THIS IS a first for SoCCSKSarGen.

Although we have already meet in some place before, this is the forst time that we gathered purposely to review a restaurant. And we are planning to do it more often in the future.

Well, this is not the review yet. I just want to let you know that we are having fun here. We enjoyed the food. And most of all, we are enjoying the conversations with each other.

Here’s a pic from Kyawster:

SocCSKSarGen Bloggers at Genee, Pendatun Ave., General Santos City.

This one is from Rosilie:

ISN’T DAVAO City the largest in the Philippines?

According to Wikipedia, it is indeed the largest city in the country with a total land area of 2,444 square kilometers.

Contrary to this fact, my trip to Davao last Saturday just disproved that. Not that I measured the land area, but it felt like the city is just so small.

Leann, a college friend, and I went to Davao last Friday to follow-up our yearbook. It was a very long overdue. I doubt if the people at the printing press ever touched it since we last checked it a semester ago.

Nature's Essence products manufactured in Kiamba, Saragani Province have great potentials.

BEFORE GOING home today, I dropped by the Fabli Gu Ni, a tribal trade fair at the Sarangani Provincial Capitol Park. Local ptoducts, specifically those under the One Town One Product Program (OTOP) were displayed there.

Alabel has it’s aquaculture products, specifically the Sarangani Prime Bangus which is exported to various countries and is nationally recgonized. Aside from bangus, Alabel is also producing Pomapano, Talkitok, Sea Bass, among others.

Malungon has its corn and mango products. Malapatan has Tinagtag ang local fabrics. Maitum has marinated dried fish and other agricultural products. By the look of the booth of Maasim, I could see that the town has not recovered yet from the effects of the security problems in the past few months.

But probably the winner is the municipality of Kiamba and its abaca products.

WITH A great number of pending cases in the backlog of Philippine courts, people question whether justice is really served in the country.

The Supreme Court of the Philippines and the Provincial Government of Sarangani has an answer — setting justice in motion. In the literal sense of the phrase, Sarangani has put wheels on its court allowing it to serve people better.

SWEET SIXTEEN.

That was how Vice President Noli de Castro described Sarangani as he graced the opening ceremonies of the 16th Foundation Anniversary and 6th MunaTo Festival.

De Castro told the crowd that despite being young, Sarangani is already comparable to other provinces in the country, citing the different achievements of the province.

He congratulated Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez for the housing project being put up in Alabel and also appreciated the various projects to be launched such the the Justice on Wheels.

The Vice President also visited the Fabli Gu Ni, a trade fair that showcases the different wordl-class products of the seven towns of Sarangani.

Gov. Migs Dominguez explains at a presscon as Michelle Solo, Tourism and Industry president watches.

THE CELEBRATION of Sarangani’s MunaTo Festival is shorter this year de to security reasons, but it definitely doesn’t mean less fun. In fact, I have a few signs that it would be well attended.

For one thing, it is conducted back-to-back with the provincial athletic meet. Both activities are expected tro draw more people to the Capitol Park, Alabel.

The opening program tomorrow will be graced by the Vice-President of the Republic of the Philippines, Noli de Castro, and on Friday, Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno will be here for the Launching of Justice on Wheels (Tamdanan sa Balaod).

I COULDN’T forget the fear that suddenly engulfed the whole province of Sarangani when news broke that the town of Maasim was attacked by MILF forces last August, following the abortion of the MOA on the MILF of Ancestral Domain.

Classes were suspended and schedules were changed to ensure the safety of the students. But it was worse in areas that were greatly affected, like the towns of Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum, people were displaced, many got ill, and even some have died.

But we are very thankful that the tension had ceased. Peace has been restored. In fact, the province is gearing up for the celebration of its 16th Foundation Anniversary and 6th MunaTo Festival last week of November. Also, the whole island of Mindanao is celebrating the Mindanao Week of Peace.

The best way to celebrate peace, however, is not through attending parties and merriment.