Quoting an unnamed author, Bordado said that in the Philippines, heroism is usually associated with dead patriots.

“But today, we have in our midst real heroes who are alive and kicking. Day in and day out, they have to grapple with seemingly insurmountable odds to educate the youth and to secure the very future of the world,” Bordado said before some 1200 teachers of Naga City.

The World Teachers’ Day was first held on Oct. 5, 1994 in the United States in a bid “to mobilize support for teachers and to insure the need of future generations will continue to be met by teachers.”

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO) is also quoted as saying that the World Teachers’ Day represents a significant token of the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the vital contribution that teachers make to education and development.

Here in Naga City, the celebration of World Teachers’ day was spearheaded by the NACITEA led by Nydia Sol, Pepito Evangelista, Salvacion Selga, Neil Romano Manaog and Jose Nicolasora.

Its board of directors is composed of Marilyn Aguilar, Myrna Abayon, Flordeliza Abogado, Esmeralda De los Reyes, Apollo Sebello, Virgilio Cañizo, Jose C. Alferez, Benedick Warren Ubante, Ramil Pederio, Betty Bongalon, Grace Orbeta, Joe Arriola, Salvador Ferro Jr. and Ester Beloy.

Source: http://bikolnews.wordpress.com/2010/10/27/naga-exec-lauds-%E2%80%98living-heroes%E2%80%99/

NAGA CITY — The Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) bagged for the third time in a row the Most Outstanding Chamber in the Philippines award and made it through the Hall of Fame of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCI), the largest business organization in the country.

In the recently concluded three day 36th Philippine Business Conference and Exposition (36th PBC&E) held October 13-15 at the historic Manila Hotel, MNCCI outshone other chambers as it took anew the awards as The Most Outstanding Chamber in the Philippines 2010 and The Most Outstanding Chamber of Commerce in Southern Luzon.

A business chamber needs to win three times in five years to be included in the Hall of Fame.

“It is recognition of the things we have accomplished. It’s good that we know we are doing the right thing and that we are doing better,” MNCCI President Alberto Bercasio said.

Bercasio said that they may have won the award because of the strong public private partnership they exhibited with the City Government of Naga and other municipal governments that comprise Metro Naga.

“We tried to be a significant partner of the community. We are in the forefront of issues especially those affecting the business sector,” Bercasio stated.

Bercasio also said that the MNCCI walked the extra mile from the usual functions of the chamber of commerce. He said that their chamber offered business management training and management instructions system to medium and small entrepreneurs.

“The chamber is commonly perceived to be for big businesses only. We made it a point to reach out. There are 11 consultants who offer their technical expertise for free to small and medium entrepreneurs,” Bercasio disclosed.

“We also made one of the officers of the market vendor’s association as an affiliate member. Presidents of municipal business clubs in Metro Naga are also among our members,” Bercasio added.

As a result of the honor received by the chamber, Bercasio revealed that there are already various chambers across the country and other stakeholders who expressed their desire to visit Naga to see the chamber’s practices that earned them their award.

“At least, we have a share in the pie [in Naga’s tourism],” quipped Bercasio.

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III also attended the three day conference and gave a speech on his administration’s accomplishments highlighting the big help of the private sector on building the nation and improving its economy.

Also, in attendance were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Francis Escudero and some members of the Aquino Cabinet – Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose P. de Jesus, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Cayetano W. Paderanga, Tourism Secretary Alberto A. Lim, and Energy Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras.

Source: http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/oct21/xbiz.html

For the past several weeks I have been ‘bothered’ by the traffic caused by several huge brand-new Tourist Buses maneuvering near the corner of the UniTop building in Barangay Dinaga; and at the same time ‘gladdened’ by the fact that these buses have been bringing busloads of lively and exciting Tourists to our ‘Pilgrim City’; even if their destinations usually are the Cam. Sur Water Sports Complex, and/or the Gota Beach in Caramoan. Even then, just occupying our clean, cozy, and strategically located hotels, and patronizing our tantalizingly ‘hot’ and delicious Bicolano Cuisine (which we will soon be ‘expanding’ with the ‘promotion’ of the omnipresent and invigorating ‘KINALAS’ which is found only in Naga City, by way of a ‘Kinalas Food Festival’ sometime next year), is something which should inspire our fellow Bicolano Entrepreneurs to work hard in order to make Naga City’s presence felt in the Tourism Map!

