Tuesday, March 23, 2021

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Iconic boat-shaped mansion poised as center of Bacolod art deco district

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:09 AM PDT

STANDING strong for almost nine decades now, an iconic boat-shaped ancestral mansion that was once the tallest building in Bacolod City is poised to become the center of Art Deco district in the Negros Occidental capital city.

Built by a sugar farmer, Don Generoso Villanueva, sometime between 1933 and 1936, the "Daku Balay" (Big House) is the first art deco-streamline moderne residential building in the city.

Located on a 5,000-square-meter property along No. 50 Burgos Street, the Don Generoso Villanueva Mansion had survived World War II. Until today, 95 percent of its interior and 100 percent of its exterior were preserved.

Ma. Lilia Villanueva, the granddaughter of Don Generoso, said the 41-foot structure is actually the largest remaining Art Deco residential building in the Philippines that's totally intact.

The Art Deco, short for Art Decoratifs, originated from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris in 1925.

Characterized especially by sleek geometric or stylized forms and by the use of man-made materials, Art Deco is an architectural and design movement that was first to gain popularity globally.

It became a global sensation as an applied style and adopted throughout major cities in the world between World War I and II.

Some of the world's most iconic Art Deco buildings are the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings in Manhattan.

Cities like Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris and London also host some of the most iconic Art Deco buildings in the world.

Art Deco also made its way to the Philippines, mostly in Manila, in the 1930s and 40s.

Unfortunately, much of the Art Deco masterpieces in the country were destroyed during World War II and the rest have been neglected, sold or demolished except from that in Bacolod City.

Villanueva said it is important for their family to continue to educate and have enough people to be excited about Art Deco.

"If we are put on the map, internationally, as a place where you can find this amazing style of architecture that's more than enough," she said, adding that "it's really all about education and what we are hoping is that people will be excited about discovering something that's been here all along."

The "Daku Balay" is a three-storey building with an interior area, including roof deck towers, of approximately 1,200 square meters.

The structure looks like a cruise liner with porthole windows just like of the old boats. Its exterior is dominantly white and green.

Also the first building in Bacolod City to have an elevator, expert craftsmen from all over the country were recruited to work on the mansion whose architect Salvador Cinco.

These included carpenters from Luzon, stone workers and marblers from Romblon and Sorsogon, and metal workers from Negros.

It features exteriors and interiors that exhibit some of the most cutting-edge construction of the time.

The floors and ceilings throughout the interiors are in complex and multicolored handmade marbling, taken after the Italian scagliola marble style.

Also, the intricate geometric designs in marble and in hardwood are reiterated throughout the interior of the house.

Paintings of landscapes and native animals, as well as deco motifs, are hand painted on glass dividers between bedrooms and elevator doors.

Plaster and cement relief designs in walls include the spider and fly, the owl and bat, and the wise and foolish monkeys, among others.

Other native animal designs like the snake, frog and "pawikan" are marbled in the floor particularly of the room that used to be a "bodega" or storage room.

Also, these depict favorite Negrense folk tales and characters from popular Hiligaynon comic strips like the "Aswang Hunter."

All bathrooms have water related scenes embedded on tiles or plaster relief. Also, these have original built-in bathtubs until renovations were made for shower stalls in the 1960s.

The mansion is also said to have the largest built-in wrap around balconies on every floor.

Ben Scharlin, great grandson of Don Generoso, said the "Daku Balay" was actually occupied by a Japanese general, Lieutenant General Takashi Kono, who was in-charge of the Japanese imperial military operations during World War II.

"The reason why we have this house completely intact to this day is because the Japanese general felt in love with the house," he said, adding that when the Japanese were burning all of the Dons and Doñas ancestral homes, he ordered his soldiers not to touch anything on it.

Ben Scharlin said his great grandfather loves local animals on the island "so this is the only Art Deco, in the world probably, that has Filipiniana elements like python heads built into the structure."

Aside from the "Daku Balay," there are two other adjacent family-owned Art Deco masterpieces such as the Belle Arte Residential Condominiums at the back and another ancestral house, the Golez Mansion, across the street which stands at a combined area of 3,000 square meters.

Having this cluster of authentic Art Deco structures, this makes the area as the city's Art Deco District, Scharlin said.

The great grandson of Don Generoso said they want to promote and continue to develop the mansion where "his creativity has exploded" so they can further share it to the public especially Bacolodnons.

Scharlin said they have plans on opening the "Balay Daku" to the public specifically for special events, conferences, private and public events, exclusive parties, wedding ceremonies, customized activities, among others.

