Its Owen for Congressman

Its Owen for Congressman

After the deadline of substitution for all candidates in the upcoming 2010 elections, it will be Eric “Owen” Singson, Jr. who is running after all as Representative of the second district of Ilocos Sur.

Singson substituted his former Congresswoman Grace Singson to be the official bet of the Lakas- Kampi party for the congressional seat which he will be contesting against unheralded Edwin Antolin.

It will be Owen Singson’s try to public service but with good grasp of the works in congress.

Singson helps his father, Deputy Speaker Eric Singson in Congress in some of his works in the Lower House.

“I will continue the programs of the Deputy Speaker Eric Singson for the continuous development of the whole district,” Singson assured.
Deputy Speaker Singson is serving his third consecutive term.

The younger Singson is a known businessman and still a bachelor. ( LBJ)

Feria de Candon Painting contest 2009

One of the highlights of the 2009 Feria de Candon celebration is the painting contest.

There were three categories; elementary, high school, college and out of school youth. Special contest was also open to the coaches/trainers of the contestants.

The contests used coconut husk, abel iloco and banig (mat) as canvass.

Chairing the competition is City Councilor George Valdez.

Candon hosts Region’s English Olympics

Candon hosts Region’s English Olympics

The combine efforts of the City Government and the Candon City DepEd Division resulted to the successful hosting of the Regional English Olympics.

The English Olympics is a battle between and among the best and the brightest contestants in the 14 DepEd divisions in the region in the elementary and high school division.

“We are glad that the city was able to be gracious host to the participants of the English Olympics. We tried our very best to help DepEd Candon Division to make it as an event to be remembered,” City Mayor Allen Singson said.

The theme of the said Olympics was “Achieving Millenium Development Goals through English Proficiency.”

The venues of the events were at Candon National High School, South Central School and Candon North Central School.

In the elementary division the contests were, Poem ( Grade I), Poem Recitation (Grade II), Spelling Bee (Grade III), Declamation (grade IV), Essay writing (Grade VI).

In the Secondary level, the events were Spelling Bee (first year), Declamation (Second year), Essay writing (third year) and Oration for Fourth year.

Candon City DepEd Education Supervisor Caridad Oasan was quick to admit that hosting such a regional event was tough.

“It was hard to host it but listening to the positive and nice impressions from the different divisions was enough to offset all our hard works, Oasan said

Oasan, the President of the Education Supervisors in English in the region, said that she divided the different tasks to the teachers for efficiency.

She lauded the efforts and cooperation of the whole officials of DepEd Candon, the teachers and the city government for their full backing.

The 14 participant DepEd divisions in Region I were Laoag City, Batac City, Ilocos Norte, San Fernando City, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Vigan City, Pangasinan 2, Alaminos City, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan 1, San Carlos City, Dagupan City and host Candon City.

The city which is the center of trade and commerce of the second district of Ilocos Sur is becoming a favorite host of regional events.

The city previously hosted the First Regional Arts Festival which had more than 2, 000 participants.(Danny Antalan and LBJ)

Candon City Officials re-visit City’s Vision

Candon City Officials re-visit City’s Vision

BAGUIO CITY- Candon City officials led by City Mayor Allen Singson had a successful two-day workshop recently as they re-visited their vision, mission and worked on the city’ Comprehensive Land Use Plan for and Comprehensive Development Plan.

“The workshop is part of the preparation for the future of our city especially for its continuous growth,” Singson said.

In attendance were other city officials, department heads, representatives of aligned government agencies, non- governmental organizations and the media.

Deputy Speaker Eric Singson and his wife, former Congresswoman Grace were invited as main guests.

They shared their knowledge, plans and foresights for the future of Candon.

Both served as mayors of the city.

Serving as facilitator in the two day workshop was Odette de Guia and her team.

The city’s vision is “A sub-regional growth center, nurtured by competent and committed leaders; and sustained by empowered and God-centered people living in a balanced environment.”

Its mission is “The City of Candon is committed to provide quality basic services to its people, particularly the disadvantaged, through research-based modernization, efficient utilization of resources, and sustained linkages with the stakeholders.”

Candon is the center of commerce, trade and education of the second district of Ilocos Sur.

It is the country’s biggest producer of Virginia tobacco.