The recently opened Naga City Coliseum (the ‘Big Dome’ of the South), has opened up a lot of possibilities, ranging from P.B.A games, National and International Cockfights, Professional Boxing Matches, Chess Competitions, Concerts, Operas, National and International Conventions, International Car Shows, and the very ‘invigorating’ Beauty Contests and Fashion Shows!

With the able and benevolent leadership of Mayor John Bongat, who has almost single-handedly ‘inspired’ the resurgence of Tourism in this City with his Naga City ‘SMILES’ (at the World), we cannot but come together and help each other really get our Pilgrim City chugging along 365 days a year on our ‘Tourism Express’ towards 2011 in cooperation with the Tourism ‘Blitz’ of Gov. L-Ray and the Provincial Government. We really need to make Bicol Tourism a concerted ‘symbiotic’ effort. We need them and they cannot help but need US. We are the ‘HEART’ of Bicol, and nobody has ever tried to survive without a heart!

Along the ‘Tourism Line’ we now would also like to solicit everyone’s Positive Suggestions (including those of Bicolandia’s ‘Tourism Champion’, Gov. L-Ray) as to what we can do to make our newly ‘acquired’ Plaza Rizal, not only something to be ‘cleanly’ proud of, but something which Tourists will be delighted and happy to show pictures of to all their friends here and abroad! Specialty Food Stalls and Bicol Souvenir Shops can be strategically placed all over the place; and a Naga City Chess Club can also be located somewhere in the Park. An Early Breakfast Nook can be situated in the original coffee shop to cater to early morning joggers and aerobic exercisers who will be inspired to relocate their ‘sweat’ to our new and superbly CLEAN Rizal Park! Weekly Barangay Elimination Contests: ‘Naga’s Got Talent’ can be done in the Park with the December Finals to be made in the Naga City Coliseum. The ultimate winner will be sent on an all expenses paid trip (among other prizes to be solicited by our Tourism Committee from our Big Time Donors like S.M., San Miguel Corp., Camella Homes, etc.) to join the National ‘Pinoy Got Talent’ Contest in Manila. Photographers who are registered with the Naga City Tourism Bureau will be encouraged to ply their trade in the Park; and a strategically located Pay Toilet will also have to be constructed to give everyone a sanitary place to relieve themselves in. Several plainclothes policemen will be placed on rotation duty 24/7 so that everyone will be able to securely and leisurely while their time away. Everyone will also be treated to Oil Painting Exhibitions by none other than renowned Bicolano International Painter, Pancho Piano; and a Concert at The Park performed LIVE every Sunday by Barangay Musical Talents, with the whole family in tow. With our good Mayor John Bongat’s innovative imagination guiding us, there’s no doubt that our Pilgrim City will continue to be on the right track to real and very Visual Progress! Mabuhay ang Tourismo sa Naga! Mabuhay kita gabos! Viva la Virgen Penafrancia!

Source: http://www.bicolmail.com/issue/2010/oct14/blue.html

NAGA CITY — Following final decision by the Supreme Court’s Special Third Division, City Councilor and former City Legal Officer Nelson Legacion, in a privilege speech during last Tuesday’s regular session of the Sangguniang Panlunsod, called on Camarines Sur Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte and other concerned

provincial officials “to immediately and peacefully turn over the possession, administration and supervision of Plaza Rizal to the City of Naga.”

At the same time, the city councilor urged City Mayor John Bongat to send a formal letter to the governor asking the provincial capitol to set a date on the formal turn over, without having to wait for the court’s order to be enforced by way of a writ of execution.

But the city mayor who is also a lawyer by profession wants a more diplomatic and amiable course to once and for all settle the problem. He said he plans to personally meet with the governor within the week to discuss the plaza’s smooth and orderly turn-over and other related matters.

The Supreme Court’s Third Division last August 25, this year but which notice was received by city hall only on September 24, denied with finality the motion for reconsideration of the court’s September 18, 2009 decision dismissing a petition for certiorari after it was decided that Plaza Rizal, which is situated in Naga should be under the administrative control and supervision of the city government.

