the staff - community

CM volunteers visit Tigbao

A round 20 high school and college volunteers from

the Campus Ministry visited Brgy. Tigbao during

their first outreach program for this school year, June 2.

They distributed snacks,

toys, and school supplies to pre-

school children. The goods were

donated by the students before the

end of last school year. According to Carol C.

Salimbagat, CM coordinator, the

day care teachers were grateful

since the pencils and pad papers

would be needed for the opening

of classes.

The outreach program was

organized in coordination with the

high school and college student

councils.

The CM has already lined

up activities for the school year. The volunteers held their

community building and facilitat-

ing seminars and inter-school

leadership training during the first

three months.

Aside from the regular

mass every Wednesday and the

first Friday of the month, the CM

also organizes the recollections

for students enrolled in the differ-

ent religious study courses and

retreat for the senior students.

The CM, together with the Society of Mary, spearheaded the

celebration of the Nativity of the

Virgin Mary on Sept. 8.

The CM also organized the

opening and culmination of the

Month of Rosary in October.

For the second half of the

school year, CM will sponsor the

Mass for the Immaculate Concep-

tion on Dec. 8.

The CM will conduct the

retreat for senior high school stu-dents in December.

In January 2012, the CM

will organize the retreat for col-

lege students.

The Basic Ecclesiastical

community seminar for RS 6 stu-

dents will be on Feb. 12

(Reymund D. U. Jugalbot)

Outreach program. Carol Salimbagat, Campus Ministry coordinator,

distributes school supplies and foodstuff to the pre-school children at

Tigbao Barangay Hall.

Fire razes

seven shops

S even business estab-

lishments were burned

down when a fire hit the

Phase 6 of the Sindangan

Public Market Building,

July 22.

Estimated damage to prop-

erty was around P3 million.

Arson was ruled out by the

Bureau of Fire Protection.

According to the BFP, Liza Naong–Isic, an employee at

Donex Foodhouse, was preparing

food at around 4 a.m. when she

saw that the restaurant was al-

ready on fire.

Isic, the only reported vic-

tim, suffered burns on her face

and left arm.

Aside from the eatery, the

fire also gutted a PCSO lotto out-

let, two optical clinics, a store-

house, a pawnshop, and a hard-ware shop.

Four units of the Nego-

Kart, a livelihood program of the

Department of Labor and Em-

ployment, were also burned as

these units were kept by the re-

cipients near the eatery at night-

time, according to Leonor Agui-

lar, manager of the Public Em-

ployment Service Office.

The local branch of Philip-pine National Bank was spared

from the blaze due to its firewall.

According to a bank em-

ployee, they were offline for a few

days due to burnt cable wires.

It was also learned that

only R. Sia Enterprises was cov-

ered by insurance.

Some of the affected estab-

lishments have recently re-opened

in other locations.

(Vanmark B. Gonzaga)

Community Editor: Vanmark B. Gonzaga

Writers: William Andrew G. Bulaqueña ▪ Janine Claire T.

Jalosjos ▪ Reymund Danielle U. Jugalbot ▪ Gilbert B. Lamayo ▪

Sidney Rico T. Rebollido ▪ Kimberly Paul C. Solito

Senior citizens observe

Elderly Filipino Week

Differently Abled. A number of people with disabilities (back row) at-

tend the celebration held at the Sindangan Municipal Hall rooftop.

M embers of the Sindangan Senior Citizen Associa-

tion (SSCA) celebrated the annual Elderly Filipino

Week, Oct. 1–7.

Around 50 senior citizens

joined the parade around the town

center at 7:30 a.m. Some mem-

bers followed on board pedicabs.

They then proceeded to Sindangan Pilot Demonstration

School covered court where the

program was held.

The theme for this year’s

celebration is “Nakatatanda…

Kaagapay sa Pagkakaisa at Ka-

payapaan.”

Gideon Vidal, the presi-

dent of the federation of senior

citizen associations, welcomed the

participants.

Mayor Nilo Sy gave the inspirational message on the vital

role of elderly persons in the col-

lective effort to build a better,

stronger, and peaceful Philippines.

Lt. Col. Taharudin Piang

Ampatuan, commanding officer of the 10th IB–IIDPA, was the

guest speaker.

