I was indeed fortunate to be invited to Eduardo Diego’s Pre-Valentine Product Launching and Wine Tasting Event a day before the Day of Hearts on Feb. 13 at The Marketplace, Ayala Centrio Mall.
Eduardo Diego Principals Jeigs Pakino and Ed Quimpano Jr. (2nd from right/rightmost) toast their new partnership with Atlante Import Italy Pte Ltd’s Principals Roberto & Elaine Morinelli (Leftmost & center).
Not only was it another milestone occasion for Cagayan de Oro’s multi-awarded Italian Specialty Restaurant, it was the wine-tasting event with the widest range of wines to taste I have ever experienced, thanks to Eduardo Diego’s partner Atlante Import Italy Pte Ltd. which had just appointed them their exclusive distributor for Cagayan de Oro City and Northern Mindanao.
The incompaable Nap Sax Hechanova
With mood music provided by the incomparable Nap Sax Hechanova, the ambience was just right for the evening’s Festa Italiana as Eduardo Diego’s indefatigable Dynamic Duo of Jeigs Pakino and Ed Tangcay Quimpano Jr. of J2J Co. introduced three new items for their already formidable menu, in tandem with the Mom-and-Pop tandem behind the success of Atlante Import Italy Pte Ltd., Roberto Morinelli and his Kagay-anon wife Elaine Espino, now based in Singapore.
The evening’s guests were treated to a #TrulyDelizioso unforgettable Dining Experience with the official introduction of three new items to their menu:
Pasta Crema de Pollo (meaty chicken flakes on signature buttered cream sauce.
PastaDiegoTagliatelle (premium Italian sausage slices blended with a unique pasta sauce of fresh herbs, spices tossed with Tagliatelle Pasta (best matched with #CHIARLI IL Mio wines from Italy)
Especially prepared for Valentine’s Day, heart-shaped Pizza Crema de Pollo.
Tagliatelle are a traditional type of pasta made from egg pasta from the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions of Italy using the traditional ratio of one egg for every one hundred grams of flour. Individual pieces of tagliatelle are long, flat ribbons that are similar in shape to fettuccine and are traditionally about 6 mm (1/4 inch) wide. Tagliatelle can be served with a variety of sauces, though the classic is a meat sauce or Bolognese sauce.
Elaine & Roberto Morinelli, the dynamic duo behind the success of Atlante Import Italy Pte Ltd. of Singapore.
Roberto and Elaine made the evening even livelier, going around and advising guests on which of the various wines they were uncorking for us to taste goes best with what dish (21, count ‘em!).
Primarily, these were the CHARLI Premium Demi Vino Rosso (Red), Vino Bianco (White), or Vino Rosato (Pink)
.“Remember that food and wine are like a family,” Roberto noted. “Is something being wrong, it is wrong, then we fight! But don’t let them fight. Tomorrow is night and day, so we need each one to love one other. I don’t want to talk further about the wines. It is best tasted to tell you all about them.”
Besides the three new wines and menu items, Eduardo Diego also rolled out their Solo Pasta servings from 10AM-4PM daily for Solo Spaghetti Pomodoro, Solo Spaghetti AglioOlio, and Solo Spaghetti Salsa Rosa (plain).
Eduardo Diego Ristorante at The Marketplace, Ayala Centrio Mall
You can visit EduardoDiego Ristorante on either their main branch at A. Velez corner Hayes streets, or at The Marketplace, Ayala Centrio Mall or contact them through 0945-214-2457 or 09350151-4868.
EduardoDiego has been cited as the Most Outstanding Italian Cuisine Specialty Restaurant in Cagayan de Oro by the 2nd Asian Sterling Awards, National Awardee for Best Authentic Italian Pizzeria by the Elite Business Excellence Award 2019, and awarded the Seal of Quality Excellence by Q Asia’s Quality Excellence Awards.
The Q Asia’s Quality Excellence Awards is dedicated to recognizing companies, products and services that have achieved product quality excellence. The awards are conferred upon products and services that meet the standards of product and service quality excellence.
The La Castilla Collection: A Photography Exhibition is now open for viewing at the3rd Floor Foyer of the Ayala Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro City.
The exhibit features photos of Blue & White Chinese Heirloom Porcelain from the Ching & Ming Dynasties dating back to the 13the to 17th centuries and will run from February 13 to 28, 2023.
The fourteen photos feature a selection of blue and white antique jars from the Pelaez Family collection of the La Castilla Museum of Philippine Household Heirlooms and Antiques (The Rodolfo and Elsa Pelaez Family Memorabilia).
La Castilla Museum Curator Kelly Ramos. (RMB)
“This is one of the off-site programs of the museum where we fulfill the mandate of museums to make collections accessible to the public, while also keeping the objects safe and preserved in their cabinets,” said Kelly Ramos, Curator of the La Castilla Museum.
The La Castilla is a mid-20th century lifestyle museum of Philippine household heirlooms and antiques housing the Rodolfo and Elsa Pelaez Family Memorabilia in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.
In his book, Rodolfo & Elsa Pelaez A 20th Century Legacy, author Nelson A. Navarro wrote:
“Elsa Pelaez managed to collect one of the biggest and most impressive collection of blue-and-white heirloom Chinese porcelain from the Ming and Ching dynasties during the 1950s ‘antiques boom’ from Muslim traders of Lanao, as well as from private collections and auctions from Cebu and Manila. These are now in the La Castilla Museum, along with later acquisitions of fine art from Europe and other parts of the world.”
“The Ming Dynasty is famous for its blue and white porcelain (1368–1644). Of all Chinese antiques, Ming porcelain is the most well-known, arguably the most valuable, and one of the most sought-after pieces of art. They are renowned for their beauty, deft craftsmanship, and intricate detail throughout the art world,” remarked Dr Chona R Echavez, director of Xavier University’s Research Institute for Mindanao Culture (RIMCU), who was the guest speaker during the exhibit’s launching on February 13.
Dr Chona R Echavez cuts the ribbon assisted by HISCOM Chair Nic Aca. (RMB)
“Ancient Mesopotamians created the first underglaze blue and white pottery in the fertile valleys between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, not the Chinese (modern-day Iraq, Kuwait, Turkey, and Syria). They imitated lapis lazuli using cobalt oxide, one of the few pigments that can withstand the highest firing temperatures. Later, during the Islamic Abbasid Caliphate (about 750 AD), blue and white pottery became extremely popular throughout the Middle East,” she added.
