Friday, October 12, 2012

Calauan: Are you ready for a change?


In 2007, the population in Calauan, a 3rd class municipality at the province of Laguna was 54k. At present it ballooned to more or less than 70k because of the National Housing Authority
(NHA) that caters to different calamity victims from all around Manila with ABS-CBN Bayan Ni Juan sa Calauan and Binay Compound.

Calauenos, from then till now, do we have any good changes? 

Let's just talk about the three years that passed to make it more detailed.

1. Infrastructure like Schools and Hospitals.

2. Peace like the ratio of our Policemen and people. The ratio must be 1:500. What's our ratio? How's the peace and order within our 17 Barangays? How's the crime rate in your area, lesser?

3. Health and Education accessibility- How's our ambulance, medicines and information dissemination for health? Do we have an easy access as in!  did our officials reached us or exerted effort to reach everyone?

4. Livelihood programs for the majority.

5. RA9003 or Waste Management System

6. Social Contract- Don't forget about PLATFORMS or their Plataporma. ALL things they PROMISED last campaigning period, don't forget that it's their COMMITMENT. 

Even though there's no written contract between those elected officers and us, their platforms are their social contract to us. Did they ACCOMPLISH all already? Because if not, WHY ARE you going to vote for them once again? 

Remember, VOTE WISELY. It's not about NOW but check the long term programs they have for the community. 

Some might be good sa pagsasalita during the meeting de avance but was it enough?

WHAT DID THEY DO from the 3 years they spent in office? For some, it's more than one term. 
 

Here's the list of candidates who are seeking for different positions. Some are new in the position, some are incumbent, one doesn't have a competition, some are just returning back and some are just nuisance?

For Mayor;
Jun Brion
George Berris
Darry Velasco

For Vice Mayor;
Allan " Dong" Sanchez

Counselors;
1. Agonia, Fermin
2. Catapang, Apolinario
3.,Celario, Nestor
4. Del Valle, Filemon
5. Escarez, Dante
6. Hernandez, Chesska
7.Hilario, Zenaida
8. Ilagan, Germegildo
9. Kraft, Kingsly
10. Larona, Joseph
11. Larona, Maria Jesusa
12. Maligalig, Dimna
13. Manalo, Joselito
14. Mendoza, Evangeline
15.  Putungan, Oscar
16. Ramilo, Roberto
17. Roxas, Gertrudo
18. Sanchez, Allan
19. Urbano, Renato

A lot of familiar names. As much as I don't like to care and just curious about the candidates about their real motives or real deal, there's something beneath our heart that is very much concern. It's a human characteristic and nature to care and to give our own opinion for all things we see. As much as we know that politics to some are just business, we still believe and hoping for the best. 

One candidate who I know could bring CHANGE and I will surely vote is #14 Mendoza, Evangeline "Vangie" from Barangay Imok. She's an incumbent Barangay Councilor. I'm very sure most Calauenos don't have any idea about her but after reading below, I'm sure you will be just like me, she's not only our local pride but a national leader for many. 

Here are my reasons;

1. For truth, justice and pride of Calauan- She is the national president of PESANTE Filipinas, a group of farmers from all around the country who are fighting for their rights. I am with them when they did a rally and barracks for days at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) main office at Quezon City and got to have a conference with the DAR Assistant secretary about their needs. 

2. Empowered Leader-She made Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay come to Calauan for the Farmers Congress. Twelve provinces with 300 participants attended the event with the support of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Governor Jeorge "ER" Ejercito together with different government leaders from different provinces. The congress was a success. 

3. Environmentalist - When Father Robert Reyes known as the Running priest did an environmental awareness run, shes the only government official from Calauan who supported the event and joined us to different cities and municipalities in order for the people to know the importance of being aware and concern about the environment. Last 2012, she actively joined me when I conducted a Talakayan about the Ozone Layer with different leaders from Calauan. 

4. Against corruption and fighter- Remember the Oakwood Mutiny? that controversial uprising against then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Councilor Vangie are with General Danny Lim, Father Robert Reyes and General Antonio Trillianes.  If you will closely check the pictures, she's the only woman hand in hand with them on the road. She spend an overnight at the cell for fighting what she thinks was right.

Councilor Evangeline Mendoza runs as independent candidate. For whatever reason, oh well! I have some in my teeny weeny brain of mine. 

To Calauenos, I cannot blame. We all have our reasons but for me it's not about me and the reasons I explained already in 2010.

CHOOSE WISELY. VOTE WISELY. 

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

First Laguna Social Media and Blogging Summit


Last September 27 and 28, 2012 at 8:00am to 5:00pm with the support of the Provincial government of Laguna under Governor Jeorge "ER" Estregan Ejercito, the FIRST Laguna Social Media and Blogging Summit (1LaBS) was held at the Cultural center of Laguna. The expected 300 participants from all around the Philippines who are compose of writers, bloggers and students became 600 on September 27, 2012 and on September 28 was 900, these are students from LSPU, STI, AMA and bloggers from Manila and Pampanga who allotted two days of their time to attend this historical event. 



