August 28, '09 latest Baguio Centennial Update

Its been a long time since i last dropped info in this blog.. Hi there! here are some of the updates on the Baguio Centennial Celebration. (from the baguio centennial site)

Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, will address the officialdom and residents of Baguio in appropriate ceremonies on Saturday, Aug. 29.

The Baguio centenary program on Sept. 1 will begin at 6 a.m. with a wake-up call featured by the ringing of local church bells and the sounding of the City Hall siren.

This will be followed at 6:30 a.m. with a native ritual at the Centennial Park along Leonard Wood Road. This ritual will be started with a bakdiw or prayer/chant by a mambunong. This native ritual will last for, at least, an hour with all the required amenities for such a solemn ceremony. The feast which will accompany the ceremony includes the butchering of a pig and a toast of the native wine, tapuy. Top city officials and members of the CenteCom as well as the public are expected to attend this ceremony.

At 8 a.m., a centennial parade will be held starting from Upper Session Road, to Harrison Road to Burnham’s Lake Drive and onward, to the Baguio Athletic Bowl. A program at the Athletic Bowl will cap the parade.

At 12 nn, the Builders of Baguio monument at the Centennial Park will be unveiled with city officials and CenteCom commissioners in attendance. In the early evening at 6 p.m. will be a display of simultaneous fireworks at the University of Baguio, Camp Henry Allen, Baguio Cathedral, and Baguio City Hall.

Also starting at 6:30 p.m. will be a dinner and centennial ball at the Baguio Country Club. The dinner will feature the launching of the centennial commemorative stamps.

Simultaneous with the dinner/ball at the Baguio Country will be a street party and music festival at the top of Session Road which will start at 4 p.m.

The program for the unveiling of the Builders of Baguio monument at the Centennial Park starts with another bakdiw by a native mambunong and opening remarks by CenteCom chairman, Dr. Virgilio Bautista. The unveiling rites will be attended by top city officials led by Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan, mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., and members of the CenteCom.

Part of the unveiling ceremonies will be the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the city mayor and the city council and the Baguio Centennial Commission officially turning over the monument to the City of Baguio. Mayor Bautista will give the closing remarks.In continuation of the centennial celebration, the unveiling of the city landmark in front of the flagpole of City Hall will be held on Monday, Sept. 7 during the flag raising program of city government employees.

Mystery of suicide cases happening in one community

A friend of mine encountered a social phenomena happening in one rural community in the Cordillera Region, Philippines. For over years, the community has witnessed suicide cases committed by residents of that particular place. My friend who is also a social researcher also belongs to that particular community and many times she attended funerals of persons who died of suicide.

The community is mostly dependent on agricultural economy run by its farmers. There are also small segmets of that area that devotes time to other economic activites but largely is anchored on agricultural products. I have yet to see if that area is deprived of sufficient social services that would color the social dynamics of the community.

The people on the otherhand are indigenous community members. Most of the families rely on their agriculture to feed their children and send them to universities. My friend describes families in that area as economically well to do, though they can't spend time on luxurious activities, they can sufficently provide for the needs of the family economically.

The pattern of suicide cases varies among adolescents (the youngest is 14 years old) and adults. There were almost over 40 suicide cases in that community during the last quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009.

What could be the reason why people in that community regardless of age and gender seem to be attracted or prone to suicide? The level of depression individually can be assessed but the more challenging part is digging deep into the problem and exploring the various issues that relatively affect and shape that phenomena. I am more into discovering the external factors affecting the community. My friend told me that a particular company that feeds in that area is a relative factor in understanding suicide cases in the community. I asked what is the significant relationship of the company with the residents of the community. She declined to answer. Its confidential, she did'nt discuss the details.

We planned to organizae a research team to look into this social phenomena. This is my first time to hear about that case and Im interested to take part in exploring the issues of that community and gradually unravel the mystery of suicide cases concentrated in one community.

Watch Prison Break Season Finale

The story of “Prison Break” lasted four years for viewers but only seven months for its

characters -- an insanely short period of time when you consider the whacked toes and hand, the

prison murder of a beloved cat, the beheadings, the near-drowning bathtub torture, the

countless shootings, explosions and stabbings, the removal of a body tattoo in one sitting, the

resurrection of dead people and, of course, the two prison breaks.When the Fox series ends

tonight, all mysteries are resolved in an action-packed two-hour finale. But in a rewarding twist,

the show ends softly, with a sentimental montage that moves the survivors four years into the

future.

OSCAR 09 TOSP BATCH 2009 TEAMBUILDING

May 09, 2009

FAMILY RESORT 2

ITOGON, BENGUET

Fourteen OSCARS joyfully celebrated the beauty of their team.

LEADING..LEARNING..AND SERVING FOR LIFE!

GO BATCH RADISH!