GSIS to deploy new, re-designed kiosk in Siquijor
By Rizalie Anding Calibo

                  
SIQUIJOR, May 10 (PIA)---The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will deploy a new and re-designed GSIS Kiosk in Siquijor province to replace the existing machines at the Provincial Capitol, Siquijor, Siquijor. 

GSIS-Dumaguete Branch Head Cecilia C. Tenaja, in her letter to Siquijor Provincial Governor Orlando A. Fua said a Memorandum of Undertaking (MOU) similar to that of the turn-over of the old kiosk  in 2006 will also be made during the turn-over ceremony on May 19, 2011.

“With the new Kiosk, we hope to improve and maximize our services for both active members and pensioners in the province through the state-of-the-art and user-friendly technology,” Tenaja said in her letter. 

The installation of more kiosks is part of the GSIS’ efforts to bring its services closer to the clients.

“With the kiosk, members can save time and money for travelling expenses since they can already check their records and apply for loans by using their eCards without need to go to GSIS office,” the GSIS said. (RAC/PIA-Siquijor)

===========

Pre-retirement seminar, member’s forum set in Siquijor

By Rizalie Anding Calibo

SIQUIJOR, May 10 (PIA)---A Pre-retirement Seminar and Members’ Forum will be conducted on May 20, 2011 at the Siquijor State College (SSC) Cafeteria, Larena, Siquijor.

This was announced earlier by the GSIS-Dumaguete Branch that also covers the province of Siquijor.

In her letter to Siquijor Provincial Governor Orlando A. Fua Jr., GSIS-Dumaguete Branch Head Cecilia C. Tenaja said the seminar/forum will serve as the venue for soon-to-retire employees, GSIS retirees and pensioners in Siquijor province to be updated with GSIS policies and other information concerning retirement and benefits.

Prior to the forum, a turn-over of a new and re-designed GSIS Kiosk and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding will also be made between the Provincial Governor and the Senior Executives Officers from the GSIS home office on May 19 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the Provincial Capitol, Siquijor, Siquijor, the letter also said. (RAC/PIA-Siquijor)

===========

DA-7 chief calls Siquijodnons to support government’s food security effort

SIQUIJOR, May 10 (PIA)---Newly installed regional executive director of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Unit – 7 Leo P. Cañeda during his visit to Siquijor island recently, urged agricultural extension workers and all other employees of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist to strive hard to achieve the government’s foremost goal for food securityand self-sufficiency.

In his meeting with the local government unit (LGU) counterparts where more than a hundred agricultural extension workers (AEWs) on rice, corn, high value crops development, livestock and fisheries programs from the six municipal agriculture offices, provincial veterinary office and provincial agriculture office attended, Cañeda took time discussing pressing issues and concerns to guarantee success in their respective farming endeavors that focus on the contribution for agricultural development in the province.  

He said that Siquijor’s rice production may not be sufficient in the province but countermeasures can be done like teaching Siquijodnons to eat corn and other nutritious crops where Siquijor is at its best this time in terms of production.

To encourage AEWs to work more, Cañeda assured them of giving full incentive as well as further training for agricultural development.

During the meeting, Provincial Agriculturist, Dr. Ramon A. Taroc also presented the 2010 programs and projects of rice, corn, high value commercial crops and fisheries production while Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Bernardita S. Tabada presented the livestock and poultry production program of the province. (Rizalie A. Calibo with reports from Renan Lapinig Ansing)

===========

Universal Feast of Divine Mercy 
celebrated in Siquijor 

SIQUIJOR, May 10 (PIA)---Roman Catholics in the province of Siquijor celebrated last week the feast of the Divine Mercy, a devotion which is spreading all over the world. 

Flock gathered at St. Isidore the Farmer Catholic Church in Lazi with some visiting priests, crusaders, apostolate, and devotees who witnessed the feast to feel the divine presence of the Son of the Almighty God. 

Praise and Worship and Veneration of the Divine Mercy imagewere done through songs and prayers led by a divine mercy crusader Chonita Blancio. 

Fr. Victor Fontejon of San Juan Parish and Fr. Cecilio Gordoncillo of Maria concelebrated the Holy Mass with Fr. Leonardo Tan who said through his homily that the devotion calls people to a greater understanding of the boundless love God offers to everyone, especially the greatest sinners. 

