaving the celebration of the Holy Mass which is the most important phase of man's spiritual needs, and where Christ is the center of man's prayer and adoration.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Local Campaigning on the Go!

March 26, 2010 is the red letter day for local candidates to start their campaign sorties in every nook and crevices of the different towns and baranggays of the Philippines to solicit votes from the ever changing mores and loyalties of voters. Every election is but a repeat of the past years selection of candidates for various positions they aspire for. Promises that were always broken, and this coming elections is another time of making such promise again...... and again.

Yesterday, the team of ONATE-AREVALO, started their campaign by offering a Healing Mass for its candidates and supporters to seek the guidance and support of the Almighty in the coming elections this May 2010. A special Mass held at around 9:00 AM for the group was full of attendees to show support for the team. But their support is only for local players, since they removed the candidates for national office in their propaganda materials. They are for the Liberal Party, but don't recognize the "Noynoy Aquino-Mar Roxas tandem. What happen?

Later in the afternoon, they regrouped to launch a motorcade around the poblacion and various baranggays wearing the traditional yellow colors of the Liberal Party. Without Ninoy? How come.


Photo above is another group of aspirants for local positions. The group of the current Mayor Eulogio Tupa and councilors who also offered a Holy Mass, again for the Lord's guidance and help in the coming local elections this May 2010. 

Shown is the officiating priest giving the blessing to the local candidates, from left Hon. Rudy Canson, Hon, Jek Sanchez, Ms.Vivian Sanchez, Vice-Mayor Atty. Lloyd Surigao, Hon. Atty. Bong Villardo (hidden), Mayor Eulogio Tupa, Harvey Fel Pinon, Hon. Earl Potenciano Bongbong, Hon. Gilbert Manongsong (hidden), hoping that they would come out victorious in the coming polls.  

Another motorcade will be held this afternoon at around 2:30 PM to show the public that they are also alive and kicking and willing to be of service to the people with all honesty and humility. The motiff of course is colored green, the color of a green environment. The color of Gibo Teodoro of the Galing at Talino Team.

The motorcade finally arrived at around 5:00 PM when hundreds of motorcycles started to roar in front SM Shopping Mall at Rizal Street where our house is located and where the motorcade will surely pass being the main thoroughfare of the town. I did not expect to see those hundreds of motorcycles. Maybe they came from  all over town just to take part in the motorcade for the establishment or ruling party where most of the ruling candidates are expected to win.


If the number of participants will determine the outcome of the elections, then the team of Mayor Tupa will surely win. It seems that all the motorcycle owners from all over town and friends from neighboring towns had participated in the motorcade for I have not seen that number of motorcycles in a single time.Same with the number of vehicles that joined the rally. It seems that majority of vehicle owners from Palompon, Leyte wanted to be seen with the Team Tupa since the Mayor have proven himself to be worthy of the votes entrusted by his constituents.




Friday, March 26, 2010

Northern Leyte Colleges Joint Commencement Exercises

 The Northern Leyte Colleges held its 23rd College and 63rd High School Joint Commencement Exercises today Marchy 26, 2010 at the Palompon Social Center, Palompon, Leyte, Philippines with 44 candidates from the College Department and 101 candidates from the High School Department.

The Commencement Address was delivered by alumnus Dr. Amela Molon Prieto, Director of the Palompon Institute of Technology (PIT) Research Services, while the Valedictory Address was given by Julian Pauline C. Javier, Class Valedictorian (HS) 2010. After the graduation ceremony a graduation luncheon was held immediately at the NLC College Building attended by the teachers, members of the Board of Trustees, some guest and stockholders of the said school.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

State of the Town Address.............Mayor Eulogio S. Tupa

Just as expected the State of the Town Address delivered by Mayor Eulogio S. Tupa at the Palompon Social Center on March 24, 2010, was a well attended and well applauded affair due to the sincerity and honesty of the current roster of officials running the local government of Palompon, Leyte, Philippines.