While not originating in China, blue and white porcelain, known as Qinghua (blue flowers), has become the most widespread porcelain, and China’s most famous china. This underglaze ceramic, decorated with blue pigment, normally cobalt oxide, has been produced for over 1,000 years (Jiang, 2021).
Some of the featured photographs at the exhibition. (RMB)
The color bluegained special significance in the history of Chinese ceramics during the Tang dynasty (618-907). The distinctive color in blue-glazed pottery and porcelain comes from cobalt ores imported from Persia, which were a scarce ingredient at the time and used in only limited quantities.
In the Yuan (1279-1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties in particular, different types of cobalt ore and methods of application determined the distinctive feature of the shades of blue that appeared on blue-and-white porcelain ware. (Ho, 2019)
La Castilla Museum at LIceo de Cagayan University.
Located along R.N. Pelaez Boulevard, Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City the La Castilla Museum is housed within the former summer residence of Atty. Rodolfo Neri Pelaez and Mrs. Elsa Pelaez, founders of Liceo de Cagayan University. Designed in the ornate Spanish Mediterranean style, it was built in 1968 within six hectares of land bordering the Cagayan River, and is now part of the Liceo de Cagayan University campus.
Echavez described how the historical structure had been in existence since 1968; first as a summer residence of the founders of Liceo de Cagayan University which became their permanent home after the 1976 earthquake in Mindanao, then as a museum at the turn of the millennium.
Some of the rare Chinese porcelain collection of La Castilla Museum.
In its collection are silverware, flatware, porcelain, brassware, woodworks, houseware, perfumery, glassware, porcelain jars and bowls, letters and purses, paintings and framed pictures, decorative items and illumination, dresses and gowns, toys, and vintage technology. There is also a well-kept garden, divided into themes: the tropical, Japanese, and classical-themed gardens.
“Cognizant of the need to bond with local history, art and culture, they opened La Castilla’s gates to all of us as a symbolic attempt to step back in time, an experience to recapture the life and times of a couple gone, but whose lifetime dedication to enrich the quality of life of every Kagay-anon through education, spiritual and general well-being, has transcended the limitless boundaries of time and space,” Echavez noted.
A string quartet from the Cagayan de Oro Symphony Orchestra renders a number during the exhibit launch. (RMB)
This exhibit is a project of the 18th Cultural Season of the Liceo Office of Cultural Affairs in celebration of the 68th Founding Anniversary of Liceo de Cagayan University and National Arts Month in the Philippines. It is mounted by La Castilla Museum in partnership with Liceo de Cagayan University, Ayala Malls, Ayala Centrio, Cagayan de Oro City Tourism & Cultural Affairs Office, Cagayan de Oro Historical & Cultural Commission (HISCOM), Liceo Office of Cultural Affairs, Liceo Office of Communications and Promotions, and The Liceo Press.
The La Castilla Museum is open from Monday to Friday at 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturdays at 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN. It is located at Rodolfo N Pelaez Boulevard, Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.
The exhibition team for this event is headed by Roger Odron (Project Director), with Kelly Ramos (Curator/Researcher/Writer), Jeikko Gomez (Photographer), Salvador dela Peña (Editor) and Reynan Lacaba (Graphic Designer).
For inquiries call 858-4090 local 188/ 09602205026/ 09162219949/ 09276484552(Museum Curator)
PhilHealth commemorates its 28th year anniversary with the theme “Pinalawak at mga Bagong Benepisyo para sa Mamayang Filipino,” in line with the country’s observance of National Health Insurance Month.
“This year’s anniversary theme is a manifestation of our commitment to continuously expand and make the PhilHealth benefits more relevant and responsive to the medical needs of the Filipino”, Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr., PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer said in a press statement.
Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr., PhilHealth President & CEO
Foremost among the enhancements of benefits outlined by Ledesma was the expanded coverage for outpatient hemodialysis from 90 to 156 sessions based on standards for adequate dialysis which requires three 4-hour sessions every week for chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5 patients.
In addition, PhilHealth is also providing P270,000 in financial support to patients who are on peritoneal dialysis (PD-First) and P600,000 for renal patients qualified under our Z Benefits for Kidney Transplantation.
“PhilHealth is also moving towards rationalizing select inpatient case rates. Initially, we are looking at moderate and high risk pneumonia and acute stroke, both ischemic and hemorrhagic, among those that will be rationalized,” Ledesma disclosed. “Patients can expect an improvement in the extent by which PhilHealth will pay for these conditions for these are the most common cases availed of by patients in recent years.”
Also in the pipeline are enhancements in select Z benefit packages for patients who have health conditions requiring prolonged hospitalization and expensive treatments such as orthopedic implants; kidney transplants; breast, cervical and prostate cancers; and open heart surgeries for children, specifically Ventricular Septal Defect and Tetralogy of Fallot.
On top of all these, Ledesma also reiterated PhilHealth’s commitment to introduce the following programs this year : outpatient benefit package for mental health in addition to existing inpatient coverage for mental health conditions, to improve health outcomes, quality of life, and productivity of our kababayans with mental health issues; outpatient package for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) for children below 5 years old in support of the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Law that provides for the management of severe acute malnutrition; and rationalization of current COVID-19 benefit packages, specifically for the inpatient packages, RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Test and isolation packages.
But perhaps most welcome for all stakeholders was that effective January 2023, the premium increase mandated under RA 11223 (Universal Health Care Law) has been suspended. However, PhilHealth will continue implementation of its “Immediate Eligibility” policy which guarantees the availability of PhilHealth benefits by members who have premium contribution deficiencies, and the implementation of several new benefits despite the premium increase suspension.
Meanwhile, in a press conference held in Cagayan de Oro on February 15, Delio A. Aseron II , Regional Vice President, PhilHealth Region 10, reiterated how PhilHealth has devoted and continues to devote significant efforts to develop much responsive benefit and health care packages and services for PhilHealth members and their dependents.
He cited how Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (or Konsulta), focuses on the preventive aspect of health care by reducing or averting hospital confinements through accredited health care institutions that would provide essential/primary health services to members and their dependents. With reduced hospital confinements PhilHealth can utilize more of its funds for the development of better benefit packages for all Filipinos.
Ledesma similarly stressed how Philhealth will continue to strengthen its PhilHealth Konsulta Package to make essential services such as consultations, health screening and assessment, laboratory tests, and drugs and medicines available to all Filipinos anywhere in the country.
