Fiesta King -Councilor Bugsydelos Reyes, chairof the City Fiestacommittee, talksabout arts and his-tory as the corethemes of thisyear’s celebration.

SBMAchairmannow CEO

Newly paved—Mayor Bong Gordon (with cap), his wife Anne Gordon (2nd from right)and Councilor Rodel Cerezo (extreme left), look on as Columban Colelge president Fr.Cris Cacho and Fr. Paul Lizada lead the ribbon-cutting rites of the renamed ColumbanSt. (formerly Perimiter St.) Phot by Daniel Jornales

By John Bayarong

Benguet Corporation announced recently that it willinfuse some P247 million into its nickle miningoperations in Sta. Cruz, Zambales.

Baby Jamela needs helpBorn 7-months prema-ture, Jamela Jacksonwas confined to theJames Gordon Memo-rial Hospital for almostsix months.

Now, her parents,Henry Jackson, atricycle driver, and hiswife, Jenny Mariñas,owe the hospitalP113, 000 pesos.They need to startpaying he debt thisDecember.

“A depiction of the city’s rich andcolorful history.”

Floats, history markCity fiesta parade

This, says Bugsy delos Reyes,is what residents will see at thefiesta parade “Balik-Tanaw 2011.”

“It will be simple and meaningful.There will be at least 14 floatsshowing the various periods of ourcity’s history, from pre-Spanish,Spanish, American, the Pinatuboperiod and present day situation,’Delos Reyes, the fiesta chair, toldthe Olongapo News. turn to page 5

Thousands troop to ‘GapoIndie filmfest

The festival, dubbedCinemalaya sa ‘Gapo,showed 10 feature and 7short films from November26-30, 2011.

It aims to raise funds toimprove the conditions ofthe barangay health centersin the city.

Thousands of residents flocked to the city’s first-ever independent film festival at theOlongapo City Convention Center recently.

“We see Cinemalaya asone of the more appropriateavenues to carry our ourvision. We have begun ourefforts in encouraging andexposing Olongapenos tothe arts, particularly bysending a delegation duringthe opening of the recent

Cinemalaya Film Fetival atthe Cultural Arts of thePhilippines,” City Fiestacommittee chair Bugsydelos Reyes said.

The film selectionincluded the festival’s threebest films, namely; ‘AngBabae sa

Benguet pumps P247-M for Sta. Cruz mine

Vol. XXXVIII No. 5 December 6-12, 2011 Olongapo City and Zambales P4.00

This was disclosed bythe mining firm to thePhilippine Stock Exchange(PSE). Benguet aims tosupport its supply contractwith two Chinese firms.

“This additionalinvestment will bring

Benguetcorp Nickel

Mines, Inc.’s (BNMI) paid-up capital to P1.25 billionand will enable BNMI tocomplete the developmentof the Sta. Cruz nickelproject,” the firm told PSE.

In August, it signed anoff-take agreement withChinese firm Bright Mining

Balanga, Bataan—A red tide alert was raised bythe Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources(BFAR) in Masinloc, Zambales and several areasof Bataan recently.

BFAR-Region 3 Officeissued the ban on theeating, harvesting,transporting and marketingof shellfish from seventowns and one city of thisprovince as well as the

coastal town of Masinloc,Zambales.

The regional officeissued a notice sayingthat the coastal waters inthese areas tested posi-tive for the

Red tide hits Bataan,Zambales

and Resource Company,Ltd., for the sale of 1.8million metric tons (MT) ofnickel ore.

Another deal was signedin October with HongKong-based Minecore

Resources, Inc., for the saleof 2 million MT of nickelore.

The firm also signed amemorandum ofunderstanding (MoU) withChinese firm, Beijing

Shenwu Thermal EnergyTechnology Co., Ltd. todetermine the appropriateprocessing plant for theproject onsite.

Renato A. Claravall,chief finance

President NoynoyAquino named SubicBay MetropolitanAuthority (SBMA) chairRoberto Garcia as theagency’s concurrentadministrator recently.