"So we want the house to have a mix use including tours thus, there are also plans to landscape the gardens and be more open to the public," he said, adding that once the house has been opened to that kind of experience, then it will be an art deco destinations for locals as well as foreign tourists.

The "Daku Balay" is actually the inspiration for the Bell Arte Residential Condominiums, a building built in order to complement the Art Deco heritage of the family's and city's past.

Villanueva, who is also the president of MarosVill Development Corporation, said Belle Arte is a continuation of Don Generoso's vision 80 years ago to create a modern and sophisticated district for the city of Bacolod.

Villanueva said defining the neighborhood as the Art Deco District in the hopes of protecting the heritage houses in the area and potentially developing more Art Deco-inspired buildings, will greatly benefit the city in several ways.

"Similar to the success of Silay City and The Ruins in Talisay City, it will greatly influence the increase in heritage tourism and will put Bacolod City on the map as the first to have a district designated as Art Deco," she added.

The eight-story Belle Arte Residential Condominiums is a mid-rise, boutique vertical community for those who appreciate the heritage design, superior construction, high ceilings, spacious units, usable balconies, stunning views, central location, and a safe community.

The MarosVill Development Corporation, in a statement, said in light of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, the building was quick to implement strict health and safety protocols to ensure that residents are protected against the threats of the virus.

Currently, residents can enjoy Belle Arte's sunset roof deck featuring the best 360-degree views of the city, mountains, and ocean.

It also has a private gym and the acclaimed Cafe Oscar, Bacolod's premier farm-to-table restaurant and art gallery. In addition to its 24-hour shifting security, concierge, and CCTV network.

The plans for an expansion with Belle Arte Residential Condominiums Phase 2 have been delayed due to the pandemic. Planning and development will resume around 2023, it said.

For Villanueva, their goal is to improve the skyline of Bacolod City.

"We would like to develop buildings that have architectural statements. My grandfather started a trend, something that we would like to contribute to the Filipino culture," she said, adding that "we would like tell stories, my family's reference is to build buildings that tell stories."

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PVO registers 187 livestock transport carriers

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:07 AM PDT

THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental, through its African Swine Fever (ASF) Livestock Transport Registration Team, has registered a total of 187 livestock transport carriers just in the last two weeks.

Livestock transport registration requires the registrant to present official receipt and certificate of registration (OR/CR), Department of Agriculture (DA) Livestock Transport Carrier Accreditation, Livestock Handler's License and Mayor's Permit or Business Permit to be qualified for issuance of truck sticker.

Also, registrants can be registered if they are included in the registration book maintained by the ASF Transport Registration Team.

Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the registration aims to harmonize the hog transport regulations as part of the provincial government's strengthening effort in keeping Negros Occidental as "green zone" or ASF-free.

Under which, the PVO registers all livestock carriers transacting in the province and issues truck stickers valid for a year.

Only PVO registered carriers are allowed to exclusively transact livestock trading in all "oksyon markets" in the province, and transport livestock within and outside the province.

This is in accordance to Section 2 of the Executive Order (EO) 21-11, Series of 2011, otherwise known as "An order establishing regulations on the entry to and exit from Negros Occidental of Livestock Transport Vehicles" issued by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier this year.

The EO stated that only transport vehicles accredited with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental through the PVO shall be allowed entry to the province.

The province further reserves the right to refuse entry of transport vehicles originating from ASF stricken areas identified by the DA.

Decena said implementing guidelines have also been adopted by the PVO with regard to the implementation of Sections 3 and 4 of the EO, particularly for outbound transport of live hogs and other livestock as well as their transport from Regions 6 and 7 passing through the province.

The Livestock Transport Registration Team continues to register all transport carriers from local, inbound and outbound markets transacting in Negros Occidental, the provincial veterinarian said.

"This is to ensure that with the continuing outbreaks of ASF in the neighboring provinces and regions resulting to supply shortage and price increase of pork thus, the PVO remain steadfast to keep the province as ASF-free and a major source of live hogs to Luzon and other neighboring provinces," he added.

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Western Visayas bars entry of travelers from NCR+

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:06 AM PDT

THE Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) in Western Visayas has barred travelers from the National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna from going to the region since Tuesday, March 23, until April 4.

The resolution prohibits locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from NCR+ bubble areas to enter the region from March 23 to April 4.

The advisory dated March 23, 2021 comes on the heels of the National IATF Resolution 104 implementing a bubble in the NCR and other Luzon provinces due to rising Covid-19 cases.

