Friday, January 25, 2008

Pages 22-24 of Sarangani Product Catalogue




Pages 25-27 of Sarangani Product Catalogue




Page 28-30 of Sarangani Product Catalogue




Sen. Chiz opens Bangsi Festival


MAITUM, Sarangani (January 25, 2008) – Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero opens the 1st Annual Bangsi Festival in Maitum with (from left) Mayor Elsie Perrett, Gov. Migs Dominguez and Vice Gov. Steve Solon. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

200 turtles released


MAITUM, Sarangani (January 25, 2008) – For environmental awareness, residents release at least 200 turtle hatchlings at dawn Friday, January 25, as part of the 1st Annual Bangsi Festival in Maitum. (Photo by MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

Bangsi Festival Exhibits


MAITUM, Sarangani (January 25, 2008) – Muslim-inspired exhibits are shown at the 1st Annual Bangsi Festival in Maitum Friday, January 25. Maitum is toasting its One Town, One Product – the marinated flying fish – and promoting its diverse culture, tourism, and economic potentials. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Bangsi delicacies contest


MAITUM, Sarangani (January 25, 2008) – Bakbak (mountain frog) con Caldo, Gata de Bangsi (flying fish in coconut milk), Bangsi with Butter, Ginataang Kinilaw na Bangsi, Bangsi Afritada, Bangsi Chorizo, Tosinong Palaka and Kungfu Paniki are the recipes fielded at the bangsi and exotic delicacies contest Friday, January 25, as one of the highlights of Bangsi Festival. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Annual Bangsi Festival opener



MAITUM, Sarangani (January 25, 2008) – Student performers depict the cycle from catching to selling of flying fish (bangsi) at the opening program of Maitum's 1st Annual Bangsi Festival Friday, January 25. The dance indicates how significant flying fish catching plays in the livelihood of the community, which is done whole year round, with peak season noted during September to May. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Vice Gov. hails fishing families



MAITUM, Sarangani (January 25, 2008) – Vice Gov. Steve Solon hails fishing families of bangsi (flying fish) for practicing unity in the household. The vice governor said that in fishing households, the men capture flying fish while the women and children do fish drying and marinating activities. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Gov. promotes One Town, One Product



MAITUM, Sarangani (January 25, 2008) – Gov. Migs Dominguez buys locally-made products at the 1st Annual Bangsi Festival Friday, January 25, where Maitum toasts its One Town, One Product – the marinated flying fish. The two-day celebration also honors the fisher-folk who capture flying fish or bangsi for livelihood. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Durian Pastillas


KIAMBA, Sarangani (January 24, 2008) - Mayor Rom Falgui tastes the coco sugar-sweetened durian pastillas prepared by members of Rural Improvement Cooperative in barangay Kapate where agri-technology clinic, health services, livelihood training and other basic services were conducted by municipal personnel Thursday, January 24, as part of the mayor's "ROM Service sa Barangay". (Photo by KIAMBA NEWS & INFO CENTER)

Carabao ownership


KIAMBA, Sarangani (January 24, 2008) – A worker from the Municipal Treasurer's Office pins the marking rod against the skin of a carabao during the "Rom Service sa Barangay" of Mayor Rom Falgui with free marking and deworming of livestock in barangay Kapate Thursday, January 24. (Photo by KIAMBA NEWS & INFO CENTER)

Turn-over


MALUNGON, Sarangani (January 24, 2008) - Mayor Reynaldo Constantino (left), Gov. Migs Dominguez and Simon Pacheco, president of Lower Biangan Irrigators Association, sign the turn-over documents during the ceremonial intake gate opening of the rehabilitated Lower Biangan Communal Irrigation System Thursday, January 24. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Irrigation briefing


MALUNGON, Sarangani (January 24, 2008) – Gov. Migs Dominguez gets a briefing from Engr. Ali Satol, National Irrigation Administration provincial superintendent, during the ceremonial intake gate opening of the rehabilitated Lower Biangan Communal Irrigation System Thursday, January 24, in Malungon. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Communal irrigation system


MALUNGON, Sarangani (January 24, 2008) – Gov. Migs Dominguez cuts the ceremonial ribbon going to the intake gate of the rehabilitated Lower Biangan Communal Irrigation System Thursday, January 24, in Malungon. The P4-million project funded by Department of Agriculture - Food Security Program and implemented by National Irrigation Administration would benefit 98 members of barangay Lower Biangan Irrigators Association covering 48 hectares of rice field. Also in photo are Malungon Mayor Reynaldo Constantino and Engr. Ginalyn Fe Cahuela, project manager. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Releasing of pawikan