Ampatuan highlighted the

need to raise public awareness on

issues concerning the welfare of

the older persons sector as well as

their contributions in nation build-

ing.

Sr. Jo Dagondong, repre-

senting the religious sector; and

Teodoro Hinampas, a retired agri-

culturist, also gave brief mes-sages. (W. A. G. Bulaqueña)

The Staff Section B June–October 2011

Promoting the rights of PWDs

DSWD marks Disability Week

T he Office of the Municipal Social Welfare and Devel-

opment initiated the observance of the 33rd National

Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week

with activities for the differently abled, July 17–23.

During the week-long cele-

bration, the OMSWD headed by

Yolanda B. Saile installed stream-

ers with the theme “Making the

Rights Real for Filipinos with Disabilities” in conspicuous

places in the town.

A free medical consulta-

tion for people with disability

(PWD) was held at the municipal

outdoor stage while the dental

mission was conducted at Sindan-

gan District Hospital.

Jose M. Maraguinot, a

visually impaired Sindanganon

who now works as a manpower

development officer at the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center

in Zamboanga City, was the guest

speaker during the program and

forum on July 21.

Maraguinot, the elected

president of Sindangan Associa-

tion of PWD, stressed the need to

promote the rights of the differ-

ently abled citizens and their par-

ticipation in mainstream society.

In the Provincial Forum of Persons with Disabilities 2011

held in Dipolog City on July 22,

Elsie Balawing, a visually im-

paired pupil at Sindangan Pilot

Demonstration School, defeated

the other contestants with her

singing rendition during the Ta-

lentadong Zanortehanong PWD

contest.

By virtue of Presidential

Proclamation No. 361, series of

2002, as amended by Administra-tive Order No. 35, every third

week of July is declared as the

NDPR Week to encourage the

participation of PWDs in the po-

litical and public life.

(Sidney Rico T. Rebollido)

We accept write-ups on the activities of student and

socio-civic organizations for our March 2012 issue. You may

submit your articles to SJCSI Student Publications Office.

Tel: 212-2204▪Fax:224-2710▪ E-mail: [email protected]

Facoma celebrates 55 years Serving the farmers then, the community now

“T he track record of Sindangan Facoma shows that it has proved itself to be wor-

thy of the confidence the pioneering founding fathers of our cooperative had en-

dowed in it, and we can take justifiable pride in its achievements.”

Inauguration. Mayor Nilo Sy; Armonio P. Paa, director of Cooperative

Development Authority R-IX; and Engr. Dennis Santander, MASS-SPEC

CEO, cut the ribbon during the inauguration of the new corn mill.

Thus said Aurelia P.

Villegas, general manager of the

Sindangan Farmers Cooperative

M a r k e t i n g A s s o c i a t i o n –

Community Multi-Purpose Coop-erative (SFCMPC), during the

55th founding anniversary, Aug.

30.

Earlier that day, SFCMPC

inaugurated its new electric corn

mill at its warehouse compound in

Sitio Balik-balik.

During the program, the

board of directors presented a

certificate of appreciation to

Amor P. Espinas, the lone surviv-

ing founding member. In his acceptance speech,

Espinas recalled that 201 found-

ing members invested P10 when

they organized the Sindangan

Facoma on June 10, 1956.

Sindangan Facoma initially

offered its loan services exclu-

sively to farmers in the form of

production and commodity loans.

In 1991, Sindangan

Facoma amended its name to Sin-dangan Farmers Multi-Purpose

Cooperative, Inc. to comply with

the law affecting cooperatives.

Five years later, SFMPCI

offered the rediscounting program

that granted loans to teachers and

salaried employees, and the sav-

ings mobilization operations for

time deposits.

To complement these ser-

vices, the cooperative amended its

registered name to Sindangan

Farmers and Teachers Multi-

Purpose Cooperative, Inc.

(SFTMPCI).

It also opened its member-

ship to teachers and salaried em-ployees. The amendments were

approved on June 10, 1998.

In May 2004, SFTMPCI

offered to rescue the Sindangan

Cooperative Credit Union, Inc.

and the Sindangan Multi-Purpose

Cooperative, which were on the

verge of collapse and bankruptcy.

The merger was approved

on Sept. 28, 2006, with SFTMPCI

as the surviving entity.

The following year, SFTMPCI erected an P8-million

two-story building for its retail

business and social hall.