This ended an 18month wait of locatorsand resident of the area.

“We received confir-mation from the Officeof the Executive Sec-retary that Mr. Garciahas indeed been desig-nated in a concurrentcapacity as administratorof SBMA,” said deputypresidential spokes-person Abigail Valte in aPalace briefing.

Valte emphasized thatthe appointment is “aseparate appointment ina concurrent capacity.”

Palace sources admit-ted that the post is “oneof the most

After spending 53 days inthe newborn intensive careunit (NICU), Jamela is nowin the Children’s RecoveryUnit (CRU) trying to recoverfrom severe malnutrition.

“Please help them have abetter Christmas,” JohnBayarong, Olongapo Newseditor, appeals.

Please contact MarieDominguez at the OlongapoCity Vice Mayor’s office or call222-8034 for details on howto help Baby Jamela.

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2Olongapo News December 6-12, 2011

The Meaning of Christmas‘Hold a birthday party for Jesus!’

EDITORIAL

#34 National Highway, Upper KalaklanOlongapo City

Member, Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc.

news

olongaponews1974@gmail.com#34 NATIONAL HI-WAY, UPPER KALAKLAN,

OLONGAPO CITY, PHILS, 2200

ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MAIL MATTER ONSeptemver 23, 1986 AT THE OLONGAPO CITY POST

OFFICE UNDER REGIONAL PERMIT NO. 38

OLONGAPO

PresidentPublisher

EditorAccounts ManagerAccounts Assistant

CommercialAdvertising ManagerCirculation Manager

Secretary Legal Consultant

JUDELINE C. BASCOCRISPIN CURIANOJOHN B. BAYARONGJOEL CURIANOANA MARIE ARCEOJACQUILINE B. CURIANO

CARLITO C. CURIANONOEL E. OLIVAJUDGE MIGUEL FAMULARCANO, JRATTY. NOEL ATIENZA

It’s our favorite time of the year.Everyone is a little kinder. Everything

is a little lighter. All is filled with joy andhope.

Santa Claus and his reindeers...Christmas bells… mall sales… beautifullywrapped gifts… it is a Merry Christmasindeed!

In this merry season, it is easy to getlost in all the commercial Christmas value.

It is easy for our children not to under-stand the meaning of Christmas when weallow ourselves to be overwhelmed bybusiness side of Christmas.

Well, here are some of the symbols ofChristmas and their meanings to refreshour memories.

We need to know this as parents!The Star. The star is a sign of God’s

fulfillment of his promise—to save mankindthrough the birth of his son.

The star guided the three Wise Men intheir journey to the manger where Christwas born.

Honor the people,not yourselves

P100-M sports complex rehab for CLARAA meetThe provincial government announced itinvested P100-M to renovate the Zam-bales Sports Complex in preparation forthe Central Luzon Regional AthleticAssociation (CLARAA) meet in Februarynext year.

This was announced by Governor JunEbdane at the opening of the 1st ZambalesDragon Boat Festival held at the UaconLake in Cabdelaria, Zambales lastweekend.

Ebdane said that he wants the provinceto concentrate on sports tourism as a wayto increase the revenue of the governmentand “to generate much needed jobs for his

constituents.”The sports complex will

feature an Olympic-sizeswimming pool, an inter-national standard athleticstrack and an oval for astandard football game.

The sports complex willalso have new bleachers anddorms for the use of theathletes.

“Zambales has so much tourismpotential. We have the beaches that areas beautiful and clean as the best shoresin the country. And sport tourism is oneway to getting them noticed,” Ebdane said.

Some 8,000 athletes are expected toattend the yearly regional sports meetorganized by the Department of Education(DepEd).

The competition, according to a DepEdstatement, aims to “hone the talent and

The Candle. The candle symbolizesthat Jesus Christ is the light of the world.

The Wreath. With its circle shape, thewreath symbolizes God’s love—nobeginning and no end.

