Friday, May 21, 2010

1st Reunion MARILAO CLAN 2010


After several years of searching, interviewing, encoding and finalizing the family tree of the MARILAO CLAN in Geni.com whose precursor originated from the town of Marilao, Bulacan and established or have taken roots in Palompon, Leyte, Philippines.  I was able to finally decide, after being pushed through by so many relatives, to organize the people necessary in planning, giving the inputs and things needed for a successful family reunion.

So on May 17, 2010 a group of about eleven Marilao Clan descendants have met in the residence of Mrs. Connie Marilao-Elep, people representing the various clan or groupings of the Marilao family, the long awaited first ever family reunion came to a fruition. From this impromptu meeting, the said group  decided to hold the first ever MARILAO CLAN Reunion 2010 at the Juan Titang Beach Resort, Baranggay Sabang, Palompon, Leyte on May 29, 2010 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

To make the story short, and to make the affair simple, we decided to just bring what we can and share it to others because nobody is sponsoring the affair yet. We'll just wait for kindhearted men who will donate something or two to make the affair a success. 

As of now the family of Mr. and Mrs. Nita (Francisco) Marilao offered to pay for the rental of the venue (P2,000.00). Mrs. Nilda Marilao Grangia and Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Marilao committed to send one grilled (lechon) pig each.While Mrs. Connie Marilao-Elep offered to shoulder initially the payment of about six thousand pesos worth of T-shirt for printing if nobody offered to donate some yet, because printing of the T-shirt will take time.

Printing of the T-shirts will be done on time as promised by Mark Elep, designer and Michael Elep, the printman. So we  are appealing to those who can afford to buy their own T-shirt to just bring them to Connie Elep's residence and have their white shirts printed because we have only a small number of donated T-shirts which should go to those who really can't afford to buy a new T-shirt with the 1st . Marilao Clan logo.

We have also decided to give T-shirts, upon registration, to husband and wife team first, and the rest if there are still available printed shirts. For those who want to donate something in the first ever MARILAO CLAN  reunion 2010, we welcome you with a sincere thanks and a big heartfelt smile.

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. 
.  




Thursday, May 20, 2010

The People Failed Again...............

The recently concluded national and local elections is a tremendous show of people's power in their hands but was a big letdown when the results have shown the power of money which did not give a damn whether you are worthy or not.

The results in the local elections, where the team of Onate-Arevalo have won overwhelmingly against the team of Tupa-Surigao will show that there is still a problem with our voting constituents. It seems that many are still enamored with the power of money and they don't give a damn if the people they are voting for can do something in the legislation of bills necessary for the smooth operation of the government functionaries particularly the local executive branch, whose execution of powers was also dependent on laws crafted by the local "Sanggunian Pambayan".

We'll, the battery of lawyers in the lineup of Tupa-Surigao was not a factor in the selection of good legislators, what matter was the money that they can hold on for several days. Maybe, for several kilos of rice, fish and meat they will be able to survive for several days. They are not thinking of the three years that the government will be paying the salaries of "some" undeserving public servants.

From time to time, I have observed our local legislators during Mondays public session, but I have seen only a small number of them capable of the salaries they are being paid of. Most of them are just happy tweaking their cellphones to keep them busy waiting for the adjournment of the session. Well, if we deserve them, then so be it. As they say if we make a fool of ourselves, then maybe we deserve it too.


Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Henry Lhuillier Pawnshop/Jewelry...........Invites You All

Hi, I'm Jinky Camacho of Henry Lhuillier Pawnshop located right in front of SM Shopping Mall at Rizal St., Central I, Palompon, Leyte inviting you to visit our shop/store at the above address. You can avail our lowest interest ever given by a company like ours. Pawned articles will be charged only one (1%) per cent if redeemed in one to three days. Two (2%) percent if redeemed in four or five days. While three (3%) per cent will be charged for items redeemed within six or seven days. After seven days the regular charged of four (4%) per cent will be enforce.

