Defiant Aurora mayor refuses to vacate town hall
The Philippine Star 09/13/2006

DINALUNGAN, Aurora — Embattled Mayor Marilyn Marquez has vowed to hold on to her post until the lapse of her 60-day preventive suspension later this month.

Superintendent Teodoro Saclolo, provincial police director, said the feisty Marquez, in explaining her refusal to vacate the municipal hall, gave assurances that she was willing to face the consequences of her action, including a possible additional six-month suspension.

Marquez made the statement during a meeting here with Saclolo, lawyer Rolando Calabarzon and lawyer Ofelio Tactac, assistant regional director and legal officer, respectively of the Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG) when they paid her a visit to inform her of the legal consequences of her refusal to vacate the town hall.

As of press time, a 60-man police contingent remains encamped at the municipal compound to prevent possible outbreak of violence between the camps of Marquez and supporters of acting mayor Harvey Tubera.

Marquez continues to discharge her functions, even signing checks in spite of the fact that this will not be recognized by the municipal government’s depository bank.

Saclolo said they have defused the tension between the two camps with the presence of policemen from the Regional Mobile Force (RMF), the Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) and the Dinalungan police.

"So far, the presence of the police has kept the peace," he said.

Saclolo said that the municipal employees could not do anything but follow the mayor out of fear that they would be punished. "They seemed to be intimidated and are afraid of reprisal from the mayor. After all, her suspension would lapse on Oct. 3," he said.

Marquez said the decision of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo to suspend her and Vice Mayor Virgie Callejo based on the administrative complaint filed by the Industries Development Corp. (IDC) was "very erroneous." — Manny Galvez

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Reyes lifts suspension order of 2 Aurora logging firms
By Manny Galvez The Philippine Star 09/13/2006

SAN LUIS, Aurora — Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes has lifted the suspension order on two logging companies here, signaling the resumption of logging operations in this town, following a 20-month hiatus.

Benjamin Mina, provincial environment and natural resources officer for Aurora, told The STAR that Reyes ordered the lifting of the logging ban imposed on the Benson Realty Development Corp. (BRDC) and the San Roque Sawmill Corp. (SRSC) located in Barangays Dikapinisan and Dibayabay, respectively, both based here.

The request for the lifting of the ban on the BRDC and the SRSC was granted by Reyes after a thorough evaluation of the revised Comprehensive Development and Management Plan (CDMP) of the Industrial Forest Management Agreements (IFMAs) of the two firms.

The order was based on the recommendation of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director for Central Luzon Regidor de Leon.

Fred Sadueste, chief of DENR-Central Luzon’s Forest Resource Conservation Division (FRDC), said that they are still deliberating on the two firms’ operational plans.

The BRDC, led by its president and general manager Ching Sen Ben, was issued the IFMA on July 8, 1993, covering 951 hectares in sitio Diotorin. It would expire on July 8, 2018.

Based on the approved revised CMDP, it is allowed to cut 8,381.44 cubic meters of trees within the established plantation area and 3,130.84 cubic meters within its residual production forest annually.

On the other hand, the SRSC, led by its president and general manager Christina Tan Siong, was issued IFMA on Dec. 18,1992, covering 900 hectares in sitios Amisan and Abaca, Barangay Dibayabay. It would expire on Dec. 18, 2017.

The two firms’ operations, along with five others, were suspended in the aftermath of the deadly landslides that struck the province in late 2004. The other logging firms were Green Circle, Pateco, Industries Development Corp. (IDC), Inter Pacific Resources Corp. (IPRC) and Toplite Lumber.

The DENR has since lifted the suspensions of the IDC and Toplite.

Aurora Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo said she is not against the resumption of logging operations for as long as the companies comply with the requirements.

"The grant of license emanates from the national government. For as long as they comply, they will hear nothing from me, but the moment they engage into something illegal, the provincial government will do everything to stop them," she said.