The Gifts. We give gifts as a symbolof God’s greatest gift to humanity — HisSon’s birth.

The Angel. As God’s messenger ofgood news, the angel sang, “Glory to Godin the highest and peace to His people onearth.”

The Christmas Tree. As the treeleaves all point upward, it is a sign thatpeople must pin their hopes to the heavens.

The Christmas Bell. Shepherds findtheir lost sheep with the help of a bell.

The bell symbolizes that Christmas is agood time for lost Christians to return toGod’s merciful arms.

Santa Claus. Santa symbolizes man’snatural kindness and generosity.

No wonder that the Christmas spirit isall about charity and bigheartedness.

Now that we know the meanings ofChristmas symbols, how do we teach ourchildren that old fashioned meaning ofChristmas?

PARENTHOOD

Kay ReyesSHOTS

Here are some ways:1.Visit a belen and explain the

characters in simple terms.2.Read a Christmas story to your child.3.Watch a Christmas movie as a family.4.Wrap gifts with the children. Let them

give the gifts personally to their friends orcousins.

5.Play traditional Christmas music likeO Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World,Silent Night, The First Noel.

Literally, sing with them!6.Hold a birthday party for Jesus! This

might take extra effort to pull off, but thekids would surely understand who is havinga birthday!

And now, it’s time for you to add on tothe list.

I am sure that you have more creativeways of teaching the children the realmeaning of Christmas. Share it with othermoms. More importantly, put them intoaction.

(Kay Reyes is the Directress of JuventusSchool for the Gifted, a multiple intelligencesschool, located inside the Subic Bay Freeport.She holds a Masters degree in Public Manage-ment from the University of the Philippines.)

Red tide hits...from page1

red tide toxin.“Based on the results of

red tide monitoring activitiesof BFAR and the red tidemonitoring center inBataan, shellfishes, col-lected from Bataan coastalwaters of Balanga City andthe towns of Mariveles,Limay, Orion, Pilar, Abucay,Samal and Orani andMasinloc. Zambales, arenow positive for the red tidetoxin,” the BFAR advisorysaid.

The red tide toxin level inshellfish samples collectedfrom these areas is from 70to 5,617 grams Saxi-Toxin(STX) g/100g of shellfishmeat.

The tolerable limit is only60g STXg/100g shellfishmeat.

In Bataan, a 71-year-oldwoman – identified by localhealth authorities asMelinda Rongcal Lucio –died of cardio-respiratoryarrest caused by red tidepoisoning from eating

shellfish harvested inBalanga, Bataan.

“It was so alarming andsaddening that one died buthad we not learned of thepresence of red tide thisearly, many would havedied or been hospitalized,”said Mayor Gene delaFuentewas said.

The victim’s husbandRaymundo Lucio, 71, andgrandson Bryan Lucio, 12,were also hospitalized aftereating “adobong sulib,” ashellfish delicacy, which the

old man cooked.Two others, identified as

Remedios dela Cruz andDexter Esconde, weretaken to the hospital forvomiting, stomach acheand numbness of the lips.

The two also ate sulibharvested from the coast ofTabing-Ilog, said BarangayChairman Glenn Velasco.

The BFAR collectedsamples of not only sulibbut also “tahong” or greenmussels and “talaba” oroysters.(30)

Fiesta is a dying tradition in the urbanareas.

Gone are the days of neighborsworking together to put up the banderitas,palo sebo poles and the coconut leavesskirting for the evening dance.

As late as the mid-1980’s, the CityFiesta was like a Manny Pacquiao boutfor Olongapeños.

Families organized games on thestreets. The barangay officials made surethat fun games and meaningful surprisesawaited those joining the village fest.

In turn, the city moved heaven andearth to make sure that the parade andthe crowning of the city fiesta queen wasthe best in the City’s history.

The city fiesta events, aside from beingthank you activities for the year’sblessings, were dedicated in honor ofevery resident who chipped in their year’sworth of labor for the city.