The Supreme Court in its final resolution noted that the provincial government in its motion for reconsideration “merely reiterates the same arguments earlier raised and does not present any substantial reason not previously invoked or any matter not already considered and passed by the Court.”

Saying the long wait is finally over, Legacion reminded that there is an urgent call to make Plaza Rizal a real place for rest and recreation.

The start of the tug-of-war over the plaza’s control and supervision may be traced back to June 18, 1948 when Naga, then the provincial capital, became a city independent from Camarines Sur.

According to the city councilor, the situation deteriorated because the plaza had continuously been used by the provincial government for commercial purposes contrary to its nature as a public park. He stated: “When visitors came to Naga, they saw the filthy and disorderly appearance in Plaza Rizal resulting from various unauthorized and illegal activities being conducted therein at the behest of provincial officials but which were oftentimes attributed to the city officials.”

He narrated, thus:

On January 13, 1997, the city government filed a complaint for declaratory relief wherein it asserted its right to the plaza.

On March 10, 1999, the RTC decided in favor of the city as it concluded that it is the city which has the right of administrative control and management of the plaza.

Unhappy with the RTC decision, the provincial government went to the Court of Appeals which on June 28, 2004 decided in favor of the city government.

Again discontented with the defeat suffered, the provincial government went up to the Supreme Court by way of petition for review claiming grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Court of Appeals.

On September 18, 2009, the Supreme Court affirmed that the proper agent to administer and possess Plaza Rizal is the City of Naga.

Still finding the Supreme Court decision unacceptable, the province filed a motion for reconsideration which again fell flat on the face of the provincial capitol, hence the final resolution.

By Alec Santos

The City of Naga has always had a penchant for pioneering groundbreaking programs minus the astronomical cost. In Naga, “Doing more with less” as former mayor and now DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo used to say, has become an integral part of governance.

Proving that Naga has what it takes to become a city poised for even greater things, Mayor John G. Bongat introduced his flagship program, “Naga SMILES to the World!,” during his first day on the job as the city’s chief executive.

The brilliance of the SMILES program can best be described as an effort that reinforces the city’s being the regional center of trade and industry, education, and governance innovations. Even before taking his post as the city mayor, Mayor Bongat and several city officials were already cracking heads to map out Naga’s future. Despite many sleepless nights and restive discussions, the SMILES concept was finalized. It would be an undertaking of massive importance to the city, its people, and the region.

The acronym SMILES symbolizes Naga’s goals of strengthening its position as a fast-growing progressive city in Bicol and in Southern Luzon. Each letter stands for the Bongat administration’s six defined, economically-driven promotional goals: S (See Naga), M (Meet in Naga), I (Invest in Naga), L (Live in Naga), E (Experience Naga), and S (Study in Naga).

SEE Naga

The letter “S” stands for SEE Naga, which encourages both domestic and foreign tourists to come to Naga to enjoy its many natural and historico-cultural attractions.

Unbeknownst to many locals, Naga offers a wide variety of natural attractions in upper barangays such as Panicuason. For years, the Malabsay Falls has hogged the headlines when in fact residents in Panicuason have enjoyed other falls, streams, and natural pools like the Big Stone area. A perfect spot for rappelling, zip-lining, or just plain swimming, Big Stone, when developed, can offer local and foreign tourists alike new extreme sports and adventure challenges.

As one of the oldest cities in the archipelago, Naga has a rich and colorful history dating back to the pre-Hispanic era. Even before the arrival of the Spaniards, the riverside community was already flourishing trading hub for many Indian, Muslim, and Chinese traders. The three centuries under Spanish rule also introduced a new form of arts and culture to the city that would ultimately define its people. Just recently, the city government and the Naga Preservation Society embarked on a campaign to formally recognize and promote several historical sites across the city, proving that Naga remembers well its past as a window to the future.

MEET in Naga

The City of Naga’s unique position in Southern Luzon as the center of trade and commerce is slowly transforming it into the country’s Convention City. The presence of new hotels and convention halls that cater to gatherings of different sizes has also convinced the city government to promote Naga as the city to meet in, hence MEET in Naga.

Interested parties can choose from 33 different venues to suit their needs. Of these, five offer convention halls that can accommodate more than a thousand delegates and guests. The slated opening of the new Metro Naga Coliseum this coming September will also add 10,000 seats to Naga’s existing capacity, bringing the total number of delegates that the city can accommodate around 19,260 at any given time.

