Friday, December 23, 2011

Biggel's still in Worldwide Trends

Three-four days after Biggel landed among trending topics worldwide, he's still there. This one's from last night's 'Worldwide Trends'.Curiously the topics have changed yet Biggel remained. As PBB host Toni Gonzaga is wont to ask: "What eez the meaning of theeze?"
Biggel (sitting third from left) is shown here with his co-housemates in the most famous house in the country, the Pinoy Big Brother house.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Marinduque's Biggel is trending topic Worldwide (again)!!

‎@OfficialPBB4 BIGGEL IS TRENDING TOPIC WORLDWIDE at #7 last night!
pic.twitter.com/DFqo4IXY Congratulations! (info sent by @IAdelaCruz and Melisa Van Dorf)

Monday, December 19, 2011

Wishing 'LAV' a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

Well-wishers and supporters of Congressman Lord Allan Velasco trooped to his beach house address in Poctoy, Torrijos for an early Christmas get-together. An all-smiling Velasco extended his warm thanks to those who came, stating that his district offices expect more increase in the number of educational assistance recipients now totaling about 4,000 under the Velasco Achievers program.
The same thing goes with financial assistance to medical patients, burial and transportation for indigents. He said that assistance being given by his office to patients who had to be transported for special treatment in hospitals outside the province will also be further strengthened with additional funds.
The aggressive road infrastructure projects going on in all the six municipalities of Marinduque, he said, are manifestations of his battle-cry for ‘pagbabago’ for these are long overdue projects, in the same manner that barangay roads, multi-purpose buildings and waterworks projects are now being undertaken in areas prioritized at the start of his watch as representative to Congress of the Lone District of Marinduque.
Velasco also mentioned in his brief speech that his controversial affirmative vote in the lower chamber of the Philippine congress for impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona was not only due to the fact that in his view, the grounds for impeachment were present, but most importantly, it was also a representative vote by his constituents for the continued forward thrust of the province of Marinduque on the matter of economic development.
Velasco was joined in by his congressional staff, Atty. Montano Nazario, Chief of Staff, Erick Abad, Chief of Staff for Marinduque Affairs, Johann Frantz Rivera, Juvilee Anne Ravanera, Arnold Isorena and the local staff from Velasco's district offices in Boac and Sta. Cruz.
Some photo-ops...
Overheard during the Christmas gathering from emcees Bernard Revilla and Primo Pamintuan: Bernard: Alam ba ninyo kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng L-A-V? Mga Tao: Lord Allan Velasco! Primo: Tama po. Pero alam ba ninyo kung ano talaga ang ibig sabihin ng L-A-V? Mga Tao: Lalawigan Aasenso kay Velasco! Primo: Ay alam pala!

Marinduque's Biggel composes a winning Christmas Song for PBB Team High Voltage

Video showing Joseph Biggel teaching his Christmas song to fellow housemates.

As Pinoy Big Brother 'head of housemates' last week, the task of choosing Christmas carols that paying fans would request his team High Voltage to sing fell on his lap. That included having to come up with an original Christmas song. The 'promdi' from Marinduque, Joseph Emil Biggel rose to the occasion and came up - under extreme pressure - with "Tayo ang Pasko" that he taught his co-housemates.

In three days, the Tayo ng Pasko MTV created by Team High Voltage (THV) registered over 55,000 likes and was the most requested Christmas Song by fans who flocked to the PBB house. At the end of the caroling session THV collected more than Php 71,000 that goes to charity.

A PBB mini-concert for charity is currently being organized for victims of recent typhoon, Sendong that struck southern Philippines. The Official "Tayo ng Pasko" MTV by Team High Voltage: ...and with songwriter Jimmy Antiporda, singer Yeng Constantino and composer Maestro Ryan Cayabyab serving as the panel of judges, their decision was unanimous. The winner of the original Christmas carol weekly task was... "Tayo ang Pasko" by Team High Voltage that also won the MTV competition. Congratulations THV!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

How's PBB housemate Joseph Biggel doing?

Goings on at the Pinoy Big Brother house.

Marinduque's PBB housemate continues to sing about his life in Marinduque that he calls "munting paraiso", little paradise. This week he enjoys immunity from being nominated for eviction after being named Head of Housemates (HOH) following a task.

Photos in this spread show a Joseph Biggel sleeping with his brand new shoes beside him (courtesy of Converse), Biggel with the immunity medalion, a poster from love interest Tin's mother titled "Voltage", a banner from an international fan club out to support him and love interest, Tin Patrimonio, and a hilarious video, "Reindeer Biggel" showing him being ridden by housemate Tin and one named Echo.





Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Sandcastles in Poctoy beach

You can’t think of building sandcastles unless the sand is wet and so you need a lot of water to build something like this in Poctoy white sand beach.







For once, the rainshower that pours now and then this December season might give you a good excuse to stay out drenched and play with sand and water. Then you might find yourself shaping and carving the damp sand in no time at all - pounding it, pounding it till you get a glimpse of what you have in mind.