She added that it is up to the people of the province to be vigilant in seeing to it that these firms operate within the bounds of the law.

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Isang bagong blog na kumikilala at nagpapakita ng pinagmulan natin, ang mga katutubo ng aurora. Ito ay gawa ni aurorafreerisedweller (isa ring ayaw magpakilala). Ginamit ko ang sariling wika bilang pagpupugay sa ating mga katutubo.

Press Release from PAIAD, Sept. 1, 2006

The province of Aurora will soon be a BIO FUEL producing province. Governor Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo signed a memorandum of agreement with the officials of the Philippine Coconut Authority headed by Dennis J. Calub Regional Manager of PCA, last August 18, 2006.

Since coconut is a major product of Aurora, which covers approximately 24,000 hectares of coconut plantation, Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Congressman Juan Edgardo M. Angara and Governor Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo decided to modernize the field of Agriculture particularly coconut farming. Though close coordination with the Philippine Coconut Authority, Department of Science and Technology, Bureau of Post Harvest and Research Extension, BIO FUEL project was demonstrated and introduced in the province of Aurora last May 2006 by the Philippine Coconut Authority team headed by Mr. Dennis Calub at the Aurora State College of Technology Bazal Campus, Maria Aurora, Aurora.

The team tackled the extraction of filtered coconut oil from Copra in which they poured filtered coconut oil to the empty gas tank of the two vehicles and they test run it.

During the MOA signing Mr. Dennis Calub mentioned that Aurora was the 2nd province to receive such project. Because Aurora produce good coconut, the province was chosen as one of the sources of coconut seedlings that were intended to be distributed to northern part of Luzon. Two fuel substances can be extracted from Coconut. METHYL ESTER and filtered coconut oil, which will be the target of the aforesaid project to be produce by the province.

Governor Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo, ensures that since Aurora has a huge plantation of coconut, and also one of the best producer of VIRGIN COCONUT OIL, the project will surely be a success and hope the province will soon becoming the number one producer of BIO FUEL in the country.(RAUL L. CALIWAG/ PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION ASSISTANCE DIVISION)

by Manny Galvez published in philstar.com

DINGALAN, Aurora — The acting vice mayor of this town has been linked to the four Chinese nationals who were arrested in last Wednesday’s raid on a shabu laboratory here.

Acting Vice Mayor Edgar Liu has reportedly sent surrender feelers to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after he was alleged to have been involved in the operations of the shabu laboratory in Barangay Butas na Bato where more than P5 million worth of shabu was seized.

Arrested by a 40-man NBI team led by Roel Olivar were Zhi Qu, 25, of Zhzun Tsu, China; Ong Tua Ti, 24, of Han Tzi; Zhin Na, 30, of Fujian province; and Xian Tian, 28, of Zun Tah.

Also collared was Francisco Ramos, who was with the Chinese nationals when the shabu laboratory located inside the Jonathan Resort in Butas na Bato, some three kilometers from the town proper, was raided.

Two repackers, who were allegedly under Liu’s employ, identified as Jimmy Padua and Hernani de Guzman, eluded arrest and are now the subject of a manhunt.

According to an NBI source, Liu went to the NBI-Cabanatuan City office to give himself up to its chief, Pedro Roque Jr., but was instead advised to surrender to NBI director Nestor Mantaring.

The raid yielded five kilos of finished shabu worth about P5 million, as well as crystallized and liquid forms of the illegal drug.

The raid jolted Aurora officials who could not believe that a remote coastal town like Dingalan could be a haven for the illegal drug trade.

Aurora Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo said she was shocked to learn that nobody among the local officials knew about the existence of the shabu lab in Barangay Butas na Bato.

She said she has asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to look into the possible involvement of other local officials in the illegal drug trade.

"I want the PNP to spare no one in the investigation," she said.

Angara-Castillo said she has taken acting Dingalan Mayor Edgardo Galvez to task for his failure to detect the operations of the shabu lab as well as the barangay officials for a breakdown in intelligence gathering.

