Lifestyle

In celebration of Heritage Month this May, the office of Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez brings not only to the Third District but to Negros Occidental a series of activities to highlight local heritage as a vital community asset.“Heritage is what we inherit from those who came before us, it is the legacy of our community that binds us, roots us, and gives us a sense of who we are, where we came from, and what makes us unique”, Benitez said.“Preservation requires us to remember and celebrate our heritage, ensure that we treasure it, and ensure that the future generations enjoy the wealth of our community’s heritage and pass on who we are,” he added.Partnering with the Filipino Heritage Festival Inc., the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the local government units ...

Alan and Haydee Plantillo ride on a firetruck to their wedding reception.*BFP photosThe groom did pushups with his bride seated on his back beneath pipe poles, which are firefighters’ tools.*They kissed beneath a hose loop amid a spray of water.*They used a fireman’s ax to cut their wedding cake .*A Bacolod firefighter married his girlfriend of almost 12 years on Saturday, May 21, and also honored the job he is passionate about.FO1 Alan G. Plantillo II, 29, chief of the Personnel and Training Unit of the Bacolod City Fire Station, and Haydee Sumaya, 30, were married at the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church in Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod City, on Saturday, May 21.In keeping with the Bureau of Fire Protection tradition, his bride rode on a fire truck to their wedding and when they l...

Fotomoto is a photographers’ collective originating in Metro Manila. The group’s objective is to promote Philippine photography as a manifestation of our shared experience as a nation, including diversity in perspectives from different geographies, socio-economic status, genders and ages.Through exhibitions and a programming of educational activities, Fotomoto aims to foster conversations about photography’s role in our culture and demonstrates ways in which the photographic medium as an art form can express our complex identities.The first event, ‘Fotomoto 21 Invitational: Portraits’, held in November to December 2021, was the largest photography exhibit held in the country to date.Over 300 images from 100 artists were installed in 11 venues around Metro Manila, and also featu...

Floyd Pison Bermejo and his Philippine Eagle photo* Photos courtesy of Sipalay LGUThe photographer behind the Philippine Eagle on the new P1,000 bill is from Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has recently released what it has described as a smarter, cleaner and stronger polymer P1000 bill, in response to pressing public health and safety concerns due to COVID-19.The most noticeable part of the latest banknote is the iconic image of the Philippine Eagle replacing the photos of national heroes Jose Abad Santos, Vicente Lim, and Josefa Llanes Escoda on the obverse side, the BSP said.The photographer who captured the image of the Philippine Eagle is Floyd Pison Bermejo, a licensed pilot, a wildlife photographer and a conservationist, a press...

Nine contestants joining the Hari ng Pilipinas-Negros Occidental 2022 were introduced during a sashing ceremony at the Northwest Inn Hotel in Bacolod City on Friday, May 13.The preliminary competition of this year’s Hari ng Pilipinas-Negros Occidental, which motto is “Matikas, marangal, marunong, makatao (fit, honorable, intelligent and humanitarian)”, will be held at the Bantug Ranch in Barangay Alangilan, Bacolod City, on May 24, a press release from the organizers said.The Bacolod coronation night will be at the Northwest Inn on May 28.Joelito Aspan Orencio Jr., who was last year’s Bacolod representative to the national pageant, said the pageant’s motto speaks of its thrust to promote not just the tourism of Negros Occidental but to discover talented young men.Now the pr...

The 9th Globe Media Excellence Awards celebrated the excellent work of the media and content creators in telling powerful, rich stories that influence the challenging period.Using digital platforms, these inspiring, new breed of storytellers were able to find ways to uplift lives through digital technology—through narratives that ease burdens and brighten up spirits.Bearing the theme “#PadayonDigital: Uplifting Lives Through Digital Technology,” this year’s awarding of winners was held online on May 6.Here's the list of Visayas winners in this year’s GMEA:News Report of the Year: Loon Church in Bohol rises from the rubble (Inquirer)Explanatory/Investigative Story of the Year: Rhick Lars Vladimer Albay (ANCX)Column of Year: Maria Lourdes “Nini” B. Cabaero (Sunstar Ce...

The annual town fiesta of Isabela town drew a crowd of 12,000 at the Isabela public plaza to cap the celebration on April 23.On the last day of Kinalipay sa Isabela, townsfolk and its visitors from across the Philippines and even abroad feast with delight at the last events and activities up until the dawn of Sunday.The week-long celebration made a return after two years of hiatus because of the pandemic, and the first fiesta held during the administration of Mayor Irene Consunji-Montilla.Tourism OIC Jacel Jane Pineda said, “we have seen the hope to celebrate as Negros Occidental downgraded to Alert Level 2, which allows a maximum of 50% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only and 70% outdoor venue capacity.”She added that this year’s celebration listed ...

Capitol photoA Negros Occidental provincial government scholar from the Bukidnon Tribe of Don Salvador Benedicto town recently graduated summa cum laude.Jim John Tolentino, 28, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management degree from Central Philippine State University (CPSU) – San Carlos Campus, recently.Tolentino ranked No. 1 among the graduates with General Weighted Average (GWA) of 1.21.He is also a leadership awardee as Supreme Student Government president and was given the distinction for Best in On-the-Job Training (OJT).He gave the valedictory address during the 71st Virtual Commencement Program, an online-held graduation ceremony as it gathered 10 CPSU campuses in the province.In his valedictory address, he expressed his gratitude...

Dr. Nenette Nava, Pablita Nava, Patty Jane Ong, Chrysee Samillano, Svet Sevilleno, Amy Ong, Juliet Emperado, Roy Aguilar and Miriam Bayles (l-r) at the opening of the group art exhibit in Talisay City Sunday, April 17.The Christian Artists National Various Arts Society (CANVAS) recently held a group art exhibit in partnership with Babayi Art Group at the gallery of Pablita Nava in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.Titled “Lilies of Resurrection II,” the exhibit will run until May 17 and features the works of visual artists Miriam Bayles, Daniel Bayles, Elijah Bayles, Jasper Bayles, Karen Bayles, Nimshi Badrina, Arthalia Grace Bernas, Angelo Emperado, Juliet Emperado, Konica Tracy Faustino, Pablita Nava, Amy Ong, Patty Jane Ong, Roberto Sumugat, Jr, Karlota Sumugat and Chrysee Samill...

Dr. Crispin C. Maslog and his book: “Jokes Only: A Book on Duterteisms”.A new book, “Jokes Only: A Book on Duterteisms”, self-published by a former journalist and journalism professor has just come off the press.The book about the jokes of President Rodrigo Duterte is written by Dr. Crispin C. Maslog, a former journalist with Agence France-Presse and journalism professor of Silliman University in Dumaguete City and the University of the Philippines Los Baños.The book contains 64 jokes that Duterte told during his campaign for the presidency in 2016 and in the next five years, during his press conferences and public engagements, Maslog said Wednesday, March 30.“Remember those days? It was governance by shock and awe. He spewed the language of the streets, as he ordered his p...