MAITUM, Sarangani (January 23, 2008) – Releasing of pawikan (marine turtle) at the pawikan hatchery in barangay Old Poblacion is one of the events during the Bangsi Festival on January 25 and 26 which also aims to raise awareness on environmental conservation. (Photo by MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

Marinated flying fish



MAITUM, Sarangani (January 23, 2008) – The municipality of Maitum will celebrate Bangsi Festival on January 25 and 26 to promote its One Town, One Product – the marinated flying fish or bulad. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Maitum's fisher folk


MAITUM, Sarangani (January 23, 2008) – Fisher-folk in barangay Old Poblacion in Maitum, most of whom capture flying fish or bangsi for livelihood, crowd the beach during an ordinary fishing day. The municipality will celebrate the Bangsi Festival on January 25 and 26 in their honor. (Photo by MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

Bangsi Festival in Maitum, Jan. 25-26

MAITUM, Sarangani (January 23, 2008) – Maitum will toast its One Town, One Product – the marinated flying fish – with the first Bangsi Festival on January 25 and 26.

Residents and guests will also roast 1,000 kilos of flying fish, locally known as bangsi, during the Sugba-sugba sa Kadalanan event.

Sen. Francis Escudero and Gov. Migs Dominguez are expected to attend the opening program Friday morning, to be followed by a contest on "Ultimate Bangsi Delicacies/Barangay Exotic Delicacies" and fluvial parade and street-dancing the next day.

According to a resolution passed by the Sangguniang Bayan declaring the Bangsi Festival, marinated flying fish or bulad "is highly significant to the municipality because it is one of the top producers of marinated flying fish and other fish by-products within SOCSARGEN area."

The festival would give "more meaning to its One Town, One Product for purpose of promotion to boost the morale of its fisher-folk aiming for higher family income as well as its diverse culture, tourism, and economy."

The festival's theme is "Masaganang Maitum," which is also the town's official promotional slogan.

Coastal barangays here offer high economic potential due to the abundant catch of flying fish, availability of local skills in fish processing, and unique technology on marinating fish being practiced by residents.

Based on a survey by the Center for Advancement and Strengthening of Community Property Rights (CASCO), majority of the fishing households has pamangsihan, a gear used in catching flying fish.

"This indicates how significant flying fish catching plays in the livelihoods of the community, which is done whole year round, with peak season noted during September to May," CASCO said.

"The men are the ones involved in capture fishing while the women are in fish drying and marinating activities," CASCO added. (MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

School Site donors


KIAMBA, Sarangani (January 23, 2008) – Mayor Rom Falgui and Governor Migs Dominguez give the certificate of appreciation to the elders of Lingcay and Andrada families during the inauguration of new school buildings in Kayupo Elementary School Wednesday, January 23. The two families have donated a huge portion of their prime lots to the local government for the expansion of the public school. (Photo by KIAMBA NEWS & INFO CENTER/RDA)

Abaca


KIAMBA, Sarangani (January 23, 2008) – A father and son who are abaca farmers stack their fiber in a motorcycle after hours of carrying their product from sitio Tabotong in barangay Nalus. Watching them are (center to right) Governor Migs Dominguez, Engr. Gina Cachuela from Department of Agriculture, and Mayor Rom Falgui who are in the area Wednesday, January 23, for the groundbreaking ceremony of the P7.5 million Tabotong-Linek farm-to-market road project. Sitio Tabotong is one of the prime producers of abaca, tomato, onion, pepper and other crops in the municipality and neighboring towns. (Photo by KIAMBA NEWS & INFO CENTER/RDA)

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Coral Garden


KIAMBA, Sarangani (January 19, 2008) – With the coral garden of Tuka Marine Park visible above the water surface, Mayor Rom Falgui disembarks a patrol boat away from the shore so as not to disturb the delicate corals during his visit Saturday, January 19. Tuka Marine Park is a prime tourist destination in the municipality and a coral colony the local government protects. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Marine ranger


KIAMBA, Sarangani (January 19, 2008) – Marine ranger Vicente Menamen patrols the environs of Tuka Marine Park Saturday, January 19. Tuka Marine Park is a prime tourist destination in the municipality and a coral colony the local government protects. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Octopus


KIAMBA, Sarangani (January 19, 2008) – Tony Malanguis shows a live octopus he bought from a fisherman coming to shore from Celebes Sea early Saturday, January 19. By the shores is the four-cove Tuka Marine Park which the local government protects. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Bakbakan sa Maasim 3