She said she was told that the shabu lab had operated for only about a month, contrary to the claim of Henry de Vera, executive officer of the NBI-Reaction Arrest and Interdiction Division, that it had been there for six months and delivered shabu to Metro Manila.

"I feel so bad that it’s always Dingalan which is giving us a black eye. If not illegal logging, then it’s illegal drugs," she said.

Angara-Castillo said she has asked the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to establish an office in the province.

Sought for comment, Galvez said the barangay officials, not the municipal executives, should be the ones responsible for monitoring the people entering their communities.

Galvez took over as acting mayor after Mayor Jaime Ylarde was detained for his alleged involvement in last year’s murder of local publisher Philip Agustin.

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Here's a pic of this year's tittle holder of Binibining San Luis 2006. I have to research her name. She was flanked by Vice Governor Annabelle C. Tangson and Mayor Nano Tangson. Below are other winners.
update:

Binibining San Luis 2006 poll of winners

Binibining San Luis '06 -Marissa Ico Valera - Brgy San Isidro
1st Runner Up - Mariamel Natividad Bihasa - Brgy. Zarah
2nd Runner Up - Marinel Ungriano Buenaventura - Brgy. Ditumabo
Other Candidates:
Sheena Marie Corioso Recososa - Brgy. Dikapinisan
Marivic delos Santos Aringo - Brgy. Dibayabay
Kwinnie Sison Querijero - Brgy. Dibut
Mary Joy Palma Badua - Brgy. 02
Shiela Vel Pitogo España - Brgy. Real

Photo courtesy of Rhenz

One of the Street Decoration on the streets of San Luis, Aurora during their Celebration of Town Fiesta on August 23-25, 2006. They used bamboo, sabutan hats and other native products. Click below for few pics.

Vice Governor Annabelle C. Tangson

Guests and Local Officials during August 25, 2006 Celebration program

Street Dancing competition

Photo Courtesy of Rhenz

Road user’s fee in Aurora town illegal
By Manny Galvez, published in Philippine Star on August 29, 2006

DINALUPIHAN, Aurora — The controversial municipal ordinance imposing a road user’s fee on vehicles passing through this town, which has led to the 60-day preventive suspension of Mayor Marilyn Marquez and Vice Mayor Virgie Callejo, is illegal and constitutes double taxation, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.

The DPWH issued the clarification amid the raging controversy over the ordinance, which imposes fees ranging from P50 to P100 on heavy equipment, trucks, elf vans, forward trucks and jeepneys and buses passing the town. — Manny Galvez

Source: Philippine Star online read here

Comment: It should be Dinalungan, not Dinalupihan. Dinalupihan was part of Bataan

Region 3 leaders’ meeting sought on ‘cedula’ issue
by : Ariel Avendano, from Manila Bulletin online

BALER, Aurora – Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo said yesterday that she will request Nueva Ecija Gov. Tomas Joson III, chairman of the regional peace and order council (RPOC), to convene an urgent meeting by top leaders in Central Luzon to determine and clarify the issue over alleged imposition of "silent martial law" in the region.

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Military denies harassing rural folk

by : Bernadette E. Tamayo from journal online

BALER, Aurora • The military leadership here has dismissed reports of alleged harassment being committed by government forces against residents in the course of their operation against the communist insurgency, including the controversial requirement for residents to obtain a “cedula” or community tax certificate.

Meanwhile, Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo said he would seek an explanation from the military on why teenagers as young as 13 years old should get a cedula. She had earlier received reports that teenage males were rushing Friday to secure one after word spread that soldiers were coming to their town.

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Aurora mayor, vice mayor defy suspension order
By Manny Galvez published in the Philippine Star 08/24/2006

{excerpts}

DINALUNGAN, Aurora — Tension reigns in this sleepy town as its mayor and vice mayor continue to defy the suspension order which Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo slapped on them late last month on charges of gross misconduct and grave abuse of authority.