Below are photos during the two-day workshop.

Miss Earth CCC- UNP Candon

Nine beauties of CCC- UNP Candon branch vied for the Miss Earth CCC- UNP crown.

The winners were Cherry Jadormeo ( Candidate no. 2 ) Miss Air, Corazon Sonio ( Candidate no. 1) Miss Water, Joanna Marie Friala ( Candidate No. 5) Miss Fire and the grand winner was Phoebe Ann Eugenio ( Candidate no 7) Miss Earth CCC- UNP 2009. (thank you to JhaJha Habab for giving us the results)

See some of the photos of the competition held at their gynmasium recently.

Cry of Candon (poem)

Ikkis Ti Candon: Marso 25, 1898

Virgilio S. Naungayan
Darapidap, Candon City

Lumabas dagiti tugot iti lanitok dagiti basnot
Iti panawen ti kullayot umukuok nga ut-ot
Rienda ti dangkok alimpatok ti kinarungsot
Gabsuon a tuok nagtalimudok a nakasiglot.

Nagumok dagiti dingraw, kumaw ken bakulaw
Iti ili nga inagaw ginamsaw pati kinapanglaw
Timek ar-araraw nagtagawataw a dung-aw
Nagintek ti am-ammangaw kimmubawbaw ti aligagaw.

Kutkutiman a dagensen nariing dagiti nakem
A kemkem iti gemgem buneng a natadem
Aneng-eng awan buteng nabibinigen a saem
Wayawaya allangonen inadipen ti panawen.

Yaalsa nairubbuat iti lab-at dagiti tagbat
Ilalasat iti tay-ak nasiglat a mannakigubat
Ridaw nanarpaak nasigpasigpat dagiti gabat
Nalettat dagiti sigkat tallukap dagiti batibat.

Iti temtem nayatang kampilan ti sanaang
Nagalipaga ti beggang kaipapanan ti dangadang
Nagkulpa ti darang naganggagang ti dangadang
Init nagparang iti kaunggan ti kaltaang.

Mabukra a lagip maikunukon lukong kadagiti barukong
Rambak a puon mataginayon a panaguummong
Talna ken dur-as maibungon nagtipon a bendision
Ikkis ti Candon: daton iti sidong ti agnanayon.

(Editor’s note: the poem was read by Mr. Naungayan during the celebration of Bannawag diamond tree planting at the City Plaza)

Mass Blood Donation project in Candon

Mass Blood Donation project:
Dr. Singson thanks blood donors and sponsors

It was for cause, many responded and the most so far
The Saint Joseph Institute batch 1984-88 led mass blood donation program produced 45 blood donors.

The donors were led no less by the group’s President Dr. Ericson Singson.

“I express my heart felt thanks to the blood donors. I hope they will continue doing it. I also thank the sponsors of the project,” Singson said.

The project is a joint sponsorship of the office of the Deputy Speaker, city government led by City Mayor Allen Singson, the city health office, Philippine Red Cross- Ilocos Sur Chapter and Saint Joseph Institute Class- 1984-88 (elementary- high school).

Helping out are the members of the Citizen’s Involvement and Service ( CIS), the association of Punong Barangays and radio station DZTP for the information dissemination.

“We support this endeavor because of the positive impact particularly concerning health concerns,” City Mayor Singson said who also came over to personally witnessed the procedures.

The one-day mass blood donation project produced the most number of blood donors so far in the city compared to the recent blood letting projects done in the city according to the PNR- Ilocos Sur chapter.

Dr. Singson said that the massive media campaign, the support of the government and belief of the donors for the cause of the program made it successful.

He also explained the benefits of donating blood.

“It will stimulate the production of new blood cells. It will refresh our circulatory system and reduce the excess iron in our blood,” Singson said.

Singson was helped by his elementary and high school classmates who wore red-shirts.

Also helping are the officials and staff of the City Health Office led by City Health Officer Dr. Narcisco Ramos Jr and Assistant City Health Officer Dr. Joy Villanueva who personally led their staff in assisting the team of the PNR- Ilocos Sur Chapter in the blood letting project.