The same rule applies to tourists who are planning to visit the region.

But government officials, medical frontliners, persons seeking medical care, returning overseas Filipinos and those going to the airport for travel abroad are exempted from the restriction.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he expects few travelers to the province after the issuance of the memorandum.

"While the RIATF resolution has the same idea on how to control the recent spike in positive cases as our request to suspend trips to the province," Lacson said the Provincial Government will still wait for a reply from the national IATF.

"It has nothing to do with our letter," he pointed out.

Lacson said he expects a drop in travelers to Negros Occidental.

He clarified that cargoes from these areas can still come to Negros.

Those who want to leave the province can leave, he added.

Lacson also noted that the regional IATF did not include Cebu.

"Cebu is not included. That will entail us to monitor those traveling also from Cebu as travelers may use it as a way to go to Negros," he also said.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said he was surprised with the decision of the RIATF to impose travel restrictions on Western Visayas without consulting local officials.

Treñas, who called the restrictions a lockdown of sorts, said via Facebook that the RIATF should be ready to provide assistance to those who will be affected by the move.

"The whole Region 6 was placed on lockdown by the Regional IATF. I do not know if any of the LCEs have been consulted about this. Another kapalpakan. I demand that the Regional IATF consult the LCEs. In behalf of Iloilo City, I am demanding an explanation from the Regional IATF," he said.

But the text of the RIATF resolution only defines essential travelers, which was in keeping with the National IATF resolution implementing a travel bubble in Metro Manila and several Luzon provinces.

In a separate statement, the Department of Tourism-Western Visayas had asked hotels and tourist destinations around the region to extend the validity of all bookings of individuals who are affected by this latest travel restriction.

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EOC warns travelers using fake RT-PCR test results

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:05 AM PDT

DR. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF), warned all travelers going to Bacolod City who are using fake reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results.

The warning came after a returning resident from Manila submitted a fake RT-PCR test result on the S-Pass registration last week.

Sorongon said Tuesday, March 23, hat they already forwarded the data to the City Legal Office (CLO) for the appropriate action against the returning resident.

"We will wait for the recommendation of the CLO against the returning resident if he will still be allowed to travel if he will submit another requirement," he said.

Sorongon said the City Government is still requiring the negative RT-PCR test results for travelers coming from outside Western Visayas entering the city.

The travelers should register in S-Pass and StaySafe.Ph applications.

"They have to submit original documents that they have actually undergone. Please don't submit fake results because we also have a validation team to ensure that all documents submitted are original," Sorongon said.

Meanwhile, the City Government is now ready to use the 64-room isolation facility in Barangay Alijis.

Sorongon said they held an orientation Tuesday, March 23, with the doctors, nurses, midwives and utilities assigned in the area.

He said the designated personnel will start their duty Wednesday, March 24, and they will start to accept patients on Thursday, March 25.

He added the isolation facility is for free, but the area will prioritize the pregnant women, symptomatic cases, Covid-19 patients that will be discharged from the hospitals to complete their 21-day isolation, and the frontliners.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Western Visayas earlier turned over two units of isolation facilities in Barangay Alijis, which composes 16 rooms for each unit. Each room is furnished with an individual comfort room and air conditioner.

Each unit was constructed with a nurse station and quarters for medical workers that will be assigned in the area.

The facility, costing P50 million, is located in what used to be the plant nursery of the City Agriculture Office in Barangay Alijis.

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Guv to insist swabbing upon arrival of travelers

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:04 AM PDT

DESPITE lauding the decision released by the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) to limit the entry of travelers to Western Visayas to "essential travel" only, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he will still insist to the NIATF for Negros Occidental to return to their previous entry protocols, wherein travelers are required to undergo swabbing and quarantine upon their arrival in the province.

"I want the testing done here, but I have to ask the NIATF again. That is the next thing that I will do," Lacson said.

The RIATF limits the entry of travelers to Western Visayas to "essential travel" only based on National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) Resolution 104 forming a travel bubble circuit for the National Capital Region (NCR) and the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan.

According to Lacson, the decision seemed to have answered his written concerns, which was forwarded to the NIATF, although he made it clear that the RIATF's decision is in no way connected to his letter.

"We expect less travel and less people entering the province," Lacson said.

The governor said despite the new restrictions, he said Negrenses are still allowed to leave the province, while cargoes originating from the NCR and the other affected provinces are still allowed to enter unimpeded to Negros Occidental.

Lacson said the new order does not cover for travel within Westen Visayas, as well as neighboring Cebu province.

