WITH much gusto, the trinees attentively watched the procedure as demonstrated by the trainors from UPLB.|
By JOHN MICHAEL FLORENDO & JOHN MAICO HERNANDEZ, Contributors
NEW taste, texture and flavor transformed Paharang West Multipurpose Cooperative’s (PWMPC) peanut butter after the conduct of training on peanut butter making by DOST Batangas with experts from University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) Institute of Food Science and Tech-nology (IFST) held at Paharang West, Batangas City, March 07.
The training started with a brief lecture on basic food hygiene and current good manufacturing practices by Ms. Claire Zubia and Mr. Joel Rivadeneira, experts from UPLB-CAFS-IFST. They also tackled the pre-production process which includes raw materials and equipment preparation.
After the pre-production process, experts started to discuss and demonstrate peanut butter processing proper. They started roasting the peanuts and mixing other ingredients. A fabricated grinder of the cooperative was also utilized by experts. However, the grinder did not function well in grinding the peanuts to achieve standard texture.
As a result, the yield peanuts have become grainy and course which are not suitable for peanut butter. The experts resorted in using a conventional blender instead. The process was slower but the group produced a finer texture yield. Experts advised the group to make alterations on the fabricated grinder.
According to them, the alterations on the equipment should materialize a standard ground peanut yield applicable as principal blend for peanut butter production to attain product consistency.
Meanwhile, experts also demons-trated how to make a chocolate-flavored peanut butter. They melted the chocolate concentrate and incorporated it during blending of peanuts. The result was darker than the usual peanut butter but it gives a more tasteful flavor that could delight customers as referred to the thoughts of the members.
The beneficiary, Paharang West Multipurpose Cooperative, is a duly registered cooperative in Batangas City. It consists mostly of senior citizens residing in Paharang West, Batangas City. The cooperative is engaged in merchandise, credit and now food manufacturing and processing. Through Juanito Almero, Chairman, they tapped DOST Batangas to expand the knowledge of the group in peanut butter processing.| #BALIKAS_News
EASTER is a joyous celebration where families and friends get together. A time for fun egg hunts, Easter Bunny costume contests, visits from the Easter Bunny and loads of colorful treats.
Hop on over to SM for some fun treats and activities to fill your Easter celebration, make egg hunting more egg-citing for kids, or simply share the joys of this wonderful feast with loved ones.
Treat your kids and loved ones to an egg-citing Easter at SM City Batangas, SM City Lipa and SM Center Lemery.| – PR/#BALIKAS_News
DEPUTY Speaker and Batangas Congressman Raneo Abu reports on the accomplishments of the House of Representatives during the last press briefing before session adjourns on Wednesday, March 22, 2018.
Deputy Speaker Abu shared that the latest statistical data on measures processed for the First and Second Regular Session, or from July 25, 2016- March 14, 2018 consisting of 172 session days, the House has processed a total of 2673 measures and approved 653 or an average of 15 measures processed per session day.
“That’s one more measure processed per day compared to our performance from July 25, 2016 to December 13, 2017, where we were able to process an average of 14 measures per session day.” Abu added.
Out of these 653 measures approved, 60 bills were enacted into law, 22 of which are bills of national importance, 37 local bills and one was a resolution of Congress.
For the same period, the House approved on third and final reading a total of 392 bills as well as 10 measures approved on second reading, including 144 resolutions and report on motu proprio inquiry adopted.
“If we would restrict our focus from January 15 to date, the data indicates that for this period the House approved on third and final reading a total of 25 bills, which include several measures of national importance, including HB 690, which strengthens the security of tenure of workers; HB 6689 – Granting full insurance coverage to all qualified CARP beneficiaries; and HB 6834 – Strengthening the right of people to free expression, and to peaceably assemble, among others.” the Deputy Speaker said.
Recently, President Duterte urged leaders of Congress to approve before the end of May the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. The House committees on local government and Muslim Affairs as well as the special committee on peace, reconciliation and unity are working to fulfill this commitment.
“Let me also note that the House committee on constitutional amendments is hard at work in preparing a draft federal constitution so that it can be presented to the Filipino people for approval in a plebiscite that hopefully can be held by October this year.”
According to Deputy Speaker Abu, aside from purely legislative matters, the House too is actively supporting the anti-corruption drive of Pres. Duterte by conducting investigations in aid of legislation on alleged irregularities in government.
