Palace suspends government work on January 2, 2019

Cordillera - The Office of the President on Monday issued the Memorandum Circular No. 54 regarding the suspension of government work throughout the country on January 2, 2019 to give workers of the government extra day to celebrate the New Year's Day.

The memorandum was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, by authority of the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. 

"Further to Proclamation no. 555 (s.2018) issued by the President declaring 01 January 2019 (New Year's Day) as a Regular Holiday, and in order to give employees of the government full opportunity to celebrate such holiday with their families and loved ones, work in  the government offices throughout the country, including government-owned-or-controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges, local government units and other agencies and instrumentalities, is hereby suspended on 02 January 2019.

However, those agencies whose functions involved the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities, and/or the performance of other vital services shall continue with their operations and render the necessary services. 

The suspension of work on the same date in other branches of the government and offices, is left to sound discretion of their respective heads/management."

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Igorot Champ Eduard Folayang VS. former UFC Champ Eddie Alvarez | Possible matchup in 2019

Cordillera - Year 2019 would be a tough and busy year for Team Lakay champions as they will be  defending their belts against top challengers in the Mixed Martial Arts Arena. 

For the reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua "The Passion" Pacio, he was slated to defend his belt against Japanese challenger Hayato Suzuki on 19th January in Indonesia. 

Meanwhile Team Lakay's veteran fighter and now World Lightweight Champion Eduard "The Landslide" Folayang is also looking ahead to his first challenge as a champion. But right now ONE Championship has not yet made a formal announcement to whom he will be fighting inside the cage. 

However, a lot of talks and expectations from fans and Eduard himself has been talking about a possible showdown with former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.

Eddie Alvarez on the other hand, recently signed with ONE Championship last October. He is one of the most accomplished lightweight martial artist of all time.

With Alvarez's high caliber records in MMA and Folayang's recent triumph to the lightweight division, a possible showdown between them could be an exciting fight for MMA fans worldwide. 

For Folayang himself, he admitted that a showdown with Alvarez will be a great matchup. 

"It will be a great match up. I have seen Eddie Alvarez and I have been able to follow him on his fights, and he is a great martial artist. He has been able to get the Bellator lightweight championship, and also the UFC championship. So, for him, he be looking to get another shot for the ONE Championship lightweight belt. I think if, given the chance, it will be a great match up," Folayang said during an interview in BJPENN radio.

MMA fans would have to wait for ONE Championship announcement if a Folayang VS. Alvarez will be included in the first round of the ONE Championship Lightweight Grand Prix scheduled on 22nd February.

If Folayang-Alvarez fight would push through, who do you think will win? Comment down below.

Watch Alvarez fight below



Watch Eduard Folayang fight below

Video Courtesy: BellatorMMA and ONE Championship

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SM Foundation to accept applicants for Scholarship Program 2020 | Apply Online

Baguio City - The SM Foundation, the advocacy arm of the SM Group of companies, is now accepting application for the SM College Scholarship Program for school year 2020.

The SM College Schoolarship Program is open for students from Benguet, NCR, Albay, Batangas,  Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Isabela, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, Tarlac, Zambales.

For Visayas and Mindanao, the areas covered are Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Davao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, South Cotobato, Zamboanga del Sur.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested students can now apply via online by going to SM website here http://www.sm-foundation.org/programs/education#carousel-sm-foundation.

Note: Online application portal will be accessible starting on October 15 to December 31, 2019.

Register your valid email and password and you will be directed to page where you will fill-in necessary information in order to be qualified.

QUALIFICATION

The SM College Scholarship Program is open to fourth year public high school students who have a weighted average of at least 88% by the second or third grading period and the family must earning an annual income of PHP150,000 at most.

Successful scholarship grantees from Benguet and other areas can enroll in any of SM partners namely Saint Louis University, University of the Cordilleras and University of the Philippines-Baguio campus. A full tuition, monthly allowance, part-time job opportunities during school break and also exclusive job offers with the SM group upon graduation.

Click HERE to see complete list of SM partner schools.

COURSES OFFERED

a. BS in Computer Science
b. BS in Information Technology
c. BS in Electronics and Communications Engineering/ BS In Electronics Engineering
d. BS in Computer Engineering
e. BS in Civil Engineering
f. BS in Electrical Engineering
g. BS in Mechanical Engineering
h. BS in Elementary Education
i. BS in Secondary Education major in Biology, Chemistry, General Sciences, Physics, Mathematics, English
j. BS in Accountancy
k. BS in Accounting Information Systems
l. BS in Internal Auditing
m. BS in Management Accounting

The SM College Scholarship Program started with the vision of SM patriarch Henry Sy, Sr. to send one child from a less fortunate family to college. After graduation and upon employment, this could send one sibling to school and this help provide a better future for the family.

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Foreign vlogger experiences the best Cordilleran hospitality from a family in Sagada

Photo Courtesy || Fearless and Far

Cordillera - When it comes to pure and warm treatment of visitors either a local or foreigner, Filipino hospitality is something we like to take pride in. From the moment you step off the plane Filipinos will give you a warm welcome and a beautiful smile. Which already gives you a feeling of being at home even though you are in another country. This trait has become a culture in the Philippines and has been praised all around the world.

