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.(

Aklanons in Canada to hold Ati-Atihan

Aklanons in the city of Winnipeg in Canada will also celebrate the Ati-Atihan Festival on January 25.

The Aklan Ati-Atihan Manitoba is organizing the celebration, said Andy Navarro, a member of the group.

On August 25, 2012, the group introduced the Ati-Atihan celebration to the Canadian community through a Filipino street festival.

Aside from Aklanons, other Filipinos living in the Canadian city were also helping organize the celebration.

Aklanons in Vancouver will also hold their own Ati-Atihan Festival.

The following are the new officers of the Aklan Ati-Atihan Manitoba: Marilyn David, president; Rolley John Ley, vice president; Richie Arsenio, secretary; Dorothea Penner, treasurer; Jason Naguit, auditor; Romeo Tabanera and Peter Olid, public relations officer; Ranel Raquin, business manager; and Leowy Arsenio, Danny Rapiz, Noel Leyson, Leobert Arsenio, Ariel Leyson and Nicanor Sumbilla, sergeants-at-arms./

3 drown amid party

Three people drowned in the middle of a Christmas party celebration at a resort in Brgy. Jawili, Tangalan town.

Police identified the fatalities as Rayniel Reprado; Joel Miano, a carpenter at the St. Jude Parish here; and Rommel Leyson.

They and several priests were holding their Christmas party at the resort on Monday morning when Reprado went for a swim despite the strong waves, said SPO3 Jay Javier.

Minutes later, his colleagues realized that Reprado was drowning and rushed to rescue him, but two of them — Miano and Leyson — drowned, too, police said.

At least three of those who tried to rescue Reprado were taken to the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital here.

Miano’s body was recovered from the beach only yesterday; it was already decomposing, according to Javier.

There was no foul play in the incident, Javier said.

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Red Cross to continue to help 'Yolanda' victims

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC-RCS) will continue to help "Yolanda" victims in Central Philippines.

Lina Jaliobon of IFRC-RCS said among those they would be helping are the towns of Altavas and Libacao.

She met with the local officials recently to announce the said aid.

"We will still determine if we could help other municipalities in the province," Jaliobon said Friday.

Jaliobon said the Red Cross would provide monetary donations to the victims through GCASH.

She added that she was amazed by the resiliency of the Filipinos affected by the super typhoon in November 2013.

More than 7,000 reported to have died in the said disaster.

Kalibo hotels oriented on disaster mgt

 Members of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Accommodations Association were oriented on disaster management in preparation for the forthcoming Ati-Atihan Festival.

“The participants were taught how to deal with tourists and guests during floods and typhoons,” among other disasters, said Gerwin Garcia, the association’s president.

Among the participants in the seminar were hotel and resort front desk staff and security guards.

SPO1 Julius Barrientos of the Kalibo police station taught the participants about the standard operating procedure in handling guests during emergencies.

“We also encouraged our members to install CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras in their respective establishments,” said Garcia.

“We also advised them to provide a copy (of the CCTV footage) to the police once any untoward incident happens in their (establishment),” he stressed.

The association is expecting its member establishments to get fully booked in terms of room accommodations for the Ati-Atihan Festival.

The seminar was held in coordination with the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Division of the municipal government./

Kalibo eyes ‘sisterhood’ with Alaska capital

This capital town is eyeing a sisterhood agreement with Juneau, the capital of Alaska, in coordination with the Filipino community there.

The proposed “sisterhood” will give emphasis on cultural exchanges, international and local cooperation, trade, and humanitarian aid.

Larry Snyder, a leader of the Filipino community in Juneau, said the proposal was supported by Juneau Resolution No. 2663, which was approved during an assembly last October 14.

Snyder, a Canadian national, is married to Luz Carillo, a native of Brgy. Buwang, Numancia town.

To finalize the agreement, the Sangguniang Bayan here should craft a similar local legislation.

The “sisterhood” will then be made official through a ceremony.

The City and Borough of Juneau is the capital city of Alaska.

It is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the Alaskan panhandle and is the second largest city in the United States by area.

It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the US Congress in 1900.

The municipality unified on July 1, 1970, when the city of Juneau merged with the city of Douglas and the surrounding Greater Juneau Borough to form the current home rule municipality.