Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Dec. 19- 24, 2016
Vanguard
2 dead, 40 in hospital from red tide toxins
By Miriam Desacada
TACLOBAN CITY – Some bad news for the Christmas season.
Health authorities here have confirmed the deaths of two residents in two separate towns in Biliran, while 40 others were rushed to the hospital due to red tide poisoning.
Boyd Cerro, chief of the Department of Health Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, however did not identify the two fatalities, an 81-year old woman and a 13-year old boy, residents of Cabucgayan and Kawayan, respectively, both of Biliran province.
Thirty of those who were hospitalized were from Maripipi, an Island town of the same province of Biliran, after eating“ tahong’ that drifted to the seashore of the municipality. Six others came from the Kawayan and four from Cabucgayan.
According to health authorities, the victims of the recent red tide poisoning are already safe from danger at the Biliran provincial hospital while still under observation. The Department of Health has appealed to the public, especially those who living in areas which the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources( BFAR) has identified as contaminated with red tide not to eat shellfish unless the ban is already lifted.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources( BFAR) has expressed concern over the red tide hap-
Deadly shellfish in several bays in Samar and Biliran contaminated by red tide toxins
pening in Eastern Visayas which has already reported two fatalities.
BFAR said that the red tide toxins found some two months ago in Carigara Bay, Matarinao in Eastern Samar, in Maqueda in Catbalogan City, and Biliran waters have now spread to nearby areas such as Maqueda Bay, Villareal Bay and Carigara Bay.
Maqueda Bay is a major source of mussels for residents of different areas in Samar, including Jiabong, Catbalogan City, Motiong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, and Calbiga.
The mentioned areas also ship shellfish to Manila for export.
Meanwhile, another rich source of shellfish is Carigara Bay, Barugo, San Miguel, Leyte, and Capoocan town.
BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said that a
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family of seven from Cagutsan Village, Sierra Island in Catbalogan City were hospitalized after eating pen shell locally known as“ sarad.” The family was first brought to the Samar Provincial Hospital and then later to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center.
To recall, two children in Samar in the months of May and July this year also died from red tide toxin.
It was learned from Cerro that residents of Kawayan and Cabucgayan consumed mussels which they bought from a village market. Two of their children suffered stomach pain and were hospitalized.
BFAR has asked local government units to assist in the information drive on the red tide. This includes the enforcement of shellfish ban, which strictly prohibits consumption, trading and transport of shellfish gathered from infested bays. #
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Chorale tilt attracts 9 towns from E. Samar
BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar( PIA)- The first ever Eastern Samar Christmas Choral Competition was held last December 19, 2016 at the Mayor Luis Capito Cultural Stage, this city. The competition was conceived by the office of the congressman and the provincial government of Eastern Samar.
“ While I was contemplating on how we can nurture our culture peculiar to us as a province, what occurred to my mind maybe was the way we celebrate Christmas in this part of the country. This may not be so manifest in this initial event. However, I am sure this will attain its purpose as we do the succeeding events,” Evardone said.
He added that culture is the best expression of our shared values. External influences may have diluted it but it is good to go back to tradition at least in the aspect of interpersonal relations and family ties.
In this year’ s competition were 10 contestants from the different municipalities and one city. The competitors followed rules set up by the organizers. It was open to a singing group whether existing or to be assembled and / or whether school, church or any association-based in the municipality or a city or a combination, as may be appointed by the mayor to represent the municipality or city.
All members were residents of the municipality or city he or she represents. A minimum of 17 and a maximum of 27 members, inclusive of one accompanist and one conductor, constituted the chorale.
Three songs needed to be prepared by the competitors: Preparatory Song – An Waray-waray song; Contest Piece –“ Simbang Gabi” and
Cong. Cong. Ben Evardone
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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Finale song –“ Ang Pasko ay Sumapit”.
The criteria for judging were as follows: Stage Discipline – 10 %, Technique – 30 %, Musicianship – 30 %, and Performance – 30 % or a total score of 100 %.
The competition had three major prizes: Champion- P 50,000, Donor: Cong. Ben P. Evardone; Second Place – P 30,000, Donor: Gov. Conrado B. Nicart, Jr., Third Place – P 20,000, Donor: Vice-Gov. Ferdinand Marcelo A. Picardal, and the consolation prizes of P 5,000.
Donors were City Mayor Ma. Fe R. Abunda, Sangguniang Panlalawigan( SP- Members) Karen D. Alvarez and Annabelle A. Capito. A Plaque of Certificate of Participation was also given to the contestants.
The result of the competition were: Grand Champion- Eastern Samar State University( ESSU) Glee; Second Prize – Municipality of Balangiga and the Third Prize – Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High( ESNCHS) School Teachers Chorale.
Cong. Evardone confirmed that next year’ s competition will be represented by 22 municipalities and one city. Attendees in the event aside from the congressman were nine municipal mayors, the city mayor, two SP Members and two Sangguniang Panglungsod of Borongan City. #
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