The inauguration coincided

with the cooperative’s 52nd anni-

versary in 2008.

To underscore its coopera-tive identity, SFTMPCI restored

its original founding name.

On May 17, 2011, the co-

operative was then renamed to

Sindangan Facoma–Community

Multi-Purpose Cooperative; and

its area of operation was expanded

to include Zamboanga Peninsula.

SF-CMPC has 4,202 active

members, a total acquired asset of

P113.1 million with a net income

of P4.1 million, and a capital buildup of P18.8 million.

(Gilbert B. Lamayo)

07/21/2011

Faculty undergo multi-intel training

Enrolment up by 26.7%

Cooperative learning. The group led by Marthy G. Rago prepares their

poster on the idiomatic expression “iron fist.”

Dr. Rosalinda Baloria, vice

-president for academic affairs of

Saint Vincent’s College, dis-

cussed differentiated teaching and

assessments based on the multiple intelligences theory by Howard

Gardner.

The faculty worked on the

learning style inventory, multiple

intelligences survey, and Stenberg

processing preferences.

On the second day, Maria

Rizalie Enoy, a science teacher,

demonstrated on the process of

observation.

Participants were the 15

pre-selected freshmen who com-pleted their group writing tasks

and presented their output.

Br. Rufinus Palen, FP, a

religious studies teacher, pre-

sented an integrated lesson on the

10 Commandments.

Elmira L. Colicol, an Eng-

lish instructor, presented a lesson

on idiomatic expressions to 15 pre

-selected college students.

They worked in groups and displayed their posters with the

literal interpretation of the idioms

for the other groups to figure out

the idiomatic expressions.

Elizabeth A. Soledad, a

mathematics teacher and guidance

counselor, gave a lesson plan on

the cause-effect relationship.

Rhiza Mae Casalen, a Fili-

pino teacher, incorporated a Hili-

gaynon epic with a contemporary song for her lesson plan.

Jessril Ruales, a socio–

anthro instructor, discussed on the

different social groups.

Emerald A. Soledad from

the business marketing depart-

ment explained a lesson with vari-

ous activities on advertising.

Ranie Jamila, a MAPEH

teacher, provided a lesson plan on

the benefits of physical fitness on health and well-being.

Maria Fatima M. Calizar,

computer laboratory in-charge,

discussed the development of

computing devices.

(Endera S. Porsuelo )

H igh school teachers and college instructors participated in the seminar–workshop

on differentiated instruction at the audio-visual room, July 1 and 5.

Differentiated instruction for different learners

S B2 College News The Staff │June–October 2011

ROTC officers graduate

697819

1132

1434

2008–2009 2009–2010 2010–2011 2011–2012

SJCSI Enrolment, 2008–2011SJCSI Enrolment (2008–2011)

SJCSI holds Buwan ng Wika

A total of 1,434 students were enrolled at Saint Joseph

College of Sindangan, Inc. during the first semester

of academic year 2011–2012.

Staff scribes

join training S aint Joseph College of Sindangan, Inc. (Provisional)

Reserved Officers Training Corps unit under the

902nd (ZN) CDC, 9th Regional Community Defense

Group Army Reserve Command held its joint closing

ceremony and acceptance of basic and advance officers at

the SJCSI gym, Sept. 4.

Data from the Registrar’s

Office revealed an additional of

302 students as compared with the

enrolment of the first semester last

academic year. According to Juditha J.

Bacusmo, MPA, registrar, the

enrolment this academic year in-

creased by 26.7 percent.

The College of Business

Administration registered 816

students for its basic two-year

curriculum and specialized third

and fourth years.

Junior and senior students

major either human resource and

development management or mar-keting management.

The College of Arts and

Sciences–Education enrolled 354

students in its three course offer-

ings.

The bachelor of arts pro-

gram, major in either English or

general science, had 13 students

only.

Forty-four students took up the bachelor of secondary educa-

tion curriculum.

For the bachelor of ele-

mentary education, a total of 297

students were enrolled.

The College of Accounting

Technology–Information Tech-

nology registered 264 students.

In the newly offered ac-

counting technology program, 54

students comprised the pioneering

batch. For its information tech-

nology program, which started

last school year, a total of 210

students were enrolled.

