Posted December 16, 2009

The search is on for the Ultimate Campus Idol 2010!

Here’s a chance for students in Region 8 to shine and win big prizes. The Visays State University Alumni Association, Inc. (VSUAA Inc.) is sponsoring the Campus Idols Summit 2010. An amateur singing competition, the project aims to heighten environmental awareness and showcase the singing prowess of high school and college students in Region 8.

Qualified to join the contest are students, 15-19 years old by January 30, 2010. To join the contest, contestants should submit their demo-CD showing them perform a song of their choice. One part should show the contestant singing one verse and one chorus of the song without an accompaniment and the other, singing the whole song with an accompaniment. Whole body and close-up shots of the aspirant should be emphasized in the video.

Along with the demo-CD, contestants should also send their certificate of registration (COR) validated by the university registrar or principal where they are currently studying, photocopy or a scan of his/her school ID, a birth certificate issued by the local civil registrar, and a duly accomplished entry form that can be downloaded through www.vsualumni.wordpress.com.

From the entries sent, 12 contestants will be chosen as finalists. The Finals Night is on February 19, 2010 at the VSU Gym. During this occasion, contestants will perform novelty, love, rock and environmental songs.

The Ultimate Campus Idol will receive P15,000. First runner-up will receive P12,000 and second runner-up, P8,000. Winners will also receive trophies. Finalists will also receive a consolation prize of P1,000 each.

Interested students may send their entries to Dr. Rotacio Gravoso, Multimedia Development Center, Visayas State University, Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines (Telefax: 053-335-2620) on or before January 10, 2010. Entries may also be sent as e-mail attachments to gravoso@gmail.com.  Finalists will be informed by January 20, 2010 through fax, e-mail and phone call/text message.

For more information, please log on to www.vsualumni.wordpress.com.  (Paulo Sosmena)

Posted October 9, 2009

Siday Contest is on for the 65th Leyte Gulf Landings Anniversary

TACLOBAN CITY  –  In line with the celebration of the 65th Leyte Gulf Landings Anniversary come October 20, 2009, the Philippine Information Agency 8 (PIA-8) is spearheading a Siday (Poetry) Writing Contest focusing on this year’s theme, “A Salute to the Valor of Our Last Living Heroes.”

The contest will highlight the heroism of our honored living veterans who fought bravely to attain freedom for our beloved country from the Japanese occupation 65 years ago.

PIA-8 Director Olive P. Tiu, chairperson of the publicity and documentation committee, said that the contest, which will be aired over DYVL Aksyon Radyo from October 1-18, is open to all “siday” enthusiasts originally written in Waray language composed of three to five stanzas and must not have been submitted in any other contests.

Compared to previous siday contests, Director Tiu said, this will be grander as the prizes will be bigger from the daily winners up to the top three awardees courtesy of the Province of Leyte through Governor Carlos Jericho “Icot” L. Petilla. First place will receive P5,000.00, second place P3,000.00, and third place P1,500.00 plus certificates of recognition to all three grand winners while the daily winners will receive P500.00 each.

Director Tiu further said that a participant can submit more than one entry and may win more than once for the duration of the contest, however, only one entry can qualify to the top three awards which will be judged based on the following criteria: Content and Relevance to the Theme (50%), and Poetic Ability/Creativity (50%).

PIA-8 will accept entries until October 15 while the announcement of the top three winners will be on October 19, 2009 to be awarded the following day, October 20, during the 65th Leyte Gulf Landings Anniversary commemorative program.

For more information, one may call PIA-8 at (053) 321-2029 or 325-5124 and look for Mr. Neil D. Lopido.

Posted September 9, 2009

Eastern Visayas searches for its oldest living WW II veteran

TACLOBAN CITY – In line with the 65th Leyte Gulf Landings Anniversary on October 20, Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla has authorized the holding of the Search for the Oldest Living World War II Veteran.

The Search is open to all living World War II Veterans residing in Region VIII or from any of the six provinces of Region 8 namely, Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar.

The nominee must have valid documents showing his term of service during the war as well as his age. These documents are his certificate of live birth or an affidavit of two disinterested persons; membership documents from the Philippine Veterans Federation of the Philippines; endorsement of his Post Commander; and a brief description of his war exploits in narrative form.

The nominee or candidate must be available for interview by the Search Committee for validation of his documents. The evaluators are representatives of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines in the person of Ret. Col. Raymundo Padua; Mrs. Nenita Brazil of the Office of Veteran’s Affairs; Department of Tourism Director Karina Rosa Tiopes; Philippine Information Agency Director Olive Tiu; Prosecutor Leonito Sabandal of the Rotary Club of Leyte Gulf; and Department of Education Director Sol Matugas.

