SHARE Your Stories, Experiences, Comments, etc.

(To Post or Not to Post?)

Viganon Online was created for us!

And it keeps on improving such that other non-Viganons who have friends from our place like to be a member of or visit this site. But for it to be dynamic, relevant & enjoyable, it is incumbent upon us to do our share of contributing to it. We should join and chat with our fellow Viganons whether they are bagets, yuppies, oldies but goodies or young once. More importantly we should also share & post interesting articles and photos.

Being not good in writing, I could only appeal to all the more literary-inclined among the Viganons to post. Two things that confront my friends whom I share this appeal to post are – what to post and the fear they may not be good in writing.

Surely, there could be plenty of topics that could be written & posted here. There are issues, events, personalities etc. related to our barangay, our town, our province and our country that could be worth sharing. (How about your thoughts, ideas & photos on the recent fiesta – ang iyong pag binanog, pantomina buda bakayaw.)

Maybe a poll on "Dapat i-ban na ba (forever) ang kuartahan sa pagpili ng Miss Viga or any other Beauty Queen?".

How about a post of - Unique experiences of a Viganon in London, Alemanya, Benelux or Lion City or the land of Kiwis, Hudyo, Saud, or Mahathir or Sultan Bolk…etc. It could be in form of prose or poetry like a Tula para sa iyong dakilang minamahal…na pamuad na magayon…na nasa ibang nasyon. To my friends naka abot na yata ng debut sa bansa ng kamelyo, disierto & kurudo – how about your fishing, snorkeling & diving sa Red Sea (pula ba ang dagat? alimango ba doon ay kulay pula pero buhay pa? nakaka L daw ang gatas na kamelyo?); inano man ang Judas Cave o kaya ang lugar na sinasabing ang Noah’s Ark ay sumadsad noong humupa ang dakilang baha; bawal ba talaga tumingin sa babae? (boring naman!); Inano ang buhay noong 1st Gulf War? Totoo bang noon ang panindang ginto & alahas ay nasa bilao lang dahil wala pang eskaparate noon.

The topics seem endless if only we would let our imagination fly and SHARE!.

I also thought that readers will criticize me if I post an article here being not good in grammar & literature, balarila & panitikan. But I also remember what a former colleague told me that "criticizing is easier than composing". Besides, I read in a recent article by Max Soliven in Phil. Star that even Ninoy Aquino, our National Hero was removed by him from the staff of the official organ of Ateneo where he was the Managing Editor then because of bad grammar. Ninoy would later prove to be a great journalist by submitting articles written from the heart.

To post or not to post? This is not the only question.

Relatively, it is also – To share or not to share? To be active or to be passive? To be a reader only or to be a reader & a writer? Makichika sana or maging makata? Maging miron or mag-ambag? To keep my views to myself and not risk criticism or let my views be known and let it be criticized, discussed and the best ideas come out. To be a bystander or to be involved in an emerging online community?

The answer for me then, as I hope it will be for most of us, and I hope too it will start sooner than later is in the label of the yellow small stick on notes – Post it!

Ok,Ok, naghambog yata ako doon. My humble answer then is – The least I could do is to TRY!

rOKEba

CONGRATULATIONS!

A Viganon, Prof. RENE Tolod, is elected President of the Catanduanes State Colleges Federated Faculty Association in yesterday's (August 26, 2005) election. He hails from Sagrada, Viga, Catanduanes and now residing in OLV in Virac.

Rene, as he is fondly called by friends and acquaintances, is a long time faculty member of the CSC College of Education, P.E. Department.

As CSC FFA President, he will be representing the faculty sector of CSC and CSC Annex (CAIC) in the CSC BOT as Faculty Trustee succeeding the incumbent Dr. Rosario V. Azanza. He begins his term of office in the next BOT meeting and continue to serve for two years.

Congratulations Rene, congratulations Viganons, congratulations VIGA!

TO KILL an American

"To Kill an American", author an UNKNOWN Australian,

came from an email of a friend. I decided to post it here not

because I am pro-american but because I am of the opinion

that it has a universal message.

You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.

So an Australian dentist wrote the following to let everyone know what an American is,... so they would know when they found one. (Good on ya, mate!!!!)

An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek.

An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan.

An American may also be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.

An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim.

In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.

An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world.

The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need.

When Afghanistan was overrun by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country.!

As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan.

Americans welcome the best, the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes. But they also welcome the least.

The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America

Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. I've been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 other countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.

So you can try to kill an American if you must.

Hitler did.

So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of the world.

But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.

Author unknown

PHILIPPINES NOT THE MEANEST PLACE ON EARTH

THE PHILIPPINES IS NOT THE MEANEST PLACE IN PLANET EARTH AS WHAT THE SELF FLAGELLATING PESSIMISTS WOULD LIKE TO PROJECT ABOUT OUR COUNTRY.