Todays affair is really full packed since so many people are already standing to see and be seen, while trying to savor the meat of the Mayor's speech. I also attended last year's SOTA but compared to this year, which is highly attended, last year is about 80% only of this year's total number of attendees. Another plus factor this year is the presence of the present representative of the Fourth District to the House of Representatives, Congressman Eufrocino Codilla.

I also noticed the presence of the heads of various departments, agencies, LIDE Management Corp. from Isabel, Leyte and all known personalities of the town who are considered as prime movers or have contributed one way or another  in giving Palompon the needed boost to make Palompon, Leyte the fastest growing town in this part of Northern Leyte.

Photo above are part of the crowd after the speech of the Mayor where everybody present was invited for a simple but sumptuous lunch. On the presidential table, noticeable was the absence of some members of the Sangguniang Pambayan who are members of the opposition ticket in the coming local elections on May 10, 2010. There's also talk that some opposition candidate for councilor have already backed out due to the requirement of monetary consideration before you can be a part of the team.

Part of the Mayors' speech was about the operations of PHESCHEM Corporation where the future of  the people of  Palompon is at stake, particularly in the watershed area which any straight thinking individual should consider. In the event that we lose the said watershed, then we lose also a big part of our inheritance from mother nature. And we pay the price of having scarce supply of one of the most important needs of man.

Many says that it is better to lose electricity than to lose water. We can die by dehydration in three days without water and every action of man needs water as an ingredient, while electricity will only hamper the operation of modern gadgets like TV, cellphones, internet and electricity dependent appliances. But water? It's so itchy if you can't take a bath.

He also touched on the issue of the return to the government of Calanggman Island, just several miles from the Palompon shore. As one beauty contestant have said in national TV, that the said island is one of the most beautiful island in the Philippines, if not the most beautiful. So, carry on Mayor Yoly Tupa, we know that you are only thinking  about the good of your constituents, and not about yourself. I believe you deserve another term as the town's head honcho.

                                              WANTED
Professional Real Estate Salesperson 
With the following credentials:
1. Computer literate
                                           2. Ability to write and converse in simple English.
      3. College graduate/level
               4. Ability to work with a group
                             5. Passion for work and financial growth

Apply at Realty-Options, Inc./Palompon Realty and Brokerage at 43 Rizal St., Central I, Palompon, Leyte. Learn "How to Do Internet Marketing Through Social Networking Websites" in a Free One Hour
One-on-One Orientation Seminar. For more info....Pls. Call Tel. # (053)555-84-64
09164422611/ 09336317922/09173373687
Pls. visit also my website: @ http://gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Now also available n Palompon, Leyte. Lifestyles products such as INTRA, NUTRIA and FIBRELife. For your healthy lifestyle and needs just call the telephones indicated above. 
.  


Sunday, March 21, 2010

Graduation Celebration Continues.........

The celebrations in connection with graduation is still going on in several parts of Palompon, Leyte. Part of the celebration was one given by the family of Mr & Mrs. Nemencio and Inday Baldos Beley for their daughters Lynlyn and Brizha who both graduated from the Palompon Institute of Technology last March 18, 2010. Photo above can be seen Lynlyn Bongbong and Brizha Beley pose with some of their friends which include Vice Mayor Lloyd Surigao and Councilor Bong Villardo of the Palompon Municipal Council.

Prominent is the performance of their uncle Junie Baldos on his favorite instrument.........the organ.

Also seen was another municipal councilor, Earl Potenciano Bongbong who is the husband of Lynlyn, whose body clearly shows that she is on the family way by about six months.

Friends from Isabel, Leyte Mr. Sammy Pernia and company, a retired Customs Officer from the Bureau of Customs, was on hand to be with the family of the celebrants. Of course another Customs employee Mrs. Chit Aranas is with her husband Loloy and son Adonis, since Inday Baldos Beley is always transacting with the BOC for her permit to board ocean going vessels at the Sub-port of Isabel, Leyte.

 Since the affair started early or around 6:30 pm and there is little activity, the celebration lasted only by around 10:30 pm.