“Last year, we started a nationwide drive so that Filipinos are informed about this package, for them to register with the Konsulta provider of their choice, and avail of this benefit. As of January 31 of this year, there are already 1,512 accredited Konsulta Providers nationwide,” Ledesma noted.
Meanwhile in Region 10, PRO-X and its Local Health Insurance Offices have launched the Short Message Service (SMS) Blast Project to provide sufficient and timely information to members about their availment of PhilHealth benefits and the amount paid to health care providers.
“With this information, members will be aware of the time payment was made and how much was paid to the health care institution every time they avail of PhilHealth benefits,” Aseron said.
Not the least, Ledesma assured PhilHealth is and remains to be in a strong position to implement these benefit enhancements.
“As of September 2022, we recorded our highest net income at P46 billion. Our total assets stood at P394 billion which is 13% higher than our December 2021 figures. Also, PhilHealth’s investment portfolio stands at P355 billion which consists of 83% long-term investments in government bonds and corporate bonds; and the remaining 17% are short-term investments. PhilHealth’s reserve fund also rose to P224 billion from P151 billion in September 2021, or a 48% growth due to the consistent positive results of operations,” Ledesma noted.
“PhilHealth’s finances remain robust and strong. And to make it more sustainable in many years to come, we appeal to our members, employers, healthcare providers, and to our government partners for their continuous support to the Program,” he added.
Leaders from the government and private sectors agree that a holistic approach is needed to address the Philippines’ pressing socio-economic problems arising from climate change and environment degradation.
Over 400 stakeholders from the national and local governments, private and development sectors, and the academe joined the DENR Multi-Stakeholder Forum held February 2-3, 2023 at Cagayan de Oro City.
The two-day forum was aimed at helping the DENR in championing an environmentally- resilient Philippines; identifying the sectors’ main challenges; and creating an inventory of the current frameworks, tools and technologies that can be adopted by other sectors.
It was the continuation of the three-day multi-stakeholder forum held in Manila on October 2022 and the two-day multi-stakeholder forum held in lloilo on January 2023. The multi-stakeholder forum in Mindanao is the last leg of DENR’s nationwide consultations to gather insights on environmental governance, ecotourism, agriculture, food security, forest and land management, climate and disaster resilience, and mining.
DENR Secretary Antonia Loyzaga explained the rationale for conducting a separate Multi-Stakeholder Forum for Mindanao.
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga.
“The Mindanao region is blessed with a rich, complex, social and natural history. It is in the intersection of this social and physical geography that both risk and opportunities reside. Creating and building these opportunities and mitigating the risks require partnerships that lead to a new type of agency based on competent and committed leadership that prioritizes human development, sustainable local economies, resilient infrastructure, and underpinning all of these ecosystems that support human security, food, water, energy, peace and equity,” Loyzaga noted.
Echoing the statement of Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. during the DENR Multi-stakeholder Forum-Visayas to “commit to our advocacy for our next generation of Filipinos for sustainable development,” the DENR is committed to ensuring that extensive consultation with local actors will be done across all interventions and at all stages.
The first day focused on the private sector and local government units of Mindanao’s vision for an environmentally-resilient Philippines, how the DENR can be an effective development partner, and the organizations’ main challenges.
Social Issues
During the press conference following the first plenary, Loyzaga stressed the need to address social issues as an integral component of environmental initiatives.
Where social and environmental issues intersect: Internally displaced children scavenging at a garbage dump in Datu Piang, Maguindanao (photo by Froilan Gallardo)
“Sociology trumps technology any day… Unless we can address the social issues, I firmly believe that we will not be able to address the environmental ones. So, it has to start with addressing the way our communities are growing, what are their needs, what are the reasons for the development of these communities, and how are they part of the overall Philippine Development Plan,” she stressed.
Political action and structures
During his presentation Research and Development to Accelerate Climate Action, Ateneo de Davao University President Joel E. Tabora, SJ stressed the need for strong political leadership to ensure environmental and other considerations are not subsumed to those of the economy.
“Research and development for environmental action, to save the planet, cannot be forever limited [or tyrannized] by the pragmatic needs of the economy. The economy does not trump action to save the planet. Political action and political structures must control and tame the economy, and not vice versa,” Fr. Tabora emphasized.
Ateneo de Davao University President Fr Joel E. Tabora, S.J.
“For instance, DENR cannot just be a govt agency to exploit the natural resources of the Philippines in favor of the economy and the private interests that drive this. The DENR must be the protector of the environment, for the common weal- make sure that society and the planet are not killed by the vicious technocratic paradigm driving the economy. It must be guided by voices of people on the ground, in local government units, or in the regions,” he added.
Culture of Dialogue
Loyzaga stressed that the Mindanao region “requires a localized and contextualized approach” and assured stakeholders that the DENR will continue its extensive consultations across all sectors and local communities.
“Complexity wise, we are now at the whole of government and whole of society approach and that’s why we are having the multi-stakeholder forums. We cannot just listen to one sector, we have to listen to everyone across sectors,” she explained.
35 Milestones in Eagle Conservation (PEF)
“So what we would like to use is what the Philippine Eagle Foundation has done. They’ve engaged multiple stakeholders, they have set science based goals, and they are achieving targets.”
However, Fr. Tabora voiced his apprehensions about the effectiveness of such forums in creating meaningful change given their previous experiences with similar consultations.
“We really have to cultivate a culture of dialogue, where people really feel they’re being listened to. Because so often, our experience is, we manifest problems, we manifest concerns, but we don’t feel listened to,” he lamented.
3D rendering of the Samal Island-Davao bridge.
He cited the numerous times civil society called DENR’s attention to how the planned bridge between Davao City and Samal island would destroy a coral reef. However, the DENR regional office could only respond that the plans had already been made in Manila without consulting the local governments. Thus, the local stakeholders feel they’re just not being listened to.
According to the environmental study conducted by Joey Gatus and Dr. Filipina Sotto, construction of the Davao-Samal Bridge threatens the rich marine environment of the reef at Pakiputkan Strait in Davao Gulf. (Save Paradise Reef photo)
“If only a way could be found to enable the DENR regional offices to be meaningful as a mediator of policy that’s listened to in DENR national in Manila. But DENR regional just says we can’t do anything anymore because decisions have already been made,” Fr. Tabora rued. “So whom do we go to? We come to the multi-stakeholder meeting, that’s what we’re here for today.”