Although the Philippines is composed of many islands with people of different tribes and tongues and cultures, Filipino hospitality can be experienced anywhere and everywhere. Even from the highest peak of the mountain and in the deepest sea. They all know how to treat their guest properly. They will offer to show you around, invite you to their house and eat with them.

And by saying this I want to give out a perfect example, in the municipality of Sagada a tribe that is also well known for their unique hospitality, the Igorots. They are warm-hearted people and very hospitable. 

Actually, there was one foreign vlogger who  wanted to try the authentic delicacy around the town of Sagada and one of the locals he met became his guide. Since he likes to try the local food, he was invited by his guide to attend his 4 year-old son's birthday party.

The family welcomed him. He was shown various kinds of authentic Igorot food such as dinardaraan, etag and pinikpikan. The vlogger enjoyed the warm welcome and the hospitality of the entire family. For him there was no time of dull moment because everyone in the family wanted to talk to him. 

He said that “Looking at this plate I could tell I was far, far from home and it made me happy.”

As he spent a lot of his time waiting and hanging out around the place, and showing their culture he experienced a real travel experience.

“I’m happy. I’m here I’m happy I got the invitation and I’m happy I’m having a real travel experience.” With a simple invitation shows true meaning of hospitality. Making someone feel that once they are part of our culture and community regardless whoever it is.

“I love the most about the travel hanging out with someone who is from here with their family with their friends drinking local drinks maybe a little too much but having a good time eating food and feeling like I’m a part of the community.”

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Benguet remains the most peaceful province in Cordillera

Cordillera - The province of Benguet remains peaceful with an observed decrease in crime rate of focused crimes except carnapping incidence. 

The average crime rate of the province recorded from January to October 2018 decreased by 34 percent compared to the same period last year, according to Police Provincial Deputy Police Supt. Luisito Meris during a recently concluded Peace and Order Council meeting. 

All of the focused crimes were observed to have been decreased and this is a positive news for the province of Benguet. 

According to Meris, the decrease in crime rate is attributed to the increase of police operation activities, increase in the latching of criminals, and good police community relations. 

He also said that the lowering of crimes may also be attributed to better and improved life of the people thus those crimes committed for survival reasons were minimized.

Governor Cresencio Pacalso is happy to note of the maintained peace and order in the province. This, he said, is a reflection and manifestation of the cooperation of all member agencies on peace keeping efforts which he hopes will continue even during the election period. 

Pacalso said so far, the province has never experienced any election-related violence and still remains the most peaceful. 

Lawyer Elenita Julia Tabangin-Capuyan, Comelec-Benguet Election Supervisor noted that she never encountered any election-related violence in the province. 

She said that the people of Benguet are peaceful and they go door to door campaigning for more personal communication with the electorate.

"Benguet, ever since, has been very peaceful. It's 99-percent peaceful, as there have never been cases of election-related violence in the province," Capuyan said. 

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source || PNA

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Baguio: Philippines' coldest city to undergo rehab: DENR

Cordillera - It seems the government is now serious on putting the summer capital of the country under rehabilitation to save from further damage. 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has announced on Sunday (December 9) that Baguio will be the next ecotourism zone that will undergo rehabilitation. 

It said that the worsening traffic problems and the geo-hazard concerns are the reasons why they are now keen of putting the city on the list of areas they will rehabilitate next. 

According to Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, the plan rehabilitation of Baguio will happen after Boracay, Palawan and Bohol will be finished. 

Antiporda said the government will look into the traffic concerns in the city that gets congested as tourists visits during the holidays. 

Many tourists flock to the summer capital with their cars and that's the cause of the traffic problem. Many cars are travelling along the road but there are no road expansion projects being done.

However, Antipora noted that the road structure of the city is not viable for road expansion. 

"Yan po ay isa rin na kailangan mai-address natin at sad to say, dahil din po sa istruktura ng kaniyang bundok eh hindi natin magawa na ika nga'y magkaroon ng tinatawag ng expansion ng kaniyang mga road network," Antiporda said in an interview via GMA Super Radyo dzBB.

Another concern the government plans to address is air pollution, as many people observed that Baguio no longer has the pine smell just like in the old days. 

The national government will be working with local government unit of Baguio to look into the possibility of adopting e-vehicles which would lessen pollution in the area, according to GMA.

The DENR earlier said that the plan rehabilitation of Baguio do not necessarily mean the city will be closed to people just like what happen in Boracay. 

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Congratulations: Saint Louis University graduates among top 10 NLE 2018 passers

Baguio City - Three graduates from Saint Louis University Baguio have topped the list of the 4,811 passers of the Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE) conducted by the Board of Nursing in different testing centers nationwide.

The Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that 4,811 out of 12,033 passed the exam held on November 2018.

Alfonso Astudillo Lumiwes IV shared the number 6 spot with other graduates with a rating of 85.6 percent.

Meanwhile, both Samantha Faye Quezon Natino and Sean Michael Animas Taclobao got the number 7 spot together with 6 others graduates with a rating of 85.40 percent.