The candidate must be able to attend the Awards and Recognition Ceremonies which will be held during the Liberation Fiesta Leyteña at the MacArthur Park in the evening of October 19, 2009.

All the 10 finalists will be housed starting October 17, 2009 for Medical check-up and rehearsals. Each finalist will be allowed one chaperone to take care of them during their stay in Leyte.

The Oldest Veteran will receive gift certificates, plaque of recognition and a cash prize of P50,000.

The 9 finalists will receive gift certificates, plaques of recognition and cash prize of P10,000 each.  (PIA 8)

Posted September 5, 2009

OWWA Launches Search for 2009 Model OFW Family of the Year Award

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Regional Office No. VIII, through its Officer In-Charge Juliet Z. Tan announces the launching of the Search for 2009 Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA).

According to Tan, the search aims to give recognition to the outstanding achievements of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) together with their families and likewise, in order to promote best practices in managing family challenges.

Relative to this, Tan added, their office conducted a region-wide search for qualified OFW families in coordination with the local government units, non-government organizations, OFW Family Circles (OFCs) and religious organizations, among others.

The Regional Selection and Screening Committee, Tan shared, which will convene on September 3, 2009 will be chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Director Atty. Forter C. Puguon.

It was further learned that the regional winners and other nominees will be honored during the MOFYA Regional Awarding which will be conducted on September 10, 2009 at 10:00 in the morning at Hotel Alejandro.

The organizers of the activity invited heads of government and non-government organizations to grace the prestigious event.

Meanwhile, the nomination and selection criteria of the Model OFW Family of the Year Award are as follows: for the nomination criteria, one should be the head of the family or main provider of the family; supports the education of a child / family member/s; known as a solid and stable family in the community; and financial stability.

Under the selection criteria: wholesome OFW family, 50%; civic/community involvement of OFW, 20%; success in children’s or family member/s education, 20%; and lastly, success in managing family finances, 10%.  (Marivic A. Alcober, PIA-8)

Posted May 25, 2009

Army announces new recruitment period for 8ID

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  The 8th Infantry Division, Phil. Army (8ID, PA) located at Camp Lukban, Maulong, Catbalogan Samar is getting ready for the next batch of applicants for Candidate Soldiers.

Recruitment will tentatively convene on the 2nd week of June 2009, MGeneral Arthur Tabaquero disclosed.

Almost a thousand applicants both male and female are often seen outside 8ID, falling in line for registration for the next batch of Candidates Soldier Course {CSC} 2009.

This process goes on for applicants who qualify from the given requirements and are in turn given a chance to be trained and to eventually become a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Major General Arthur I. Tabaquero, the Commanding General of 8ID, PA spearheaded screening of the applicants from physical and medical examination to board interviews.

The rigid screening is intended to ensure that only qualified applicants will be accepted for the training and would eventually develop into committed, disciplined and responsive member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines – always ready to serve and protect the people and our country.

Applicants must be natural born Filipino citizen, must stand at least 5'4" for male and 5'2" for female. They must have pleasing personality and high scholastic records.

They should also have no pending case in any court of law and must be physically and mentally fit for training.

All interested applicants are required to bring the original copy of their transcript of records, birth certificates (NSO authenticated), college diploma, and any valid ID.  (PIA 8 with Sheryl Gaermale)

Posted May 16, 2009

Leaders Link offer back-to-back seminars on problem solving and labor laws

CEBU CITY  –  Leaders Link, in its continuing its effort to help decision makers cope with challenges in these hard times, will conduct back-to-back seminars relating to work place issues like problem solving, labor laws and labor contracting.

Effective decision makers are those who are able to consistently identify and choose the best option among varied and sometimes complicated alternatives.

When push comes to shove, it will all boil down to drawing from what decision makers know.

Seminars-workshops on Problem Solving and Decision Making on May 21 and 22, back-to-back with Labor Contracting and Labor Laws on May 28, are the kind that offer such knowledge.

The problem-solving seminar is a two-day program where participants will study the basic guidelines in the rational approach to solving problems and making decisions.

Oftentimes managers or supervisors confront problems in the work place by instinct or reaction. That should not be the case. The approach should be more rational to avoid expenses or disastrous consequences.

Donna Libron, training specialist of Leaders Link, explained, “Much of what managers and supervisors do is solve problems and make decisions. New managers and supervisors in particular, often solve problems and make decisions by reacting to them instinctively. Sometimes it works, more often it does not – with expensive or disastrous consequences.”

The program encompasses four modules. The fist three modules will be more on analysis about concepts in problem solving and decision-making process or the tools to be able to make inventive and logical decisions.