The discussions in the forum are considered essential contributions to the identification of strategies and priority actions of the DENR. Their outcomes, actionable recommendations and commitments from stakeholders will be reflected in the Department Summary.
Former Oro Chamber President Robert E. Pizzaro chats with DENR Sec. Antonia Loyzaga and Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez during DENR’s Multi-Stakeholder Forum. (RMB)
They will serve as critical inputs to the Policy Reform Agenda, Systems and Collaboration Mechanisms, and Shared Programs, Actions, and Plans. Consequently, the forum also aims to accelerate the DENR’s mission of mobilizing the country’s citizens in protecting, conserving, and managing the environment and natural resources.
Jeffrey G. Limbonhai of De Luxe Hotel has been inducted into office as the new president of the city’s premier organization of hotels and restaurant.
Limbonhai was inducted as the new president of the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (COHARA) on January 12, 2023 along with the new set of officers during the association’s traditional Post-Christmas Party held at the Mallberry Suites Business Hotel.
Turnover of COHARA Presidency from Bong Pelaez (right) to Jeffrey Limbonhai .
In a symbolic turn-over of leadership, Limbonhai was presented by outgoing President Eduardo ‘Bong’ Pelaez with COHARA’s gong and gavel. Pelaez further presented the new president with a whisky glass comparing COHARA to a good blended malt whisky, with a diverse membership who freely share their best practices with one another.
“We are the COHARA Family”, Pelaez stressed.
After having been with COHARA for 10 years, Limbonhai welcomed his election as an opportunity to give back.
“I hope to be of much use to my company, your establishments, our industry and our city. There will be a lot of challenges for 2023, and I’m already bracing myself for the difficulties. But we have the leadership of the Board, the members, our government, and the strength of our city that will make it sail smoothly,” Limbonhai said.
Hon. Jay Roa Pascual inducts the new set of COHARA Officers.
The new officers were inducted by Councilor Jay Roa Pascual, Chairman of the Committee on Tourism of Cagayan de Oro City Council, representing Mayor Rolando “Klarex” A. Uy.
Pascual expressed his appreciation for COHARA’s support of government’s response to the pandemic and recognized the challenges the hotel and restaurant industry experienced through this difficult period.
More empathically, he lauded COHARA’s big contributions towards the City’s economic development growth and the promotion of tourism through the association’s annual flagship project- KUMBIRA. The event has been recognized as the longest running annual culinary show and competition in the country. KUMBIRA is also one of the core events of the City Fiesta’s Higalaay Festival.
Now on its 28th year, COHARA is now a leading institution in the tourism industry of Mindanao. What started with 11 members has now grown to 75 members including hotels, restaurants, allied members (suppliers), and associate members (hospitality/culinary schools).
The turn-over ceremony and induction of officers was followed by the Oath of Commitment of all the members present.
Hon Jay Roa Pascual with the COHARA Officers and Board of DIrectors for 2023-2024
The new set of Officers for the year 2023-2024 are the following: President- Jeffrey G. Limbonhai (De Luxe Hotel); Vice President for Hotels-Eileen E. San Juan (The VIP Hotel); Vice President for Restaurants- Catherine L. Dano (Thai Me Up Restaurant); Secretary-Jocelyn G. Balbon (Cagayan River View Inn); Treasurer – Blanquita C. Marco (Boy Zugba); P.R.O. – Carol V. Valdez (Seda Hotel).
Directors for Hotel Division: Alexis A. Chaves (Chali Resort & Conference Center); Tricia Grace Ranises (New Dawn Hotel Plus); Marielles Clarence O. Argayoso (Bridge Hotel).
Directors for Restaurant Division: Joanna Cris L. Yu (Bigby’s Café/Missy Bon Bon Breadshop); Nelia B. Lee (Ah Fong Asian Cuisine); Jose L. Almodobar (Cucina Higala).
Immediate Past President – Eduardo F. Pelaez (Duka Bay Resort)
The event was attended by owners, General Managers and Supervisors of COHARA member hotels and restaurants.
An iconic Visayan hit song’s festival remix is gaining an even wider audience in the digital music service Spotify.
The song Ipanumpa Ko by Oh! Caraga previously featured on the band’s live radio performance at Wish 107.5 after making it as one of the finalists in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) in the World Category in 2020, has registered over four million streams on Spotify.
When Ipanumpa Ko went viral, XYNTHESIZE (born Xavier Yates Dedeles) saw its potential to become an even bigger hit and started working on the remix project last August 2022.
Oh! Caraga
The original song, written by Kenneth Corvera, Adam Corvera, and Sherwin Fugoso, dwells on a higher kind of love – a love that transcends boundaries, changes and disrupts societies, and tests one’s dedication.
Jude Gatimondoc, Kadasig label manager and one of the founders of the Visayan Pop Music Festival (Vispop), commissioned the remix by XYNTHESIZE as an anthem/soundtrack for the post-festival documentary of Vispop Music Festival11, headlined by local artists Kurt Fick, TJ Monterde, and Ferdinand Aragon, held January 11, 2023 at The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu.
Vispopis a Cebuano national songwriting campaign and competition for pop music compositions launched in Cebu City, Philippines on 2012. The competition is under the auspice of Artists and Musicians Marketing Cooperative (Artist Ko). From 2013-2017, it was staged in cooperation with the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (FILSCAP).
Vispop’s winning entries became hits in various regional FM radio stations, even those in non-Cebuano speaking localities. Vispop later became a catch-all term for songs produced from the contest and contemporary Cebuano music.
XYNTHESIZE (Xavier Yates Dedeles)
XYNTHESIZE posted a video of his progress on social media which was immediately seen and encouraged by Oh! Caraga, motivating him further to finish the demo. Gatimondocaccepted the demo and provided the multi-tracks needed to complete the project.
XYNTHESIZE’s close friends L’Ray and Kelvin, assisted in giving the remix its final sound by adding and layering instruments and sounds. Larry of Big Foot Studios and Network Rome mastered the remix, and after the contract singing the remix was released last January 10.
Cebu’s contemporary hit radio, Y101 FM premiered the Ipanumpa Ko’sFestival Mix, and it was later featured and topped Spotify’s editorial playlist, New Music Friday Philippines.
When the remix was aired during the recent Sinulog Festival Week, it soared high on the city charts, peaking at #2 in Cebu, #3 in Cagayan de Oro, and #4 in Davao on Spotify’s Local Pulse.
