a writer's diary... journalist chronicle...

Cirvalina ‘Lina’ Longboy is the new president of Oahu Filipino Community Council (OFCC) in election held during the convention last June 21, 2008 in Ala Moana Hotel, Honolulu.

Almost 118 delegates from forty (40) Filipino organizations attended the convention which has a theme ‘Filipino Global’.

Longboy, a native of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte run unopposed. Before she was elected as president, she was 1st vice president and director of OFCC. She serves also as coordinator in Miss Oahu Filipina Scholarship Pageant 2008.

State Senator Ron Menor was the guest of honor and spoke at Ten Outstanding Pilipino Students (TOPS) luncheon Awarding Ceremonies.

The other OFCC officers were Danny Villaruz, 1st vice-president, Carlota Ader, 2nd vice-president; Myrna Daguio, secretary; Jean Jeremiah, assistant secretary; Faye Cudal, treasurer; Bernadette Fajardo, assistant treasurer; Mario Palma, auditor. Elected board of directors are Maria Etrata, Veronica Esteban, Leo Gozar, Zhoydell Magaoay, Jesse Pascual. Holdover director da Amado Yoro, Estrella Taong and Philip Alcain.

Franklin Borromeo is outgoing president. The new set officers will take their oath this September 2008.

Carlota Ader is the presidentg officer of the convention, along with co-chairs Maria Etrata, Amado Yoro, Mario Palma, Faye Cudal, William Cudal.

Nomination & Election Committee: Dwayne Bueno, Chair; Lynne Gutierrez, Co-Chair; Members: Eddie Agas, Sr., Ella Bueno, Marina Corpuz, Gladys Menor, Lassie Ribao Canvassers/ballot counters Eddie Agas, Sr., Larry Ramirez, Amado Yoro, Rolly Corpuz, John Ramos, Philip Alcain, Ben Cabreros, and Ruben Gutierrez,

by Amado I. Yoro
Membership Chair and Convention Co-Chair
Publicity

Lallo, Cagayan

Iti maikaddua a gundaway, nakapanak iti Cagayan (umuna idi nagatendarkami iti 35th gumil convention idiay Penablanca, Cagayan) gapu iti Gumil Convetion. Manipud ngamin idi nangabakak iti Ammafla idi tawen 2002, awan metten ti naliwayak a konbension.

Nice place, its how i described Lallo. It has rich historical background (the nueva segovia was first situated here, hundred years ago.) ken scenic environment. Though I say, that maybe, its still on fourth or third class municipality, it has its own flow of economy. I have learned also that the district has its planned to file (or maybe filed already) a bill converting the municipality as a city. Lallo is long been a city, they say it is the third city in the Philippines. The first was Cebu City, second is Manila and third is Nueva Segovia or Lallo, fourth is siudad Fenandina...

Ngem iti daytoy a gundaway, iti bukodko a pannirigan ken pammaliiw, saan unay inarakup dagiti mannurat t convention. Apay ngay a kasla nagbassit metten ti nagatendar, no diak agriro ket nasurok laeng iti sangagasut. Napaliiwko pay nga ad-adu dagiti nagparang laeng kalpasanna ket nagawiddan a dida nagsubli. But anyway, adda met ti bukodda a rason no apay a dida nagatendar.

Awan ti makunak iti panangbisita ti Gumil Cagayan nga idadauluan ni Apo Arthur Urata, ta nupay gaholda iti oras ngem inaramidda ti kabaelanda tapno agballigi laeng ti konbension. Malaksid iti dayta, ket dimteng pay kadakuada ti maysa a pannubok iti biag ta kas insalaysayna, iti nabiit ket natay ti kabsatda. Supposed to be, idiay koma ngamin Ilocos Norte ti nakaisayangkatanna.

Okay, nagrubbuatkami kenni Manong Pablito Alcantara iti Huebes iti rabii ditoy Candon. Ngem koma, iti pay laeng bigbigat iti Biernes ti panagbiahek, ngem agsipud ta nasarakak ni Manong Pabs iti plaza ti Candon nga agur-uray, nagkuyogkamin. Napankami immun-una idiay balay sa nangan sa kami nagrubbuat. Naglugan kami iti Farinas agarup alas 8:30 iti rabii ket nakadanonkami idiay Laoag agarup alas 11:00 iti rabii. Naturogkami iti balay ti maysa a kabsatna.

Alas otso met laeng iti bigat idi naglugan kami iti GMW manipud laoag bound to Lallo, but we learned that the bus cannot reach Lallo, instead, we stop at Magapit. In the bus, we met other delegates from Ilocos Norte such as Manong Miks (Arnold Pascual Jose), Linda Tugade, the sister of Manong Terry Tugade, etc, Virgilio Dumaloy and others. We travel from 8:30 am until 1 pm. Its good that the environment has a scenic view. Especially Paguppud, Ilocos Norte. Wow, the place... I love it. We had a stop over at Paraiso ni Anton, and oh, i much amazed how God created this place.

I have some distractions in my minds, one is that my money is already short. All i have is P800 and five hundred of this will be for registration. All be left is P300, and the fare from Lallo ti San Esteban, Ilocos Sur is less than P500. it means a i have to walk that mile. My golly. My only hope is that i have a P7500 prize in Premio Andel. I hope that it does not duplicate on what had happened on ATILA of manong Art Ignacio, that until now, he still not give our prizes.

