Shellfish from Surigao del Sur bays safe for human consumption

by Nora CL Molde

BUTUAN CITY, April 11 (PIA) – Shellfish in Surigao del Sur are safe for human consumption, according to the latest lab result, dated April 4 of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Based on the results of BFAR and local government units, shellfish collected in Hinatuan, Bislig, and Lianga bays, all in the province of Surigao del Sur are safe, free from toxin red tides. All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from the areas above areas are safe for human consumption.

Other areas continue to be free from toxin red tides including: coastal waters of Cavite, Las Pinas, Paranaque, Navotas, Bulacan and Bataan in Manila Bay; coastal waters of Alaminos and Wawa, Bani in Pangasinan; coastal waters of Milagros and Mandaon in Masbate; Juag Lagoon in Matnog and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon. Honda and Puerto bays in Puerto Princesa City, and Inner Malampaya Sound in Taytay, Palawan; coastal waters of Pilar, President Roxas, Pontevedra, Panay, Roxas City, Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz; coastal waters of E. B. Magalona, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Valladolid, Talisay City, Silay City, Bacolod City, Hinigaran, Cadiz City, Victorias City, Bago City and San Enrique in Negros Occidental; Irong-irong, Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Ormoc, San Pedro and Cancabato and Carigara Bays in Leyte; Biliran waters in Biliran Province; Balite Bay in Mati, Davao Oriental; coastal waters of Kabasalan in Sibuguey Bay, Zamboanga Sibugay; and Tangines Lagoon in Benoi Mahinog, Camiguin Island.

Also, BFAR also warned the public of the following areas where all types of shellfish and alamang are not safe for human consumption and are positive of red tide toxin to include: Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental; and coastal waters of Bolina and Anda in Pangasinan. (NCLM - PIA-Caraga)

Why I Became a Sister

Young women religious say their discernment involved a lot of prayer — and finding the right community.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — When she professed her vows, the ceremony was like a divine wedding, said Sister Bethany Madonna, a member of the Sisters of Life in New York.

The church was filled with flowers and the voices of the nuns as they chanted the hymns, she said. “Heaven comes down to earth.”

Sister Bethany, raised in a Catholic family in Melbourne, Fla., always thought she would be a mother and have a large family. “I always thought I would be married to a wonderful man like my dad.”

After studying abroad in Italy and living with two communities of sisters, she fell in love with the beauty of religious life, she told Catholic News Service. When a friend invited her to go on a “nun run” — participants visit several convents in the course of a week — she was introduced to the Sisters of Life. She was attracted to their commitment to the unborn and their ministry to pregnant women and families.

“God created a religious community just for me,” said Sister Bethany.

On May 15, the Catholic Church will observe the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Pope Benedict XVI, in a message about the day released earlier in the year, urged youths to consider becoming priests or religious.

The Sisters of Life is a contemplative/active religious community founded in 1991 by Cardinal John O’Connor of New York. Members take the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, but also a fourth vow: to protect the sacredness of human life. They serve more than 100 vulnerable pregnant women a year, providing them with social, material and spiritual assistance.

The beauty of a vocation is God does not force anything on anybody, said Sister Sara Postlethwaite, a member of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity in San Francisco. Verbum Dei is a contemplative/active community founded in Mallorca, Spain, in 1963. The community’s mission is to promote the word of God through retreats, prayer groups and lay ministry formation, among other ministries. Verbum Dei has four centers in the United States. Besides San Francisco, the community is in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles and in a number of other countries.

Sister Sara grew up in Southampton, England, studying physical therapy. Wanting to become more involved with the Catholic Church, she went on a retreat, invited by a Verbum Dei sister. In 2004, she planned a four-month trip to the Philippines to search for answers about her vocation; she stayed eight months.

“I was expecting a set of instructions,” Sister Sara said, but her real discernment of a vocation came when she returned to England.

In 2006 she arrived in San Francisco as a Verbum Dei novice. She took her first vows in 2008. Until she takes her final vows in a few years, she continues to study theology at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, Calif.