The bulk of the donors came from the SJI 84-88 led by Singson himself; the members of the AFP, PNP BJMP and BFP; and CIS.
(LBJ)

Candon City joins nationwide nutrition month celebration

The month of July is marked as Nutrition Month. Nevertheless, the city of Candon usually starts a bit earlier than the nationwide commemoration. Candon City usually kicks-off with it with a tree planting activity, coincide with the city’s celebration of its Fiesta ti bantay (feast of the forest) every June 30th of the year.

Different exotic fruit trees were planted at the area adopted by the City Nutrition Council at the watershed development and reforestation project in barangay San Andres.

“ALLEN” as this year’s nutrition battle cry coined by our City Nutrition Action Officer; Nimfa P. Pascua was jibed in context with this year’s nutrition theme: Wastong Nutrition ang Kailangan, Lifestyle Diseases Iwasan.” “ALLEN” spells for Air we breathe, Liquid we imbibe and Lifestyle coupled with regular Exercise and proper Nutrition, It is an expression of City Mayor Allen Singson’s total advocacy on city nutrition program.

The celebration was formally opened with the launching of weight management program, which was highlighted by weighing and waist measurement of enthusiastic city employees and nutrition counselling conducted by our city nutritionist in coordination with the City Health Office.

The city nutrition office infused by the influx of enthusiasts and support given by the city government of Candon leave no stone unturned to carry-out with its activities queued for the month. The said office took the happenstance an apt opportunity to bring its program closer to the countryside by conducting its advocacy to the different barangays of Candon City.

The penultimate activity of the nutrition month was climaxed by a fun walk participated in by city employees, school teachers, barangay nutrition scholars, barangay health workers and participants from all walks of life. It was wrapped up with activities/events such as “hataw in the park” forefronted by the DepEd, free nutrition
counselling for all ages, lectures on healthy lifestyles given by Dean Malou Gandia of NLAC and food fares.
No less than Director Victoria Mañez graced these culminating events.

Indeed, some good activities never last, that nutrition month has to wind up this year. But the city of Candon through the office of the City Nutrition Action Officer bowed to keep the torch of nutrition program ever flickering from now and onwards. (Eric Gacutan).

This is it: the real Kandong Tree

This is it: the real Kandong Tree

The City of Candon search of the real kandong tree is over. The Kandong Tree search team led by Spm Oseas Diasen upon the instruction of City Mayor Allen Singson found it and this time with all evidence to prove it.

Kandong trees mean much to every Candonian because it is the most widely believe origin of its name.

Kandong as locally known to Candonians belongs to the family Melastomataceae. Recent research being conducted by the City Agriculture Office says that Melastomatacea is an Ironwood wood family.

It is believed that its lumbers were used to build our first cathedral.
As it is said to be a premium kind of tree species, superior in tensile strength, exceptional quality and outstanding texture. But all these were just mere myths to us present generation.

No one alive now could really single out what does the tree really looks like. Only few descendants of charcoal makers can give only but mirage hints as to the description and information about the tree.

By the way, the search for the real Kandong tree started from a plain discussion to local flocks.

It started out as just one of the topics brought out during our siesta time after a fulfilling boodle fight lunch prelude by a tree planting activity at the Watershed Development and Reforestation Project.

A certain Victor Bay-ongan and Eddie Barillo of barangay San Andres; descendants of earlier charcoal makers, related how kandong trees used to grow along the versants of the said barangay. Drifted by solicitous curiosity, the same group proceeded to the area where the two informants were saying to have a few stand of the said tree. Leaf and wood samples were then obtained for further study.

It was in this context that the City Agriculture Office launched sort of a re-search of the said tree. The team has gone as far as Santiago Island of Bolinao, Pangasinan, Aurora Province, Tabuk in Kalinga and San Emilio, Ilocos Sur. Two of the cited places recognized and identified the same kandong tree.

No less than Mayor Lorenzo “Boy” G. Bragado of San Emilio, Ilocos Sur and several residents of sitio Maguinudua of barangay Lancuas confirmed the presence of Kandong tree in their locality.

Bragado was quote saying “kandong was one of the oldest hardwood tree species we used as lumber and house construction materials before”.

“It used to lush our forest as one of the endemic tree species but because it was one of the most preferred wood for lumbers, it became rare” Mayor Bragado added. In Santiago Island, KASAMA; one of the most noted successful associations in buricraft making use kandong leaves as dye material. The team then tapped the expertise of two (2) foresters/dendrologists from the Agroforestry Department of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University at Bacnotan to identify the said tree in Bolinao.