It was an honor tribute not really to Dr.Jose Rizal, as the fiesta’s history tellsus, but mainly to Batang ‘Gapo—thathardworking, fun-loving, family-centeredand honest person who made the citywhat it was as of December 30th of theyear.

Sadly, in recent years, the city fiestais a fiesta no more. None symbolizesmore the lost meaning and purpose thanits centerpiece—the parade.

It has gone astray. Instead of honoringevery Batang ‘Gapo, and them sharingthat honor with everyone else by liningup the streets, the parade honored thosein the parade.

It became a bastardized Alay Lakad—alay sa mga naglalakad sa parada.

The floats were sparsely decorated withhonored community symbols becausethe people in the floats wants to be thehonored, not honorees.

And the honored showed how theyvalued Batang ‘Gapo with the candies thatthey threw from their mounted positions(figuratively and literally)—menthos,maxx, snowbear and white rabbit.

But this year might jut be a differentyear. Hopefully.

Please start by fixing the drab andmeaningless march of men and tarpulins.

discipline of participants in different fieldsof sports as well as the camaraderieamong their fellow athletes from theschools in Central Luzon.”

Among the sports included are football,gymnastics, taekwondo, softball, arnis,boxing, basketball and table tennis.

The crowning jewel of the competitionare the tract and field sports where mostof the medals are at stake.

Bulacan hosted the event this year.

Dash to finish—Workers lay the foundation of the facility’s track oval and football field.

Olongapo News5

December 6-12, 2011

No to magnetite mining, Lingayen folksBlack sand mining is threatening Lingayen Gulfand the livelihood of small fishermen there.

This was the finding ofthe participants of the IlocosPeople’s Mining Summitlast weekend.

The summit wasattended by more than 200delegates, mostly leaders offarmers and fisherfolkorganizations in La Union,Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norteand student leaders fromDon Mariano Marcos StateUniversity, St. Paul Collegeof Ilocos and University ofNorthern Philippines.

According to theparticipants, Lingayen Gulf,which covers the coasts ofZambales, Pangasinan, La

Union, Ilocos Sur, andIlocos Norte, is beingoverwhelmed by black sandmining for the mineralmagnetite.

Pamalakaya, afishersfolk group and asummit participant, said theprovinces surroundingLingayen Gulf is litteredwith mining applications forthe magnetite (black sand),which is abundant inbeaches.

The group in astatement said that thereare 15 black sand mining inLa Union, 57 in Ilocos Surand 86 in Ilocos Norte for

a grand total of 158applications for offshoreand onshore magnetitemining.

They claim that minetailings and chemicals used

in the extraction processcould seep into andcontaminate the waters,which provide livelihood tothe coastal communitiesthere.

Floats, history mark City fiesta paradefrom page 1

Illegal? Unusual?Tell us about it!

Text or call :0922-838-07720919-699-9204

He also stressed that thecity’s rich arts and culturetradition is another impor-tant theme in the City Fiestacelebrations.

“We have Cinemalaya.We have Wow Artistang‘Gapo Ito! (WAGI) and wehave other shows likeTalentadong Pinoy ofABC-5 as showcases of thefestivities,’ he adds.

More floatsThe Fiesta parade is the

traditional highlight of theFiesta activities.

“Kesa puro tao nanaglalakad may hawakna tarpaulin at nagba-bato ng candies angmakikita, let’s have morecolorful floats for the peopleto appreciate. Add the artsand history theme and it willbe worth watching andjoining,” the neophytecouncilor, who owns andruns his own dinner cruisein Manila Bay, said.

The 14 floats wereassigned to the various

Aboitiz readies financing for coal-fired plantABOITIZ POWER Corp. (AP) is still awaiting thefinal environmental clearance for its Subic coal-firedpower plant before closing financial agreements.

AP Chief executiveofficer Erramon Aboitizsaid that they are almostready to secure the loans.