“God doesn’t stop calling women,” said Sister Carmela Marie, a member of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, N.Y.

The religious community, founded by author Nathaniel Hawthorne’s daughter Rose, ministers to people with incurable cancer. Sister Carmela said they accept terminally ill clients who have run out of options, cannot afford hospice care or have nowhere to go.

Sister Carmela, who grew up in Hinatuan, Philippines, always was attracted to religious life, but her family discouraged her from pursuing it.

“For them, it was like throwing my life away,” she said. She came to the U.S. to continue a career in nursing. Once in the United States, Sister Carmela felt a void without her family, and God was ready to fill it, she said. She entered the Dominicans of Hawthorne without informing her family in the Philippines.

At first, her parents were shocked when they learned she had chosen religious life, but now they are proud of her, she said. “My mother is proud to have a religious in the family.”

After they enter the community, a Dominican novice takes temporary vows three years later, and five years after that, she takes her final vows. Sister Carmela called the length of the discernment process wise.

In September, novice Anna Harper will receive the Hawthorne Dominican habit and a new name for religious life.

Harper, from Baton Rouge, La., said she was attracted to the community’s care of cancer patients. A nursing student in college, Harper had worked with cancer patients since she was 19.

“I really liked being able to get to know the patients,” said the novice, 26. Her day begins every morning at 5. Her schedule consists of prayer, classes, patient care and chores.

All four women religious CNS interviewed said the process of discerning one’s calling to religious life is a beautiful yet difficult journey. They advised young women considering religious life to trust Christ and to spend time with him in silent prayer.

“I would tell them to go find an adoration chapel,” said Harper.

A survey on religious life in the United States that was released in January showed that 75% of the women religious who responded said they regularly participated in retreats before they entered a convent. Two-thirds said they regularly prayed the Rosary or participated in adoration.

The four who spoke to CNS encouraged young women thinking about becoming a religious to talk to a spiritual director and not be afraid to take the next step.

Said Sister Carmela, “You can test the waters, but at some point you have to wade in.”

Hinatuan

Hinatuan is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 36,170 people in 6,445 households.

Barangay

Hinatuan is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.

Baculin
Benigno Aquino (Zone I Pob.)
Bigaan
Cambatong
Campa
Dugmanon
Harip
La Casa (Pob.)
Loyola
Maligaya
Pagtigui-an (Bitoon)
Pocto
Port Lamon
Roxas
San Juan
Sasa
Tagasaka
Tagbobonga
Talisay
Tarusan
Tidman
Tiwi
Zone II (Sto. Niño.Pob.)
Zone III Maharlika (Pob.)