Of course first and foremost, we are not just interested on items that you will pawn with us but the trust and confidence that we would like to give you every time you visit us in times of necessity and emergency. We are here not on a temporary basis, but for a long time. As long as the trust and confidence is there we are willing to serve you forever. If you look at my picture above, I promised you that my smile would be bigger (but not a plastic smile) and worth remembering. 

We know that we are still new in your place but as I've said above, we want to get your trust and confidence as a place where you can leave your valuables without worrying of being foreclosed without due notice (several i.e.) to you. Rest assured that your pawned articles are safe in our hands. We made sure that articles you left with us are doubly secured electronically in our vaults, that even the notorious "acetylene gang" would be hard pressed to accomplish their evil intentions if they tried to.

Rest assured also that upon entering our shop you will not get lost because you will be attended to immediately and with a big smile that you won't forget. For all the gentlemen out there who wants to know me and my officer-in-charge Ms. Jessavel Cadavos, we wish to inform you that we are both single (lol). Who knows, if the right man comes along, we might settle in this beautiful place of yours to make our relationship more permanent i.e. with trust and confidence. Thanks a lot and hope to see you at HENRY LHUILLIER Pawnshop and Jewelry store with the lowest interest ever.

By the way, included in our services are: Money Transfer through Western Union, No Advance Interest, Highest Appraisal, Free - Appraisal, No Hidden Charges, No Service Charge, Accept "Data-DAta"/Partial Payment, Early Redemption, Lowest Interest Ever of 1% and Jewelry sales. And last but not least, a friendly pawnshop with the biggest and warmest smile. With this, we can only say that "Our Customers Are Always No. 1". 


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, May 16, 2010

First BEC Baranggay Fiesta..............May 12, 2010

The first BEC Baranggay Festa at Brgy. Central I, Palompon, Leyte was celebrated last May 12, 2010 by a celebration of the Holy Mass on the said date at their chapel located beside the municipal pier and their newly constructed Baranggay Hall. 

Though the new baranggay hall is not yet finished, they allocated the old baranggay hall as part chapel, since most of the members of the same Roman  Catholic Church.

As of now, they are in quandary about their Baranggay patron saint which as of this writing is Saint Michael Archangel. They have agreed that their patron saint is "Our Lady of Hope" since Mary the queen mother is the patroness of the Philippines and May is the month of flowers for Mary, but since the image bought from Cebu is St. Michael's there is no other recourse but to use the image available at the moment.  . 

.Though the heat of the sun is already in their midst the Holy Mass have to go on. What's a little heat coming from above, as long as the people of the said Baranggay are united in their first ever Central I BEC fiesta.



What Happened to Quality Control?

In my usual daily activity of tending to my small store, I noticed something unusual about a still sealed Coke Litro bottle. I looked a bit longer to see what's the thing floating in the particular bottle. When I cannot decipher what the thing is, I took my trusted Nokia 95 and alas the thing is still there in living glory.

Sometimes we can not blame also the beverage company about the dirts that from time to time may have passed their Quality Control Department. As a store owner and retailer of soft drinks, I often encounter bottles which can be considered as unfit anymore for use as  refillable bottles.

There are bottles that were used as container for gasoline, kerosene, dirty oil, human urine, cigarette stubs, and what have you Sometimes the bottles were stained or dirtied with cement or paint, and so many other human pollutants you can ever imagine.

I featured this not to embarrass COKE, but to tell users of this product which is already a part of our daily life, to always"Be Aware". We can only be assured of a clean product if we ourselves will do our part of maintaining the cleanliness of the bottles we return to our "suking tindahan". I know that it is already a policy of the company to accept only clean bottles together with its cap.But because of the customers hardheadedness sometimes dirty bottles were mixed with clean ones.  

Monday, May 10, 2010

The Long Awaited Election.............is here at last.

It was a breather so to say, when you have finished your duty as a law abiding citizen. One of this duty is the fullfillment of man's right of suffrage given to all law abiding citizens. Today this duty is once again given emphasis in the just concluded 1st Automated National Elections of the Philippines which happily was not as violent and more credible, unlike in the previous elections. As of now many have given their reactions for and against the said 1st automated elections in the country.