Between a galvanized iron fence along Pabayo Street in Cagayan de Oro City is a small opening that opens to what was once a bustling block of makeshift houses but is now only a bare square of raw earth.
The name first came to my attention when I was doing a feature on Carlo Dorin, a Kagay-anon futbol player who recently won the Golden Boot in the prestigious SingaCup 2018 youth futbol tournament in Singapore.
When I asked him where he learned to play the game, and he replied “Monte Carlo.”
Long-time Kagay-anon Amadeo TatoyNeri shared his memories of the place.
“Monte Carlo was the name given to a place where the Firmacion family used to operate several businesses. Operated directly by Mrs. Carmen Puertas Firmacion, mother of the late Dante P. Sarraga, it had at some point or other, an ice drop factory carrying the brand name Monte Carlo, a bowling alley with the same name, and Firmacion Enterprises selling magazines and newspapers, being one of maybe two places in the city where comic books were sold.”
This place used to be lorded over by one very well-known to locals and very close friend to many of us, the late Antonio AdongPuertas, who was a nephew of Mrs. Firmacion and who also assisted in the businesses, he added.
Francisco ChitoSarraga, grandson of the late Capt. Firmacion, shared his memories of the place.
A former maritime ship captain, Capt. Luciano S. Firmacion served as Assistant Chief of Staff to the 110th Division (Guerrilla) during the Second World War. (Tribute Panel by Philip Garcia)
“The Executive Centrum building and the lot in front used to be the residence of my Lolo, Capt. Luciano Firmacion. People called it Monte Carlo because it was a land mark then. My Lolo got the name from a place in the French Riviera, called Monte Carlo.”
“Monte Carlo is the name of my grandfather’s family Night Club where Kagay-anons used to spend their free nights dancing. Below on the first floor was the Monte Carlo Bowling Alley, the only bowling alley in Cagayan de Oro at that time. The sister of my Lola, the wife of Capt. Firmacion, had an ice drop factory also named Monte Carlo.”
Originally called Spélugues, the famous Monte Carlo Quarter of the principality of Monaco in the French Riviera was developed with hotels, gardens and a casino by French businessmen Francois Blanc in 1863 upon the instance of Charles I, the Prince of Monaco. At the suggestion of his mother, Princess Caroline, Charles II renamed the place Monte Carlo after himself.
The Monte Carlo Quarter is famed for the world-famous Place du Casino, the gambling center which has made Monte Carlo “an international byword for the extravagant display and reckless dispersal of wealth.”
Beginnings
Even before futbol became the dominant sport in Monte Carlo, its residents were already known as sportsmen who excelled at various times in their not too distant past at softball, baseball, boxing and basketball.
But the place is revered by local hard-core futbol (or soccer, it you must) aficionados as the cradle which brought forth so many outstanding Kagay-anon futbol players in the past fifty years or so.
“It’s the inner community around that block, where the kids’ hobby in their spare time is futbol, not basketball,” said Allan Abellanosa, former president of the Cagayan – Misamis Oriental Football Association (CMOFA) who has since moved to Canada.
Kiddie football players of Monte Carlo pose for posterity with Carlo Dorin at their dirt pitch.
“They play in the streets, in the City Central School field and the Pelaez sports Center regularly. The community including parents loves football,” he added.
“I believe the interest was started by Dr. Jose B. Obenza, Jr. who lived near that community, by sharing soccer balls to the community. He was a Past President of the Misamis Oriental Football Association (now the CMOFA) who really loved football. That community through the years has produced many good players who played in national tournaments, including his son Aldo, who now works at Provincial Health office.”
Local Heroes
Aldo Cruz Obenza, son of the late Dr. Obenza, shared his memories of the salad days of futbol at Monte Carlo.
“My dad introduced futbol to us when I was a 2nd year high school student at the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) around 1974. During our time the back field of the City Central School was still vacant, and he encouraged my barkada from Monte Carlo, many of whom later became varsity players of MOGCHS. Many of the bugoys from MC were our fans and cheerleaders whenever we had a game.”
Among his teammates is the MOGCHS futbol varsity were Jesus Tigulo, Reynaldo Galarrita, and Jaime Ráran, while their junior players included Locoy Sabella (Wilford’s father), Nestor Yanez, YulCaguindingan, Koko Bacarro, Ringgo Cielo, Floro Torres, Eddie Caguindingan, Batchoy Doniña, to name a few, and many more whose names he couldn’t remember at that time.
Among their coaches were Dr. Obenza, Maj. Virgilio Pacana, Pat Acedo, and Retz Pacalioga. “They were actually our first mentors in Futbol. Monte Carlo is like Barotac Nuevo, the cradle of futbol in lloilo.”
Monte Carlo booters from later generations who followed in their footsteps in bigger pitches outside the city include Jonard G. Fuentes, who now manages Smart distributor Elvirs Blue Sky and went on to become a University of Southern Philippines Foundation Athletic Scholar; Wilford Sabella Gayramara, another USPF Scholar, now a Certified International Football Referee in Vietnam; Nicho S. Palarca, former player of PASARGAD FC National Football Club, qualified for UFL who used to monopolize MVP awards in various tournaments; Globert Patayon, a USTP graduate and now a Math Professor in Thailand; and Emiliano Mabalos, known for his skills as one of the best strikers of MCFC, who now works for Elvirs Blu Sky under the management of his former teammate Jonard Fuentes.
“They usually play along Pabayo Street but when it became busy they play at the Pelaez Sports Center most every day. Some kids will play even without soccer shoes. That’s how much the community loves football,” Abellanosa reminisced.
“The name Monte Carlo FC was first used by a home team in 1984 with Gold Eagle Beer as their first sponsor,” recalls Julie Ann Gerona-Popovic, a pioneer lady booter from Barangay Bulua who has close ties with the place.
The team decided to keep the name when they often emerged winners in tournaments they would join in using the moniker.
A Family Tradition
While I was interviewing Carlo last December, there were little kids playing 3-a-side futsal with bigger kids on a makeshift dirt pitch with two small goals and a regulation soccer ball.
The smallest among them, Nash Sombero, 7, had already played at New Camp, lligan with the Monte Carlo U-8 and U-10 teams only last November. Also 7 was Randy V. Tablang, and there were two 10 year olds: James Nathan Castillo, who played with the team recently in Oroquieta City where they had a 2nd runner up team finish, and Alucard Lestria. Completing the sides were Dave Dorin, 11, and John Robert Dorin Galarrita, also 11.