(Shenna May B. Lapuz)

Winners. The College of Arts and Sciences–Education contestants re-

ceive their certificates and medals as winners of the Tagisan ng Talino.

S eventeen writers of

The Staff participated

in the seminar–workshop

on campus journalism of

the Zamboanga del Norte

Press Club, July 23–24.

The two-day training held

at Sindangan National Agricul-

tural School was composed of a

lecture–workshop series on the

different aspects of campus jour-nalism given by the members of

the press club.

The topics included media

law and ethics; news, editorial,

feature, and sports writing; copy-

reading and headline writing, edi-

torial cartooning, photojourna-

lism, and radio broadcasting.

The 206 participants came

from Sindangan Pilot Demonstra-

tion School, Mandih Central

School, SJCSI, SNAS, and the national high schools of Sindan-

gan, Siare, Siayan, Maras, Nativi-

dad, Gunyan, and Sibuco.

Ten student journalists of

El Obrero and Ang Manggagawa

won in the different individual

writing categories and in the

group radio broadcasting contest.

The journalistic writing

seminar is a regular activity of the

club to help budding campus jour-nalists hone their writing skills.

According to Rosemarie

Patangan–Miranda, president of

the ZNPC, the club has been do-

ing their outreach program for

more than two decades already;

and a number of successful pro-

fessionals are grateful of the train-

ing for inspiring them to read and

cultivate their passion for writing.

The training was endorsed

by the Department of Education and the United States of America

Embassy in Manila, which pro-

vided the trophies and prizes.


Dr. Noel R. Galeza, dean

of College of Arts and Sciences–

Education, gave the inspirational

message.

Samson M. Saile, NSTP coordinator, was the keynote

speaker.

The SJCSI ROTC Advance

Officers are headed by Battalion

Commander Cadette Lt. Col. Mar-

vie Y. Entrina.

The SJCSI (Provisional)

ROTC Unit Training Staff is

headed by Capt. Oliver A. Ro-

mero (INF) Philippine Army,

commandant; and Sgt. Florencio

G. Sacdalon Jr. (INF) PA, chief clerk.

Also in attendance were

Jessril D. Ruales and Edralin M.

Deleña, advisers of the National

Service Training Program–Civil

Welfare Service Unit (NSTP–

CWS).

The induction, donning of

rank insignias, and oath taking

ceremony of the basic and ad-vance Cadet officers, and sergeant

major of the SJCSI (Provisional)

ROTC Unit was held on Oct. 1.

The event was organized

for the conferment of the basic

and advance officers’ designated

ranks.

Municipal Mayor Nilo

Florentino Z. Sy graced the affair

and was the guest speaker.

Dean Galeza gave an inspi-

rational message. In attendance were NSTP

Coordinator Saile, Capt. Romero,

and the training staff of the SJCSI

Provisional ROTC Unit.

(Julius R. Bulac)

The SSC, headed by Mi-

chael E. Tan, president, organized

contests related to the theme “Ang

Filipino ay Wikang Panlahat,

Ilaw at Lakas sa Tuwid na Lan-das.”

In the talumpati contest,

Mary Nol Guimarie, a business

administration student, got the

first place; Precious Mae L. Gone,

education student, second place;

and Sheryl Caber, accounting

technology, third place.

For the Tagisan ng Talino,

the team of the College of Arts

and Sciences–Education com-

posed of Cheeza V. Silvano,

Sheena Marie S. Calvo, Randel

O fficers of the Supreme Student Council initiated

activities for the Buwan ng Wika celebration at the

Saint Joseph College of Sindangan, Inc. gym, Aug. 31.

Lapadan, Julius R. Bulac, and

Marvie Lou D. Cariño won the

first place.

The team of the College of

A c c ou n t i n g T e ch n o l og y–

Information Technology com-

posed of Vanmark B. Gonzaga,

Alger Germata, Kevin Tejas,

Ritchie Luab, and Sheryl Caber

landed second.

Third placer was the Col-

lege of Business Administration

team composed of Francisco

Figuracion Jr., Irene Porticillos,

Jean Filoteo, Frelane Pugoy, and

Dante Amento.


The Staff ▪ News Bureau Endera S. Porsuelo Director

Writers/Correspondents: Julius R. Bulac • William Andrew G.