Many have lost their names in the official list of voters. Others were not so lucky because the machine keeps on spitting out their official ballots because of improper filling up. This is the problem many uninformed or indifferent people usually encounters if they don't give a damn on whats happening around them. They should have checked their names in the Comelec registry several months ago or after the official registration have stopped. It is so easy to check the website of the Comelec to know if your name is listed or not.

In our hometown of Palompon, Leyte, it was so peaceful, but of course the usual money that changes hands were there. In previous elections money flowed in the hundreds only, but now we heard that other candidates have doubled the amount into thousand. It is said that many have changed their preference of candidates because of this. Since money stills talk in some places, we can only say that people accepts his lot for a mere number of happy days and don't think about the three years  that the person who gave them money will sit in his post. Well, it is their life, I can't blame them
if that's what they want. They have just to wait for another three years to taste the said amount of money they receive today.

This is the Gabaldon Building of the Palompon South Central School where most of the voters located in the poblacion of the town voted, which include myself. Due to excitement and apprehension, majority of the voters went to the polls very early expecting to vote without any hitch and trouble.

But as the hour goes people are coming and make their presence felt making the automated voting an experience similar to the old days when it is done manually. Partly to blame of course is the system being implemented by the people concerned with the voting itself like the employees of the Department of Educations mainly the teachers, the poll watchers of different political parties, the official watchdogs like the PPCRV and other private organizations helping make the elections credible and clean.

The usual complaint is the long time of waiting to vote due to the presence of so many voters as a result of the clustering of several precincts as a result of reducing cost of the elections itself. But the system itself is one of the major causes of grumbling especially the senior citizens who are made to stand for hours just to vote. They could have numbered the piece of paper, (and call them as their number indicates), distributed to sign the name, precinct number and the number sequence they required before giving them official numbers before they are allowed to enter the polling place.

Well, I just do hope that in the next elections changes should be in place to minimize the number of hours a voter spent in the polling place. These are some of my suggestions to sped up the said election process:

           1. Hi-Technology says that we can already use the "touch screen process" that is common nowadays, especially on mobile cellphones;
            2. We can easily removed the use of hard copies like voters ID card, by totally implementing the "biometrics system" now common in various establishment using the thumbs in entering their establishment;

            3. I have seen this method being used in the Malaysia-Singapore borders, wherein workers coming from Malaysia who works in Singapore just put their thumbs in the machine and voila they are accepted immediately to enter Singapore if they have already records in place in the data base of the Immigration Bureau;

            4.  Cost could definitely go down since you will not be using so many unnecessary things like indelible ink, ballot secrecy folders, shading pen, reduction of BEI's from 3 to 1, official ballots, and other paraphernalia that is being used as of this 1st ever automated election in the Philippines.

            5. Voting could be reduced from one hour to just about five minutes.

Early results in Palompon, Leyte indicates that the winner in the mayoralty race is the former Mayor Ramon Onate against current Mayor Yoly Tupa with a big difference of about 5,000 votes.

 It has been said this is the result of the buying binge of voters. It so happens that the camp of Yoly Tupa blinked first, the result of which is the high attrition that turned into votes. It just shows that the people of Palompon is not yet educated and still can be blinded by dirty money if the source of the said money is evil; and corrupt money if the source comes from hard earned money. 




Saturday, May 8, 2010

Paalam nAPO taga Cebu.........The Apo HIking Society's Farewell Concert


VA - Kami nAPO Muna Ulit Tribute To APO Hiking Society by kozui1987.






PAHK Ball ( 14 June 2008 ) by ButchokoyD
May 5, 2010 was marked in my diary as APO day because it was scheduled as the final concert in Cebu of the long lasting singing trio, singing icons from the Philippines to be held in Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City. I started preparing early since I will be traveling from the neighboring island of Leyte, where the only trip in the morning is the Shuttle Ferry trip scheduled in the morning of May 5.

 The trip is a 6 hour travel from our place to Cebu City, by land and sea. Though it was a tiring and dusty trip, it was so encouraging, since I will be seeing for the last time in a live concert the famous Filipino trio whose achievement lasted for about forty years.