To further the search and do not end up to just another fallacious hearsays, technical assistances were sought from the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), Manila and from the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) at Los Baños, Laguna.

In effect, NMP sent Dr. Domingo Madulid; Scientist IV-Curator and Forester Danilo Tandang of its Botany Division in order to make an ocular evaluation, study and documentation of the tree the City Agriculture Office allegedly claiming as the real kandong tree. Dr. Madulid and Forester Tandang took foliage samples of the tree and compared it with the voucher specimens available at the NMP herbarium.

As a result, the NMP in a sort of initial report, after careful morphological examination identified the tree scientifically as Memecylon lanceolatum, which has a common name in Dendrology (study of trees) as Kandong. The National Museum of the Philippines is the repository and guardian of the Philippines’ natural and cultural heritage which includes flora and fauna. Its Botany Division is tasked primarily to make a systematic inventory of Philippine flora and vegetation.

It maintains the national herbarium which is the reference collection of the different kinds of plants found in this country. At present the collection contains approximately 170,000 specimens.

The search still didn’t stop there. Wood samples were submitted to FPRDI for further recognition via wood physics evaluation. The Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) is one of the line agencies of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

It is the center of scientific breakthroughs and applied technologies on the utilization of forest-based products in the Philippines in response to the need for information and technology on the utilization of timber resources as well as non-wood forest products.

Again, wood samples which were taken from the tree taken from barangay San Andres matched with the seven (7) wood samples kept at the FPRDI archives obtained from seven (7) different provinces which call it kandong.

In order to arrive at impeccable logical deduction as basis for us to institute and establish in our locality through a city ordinance that the said tree is our long lost and the real Kandong tree, we would like to be one-hundred percent sure that it passes through painstaking scientific wood tests, evaluation and verifications.

The city agriculture office has now subjected the tree to wood (cross section and longitudinal examination), leaves, and floral evaluation; seek advices and technical expertise from legitimate scientists, foresters and botanists.

The National Museum of the Philippines is only waiting for the fruit specimen that will be matched up to the specimens at their herbarium before issuing the certification of authentication. Then the never ending search for the real kandong tree will be over. ERIC A. GACUTAN

Search for Kandon Tree Team:

Chairman : Spm Oseas I. Diasen
Project Leader : Elmor L. Leaño
Researcher : Eric A. Gacutan
Documentors : Leoncio G. Balbin Jr.
Arlon Serdenia
Danilo Antalan
Geoffrey Barredo

References/Advisers:
Dr. Domingo Madulid, Phd
Scientist IV-Curator
Botany Div., National Museum of the Philippine

Danilo Tandang
Forester II
National Museum of the Philippines

Fernando Petarque, Jr.
Chief, Anatomy and Dendrology Section-MPED
FPRDI, UP Los Baños, Laguna

Ramiro P. Escobin, PhD
Supervising Sci. Res. Specialist and Scientist I
Anatomy and Dendrology Section
FPRDI, UP Los Baños, Laguna

Dr. Orlando P. Almoite, PhD
Chancellor/Forester
DMMMSU

Mario Cadiente
Professor/Forester
DMMMSU

Ronald Estoque
Professor/Forester
DMMMSU

Another 1000 bags and school supplies for Candon City Grade I pupils

Another 1000 bags and school supplies for Candon City Grade I pupils

Another year another more than 1,000 bags and school supplies for Grade I pupils of Candon City.

Thanks to the continuous efforts of the city government headed by City Mayor Allen Singson to further help the education sector which is one of the top priorities of the city government.

“We will continue distributing bags and school supplies because it is one way of encouraging pupils to pursue their education especially at the start of their educational climb,” Singson said.

Singson accompanied by City Vice Mayor Nestor Itchon, City Councilors Rhodana Abrero and Rosario Villalobos distributed 1, 219 to 29 primary and elementary schools in the city.

Aside from the bag, school supplies are included like notebooks, papers, pencils, scissor and eraser.

The bag distribution program started in 2005.

The city has now distributed a total of 5, 746 bags.

The bags are designed and made by members of the Alay sa HanapBuhay, a non-governmental organization in Candon with most of the members are housewives. (LBJ)