Carlo Dorin play 3-a-side futsal with kids at Monte Carlo’s dirt pitch.
The common thread running through all the kids’ narratives? Their fathers were all futbol players and in some cases, so were their relatives, male and female alike.
Carlo himself was already 9 years old when he started playing futbol at Monte Carlo, which was already late by the neighborhood standards, when kids like Nash were already playing when they were but 4 years old.
“I started playing 5-a-side futsal here in Monte Carlo in 2009, sometimes in Pabayo Street, we put our goals on the street and just put them aside when vehicles were passing,” Carlo recalls.
“But I learned the formal basics two years later under Coach Yul at the City Central School grounds where we also learned how to scrimmage during summer camps.”
Yul himself learned to play futbol in Monte Carlo during the 1970s with the likes of Pat Acedo, Dr. Obenza, and Retz Pacalioga. “The MOGCHS futbol team consisted mainly of Monte Carlo players. Our practice pitch was the Pelaez Sports Center.”
From there, Carlo progressed to playing in local tournaments at the Pelaez Sports Complex and in more competitive tourneys like the Rosevale Cup and Del Monte Cup, a road which now made him a soccer Senior Varsity Scholar at 17 with the Lyceum of Philippines University (LPU) where he starts playing in the NCAA as a sophomore since he had to comply with the one year residency last year.
“While kids are still young and small, we already encourage them to play futbol and give them balls for them to scrimmage,” Yul said. “Previously, KASIBULAN provided spare balls for our summer camp training at City Central, but Carlo’s group was the last batch since the budget for the summer camp was slashed by City Central, and we cannot sustain the camp by dipping into our own pockets.”
Allan concurs. “Cagayan de Oro has produced good players from Monte Carlo but mostly they can hardly move up due to limited resources to gain elite training and opportunities.”
Now Joey Tallo Flores of Kalambagohan had taken over training the kids, but lacks sponsors for logistics like balls, kits, cones, etc.
The School Tradition
Before Monte Carlo was able to organize its own team, players from the block were often recruited by school teams due to their often outstanding talent and experience.
“Aldo Obenza’s dad started by supporting players from MC as kids watched their fathers and neighbors play futbol at the Sports Centre,” said Ronald ChairmanTablang, one of the MCFC’s outstanding players who is now Barangay 12 Secretary. He gained the moniker when he was elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chair of Barangay 12 in 1996.
Monte Carlo FC started informally during the early 1990s but only was formally organized into a club when Ronald became SK Chairman in 1996 with the formation of the Monte Carlo FC Junior (High School) and Senior (College) teams.
Ronald himself started playing futbol in 1st year high school playing in the Pelaez Sports Center pitch when admission was still free so they could scrimmage in it every afternoon.
“We had no formal training, no proper equipment, some played barefoot, others played with hand me-down shoes, and we had no uniform,” Tablang recalls.
“We only managed to get kits when I was elected SK Chairman in 1996 because I knew we really needed support, so provided a budget for the kits of our team. From there on the number of players in many age groups increased as more kids from the neighborhood and surrounding areas caught the futbol bug. If he’s a male who was born or raised here in Monte Carlo, you can be sure he knows how to play futbol,” Tablang said.
Lady Booters
And it’s not just the good male futbol players that honed their soccer chops in Monte Carlo.
“We are slowly integrating lady booters in our scrimmages Tablang said. “Some of them have even already joined school teams.”
Even before that, Monte Carlo had already produced its fair share of lady booters, among them Julie Ann Gerona-Popovic, who is from Barangay Bulua, but has close ties with the community.
Originally a varsity swimmer of Montessori de Oro and later the University of Santo Tomas, Popovic had to switch to futbol to avail of a 100% scholarship from UST and luckily qualified for the university’s Team A during her Sophomore year.
“I became a part of Monte Carlo in 2003 when I was playing with the UST Lady Booters in the UAAP,” she recalls. “When I was home in Cagayan de Oro, I usually worked out by myself at the Pelaez Sports Center, then already known as MCFC territory since it was where they practiced regularly from 4PM onwards.”
When she asked permission to join their scrimmage, the male players told her they were okay as long as she would be able to score against them.
“That afternoon I scored 2 goals and that started my history as the only girl playing with them,” she laughingly recalls.
Upon graduation, Popovic took a job on a cruise ship and was able to come home again only in 2007. When she excitedly went to the sports center to scrimmage she noticed a lot of her fellow players from MCFC no longer around and was sad to hear they had to join other teams since they couldn’t put up enough cash to join tournaments.
“I offered to manage their team as coach and sponsor and in the first tournament we played as MCFC we landed 3rd in lligan Futsal,” she recounted.
“We won 3 championships and MCFC gained a reputation for their poor but talented players, becoming a rival of MAGIS in 2010. I organize a tournament in memory of the late Russell Galaritta who passed away in Qatar last 2009, and it became the first tournament of MCFC. We held another one in 2012, followed by a third in 2016, and the 4th Prince Russell Cup in 2017. I just took a break this year because of my schooling.”
Although her pioneering ways had not produced the same number of female as male booters from Monte Carlo, the tradition of lady booters from the place continues with the likes of Monique Tablang (niece of Chairman Tablang), who most recently played as a member of the Misamis Oriental Province Secondary Level Futsal Team in the regional competitions held in Tangub City last Dec. 21st.
“When I was 8 years old in grade 3 at the MOGCHS, my father Randolf encouraged me to play futbol and I was trained by Coach Jonard Fuentes,” Monique related.
Among the other lady booters joining her at scrimmage were her AteMariel Tablang and Nicole dela Cruz.
Of course, in the family tradition of Monte Carlo, it also helped in no small measure that her uncles Reyjune, Richard, Robinson, and Ronald ChairmanTablang were all futbol players.
Integrated Futbol
Another tradition that has continued is male players playing scrimmage with lady booters, even with those from other places and teams.
Andrea Collen Vallejos of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) futbol team often plays scrimmage at the Pelaez Sports Center with male Monte Carlo booters like Harvie Reyno, Kennen Ratunil, Jonathan Regusante, Carlo Dorin and Jevan.
“We met the Monte Carlo FC at the Sports Center where we scrimmage with them and other teams from Cagayan de Oro. We’re really looking forward to Carlo Dorin joining the Philippine Team. He really has the potential. A blessing for the Monte Carlo Football Club.”
