Kalibo town included in the APEC map

This Ati-atihan town is being considered by the coordinating team for the upcoming series of meetings for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
This was revealed by Ambassador Ma. Angelina Sta. Catalina, Deputy Director General for Conferences Services of the APEC.
The APEC coordinating team arrived here Monday to check on the capabilities of the Aklan province in hosting the series of meetings. The town of Kalibo will serve as the gateway for Boracay Island as a conference venue.
Among those discussed is the capability of the Kalibo International Airport in receiving foreign dignitaries attending the APEC. Also the coordinating panel urges every sector to provide strategic and security planning.
The security plan will be presented on the next visit of the coordinating team for validation.
Sta. Catalina also stressed the importance of partnership of the provincial and local government in ensuring the success of the APEC meeting. Report said the APEC series of meetings will jumpstart in a three day conference in Boracay by December.

The APEC team is reportedly seriously considering Boracay as a conference venue.

Aklan redistricting now in Senate hands – solon

The proposed redistricting of Aklan is now in the hands of the Senate, Cong. Teodorico Haresco said.

Haresco said several Aklanons have been asking him for updates on the status of the bill seeking to divide the province into two congressional districts, East and West.

The East District will include the municipalities of Kalibo, Banga, Balete, Batan, New Washington, Libacao, Madalag and Altavas.

On the other hand, the West District will include Numancia, Lezo, Malinao, Makato, Tangalan, Ibajay, Nabas, Malay and Buruanga.

Former congressman and now Gov. Florencio Miraflores has filed the redistricting bill in the Lower House.

Haresco said the bill “has long been approved in the [House of Representatives]. It is now up to the Senate to deliberate on it.”

Successfully dividing Aklan into two congressional districts before the 2016 national elections will pave the way for another Lower House slot for the province.

Some names reportedly interested in running for representative have already surfaced.

Among them are former governor Carlito Marquez, Vicky Ramos and Allen Quimpo./

Dead man washed ashore

Residents of Brgy. Cawayan, New Washington town, had found a lifeless man’s body washed ashore in the village.

The body, found on Tuesday afternoon yet, remained unidentified as of press time, said PO3 Nida Gregas, information officer of the Aklan Police Provincial Office.

The man was suspected to have drowned.

“There were queries from residents of Sibuyan Island in Romblon,” Gregas said. “There were reports that several fishermen (from the island) went missing amid the inclement weather two weeks ago.”

A man from Sibuyan Island went to the New Washington police station on Wednesday but had mistaken the dead man for someone else, police said.

The man claimed to have lost a male relative who stands 5'5". The man found dead in Brgy. Cawayan was 5'7".

The New Washington police station received another query from another Sibuyan Island resident who claimed to have lost a relative.

Police hope to identify the dead body as soon as possible. Scene of the crime operatives took a hair sample to be used for a DNA test.

Initial police investigation showed there was no foul play in his death.

Police said a post-mortem examination may be conducted on the body upon request from an interested party.

German's biggest humanitarian organization eyes helping Aklan schools

Representatives of the Welthungerhilfe Germany were in Aklan recently with a plan to help the schools damaged by super typhoon "Yolanda" in November.

Selwyn Ibaretta, provincial administrator, said he met with the Welthungerhilfe officials at a courtesy meeting at the Provincial Capitol, where they discussed the group's plan to be of help.

The Welthungerhilfe is considered as the biggest private organization for development and humanitarian aid in Germany.

Dr. Jesse Gomez, school division superintendent of the Department of Education, also attended the meeting.

"Aside from the schools, we are also negotiating if the said group could help us restore our damaged government facilities in the province," Ibaretta said.

Super typhoon "Yolanda" is considered the world's strongest typhoon to make landfall.

WHO checks on measles cases in Aklan

The province of Aklan is one of those provinces that are being closely monitored by the World Health Organizations (WHO) in terms of measles cases.

Dr. Cornelio Cuatchon Jr. of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said Wednesday that he personally met the WHO representatives and asked for updates on measles cases and surveillance.

For several years, the Philippines has been campaigning to attain the zero target for measles cases. Aklan is among those few provinces who were earlier reported to have been recorded alarming numbers of measles cases.

Currently, the province has around 200 confirmed measles cases while hundredths more are suspected. There are also several persons who died because of the said sickness.

While measles cases continue to be reportedly in existence in a few provinces as well as Metro Manila, the PHO has instructed both private and private hospitals here to designate a ward for measles patients.

PHO officials together with the Department of Health are also campaigning for children to avail of their free anti-measles vaccines program.

Result of Ati-atihan Competition

Tribal Big Category:

Champion: Black Beauty Boys
First Runner Up: Kabog
Second Runner Up: Vikings (formerly Lord Eagles)

Consolation Winners:

*Maharlika
*Tribu Ti-is Ti-is
*Tribu Bukid Tigayon

Modern Group Category:

Champion: Scorpio 11-19
First Runner Up: Aeang-Aeang
Second Runner Up: Emperor

Consolation Winners:

*Pilgrimage
*Bae-ot Bae-ot

Tribal Small Category:

Champion: Tribu Alibangbang
First Runner Up: Tribu Responde
Second Runner Up: Tribu Ninolitos

Consolation Winners:

*Moronnga Tribe
*Lezo Tribe

Balik Ati Category:

Champion: Tribu Ilayanhon
First Runner Up: Liloanong Ati
Second Runner Up: Malipayong Ati

Consolation Winners:

*Mga Apo Ni Inday
*Ano-Noo

Individual Category:

*Yolanda Mystica
*Magnificent Bird
*Styra Banks
*Diyosa Negra
*Mary Margaret Alagos

Kalibo police engages fraternity members as peacekeepers for Ati-atihan

The Kalibo Municipal Police Station has forged a peace covenant with youth leaders and fraternity members here as part of the security measures for the Ati-atihan Festival.

Supt. Aden Lagradante, Kalibo police chief, said that those who participated in the peace covenant signing were warring members of gangs known as “Oyo Torong Street” and “C. Laserna Street Purok One to Six.”

"Around 50 young people attended the covenant signing Saturday and we encouraged them to become peacekeepers not only for the duration of the festival but for a lifetime," Lagradante said.

The ati-atihan revelry starts Monday and will culminate on January 19.

Aside from signing the peace pact, the fraternity members were also given an orientation and joined a boodle fight.

"The Philippine National Police in cooperation with the local government of Kalibo will also provide meals for those who signed the peace pact for the duration of the revelry," Lagradante said.

The Kalibo Women and Children Protection Desk also vowed to give reward to fraternity members who will be able to pinpoint or arrest suspected snatchers, troublemakers and drug peddlers during the festival.(