Bulaqueña • Sheena Marie S. Calvo • Kindness W. Dagondong •

Vanmark B. Gonzaga • Janine Claire T. Jalosjos • Shenna May B.

Lapuz • Maureen P. Romeo • Kimberly Paul C. Solito Photojournalists: Gilbert B. Lamayo • Mary Astrid P. Taco

Graduation. The cadet officers listen to the keynote speaker while wait-

ing for the confirmation of graduates and distribution of certificates.

SSC celebrates Nutri Month

New7Wonders of Nature

T he Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park has made it to the provi-

sional New7Wonders of Nature as of Nov. 11, 2011.

According to the organiz-

ers, the voting calculation is now

being checked, validated, and

independently verified.

The confirmed winners will be announced starting early

2012 during the Official Inaugura-

tion ceremonies.

The provisional list in-

cludes the Amazon Rainforest

(Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecua-

dor, French Guiana, Guyana,

Peru, Suriname, Venezuela), Ha-

long Bay (Vietnam), Iguazu Falls

(Argentina and Brazil), Jeju Island

( S ou t h K or ea ) , K om od o (Indonesia), and the Table Moun-

tain (South Africa).

The St. Paul’s Subterra-

nean River National Park is lo-

cated 50 km north of Puerto Prin-

cesa City.

The park has a karst land-

scape, an irregular limestone re-

gion of sinkholes, underground

river, and caverns. The river in-

cludes major formations of stalac-tites and stalagmites, and several

large chambers.

The main feature of the

park is the 8.2-km-long navigable

underground Cabayugan River

that winds through a cave before

flowing directly into the disputed

“West Philippine Sea.”

The lower portion of the

river is subject to tidal influences.

Monkeys, large monitor lizards,

and squirrels dwell at the beach near the cave.

Over 10 million salanga-

nes (cave swallows) and bats live

in the cave. They contribute to

the exceptional biodiversity

within the river.

The park was inscribed by

the United Nations Educational,

Scientific and Cultural Organiza-

tion as a World Heritage Site on

Dec. 4, 1999. New7Wonders clarified

that “it is possible that there will

be changes between the above

provisional winners and the even-

tual finally confirmed winners.”

(William A. G. Bulaqueña)

Underground River. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed

by old trees growing right to the water's edge.

Best booth. The fruit and vegetable booth of the College of Business Ad-

ministration was adjudged the best out of the three entries.

T he Supreme Student Council organized activities for

the annual Nutrition Month celebration in July.

A parade around the town

center kicked off the celebration

on July 29. All students were

required to join and to bring at

least one fruit or vegetable. The theme for this year’s

celebration is “Isulong ang

Breastfeeding: Tama, Sapat at

Eksklusibo” in order to promote

exclusive breastfeeding to infants

from 0 to 6 months old and to

continue up to 2 years and be-

yond.

Each college erected their

respective booth where students

sold fruits, vegetables, and food-

stuff in their stalls. In the slogan-making con-

tests, Vanmark B. Gonzaga, Col-

lege of Accounting Technology–

Information Technology, won

first place. Marfe Pepito and Mar-

vie Lou Cariño, both from the

College of Arts and Sciences–

Education, were the second and

third placers.

In the poster-making con-

test, Kimberly Juni, Repel Busca, and Chariena Absin from the Col-

lege of Business Administration

got the first place; Sheena Pearl

Buza, Jenny Asentista, and Cyrill

May Perez, also business admini-

stration students, got the second place; and Mary Astrid Taco and

Joselito Talledo, CAS–Ed stu-

dents, finished third.

In Nutri Quiz, the CBA

won. CAS–Ed and CAT–IT were

the second and third placers, re-

spectively.

In the MasterChef compe-

tition, the cook from the CBA got

the first place while the cooks of

CAT–IT and CAS–Ed landed in

second and third places. The SSC, through the lead-

ership of Michael E. Tan, also

organized various parlor games.

A contest on the biggest

and longest vegetables was held.

During the closing pro-

gram, the newly formed dance

troupe made their debut and enter-

tained the audience with their

dances during the intermission.