The Metro Naga Coliseum’s unique location in the middle of the Central Business District 2 is also expected to be a crowd-drawer. With large shopping malls and the central bus terminal just a stone throw’s away from the massive building, tourists and visitors from across the region and even from other regions can easily experience Naga at its finest.

INVEST in Naga

As the undisputed trading hub of the Bicol Region, the City of Naga has enjoyed substantial economic growth in the last two decades alone. Despite its position in the region and the country’s economic map, Naga is not content with resting on its laurels. The city government is aware that for any economic progress to be sustained, there has to be a constant effort to draw in investments. Thus, the INVEST in Nagaportion of the SMILES program was incorporated.

Common business logic dictates that the private sector prefers a local government that is both cooperative and effective. Investors are naturally drawn to a government that is business-friendly. To address this need, city officials in the previous administration of then Mayor Jesse Robredo established the Naga City Investment Board (NCIB) to assist potential investors and to promote the city as a perfect market for investors, thereby spurring economic activity and generating employment.

Under the new administration of Mayor Bongat, the NCIB has been directed to intensify efforts in finding new investors to accelerate the momentum that Naga is enjoying.

LIVE in Naga

They say that the best place is one that you never wish to leave.

This is exactly the idea behind LIVE in Naga. After evaluating Naga’s “liveability”, it was found that the city offers plenty of attractions for migrants, families, and professionals to come and reside in Naga. Not only is it the perfect place to work in, but it is also the best city to start a family. Quality public and private schools provide children with the best form of education they deserve. A significant number of housing subdivisions and villages offer different types of homes to families with different needs. Medical centers and practitioners abound in the city, able to provide complete, state-of-the-art health services.

LIVE in Naga aims to market the city as the perfect community to live in because of modern amenities, the low cost of living as well as peace of mind and security. Despite its growing economy, the cost of living and the cost of raising a family is relatively lower in Naga than in other sprawling urban centers. This translates to more people calling the City of Naga their home. Naga’s peaceful setting also attracts many families looking for a safe and secure community to call their own.

EXPERIENCE Naga

For almost two decades, the City of Naga was synonymous to innovations in governance principles. And these trailblazing programs and policies were not only on paper. The citizens of Naga themselves are aware of these innovations and experience their impact on their lives on a daily basis. Local government units across the country are now trying to replicate the city’s successes by way of study visits or “Lakbay Aral” trips to EXPERIENCE Naga.

By strengthening already existing programs and by introducing new ones to further improve the delivery of government services, the Bongat administration hopes to sustain efforts in promoting Naga as the center for effective local governance. This has led to more local government units and agencies heading to the city to study its best practices. Last August 25, the City Government added a new award for being the most outstanding local government unit in the region to its more than 150 national and international awards.

STUDY in Naga

Naga has been the center of education since the Spanish colonial rule. It is home to one of the oldest Catholic seminaries, the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, as well as the oldest normal school for girls in Asia, the Universidad de Sta. Isabel. In recent decades, however, there has been an influx of students studying various fields of academic interests like science, the arts, and computer technology. Capitalizing on this strength, the City Government has placed emphasis on drawing in more students, both local and foreign to STUDY in Naga.

Mayor Bongat envisions a Naga that can be called a University Town because of the sheer number of students studying in the city’s 4 universities (including Central Bicol State University of Agriculture in nearby Pili town), 12 colleges, and more than 20 technical-vocational schools. Students can also choose from a variety of courses and degrees ranging from agriculture to banking, and to digital animation.

Different people look at the City of Naga in different ways. Tourists SEE Naga as the perfect destination. Companies and organizations MEET in Naga because it is fast-becoming a Convention City. A businessman decides to INVEST in Naga because of the profitable business climate. Families decide to call the city their home and LIVE in Naga because it offers them peace of mind. Government officials and employees flock to the city to EXPERIENCE Naga. And Students head to the regional center of education to STUDY in Naga.

Taken as a whole, Naga offers only the best SMILES to residents, tourists, investors, and the world. This is the very essence of the “Naga SMILES to the world!” branding – to proudly announce to the world what the City of Naga has with warm Nagueño SMILES.