Additional policemen have been deployed here to prevent confrontation between the followers of embattled Mayor Marilyn Marquez and Vice Mayor Virgie Callejo and the supporters of acting Mayor Harvey Tubera.

Angara-Castillo said both Marquez and Callejo continue to hang on to their posts even after the Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG) served their 60-day preventive suspension last July 28.

The suspension order stemmed from charges of gross misconduct and grave abuse of authority filed against them with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan by an employee of a logging company operating in the town.

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On August 17, 2006 amid bad weather, The DBP Forest Project has successfully launched at Brgy. Dimasalan, Maria Aurora, Aurora. It was attended by Guests from DBP Head Office headed by Patricia Sto. Tomas, Government Officials and various cooperative groups in Central Aurora. Two projects of the Provincial Government of Aurora was also launched, The Organic Vegetable Farming Project and Development and Promotion of Pottery and Clay Brick Industry in partnership with Food Basket program and DOST, respectively.

Signing of Memorandum of Aggreement between DBP and the Provincial Government of Aurora on the Launching of DBP Forest Project.

DBP Chair Patricia A. Sto. Tomas delivered an inspirational message. Incidentally her maiden name was Aragon. and she pleaded to be one of the adopted daughter of Aurora.



Ceremonial Tree Planting with Chair Patricia A. Sto. Tomas, Sen. Edgardo J. Angara, Governor Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo, Vice Gov. Annabelle C. Tangson, Mayor Ariel Bitong, PENRO Ben Mina and other DBP officials and employees.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

August 14, 2006
8 AM Opening Jobs Fair (Municipal Plaza)
7 PM Singing, Group Dance and Ballroom Competition

August 15, 2006
8 AM Jobs Fair (continuation)
9 AM Booth Opening (Coco Sabutan Festival)
2 PM Raffle Draw
6 PM Little Miss Baler (Dr. Juan C. Angara Sports Complex)

August 16, 2006
8 AM Historical Quiz Bee
9 AM Karera ng Bangka (Baler Fish Port)
2 PM Farmers Day
8 PM Miss Baler (Dr. juan C. Angara Sports Complex)

August 17, 2006
7 AM Drum & Lyre Band & CAT Competition
8 PM Auditorium

August 18, 2006
7 AM Street Dancing Competition
7 PM SMB Nights

August 19, 2006
5 AM Procession
6 AM Mass
8 AM Parade/Program
7 PM Stage Show/Fireworks

2 Aurora town officials suspended
By ARIEL P. AVENDAÑO Published in Manila Bulletin Online on July 31, 2006

{excerpts}
BALER, Aurora — Aurora Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo slapped a 60-day suspension against the mayor and vice mayor of a northern Aurora town who were both charged with gross misconduct and grave abuse of authority by an employee of a logging company operating in Dilasag town for allegedly unlawful collection of road user’s fees.

The suspension was imposed last Friday on Mayor Marilyn Marquez and Vice-Mayor Virgie Vallejo but has yet to be received by the two officials because they were reportedly attending a seminar in Baguio City.

Angara-Castillo said the suspension order has been imposed on the two officials to prevent them from influencing the witnesses or to tamper with records needed in the investigation to be conducted by the sangguniang panlalawigan (provincial board).

Read complete article >>

Aurora folk pass tsunami test; E. Visayas LGUs not ready
By Tonette Orejas, Joey A. Gabieta
Published on Page A17 of the July 28, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

{excerpts}

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- SOME 1,500 residents in Baler, Aurora scored “above average” points in disaster preparedness during a tsunami drill last week, the second to be held in the country’s eastern seaboard, according to the chief of the Office of the Civil Defense in Central Luzon.

“Those who joined the exercise were really aware of the threat and what to do when the event strikes. They demonstrated a high level of cooperation,” said Neri Amparo, OCD regional director.

