The Winners of Bessang Fun Run 2011.

On the early cold morning of January 29, 2011, some two hundred and fifty (250) men and women, runners and volunteers, chose to meet with history, re-live history and make history as they ventured into the first fun run dubbed as: Bessang Fun Run 2011.

The event started at six minutes past seven from Bessang Pass National Shrine after a short ceremony thereat. It ended before eleven thirty with the arrival of Steven H. Baron, MD, Internal Medicine and Diabetologist at 11:15 in the morning, together with his brother-in-law Nonie Almachar.

The Champion of the race though, in the person of Mr. Reynaldo Pascua, clocked 56 minutes arriving at the municipal plaza at 8:02, after running around the town proper. The Second Placer was Mr. Edison Melchor of Laoag City, arriving a minute behind, followed by Mr. Modesto Madalang, another minute later. They bagged the amount of $300.00; $200.00 and $100.00 respectively. Ten consolation prizes amounting $50.00 each were given to Richard Cuplang; Arthur Garidan; Allan Robin; Jay Lomyong; Jay Viloria; Zaldy Juan; Jayson Melchor; Javier Robin; Edwin Galimba and Ricky Gagarin.

All systems go for the Municipality of Cervantes in preparation for the forthcoming First Bessang Fun Run, a sixteen kilometer Bessang Pass to Cervantes Plaza race for Cervantenians and non-Cervantenians on January 29, 2011. A ball will be held in the evening to award the prizes of winners.

On February 1 and 2, 2011 medical and dental mission shall also be conducted at the municipal gym. Those who need surgery shall be admitted at Bessang Pass Memorial Hospital (BPMH) and will be administered by top doctors who are sons of Cervantes. Those who will have to undergo surgery would be assessed by Gaudencio T. Bustillo, MD, MHO of Cervantes.

All these activities were made possible through the kind sponsorship of Cervantes Association, USA (CAUSA) and Cervantes Global Organization (C->GO) in coordination with the Local Government of Cervantes.

The Local Government of Cervantes, together with the National Government Agencies with local offices here celebrated the joint Christmas Program on December 22, 2010 at the municipal gym.

The highlight of the occasion was the selection of best lantern from recycled office supplies and materials, the exchange of gifts and distribution of Christmas gifts by Mayor Benjamin N. Maggay, followed by a luncheon.

On December 7, 2010, Mrs. Elma M. Pucti, Punong Barangay of Malaya was re-elected President of the Liga ng Barangay Municipal Federation after no other candidate filed candidacy for the said position. It is her second term.

Meanwhile, Punong Barangay Zosimo N. Ningala of Barangay Rosario was also elected as Vice President; Punong Barangay Elmer V. Galula of Barangay Concepcion elected as Auditor; and elected as members of the Board of Directors were:
Francisco C. Pil-o    – Comillas North
Severino A. Cualan – Pilipil
Mario D. Malinias    – Dinwede East
Arthur A. Oliseo      – Comillas South
Juanito G. Inigo      – San Juan
Carlos D. Cayabas   – Dinwede West

The Secretary and the Treasurer will be appointed by the Liga President later on at her discretion.

Last December 3, 2010 at eight o’clock to eleven in the morning, the municipal federation of Sangguniang Kabataan of Cervantes elected their president in the person of Mr. Marciano M. Mauro, Jr. of Barangay Malaya. The said election had been participated by twelve barangays, except for the SK Chairman of Barangay Rosario who was absent.

At the first hour of the morning in the office, a simple ceremony was conducted relative to the awarding of medicines worth twenty-five thousand (php25,000.00) pesos each to the four (4) chosen partners from the barangays for the Botika ng Barangay Program of the national government.

No less than the Honorable Board Member Jeremias Singson himself awarded and turned over the said medicines to the four (4) operators who were duly trained to operate the BNB program. The Board Member disclosed that the BNB Program was started way back during the term of Former President Fidel V. Ramos, and it had been quite difficult to avail of the program due to some technicalities that has to be met. However, he learned the rudiments thereof and lately, he was able to cause the release of a truck load of medicines for the different barangays of Ilocos Sur.

Under this BNB Program, the national government gives the seed capital of php25,000.00 worth of medicines, which is sold to the public for profit and that is where the operator will get his or her income and roll-on fund but still, the prices of the medicines are very competitive.

Dengue hits Cervantes for the past few weeks but little of it is known because the victims easily recuperated. However, it has become a scare when it claimed its first victim in the person of a young energetic boy Ian Zcepler Iñigo Acyangan, son of couple PO3 Jaime Acyangan of PNP SAF and Julie Rose Iñigo, an employee of the municipal government here.
The boy succumbed to his death at ten past ten in the evening last Monday (August 16) at Pines City Hospital, Baguio City.

Bethesda Ministries International headed by no less than its Managing Director, Rev. Donald Soriano visited Cervantes on August 10, 2010 and it was the occasion wherein the Feeding Program was re-launched by the LGU, in cooperation with this NGO. Nutrimeal or meals laden with twenty-five (25) vitamins were donated by Bethesda Ministries International, in support to this program. The program targets to feed the malnourished children of the municipality.

Reverend Donald Soriano also took the occasion to tell more about himself and his humble beginnings, how he was separated to his natural family and his twin brother, when he was adopted by his foster parent, a pastor, who then married an American, thus he grew up and studied in the United States. He added that he also served as a consultant to the United Nations for their programs on micro-financing, and then later on resigned to return to his native province, Benguet. He was born at Sapid, Mankayan, Benguet and continues helping 3,500 children as his way of thanking God for the many blessings he received.

In closing, the Director stressed on instilling the Christian Values as they are constant and unchanging, unlike other moral values. He added that “this is more important than the feeding program because if it went wrong, you only helped sustain a criminal,” he said.

