Philippine Medical Society of Northern California

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 26, 2011) – Dr. Herman Valle, head of mission of the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California receives a plaque of recognition and appreciation from Acting Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon for their full support and service to the province of Sarangani during the Grand Surgical – Medical Mission 2011 thanksgiving dinner at Family Country Hotel. (SARANGANI INFORMATIONOFFICE/Ivan Arroyo)

Maharlika Charity Foundation, Inc.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 26, 2011) – Members and staff of Maharlika Charity Foundation, Inc. headed by mission director Dr.Benedict Edward Valdez (4th left) receives a plaque of recognition and appreciation from Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (3rd left) andthe provincial government of Sarangani for their contribution and as one of the major partners in the conduct of the weeklong Grand Surgical – Medical Mission 2011 at Provincial Capitol. (SARANGANIINFORMATION OFFICE/Ivan Arroyo)

Token

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 22, 2011) - Glan Councilor and co-owner of Sarangani Highlands Resort Dr. Tranquilino Ruiz gives a photo frame of a Blaan lass to Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman as a token as Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Hermelo Latoja looks on during the consultative meeting of the Secretary with all local chief executives of Sarangani province as part of the Regional Convergence Roadshow Friday, January 21, at Sarangani Highlands Resort and Restaurant. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Consultative meeting

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 22, 2011) - Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman speaks at the consultative meeting with local chief executives of Sarangani province as part of the Regional Convergence Roadshow Friday, January 21, at Sarangani Highland Resort and Restaurant. With her at the panel are DSWD regional director Bai Zorahayda Taha, Acting Vice Governor Hermie Galzote and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Hermelo Latoja. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Hospital visit

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 21, 2011) – Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon wears a surgical gown together with some US Army personnel in preparing to visit the operating room of SokSarGen County Hospital where major surgeries are conducted for the Grand Surgical–Medical Mission in partnership with the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California, Provincial Government of Sarangani, Maharlika Charity Foundation, Inc. and other local partners. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Ritchie Tongo)

Grand Surgical-Medical Mission Team

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 16, 2011) – Doctors, nurses and medical staff from the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California headed by Dr. Hernan Valle (4th right) together with Board Member Virgilio Clark Tobias (center) and department heads take a souvenir photo as they arrive at General Santos City International Airport Saturday, January 15, for the weeklong Grand Surgical–Medical Mission in Sarangani on January 17–21. A total of 250 foreign and local doctors, medical practitioners, and volunteers will participate in the mission. The five-day activity will be composed of general medical, pediatric, general surgical services and dental services for free. This is in partnership with the Provincial Government of Sarangani, Maharlika Charity Foundation, Inc., and other local partners. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Bon-Bon Quiño)

Board Member Tobias welcomes medical team

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 16, 2011) – Board Member Virgilio Clark Tobias (center) together with some department heads of Provincial Capitol welcome the medical team from the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California at the tarmac of General Santos City International Airport Saturday, January 15. The team will spearhead the Grand Surgical–Medical Mission at Provincial Capitol on January 17–21. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Bon-Bon Quiño)

Acting Governor welcomes medical team

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 16, 2011) – Acting Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (center) and Board Member Virgilio Clark Tobias (right) welcome the medical team of Philippine Medical Society of Northern California (PMSNC) at General Santos City International Airport Saturday, January 15, for the Grand Surgical–Medical Mission at the Provincial Capitol from January 17 to 21. This mission is in partnership with the Provincial Government of Sarangani, PMSNC, and Maharlika Charity Foundation, Inc. together with other local partners. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Bon-Bon Quiño)

Artist from Sarangani

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (December 21, 2010) - Ronald Tamfalan, a Tboli artist from Kiamba,Sarangani does an on-the-spot painting during the exhibit of his visual art works at the atrium of Robinsons Place Gensan. His exhibit will end on December 24. Tamfalan is known for his tnalak painting in oil. (COCOY SEXCION/Sarangani Information Office)

Rescue retrieval operation

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (December 16, 2010) – Participants of search andrescue training work on their rescue retrieval operation as part oftheir 20-day training at Nopol Hill, barangay Mabuhay. The activitywas in partnership with the Provincial Government of Sarangani, MLGUof Malapatan, Kiamba and Maasim and the 505th 3rd Search and Rescue Squadron of Philippine Air Force based in Davao City. (SARANGANIINFORMATION OFFICE/Ivan Arroyo)

SMART cellphone winners

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (December 11, 2010) - Members of Tri-MediaAssociation of Socsargen pose with SMART cellphone raffle draw winners Jojo Bacalanmo (5th from left) of Bombo Radyo and Boyet dela Cerna (3rd from left) of ESCALERA Balita with their president Mario Basilio (2nd from left), during the Christmas party of the association held at Tropicana Beach Resort Saturday, December 11. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Mindanaoans culminate Week of Peace; aim for sustainable development

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (December 1, 2010) – Peace Network composed of local officials of South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City (SOCSARGEN), the Bishop Ulama Conference and the Kapayapaan Kapatid Council, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, students, peace and justice advocates joined the culmination program of the yearly Mindanao Week of Peace Wednesday (December 1).