"Yes this is okay, but they didn't answer my letter," Lacson said.

Based on the RIATF's resolution, among those tagged for essential travel are health and emergency frontline services personnel; government officials and government frontline personnel; duly-authorized humanitarian assistance actors; persons travelling for humanitarian or medical reasons; persons going to the airport for travel abroad; anyone crossing zones for work or business and going back home; and returning overseas Filipinos and overseas Filipino workers.

All other travelers coming from outside the NCR and the other subject provinces listed in the NIATF's protocols are allowed entry into Western Visayas, subject to health protocols.

All flights and sea travel in the region are also unaffected and remain in normal operations.

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Leonardia, village chiefs Covid-19 vaccination postponed

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:04 AM PDT

THE supposed scheduled vaccination of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the village chiefs Wednesday, March 24, against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is postponed.

Dr. Edwin Miraflor, officer-in-charge of City Health Office (CHO), in a statement Tuesday night, March 23, said that when Leonardia informed him that his request for the inclusion of the Local Chief Executives (LCEs) in the vaccination priority was approved by the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) and that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has classified them as under A4, he misunderstood the classification under A.4 to that of A.1.4.

"With the best of intentions in mind, and in the hopes of encouraging Bacolodnons to take active part in the vaccination program of the City, the EOC and VOC promptly scheduled a ceremonial vaccination of the honorable mayor and the barangay captains on March 24, 2021. However, after further clarification has been made and upon review of circumstances, we regret that we need to postpone the intended activity," he said.

He added that on March 5, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and the members of the City Council volunteered to lead the vaccines in receiving the vaccines. However, they were informed that amid limited vaccine supply, there is a need to strictly abide by the prioritization schedule.

"Now, Mayor Bing and the barangay captains are again denied the same opportunity to inspire Bacolodnons to avail [themselves] of the Covid-19 vaccines. Our City and barangay officials are ready to set an example for our fellow Bacolodnons," Miraflor said.

NIATF earlier approved the request of the national president of League of the Cities of the Philippines (LCP) to classify LCEs among the priorities for vaccination against Covid-19.

This means the 1,634 provincial governors, city and municipal mayors. Also included are 42,046 barangay captains all over the country.

From March 12 to 22, a total of 4,122 medical frontliners in Bacolod City were already vaccinated with Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines.

Of the number, 2,720 medical frontliners were inoculated with Sinovac vaccine and 1,402 were vaccinated with AstraZeneca vaccine.

Meanwhile, two nurses at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), who were earlier vaccinated with Sinovac vaccines, have tested positive for Covid-19.

Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF), said the two nurses, who were assigned in operating and emergency room, were already transferred to the isolation facility.

He said the two nurses, who were asymptomatic, were tested positive during the hospital's regular surveillance testing and contact tracing every two weeks. Both of them earlier received the first doses of Sinovac vaccine.

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Vacationers told to remain vigilant against Covid-19 on Holy Week

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:03 AM PDT

GOVERNOR Eugenio Jose Lacson reminded vacationers during the Holy Week celebration to be careful and to remain vigilant against Covid-19.

Lacson reminded Negrenses to still observe the proper health protocols and avoid going to crowded places.

"What we are trying to do here is trying to avoid a further increase in the number of positive Covid-19 cases," Lacson said.

Lacson made the early reminder in response to the report released by the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) that some hotels and resorts in Negros Occidental are now fully-booked for the observance of the Holy Week which will start on Sunday, March 28.

Lacson also said he is not discouraging Negrenses or other travelers from Western Visayas to visit the province's popular tourist destinations, but at present, he is not keen on allowing tourists coming from Metro Manila and Cebu.

"They just have to be extra careful and follow health protocols," he added.

Last week, PTO head Dr. Jennylind Cordero said resorts and hotel establishments, especially those located in Northern Negros, are already fully booked.

Cordero said around 60 to 70 percent of the province's resorts and accommodations are already fully operational.

The number of tourists entering the province is also gaining momentum after the removal of some travel restrictions within Western Visayas.

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Police Stations 5, 7 have new chiefs

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:00 AM PDT

THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) assigned new station commanders in Police Stations 5 and 7 in Bacolod City.

BCPO Director Colonel Manuel Placido has designated Police Captain John Christopher Masangkay as the new chief of Police Station 5, while Police Captain Elmer Bonilla was assigned as the new chief of Police Station 7 effective March 18.