PIA NEWS 9/9/09

PNP Caraga recovers stolen items

By PO3 Arturo Suganob Campania; PO3 Philip Amer Posas Mazo
Butuan City (9 September) -- On September 26, 2009 at about 6:00 in the morning at New Bataan Police Station, PNP elements of Theft and Robbery Unit of Butuan City Police Office (TRU BCPO) led by SPO3 Anthony Gomez, SPO1 Wilson Ejos Jr, SPO1 Jay Calo and PO3 Neil Egay conducted follow-up investigation on a reported robbery incident that transpired on August 28, 2009 at 7:53 in the morning.
Victimized was Unicity, Butuan City Branch wherein perpetrator gained entrance by destroying the ceiling of the Manager's Office and took cash money amounting to more or less Php 400,000.00 in different denominations and assorted jewelries worth Php 200,00.00.
The suspect was identified as one Vivencio Intino Cinco, 18 years old, residence of Fatima, New Bataan, Comval Province. As a result, the suspect accompanied by his father Vivencio Cinco Sr voluntarily surrendered to the elements of TRU BCPO and turned over cash money amounting to Php 4,000.00, assorted fancy jewelries, one unit Nokia 3120 cellphone and one maong pants.
Suspect was brought to Butuan City Police Office for further investigation while appropriate case is being prepared for filing in court.
Report on robbery incident
On September 4, 2009 around 10:45 in the morning, the People's Bank of Cabadbaran at FC Dagani St., Barangay 5, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte was robbed by three unidentified suspects. The robbers armed with caliber .45 pistols were wearing helmet and bonnet who gained entry at the main door of said establishment and at gun point disarmed the security guard on duty of his issued .38 caliber revolver and declared the hold-up.
Suspects took away cash money worth Php 201,426.96 from the small portable vault. Said establishment was a satellite office of Peoples Bank of Caraga which deals on the loan, collection and disbursement point as Micro-Financing Center.
Suspects fled to unknown direction on board a blue Honda XRM and a Yamaha DT motorcycles. Suspects were wearing white t-shirts and one has black jacket during the incident.
A SOCO Team conducted on scene investigation and PNP elements of Cabadbaran Municipal Police Station conducted follow-up investigation and pursuit operation for the possible arrest of the suspects. Flash alarm was sent to all PNP units in PRO 13 and checkpoints had been set up for the possible interception and arrest of the suspects.
Recovery of explosive devices
On September 3, 2009 at Sitio Tabon, Barangay Amontay, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte at 4:30 in the m0rning, joint operation conducted by Regional Intelligence (RIO) led by PSUPT Samuel C Nacion and 1401st PPMG led by PSINSP Nelson Nelmida which resulted to the recovery of four dynamite sticks marked with "Superdyn Explosives, 25 MM X 125 grams and manufactured by gulf oil corporation Ltd, Rourkela".
Said dynamites were found buried under a coconut tree. Recovered explosives are now under the custody of PO2 Mike Soberano, EOD personnel of Agusan del Norte PPO for proper disposition.
Investigation is also being undertaken to determine who buried the dynamites and what their purpose are. Progress report to follow.
PNP arrests wanted persons
On September 1, 2009 at 2:00 in the afternoon at Barangay Kahayagan, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, a certain Ricky Hallasco, 28 years old, single, jobless and residents of said place was arrested by PNP elements of Tagbina Municipal Police Station led by PINSP Wilfredo A Templanza by virtue of warrant of arrest (WOA) issued by Hon Judge Hector Salise of RTC Branch 7, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur dated September 9, 2008 for act of lasciviousness docketed under CC no. 2796 with recommended bailbond amounting to Php 36,000.00 and carnapping docketed under CC no. 2803 with recommended bailbond amounting to Php 180,000.00.
Arrested person is now detained at Tagbina Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.
Also, on September 2, 2009 at 11:30 in the morning, one Jose Rullyn Podtibedra Anuncio, of legal age, married and resident of Barangay Buntalid, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur was arrested by SPO1 Nilo Tranquilan Bontor, Warrant server of Cantilan Municipal Police Station by virtue of WOA issued by Hon Judge Vicente M Luna Jr of RTC Branch 40, Tandag, Surigao del Sur docketed under CC no. 5322 for violation of RA 9262 with fixed bailbond of Php 12,000.00.
Arrested person was brought to Cantilan Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.
On September 3, 2009 around 9:30 in the evening at Purok-2 Barangay Batucan, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, Marlon Erong Olasiman, 23 years old, single, jobless and a resident of the above-mentioned place was arrested by PNP elements of Talacogon Municipal Police Station led by PI Lloyd Mercado by virtue of WOA issued by Hon Judge Dante Luz Viacrusis of RTC branch 6 for the crime of Rape docketed under Criminal Case no. 2483 with no bail bond recommended.
Said person is now under custody of Talacogon Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.
