MY HOME province is on the spotlight right now for a number of reasons.

First, the world’s pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has confirmed his political bid for congress against the rock-solid Chiongbian dynasty.

Locals flock to the Municipal Plaza of Alabel, Sarangani Province right now to welcome Pacquiao, half of them expecting that they are not going home empty-handed.

Secondly, our governor, Miguel Rene “Migs” Dominguez, has been recently installed as president of Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.

In the National Convention of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD at the PICC, Migs has ben appointed as the new national president of the party, replacing Eduardo Ermita.

WHILE GENSAN is celebrating it’s Tuna Festival this week, my hometown, Alabel, Sarangani Province also celebrates its 8th Kasadyaan Festival, which opened today with various activities.

The activities scheduled today include the inauguration of  government projects in the different barangays, tree-planting at the septage treatment facility and in school sites, opening of the agri-fishery fair, thanksgiving mass, fireworks display, and acoustic concert.

I took part in the tree-planting activity early this morning with Junior Ecologist Movement (JEM) members at the Septage Treatment Facility (STF) in Barangay Bagacay.

The area is part of the Calminda Watershed, which is a protected area.

IF YOU are on Facebook, the most interactive and the coolest social networking site, you can now get updates on the 18th Mindanao Business Conference via the 18th MinBizCon page.

Be a Fan!

See who’s coming to join the MinBizCon and what are in store for those who’ll attend the two-day conference.

The Mindanao Business Conference is the biggest annual gathering of the business leaders and government policy makers in Mindanao and the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region.

For those who are attending the MinBizCon, here are the recommended accommodation in Koronadal City:

THE BIGGEST annual gathering of business and industry leaders, government policy makers and other stakeholders is happening right in the heart of the City of Koronadal next month.

The 18th Mindanao Business Conference will serve as a venue for entrepreneurs and business leaders, as well as government policy makers from Mindanao and from the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines – East-Asean Growth Areas (BIMP-EAGA) Region to meet and to synergize for the development of the island’s business landscape.

The 18th MinBizCon will be highlighted by a two-day gathering on September 17-18, 2009 at the Fit Mart Mall Convention Center.

I HAD an affair with Ladol Beach last summer. With my cellphone camera, I attempted to capture its natural beauty.

I’ve only been able to upload the pictures today so I posted them right away on my photo blog.

Ladol teems with life

Get to know Ladol on Digital Detours.

IT’S BEEN sooooo looooong since I last posted here because I took my vacation seriously. And I tell you, my summer was one of my most memorable.

Just what did I do this summer of 2009?

After my students’ graduation day, I wanted to make my family feel that I am really LIVING WITH THEM, I spent a few days at home, did the cooking, played with my nephews and nieces (there’s abunch of them), and, you know, just lingered around. In the afternoon, I would bike, and at times, jog to the beach to get rid of the fats I have accumulated from graduation treats and birthday parties. On the beach, I would watch the sun as it sets down the horizon and the sea waves as they rush to the shore.

NOT ALL school children can read. That is a sad fact about the current education situation in many parts of the country. They are called frustrations readers. This problem hinders kids from getting the most out of their daily lessons, which is deemed to have a great impact to them as they progress on their journey of education.

Grade one pupils from Alabel Central Elementary School and SPED Center receive books from the Alcantara Foundation last year. *Image from QUEST