Wednesday, August 27, 2008

VIEW OF MALINDIG FROM SAPINIT HILL, BUENAVISTA

TUNGKOL SA STTC ASSEMBLY

We've been occupied with culture and tourism related activities and haven't had the time yet to report more about the STTC Assembly. We are aware that Mr. Dave Katague is waiting for these reports that he wishes to share with our kabayans in the U.S. They are forthcoming but for now, we are posting this article which appeared in the local weekly, THE WEEKLY MARINDUQUE.

LUBOS NA TAGUMPAY ANG “MARINDUQUE RISING!”
Ni Jet Claveria
MULA SA: THE WEEKLY MARINDUQUE
July 27-Aug 2, 2008


“Ito na ang pinakamatagumpay o isa sa pinakamatagumpay na pagdaraos ng STTC assembly sa loob ng nakaraang labing-apat na taon!”. Ito ang mga katagang nabanggit ni Col. Andrew O. Nocon, ang chairman ng Southern Tagalog Tourism Council Assembly na ginanap sa Boac, Marinduque Hulyo 23-25.

“Ito na nga ang panaka-puso ng mga panturistang destinasyon sa Pilipinas!”, sabi naman ni Director Louella B. Jurilla, ng Department of Tourism Region IV.

“Isang mataas na “9” ang rating namin sa Marinduque hosting”, banggit naman ng delegasyon ng delegasyon ng Quezon sa pagtatapos ng assembly proper.

Ang mga dumalo sa asembliya ay lubos na namangha sa pagsalubong na ginawa sa kanila mula ng dumaong ang sinakyang mga barko sa Balanacan Port at isa pang daungan sa bayan ng Gasan. Ang mga moryong bulaklakan (moriones) ng Mogpog, bagamat tapos na ang Semana Santa, ay naging paborito ng delegasyon na kunan ng larawan sa pamamagitan ng camera o ng kanilang celfone.

Sa unang oras pa lamang ng registration sa Mogpog Central School, ay humigit sa 200 delegasyon na mula sa ibat-ibang bahagi ng Calabarzon at Mimaropa ang nagpatala. Sinamantala naman ng mga guro ng Mogpog District ang pagkakataon upang ipakita ang mga katutubong sayaw ng bayan at ang kasaysayan ng Marinduque sa pamamagitan ng bigkasan.

Kinagabihan ng unang araw matapos makapaglibot ng bahagya ang mga bisita sa Mogpog, Boac Cathedral at Marinduque Museum, idinaos sa Boac Covered Court ang Mayors’ Night bilang opisyal na pagsalubong sa mga bisita.

Punong-abala dito ang pangulo ng Mayors’ League na si Mayor Ruben F. Revilla ng Sta. Cruz, at ang mga mayor o vice-mayor at mga kagawad mula sa anim na bayan ng Marinduque. Isang cultural number hinggil sa alamat ng Marinduque ang ipinakita ng mga Santacruzin at nasundan ng masayang sayawan at inuman.

Sa ikalawang araw ay nilibot ng delegasyon mula sa 10 lalawigan ang apat na bayan ng Gasan, Buenavista, Torrijos at Sta. Cruz para sa “Marinduque Rising” tours. Ito ang natatanging paksa ng asembliya bilang pagkilala sa pinagsamang kagustuhan ng mga Marinduqueno na maiangat ang turismo dito.

Ang pagbisita sa mga bayan-bayan ay naisakatuparan sa tulong ng mga punong-bayan, tourism councils, tourism office at tanggapan ng punong-lalawigan. Nasilayan ng mga bisita ang butterfly breeding sa Gasan, ang mga produkto, tunog at kulay ng kinikilalang cultural nerve-center ng Marinduque, namasdan ang maalamat na Tres Reyes Islands, hanggang makarating sila sa Buenavista upang bisitahin ang Marinduque Hot Spring Resort.

Sa may pagitan ng Buenavista at Torrijos ay sinalubong naman ang grupong STTC ng mga naghihiyawang mag-aaral na may mga flaglets at ng pamosong OMPSA Drum and Lyre Band ng bayan ng Torrijos. Hindi makapaniwala ang marami sa delegasyon na Torrijos ang isa sa bayan ng Marinduque na higit na nasalanta ng bagyong si “Frank”.

“Pinahanga kami ng mayor dito sa ginawang paglilinis at pagsasaayos ng kapaligiran”, ani Atty. Apolinario Makalintal, pangulo ng Batangas Provincial Tourism Council.

“Regular na dumadalaw ako sa Marinduque dahil may mga kamag-anak ako rito, subalit humanga ako sa mabilis na pagdami ng mga maliliit na resorts. Promotion ng Marinduque na lamang ang kailangan marahil”, dagdag ni Pancho Lardizabal ng Batangas.

GOVERNOR CARRION

Sa kaniyang mensahe sa ikalawang araw ng asembliya idiniin naman ni Gov. Bong Carrion ng Marinduque na ang pagiging puso ng Pilipinas ng kanyang lalawigan ay hindi haka-haka lamang. Aniya, ang Marinduque ang geographical center ng Pilipinas at ang National Mapping, Resource & Information Authority (NAMRIA), ay magtatayo na ng isang eco-park sa mismong Luzon Datum of 1911 site sa may Sitio Argao, Balanacan.

Sinabi rin ni Carrion na siya ring tumatayong chairman ng Committee on Tourism sa Regional Development Council ng Mimaropa, na ang pagdalaw ng mga bisita sa Marinduque ay maihahambing sa isang baying sumasalamin sa tunay at sinaunang mga Tagalog, “welcome to ancient Tagalog country!”, aniya.