Fr. Fontejon said that the Holy Mass was also being offered to the beatification of Pope John Paul II in Rome Italy at St. Peter’s Square. 

The devotion began to gain popularity in the 1930s. It is based on the diary Sister Mary Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) kept at her spiritual director's urging. The young Polish nun described visions in which Christ instructed her to tell people to turn to God. 

In the visions recorded in the diary, Christ reminds people that God is merciful and forgiving, and that they too must show mercy and forgiveness toward others. He also asks that the Sunday afterEaster be dedicated to the Divine Mercy. Pope John Paul II instituted this feast day for the universal Church on April 30, 2000, the day he canonized Saint Faustina. 

Claire Fernandez, a Catholic woman, finds the devotion "important to the family, as it is a prayer of mercy for sins that we have committed and will commit in future." 

Another devoted Catholic said she has prayed the novena for the past 15 years. "It gives me immense peace and hope for our redemption," she said, adding that the prayers make one acknowledge the "power of forgiveness." (Rizalie A. Calibo/{PIA Siquijor with reports of Richard Aresgado) 

Siquijor champs Central Visayas farm congress ‘11

SIQUIJOR, May 9, (PIA)---For the fourth time, Siquijor delegation got its title as over-all champion of the recently concluded 21st Regional Farm Family Congress held at Crown Regency Hotel in Cebu City last April 28-29, 2011.

Siquijor delegation composed of coordinators and contenders came  all the way from the six municipalities of the island to represent the different contests of the Rural Based Organizations in Central Visayas.

Competing provinces were Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental while cities include Toledo, Dumaguete, Bayawan, and Cebu.

Siquijor delegation head, Assistant Provincial Agriculturist, Mr. Edgardo G. Anhao accepted the award and trophy as over-all champion as a result of their labor and accomplishments in the field of agricultural development in the province of Siquijor.

Winners of the different contest and category were: Jedo Dela Peña of Helen, Larena, Siquijor as champion on extemporaneous speech; Genaro Suan of Tambisan, Siquijor, Siquijor as champion on organic farmingpractitioner; Christine Joy Caliso of Lazi, Siquijor as champion on cooking demo corn-based kakanin; Jacy Mae Vios of San Juan, Siquijor as champion on cooking demo chevon; Seonnie Lyn Magsayo of Logucan, Maria, Siquijor as champion on organic fertilizer preparation HVCDP; Miraluna Arcaya of Sandugan, Larena, Siquijor as 2nd placer on fruit and vegetable carving; Honey Lee Jumawan of Bolos, Siquijor, Siquijor as 2nd placer on rice-based handicraft; Yvonne Claire Janne Legaspi of Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor as 1st runner-up on 4H dream girl; Lina Morales of Cangmangki, Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor as 1st runner-up on RIC queen; and Peter Paul Jutba of Capalasanan, Lazi, Siquijor as FA King 2011 with special awards as best in formal attire and casual wear.

Farmer Associations (P4MP), Youth Associations (4H Club), Volunteer Leaders Associations (VLAP), Rural Improvement Club (RIC) among others are very strong in Siquijor who produces new breed of winners in the entire Central Visayas region.
Champions will compete for the national title among the 17 regions nationwide to be held in three major cities in Mindanao. 

The newly installed Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Unit 7, Dir. Leo P. Cañeda; RTD for Operations, Dir. Angel C. Enriquez; DA-Agricultural Training Institute Director Asterio Saliot, Cebu City Vice Mayor, Hon. Joy Augustus G. Young and DA-Bureau of Plant Industry Acting Assistant Director & National Program Coordinator for Rice and Corn, Director Dante De Lima graced the occasions and both gave inspirational messages to the participants.

Director Enriquez congratulates all winners for exposing their talents and skills that resulted to another set of winners in the regional level as part of the preparation for the national tilt. She extended her profound gratitude and appreciation to all local chief executives for sending participants and continues to support programs and projects of DA aiming Motion towards Food Security and Self Sufficiency as this year’s congress theme of which rural-based organization can facilitate this goal. (Rizalie A. Calibo/PIA-Siquijor/with reports from Renan Lapinig Ansing)