(Vanmark B. Gonzaga

and Maureen P. Romeo)

CBA wins lit–mus fest

Literary-Musical Night Results

Bayanihan forum held

Palawan River makes it to top 7

S College News B3 June–October 2011 │The Staff

Contests/Colleges AS–Ed AT–IT BA

Musical

Acoustics 1x2 2x2 2x2

Duet 2x2 3x2 1x2

Vocal Solo 2 3 1

Literary

Oration 1 2 3

Storytelling 2 3 1

Balak 1 3 2

Dance

Dancesport 1x2 3x2 2x2

Ethnic 2x2 3x2 1x2

Group Impersonation 1x2 3x2 2x2

Hip–Hop 3x2 2x2 1x2

Ranking 2nd 3rd 1st

T he College of Business Administration outdid rivals

during the show of talents in acoustics and vocals,

literary arts, and speaking and dancing skills, Sept. 7.

PSITS holds

induction

T he Philippine Society

of Information Tech-

nology Students (PSITS)

held the induction of its

officers during the ac-

quaintance party, July 9.

Lt. Col. Taharudin Piang

Ampatuan, commanding officer

of the 10th IB, discussed the pur-

pose of the new internal peace and

security plan of the Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Plan Bayanihan is com-

posed of the purpose, strategic

environment, national guidance,

national defense strategy, strategic

assumptions, AFP mission, and

AFP strategy for internal peace

and security.

The IPSP emphasizes

that the primary focus of the AFP

in the conduct of its operations is

“winning the peace and not just defeating the enemy.”

In order to win the peace,

the AFP IPSP shall be anchored

on two strategic approaches: the

whole of nation and the people-

centered security/human security.

IPSP highlights the im-

portance of increased involvement

of stakeholders, the national and

local government agencies, non-

government entities and the entire citizenry in addressing peace and

security concerns.

It gives equal emphasis

to combat and non-combat dimen-

sions of military operations.

IPSP departs from the old parameters and explores non-

combat parameters of success in

addressing the country’s peace

and security problem.

Under the said plan, the

AFP’s desired end state is the

“reduced capabilities of internal

armed threats to a level that they

can no longer threaten the stability

of the state and that civil authori-

ties can ensure the safety and well

-being of the Filipino people.” Ampatuan added that the

activity also addressed the strat-

egy on human security matters

that ensures the protection of hu-

man rights of citizen.

After the discussion, an

open forum followed.

The students asked ques-

tions and clarifications about the

points taken up during the sympo-

sium.


T he 10th Infantry Battalion conducted a symposium

on Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP), Saint

Joseph College of Sindangan, Inc. gym, Aug. 12.

Symposium. Engr. Leonor A. Labadan interacts with Lt. Col. Taharudin

Piang Ampatuan during the Bayanihan forum.

Robinson D. Berhay Jr.,

MBA, dean of the College of Ac-

counting Technology, swore into

office the new set of officers.

The elected officers for academic year 2011–2012 are as

follows:

Reynier Bagasina, presi-

dent; Alger Germata, internal vice

-president; Lesley Carvajal, exter-

nal vice-president; Wilcres Dagot,

secretary; Maureen Vidal, treas-

urer; Carlito Olis, auditor; Crisel

Bacara and Sheryl Caber, business

managers; and Tom Kevin Gimo-

latan, public information officer.

In his inspirational talk, Berhay compared the life of stu-

dents before and in the present.

He also encouraged the

students to be active in their re-

spective classes.

The bachelor of science in

information technology program

was opened in the first semester

of academic year 2010–2011.

The pioneering batch en-

rolled 150 students. In the second semester, the

total number of students dropped

to 131.

At present, only 89 are

enrolled as second year students.

The freshmen batch regis-

tered 121 students.

The BSIT program is de-

signed to train students to be able

to apply information technology

and its principles

It focuses on communica-tion and technology, system

analysis and design, and computer

programming.


Based on the ranking sys-

tem, the CBA garnered 24 points,

beating the College of Arts and

Sciences–Education by 2 points.

In the musical categories, Meralyn Amamangpang and Ab-

dullah Laguindab won in the duet

singing contest while Maria Eden

Nova Arias of CBA bested in the

vocal solo.

The CAS–Ed won first in

the acoustics contest.

In the literary events, Marc

Joseph Dalaguit and Apollo

Domen, CAS–Ed, were first in the

oration and balak contests, respec-

tively.

Germila U. Amit of the

CBA outshone the other contest-

ants in the storytelling contest.