Pagsanjan Mayor Girlie Javier Ejercito welcomed everyone and even sang the Pagsanjan "Bangkero" song that made the opening of the summit more memorable.





The Opening Remarks came from the Lead organizer of the event Engr. Grace Bondad Nicolas who not only a social media one of the most influential blogger, columnist and advocate but also a speaker herself at different summit in the Philippines and who is also a Lagueno from Calauan. 



Here are the list of speakers and their topics who came to Laguna not just to share their expertise in blogging and Internet but also to experience and promote the tourism of Laguna.



(Tony Ahn) Agency Confidential: Behind Blogger Relations 
Keynote Speech: Tony displayed a blogger event budget and discussed  how and why agencies charge what they do in order for their clients to engage with bloggers. 

Blogging for Advocacy (Sonnie Santos)

 Advocacy and Social Media (Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines National Chairperson Elizabeth Angsioco)

 Impact of Social Media on Voters Education (Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez)

Social Media in Good Governance and Advocacy (Congress Chief of staff Wenchie Flores Sabban)

What To Do With The Money You Earn From Blogging (Award winning financial speaker Fitz Gerard Villafuerte)

 iBlog for Health (presidential awardee for health Nurse Alvin Dakis)

The Art of Personal Branding (Famous voice talent and GNN producer Pocholo Gonzales)

Blogging for motivation and empowerment (Best selling author Lloyd Luna)

 (Benjamin Vergel De Dios) Executive Director- Knowledge Community


September 28 Speakers;

Welcome Address from the Regional Director of the Philippine Information Agency  (Norito Cabotaje)

Keynote Address from Dr. Nestor De Vera, President of Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) 


Ethics and Etiquette in Blogging ( Juned Sonido)


The State of Education in the Philippines–present conditions, needs and prospects for reform. (historian and rocket scientist Dean Jorge Bocobo)


 Travel + Photography and Social Media (Jaypee David)

Marine Life Advocacy (Jayvee Fernandez)

Actionable Start-Up SEO Blogging Strategies. (Mark Acsay III)

Strategies to Maximize Facebook Business Pages – (Jonel Uy)

Politics in Blogging (Author Janette Toral)



 The first Laguna social media and blogging summit is a success. The event hashtag which is 1LaBS or an acronym of the summit TRENDS on Twitter at number 6 that day. Trend is a twitter term which means its the MOST talk topic in the WHOLE Philippines. 

The objective of the summit is to bring to Laguna the best speakers and writers from social media to share to Lagueno the benefits of technology today. This in return, because the speakers are famous plus with writers and media as participants who are there not only to learn but to cover the whole summit. This will give mileage to the province in terms of tourism. 

The organizers would like to thank Governor Jeorge "ER" Ejercito of the Province of Laguna, Laguna 2nd District Board Member Neil Andrew Nocon, Andrew Grace Home Builders, Tiny Buds, Tony Ahn & Co., Melba's farm, Teen Azkals, OneA events place, Cafe Lupe, Asia Blooms hotel, KCs Catering, Jonessa Enterprises, D Star salon, Walk this way, Solid hosting, Geiser Maclang, Gardenia, Chowking, SM, When in Manila, Creative Voices, Microsoft, STI, AMA, Laguna State Polytechnic University, Manila Blogger, Phil IT, Philippine Information Agency 4A, Mary Pauline Salon, PRC, Kliping Times, McCarranz Graphics International, ALAM, Comelec and Mayor Ed Pamintuan of Pampanga, TaG Media and public relations. 

PICTURES:

Gardenia Booth

Registration

Customized IDs from COMELEC


#1LaBS Technical Team

Philippine Information Agency Regional Director Norito Cabotaje

Laguna State Polytechnic University President Dr. Nestor De Vera

Dean Jorge Bocobo with the Gardenia Representative and Rod Magaru

Laguna 2nd District Board Member Andrew Neil Nocon, Janette Toral and the 1LaBS Team

Marine Life advocate Jayvee Fernandez

Jaypee David on Photography and Social Media

Juned Sonido on Ethics and Etiquette in Blogging


Mark Acksay on SEO

Sonnie Santos preparing his presentation

Jonel Uy


1st day Participants



2nd day Participants

Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines National Chair Elizabeth Angsioco

Fitz Villafuerte

Motivational Blogger Lloyd Luna

1LaBS Sponsor Mernels Chocolate Cake owner with Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez and Laguna Tourism Officer BM Andrew Neil Nocon

Nurse Alvin Dakis

Congress Chief of Staff Wenchie Flores Sabban on Good Governance and Advocacy

GNN Producer and Creative Voices Pocholo De Leon Gonzales 

Rod Magaru interviewing the participant