Like before, as always, logistics and finance remain the biggest obstacles to players moving up to greater heights like Carlo Dorin.
“We have sponsors like John Wadhu Dharamdas of Wadhu’s Qualify Store, who is also a barangay Kagawad in Barangay 12,” said Tablang. “Other times we have to depend on providence and the charity of the parents of our team members, like those who lends us their vehicle to transport our team to our tournaments.”
“So there are those like them, even if they are not from Monte Carlo, they assist us. It’s been like that for us, for every tournament we want to join we have to look for sponsors for registration, kits, transportation and snacks.”
Despite all these, the indomitable spirit of Monte Carlo lives on in the likes of Carlo Dorin, Julie Ann Gerona- Popovic, Yul Caguindangan, and Ronald Tablang.
Play ball!
-30-
First published in the December 17-23, 2018 edition of the Metro Cagayan de Oro Times.
Aftermath:
Two years after this story was written, the former “soccer pitch” of Monte Carlo was leased by the new owner to VIP Hotel as a parking lot.#MonteCarloFC#Memories#Ashes2Ashes#Dust2Dust
One small step for COMCI, a great leap forward for Metro Cagayan de Oro
One of Cagayan de Oro City’s most venerable medical institutions has just taken the first small step aimed at making the capital city of Northern Mindanao the leading center for kidney dialysis services in the region.
Cagayan de Oro Medical Center, Inc. (COMCI) has taken its first delivery of Fresenius dialysis machines which its top management aims to increase to 100 units by the end of 2024.
“With the installation of this first batch of Fresenius dialysis machines, we have modernized our operations to make kidney dialysis services more convenient, less stressful and more affordable for our patients,” said Ferdinand Floirendo, COMCI President and Chief Executive Officer.
The number of deaths caused by renal failure and other kidney related diseases in the Philippines have been steadily trending upward from 18,089 (5 yr. average 2003-2007) & 2008; 19,805 (2004-2008) & 2009; to 20,964 (2005-2009) & 2010, doubling further to 39,880 fatalities due to diabetes mellitus in 2020.
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis has been similarly trending upwards from 11, 015 (5 yr. average 2003-2007) & 2008; to 12, 257 (2005-2009) & 2010.
Latest data from the Cagayan de Oro City Health Office shows a similar trend: Diabetes mellitus was the sixth leading cause of mortality, rising from 322 deaths and 47.2% rate (5 yr. average 2013-2017) & 2018; to 344 and 48.28% rate (2016-2020) & 2021.
“These figures only serve to emphasize the need for more kidney dialysis services in the city and region to address the growing number of cases,” Floirendo stressed. “Thus, COMCI seeks to rise to the challenge and put in 100 units by the end of the year.”
To make the services accessible to the less fortunate sectors of the populace, COMCI will be devoting a quarter of this available capacity to indigent patients, he added.
The Fresenius 4008 S Next Gen dialysis machine platform is made in Germany by Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, a German healthcare company which provides kidney dialysis services through a network of 4,171 outpatient dialysis centers, serving 345,425 patients. The company primarily treats end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which requires patients to undergo dialysis 3 times per week for the rest of their lives.
As of the end of December, 2022, there were over 1,000 Fresenius dialysis machines operating in 65 hospitals and clinics all over Mindanao.
As of the end of December, 2022, there were over 1,000 Fresenius dialysis machines operating in 65 hospitals and clinics all over Mindanao, with COMCI having the same 4008 S Next Gen machines which makes up 85% of the installed Fresenius dialysis machines in the region, enabling COMCI to benefit further from economies of scale inherent in the most prevalent model’s user base.
Operational efficiency
Hemodialysis involves a large number of demanding manual operations all around the hemodialysis machine. The ergonomic design and the logical operating structure of The Next Generation 4008S allows easy handling and fast and intuitive programming of the treatment parameters.
Important treatment values are represented graphically on the 10.4” TFT-LCD monitor, which supports easy comprehension of the ongoing treatment, and provides a fast overview of the treatment history. The Blood Pressure Monitor (BPM) is fully integrated, which further simplifies handling for the therapy providers.
In combination with the Therapy Data Management System (TDMS), daily dialysis practice can now be organized in a more effective and efficient manner taking full advantage of an online data acquisition and management tool.
Floirendo’s recommended acquisition of the new machines was unanimously approved by the COMCI Board when projected income for the new units showed a 285 percent improvement monthly and annually over its existing machines.
“Even better for patients buffeted by raging inflation, the new machines enables COMCI to extend an even higher level of dialysis services with no price increase from last year, which would have been inevitable had it continued using the previous brand of machines,” Floirendo noted.
Fresenius 4008S
However, COMCI is eyeing the more advanced Fresenius5008 S On Line HDF model for its next deliveries to further elevate the standards of its kidney dialysis services.
Widely recognized as the cutting edge in Hemodiafiltration, the Fresenius 5008 S Online features a fully automated Blood Pressure Monitor (BPM*) that’s fully automated and non-invasive; a Blood Temperature Monitor (BTM*) that works towards hemodynamic stability during dialysis besides providing recirculation measurements; the availability of VAM and VenAcc* as additional features for the early detection of venous needle dislodgement; and availability of HD, HighVolumeHDF*(pre/post), HF (pre/post), and Single needle double pump (HD/HDF), among others.
With a global headquarters in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany, and a North American headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, Fresenius Medical Care has a 38% market share of the dialysis market in the United States. It also operates 42 production sites, the largest of which are in the U.S., Germany, and Japan.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Barangay Balubal will finally have its own Level III water supply system before the year ends.
City Mayor Rolando “Klarex” A. Uy led city hall and barangay officials in breaking ground and laying the time capsule for the water treatment plant Wednesday, 18 January at the proposed plant site.
Mayor Klarex Uy and TFPDevCorp Pres & COO Opong Pancrudo lead the capsule laying rites for the Level III water treatment plant at Barangay Balubal on January 18, 2023.
As City Hall’s support for the water initiative, Mayor Uy committed to provide Balubal with a Mega Health Center which would be ready to serve the growing population of the barangay which is expected to explode once the water supply system becomes operational.
Mayor Klarex Uy and TFPDevCorp Pres & COO Opong Pancrudo lead city hall and Bgy Balubal officials in the capsule laying rites for the Level III water treatment plant at Barangay Balubal on January 18, 2023.
