LIONS ROAR IN BOHOL
TAGBILARAN, November 11, 2004 (STAR) THE SOUTHERN BEAT By Rolly Espina - Lions will storm into Tagbilaran City of Bohol starting tomorrow to attend the 2nd Cabinet Meeting and District Convention of the Visayas Lions under District 301-B Governor Felipe C. Lim.
Based on the feedback, Lim said there seems to be rush to participate in the Bohol regional meet.
Well, it appears that Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, who is also the convention chairman, apparently recorded hits with his marketing efforts to convince Lions that Bohol has become the primary tourist destination in the Visayas.
His letter-appeal painted a picture of Bohol as the only province in Southeast Asia awarded by TUV Germany the ISO 14001 certification for its environmental management system.
Actually, there was not much need for the feverish come-on pitch, Bacolod Capitol Lions Club past president Pons Manayon said. "Anybody who had visited Bohol in the past always looks forward to another visit to the enchanting island and its beautiful sights," he said.
One of the most interesting activities scheduled by Aumentado is an upstream tour of the Loboc River on board a floating restaurant. This ends at the ancient Loboc church. Bohol’s ancient churches are treasures "preserved for all of you and not only for Boholanos," Gov. Aumentado said in his message.
Actually, the Bohol governor is a long-time Lions member. For that matter, if he were not involved in politics, he could have been a possible gubernatorial candidate of the Visayas Lions.
The impressive Metro Center Hotel on CPG Avenue in Tagbilaran City will be the convention venue.
Lions officials will start Friday with a courtesy call on Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, himself one of the most colorful Boholano political personalities. Then, Aumentado, the convention chairman, will receive Lim, past district governors and the Cabinet at the provincial capitol.
Tagbilaran, which hosted a Cabinet meeting a long time ago, will then witness the parade of Lions and their ladies in their violet and yellow chalecos. The march will start from the BoakBrook building and will end up with the raising of the flags of nations at Plaza Rizal.
Program
Another come-on is Sen. Richard Gordon, former tourism secretary who will be the keynote speaker. He will be introduced by Rep. Edgar Chatto of Bohol’s first district. Chatto himself was a past president of the Bohol Island Lions Club.
Incidentally, the invocation in the first plenary session will be delivered by Peter Dejaresco, of the Bohol Lions Club. He is a son of the late District 301-B Governor Jun Dejaresco.
Aumentado will then deliver the welcome address. He will be followed by Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim.
Lions area deputy governor Antonio Wycoco will introduce the Lions dignitaries and guests.
After his keynote speech, Gordon will be presented a plaque by Gov. Aumentado, who will be assisted by Salvador Labado, chairman of the awards committee. Lions area level officer Handel Lagunay will deliver the closing remarks.
At the close of the opening ceremonies, Lim will bang the gavel to signal the start of the plenary session. Cabinet secretary Mike Chin Jr. will then call the roll of delegates.
During the governor’s time, Lim is expected to call on Lions in the Visayas to redouble their commitment to service the poor, the needy and the blind. He will also encourage them to get involved in the Orient-Southeast Asian (OSEAL) Forum to be held in Manila in December. That affair will bring into the country thousands of Lions from all over Southeast Asia.
The first day will be capped by the Fellowship Night Barrio Fiesta at the Fisherman’s Wharf of the Bohol Tropics Resort Club which, incidentally, is one of the favorite destinations of visitors to Bohol. This time, the Bukang Liwayway Dance Troupe will help entertain the visiting Lions. Bohol Island’s Edi Borja and Tagbilaran City host members will handle the program.
Durano At Governor’s Ball
The second day of the meet is more interesting. This will start off with a trip via the floating restaurant to Loboc’s St. Peter the Apostle Church. The floating restaurant has a capacity of 40 people. Buses will bring the Lions from Tagbilaran to Loboc. There, the Loboc Children’s Choir will sing to the Lions. The choir gained international renown when it was awarded the gold medal in the International Choir Festival in Barcelona, Spain.
Luncheon will be served on board the floating restaurant. But there will be seminars on Lions extension and lectures on leadership and the various facets of managing a Lions club.
Bohol will also have a chance to show its products to the delegates at the product display room and bazaar at the Bohol Tropics Resort.
After the closing plenary session on Saturday afternoon, there will be the impressive Governor’s Ball to be tendered by Gov. Lim at the Sandugo Hall of the Bohol Tropics Resort.
This will be an occasion for the Lions to listen to Tourism Secretary Ace Durano who will be introduced by Jose V. Torralba, president of the Dagohoy Lions Club. The master of ceremonies will be Mt. Banat-i Lions Club’s Loreto Palapos.
For Aumentado, the Lions meet serves as a timely come-on for residents of neighboring islands to patronize Bohol. It takes only a few hours of travel from Bacolod to Dumaguete and then a fastcraft to Tagbilaran City. From Iloilo, one can take an overnight trip to Cebu City and from there, a fastcraft to Tagbilaran.
Syjuco Blasts ‘Rude’ Japanese
Iloilo dailies headlined the story of TESDA head Augusto Syjuco berating officials of the Taisei group of Japanese contractors for being "arrogantly impolite and rude" in dealing with local contractors and the public in general.
The outburst of Syjuco, who is usually mild-mannered and soft-spoken, took many Ilonggos by surprise.
Speaking in Reklamo Publiko, the popular radio program in Iloilo City, Syjuco said the Taisei officials are different from the Japanese people who are courteous and known for their genteel manner. "They should look at their status as visitors and not behave like they belong to a superior race," he fumed.
One of the things that triggered Syjuco’s outburst was the complaint of local contractors that they were paid only P56 per cubic meter of filling materials that normally fetches P200.
Reklamo Publiko also received text messages denouncing the Japanese contractors. The messages reportedly included those from suspected members of the New People’s Army.
Syjuco, meanwhile, approved the request of Pavia Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta for 10 sets of brand new computers for his town. Gorriceta, considered one of the dynamic town mayors of Iloilo, met with Syjuco at the Sarabia Manor Hotel last Sunday.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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