Amparo said residents of Sitio Castillo in Barangay Sabang and Sitio Munting Gusang, Puntian, Cemento, Digisit and Ylaya in Barangay Zabali joined the drill on Saturday. These villages face the Pacific Ocean.

The first drill was held in Sitio Pinagbuhatan in Sto. Domingo, Albay, on May 17.

The villagers began an orderly evacuation when the church bell and the kolong-kolong (an empty acetylene iron tank) were struck at 3 a.m. to announce an impending tsunami, said Danilo Nieva, chief of the provincial disaster coordinating council in Aurora.

Taking along basic kitchen wares, some food and clothes, they trekked to Ermita Hill (Point Baja), which stood 50 meters above sea level, Nieva said.

Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo said the retreat to Ermita Hill was a lesson from the past. This was where Franciscan missionary Jose de San Rafael ran for safety during the Dec. 27, 1735 tsunami, the friar’s accounts showed.

::Read the complete story

"FIRST TIME IN AURORA, SECOND IN THE PHILIPPINES"

At exactly 3:00 am on July 22, 2005 people of Sitio Castillo, Brgy. Sabang and Sitio Munting Gasang, Ermita Hill, Cemento, Ilaya, Fishport and Diguisit Brgy. Zabali Baler, Aurora participated actively on the Tsunami Drill exercise held in Baler by the National Disaster Coordinating Council and the Regional disaster Coordinating Council down to the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, Municipal coordinating council and the barangay disaster Coordinating council. The mobilization of the people in those areas was spearheaded by Municipal and Barangay officials. This drill was conceptualized by the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council 3 and was supported by Governor Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo, Chairwoman of the Provl. Disaster Coordinating Council.


An estimated 1,500 residents from Brgy. Sabang and Brgy. Zabali Baler, Aurora participated in the Tsunami Drill Exercise. Photo shows the people walking to the top of Ermita Hill going to higher ground as a standard operation procedure during Tsunami.

Mass Casualty Handling demonstrated by Philippine National Red Cross personnel led by volunteers Lauro Bihasa and Rading Gonzales in Aurora province.

PDCC Chairwoman Hon. Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo speaking to the crowd on the high level of awareness of the people of Baler on Disaster Preparedness.Thus, making them Tsunami ready.

::photo and text courtesy of Provl. Disaster Coordinating Council

fyi: Albay hosts first Pacific-wide tsunami drill

Excerpts from Manila Bulletin Online written by Dr. Bernardo Villegas last July 14, 2006.

AURORA in Spanish means dawn. Aurora Province is literally at the dawn of more rapid economic development after decades of neglect, as its present leaders are mobilizing resources to give a major push to countryside and agricultural development.
Last May 26-29, I made a sentimental journey to Baler. Accompanying me in the harrowing 8-hour land trip was my 97-year-old mother who last saw Baler some 65 years ago. In 19401941, just before the outbreak of the Second World War in the Philippines, my parents and their first three children moved to Baler where my father worked as a young rural doctor in an anti-malaria unit in this remote outpost in the Pacific Ocean. I was barely two years old. My brother Eddie was newly born and actually got baptized in the Baler church, with the late Maria Aurora Aragon Quezon as his godmother. You can imagine what great emotions my mother felt as we attended Holy Mass in the old Baler church, made famous world-wide by the Spanish soldiers who made their last stand inside the church during the SpanishAmerican War.

>>> view complete story

Partnership forged with Metrobank Foundation and Aurora Rep. Angara
excerpts from MTKalaw Institute

The Metrobank Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metrobank Group and the office of Congressman Juan Edgardo Angara are extending donation to the Maximo T. Kalaw Institute for Sustainable Development's Earthling journal project. Over 2000 public school students in Pangasinan will benefit from the donations from the Metrobank Foundation, and 186 public and private schools in Aurora Province will benefit from the donations from Cong. Angara.