Police Lieutenant Ma. Liberty Indiape, spokesperson of BCPO, said Tuesday, March 23, that Masangkay and Bonilla just finished their career advancement schooling and both of them were tasked to head the police stations.

She said Masangkay replaced Police Lieutenant Edward Bolivar who was reassigned as his deputy chief.

She added that Bonilla also replaced Police Lieutenant Michael Tuburan, who was also reassigned as deputy chief of Police Station 10.

Meanwhile, an estimated P13,600 worth of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride was seized in a drug bust by operatives of Police Station 7 in Purok Kahirup B, Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City Monday evening, March 22.

The operation also led to the arrest of Dennis Fernandez, 49, of Barangay Mansilingan.

Indiape said Fernandez was arrested after he sold a sachet of shabu to a police undercover around 6:45 p.m.

Police recovered from Fernandez's possession five sachets of shabu weighing two grams and the P300 marked money.

The suspect is detained at the custodial facility of Police Station 7. He will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

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House committee approves equal employment for PWD bills

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:00 AM PDT

THE House Committee on Persons with Disabilities chaired by Fifth District Representative Ma. Lourdes Arroyo approved in principle five bills that will empower persons with disabilities (PWDs) by providing more opportunities for employment and livelihood.

The House bills (HB) passed were HB 6632 by Representative Manuel Cabochan (Magdalo), HB 8392 by Representative Lray VIllafuerte, HB 8435 by Representative Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, HB 4007 by Representative Tyrone Agabas and HB 1240 by Representative Micaela Violago.

All House bills seek to amend Republic Act (RA) 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

The proposed measures seek to include private corporations engaged in social development to reserve positions for persons with disabilities.

Under the provisions of RA 7277, private companies are only encouraged to employ PWDs while government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Health, Education, Culture and Sports are mandated to reserve the five percent of all casual, emergency and contractual positions for PWDs.

Resource persons present in the committee meeting such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Civil Service Commission (CSC) all support the proposed measures that will enable inclusivity for PWDs in the workplace whether in government or private sector.

During her opening remarks, Arroyo encouraged stakeholders to continue working toward correcting the flawed system where PWDs are given fewer opportunities.

"I stand with all of you in seeking true equality. Let us break the glass ceiling in every area of society, and let us continue our journey in seeking the end of discrimination, as we seek fair and equitable treatment for everyone: regardless of sex, gender, especially disability," Arroyo said.

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Margaha Film Festival 2021 winners announced

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 06:58 AM PDT

A FILM about a family's journey to bury their beloved relative swept eight awards, including Best Picture, in the recently concluded Margaha Film Festival, in line with the Arts Month celebration in Sagay City, last week of February.

The film "Ang Pagsalop sang Adlaw" bagged eight out of 18 special and major awards given during the screening and awards night on February 26 at the Sagay City Gymnasium.

"Ang Pagsalop sang Adlaw" or "The Immersion of the Sun" tells about the journey of the Amparo family as they bury Inday, which revealed more secrets that each of the family members hid for the longest time.

The film was produced by Bakhaw Studios and was shot in the upland barangay of Colonia Divina in Sagay City. It was directed by Kent John Desamparado.

Desamparado grabbed the Best Director award, as well as the Best in Cinematography citation.

Aside from the Best Picture award, Bakhaw Studios was also awarded for its production design by Nelson Emnace, Original Song by Brian Ferraro, Covid-19 health protocol compliance.

Amalea Gay Jontongco from the film was also awarded as the Best Supporting Actress, while the whole cast of "Ang Pagsalop sang Adlaw" was given a Special Citation for Ensemble Performance in Acting by the panel of jury of the Margaha Film Festival.

During the awarding ceremony, Desamparado said that he is grateful for the support of his family and the people behind the production of the film.

Meanwhile, Ba'Lay Production's "Paraiso," a mystical film about deforestation in the early 70's, was named 2nd Best Picture, and Panganod Productions' sci-fi movie "Sa Mga Kabati kag Gapamati" was the 3rd Best Picture.

The top three best picture awards were given cash prize of P15,000, P10,000, and P8,000 respectively. Consolation prizes worth P3,000 were also given to seven film productions.

Ba'Lay Production was the last year's Best Picture winner with their film "Paon" which gained attention after it was selected in the exhibition section of Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

"Paraiso" also garnered the award for Best in Editing by Charles Hilado, Best Trailer, and Best Actress for Crystal Puying. While Sa Mga Kabati kag Gapamati's Jonathan Limpangog was awarded as the Best Supporting Actor.