Sa kanyang pahayag sinabi naman ni Roberto Cereno ng Botanic Gardens, Parks and Ecotourism Division sa Los Banos, na nababagay sa Marinduque ang konsepto ng Green Tourism. Aniya ideal setting ang isla ng Marinduque para sa uri ng turismong ito na malawak na ang narating sa popularidad sa Europa. Magkakasama rito, aniya ang agri-tourism, eco-tourism, cultural tourism at adventure sports. Higit ang pagkiling ng green tourism sa pangangalaga sa kalikasan, na siyang dapat nagunguna lalo na sa mga maliliit na islang-lalawigan.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

LETTER TO GOVERNOR CARRION

Governor's State of the Province Address
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:57 AM
From: This sender is DomainKeys verified "Willie O. Monroyo"


Dear Gov. Carrion,

My name is Wilfredo (Willie) Monroyo. I was born and raised in Poctoy, Boac, Marinduque. I have been living in the US for the last 32 years. In that length of time, I have never lost contact with my family trying to keep informed of the developments in our Barangay, Poctoy and of course the Island of Marinduque.

For the first time, I read an official report from the Head of the Province about concrete developments, genuine concerns and visions for the province through the Governor's state of the Province address.

I applaud you for the accomplishments stated on your address delivered on July 8, 2008. I saw parts of them if not all when I was there in 2007, September and October.

I would like to comment on Infrastructure, farm to market road projects. I noticed the approximately four kilomenter dirt road stretch from Maygayo to Tumapon, Boac remains the same for as far back as 1950's when I was in Elementary and High School. This dirt road serves as the main artery connecting Ilaya Barangays to Poctoy, Maybo, Malbog, Tumapon, Daig, Maygayo to town proper. The road becomes impassable after a typhoon or sudden heavy downpour due to mudslides and earth erosion. When this happens, jeepneys and tricyles cannot ply between barangays and town proper. This is causing hardship to farmers, small retailers to conduct their regular trades. This is also causing inconvenience to regular commuters, high school and college students from the affected barangays.

In behalf of the people of the mentioned barangays, I hope the improvement of the road will be considered and included in your next project.

Thank you for your time. God Bless Us All!!


Sincerely,


Wilfredo MOnroyo

Thursday, August 7, 2008

BALANACAN STATION - THE MOTHER OF ALL SURVEYS





Top photo: The original Luzon Datum of 1911 marker.
Middle photo: Jovs Lilles of the Marinduque Tourism Office being interviewed by host Franzen of "Trip na Trip", TV program on Channel 2 during a special feature on Marinduque recently.
Bottom: View from the triangulation site overlooking San Andres Island.

(Photos courtesy of Jov Lilles and Gerry Jamilla).

TASK GROUP BALANACAN CREATED
(From PRS92 Newsletter Vol. 1 No. 2 2008. NAMRIA)

NAMRIA Administrator Diony A. Ventura has created the Task Group
Balanacan headed by Mapping Department (MD) Director Jose
Galo P. Isada, Jr. to undertake the development of the
triangulation stations Balanacan and Baltazar.

The task group will undertake research and gather available records and maps/plan, coordination meetings with concerned agencies, and information campaign activities. It will conduct resource assessment and demarcation surveys. It will prepare plans
and secure necessary construction permits or clearances from concerned authorities for the civil works that will be undertaken.

The Balanacan Station defined the origin of the Luzon Datum
of 1911. All surveys in the Philippines were corrected and based
on the position of this station. The formed triangulation network
spanned vast distances with stations that were located in high
mountain peaks and far across straits and channels.

On 02 June 2008, a team headed by MD OIC Assistant
Director Randolf S. Vicente conducted a reconnaisance survey
of the vicinity of the “mother of all surveys” in Balanacan, Mogpog
town, Marinduque.

Monday, August 4, 2008

THE STTC 3-DAY MARINDUQUE AFFAIR IN PHOTOS.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GERRY JAMILLA, Marinduque Tourism Office.


The Cultural Showcase for the Governor's Night.




Marinduque Tourism COuncil Chair, Lord Allan Jay Velasco.


Director Jurilla on Marinduque's being "the heart of Philippine tourist destinations".

Governor Carrion on Marinduque's being an "ancient Tagalog country".

The indefatigable STTC Chair, Col. Andrew Nocon at the formal opening of the assembly.

At Chateau du Mer, Assembly Hall.


With DOT Regional Director Louella Jurilla.




Crossing the bridge to Marinduque Hot Spring Resort, Malbog, Buenavista.


Photo shoot at a coral grotto, Sapinit hill.

At the Lourdes Grotto in Sapinit, Brgy. Bagtingon.






Cultural show with a version of the legend of Marin and Garduke.

Food galore.

Boac Mayor Bongyat Solomon welcomes the delegates.




In the evening of the first day: MAYORS' NIGHT. Hosted by the League of Mayors of Marinduque's six municipalities. Boac Covered Court.

A Welcome Dance from the Mogpog District School teachers.



The rest of the delegation arrived via Balanacan. Shown here at the Mogpog Central School, first stop for registration



The indigenous music of Pangkat Kalutang welcomes the Mindoro delegation in Gasan. The delegation sailed from Port Recordo to Gasan Pier.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

IMAGES OF TORRIJOS

The following photos were taken by Ton Monteagudeo & Jovs Lilles and were published in the 14th STTC Assembly souvenir program.

IMAGES OF STA. CRUZ

IMAGES OF MOGPOG

IMAGES OF GASAN

IMAGES OF BUENAVISTA

IMAGES OF BOAC

"MARINDUQUE RISING!" PHOTO COLLAGE BY TON MONTEAGUDO