Another celebration going on in another part of the town is the wedding celebration by the family of Roger & Rita Regis whose daughter got married to an Overseas Filipino Worker. A firework display was part of the wedding celebration which for a long time was never a part of such affair. The said fireworks display was clearly seen at the rooftop of the PACCI building where the Lynlyn and Brizha affair was being held.

Tomorrow, March 22, 2010 it was time for the Our Lady of the Bible Montessori of Palompon, Inc. to present their graduates at the Palompon Catholic Church at around 9:00 AM. It was the 4th Graduation Exercises and 9th Recognition Exercises of the said school


Friday, March 19, 2010

Palompon Real Estate..............Sale and Rentals


Many are asking me to post some real estate for sale or rent in this part of Leyte because there are some native Palomponganons who wanted to buy something for their future needs, especially the Overseas Filipino Workers who have been laboring for so many years in countries they don't even like.
But they are forced to work in those foreign lands in order that they would be able to earn money for their families. So here are some lots, house and lots, farms, beach fronts and other lands available for sale in Palompon, Leyte and other areas:


1) A beach front property located at Sitio Buaya, Baranggay Sabang, Palompon, Leyte is priced at only P650T with an area of 1,409 sq.m. or P642/square meters. In that part of town the beach water is cleaner than at the San Juan Beach proper. Many beach front properties are now mushrooming in the said area since many are not satisfied anymore with the dirt and debris accompanying the waves coming and going to the beach at San Juan, Palompon.

2) Along the national highway is another lot about 3 kilometers from the town proper and located at Barangay Sabang, Palompon, Leyte. Area of the land is 577 sq. mtrs. which is being sold for P1,100.00/sq. m. or P612,700.00. 
3.) A parcel of land (Lot 13, Blk. 20) with an area of 250 sq. m. located at Carmela Executive Subdivision at Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines beside the New Talisay City Hall and various subdivisions and very near the highway going to Silay City, Negros Occidental. The pirce is i0.00 or only P2,00/sq.mt. of a lot located at the very center of the city and a subdivision named Carmela Valley (Executive).

4.) A parcel of land registered under the name Maria L. Phala, located at Baranggay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City (Lot 643-C-1-1-9-J of LRC Cad. No. 905) with an area of Four Hundred (400) sq. mt. under Transfer Certificate of Title No. 24243. Selling at P1.6M.
5.)
We will be adding more properties to sell every now and then. Inquiries will be entertained at Tel. No. (63)0535558464 Cell No. (63)9174422611 or Email: gregmelep@gmail.com or you can visit also gregmelep.blogspot.com for current updates.


                                                WANTED
Professional Real Estate Salesperson 
With the following credentials:
1. Computer literate
                                           2. Ability to write and converse in simple English.
      3. College graduate/level
               4. Ability to work with a group
                             5. Passion for work and financial growth

Apply at Realty-Options, Inc./Palompon Realty and Brokerage at 43 Rizal St., Central I, Palompon, Leyte. Learn "How to Do Internet Marketing Through Social Networking Websites" in a Free One Hour
One-on-One Orientation Seminar. For more info....Pls. Call Tel. # (053)555-84-64
09164422611/ 09336317922/09173373687
Pls. visit also my website: @ http://gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Now also available n Palompon, Leyte. Lifestyles products such as INTRA, NUTRIA and FIBRELife. For your healthy lifestyle and needs just call the telephones indicated above. 
.  

PACCI Celebrates Its 35th Annual General Assembly.

Today March 20, 2010 the Officials, Members and Friends of the Palompom Multi-purpose Credit Cooperative, Inc. otherwise known as PACCI, celebrates its 35th Annual General Assembly to be held at the Palompon Social Center. The affair started with a Holy Mass at 5:30 AM at the Roman Catholic church where we saw some employees and members of the Board headed by the BOD Chairman himself Mr. Regulus P. Diansay, Management Consultant Mr. Pete Omega, and Ms. Angelita Pajaron leading the  offering during the said mass.