Here are some of the countless positive developments, which the print and broadcast media would NOT even consider as news of interest:

1. PHILIPPINE AIRLINES FLIES HIGH, POSTS PHP1.50 BILLION PROFIT IN ONE QUARTER

This is among the most amazing turn around in the Philippine corporate history – from the brink of bankruptcy a decade ago back to a financially vibrant rehabilitated company ready to carry on the pride as the Philippine International Carrier.

2. TOYOTA MOTORS PHILIPPINES INC. HIKED EXPORTS OF AUTOPART BY 28% IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2005 TO USD 231 MILLION FROM USD 181 MILLION IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR

This proves the Philippines is a country that can manufacture technology products and compete with the best in the international market. Who says that the Philippines could not manufacture its own product?

3. LAFAYETTE MINING CONFIRMS BIG GOLD AND SILVER DEPOSITS IN RAPURAPU ALBAY

One of the pioneering company which availed of the new Philippine Mining act granting 100% foreign ownership.

4. THE CONSORTIUM OF SHELL PHILIPPINES EXPLORATION, SOUTH CHINA RESOURCES AND KUWAIT FOREIGN PETROLEUM TO START OIL AND GAS DRILLING PROJECT IN OFFSHORE NORTHEAST PALAWAN AT A COST OF PHP1.30 BILLION

This confirms the high level of confidence by oil exploration companies in the oil reserve potentials in the Philippines.

5. AUSSIE FIRM TO INVEST USD 117 MILLION or PHP 6.50 BILLION ON COPPER GOLD PROJECT

Even the Aussies gold miners are coming back after their debacle in the 80’s.

6. ePLDT EXTENDS Wi-Fi COVERAGE TO USA ASIA

Smoke signal will be a Jurassic era word.

7. THE PHILIPPINE CALL CENTER INDUSTRY IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING SECTOR WITH GROWTH RATE OF 100% PER ANNUM. IT IS EXPECTED TO GROW TO 60,000 SEATS AND 96,000 EMPLOYEES, EARNING TOGETHER WITH RELATED BUSINESS PROCESS AN ESTIMATED USD 960 MILLION OR PHP53.76 BILLION ANNUALLY

My goodness ! that means a lot more people working at night shift and jostling with the GRO’s and MASCULADOS for transport back home early in the morning.

Posted by: Jorge O. Macenas

A request from UPCAT LB

Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2005 06:31:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Ma. Ciefrel Tubale" <toinx_ciefrel@yahoo.com>
Subject: a request from UPCAT LB
To: jun_a_mariano@rocketmail.com

Dear Mr. Jun Mariano,

I am Ma. Ciefrel C. Tubale, currently studying at University of the Philippines Los Baños and taking up Agricultural Economics. Most importantly, I am a representative of the Outreach Committe of a varsitarian organization existing at our campus called UP CATANDUNGAN LOS BAÑOS. We are exclusive Catandungan students at UPLB who aims to give service to fellow Catandunganos either academically ( through our annual PADUNUNGAN QUIZ CONTEST, in case you've heard about it) and outreach activities (BLOOD-LETTING in cooperation with Red Cross Catanduanes Chapter).

Annually, we hold our Outreach activity, either gift-giving, medical mission or blood donation at certain parts of our province. My intention of writing to you is that if you could assist us by sending any on-line published articles from our newspapers or other resource materials there regarding the current poverty situation, malnutrition, education or literacy, orphans, including the highly affected or damaged municipalities or barangays in our province. This will inform us what kind of service, assisstance or help we can offer to them. Also, the data that we can get will help us in making proposals to companies in Manila who can donate some sufficient amount of goods especially to those poor rural areas who probably need most of our help.

We are looking forward to your response. Any form of help or suggestion by yours will be highly honored.

Thank You very much and Good day..


Ma. Ciefrel C. Tubale
UPCAT LB member

P.S. You can send all of your responses to this e-mail add due to the fact that our official website is currently under construction.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Mrs. Ma. Luisa Tumala-Dela Rosa who hails from San Jose (Poblacion) currently the Head Teacher II of San Roque Elementary School of the Viga West District passed the 2005 Educational Management Test (EMT), otherwise known as the Superintendent Examination, held at SEAMEO INNOTECH last May 28.

She is one among the 144 who passed the said examination from a field of 289 takers.

Mabuhay Mrs. Dela Rosa! Mabuhay Viganons! Mabuhay Viga!

THE BETTER SIDE OF THE PHILIPPINES

OTHER THAN
THE HELLO GARCI TAPES

Subject: Go Philippines!!!

The following was written by INTEL General Manager Robin Martin about the Philippines:

Filipinos (including the press, business people and myself) tend to dwell too much on the negative side, and this affects the perception of foreigners,even the ones who have lived here for a while. The negative perception of the Philippines is way disproportionate to reality when compared to countries like Columbia, Egypt, Middle East, Africa, etc.

Let us all help our country by balancing the negative with the positive especially when we talk to foreigners, whether based here or abroad.

Looking back and comparing the Philippines today and 1995 (the year I came back), I was struck by how much our country has progressed physically.