MAASIM, Sarangani (January 16, 2008) - Vice Governor Steve Solon awards the championship belt to Ritchie Mepranum. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Bakbakan sa Maasim 2


MAASIM, Sarangani (January 16, 2008) - Ritchie Mepranum connects a right jab to the head of Allan Ranada during the main event and championship bout of Bakbakan sa Maasim Tuesday, January 15, at the municipal gym. Mepranum, Philippine Boxing Federation flyweight defending champion, won the bout via a unanimous decision and improved his record to 19 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss and 8 by way of knockout. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Bakbakan sa Maasim 1


MAASIM, Sarangani (January 16, 2008) - Ritchie Mepranum delivers a left hook to the body of challenger Allan Ranada during the main event and championship bout of Bakbakan sa Maasim Tuesday, January 15, at the municipal gym. Mepranum, Philippine Boxing Federation flyweight defending champion, won the bout via a unanimous decision and improved his record to 19 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss and 8 by way of knockout. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Monday, January 14, 2008

Turnover of command


MALAPATAN, Sarangani (January 14, 2008) - Governor Migs Dominguez expresses his congratulations to Lt. Col. Manuel Sequintin (extreme right on stage), incoming battalion commander of the 66th Infantry Brigade during the turnover of command Monday, January 14, from outgoing battalion commander Col. Fidel Legiralde (3 rd from right). (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/WYT)

Pamasko from PGMA


GLAN, Sarangani (January 14, 2008) – Governor Migs Dominguez speaks before the 842 beneficiaries who are about to receive the Pamaskong Handog Para sa Masa of assorted grocery items from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, National Food Authority, and the local government of Sarangani in Glan Monday, January 14. Officials have been distributing the same to the municipalities since last week. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/WYT)

Outreach Project


KIAMBA, Sarangani (January 14, 2007) - Maria Fe Falgui, wife of Kiamba Mayor Rom Falgui, talks to parents and their kids Sunday, January 13, at a learning center in barangay Tual during the Miss Kiamba 2008 candidates' outreach project. Ms. Falgui, chair of Miss Kiamba 2008 search committee, took along the candidates to give free meals and distribute freebies to 114 pre-schoolers. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

Ms. Kiamba Candidates



KIAMBA, Sarangani (January 13, 2008) - Ms Kiamba 2008 candidates take a photo ops Saturday, January 12, during their tree planting activity near Bucay-il Falls in Kiamba. The coronation night is on February 13 in celebration of the town's Timpuyog Festival and 60 th foundation anniversary. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/CAS)

The Highlands view to Sarangani Bay


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 13, 2008) - The resto at Tambler, General Santos City overlooks the city and Sarangani Bay. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Inside Sarangani Highlands


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 13, 2008) - View, ambience, food, and hospitality make Sarangani Highlands Garden and Restaurant a soothing destination in Gensan. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Highland owners with guests


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 13, 2008) – Governor Migs Dominguez poses with (to the governor's right) Dr. Tranquilino Ruiz II and Dr. Ana Belle La Paz Abella with Vice Governor Steve Solon (5th from right) and guests enjoying the view and services at Sarangani Highlands. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Docctors in hospitatlity business

By Russtum G. Pelima
Photos by Cocoy Sexcion

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 13, 2008) – Blending medical profession with culinary arts and the hobby of landscaping, doctors Ana Belle La Paz Abella and Tranquilino Ruiz II are into a unique business more than they thought.

View, ambience, food, and hospitality - these have made the Sarangani Highlands Garden and Restaurant owned and managed by the two doctors, to be more than a restaurant business.

The resto which opened in September is located in Tambler, General Santos City, overlooking the city and Sarangani Bay.

"The soft music from the Gazebo, the sound of flowing water into a pond at the garden in the softness of the night - it's therapy," said Tina, one of the customers I met the night I was there.

While the name speaks of the fascinating view of Sarangani Bay from the ridge, Sarangani Highlands is a metaphor of wedding two places, so a poet would say - seeing the beauty of nature from the city.

"At first, we feel like simply putting here a rest house or a big bamboo cottage where maybe our colleagues of family medical doctors could use to convene and rest," Dr. Abella remembered.

But as the two doctors started to beautify and develop the place, their interest grew and began to expand the area, with Abella buying up to 2.3 hectares of land.

Now the limestone is mantled with green grasses that dressed up the main gazebo, the Molave Kiosk, the Raja Buayan Hall and Plaza Sarangania that seemed to decorate the whole place.