When evening comes and you are still at it, you’d want to put candles all over your sandcastle to bring romance and delight to your spur of the moment creation - before the stray dogs or cats destroy it. Like humans do if you are not looking.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Colors of Bila-Bila Festival 2011 in Boac

A beaming Mayor Roberto M. Madla waves his hand to the crowd atop the municipal government float bedecked with flowers.


Boac's answer to the street-dancing festival craze as a way to attract tourists and spur more business growth in this capital town of Marinduque, is the "Bila-Bila Festival". Successfully staged for the second time under the stewardship of Mayor Roberto M. Madla, the 8th December festival was participated in by various contingents from the Ilaya, Seaside, Riverside and Poblacion districts.



The Mogpog Brass Band with some 40 members under bandmaster Chino Leyco joined the festival playing "We Are the World", "I Wanna Hold Your Hand", "Jingle Bell Rock" and others.





"Bila-Bila Festival" photos below courtesy of Toby Jamilla Photography, official photographer of "Bila-Bila Festival 2011".




Background on the origin of the Bila-Bila Festival could be found here.





Friday, December 9, 2011

Switching on Sta. Cruz sitios

Congressman Lord Allan Velasco and Sta. Cruz Mayor Percival Morales together with MARELCO officials led by board president, Beethoven Arevalo are expected to attend the official switch-on ceremony for the line extension of Sitio Ilaya in Brgy. Masalukot and Sitio Bagumbungan in Brgy. San Isidro, all in Sta. Cruz.

Implementation of this project in all 30 sitios in Marinduque's six towns identified under the national government's electrification and barangay line enhancement program are expected to be completed before the end of December this year.









The program is expected to help bring jobs to rural areas and, for the residents, access to basic convenience.












Sitio Bagumbungan in San Isidro is the site of San Isidro Caves, one of Sta. Cruz town's increasingly popular tourist destinations.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

389th Founding Anniversary of Boac today

The capital town of Boac celebrates its 389th Founding Anniversary today, December 8th., the Fest of the Immaculate Conception. Boac derived its name from “biak”, divided or separated from end to end, referring to the river running from the eastern hinterland down to the sea on the western side of town.

Boac River

Boac River gained international attention in 1996, when a badly sealed drainage tunnel collapsed and spewed millions of tons of mine tailings into the 26-kilometer long river.

The tunnel has been used to drain acidic water from Marcopper Mining’s Tapian pit since the early 1970s when fishkills in the river also started. The river appears to have naturally resuscitated itself when after only five years, small fishes began to show and the water cleared that those living in the river valleys used it for washing their clothes and bathing.

The bulk of the tailings are within the dredge channel at the north and south estuaries. But throughout the stretch of the river, a huge amount of tailings remain under water or are covered by soil erosion and sedimentation that, authorities claim, secure the tailings from oxidation and acidity of the river.


Our Lady of Biglang Awa

A relative awareness of a traditional story that has survived to this day, told of how Moro pirates in the olden days, one gloomy day, invaded the town of Boac passing through the mouth of the river in Laylay.

The townspeople took refuge in the cathedral fortress and prayed, when all at once, a mysterious Lady in white appeared with arms outstretched atop the fortress wall facing the river. With fear and trembling the pirates fled, saving the people in that episode which inspired the creation of a new name, “Biglang Awa” for the revered Lady in white.



The 389th Founding Anniversary of Boac showcases during the week that started on December 1st, various religious, cultural and sports activities that culminates in today’s grand “Bila-Bila Festival and Street Dancing Competition”. This butterfly-inspired festival is participated in by cluster contingents from Boac’s 61 barangays.

The executive committee is headed by Boac Mayor Roberto M. Madla with Vice-Mayor Dante J. Marquez and Dr. Aquilina Rivas, as co-chairs, and officials of the Sangguniang Bayan ng Boac as members.

They are Councilors Theresa P. Caballes, Sonny L. Paglinawan, Luisito M. Majaba, Luisito S. Laylay, Robert E. Opis, Benildo L. Largado, Avelino L. Chi, Ma. Herietha M. Gayutin, Ferdinand L. Mameng and Gelacio Raphael Mascarenas.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Work and fun in Buenavista

Boys just love to fish and swim. Fishermen's boys from Buenavista enjoy diving off a pangulong, fishing vessel, into the waters. It is common for boys living in the coastal areas to join their fathers during the wee hours to catch fish.

Congressman Lord Allan Velasco recently joined the town's runners in a 5-kilometer "Takbo sa Pag-asenso" fun run from Brgy. Daykitin to the town center, and distributed trophies and cash prizes to the winners.








The fun run was organized by Mayor Russel Madrigal of Buenavista in cooperation with the office of the Congresssman.









Meanwhile, workers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are busy with the rehabilitation of the Buenavista Covered Court, the center of cultural, political, educational and sports activities in this town.



Buenavista hosts the 6-star resort, Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa, and local attractions like Mt. Malindig, Marinduque Hot Spring Resort, Malbog Sulfuric Hot Spring and Bulusukan Falls in Bagtingon.

The Buenavista Covered Court project is funded by Cong. Velasco's Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).