I Feel Like a Campus Journalist Again

"Can you make a write-up of Governor Ong's visit to Urdaneta's Jamborette," so asked my former editor-in-chief in college, Kuya Ed Picardal. He is now the writer-secretary of the governor. I immediately said "yes" for how can I refuse my former editor and what an honor it would be to cover a story about the governor's activity. And so, the write-ups were all here.

I rushed to the office and asked Vice-Mayor Turla if I can go with him to Urdaneta as he will represent Mayor Saludaga. Supposedly, the opening program should start at nine o'clock but there was a call from Urdaneta that the parade is over and the opening program will follow at 8 o'clock and so vice-mayor and I have to rush to the car. The governor, we were informed, is already there.

During the whole event, I feel like I was a young and struggling campus writer again. But this time, it was so much different than a decade ago when I was doing campus bit for The Pillar (in UEP). I have my camera already and I was treated more like a visitor than a gate-crashing student-journalist.

To cap it all, heaven was so good on me, I was given a rare opportunity to talk with the governor for several minutes while we were heading to the school building that was blessed by the priest and then, on to the buffet table.

GOVERNOR ONG LEADS BSP-VISAYAS PEACE TORCH RELAY IN URDANETA,LAVEZARES

Lavezares – Northern Samar Governor Jose L. Ong, Jr. receives the ceremonial peace torch and baton from the officials of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. These symbolic torch and baton will be passed on to all the provinces in the Visayas in the coming days until the culmination of the BSP Centennial Celebration in the country.

This historic kick-off ceremony was conducted during the opening program for the Lavezares II District BSP/GSP Jamborette in Urdaneta Central Elementary School in this town.

The torch and baton was handed over to Governor Ong by BSP Deputy International Commissioner Pedro D. Destura and the Regional BSP Scouts Director - Visayas Bienvinido B. Toledo and by the Council Scout Executive in Northern Samar Joel A. Orendain. This was also witnessed by Vice- Mayor Manuel M. Turla, Sr.

From left: BSP Director for Visayas Bienvinido Toledo, Governor Jun Ong (holding the peace torch), BSP Commissioner Dr. Pedro D. Destura, and BSP Northern Samar Scout Executive Joel A. Orendain. Partly hidden are Lavezares Dist. II Adaptor Ms. Eden Dadap who represented Northern Samar Div. Supt. Cristito Eco and Vice-Mayor Manuel M. Turla, Sr.

Scouts from different schools in Northern Samar and some neighboring schools.

Governor Jun Ong delivers his speech for the scouts.

and several officials of the Department of Education the province.

In his speech, Governor Ong said he is very proud of all the scouts and salutes them because of their cooperation in the quest for lasting peace and development in the province which according to him is the goal and shared responsibility of all Nortehanons.

In his keynote address, Dr. Pedro Destura thanked Mayor Quintin Saludaga for the full support he has given to the development of BSP/GSP in the country. He lauded the mayor for constructing the new BSP/GSP Headquarter in Urdaneta Elementary School using local fund. The said building which was inaugurated shortly after the opening program was the only headquarter in the entire province for the boy and girl scouts. He also emphasized the big contribution of Vice-President Jejomar Binay in keeping the scouting activities very much active in the country.

The historic event was attended by scouts and officials from different schools in Lavezares and from other neighboring towns.# 

Serving others is the way to God's kingdom.

New Books for Lavezares

So happy opening new package of books from Bagong Kultura Pilipinothru Mr. John Snow. 

 Hope more Lavezaresnons will join our reading advocacy.