The other films in the second run of Sine Margaha were "Pasitib" of PP Studios, "Yuhom" and "Makina" of Duyog Production, "Dalagan" of Lente Film Productions, "Judith" of Anggulo Films, "Save Point" of Majarleka Productions, and "Hunas" of Kumpas Production.

Judith grabbed the awards for Best Screenplay and Nunelucio Alvarado Panublion Award, while Hunas won Best Poster and Best Actor for Alfonso Macam, Jr.

During the awarding, John Argiel Victor and Joane Pitogo were also announced as the Stars of the Night.

Cash prizes were also given to other special awards. P5,000 for Best Director, P3,000 each for Best Screenplay, Nunelucio Panublion Award, Cinematography, and Editing, P2,000 for Best COVID-19 Health Compliance, Actor, Actress, Original Song, and Production Design, P1,500 for Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, and Trailer, P1,000 for Best Poster, and P500 plus gift certificates for the Male and Female Stars of the Night.

Prior to their production, the City Government provided a seed money worth P6,000 per production to help them in their shooting.

This year, the panel of jury consists of Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino's Tito Valiente, Directors Teng Mangansakan, Keith Deligero, and Arden Rod Condez, Sine Negrense Festival Director Tanya Lopez, broadcaster and historian Rod Florentino, and writer Kenneth Ian Rivera.

Festival Director Helen Cutillar said that she is happy that the 10 productions have produced quality films despite the challenge of strictly following Covid-19 health protocols during the shoot.

The film festival is also a way to promote arts and culture, as well as to showcase the cultural mapping efforts done in Sagay, raising awareness on the tangible and intangible cultural properties, she added.

She added that she is grateful to the support of the City Government, Office of 2nd District Representative Leo Rafael Cueva, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines to realize the second edition of Sine Margaha. (PR)

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Alminaza: Our next 500 years

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 05:30 AM PDT

TWO Sundays ago, our Holy Father Pope Francis celebrated a mass in anticipation of the 5th centenary celebration of the Christian faith in the Philippines, which will be officially inaugurated on Easter Sunday, April 4. During his homily, the Santo Papa took special note of our reputation as "smugglers of faith," with our willingness to "sow the faith" by sharing the good news of salvation wherever we may go.

This is consistent with the theme of the jubilee celebration, "Gifted to Give," which is not only a challenge for Filipinos to engage in charity and in helping each other during these trying times, but also an acknowledgement that the value of sharing our blessings has featured prominently in the history of Filipino faith.

The history of our faith, as some are almost too eager to note, is complicated. The past 500 years have seen us grapple with colonialism, revolutions, wars, tyranny, and countless natural and manmade crises. It is a history tainted with human error, even as it is blessed with human virtue and Divine Providence. But as leaders of the Catholic Faith here in the country recognize, it is a history of Filipinos giving what they have, from their material possessions to their lives, in service of one another. Even in the darkest years of our faith, we have witnessed twinkles of hope in our Church workers, missionaries, and lay-people who have armed themselves with the might of the Gospel in witnessing to their brothers and sisters through their actions and lives.

But the story of the Filipino people being "Gifted to Give" should not just inform how we remember the past, but is a call to how we must approach the present and the future. It comes with a question and a challenge: What has the Lord given us now that we may share with others? And are we willing to share it?

For many of us, the answer seems obvious. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted many inequalities in our society: whether you have food on the table, whether you can afford not to go outside to pursue your livelihood, whether you can study or work from home, are matters of whether you have or have not. And so it is clear those who have an excess in material wealth are called to share them with the less fortunate. Yet, the past year has also shown us a deeper truth about what has been given to us, and thus what is expected from us to share.

In the months following restrictions due to the pandemic were introduced, experts have observed that natural ecosystems throughout the globe have been healing. The ozone layer has been recovering. Species thought to be extinct are resurfacing. It seems as though it took us being locked in our homes — unable to experience nature firsthand — to realize what we have had all along: our environment. Our beaches. Our forests. Our common home.

Moreover, the last months of 2020 have also shown us what we have to lose. The typhoons we have faced together, especially here in Negros, have shown us that climate-related disasters do not wait for pandemics to be over. It has given us a peek of what is to come for the next 500 years, if we do not treasure Mother Nature and work so that we could share it with the coming generations. Will we give them a future of more floods, stronger earthquakes and more frequent storms and droughts? Or will we share with them blessings we have been so fortunate to enjoy: clean air, clean water, our natural parks, forests, and mountains?