In the dance categories, the

pair of Michael E. Tan and Janeth Chico from the CAS–Ed excelled

in dancesport.

The group impersonation

entry of Nikki Beligulo by the

CAS–Ed also won the first place.

CBA’s entry in the ethnic

dance was declared winner in that

event.

The College of Accounting

Technology–Information Tech-

nology was third in the ranking.


Maumag in our midst

W hat we thought all along that tarsiers (Tarsius syrichta) are endemic

to the island of Bohol was proven wrong when these tiny primates

were discovered by a villager in the forests of Brgy. Caluan, 10 km away

from the Sindangan town center, last April.

With their enormous eyes,

soft velvety fur, and long fingers,

the tarsiers were found clinging to

twigs.

Curious and amazed by the unusual creatures, which he saw

for the first time, the villager cap-

tured one of them and then later

sold it for P200.

Ronie Anseling, barangay

captain of Caluan, accepted the

man’s offer with the motive of

releasing the animal afterwards.

But Anseling brought the

tarsier to the Municipal Planning

and Development Office instead

to report this wildlife’s existence in his village.

“Sightings of the tarsier

were also reported in Brgy. Bato,

but no official report has reached

our office yet,” according to May-

belle Isagan–Cabañog, MPDO

head.

The tarsier, with its Grem-

lin-like appearance, caused com-

motion among the town hall em-

ployees who saw it for the first time, too.

Nobody ever thought that

such creature existed in Sindan-

gan or outside Bohol Island.

However, the tarsier died a

few days later after its captivity. It has been documented by

tarsier conservation organizations

that the animal, traumatized with

loud noises while in captivity,

would commit suicide by con-

stantly hitting its soft head unless

it is released to the natural envi-

ronment.

The tarsier is among the

smallest primates in the world

that it can sit in your palm.

It measures only about 85 to 160 mm in height and weighs

between 80 and 160 g. The male

tarsier is usually heavier than the

female.

It is a member of the 45-

million-year-old family of Tarsii-

dae.

They are endemic to a few

islands in Southeast Asia; and in

the Philippines, not only in Bohol

but also in Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao.

Philippine tarsier sightings

were also reported in the islands

of Maripipi, Siargao, Basilan, and

Dinagat. The ones found in

Saranggani may be of a different sub-species.

Called maumag in Ce-

buano, the tarsier was only intro-

duced to Western biologists in the

18th century. The Philippine tarsier is a

shy nocturnal animal that should

not be disturbed during the day.

It sleeps in the dark hol-

lows close to the ground.

It becomes active at night

to hunt insects for food. Due to its territorial nature, a single tar-

sier needs at least a hectare of

space.

The species is listed as

endangered even though there are

no adequate data to make an as-

sessment of its risks of extinction

based on population.

Tarsiers can live up to 24

years in the wild, but as short as

12 years in captivity.

(Janine Claire T. Jalosjos)

Map of the Municipality of Sindangan and its barangays. Inset: The

tarsier that was brought by the barangay captain to the town hall.

S

Tarsiers discovered in Sindangan hinterlands

The Staff │June–October 2011 B4 Community

CM volunteers visit

district jail

T o coincide with the National Correctional Conscious-

ness Week celebration, the Campus Ministry (CM)

volunteers from Saint Joseph College of Sindangan, Inc.

conducted its annual Abot Alay sa Bilanggo, Oct. 30.

Eight college students and

seven faculty members headed by

Carol C. Salimbagat, CM coordi-

nator, handed out bath soap, cof-

fee sachets, detergent, and snacks to the inmates at the Sindangan

District Jail in Brgy. Bitoon.

The goods were donated

by the students.

The Bureau of Jail Man-

agement–Penology encourages

public support in observance of

the correctional consciousness

week every last week of October.

The theme for this year’s

celebration is “Pagbabagong Bu-

hay Abot-Kamay, Tuwid na Lan-das Ating Gabay,” which advo-

cates prison conditions and re-

spect for prisoners’ human rights

and rehabilitation.

The CM includes the jail

visit in its line-up of outreach pro-

grams in order to involve the fac-

ulty and student leaders in the re-

socialization and reintegration of the prisoners into society as pro-

ductive and law-abiding citizens.

Former President Fidel V.