With the theme “Responsive and Responsible Governance: Key to Peace Development and Sustainability”, the yearly convention aims to develop peace consciousness and as everyone’s concern.

“Despite cultural diversity, Sarangani is a peaceful province because our communities do their part,” Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez said.

“The answer is not with us, your government officials, but with the sincerity of the heart of everyone in the community.”

When you go back to your homes, remember the responsibility is in our hands by becoming ‘attorneys’ and ‘judges’ for peace in our community.”

Organizer and program manager of Kalinaw Sarangani Program Jocelyn Lambac-Kanda lauded participants from Sarangani’s farthest communities who braved bad weather to attend the event.

Sarangani has 50 peace and development communities assisted by the program in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme - Act for Peace. These communities are the most impoverished and conflict affected areas in the province during the 70s.

These communities have begun to develop with livelihood assistance from the Act for Peace and the Kalinaw inculcating the communities the value of peace.

In a testimony, SPO2 Abuhari Pangolima bore witness of how the culture of peace training has changed his character as a law enforcer.

“All I want for the people of Polomolok (South Cotabato) where I am assigned is to know that I am a good and peace-loving drug abuse resistance education officer,” Pangolima said.

“Before you can be a peace builder, you must first learn to accept your own identity,” youth for peace representative Joylen Cabanda- Balandan said. Balandan is a pure-blooded Blaan from Sarangani.

“Peace is what we are all longing for,” Koronadal City Mayor Peter Miguel said. “There must be peace in our hearts, in our actions, in our reactions.”

“In our days, there is yet no perfect situation for peace that’s why we have here the International Monitoring Team from Malaysia and that is why we hold hands together.”

Peace partner Gerry Roxas Foundation representative Rosamund Parado said it has conducted trainings to 12,000 peace volunteers in 1,500 barangays of 21 provinces since 1998.

“Our objective is to strengthen the barangay justice and peace system,” Parado said. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Palao Village Performing Arts

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (December 1, 2010) – Members of the Palao Village Performing Arts perform at the Peace Advocates Convention and culmination program of the Mindanao Week of Peace Wednesday, December 1. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Koronadal Mayor Peter Miguel

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (December 1, 2010) – Koronadal Mayor Peter Miguel assures the rest of the region that his town does its part to sow peace in this part of Mindanao at the Peace Advocates Convention and culmination program of the Mindanao Week of Peace Wednesday, December 1. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Kapamayagong Kulintant Group

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (December 1, 2010) – Members of the Kapamagayong Kulintangan Group perform at the Peace Advocates Convention and culmination program of the Mindanao Week of Peace Wednesday, December 1. The group championed Sarangani’s Kulintangan competition at the MunaTo Festival last week. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

San Miguel Foods oath taking

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (December 1, 2010) – Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez administers the oath taking ceremony of the officers of San Miguel Foods, Inc. SOCSARGEN Contract Growers Association Wednesday, December 1, at the East Asia Royal Hotel. Dominguez urged the officers to maximize resources in the region and aim to be a major food player in the country. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Gov. Migs on Mindanao Week of Peace

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (December 1, 2010) – Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez gives an inspirational message on how communities in the province do their part in maintaining peace and become agents of peace at the Peace Advocates Convention and culmination program of the Mindanao Week of Peace Wednesday, December 1, with its theme “Responsive and Responsible Governance: Key to Peace Development and Sustainability”. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Certificate of appreciation from San Miguel Foods Inc.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (December 1, 2010) – Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez receives a certification of appreciation from San Miguel Foods, Incorporated SOCSARGEN Contract Growers Association President Rodrigo Ciudadano for being the guest of honor and inducting officer of the association’s oath taking ceremony Wednesday, December 1, at the East Asia Royal Hotel. Dominguez offers Sarangani’s capital town, Alabel, as the association’s next possible investment. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Family friends

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (November 27, 2010) – Long time friends Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon and Vice President Jejomar Binay walk through the Buayan airport as Vice President Binay arrives Friday, November 26, to grace the provincial employees’ day as Sarangani celebrates its 18th Foundation Anniversary and 8th MunaTo Festival. (Ritchie Tongo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Trooping the line

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (November 26, 2010) – Vice President Jejomar Binay troops the line as he arrives at the Buayan airport to grace the provincial employees’ day Friday, November 26, as the province celebrates its 18th Foundation Anniversary and 8th MunaTo Festival. (Ritchie Tongo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)