On September 4, 2009 around 4:00 PM, joint elements of Dinagat Municipal Police Station led by PI Peter Paul Manatad and Surigao City Police Station conducted a joint operation at Barangay Togbongon, Surigao City which resulted to the arrest of Janice Rosales Delgado of legal age, married and a resident of Barangay Togbongon by virtue of WOA issued by Hon Judge Evangeline Yuipco Bayana of RTC branch 32, 10th Judicial Region, Surigao City dated 4 September 2009.
The case was docketed under CC no. 1199 for Theft with Php 40,000.00 recommended bail bond. Delgado is now temporarily detained at Surigao City Police Station for proper disposition.
Report on illegal logging
PNP personnel of Lianga Municipal Police Station led by PINSP Christian Lipke Rafols II, Chief of Police intercepted one ten wheeler truck loaded with illegally cut sawn lawaan lumbers with an estimated volume of 8,100 Board Feet on September 2, 2009 at 7:30 in the morning at Barangay Anibongan, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
The truck and lawaan lumbers were brought to Lianga Municipal Police Station for proper disposition and subsequent turn over to CENRO, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
Report on illegal fishing
On September 1, 2009 at 12:30 in the morning, PNP personnel from Lanuza Municipal Police Station led by PO2 Ronal Kent C Abis conducted seaborne patrol within the municipal waters of Lanuza, Surigao del Sur which resulted to the apprehension of one unit fishing boat owned by Nicolas Copina of Barangay Embarcadero, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur.
The fishing boat actually caught engaged in illegal fishing using fishing gear locally know as "surit-surit". Said boat was manned by Ernesto M Tuyor, 50 years old; Rene R Tuyor, 28 years old and Renan Bucalon, 18 years old.
The Fishing Boat was docked at Barangay Zone 1 of Lanuza, Surigao del Sur while suspects were brought to Lanuza Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.
Violation of Art 5, Section 9 of Lanuza Bay Ordinance Number 01, Series of 2004 is being prepared for filing in court.
Initial report on encounter
On September 6, 2009 at 2:00 in the morning, joint team of 26 IB, 23 IB and 402nd Brigade of Philippine Army encountered Communist Terrorists (CTs) believed to be members of FC 34 SMRC at Sitio Cabuga, Barangay Sta Teresa, Loreto, Agusan del Sur.
No reported casualty on the government side while four killed on the enemy side. Firearms recovered from the area were six m16 rifles, one m203, one shotgun, one cal .38 and one garrand rifle. Progress report to follow.
Report on loose firearms
One SSGT Samuel Pangandoyon Locop, member of 36 IB, Phil Army based at Sitio Bingcongan, Barangay Bigaan, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur and designated as team leader of Special Operation Team (SOT) while conducting checkpoint on September 2, 2009 6:00 in the morning at said place apprehended a certain Mateo Nasis Montesa, of legal age, married, resident of Sitio Sta Cruz, Barangay Sanyata, Bislig City, connected with Bislig-Barobo-Hinatuan-Lingig-Tagbina (BIBAHILITA) Organization as deputized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Office.
Subject person while riding a motorcycle flagged down by the checkpoint of SOT personnel and found out in his possession one unit revolver cal .38 paltik with serial no. 590196 with five live ammos.
Upon verification, no pertinent documents he presented. Subject person and confiscated firearm were turned over by the SOT Team to Hinatuan Municipal Police Station on September 3, 2009 at 10:30 in the morning for proper disposition. Progress report to follow. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga) [

Community education program on migration slated in Caraga

by Nora CL Molde

Butuan City (September 17) aga-- In order to assist prospective migrants of Caraga region in making decisions regarding their plan to settle abroad as well as to generate community involvement in migration concerns, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas slated community education program in two provinces of the region.
This year's Commission on Filipinos Overseas community education program/information campaign is set on September 27 to October 4 to the provinces of Agusan del sur and Surigao del Sur.

Team from Manila will be visiting Agusan del Sur particularly in the municipalities of Prosperidad, Bayugan and San Francisco on September 27 to 30, while the areas of Bislig City, municipalities of Hinatuan and Tandag of Surigao del Sur is scheduled on October 1 to 4.
To have a thorough dissemination of information to the communities, the conduct of school symposia on migration, public assemblies, radio interviews and interaction with community members will be done in every area visited.
The activity is an annual undertaking of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas to raise public awareness on various issues concerning migration, intermarriage and existing government policies and programs directed against illegal recruitment, documentation fraud and human trafficking.
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas is an agency under the Office of the President which was established on June 16, 1980 through Batas Pambansa (Republic Act) 79 to strengthen ties with Filipinos overseas and promote their interests in the Philippines and abroad. (PIA-Caraga