Ramos issued Proclamation No.

551 on March 15, 1995, declaring

every last week of October and

every year thereafter as the

“National Correctional Con-

sciousness Week.”

The CM will hold the an-

nual Handog Pamasko and teach-

ers’ retreat set before the Christ-mas break.

In 2012, CM will conduct

the retreat for college students

(Kimberly Paul C. Solito)

Handout. Volunteers from the Campus Ministry distribute bath soap,

detergent, and coffee sachets to the inmates at Sindangan District Jail.

Inherited problems Uncollected daily garbage; hauling trucks and heavy equipment in

a state of disrepair; undisciplined personnel; unmaintained streets and

roads; P75-million loan for public market and transport terminal construc-

tion; unstaffed public high schools; unfinished road constructions; high

crime rate, drug abuse, and addiction; environmental degradation, and the

list goes on.

During the first year of this administration, they had accomplished

the following to address the Sindanganons’ concerns:

Education Employment of 16 teachers for the high schools in barangays Si-

are, Maras, Dumalogdog, Lapero, and Siacin–Camp Ferrer as part of the

“No Child Left Behind” vision of the administration.

Potable water supply Appointment of three members to the board of directors of the

Sindangan Water District to safeguard the P25-million loan intended for

the equipment and system upgrading in order to provide potable water to

the constituents.

Health Allocation of P350,000 to fabricate concrete water-sealed toilet bowls to be distributed to barangays Mawal, Dagohoy, and Upper Ni-

paan; immunization of 15,954 children from the 52 barangays; hiring of

12 nurses to vaccinate the children from 9 months to 8 years old; distribu-

tion of 6,135 pieces of treated bed nets courtesy of the Global Fund Ma-

laria Project to malaria-prone barangays of Titik, Bucana, Bato, Tinaplan,

and Dagohoy; establishment of a birthing facility, a P1.5-million grant

from the European Union, to serve pregnant women from 11 northern

barangays; conduct of competitive bidding for medicines by the bid and

awards committee.

Agriculture Purchase of high value vegetable seeds distributed to farmers in

barangays Labakid, Dicoyong, Sto. Niño, Dumalogdog, Fatima, and

Nato; establishment of a nursery for 18,000 rubber seedlings to be dis-

tributed to the barangays; training for the sadyap and kaping bamboo

craft workers in barangays Bitoon, Misoc, and Pangalalan; opening of a

15-hectare plantation for coconut and banana intercropping in Brgy.

Imelda.

Youth Opening of clinics for lawn tennis, volleyball, basketball, boxing,

and other sports during summer; providing social welfare to children in

conflict with the laws.

Human resources Installation of biometric time-telling attendance machine to moni-

tor attendance of civil servants; conduct of a seminar on anti-red tape to

promptly serve the public during transactions with the government; open-

ing of a one-stop shop for license processing; distribution of the 10

DOLE Nego-Karts to peddlers for their livelihood.

Governance Passing of 545 resolutions, six municipal ordinances, six appro-

priation ordinances; and two legislative ordinances prohibiting minors

from playing computer games at Internet cafés during class days, and

establishing a system of garbage collection.

Excerpts from Mayor Nilo Florentino Z. Sy’s State of the Munici-

pality Address (SOMA) delivered at St. Joseph College of Sindangan, Inc.

Gym, June 17, 2011.

State of the Municipality Address

DOST installs

AWS at SPDS

The AWS is a stand-alone

device that measures weather-

related factors such as wind speed

and direction, rain fall, pressure,

air temperature, and humidity. It transmits data remotely

on real-time basis through text

messaging. All weather data from

the remote stations are collected

on a central database server and

further analyzed.

Designed to be rugged and

standalone, the AWS can be de-

ployed even in the harshest re-

mote areas and can operate con-

tinuously as it gets power from

the sun. The AWS has a critical

role in hazard mitigation in the

country, particularly during ty-

phoons and floods, to help save

lives and property.

This weather tracking de-

vice was designed and developed

by DOST–Advanced Science and

Technology Institute. It is man-

aged by the DOST and the Philip-

pine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Ad-

ministration. (News Bureau)

T he Department of Sci-

ence and Technology

(DOST) recently installed

an automated weather sta-

tion at Sindangan Pilot

Demonstration School.

the staff - community

Documents