Tiny bulbs of red, blue, green and yellow light up the leaves of trees and flowers everywhere.

Shine from the moon and the stars appear to voluntarily flood the garden restaurant roof, adding to the therapy of the cold breeze coming from the bay.

The city lights seem to be passing across the waters of the bay.

On a clear day, Sarangani Highlands is a vantage point to see the historical Sumbang Point in Glan to the East and the getaway to Celebes through the sea in the West. With the sea wind gushing, Sarangani Highlands is a rock-a-by at the chest of Sarangani Bay.

Love and passion must be Ruiz and Abella's unique business. After practicing their profession in medicine - Abella for 22 and Ruiz for 25 years now - the work of hospitality is everything for them.

"I would say customer service is our business," Dr. Ruiz said. "It comes naturally. That's what we do to our patients back in the clinic and the hospital."

Ruiz owns a family clinic in Glan while serving the poblacion as a barangay kagawad. Visitors of the province would always drop by the Ruiz family memorabilia which he patiently collected and preserved over the years.

Abella, the more entrepreneur one, served as chief of hospital in Glan district hospital for nine years before putting up her own hospital in Barangay Calumpang three years ago.

"In the garden, Belle would usually pick dried leaves that fell from the plants, cleans up the trunks with her bare hands, reminds the boys of trimming and picking up cigarette butts. Her idea of cleanliness," Ruiz mused.

"Usually you can see the food business' success after three months. On the fourth month the sale could be falling, but here we are six months and up," store supervisor Zoe Cordero said.

Cordero has been in the food business for 10 years now and had practiced his culinary arts abroad.

Six uniformed waiters earn minimum wage in an eight-hour a day broken time duty, plus overtime pay when the place has to close beyond 10 o'clock in the evening. The Highlands opens at 10:00 a.m..

The restaurant has three chefs. Ruiz and Abella who had never absented themselves for customers in the evening, would entice them with their own favorite recipe before showing the list.

"It's more than selling. We enjoy just the thought of our own favorite food which we wish them to taste," Ruiz related.

Ruiz said the local government of General Santos began to be supportive of their place. After dining here several times with his family and some visitors, Mayor Jun Acharon directed City Hall to put up a mercury lamp fronting its entrance.

More often with visitors and tourists to the province are Governor Migs Dominguez and Vice Governor Steve Solon themselves who said they enjoy the view and the services at Sarangani Highlands.

"Everyone wants to be the first customer when we open our Asian spa this summer where one could just walk in from the coffee shop we are now structuring," the doctors said. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)

Friday, January 11, 2008

Science lab & solid waste facilities


MALAPATAN, Sarangani (January 11, 2008) – Governor Migs Dominguez inspects the solid waste management and science laboratory facilities from USAID thru Alcantara Foundation & PBSP to Lun Padidu National High School Friday, January 11. As counterpart, the school installs the water system facility, laboratory room and cabinets for the safety of the equipment. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/ATS)

For computer laboratory


MALAPATAN, Sarangani (January 11, 2008) – Governor Migs Dominguez and teachers attend the turn-over of computers from USAID thru Alcantara Foundation & PBSP to Lun Padidu National High School Friday, January 11. As counterpart, the school provides the computer laboratory room. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/ATS)

Two-door school


MAASIM, Sarangani (January 11, 2008) – Children fall in line outside the Benge Primary School for their Pamaskong Handog (Christmas presents) from Department of Education personnel Thursday, January 10. The school, which caters only to Grades I and II pupils, lies 26 kilometers uphill from the nearest national highway in Maasim. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/ATS)

Gift giving


MAASIM, Sarangani (January 11, 2008) – A kid struggles to keep his Pamaskong Handog (Christmas presents) intact during the Department of Education gift-giving Thursday, January 10, at Benge Primary School. Teachers gave bags of rice, toothpaste, tooth brush, soaps, noodles, biscuits, and school supplies to 105 pupils while 37 women and mothers received used clothing in this hard-to-reach village which lies 26 kilometers uphill from the nearest national highway in Maasim. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/ATS)

Class home


MAASIM, Sarangani (January 11, 2008) – Pupils at the hinterland Benge Primary School wait for the call to get their Pamaskong Handog (Christmas presents) from Department of Education personnel Thursday, January 10, inside the school they call their "Class Home". Teachers gave bags of rice, toothpaste, tooth brush, soaps, noodles, biscuits, and school supplies to 105 pupils while 37 women and mothers received used clothing in this hard-to-reach village which lies 26 kilometers uphill from the nearest national highway in Maasim. (Photo by SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/ATS)