Lubi festival depicts Mariajanons’ humble livelihood

By Rizalie A. Calibo

MARIA, Siquijor, June 26 (PIA) -- The town fiesta of Maria in Siquijor province was highlighted with a “Lubi (coconut) Festival" which Maria town mayor Rebecca Padayhag said is a joyful expression of thanksgiving in honor of the patron saint, Our Lady of Divine Providence for a bountiful harvest and blessings received from the tree of life locally known as “Lubi” (coconut). 

In its last month’s celebration, a total of 154 participants in the Festival dance showdown from the seven clusters including each cluster’s festival King and Queen performed successfully onstage. 

The dances portrayed the importance of a coconut tree, a tree of life that needs to be protected. They also depict the humble ways of living of the Maria folks. 

Claiming coconut as its main product, the local government through the Lubi Festival hopes to encourage people to plant more trees. 

“Coconut tree and their products have made our elders educate their children,” said Padayhag, noting that most of the families in the town get most of their income from the coconut tree industry. 

Meanwhile, the crowned Festival King Philip Bradford Fernndo and Queen Irene Rose Catain are expected to promote Maria’s beautiful spots to mke it one of the island’s best tourist destinations. 

Winners in the festival showdown are cluster B as the best in choreoghraphy, best in costumes annd the chamption; Cluster A, first runner up; and cluster E, 2nd runner up. 

Barangays composing the clusters are Calunasan, Poblacion Sur and Pisong A for cluster E, Sagting, Sawangg and Cataroc A for cluster A; and Lilo-an, Bonga, Cabal-asan and Pisong B for Cluster B. 

Other fiesta activities include inter-baranggay basketball tournament, bangkete sa tyangge and fireworks display. 

Actors and actresses from Manila such as Carlo Aquino and Jaycee Parker, Miquel Estenzo, Gerald Santos, Morissette Amor and the Wynn Diva, stand up comedians from Cebu City, were also invited. (RACalibo/PIA-7, Siquijor) 

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Siquijor PNP launches e-blotter system

By Rizalie A. Calibo

MARIA, Siquijor, June 26 (PIA) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Siquijor province has launched the electronic blotter system, a faster and reliable mode of transmitting crime information. 

In a report from the PNP here, six new computer sets were specially designed for the e-blotter system. 

Each municipality will have one of the new computers programmed for the system, but all municipalities have to be internet-connnected to access the new system. 

E-blotter is the fastest and most efficient means of mapping out crimes, said Provincial Director Ernesto F. Agas in the same report. 

He added that it is also vital in mapping out strategies for quick response and crime prevention, and noted the need to pursue the development of the system for recording crime incidents across the country as the old system using blotter books only provide reports that do not allow automatic cross-referencing of data. 

In the event of no glitches, the system will become fully operational in the province, he said. (RMN/RAC/PIA 7-Siquijor)