Jeniffer Jacob Quirante from the University of Santo Tomas was in the number 1 spot with a rating of 87.80 percent.

The Nurse Licensure Examination were administered by PRC Chairman Glenda S. Arquiza and members Carmelita C. Divinagracia, Gloria B. Arcos, Carfredda P. Dumlao, Florence C. Cawaon and Cora A. Anonuevo.

The PRC advises those successful candidates to register online for the issuance of their Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certification of Registration. Please go to online.prc.gov.ph and follow instruction for initial registration.

Please see the complete list of the top 10 passers below.

  List Source: topnotcher.ph

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Joshua Pacio vs Hayato Suzuki to headline first ONE event shown live on U.S. TV

Photo Courtesy || ONE Championship

(Updated) - Asia's biggest MMA promotion ONE Championship has signed a 3-year broadcast deal with Turner Sport which will commence of January 1. The deal will broadcast some of ONE Championship's programs including the first event scheduled for January 19 which features Joshua Pacio vs Hayato Suzuki fight.

Baguio City - Reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua "The Passion" Pacio will make his first World Title defense against Japanese challenger Hayato Suzuki on 19 January at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

According to ONE Championship, ONE: Eternal Glory will be the first of the promotion's 2019 lists of match up in their calendar events.

Pacio, team Lakay's youngest champion will take this opportunity to avenge his loss to Suzuki. 

The two warriors first crossed paths back in August 2017 where Pacio was easily defeated by Suzuki via rear-naked choke submission in the first round.

It was a devastating defeat for Pacio that motivated him to improve  his ground game with the help of this teammates. 

Since then, the 22-year-old Pacio continued making rounds of victories in the next year and half, including a world title win over Yoshitaka Naito that made him ONE Strawweight World Champion. 

Now, the Japanese contender is working his way out to challenge the Igorot warrior to prove their first encounter was not just an accident.

Who do you think will win this upcoming match up between Pacio and Suzuki. Write your answer in the comment box below.

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Tourist takes pride on wearing traditional Igorot clothes

Photo Courtesy || Nelmar Chaves Gomez

Cordillera - A tourist who visited Baguio City this Christmas season had a chance to wear a traditional Cordillera clothing and his reaction is priceless. 

Nelmar Chaves Gomez from Butuan City expressed how he feels wearing what he believed the Igorot "bahag" when he visited Wright Park - one of the popular tourist spots in Baguio City. 

"Wearing the Igorot bahag is such a fulfillment for me because at least, I tried to feel how an Igorot feels while wearing those clothes and it is a feeling of pride for a good cause", Gomez wrote on his FB account. 

Although Gomez didn't wear the actual "bahag" also known as G-string, he took pride of that short moment he felt he became one of the Igorots and according to him this is the most unforgettable moment he had ever experienced.

"I swear it was one of the most unforgettable experiences I ever had - experiencing the culture of the Igorot by wearing their beautiful trademark clothes. I didn't actually expect to become an Igorot even just a span of few minutes," Gomez said. 

Many tourists nowadays are beginning to appreciate and admire the Igorot culture such as Gomez who at his very first time didn't feel ashamed to wear one of Igorot's traditional dress and even call himself an Igorot. 

May your next visit to Baguio will give you the opportunity to wear the real bahag of the Igorots because wearing such will make you more handsome and "taraki" (good-looking) like these Igorot hunks below.

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Baguio student hailed a hero for rescuing teenagers trapped in a flooded building during typhoon Ompong

Photo Courtesy || Abs-cbn Mission Possible

Cordillera - A 20-year-old young man from Baguio has been hailed a hero after saving two students trapped in a flooded building during typhoon Ompong. 

ABS-CBN "Mission Possible" TV program featured the heroic deed of Benjamin "Ricky" Madamba, a Civil Engineering student who saved two students who were trapped in their basement during typhoon Ompong onslaught in September. 

According to the young hero, he immediately responded to  his younger sister's call for help that two of her classmates were trapped inside their basement with rushing mud water coming from  the mountain. 

Out of  panic and his inherent response to save the girls, he knocked a glass window at the basement to make way for the girls. Unfortunately,  he was injured and sustained  a cut on his arm from the glass. He was rushed to the hospital and was given immediate medical care. He had eight stitches on his wound.. 

Madamba's  heroic act  by breaking the window gave way for other workers to enter the basement and save the girls. The girls were all rescued and brought to safety. Thankfully, they all made out alive.

"Sobrang thank you and sobrang blessed, kasi buhay pa po kami at nakatayo pa rin kami", one of the rescued girl said.

For Madamba, he considered these girls a part of their family and they would be at loss  if something bad happened to the girls. His kind-hearted and selfless nature lets him put others first before himself. He thought about other people's safety  before his own safety. 

Madamba's heroic deed was commended by the City Government of Baguio and the Office of Civil Defense Cordillera. He also received gifts from Rotary Club of Malate Prime. 

Indeed, a simple act of kindness and bravery like of Madamba is commendable and worth emulating. The scars from his wounds would always remind him of his selflessness and such mark have a good story worth retelling to his offspring. 

All scars have a story behind it. But do you have scar stories worth retelling that you are proud of?

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