Monday, February 15, 2016

Five bets take stage in CDO debate 2016

CAGAYAN de Oro City (Golden Journal / Feb. 15, 2016) - It’s all systems go for the presidential debate here on Feb 21, Friday with all five candidates confirming their participation, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez said yesterday.

In a radio interview, Jimenez said security has been tightened in and around the Capitol University where the debate will be held at 5 p.m.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Director Chief Supt. Lyndel Desquitado said they are prepared for the “big event,” along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Desquitado said they have already inspected the debate venue and checkpoints have been set up across the city.

The police official also said they have urged local residents to help the police and the military in the peacekeeping efforts.

To take part in the debate are Sen. Grace Poe, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Manuel Roxas II and Sen. Miriam Santiago.

The “PiliPinas Debate 2016,” organized by GMA 7 and the Inquirer in cooperation with the Comelec, will start in the afternoon. Each of the participants would be given one minute to give his or her opening statements and 90 seconds to answer a question, Jimenez toldMagnum radio.

The three major topics in the debate are peace and security, poverty alleviation and agriculture.

With many Filipinos expected to stay home today, Malacañang said they should sacrifice a little by watching the debate to know the candidates better.

“These will just be two hours of our busy schedule and on a Sunday when everyone wants to relax and de-stress a bit. Maybe this is a little sacrifice for the country – that we all watch, talk about the answers and the questions themselves and through this our decision for the country will be aided,” Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III said over dzRB.

He said the people should realize the real winners in these debates would be themselves and the country in general.

“This becomes the way for the candidates to really face the important questions and give everyone time to reflect,” Quezon said.

Senate President Franklin Drilon also urged voters to tune in to the televised debates so they can make more informed decision come May 9.

He said the debates would provide voters with information about the plans and platforms of candidates that they could use as basis on who to elect as the next president and vice president.

“I hope that the public will not miss this chance to tune in and listen to the answers that will be given by those who want to lead this country for the next years, and if they really can continue the progress which we have already made in the past six years,” he said.      

“These debates will give the voters throughout the country an important mechanism to know where the candidates stand on critical issues, such as on the fight against corruption, poverty alleviation, ending political dynasties, job generation and tax reform.” 

If the Comelec decides to hold debates for the senatorial candidates, he would definitely participate in all of them, Drilon said.

“I will welcome any such opportunity to present my platforms and my suggestions, as a veteran lawmaker, on what political, social and economic reforms we need to undertake to ensure our nation’s continued progress,” he said.  Drilon is running for reelection.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, national chairman of Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines (CDP), said his party would choose its candidate based on their statements in the debate.

“The presidential candidates must tackle the clamor for Mindanao is for a federal system of government, so that we can let each region of Mindanao, not only the Bangsamoro people, develop by giving them federal status,” Rodriguez said.

Another presidential debate sponsored by The Star, TV5 and the BusinessWorld is scheduled in Cebu on March 20. A third debate will be held in Luzon sponsored by ABS-CBN and Manila Bulletin.

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Ledesma inducts 2016 YMCA officers, board of directors

Gonzalo “Al” Gesta assumes Oro’s YMCA, Inc. head

Cagayan de Oro City Archbishop Most Rev. Antonio J. 
Ledesma (4th from left) strikes a pose after receiving 
a memento from newly installed YMCA-Cagayan de 
Oro City president Gonzalo “Al” Gesta. Lower left 
photo shows Bishop Ledesma with other inducting 
officers (sitting, wearing ribbon necklace).
(Photos by BEN BALCE)
CAGAYAN de Oro City (BEN BALCE / Golden Journal) - BDO Velez Branch manager Gonzalo “Al” Gesta assumed the presidency of the Young Men’s Christian Association, Inc. (YMCA) after Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Most Rev. Antonio J. Ledesma installed him into office with new other officers and board of directors at Dynasty Court hotel here on Feb 12, Saturday.

Ledesma serves as the guest of honor and speaker and the chief inducting officer with four other government officials in northern Mindanao.   

Commonly known as YMCA or simply the Y is a worldwide organization based in Geneva, Switzerland with more than 57 million beneficiaries from 125 national associations.