PACCI have come a long way starting more than 35 years ago with a group of teachers and other interested friends who banded together to start an honest to goodness credit cooperative in this part of Northern Leyte.
From several hundred pesos starting capital PACCI had grown tremendously in the past several years to a multi-million peso credit cooperative serving several thousand people from Palompon and nearby towns of Northern Leyte.


Picture at left is the imposing three story PACCI building some rooms of which are rented to guest and out of town visitors. Available also is a dormitory type rooms were the rent is very much affordable whether you are a tourist or a local resident. 

Really, you can be proud of their achievement. But there are also times when you are afraid that the coop would go down the drain, when anomalies are being unearthed, like the non-payment of huge accounts. Sometimes, it was the employees themselves who are the cause of worries by management, when they don't deposit monies entrusted to them by friends. We'll, what is good news is that they can always recover and the problems given a deserved demise.


                      







                      WANTED
Professional Real Estate Salesperson 
With the following credentials:
1. Computer literate
                                           2. Ability to write and converse in simple English.
      3. College graduate/level
               4. Ability to work with a group
                             5. Passion for work and financial growth

Apply at Realty-Options, Inc./Palompon Realty and Brokerage at 43 Rizal St., Central I, Palompon, Leyte. Learn "How to Do Internet Marketing Through Social Networking Websites" in a Free One Hour
One-on-One Orientation Seminar. For more info....Pls. Call Tel. # (053)555-84-64
09164422611/ 09336317922/09173373687
Pls. visit also my website: @ http://gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Now also available n Palompon, Leyte. Lifestyles products such as INTRA, NUTRIA and FIBRELife. For your healthy lifestyle and needs just call the telephones indicated above. 
.  

Graduation Time Again............Then What

Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day.

The graduation itself is also called commencement, convocation or invocation. At the University of Cambridge, the occasion on which most graduands receive their BA degree is known as general admission. After degree completion, graduates can be referred to by their graduating year. In the United States and Canada, it is also used to refer to the advancement from a primary or secondary school level.



When ceremonies are associated, they usually include a procession of the academic staff and candidates. Beginning at the secondary school level in the United States, the candidates will almost always wear academic dress, and increasingly faculty will do the same.

At the college and university level, the faculty will usually wear academic dress at the formal ceremonies, as will the trustees and degree candidates. "Graduation" at the college and university level occurs when the presiding officer confers degrees upon candidates, either individually or en masse, even if graduates physically receive their diploma later at a smaller college or departmental ceremony.

In our local schools and colleges, graduation time have already started when the High School Department of the Palompon Institute of Technology presented their graduates last March 16, 2010. The guest speaker Mr. Primo   A. Olorvida, ECE was a local graduate of the said school, who was able to finish his college education at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City. He took the course Bachelor of Science in Electronic Communication Engineering. He was immediately asked to work in a foreign company located at MEPZ, Lapu-lapu City after finishing the said course with high honors. Since then he was asked to train in foreign countries including the United States, China, Malaysia and other countries to augment his knowledge and be applied to the company in return.

It was followed two days later or March 18, 2010 at 8:00 AM by the Colegio de San Francisco Javier, a Roman Catholic run institution of learning. CSFJ is being manage by the nuns of the congregation Daughters of Charity whose first principal and administrator was a local nun name Sor. Constancia S. Marilao DC. As usual the venue of their 41st Commencement Exercises with the Theme: Charity - Mission was held at the Roman Catholic Church, Palompon, Leyte. Words of Gratitude was given by class valedictorian Jay B. Gerona while the Pledge of Loyalty was delivered by Nina Cecilia R. Suralta, St. Louise de Marillac class president.


In the afternoon it was time for the College Department of the Palompon Institute of Technology to present their graduates to the eager parents who have sacrificed a lot just to give their kids the chance of a better future by slaving themselves just to earn the needed money to support the studies of their loving children. But there is a saying that says "Formal education will make you a living; Self-education will make you a fortune".........Jim Rohn.