“The financing is still inprocess. We are waiting toget the final environmentalclearance and also the finalquotations from oursuppliers before we go tothe banks,” he said.

Reports quoted Aboitizin a recent gathering of theManagement Association

of Philippines in Manilarecently.

Aboitiz Power, alongwith joint venture partnerMeralco PowerGenCorp., will build a 600-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Subicconsisting of two 300-MWunits.

It will provide additionalbaseload power to theLuzon power grid.

The power plant is

estimated to cost around$1.2 billion and is expectedto be finished by 2015.

Five banks—Bank of thePhilippine Islands, Banco deOro Unibank, Inc., FirstMetro Investment Corp.,Philippine National Bank,and Rizal CommercialBanking Corp.—expressedinterest in financing theproject.

Several groups expres-sed opposition to thebuilding of a coal-firedpower plant in Subic,claiming the plant couldhave an impact on the

area’s environment andtourist sites.

“There are people whowant to understand theproject a little bit more sowe are explaining to themwhat additional capacitywill mean as far asenvironmental issues areconcerned,” said Mr.Aboitiz.

“But I think it’s goingvery well,” he added.

Aboitiz Power is also inthe process of gettingfinancing for a 300-MWcoal-fired power plant inDavao.

Thousands...from page 1

“One is a lying in clinic.The other can be a dentalcenter. Maybe the othercan specialize on pediatrics.The United Architect of thePhilippines (UAP) QuezonCity, as an example, pledgedto support the New Ilalimcenter,’ delos Reyes said.

Best in DecemberAside from Cinemalaya,

the city will have a drum andlyre competition and alantern parade at the EastTapinac Oval Track onDecember 9th.

Among the other events

departments of the citygovernment, including afew more contributed by thedifferent groups andcompanies.

A unique fiestaThe city’s fiesta cele-

bration is unique as ithonors Dr. Jose Rizal, ournational hero, rather than aparticular Roman Catholicsaint as traditionally prac-ticed in various parts of thecountry.

According to www.-olongapofiesta.com, theofficial website of thecommittee, the Americanadministrators in the early1900s had to follow thelocal Roman Catholic fiestatradition—a time to givethanks to the Almighty andto make plans for improve-ments of the town.

But many prominentfamilies were members ofreligious groups such asAglipayan Church, Me-thodist Episcopal Church,the Seventh Day Adven-tists, the Church of Christand the Iglesia ni Cristo.

To accommodate all thereligious dominations, theAmericans decided on asecular center for the fiestaand introduced Rizal Day(December 30) as the townfiesta.

Improve healthThe funds raised by the

Fiesta activities will go tobarangay health centers inthe form of equipment andmedicines.

According to somebarangay officials, healthworkers receive betweenP500 to P1500 monthlyallowance depending on theavailable funds.

“These are the peoplewho climb up hills to providemedical services to ourpeople. They need our helpso that they can in return,help our communities,”Bugsy explained.

Plans are afoot to makespecialized centers tomaximize resources inpopulated barangays insmall areas like the clusterof New Ilalim, NewKababae and Bancain.

lined up are theChristmas Eve Mass at theRizal Trinagle on Decem-ber 24th, the last canvassingof the City Fiesta Queen, aCultural night for Balik-Bayan on December 27and the City Fiesta Queencoronation night the fol-lowing day.

“I urge companies,groups and well-meaningresidents to join us. This isa celebration of the our cityand all the blessing thatcame our way this year,”delos Reyes said. (30)

Septic Tank,’ ‘Bisperas,’and ‘Walang katapusankwarto.’

Other films includeNiño, which won the topprize in thje 2011 BusanInternational Film Festival;Hanap-buhay; Patikul;Isda; Nono; Niño bonito;Bunsong; Debut; AngSayaw ng dalawangkaliwang paa; Every othertime; Boundary; Ligo na ULapit na Me; Amok;Hazard; and Immanuel.