MTKISD forged partnership with Metrobank Foundation and Cong. Angara through their education programs. Earthlings shall serve as the take-off project for integral citizenship building, as the entire education system is looped into a program for environmental conservation and nation development. To ensure that teachers are primed in the use of the journals, Teachers' Guides are bundled into each distribution, and shall be monitored to assess the impact.

Earthling Journals are designed to instill values of respect for and promotion of human and ecological security, Filipino identity, sustainable lifestyle and consumption patterns.

>>view complete story

Dr. Romeo S. Cabanilla, ASCOT President grabbed the semi-finalist nomination of Presidential or Lingkod Bayan Award conducted by Civil Service Commission.

The Presidential or Lingkod Bayan Award is conferred on an individual or group of individuals for exceptional or extraordinary contribution/s resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony. The contribution may be a suggestion, innovation, invention or superior accomplishment.

The Civil Service Commission requests any information, positive or negative, about the aforementioned semi-finalists. Please submit information on or before July 13, 2006 to the CSC Honor Awards Program (HAP Secretariat, Public Assistance and Information Office, Civil Service Commission, Constitution Hills, Quezon City through:

Telephone numbers : 931-7993; 932-0381; and 932-0111
Fax number : 932-0179
TEXTCSC : 0917-8398272
E-mail address : csc_2006awards@yahoo.com.ph
: paio@csc.gov.ph

view other semi-finalist
picture of Dr. Cabanilla link here

Military Soldiers waiting for their turn.




(Above photos) Wreath laying proper at the Shrine of the Siege of Baler with Cong. Sonny Angara, Vice Governor Annabelle C. Tangson(Acting Governor), Mayor Arthur J. Angara, a representative from National Historical Institute and other guests and visitors.

Officials, military and locals join hand in hand in salute to our national flag(minus the flag photo).

Mayor Arthur J. Angara of Baler

Vice Governor Annabelle C. Tangson delivered a remarkable speech in celebration of Phil-Spanish Friendship Day.

>>in the news::
Of Friends and Allies
By EDGARDO J. ANGARA
Manila Bulletin 07/02/06

PALENCIA, CASTILLA Y LEON – For the first time since its inaugural celebration in Baler, Aurora in 2003, the Philippines-Spanish Friendship Day was commemorated in this province of Castilla on Friday, June 30. This was made possible through the efforts of Jesus Valbuena, a grandson of Corporal Jesus Garcia Quijano, one of the 33 Spanish soldiers who survived the siege of Baler.

Photo taken by Carrie Emmanuel

Catch the opening of exhibit on June 30, 2006 at the Museo de Baler on the celebration of 4th Phil-Spanish Friendship Day and 107th Anniversary of the Siege of Baler.

The Ilongot
Local but not Homegrown: Plants from Spain
Lines Across Time: The 19th Century Fil-Hispanic Architecture

The Ilongots are a tribe who inhabit the southern Sierra Madre and Caraballo Mountains, on the east side of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Presently, there are about 2500 Ilongots. The Ilongots tend to inhabit areas close to rivers, as they provide a foodsource and a means for transportation.
In Michelle Rosaldo’s study in 1980 of the Ilongots , she described “gender differences related to the positive cultural value placed on adventure, travel, and knowledge of the external world.” Ilognot men, more often than women, visited distant places. They acquired knowledge of the outside world, amassed experiences there, and returned in order to share their knowledge, adventures, and feelings in a public oratory to pass on their knowledge to others. The Ilognot men received acclaim as a result of their experiences. Because they lacked external experience on which to base knowledge and expression, Ilognot women had inferior prestige.
On the basis of Michelle Rosaldo’s study and findings of other stateless societies, anthropologists must distinguish between prestige systems and actual power within a society. Just because a male has a high level of prestige, he may not own much economic or political power compared to others that are less prestigious within the society.

source: wikipedia.org

related stories:

an alta village fight for life

programs for the bugkalot tribes

Not a floating restaurant, nor a festival float but a payao or modern fish cage. A part of Mariculture project of PGA that was recently inaugurated in Baler Fishport and Casiguran port.