The last module will allow participants to put into practice the theories they learned in dismantling complex problems and should be able to understand, simplify and implement objective decisions that will lead to optimum results.

The other seminar is on labor laws and labor contracting.

In these times of economic downturn, when retrenching employees has become the rule rather the exception, knowing the law will come in handy.

Participants in this full day seminar will learn the latest applicable provisions of the Labor Code specifically in contracting labor; understand the legality of employee separation and the documentation and processes needed in terminating employees.

The seminar hope to assuage businesses that costly labor cases could be avoided, if from the start, the right procedure is in place and followed to the letter when the need arise.

For reservation, please contact Donna of Leaders Link at (032) 4225552, (032) 4228505 or visit www.leaderslink.org

Posted May 1, 2009

PLCPD announces Call for Entries to the 5th PopDev Media Awards

The Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) announces the Call for Entries to the 5th PopDev Media Awards.

The contest is open to all print, broadcast, online, photo, and citizen journalists nationwide. Entries must deal with population and human development issues such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), public health (especially reproductive health), reproductive health policy and governance, economic growth and poverty, climate change, housing and urban development, sustainable development, environment, education, gender, maternal health, adolescent reproductive health, family planning, food security, reproductive rights, migration, and population ageing.

For the Print and Online Category, awards will be given for Best News Reportage (should consist of a body of work or a series of at least three spot news reports); Best Opinion or Editorial Piece; Best Investigative Report, and Best Feature or Magazine Article.

For Television, awards will be given for Best TV Documentary and Best Magazine Program or Talk Show.

For Radio, awards will be given for Best Radio Program. Entries to this could be news, commentary (should consist of a series of at least three separate news reports or commentaries) or a special production of media agencies.

For the Photojournalism category, awards will be given for Best Single Photo and Best Photo Essay.

Citations will also be given for blog (text) and photo blogs (single photo and photo essay) in recognition of the significant contribution of citizen journalists in the informed discussion of population and human development issues. Entries from professional journalists may be considered as long as these were posted in their personal blogs.

Entries should have been published, aired, or posted between August 16, 2008 and August 15, 2009 in a publication or network that has been in existence for at least one year, or in a blog site that has been created at least since January 1, 2008. Deadline for submission of entries is on August 31, 2009.

Interested parties may send as many entries in a chosen category. Winners will receive a cash prize, trophy, certificate, and a chance to go into a study trip to a PLCPD project area in the Philippines.

For more information, interested parties may contact PLCPD at (02) 9251800 or (02) 4362373 or visit http://www.plcpd.org.ph/Media%20Awards/default.asp

The PopDev Media Awards is made possible with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the Commission on Population (PopCom), Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare (PNGOC), Forum for Family Planning and Development (FORUM), Philippine Center for Population and Development (PCPD), Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), Women’s Feature Service (WFS), and Philippine Center for Photojournalism (PCP)s.

Posted March 23, 2009

Philippine Army accepts applicants for regular/reserve officers

CAMP PANACAN, Davao City  –  The Philippine Army announces the nationwide recruitment for qualified applicants for Regular and Reserve Officers through the Officer Candidate Course (OCC) Program and Call to Active Duty of Reserve Commissioned 2Lts (Inactive) and subsequent training under the Officer Preparatory Course Program (OPC).

The target dates for the training are as follows:

Interested applicants must have the basic qualifications before taking up the Philippine Army Aptitude Test Battery (PAATB) exam:

1. For Officer Candidate Course:

a. Filipino Citizen
b. Baccalaureate Degree Holder
c. Age-must be 21 years old but not more than 25 years old at the start of training
d. For active enlisted personnel applicants not more than 29 years old at the start of the training
e. Height at least 5’ 4” for male and 5’ 0” for female
f. Single, never been married and has neither fathered nor given birth to a child.
g. Of good moral character with no derogatory records.
h. For active enlisted personnel applicants-must already be an NCO and have finished at least two term enlistment. For regular commission, an applicant must have completed at least one term.

2. For Officer Preparatory Course (CAD):

a. Commissioned Reserve 2LT in the Philippine Army (Inactive).
b. Age: not more than 31 years old at the time for Call-to-Active Duty/Start of Training.
c. Height at least 5’ 4” for male and 5’ 0” for female
d. Of good moral character with no derogatory records.
e. For applying active enlisted personnel-must finished at one term enlistment.

Registration for the PAATB Exam will be on March 25, 2009 at the Holy Cross of Davao College. Interested applicant must bring the following for registration: Original Birth Certificate from NSO, Transcript of Records, Diploma, Marriage Contract of Parents and 2x2 ID pictures.

Tentative schedule for the PAATB Exam will be on April 2009.