I arrived Cebu City around two thirty in the afternoon so I decided to rest for several hours after which I took a bath for a fresh feeling before going to the concert site about six in the evening. We arrived at the hotel still early and while waiting for the official entrance time in the concert hall, we decided to fill our tummy at the hotels canteen. Of course we did not eat in the classy restaurant available in the hotel but in the not so classy canteen reserve for workers and staff of the hotel. Well, the food taste good and the price affordable for a retiree like me, though I was not the one who paid for the food, but my wife.
APO HIKING SOCIETY by ViewCapture


Around seven o'clock we decided to follow the long file of people trying get ahead of the line to get the choice seats for themselves and their companions. Lucky for us, it did not last long and the staff decided to allow us to enter the concert hall to at least rest our tired feet and be comfortable inside the air-conditioned hall.While waiting inside, I was tempted to eat some of the food (snacks) we brought in, which made my companions smile, as if saying "we have just eaten and you're still hungry"?


It did not last long when the announcer happily announced that the show would start in five minutes. The front act was announced.......and Bituin Escalante without much ado made her grand entrance by singing a Burt Bacharach medley.


Burt F. Bacharach(pronounced /ˈbækÉ™ræk/BAK-É™-rak; born May 12, 1928) is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his pop hits from the early 1960s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David, many of which were produced for and recorded by Dionne Warwick.

As of 2006, Bacharach had written 70 Top 40 hits in the US, and 52 Top 40 hits in the UK.


In the early 1960s, Bacharach wrote well over a hundred songs with David. Bacharach and David were associated throughout the sixties with Dionne Warwick, a conservatory-trained vocalist whom the duo met in 1961. She began working for the duo when they needed a singer to "demo" their songs for other artists. Bacharach and David noticed that Warwick's demos often surpassed the quality of the performances others were recording[citation needed]. They started writing a portion of their work specifically with Warwick in mind, which led to one of the most successful teams in music history.[4]

Over a 20-year period, beginning in the early 1960s, Warwick charted 38 singles co-written or produced by Bacharach, including 22 Top-40, 12 Top-20, and nine Top-10 hits on the American Billboard Hot 100 charts. During the early '60s, Bacharach also collaborated with Bob Hilliard on a number of songs such as "Mexican Divorce" for The Drifters, "Any Day Now" forChuck Jackson, and "Dreamin' All the Time" and "Pick Up the Pieces" for Jack Jones.
Bituin did sung about four of Bacharach's songs, then she gave tribute to songwriter Willy Cruz by singing another three, after which the announcer immediately introduced the name associated with the APO Hiking Society......i.e. Boboy Garovillo, Danny Javier and Jim Paredes who is now an immigrant in Australia.


Heto na, written by Jim Paredes, was the first hit song that made the crowd swoon and croon.
 Followed immediately by Ewan (Mahal kita hindi eto bola), where they tell the crowd that the audience will see the hi-technology of their show wherein lyrics will be shown not on the screen but before them where they can follow the tune if they know it.

The crowd had a big laugh when Boboy produced an idiot board (paper where the background lyrics were written) and where the crowd sang enthusiastically and with gusto. They followed it up with Blue Jeans, a dance able song and another hit during the 70's.

What I admire with the trio is their ability to spice up the show by telling stories, especially their accomplishment in the last 40 years. Some of their accomplishments are the following which other artist would not be able to follow or do: more than 2700 concerts all over the world, particularly the USA, over 27 albums which are mostly hits or topping the local charts, and of course the longest running singing trio.

 They were able also to produce among themselves 9 children, 2 for Boboy, 3 for Jim and 4 for Danny. They were also married among themselves 4 times i.e. 1 for  Boboy, 1 for Jim and 2 for Danny. Two marriages and two annulments. Whew!

But the best part of this relationship is the friendship that they developed for all these years. Since high school in Ateneo de Manila where they met and started their career in singing, they have gone a long way and who knows they might regroup again if fans would insist.

They tell the audience about the friendship being more lasting and credible than other relationships. Thats why they lasted for more than 40 years and still going strong. They sang the song Panalangin which is about friendship followed up by Kaibigan composed by Danny Javier.