In his message, Archbishop Ledesma reminded the installed set of officers for 2016 to put Christian principles into practice by developing a healthy “body, mind, and spirit.”

The three angles are reflected by the different sides of the (red) triangle—part of all YMCA logos.

From its inception, it grew rapidly and ultimately became a worldwide movement founded on the principles of Muscular Christianity. 

Meanwhile, Gesta in his acceptance speech explained that local YMCAs engage in a wide variety of charitable activities, including providing athletic facilities, holding classes for a wide variety of skills, proselytizing Christianity, and humanitarian work. 

“YMCAs remain religious organizations,” said Gesta.

Many national or local organizations de-emphasize this aspect, while others choose to prioritize its religious mission above all others.

The different local YMCAs are voluntarily affiliated through their national organizations, according to Gesta.

The national organizations in turn are part of both an Area Alliance and the World Alliance of YMCAs. 

The World Alliance’s main motto is “empowering young people”, and it is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

With regard to the history and purpose of the founding, this “organization and its female counterpart (YWCA) were established to provide low-cost housing in a safe Christian environment for rural young men and women journeying to the cities.

It was associated with industrialization and the movement of young people to cities to work. 

The YMCA “combined preaching in the streets and the distribution of religious tracts with a social ministry. 

Philanthropists saw them as places for wholesome recreation that would preserve youth from the temptations of alcohol, gambling, and prostitution and that would promote good citizenship.”

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Shop your way to Los Angeles with the VisMin SM Stores and PAL

With summer just ahead, Visayas and Mindanao residents have a chance to take a holiday in Los Angeles, the Philippine Airlines newest destination when they shop at the SM Stores in the region.
Shop at The SM Store and get a chance to win a
roundtrip ticket to Los Angeles, USA via Philippine
Airlines. For every Php 2,000 single-receipt purchase
made until March 31, 2016 using your SM Advantage/
Prestige/BDO Rewards cards at any participating
branches entitles you to join the raffle and get a chance
to win one of the roundtrip tickets to Los Angeles, USA
or other international and local destination via Philippine
Airlines.  Participating stores include The SM Store Cebu,
Seaside Cebu, Consolacion, Bacolod, Iloilo, Delgado,
Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Lanang Premier and General Santos.



In The SM Store and PAL’s Shop Your Way to Los Angeles e-raffle promotion, thirty- two (32) lucky winners will receive a roundtrip ticket to Los Angeles or other international and local destinations served by the airlines from the Cebu International Airport.

Five lucky shoppers have a chance to win roundtrip tickets to Los Angeles; while three others have a chance to win airline tickets to Japan. There will be four winners of roundtrip tickets to Manila; and 20 winners of round trip tickets from Cebu to other Vismin destinations.
The famous Sta. Monica Pier at Los Angeles, USA.



How to win?  Simply shop at The SM Store VISMIN branches!  For every Php 2,000 single-receipt purchase made until March 31, 2016 using your SM Advantage / Prestige / BDO Rewards cards at any participating The SM Store branches, you can get a chance to win one of the roundtrip tickets to Los Angeles and other destinations via Philippines Airlines.
Hollywood’s glitz and glamour awaits five lucky
shoppers in The SM Store and PAL’s Shop Your
Way To Los Angeles joint promotion. 




You can double your chances of winning using BDO Credit and Debit Card.

There will be two raffle draws: fifteen winners will be drawn March 15, 2016 for the February 26- March 10, 2016 shopping period; and 17 winners will be drawn on April 8, 2016 for the March 11-31, 2016 shopping period.  The E-Raffle draw will be held at the MCI office, 4th floor One E-Com Center, Harbor Drive, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City in the presence of DTI and SM representatives.


Participating stores include The SM Store Cebu, Seaside Cebu, Consolacion, Bacolod, Iloilo, Delgado, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Lanang Premier and General Santos.
Tokyo, Japan is one of the destinations to win
at The SM Store and PAL’s joint raffle promotion.



Shop Your Way to Los Angeles at the 
Vismin SM Stores with Philippine Airlines.
One lucky shopper will be 
drawn for a trip to Nagoya, 
Japan via PAL in the raffle 
promotion.


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