Anyway, from Magapit, naglugankami ti traysikel agingga Lallo National High School. Addada manong Arthur a nangsabet kadakami. Register, istoria, pinnadamag, katkatawa....

First night, naaramid ti programa. And again, as i expected, the present happening seems to me happened before, i know it. Coz it happened to many times, it was first happned in my dreams (see related story on this). Thanks God, i have my prize, i will not walk anymore from Lallo to San Esteban Ilocos Sur.

After the program, Col. Lagmay has the table to have his story. Dagiti adventures ken misadventuresna kas maysa a kameng ti air force, adu met nga ideya ti nangegak. Inistoriaannakami kada sir Robert Alicias, Bucaneg Awardee Herminigildo Viloria, etc until 2 am in the morning of Saturday.

Iti bigatna ket naaramid ti seminar. Inindengak ti seminar ni Apo Rey Doque maipanggep iti daniw. Ita laeng a maranaak ni apo Doque iti seminar a mangilawlawag kadagiti rumbeng nga aramiden ti maysa a mannurat. (Addan sa ket panggepna a tumaray iti sumaruno nga eleksion iti gumil, he he he). Nangseminar pay ni apo Ben Pacris, madam Duldulao ken Prof. Clarito de Francia. Iti malemna ket mayat kano ti discussion maipanggep iti sarita iti seminar nga indauluan ni Joel Manuel. Naglibasak ngamin iti malemna a nagturong idiay Tuguegarao City tapno sarungkarak dagiti kabagiak ditoy. Apow, ta dua nga oras gayam ti one way iti Lallo to Tuguegarao, vice versa. Ngem ok lang, mayat met. Idi sumangpetak, pagisu a pananganen.

Iti rabii, makakankantaak, ngem awan laketdin gasatkon iti mike, idi kuan, nangrugi ti programa, awan manen ti namnamak a makakanta koma. Ngem iti dayta a rabii, inandingayko ni Mary Anne Diga, balasang iti Ilocos Sur a kayatna ti agbalin a mannurat. Imbagak met kenkuana dagiti tips ken wagas iti panagsurat, ken sumagmamano a pointers ken pammatibker. Idi nalpas ti programa, isu met ti panagsina min.

Iti bigatna, naglibaskamin a nagawid kada sir Alicias, apo Viloria, manong Pabs ken ni Mary Anne, kadduami ni manang Linda. Naglugan kami iti mini bus alas singko iti agsapa kalpasan a nammigatkami. Ayna, makaktang iti ubet ti napaut a panagbiahe, agasem met ta manipud alas singko ket dimmanonkami iti ala una iti Laoag. He he, bag laketdin ta balasang ti kaabayko.

Nagsardengkami kenni Mary Anne idiay Laoag, napankami nangaldaw idiay Jollibee sa kami met nagbirok ti pag-shoppingan. Gimmatangak met iti shakey para kadagiti ubbingko. Alas tres iti malem idi inkeddengmi kenni Mary Anne nga agpaituloden iti Farinas tapno agawiden.

Nakadanon isuna iti Magsingal agarup alas singko iti malem. Alas sais met idi makadanonak iti San Estebak.

Iti pannaturogko, ammok latta a subliak to manen iti lagipko dagiti napasamakko idiay Lallo, Cagayan ken kabayatan ti biahe mi. Adu pay ngamin ti diak naiyestoria ta amangan no kurangen ti space ti blogko.

It was a success!
This is how i measure on the first year anniversary of Pluma Ni Bucaneg-- an organization of the new writers and youth writers of Ilocandia. This was held in Candon National High School Gym, Candon City last March 18, 2006 at 1 o clock.
I supposed a i should'nt write this anymore because it's been more than a month since it happened. One thing, the one that a I wrote to my previous blog was totally, so I feel the lazyness in my mind to tickle the keyboard of the computer just to post this?
But is it worth to post?
And I answer... Yes! It has sense, it has message... maybe not only for me but for all those who want to be a writer.
And oh yes, my kompadre Gerry reminded me of this.
So, lets go to the topic. Our organization, our ideals. We are youth... and full of dreams and hopes. And as I said during the program, quoted from Brian Viloria's lines... the youth that has fire in there eyes.
Eventhough it just a simple program: awarding of trophies and certificates to the awardees and winners, it has also a little knowhow that can be brought to home for reference in writing an article.
Yes, there are big names that are there, especially City Mayor Allen Singson of Candon City and Dr. Tomas Villaflor of UNP Vigan. Dr. Ed Angco and Dr. Jaime Raras is also an eye object in the affair. Mr. Robert Alicias, Madam Djuna Alcantara, Mancielito Tacadena, Pablito Alcantara and others (please excuse me if i forgot your name). There are lots of student from UNP Candon and CNHS, and individuals from places. We have three pastors who guides us, a teacher, and media personalities from Radio Nation-Tagudin.
Pluma ni Bucaneg is an organization build and founded by my friend Mr. Gerry Rodriguez, a multi awarded writer of Bannawag, thru the help of fellow writer Joe Somera and Eduard Britos. From them, the members multiply.
We got some milky promises from our guests. And we feel the sincerity.
Mayor Allen in his speech that he is willing ti support the organization and hope it will grow stronger.
Truly, were are just on first year birth. And we have our monthly publication of mini mag. We have also our website in yahoo. And were looking forward for more.