By ARIEL E. FULLIDO

All roads lead to the CPG Sports Complex this Saturday, November 24, as the 20th edition of the prestigious Alturas Drum & Bugle Corps Showdown brings together for one spectacular day the best drum corps in the region.
Billed as the greatest show in town, this year's showdown features eighteen contingents in a competition contested in three categories: Category A for more seasoned drum corps most of which are outside Bohol; and Category B and C for high school and elementary drum corps, respectively.
Listed in alphabetical order, the contingents in three categories are Category A: CVSCAFT-Tagbilaran City Campus; Don Vicente Rama Memorial High School, Cebu City; Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School; Pilgrim Christian College, Cagayan de Oro City; Saint Augustine Club, Carmen, Cebu; Salus Institute of Technology, Cebu City; Category B: Immaculata High School, Baclayon, Bohol; St. Agustine Institute, Sagbayan, Bohol; Tabuan National High School, Garcia-Hernandez, Bohol; and Category C: Cogon Elem. School, Tagb. City; Duero Central Elem. School; Loon North Central Elem. School; Loon South Central Elem. School and Tagb. City Central Elem. School.
The prizes to be awarded are as follows: Category A: Champion, P70,000 cash prize plus 48-inch trophy; First Runner-Up, P50,000 cash prize plus 42-inch trophy; Second Runner-Up, P40,000 cash prize plus 40-inch trophy; Category B: Champion, P60,000 cash prize plus 44-inch trophy; First Runner-Up, P50,000 cash prize plus 42-inch trophy; Second Runner-Up, P40,000 cash prize plus 40-inch trophy; Category C: Champion, P60,000 cash prize plus 44-inch trophy; First Runner-Up, P50,000 cash prize plus 42-inch trophy; Second Runner-Up, P40,000 cash prize plus 40-inch trophy.
A three-thousand-peso cash prize plus trophy will also be awarded to the drum corps in each category adjudged as Best in Production Design, Best in Instrumentation, Best in Choreography, and Best in Rhythm and Dynamics. For all categories combined, a cash prize of P1,000 plus trophy is awarded to the Best in Uniform, Best in Discipline, Best in Parade Impact, Best Corps Major, Best Corps Majorette, Darling of the Crowd, Best in Entertainment, Most Colorful Corps, Best in Boholano Ambience, Best in Synchronization, Best in Jingle, and Miss Alturas Showdown.
In addition, handsome trophies are awarded to the Liveliest Corps, Most Elegant, Best in Projection, Most Promising Neophyte, Neophyte of the Year, Most Impressive Neophyte, and Most Inspiring Corps.
Presented in cooperation with Pepsi, Chowking, Jollibee, Department of Education (DepEd), and DSWD, the Showdown will be preceded by a colorful parade from Rizal Park to the CPG Sports Complex where the actual Showdown begins at 10 AM. Gross proceeds of the Showdown will go to the "Sunshine Home" of Catholic Women's League (CWL) and "Tagbilaran-By-Nite" of DYRD/DYZD

2 Boholanos elected national
officers of Trial Judge League

Two Boholano judges were elected as national officers during the election of the Philippine Trial Judges League, Inc. (PTJLI) held last Saturday at Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City.
The two Boholano judges were Judge James Stewart E. Himalaloan of the Municipal Trial Court of Loon who was elected national auditor and Judge Leo M. Lison of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Dauis-Panglao who was elected director representing the Visayas.
Judge Kaudri L. Jainul was reelected national president while Judge Danilo M. Tenerife was reelected executive vice president.
Some 14 judges from Bohol attended the 12th biennial convention of the PTJLI. They were Judges Himalaloan, Cecilio Dangoy of the Municipal Trial Court of Calape, Maria Elisa E. Ochoco of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Cortes-Antequera-Maribojoc, Helen T. Cabatos of the MCTC of Tubigon-Clarin, Daniel Jose J. Garces of the MCTC of Ubay-Pres. Garcia, Ciriaco Z. Bautista of Candijay-Anda, Jennifer Chavez-Marcos of the MCTC of Valencia-Dimiao, Lindecita C. Arcamo of the MCTC of Lila-Loboc, Alejandro Canda of the MCTC of Loay-Alburquerque-Baclayon, Lison, Olivia M. Mende of the MCTC of Bilar-Sevilla, Samuel A. Biliran of the MCTC of Carmen-Batuan, Salud C. Migriño of the MCTC of Balilihan-Sikatuna-Corella, and Jorge D. Cabalit of the MCTC of Catigbian-San Isidro-Sagbayan.
Theme of this year's biennial convention was "Upholding the Rule of Law and to Serve the People, A Continuing Commitment of the First Level Courts."