But what hit the crowd's (lol) was their rendition of a broken record (vinyl record of old) where they imitated the different problems affecting the playing of a vinyl record during those times. It was a hit because nobody have done it before. And they're so good at it that applause after applause can be heard at the Waterfront venue.

They then offered their next songs to the first timers, that is, those who are not yet married and still on the courtship stage.by starting with When I Met You, ala Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras the three tenors famous the world over. Then they followed it up by a medley of love songs after which they again made fun of Boboy by making him as a little kuliling (a small bell) while Danny as a kampanilla (bigger bell) and Jim as a kampana (big bell) because all these years Boboy have not grown in height.

Part three of their act was their interpretation of their songs through Rock and Roll (Jim Paredes) Cha-cha-cha (Danny Javier) and marching bands (Boboy). It was such a hit that they keep on changing costumes as they interpret the songs they sung with so much vigor and stamina that you would not think that they are senior citizens already. Apo Hiking Society - Photo 5 by hackundertaker


 But they keep on telling the crowd that they really appreciate the fans, especially the new ones who appreciate their songs in a new light. They are also indebted to all the bands who made a tribute to them by arranging their songs in a new way that new and younger audience can appreciate their music.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Henry Lhuillier Pawnshop/Jewelry Opens .......with Mayor Yoly and Loreta Tupa



Today May 3, 2010, marks another milestone for the people of Palompon, Leyte with the opening of Henry Lhuillier Pawnshop and Jewelry located right in front of SM shopping mall at Rizal Street with the Mayor himself and Mrs. Loreta Tupa doing the honors of cutting the ribbon, officially signalling the opening and Father Antonio P. Adre leading the blessing of the said place place.

The cutting of ribbon started at exactly 10:00 AM with the blessing immediately followed after with Mr Dante Verano of H. Lhuillier, area head for Region 8 representing management in the said affair.

Also present of course is the officer-incharge of the Palompon branch Ms. Jezzavel Cadavos and her able assistant Ms. Jinky Camacho.

There are other employees present coming from different branches in Leyte, as can be seen by the proliferation of yellow colors printed with the logo of the said company. Particularly present were Ms. Christine Mherry Aprilyn R. Bayate of Isabel Branch and also Ms. Jinky Unabia from Maasin City Branch 1.

After a little while or right after the blessing, it rained so to speak with candies and coins thrown in the air and direction of people converging in the small office space and even at the streets where some people are ogling and wondering whats happening, only to find out that its raining manna (i.e candies and coins) from heaven.

 Of course we cannot forget the food offered by the newly opened pawnshop/jewelry shop right after the blessing. Food that was catered by Beltran catering at Taft street, Palompon, Leyte. 

There were so many foods in the table, but at my age I am not particular anymore about whats on the table as long as there is fish of whatever cooking style it is, I am not adverse and will readily take it so long as my hungry stomach will be filled.  

Slowly afterwards, the employees assigned with the help of the area manager himself began accepting "prendas" from townfolks, the aim of which is to avail of the free T-shirt given free to the first 100 customers.

 I even tried to ask for an assessment of my personal ring which happily was given an assessment of P11,100.00. But I didn't immediately pawn it since I don't have any purpose of what I'll do with the proceeds of the money. 

From Noynoy to Gibo......with thanks.

As of today I have reluctantly changed my preference for president from Noynoy to Gibo. I have been waiting for Noynoy to speak categorically about his undying support to the Reproductive Health Bill which for my own belief is a source of so many evils that would affect the lives of not only Christians but other believers as well.

Advocates of the RH Bill keep on talking that population growth is the problem relative to the basic services that the government is giving its constituents. I don't believe that people should be blamed entirely, but bad people who have no conscience. People who takes away things intended for the whole community but because of greed and indifference, they don't give a damn as long as they can get what they want.

Corruption and greed is the cause of it all, not population explosion. If we only follow what God wants, then we can rest assure that God will make our lives fruitful as He Himself promised. I can now openly claim that I am not going against the natural law of God, that is preserving what He has created for the good not only of mankind but all of His creations.