Most of the film patronscame from the city’s publicand private schools.(30)

Benguet pumps247 million...from page 1

officer of Benguet Corp.,said earlier the firm islooking at having a low-power consuming proces-sing technology for theSta.Cruz nickel project.

He said the initialestimate of the processingplant is at $125 million.(30).

The Armymen, who led theboth races by a margin of 5seconds, took the 400-meter and the 250-meterraces.

Most of the Armymenare members of the nationalteam that took the gold atthe World championships inFlorida, USA, last year.

The event attracted 15dragon boat teams fromvarious parts of the country.

“We decided to bring thisevent to Zambales becausewe want to help promotethis sport and also becausewe have an ideal venue forthis event—the UaconLake,” Gov. Ebdane said.

The De La Sallewomen's team ruled the400-meter and the 250-meter races.

In the 400-meter, theArchers clocked in 13seconds faster than Trotonteam A while it edge out thesame team by 2 seconds inthe 250-meter event. (30)

from page 6

WorldChamps...

They added that theBauang local governmentis now building a seawallto mitigate erosion of theirbeaches after heavymagnetite mining.

Eroding sand—Photo shows a two feet erosion at a beach in Bauang, La Union.

Shabu buybust nets two

Subic, Zambales --Policeauthorities here arrestedtwo suspected drug pushersin a buy bust operationrecently.

P/Inspector RamilMenor identified thosearrested as Jenita Salem,female, 24 and EdwinJanawi, male, 28 years old.both residents of Purok 6B,Brgy. Calapacuan, Subic.

A plastic sachet of shabu( m e t h a m p h e t a m i n ehydrocloride) with an appro-ximate street value of P500was recovered from Salem.

Both were charged withsale and dsitribution ofdangerous drugs under Sec.5 of RA 9165. (Ana Arceo)

Big band—Revelers enjoy the more flamboyant marchingbands in the city fiesta parade.(www.olongapofiesta.com)

Olongapo News6

World Champsdemolish foesat Uacon Lake

Candelaria, Zambales -The Philippine Armyteam topped two eventsin the men’s race, whilethe De La Sallewomen's team baggedtwo events, in the FirstZambales Dragon BoatFestival staged atUacon Lake inCaldelaria, Zambalesrecently.

controversial and highlysought of post in thecurrent administration.”

“Even the politicalopposition wanted it,” thesource said.

The positions of SBMAchairman and adminis-trator were split by formerpresident Gloria Macapa-gal-Arroyo via ExecutiveOrder no. 340, signed Aug.4, 2004.

It allowed FranciscoLicuanan III to serve asSBMA chairman andAlfredo Antonio as

SBMA chairman now CEOfrom page 1 administrator until 2005 and

were replaced by FelicianoSalonga and ArmandArreza, respectively.

The same source,however, said that “this maynot be the final set up forSBMA” but refused toelaborate.

Garcia was receivedwell by Olongapo adminis-tration and oppositionleaders.

He reportedly has thesupport of the Magsaysayand Gordon clans and hasalso tied up with officials ofBataan and Zambales.

His Project Unity waswarmly received byZambales governor JunEbdane.

The project aims toextend duty free and othertax privileges to nearbyareas. (John Bayarong)

Quake jolts‘Gapo,ZambalesA magnitude 6 earthquake struck off thewestern coast of Luzon recently,according to the United States GeologicalSurvey.

The quake occurred at 8:27 a.m. 153kilometers west northwest of OlongapoCity or 228 kilometers west northwest ofManila, with a depth of 14 kilometers.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanologyand Seismology (Phivolcs) reported thatthe quake was felt at Intensity 2 in QuezonCity, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Ortigas,Pasig, Makati, Obando in Bulacan andBaguio City.

According to Phivolcs, the epicenter ofthe quake was recorded at 94 kilometerssouthwest of Palauig, Zambales.

The quake was tectonic in origin with adepth of 16 kilometers. Phivolcs said therewere few aftershocks.

No calsualties were reported.