Boholano seaman's family a model

By JOHN PAUL S. NISTAL

A Seafarer's family of Ubay town was proclaimed winner of the regional search of the 2007 Model Overseas Filipino Worker of the Year Award (MOFYA).
The family of 55-year old Eugenio Boiser Atuel Jr. received a gold medal, a trophy, and P25,000 cash prize during the awarding ceremonies last Nov. 9 at SM City Cebu.
Now on its third year, the search is focused on family relationships that are successful, stable, and intact even if one member is working outside the country.
After the contest was launched in October, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) received 18 nominations from Central Visayas. Thirteen were from Cebu province, three from Bohol and two from Oriental Negros.
OWWA Regional Director Wilfreda Misterio said the search has been recognizing the achievements of OFWs and their families in managing the impact of overseas employment on family life.
Atuel and his family scored 91.5 percent to earn the right to represent Central Visayas in the National MOFYA.
The winning family will compete with the other winners from regions belonging to the same island cluster. Atuel, who will represent Central Visayas, will compete with Region 6 and 8.
One winner each for Luzon Visayas and Mindanao will be announced in the first week of December in Manila. These national champions will receive P200,000 vacation trip packages, laptop computers and other prizes from Globe Telecom.
But for the Atuel family, being one of the five nominees for Central Visayas is already an honor.
The local government unit of Ubay, Bohol, nominated them for the search.
Eugenio Atuel has been working overseas as a seaman and has climbed the ranks in his job for the past 31 years. He and his wife Corazon, 47, have been married for 25 years and bore seven children, each successful in their chosen fields.
Aside from being a family man and breadwinner, Eugenio is also a family life apostolate member, organizer of a trisikad organization called Tapalodo, and sponsor of micro livelihood programs in his hometown. Eugenio, however, was not able to join the awarding because he is working overseas.
His wife spoke on his behalf, saying that she and her husband continually strives to make their home a paradise for their growing family because they both recognized the importance of family.
Other nominees include the families of Domingo Torrilla Tome and Edwin Fortaliza Cañete both from Talisay City, Miximino Cabudoy Bia and Charlie Lao Garcia both from Cebu City.

Ramiro Hospital
now a WIFI hotspot

Ramiro Community Hospital, the leading healthcare facility in the province, located at Gallares Street, Tagbilaran City is now a Wireless Internet Hotspot.
As part of their continuing service of providing Quality Healthcare to the Boholanos, Ramiro Community Hospital has installed nine Netgear Wireless Internet Access Points running at 108 MBPS and five Dbi Omni Directional 2409 Antennas to boost its wireless internet coverage.
Doctors holding clinic in the hospital can now check their emails, surf the net anywhere in the hospital through their notebooks or PDAs as well as medical representatives and out-patients waiting for their appointments with the doctors. In-patients as well as visitors can also access the internet in their own private rooms without going to internet cafes.
WIFI internet cards are available at the Information Counter and the Billing Section. The hospital is in the process of constructing its website.
This WIFI connection is another project installed by Sonjay Microsystems Computer Sales and Services located at 20 G. Visarra Street, Tagbilaran City. Tel Nos. 411-4970/501-7450.

Value chain study tackles waste

Stakeholders of the multi-million dollar seaweeds industry mostly located in the northernwestern part of the province urged authorities concerned to strictly enforce the waste disposal management to avoid pollution in said area where most of the seaweed plantation and Double Barrier Coral Reef are located.
The participants, composed of private and business sectors, government agencies and seaweed growers, processors and traders, who participated in the workshop of the Bohol Agricultural Value Chain (AVC) study came up with this recommendation during the Development Plan Workshop held here recently.
The activity was sponsored by the Provincial Government of Bohol and the Local Government and Development Program (LGDP) funded by the Australian Aid and conducted by the Strategic Development Center-Asia.
It tackled four areas of concern that must be planned out and implemented within the three-year period (2008-2010). These were the a) investment plan; marketing plan; human resource development; policy/enabling environment under the seaweed sub-sector.
Under the 4th area (policy/environment), participants pushed for the stern enforcement of the environmental laws on waste disposal by the government agencies concerned.
The group found that seaweed growers are, not only facing the problem of mounting used synthetic or plastic straw for tying seaweed seedlings, but also the use of chemical for the seaweed harvest.
The Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) confirmed the use of "sodium hydrochloride" (in powder form) that is being used to soak the newly harvested seaweeds prior to drying.
Regulation of the use of this chemical before drying the harvest has not been enforced, the participants said.
Some island seaweed growers expressed fears that these chemicals after their use might found their way to the deep sea in the form of effluents that are potential pollutants.
Earlier, barangay captain of Hingutanan island, off Bien-Unido town, said that remnants of plastic straw used as ropes are stockpiling up to almost a ton everyday during harvest season. Worse, he said, some of those solid wastes are dumped by growers themselves to the sea near the channel between Bohol and Leyte provinces because it cost them a lot to transport them to the mainland about an hour by motorized banca.
LGDP in tandem with the PGB said that the Bohol AVC is an important action in marshalling and promoting the optimum utilization of the resources in Bohol.
Aside from seaweeds, other sub-sectors include rice and hogs, which were also tackled during the workshop using the same four areas of concerns.
The workshop adopted the participatory approach in the value chain study to be effective as meaningful and as committed participation of the industry stakeholders, said SDC manager Marian Boquiren. (RVO)