Consider the following:

1. The great telecom infrastructure that we have now did not exist in 1995. 1995 was the year the telecom industry was deregulated. Since then billions of dollars have been invested in both fixed line and cellular networks producing a system with over 5,000 kms of fiber optic backbone at a world competitive cost. From a fixed line capacity of about 900,000 in 1995 we now have over 7 million. Cellular phones practically did not exist in 1995; now we have over 11 million line capacity.

2. The MRT, many of the EDSA flyovers (including the Ayala Avenue flyover), the SKYWAY, Rockwell and Glorietta 4, the Fort, NAIA terminal 2 and most of the new skyscrapers were not yet built in 1995.

3. If you drive to the provinces, you will notice that national roads are now of good quality (international quality asphalt roads). I just went to Iba, Zambales
last week and I was impressed that even a not so frequently travelled road was of very good quality.

4. Philippine exports have increased by 600% over the past eight years. There are many, many more examples of progress over the last eight years. Philippine mangoes are now exported to the US and Europe.

Additional tidbits to make our people prouder:

1. INTEL has been in the Philippines for 28 years. The Philippines plant is where Intel's most advanced products are launched, including the Pentium IV. By the end of 2002, Philippine operations are expected to be Intel's biggest assembly and testing
operations worldwide.

2. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS has been operating in Baguio for over 20 years. The Baguio plant is the largest producer of DSP chips in the world. DSP chips are the brains behind cellphones. TI's Baguio plant produces the chip that powers 100% of all NOKIA
cellphones and 80% of Erickson cellphones in the world.

3. TOSHIBA laptops are produced in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

4. If you drive a BENZ, BMW, or a VOLVO, there is a good chance that the ABS system in your car was made in the Philippines.

5. TREND-MICRO, makers of one of the top anti virus software PC-Cillin (I may have mispelled this)develops its "cures" for viruses right here in Eastwood Libis, Quezon City. When a virus breaks in any computer system in the world, they try to find a solution within 45 minutes of finding the virus.

6. By the end of this year, it is expected that a majority of the top ten U.S. Call Center firms in the U.S. will have set up operations in the Philippines. This is one area in which I believe we are the best in the world in terms of value for money.

7. America Online (AOL) has 1,000 people in Clark answering 90% of AOL's global e-mail inquiries.

8. PROCTOR & GAMBLE has over 400 people right here in Makati (average age 23 years) doing back-up office work to their Asian operations including finance, accounting, Human Resources and payments processing.

9. Among many other things it does for its regional operations network in the Asia-Pacific region here in Manila, CITIBANK also does its global ATM programming locally.

10. This is the first year ever that the Philippines will be exporting cars in quantity courtesy of FORD Philippines.

11. The government is shedding off graft and corruption slowly but surely. This is the first time in our history that a former president is in jail and facing charges of plunder. Despite all odds, we are still pursuing the ill-gotten wealth of Marcos now enjoyed by his unrepentant heirs.

Next time you travel abroad and meet business associates tell them the good news. A big part of our problem is perception and one of the biggest battles can be won simply by believing and by making others believe.

This message is shared by good citizens of the Philippines who persevere to hope and work for our country.


posted by: Heidz M. Vega

To Viganons Anywhere in the World!

Your POSTS and/or COMMENTS are sought in this SITE we call HOME ON THE NET !

Let us make use of this site to interact with each other - just like whenever we are in Viga.

For inquiries on "HOW TO POST", I will be most glad to assist you, just please feel free to email me: jun.a.mariano@gmail.com

Pride of Viga - Board Topnotchers & Placers

Once again a Viganon has made us proud in the professional field by topping the recent Midwifery Board Examination. She is Priscilla Tubianosa Ogena, the daughter of Ampa Ogena & Goyo Tubianosa who is working at the Viga Emergency Hospital. Ms. Ogena is a consistent honor student at the Viga Central Elementary & Viga Rural Development High. She is still studying at the Bicol University for a Nursing degree.

Other past topnotchers & board placers in the top 10 (or 20 if published) who made Viganons proud too are as follows:

Medicine - Noemi Tupue, Jose Mora Jr.
Dentistry - Manly Boragay, Gundelino Tutanes, Michelle Tolod
Midwifery - Lourdes Villamartin
C.P.A. - Jerome Ubalde (grandson of Mayor Ben Ubalde)
Mechanical Engg. - Benedicto Tumala Jr.
Electrical Engg. - Apolonio Olarte Jr.
Mining Engg. - Raul Arrojo
Civil Engg. - Edwin Ogerio, Hazel Boragay
Geodetic Engg. - Hazel Boragay

To all of you who have made the extra effort to be the best among the best in your chosen profession – Congratulations and Good luck to your Career! May your tribe increase!

Maoorag baga ang mga Viganons!

Please note that this list may not be complete. Also, if you have any comment on this post, I would be glad if you could send it.

Cheers to all and Happy Fiesta 2005!