Dads wants free movies for seniorsThe city council wants SM-Olongapo and Ayala Harbor Point to give seniorcitizens free admission to it theaters once it opens its doors early next year.

In a resolution sponsored by councilorGina Perez, the city council adopted ameasure asking SM and Ayala to providefree movies passes to elderlies in certaindays and hours of the week.

The measure was unanimouslyapproved in its second reading recently,paving the way for its eventual passagein the third and final reading.

It was not clear, however, if city mayorJames Gordon Jr., supports the move.

Perez said that the resolution also

covers Times Square Cinema, the onlymovie house in both the city and theFreeport.

"Extending movie passes to thecommunity's elder members is one of themany benefits that can be accorded to thegreat parents and grandparents of thisvibrant Filipino society," Perez said insponsorship speech.

The councilors cited a similar schemein Quezon City and Makati where seniorcitizens are given free passes during

"specific days and hours when moviepatronage is low."

Councilor Bugsy delos Reyes said thatwhile he supports the move, "this proposalis again after the fact. We should becareful as this is tantamount to solicitation."

This prompted councilor Jong Cortez toask 'what is the consideration expectedfrom the government?'

Perez replied that this will be "at no costto the government."

Olongapo city used to have 17 moviehouses but the proliferation of movie discplayers and cheap pirated movies forcedall the movie houses to close.(30)

Subic, Zambales—A man died aftertouching a live wire while installingChristmas lanterns here recently.

Live wire kills man

Reynaldo Javier, 45, a resident ofBarangay Asinan Proper in the muni-cipality of Subic, died of electrocution afterinstalling the last of the Christmas lanternson the street posts of Barangay Asinan.

Witnesses said that Javier touched thelive wire while trying to connect the wiringfor the Christmas lanterns atop a streetpost.

Javier held on to the street post whileshouting in pain. He then fell on theconcrete street head first.

Nonoy Navales, the barangay captain’sbrother, aided the victim and gave CPRbefore they brought him to the hospital inSan Marcelino, where he was declareddead on arrival. (Jonas Reyes)

Columban College graduates raise P.5 millionThousands of Columban College graduates trooped to their Alma Mater recently tocelebrate its 50th Founding anniversary, raising some P536,000 from their Mr. &Ms. Golden Jubilee pageant.

The '80s batch dominated event withArthur Lee and Elnor Silva Christian ofbatch 1983 taking home the title of GoldenJubilee and contributing P113, 849.00.

Batch 1984 led by Tony Kar Balde andErneliza Batapa raised P84,000.00 while

Roberto Malibiran and Melissa Yap ofbatch 1981 chipped in P 73,388.00.

Melissa Mendez, an actress whograduated in 1981, also graced the event.

“I am very proud of my alma mater andof my batch. And about the projects of

the alumni and faculty” she said.Dr. Adel Pineda, president of Alumni

Association, noted the strong support ofthe different batches.

“Masaya at almost a hundred percentparticipation of the alumni,” Pineda toldOlongapo News in an interview.

The College's alumni fundraising activitydubbed Mr. & Ms. Golden Jubilee wasorganized by the Columban College AlumniAssociation.

Columban St.Earlier, college and city officials

officially opened Columben St, formerlyPerimeter St. fronting Volunteers' Park, inhonor of Columban College's contributionto the development of the city.

The renaming of the street wasrequested by Columban College presidentMsgr. Crisostomo Cacho “in celebrationof their 50th anniversary.”

The ordinance, approved by the citycouncil last September 7, was co-sponsored by Ed Piano, Bebet Marzan,Jong Cortez, Bugsy Delos Reyes, GinaPerez, Elen Dabu, Noel Atienza, LugieLipumano-Garcia and Dolly Ramos.

“It is really a success, from the paradedown to this moment,” John Salonga a highschool alumni who is now a priest said.

A sportsfest was held at the Remy Fieldto culminate the weeklong event.

Turn to page 5

By Daniel Jornales