HNU Alumni Search
for King and Queen

The Holy Name University Alumni Association-Tagbilaran, Inc., a non-stock non profit organization of alumni of the only Catholic university in Bohol announces the search for the HNU Alumni Diamond Jubilee King and Queen.
This is a project spearheaded by the new officers and members of the Board of Directors of the association, which is headed by its president Judge Suceso Arcamo.
The primary aim of the project is to raise funds to finance the association's various programs, specially the scholarship of indigent children of school alumnae and to help animate the Diamond Jubilee Alumni Homecoming on February 16, 2008.
Any alumnus is eligible to participate in the said search. Application forms and copies of the search guidelines can be requested from the Alumni Affairs Office or through egutierrez@yahoo.com. Participants are also required to pay a minimum qualifying fee of P 5,000.00, which will be counted as part of candidate's proceeds during the first canvassing. The deadline for the submission of the Application Form and the payment of the qualifying fee is on Nov. 29.
Any alumni batch or chapter may field a candidate for King and/or Queen. The first canvassing will be held on December 15, 2007 while 2nd and final canvassing will be conducted on February 6, 2008. The winners of the search and their court will reign as ambassadors of goodwill. They will be recognized during formal coronation ceremonies on February 11, will be presented to the Boholano community during the Diamond Jubilee Parade on February 12 and will be honored as special guests during the Alumni Homecoming on February 16. All candidates will also have a share of their individual gross proceeds on percentage basis.
For inquiries regarding the search, all interested parties may contact Ms. Eury Gutierez, Director of the Alumni Affairs Office, through 411.3432, 411.3764 and 501.9817 (local 110).

BHS
class '47
sets mini
reunion

CALIFORNIA. In preparation for the Bohol High School Class '47 diamond reunion in Tagbilaran City next year, a core group led by Flora Borja Libay, with other classmates residing in several states in the U.S. have signified to attend the mini reunion in Las Vegas on Friday and Saturday in a selected hotel.
The following alumni confirmed to attend the reunion: Los Angeles - Feliciano Magsakay, Priscilla Varquez-Baser, Gloria Torralba and Flora B. Libay; Tulsa, Oklahoma-Leoncia Curva; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-Antonio Torralba with his wife, Baby Torralba; Colorado Springs-Petra Ochavillo-Ruiz with children, Boy and Manholl Ruiz; Danville, Illinois-Francisco Aparece and Susan Aparece; Las Vegas-Teofilo Digal.
Planned activities: First day - Arrival by plane from their home states; checking in same hotel and Fellowship Dinner and seeing a show; Second day - will be the get-together socials and program planning for 2008 Diamond Reunion.
Libay is slated to be in Manila before January 25, 2008 to attend the Golden Sacerdotal Anniversary Celebration of Msgr. John Pernia for his 50 years in Holy Priesthood and will be with Msgr. Pernia's brothers, sisters, relatives and friends in Manila.
After the affair, Libay plans to proceed to Tagbilaran City by February 2008 to plan with BHS Class '47 reunion committee. (Flora Libay/Brigida B. Garay)

DSWD
clearance
for minors

A travel clearance is a document issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development to a minor who is below 18 years of age traveling abroad alone or with someone other than his/her parents. A minor traveling abroad with either or only one parent is no longer needed. The travel clearance is issued as a measure to prevent child trafficking.
Requirements for application of travel clearance are duly accomplished application form, photocopy of the birth certificate or passport of the minor, a written consent of both parents or the solo parent or the legal guardian permitting the minor to travel alone to a foreign country, photocopy of the marriage certificate of the minor's parents, and 2 colored passport size photos of the minor taken within the last six months.
Parents, legal guardians or duly authorized representatives may file their travel clearance application at #21 CPG East Avenue, DSWD, Bohol SWAD team office, Tagbilaran City or call at Tel. Nos. 411-4991/ 501-9365. (Papiasa B. Bustrillos/Social Welfare Officer III)

The Alturas Drum & Bugle Corps Showdown 2007 starts with a colorful parade from Rizal Park to the CPG Sports Complex where the actual Showdown begins at 10 AM. Gross proceeds of the Showdown will go to the Sunshine Home of Catholic Women's League (CWL) and "Tagbilaran-By-Nite" of DYRD/DYZD.

Another major highlight in the 22nd Anniversary Celebration is the 3-Day Anniversary Sale at the Alturas Department Store on November 16, 17 and 18, where discounts of up to 50% will be given away on great selections. Other activity includes the Alturas Free Clinic on November 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21 at the Alturas Food Centre, where patients can avail of free medical consultation and medicines.

The Search for Little Miss Alturas 2007 and Inter-School Quiz Bowl for elementary and high schools are still going on, where elimination rounds are conducted every Sunday afternoon at the Activity Center of the Island City Mall. The grand finals is set on November 25, Sunday.

Also going on until December 5 is the Alturas "Swerte sa Numero" Computer Game promo, where customers can win thousands worth of instant prizes daily for every P100 to P300 cash purchase at the Alturas Supermarket.

The many activities slated on the 22nd Anniversary Celebration of Alturas Supermarket reflect only one paramount theme - a means of saying thank you to the Boholanos for its constant patronage through the years.