This March 27, environmental advocates, cities, and individuals will be observing Earth Hour. While it is not enough that we only set aside one hour to save energy and think about the planet Earth, perhaps we could also use this moment -- in anticipation of Holy Week -- to reflect on the Common Home God has given each one of us. Perhaps, as we gear towards remembering how God gave His only Begotten Son to the world, we can also remember the world that was given to us, His Children, for us to enjoy, fill up, and ultimately, share with one another.

With all that is happening in our country and in the world, I am still hopeful that the next 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines will still be marked with the value of giving and sharing. But this relies on our ability to become good stewards and guardians of what we have been given. Especially when speaking of our environment, in order to be able to give the next generations what we have, we have to work to keep and protect them. And with the abundance of good works seen from Filipinos during this pandemic, despite the many flaws of those in power and the many problems we all have to face, I am confident that the spirit of giving and sharing and caring for one another among Filipinos, will last even beyond the next 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines.

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Hofileña: Arrival of the Spaniards in Negros

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 05:28 AM PDT

THE Negros Occidental Historical Council Inc. facilitated this article as part of its research program for the promotion of history and culture in Negros Occidental in support of the partnership between the Provincial Government and the NOHCI. In particular, this research project was drafted in response to the interest of many researchers in the province, including foreigners, who are concerned with local history which will be followed by similar publications in the coming months. Interestingly, this research topic coincides with the current worldwide effort of the Catholic Church to celebrate the iconic history of the "Five Hundred Years of Christianity" in the Philippines.

Negros Island is first mentioned in Spanish sources in connection with Miguel Lopez de Legazpi's expedition to the Philippines in 1565. This notable event followed the historic arrival of Ferdinand Magellan to the Philippines on March 16, 1521. The account of the Spanish historian, Esteban Rodriguez, with Legazpi talks of a reconnoitering expedition which started from the southwest part of Bohol, a place Legazpi and his men inadvertently got to when a storm blew them off the Butuan coast where they hoped to get ample food provisions. From Bohol, their frigate coasted westward toward a big island called Buglas (old name of Negros Island). About half a league from the sea, the Spaniards saw many houses when they briefly landed. They intended to sail that night to another island nearer the anchored ships of Legazpi at Bohol but before they could reach that island a storm blew them off their course. The next day, they discovered that they were coasting along Buglas again! They therefore continued sailing along the coast and about the northwest direction at a distance of five leagues, they saw an island with two smaller islands nearby, one of which was Guimaras Island. They then continued along the coast of Buglas in a northeast and southwest direction.

The long 21-day voyage gave the Spaniards a good idea of the entire Negros coast and the western side of Cebu. They learned the existence of many settlements along the coast on both the eastern and western sides where they saw the black men sometimes mingled with the brown-skinned -- natives. There was an air of hostility and an obvious fear of new arrivals to their shores indicating that they must have had unpleasant experiences with other groups not only with the marauding Moro pirates.

From their statements, the natives indicated that they were familiar with the visiting Chinese and other Asian traders. After this initial visit to Negros, Legazpi decided on Cebu for his first settlement in the Philippines. At this stage, the Spanish officials distributed to the early Spanish settlers the initial encomiendas to fifteen conquistadores on September 6, 1571. There were more than 30,000 natives in these areas to be cared for and supervised by the new encomenderos in the name of the King of Spain. In our succeeding columns, we will share more historic information with this initial onset of Hispanization in the Philippines.*

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Gonzaga: To be vaccinated or not? (Part 2)

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 05:28 AM PDT

AMIDST the sound and the fury of exchanges over the internet and mass media regarding the pros and cons of mass vaccination comes an urgent call from a known epidemiologist and advocate for containment of the pandemic -- Geert Vanden Bossche, DMV, PhD, independent virologist, and vaccine expert, formerly employed at GAVI and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

In an Open Letter to the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Vanden Bossche made this impelling warning: "I am all but an anti-vaxxer. As a scientist, I do not usually appeal to any platform of this kind to make a stand on vaccine-related topics. As a dedicated virologist and vaccine expert, I only make an exception when health authorities allow vaccines to be administered in ways that threaten public health, most certainly when scientific evidence is being ignored. The present extremely critical situation forces me to spread this emergency call. As the unprecedented extent of human intervention in the Covid-19 pandemic is now at risk of resulting in a global catastrophe without equal, this call cannot sound loud and strong enough."