“Payao” is a fish aggregating device consisting of a floating raft anchored by weighted line with suspended materials such as palm fronds to attract pelagic and schooling species common in deep waters. These are installed along the path of migratory high value species such as tuna and tuna-like fishes. Local fishermen associations guard these units and when there is already enough fish population converging in the area, catch them either with hook and line or nets, hence contributes to coastal resource conservation.

Photo courtesy of Ferdie Delos Reyes

excerpt from philippine star news

Seismically active areas

Based on the distribution of earthquake epicenters, the most seismically active part of the Philippines is eastern Mindanao, Samar and Leyte, with at least 16 perceptible earthquakes per year caused by the subduction of the Philippine Trench.

Active Fault

The other “relatively active” areas of the country are those near Dingalan Bay, Casiguran, Lubang Island and Mindoro, according to Phivolcs.

read story>
Note: Not to cause panic but a reminder for everybody to prepare

excerpt from Philippine Star 6/21/06 by Manny Galvez

DINGALAN, Aurora — Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo has scolded local officials over their supposed failure to stop illegal logging amid reports that certain officials have been conniving with some businessmen to transport forest products out of this calamity-ravaged town.

view complete story>>>

other story:Mayor-suspect nixes transfer of trial to Manila courts

Check this out!!! new place for kids to enjoy and relax.Can be found at Quezon park, Baler Aurora.

A mangrove seedling was planted by Gov. Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo as part of Mangrove Rehabilitation and Enhancement Planting of the Provincial Government of Aurora. National and Provincial offices has joined and more than a thousand mangrove seedlings was planted.

An ENRO employee pin a tag to a young pawikan for documentation and was released to the ocean afterward. Looking on were Gov. Bella Angara-Castillo, CENRO Casala and Mr. Victoriano San Pedro.

Finally, at home again!!!

more photos soon>>

"We are not giving up the battle. We are just changing our strategy by tapping the local government in raising awareness of the people on what this reproductive health is all about." said Aurora Province Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo.

(excerpt from PIA homepage)

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Dikaloyungan river: a perfect place for picnic among locals and tourist as well.

Government Officials and Veterans posed for a snapshots. (Photo by Renz Lagto)

Only 10 veterans attended the event.


The Parade

PNP, what a synchronized movement!!(Photo by Renz Lagto)

Students from Aurora Natl. Science High School.

Provincial Government employee's.

LGU employee's of Baler.


Provincial and Municipal Officials.




The Ceremony

Flag raising ceremony.

Ferdinand G. Bautista Jr, the champion of Tuklas Talino 2006, led the singing of the Philippine National Anthem. (Photo by Renz Lagto)

Gov. Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo was represented by the Provincial Administrator, Mr. Alex N. Ocampo. Oppss! its not an optical illusion...he is "Mr. PA" of PGA and not MLQ nor Former Senator Heherson Alvarez.
The Honorable Governor attended the same equally important occasion in Casiguran, Aurora.

The Provincial Government of Aurora and Municipal Government of Baler celebrate the 108th Independence Day. The Philippine flag soar high after the flag raising and brief ceremony at the Capitol Compound.

Two local newspaper in Central Aurora, so far. The WEEKLY TIME RECORD AURORA and NEWSBREAK AURORA.

The celebrities together with the upcoming stars.(Photo courtesy of Carrie Emmanuel)

Presenting, the Basketball Association of the Phils. - Baler, Aurora Chapter. Headed by Mr. Rene Paulo(2nd standing from right), under the guidance of Mr. Joseph Kuizon. This 2 months-old group composed of referee, timer, scorer, and statistician. They are professionals in their own field but come out in similar interest in sports. They value sportsmanship, dedication and professionalism.