Last Tuesday, July 6, 2010, Mayor Benjamin N. Maggay called for a meeting and he presented a new program of the municipal government, dubbed as “Cervantes, PADRE.” The same shall also be adopted as the battle cry for local governance. PADRE, which is an acronym for Poverty Alleviation and Development for Rural Economy aims to improve the living conditions of those below threshold per Millennium Development Goal (MDG).

This is also in response to the survey that Cervantes was ranked as one of the poorest municipality of Region I, per survey conducted by the MSWD Regional Field Office. Somehow, it had also been a blessing in disguise because of the fact that it was regarded as one of the poorest towns.

The said meeting was participated by Municipal Heads of Offices, and three (3) legislators namely:
Honorable Armando P. Gaburno – Committee on Agriculture, Foods and Cooperatives
Honorable Cesar C. Pe, Committee on Social Welfare, Women, Children and Family, and
Honorable Abraham D. Octaviano – Committee on Health and Sanitation

and selected municipal employees, namely:
Hansel Jano             – Agricultural Technologist
Joel Liniasan            - Agricultural Technologist
Faustino Punasen     – Agricultural Technologist
Enriqueta Dangsian   – Agricultural Technologist
Cheng Harnois          - Municipal Health Nurse
Prescilla Pang-ag      - Human Resource Management Officer
Gemma Valles          - Administrative Assistant
Estrella Asejo -

DILG Officer Bradford Burgunio was also present during the said meeting and he also joined the workshop wherein outputs were made by participants who were divided into five groups, namely:
a. Finance/Livelihood Services
b. Educational Services
c. Health/ Medical Services
d. Social Services
e. Agricultural Services

The said output will be consolidated by the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator’s Office

The Sangguniang Bayan of Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, Administration 2010-2013, conducted its inaugural session Monday, July 5, 2010 after attending a very early flag raising ceremony. The Honorable Vice Mayor Robert M. Harnois, SB Presiding Officer, led the opening prayer.

Milestone during the said session was the creation of committees and the selection of chairmen of the said created committees, as follows:

Committee on Rules
Chairman: Hon. Salvador A. Gaburno
Vice Chairman: Hon. Elma M. Pucti
Member: Hon. Edgardo G. Cortez

Committee on Peace and Order
Chairman: Hon. Salvador A. Gaburno
Vice Chairman: Hon. Edgardo G. Cortez
Member: Hon. Cesar C. Pe

Committee on Budget and Appropriation
Chairman: Hon. Edgar G. Cortez
Vice Chairman: Hon. Cesar C. Pe
Member: Hon. Constante C. Mendoza

Committee on Trade and Industry
Chairman: Hon. Edgardo G. Cortez
Vice Chairman: Hon. Abraham D. Octaviano
Member: Hon. Constante C. Mendoza

Committee on Environment and Natural Resources:
Chairman: Hon. Cesar C. Pe
Vice Chairman: Hon. Armando P. Gaburno
Member: Hon. Roy G. Dadpaas

Committee on Social Services; Women; Children and Family
Chairman: Hon. Cesar C. Pe
Vice Chairman: Hon. Abraham D. Octaviano
Member: Hon. Salvador A. Gaburno

Committee on Health and Sanitation
Chairman: Hon. Abraham D. Octaviano
Vice Chairman: Hon. Cesar C. Pe
Member: Hon. Roy G. Dadpaas
Committee on Education; Culture Preservation and Development
Chairman: Hon. Abraham D. Octaviano
Vice Chairman: Hon. Edgardo Cortez
Member: Hon. Armando P. Gaburno

Committee on Infrastructure, Public Works and Water System
Chairman: Hon. Roy G. Dadpaas
Vice Chairman: Hon. Cesar C. Pe
Member: Hon. Armando P. Gaburno

Committee on Transportation and Communication
Chairman: Hon. Roy G. Dadpaas
Vice Chairman: Hon. Salvador A. Gaburno
Member: Hon. Edgardo Cortez

Committee on Tourism
Chairman: Hon. Constante C. Mendoza
Vice Chairman: Hon. Abraham D. Octaviano
Member: Hon. Elma M. Pucti

Committee on Senior Citizens’ Affairs and Persons With Disabilities
Chairman: Hon. Constante C. Mendoza
Vice Chairman: Hon. Abraham D. Octaviano
Member: Hon. Elma M. Pucti

Committee on Agriculture; Foods and Cooperatives
Chairman: Hon. Armando P. Gaburno
Vice Chairman: Hon. Constante C. Mendoza
Member: Hon. Roy G. Dadpaas

Committee on Labor, Employment and Livelihood
Chairman: Hon. Armando P. Gaburno
Vice Chairman: Hon. Abraham D. Octaviano
Member: Hon. Edgardo G. Cortez

Committee on Ways and Means
Chairman: Hon. Romeo G. Amilao
Vice Chairman: Hon. Constante C. Mendoza
Member: Hon. Salvador A. Gaburno

Committee on Market and Slaughterhouse
Chairman: Hon. Romeo G. Amilao
Vice Chairman: Hon. Salvador A. Gaburno
Member: Hon. Armando P. Gaburno
Committee on Barangay Affairs and Rural Development
Chairman: Hon. Elma M. Pucti
Vice Chairnan: Hon. Edgardo G. Cortez
Member: Hon. Cesar C. Pe

Committee on Youth and Sports Development
Chairman: Hon. Marfel G. Dang-it
Vice Chairman: Hon. Constante C. Mendoza
Member: Hon. Romeo G. Amilao

Committee on Amusements and Recreations
Chairman: Hon. Robert M. Harnois
Vice Chairman: Hon. Abraham D. Octaviano
Members: All SB Members