For more details, please call the 10ID Division Public Affairs Office at telephone number (082) 302-2061.

You may also contact or visit the following Army Recruitment Centers (ARC):

ARC Luzon – Fort Andres Bonifacio, Metro Manila
Landline: (02) 845-9555 local 6843
Cell phone: 0921-9785548

ARC Visayas - Camp Lapu-lapu, Cebu City
Landline: (032) 231-5157

ARC Mindanao - Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City
Landline: (088) 350-2088

By LTC KURT A DECAPIA GSC (INF) PA - 10ID
 

Posted March 20, 2009

CSC conducts Local Scholarship Program for Master’s Degree Program exams in Tacloban

The Civil Service Commission is set to conduct in Tacloban on May 10, 2009, the Local Scholarship Program Master’s Degree Courses Competitive Examinations.

Atty. Marilyn E. Taldo, Assistant Regional Director of Civil Service Commission Region 8 said that qualified to take the competitive exams are government employees who were nominated by the agency head.

The applicant must be a holder of a Bachelors degree from a college or university recognized by CHED. He or she must be a holder of permanent status of appointment for three years at the time of application; with performance rating of at least Very Satisfactory for the last two consecutive rating periods prior to the date of filing of application; in good health and physically and mentally fit to perform the rigors of graduate studies.

Also qualified to the Program are government employees who have earned master’s units or have completed the required academic units and are on thesis writing who wish to complete the original course, or to pursue another course.

Qualified too, are government employees who have availed of short-term course, whether local or foreign provided that they have completed the service obligation, unless no service obligation is required for the scholarship required of.

Co-terminous government employees may avail of the Program, provided that the service obligation will be met within the term of office of the employee concerned, and provided further that the employee is not related to the agency head, within the 4th degree of consanguinity or affinity.

Government employees who have pending administrative or criminal cases at the time of filing, may apply. However, should they be later found guilty of an administrative or criminal offense, the scholarship grant, if any, shall be deemed automatically revoked. Hence, they shall refund to the Commission and to the Agency, the actual amount paid for the grant, including salaries, allowances and other benefits.

The applicant must submit to the Civil Service Commission on or before March 25 the following requirements: properly accomplished application form; 4 copies of identical, passport sized ID pictures with full name tag taken with the last three months; original and photocopy of one valid ID; photocopy of performance rating for the last 2 consecutive; certified true copy of Diploma, or certificate of graduation in the baccalaureate degree from the school where the applicant graduated; service record for the last three years; and medical certification indicating good health, physical and mental fitness of the applicant.

Application forms are available at the CSC Regional Office 8 or in any CSC Field Offices or may be downloaded from the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph.

No application or examination fees shall be collected, ARD Taldo said.  (PIA 8)

Posted March 2, 2009

The search is on for 2009 outstanding public officials, employees

The Civil Service Commission is again embarking on a nationwide hunt for outstanding officials and employees, who could be role models and inspiration to government employees to improve the quality of their performance and instill deeper involvement in public service.

Atty. Marilyn E. Taldo, Assistant Regional Director of the Civil Service Commission Region 8 informed that the Search is open to all officials and employees both in the career and non-career service of the government. This includes appointive barangay officials and workers recognized as government employees.

At stake are three awards, the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award for work performance of nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony; the CSC Pag-asa Award for work performance of limited impact usually benefiting more than one department of government; and the Dangal ng Bayan Award for exemplary conduct and ethical behavior.

Any individual or group may nominate candidates to the different award categories. To qualify, the nominees must have made a significant achievement related to any of the award categories and must be in government service at the time of nomination.

The nominees must have a performance rating of at least “very satisfactory” or its equivalent for the last two rating periods prior to nomination.

The nominees must not have been found guilty of any administrative or criminal case involving moral turpitude and must have no pending administrative or criminal offense at the time of nomination. Government groups or teams may be nominated to the Lingkod Bayan and Pag-asa Awards.

Prizes awaiting the Lingkod Bayan and Dangal ng Bayan winners are a P100,000 cash prize and automatic promotion to the next higher position or its equivalent salary. On the other hand, Pag-asa Awardees will receive P50,000 in cash. The winners will also receive plaques of recognition, medallions, trophies, scholarships and other incentives.

The Search culminates with the recognition and conferment of awards to deserving public servants during the celebration of the anniversary of Philippine Civil Service in September.

Deadline for submission of nominations for the 2009 Civil Service Awards is on March 31. Nomination forms are available at the CSC regional office and field offices or to the Honor Awards Program Secretariat, Public Assistance Office, Diliman, Quezon City. Nomination Forms may also be downloaded at www.csc.gov.ph