The water treatment plant will supply 5 million liters daily (MLD) to Balubal and its surrounding areas. It is a joint venture between Task Force Patubig Development Corporation and LLJ Water Consortium. JE Hydro and Bio-Energy Corporation is the strategic technical partner which provided the plant design.
Imploring God’s blessings during the ground breaking and capsule laying rites for the Level III water treatment plant for Barangay Balubal on January 18, 2023.
“The 5MLD can cater to a total of 10,000 households (HH) at 0.5 cu.m. of water per HH daily,” said Engr. Rodolfo P. Pancrudo, TFPDevCorp President & Chief Operating Officer (COO). “The Development Bank of the Philippines will finance the P250 million project.”
Engr. Rodolfo P. Pancrudo, TFPDevCorp President & Chief Operating Officer (COO)
With raw water sourced from the nearby Agusan River, the project can also supply processed potable water to parts of Barangays Agusan and Upper Puerto, as well as Mambatangan, Mantibugao and Alae in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
However, once it is completed, the water treatment plant can add five more modules to further increase its output to 10MLD given the potential water consumers in Barangay Balubal alone.
Balubal Barangay Chairman Pablo M. Bactong
“We already have 19 subdivisions under construction in Balubal with a total of 36,000 units,” said Balubal Barangay Chairman Pablo M. Bactong. “Besides that, we already have five gas stations under construction or with pending applications, and other agri-processing plants for our cassava, corn and other agricultural produce will also expand once water becomes readily available.”
Bactong said Balubal already has a population of 10,000 which is expected to expand quickly once the water treatment plant is completed.
LLJ Water Consortium Chairman Cito Lorenzo with Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez, Councilors Malou Gaane, Ian Achas, Malvern Esparcia, and James Judith, join Barangay Balubal Chairman Pablo Bactong in showing their support for the TFPDevCorp water treatment plant project represented by Pres & Coo Opong Pancrudo & Treasurer Clem Fernandez.
At present, potable water to the barangay is supplied through a pipeline from the Manolo Fortich Water District but it can only serve 100 households and supply is intermittent since priority is given to Manolo Fortich residents. The barangay also has its own Level II water system but even this is woefully inadequate to serve the barangay residents daily needs.
However, once the water treatment plant is completed before the end of 2023, Pancrudo said this will not only serve the daily needs of Balubal residents but be cheaper as well.
“The cost per liter is .45 centavos, very affordable compared to bottled water which costs P20/liter,” Pancrudo said. “Furthermore, since this is a Level III water system, residents will have water supplied straight to their households 24/7.”
Mayor Klarex Uy poses for posterity with Barangay Balubal Chairman Pablo Bactong, TFPDevCorp President & COO Opong Pancrudo & Treasurer Clem Fernandez, and City Councilors and Bgy Balubal Kagawads.
The Masonic Districts of Region X in Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin will host the 2nd Grand Master’s Open Golf Tournament at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club championship golf course on January 20-22, 2023.
According to VW Alex Saldana, Golf Tournament Chairman and Masonic District Region X Grand Lecturer, they will use a Modified Stableford Scoring Format that involves scoring points based on the number of strokes taken at each hole.
Good play earns points and poor play takes away points. Unlike traditional scoring methods where the aim is to have the lowest score, the objective in a Modified Stableford is to have the highest score.
The number of points awarded on each hole is determined based on the comparison of the number of strokes to par. An eagle scores 5 pts., birdie 3 pts., par 2 pts., bogey 1 pt., net of handicap.
The strategy in Modified Stableford format rewards risk-taking on the golf course. For instance, if the golfer is facing a carry over water that he normally wouldn’t try, the Modified Stableford format presents an incentive to go for it.
The Barracuda Championship at Old Greenwood Golf Course at Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, CA.is the only event on the US PGA TOUR featuring the Modified Stableford scoring format.
Saldana said the tournament is open for all interested golfers but limited to a maximum of 200 participants, first-come, first-served. Registration fee is P3,500.00 which entitles the registrant to a free Boston Bag.
Among the main awards to be won are Lowest Gross; Lowest Net; Champion, 1st and 2nd Runners up in the Men’s Division Class ABDC; and Champion and 1st Runner up in the Women’s Division.
Special Awards to me given out include Allan Sagrado’s Best in Group Uniform & Best in Individual Attire; Nissan’s Longest Drive (Hole No. 3), Vibere’s Most Accurate Drive (Hole No. 3) and Vibere’s Nearest to the pin (all Par 3s).
Hole-in-one prizes are the following: P100K cash by VW Gov. Peter M. Unabia, PDDGM + P25K by VW Eugene M. Unabia, PDDGM, for Hole No. 3; Yamaha Mio Fazzio by Bro. Ray Gica+ P25K cash by VW Eugene M. Unabia, PDDGM for Hole No. 6; Club Car Golf Cart Tempo 2 Electric by Pioneer Insurance+ P25K Cash by VW Eugene M. Unabia, PDDGM for Hole No. 11; and Home Solar Package by Greenergy+ P25K Cash by VW Eugene M. Unabia, PDDGM for Hole No. 13. Only white tees qualify for the Hole-in-One prizes.
The 18-hole, par-72 Pueblo de Oro Golf Course in the only world-class, all-weather championship golf course in Cagayan de Oro City.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, Pueblo Golf is the first and only world-class, all-weather championship golf course in the area. It is the only golf course in the Visayas and Mindanao ranked among the Top 5 in the country by Golfing Philippines and among the top 10 by Inquirer Golf Magazine. A majestic driving range, clubhouse, tee houses and practice putting greens complete the golf course facilities.
Being an all-weather golf course, it is playable the whole year round. It is also environmentally sound, featuring five inter-connected lakes from which recycled water is drawn to water the course to conserve water.
Pueblo Golf has played host to a number of major tournaments such as the PAL Interclub, the Rotary International Foundation golf tournament, the Southern Ladies Club, among others.
Awards Night will be held at 6:00PM on Sunday, 22 January 2023 at the Pueblo Golf Clubhouse now managed by Fairways by Frankees.
The organizers headed by VW Alex Saldana acknowledges the invaluable support of the following brethren who made this tournament possible: District Deputy Grand Master (Misamis Oriental & Camiguin) VW Raul Cinco, District Deputy Grand Master (Misamis Oriental & Camiguin) VW RaelYap, and most especially, Grand Master MW Johnny T. Pimentel of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.