 This saying simply says that formal education is not a guarantee for success because many graduates are just enslaving themselves in working for another who usually is the one who succeed. 


It is through entrepreneurship that most successful people work their way to the top. They are the one who usually takes the risk by establishing their own business, no matter how small. They are sure that whatever they do, they would reap whatever they have planted, depending on what kind of seed they had invested.  


After graduation the parents incur another cost i.e. of inviting friends and relatives to join them in the celebration of seeing their kids finally graduate after so many years of struggling and sacrifices for their sake. Photo at right shows the preparation of the parents to show their happiness that finally, their sons or daughters have graduated already, and in return they are thinking that their investment can be recovered in due time.


But the problem nowadays is the lack of opportunity to be hired, and the chances of working immediately is somewhat nil with the high unemployment rate not only locally but worldwide. The economic downturn that initially came from the United States had affected most of the industrialized nation and developing nations as well. Bust some countries like China was able to survive the predicament by boosting local production and  by making sure that they use whatever they produce to help their economy survive the onslaught of recession.


                                              WANTED
Professional Real Estate Salesperson 
With the following credentials:
1. Computer literate
                                           2. Ability to write and converse in simple English.
      3. College graduate/level
               4. Ability to work with a group
                             5. Passion for work and financial growth

Apply at Realty-Options, Inc./Palompon Realty and Brokerage at 43 Rizal St., Central I, Palompon, Leyte. Learn "How to Do Internet Marketing Through Social Networking Websites" in a Free One Hour
One-on-One Orientation Seminar. For more info....Pls. Call Tel. # (053)555-84-64
09164422611/ 09336317922/09173373687
Pls. visit also my website: @ http://gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Now also available n Palompon, Leyte. Lifestyles products such as INTRA, NUTRIA and FIBRELife. For your healthy lifestyle and needs just call the telephones indicated above. 
.  





Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - Palompon

March 13, 2010 was red letter day for the local church in Palompon, Leyte, Philippines of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, otherwise known as "Mormons" which is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. They established their church in the Philippines since the arrival of the so-called "Thomasites". They are the pioneer religious workers coming from the United States as part of the colonizers aim of introducing its religion to the natives.

History would tell us that after the signing of the Treaty of Paris  between the Spaniards and the Americans where they transferred the colonization of the Philippines from Spanish colony to American Colony for twenty million dollars as payment. The said treaty was signed on December 10, 1898 between the two countries which ended the Spanish-American War.  

Included in the treaty was the provision that Spain has to give up all rights to Cuba, surrendered Puerto Rico and gave up its positions in the West Indies, surrendered the island of Guam to the United States, and of course the Philippines for twenty million dollars. And slowly we are again surrendering many of our lands to foreign religious institutions such as the Church f the Latter Day Saints or "Mormons".But it is better than giving it up to people who would just introduce us to vices like beer and entertainment joints.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - Palompon, Leyte, Philippines



Located in a one hectare land bought from the family of George Liok, this imposing landmark is at the corner of the new national road going to Baranggay San Miguel, Palompon, Leyte and the next town of Matag-ob, Leyte. Building of the edifice almost took them a year, but the wait is worth it since the said structure commands an imposing view on the area which can be considered as an attraction for all to see.  
                                               WANTED
Professional Real Estate Salesperson 
With the following credentials:
1. Computer literate
                                           2. Ability to write and converse in simple English.
      3. College graduate/level
               4. Ability to work with a group
                             5. Passion for work and financial growth

Apply at Realty-Options, Inc./Palompon Realty and Brokerage at 43 Rizal St., Central I, Palompon, Leyte. Learn "How to Do Internet Marketing Through Social Networking Websites" in a Free One Hour
One-on-One Orientation Seminar. For more info....Pls. Call Tel. # (053)555-84-64
09164422611/ 09336317922/09173373687
Pls. visit also my website: @ http://gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Now also available n Palompon, Leyte. Lifestyles products such as INTRA, NUTRIA and FIBRELife. For your healthy lifestyle and needs just call the telephones indicated above. 
.