As Dr. Bossche clarified in his Open Letter to the WHO and the scientific community, he is not against vaccination. On the contrary, he assures the readers that each of the current vaccines has been designed, developed, and manufactured by brilliant and competent scientists. However, these types of prophylactic vaccines "are completely inappropriate, and even highly dangerous, when used in mass vaccination campaigns during a viral pandemic. Vaccinologists, scientists and clinicians he avers, "are blinded by the positive short-term effects in individual patients, but don't seem to bother about the disastrous consequences for global health." Unless he writes, he is scientifically proven wrong, "it is difficult to understand how current human interventions will prevent circulating variants from turning into a wild monster."

Racing in his sense, "against the clock," he at the time of his Open Letter was completing his scientific manuscript, the "publication of which is, unfortunately, likely to come too late given the ever-increasing threat from rapidly spreading, highly infectious variants". As an immediate measure, he posted a summary of his findings as well as his keynote speech at the recent Vaccine Summit in Ohio on LinkedIn (Author: Geert Vanden Bossche, DVM, Ph.D. March 6, 2021 -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/geertvandenbossche.

In his slides which I accessed, Dr. Bossche provided international health organizations, including the WHO, with his analysis of the current pandemic as based on scientifically informed insights in the immune biology of Covid-19. Given the level of his perceived emergency, he urged them to consider his concerns and to initiate a debate on the detrimental consequences of further "viral immune escape."

Tragically, while in Bossche's view "there is no time to spare," he has not received any feedback. Experts and politicians alike have remained silent, while talks about relaxing infection prevention rules and "springtime freedom" abound. Yet, as he laments his statements "are based on nothing else but science. They shall only be contradicted by science."

While one can barely make any incorrect scientific statements without being criticized by peers, he avows that, "the elite of scientists who are currently advising our world leaders prefer to stay silent...(though) sufficient scientific evidence has been brought to the table." Bossche's warnings and study remain untouched by those who have the power to act. He posed this burning question, "How long can one ignore the problem when there is at present massive evidence that viral immune escape is now threatening humanity?"

Our own IATF and health authorities can hardly say, "We didn't know -- or were not warned." In his agonizing letter in which Bossche claims, he put all of his reputation and credibility at stake, he challenges: "I expect from you, guardians of mankind, at least the same. It is of utmost urgency. Do open the debate. By all means: turn the tide!"

In this column, I have tried to continue the debate, now it's your turn to popularize this important issue on your own platform, whether it be social media or your own network of friends.

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True Lifestyle trio set to empower Negrense women

Posted: 23 Mar 2021 05:18 AM PDT

THREE empowered women blend their fondness for life's amazing choices on health and wellness, education and advocacy, and entertainment through their television show dubbed as "True Lifestyle."

Broadcast icon Leilani Salem-Alba, who used to work with ABS-CBN Bacolod and Cebu; Charity Diva Token Lizares who has passion to help the needy through her golden voice; and Information Technology savvy, Panasiatic Site Director Siony Hijara-Ferraris, a health buff and instrumental in the sustainable growth of Panasiatic are the competent hosts of True Lifestyle which is aired via Sky Cable Channel 53, YouTube and Facebook every Saturday, 8 p.m.

These empowered women share their gifts and talents to enable them to spread awareness on how to deal with life's tough turns, citing the accumulating effects of Covid-19 pandemic on one's economic well-being and health.

The trio shares their insights on various interests and concerns supported by their substantial experiences and actual knowledge about various topics.

They want to serve as an inspiration to those who face life's tough challenges and guide them on how to deal with them properly and with a calculation that its impact will be lessened.

The trio had their share of life's problems be it work-related and others, but they still managed to withstand it and even made them strong and determined.

Prayers play a vital part to them as they live in uncertain times just like most people do to overcome trials because they believe that all problems are just means to connect to God.

Siony, being new to broadcast but has enough knowledge on the information technology, chanced upon broadcaster Leilani and shared her plans to engage in blogging as her outlet aside from her performing her work.

Leilani subscribed to her idea where she offered to help her realize it, given her background and long years of experience in the broadcast industry as formerly the host of the long-running ABS-CBN show in Bacolod dubbed as "The Morning Show."

Later, Leilani metToken and enticed her to join their planned blog show.

The three met and agreed to join forces in hosting a blog show that turned into a television show.

Token is a veteran vocalist who staged concerts both here and in Manila joining top stars and shared part of their revenue to charity works.

But during the pandemic, her singing performances stopped and it has affected her voice. "I cannot sing for a year because I lost my voice. But thank God, I regained my voice and now I am using it to share my ideas to others through our program."

The trio believes that it is their way to share their knowledge and experiences with the guidance and blessing of God.

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