Among the most recent hearings conducted by the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability include the controversial P3.5 billion Dengvaxia program, the P9.3 billion project for barangay health stations, and the alleged misuse of Philhealth funds for senior citizens.
“Also today, the Committee on Justice has approved its committee report finding probable cause to impeach Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, as well as the accompanying Articles of Impeachment.”
“Modesty aside, I believe these achievements constitute solid indication that the House of Representatives, under Speaker Alvarez, is exerting all effort to fulfill its mandate and its commitments to the Filipino people.” Abu ended.|PMA/#BALIKAS_News
THE AMBASSADOR’S STORY. Beny Cariaga, a Cleanergy Youth Ambassador, emotionally narrate his story as he strives to pursue his education.|Photo Credit: APRI
VERY recently, AP Renewables, Inc (APRI) awarded the 2018 Cleanergy Youth Ambassador title to twelve students of Buenaventura E. Fandialan Memorial Integrated National High School (BEFMINHS).
The students were conferred the honorary title after completing an immersion program that covered various facets of tour management and events handling.
“The Cleanergy Youth Ambassadors program supports the Work Immersion requirement of DepEd’s K-12 curriculum,” said Noemi Sebastian, APRI vice president for Corporate Services. She added, “We are pleased to partner with a learning institution near our plant to help students gain real-life skills in actual work settings.”
CERTIFIED CLEANERGY YOUTH AMBASSADORS The pioneer batch of Cleanergy Youth Ambassadors Project of AP Renewables, Inc. (APRI) is now more than ready to pursue their dreams as they successfully completed their 2-month immersion program at the Cleanergy Center.|
Cleanergy Youth Ambassador Beny Cariaga shared, “Sa maagang edad, nawalan na po ako ng ina na s’yang nagsilbing ilaw ng aming tahanan. Pakiramdam ko, lahat sa paligid ko, madilim. Ngunit sa pagtagal nang panahon, na-realize ko na may mga ilaw pang pwedeng gumabay sa akin. At iyon ay ang aking mga guro, kaibigan, at kayo po sa Cleanergy Center. Aking natutunan na nasa sarili lang natin kung paano natin bubuksan ang pindutan ng ilaw na ating hinahanap.”
The 2018 Cleanergy Youth Ambassadors are John Bryan Bala, Beny Gilbert Cariaga, Mariella Ericka Caponpon, Marie Louise Bassett, Miamin Guia, Cynder Joyce Dimailig, John Paul Hansel Malabag, Roger Mar Llover, Marc Vincent Dimasapit, Claudine May Obligado, Jehan Bona, and Sonny San Diego.
PROUD TOUR GUIDES. Cleanergy Youth Ambassadors gladly tour their schoolmates at the Cleanergy Center.|
The Cleanergy Center is a 650-square meter facility located in the AP Renewables Admin Compound of MakBan Geothermal Power Plant in Brgy. Bitin, Bay, Laguna. It is the first energy education facility of AboitizPower, which is focused on environmental awareness and renewable energy education through the use of audio visual presentations, interactive displays, and a tour of a working geothermal power plant.
TASKS-DRIVEN YOUTH. Busy Youth Ambassadors strategize to accomplish their tasks in marketing and other administrative works.|
Inaugurated last August 28, 2013, the Cleanergy Center has already accommodated more than 30,000 local and foreign visitors. To know more about our Cleanergy Center, please like and follow us on facebook, www.facebook.com/cleanergycenter.
APRI, a wholly owned subsidiary of AboitizPower, is one of the leading geothermal energy producers in the country. It delivers clean and renewable baseload power with two facilities that it operates in Tiwi, Albay; Bay and Calauan, Laguna; and Sto. Tomas, Batangas. -PR|#BALIKAS_News
CLEANERGY YOUTH AMBASSADORS ON THE GO! Our tour guide aspirants also experience to go outside the community to volunteer in a children’s Christmas party in Brgy. San Vicente, Sto. Tomas, Batangas.|
RESIGNED. POPE Francis accepts the resignation of Bishop Antonio Palang, SVD, of the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro province. |PHOTO FROM THE APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF SAN JOSE
By JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS
SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro – POPE Francis has accepted the early resignation Saturday of Bishop Antonio Palang from the pastoral care of the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose here.
The Vatican’s bulletin did not mention why Palang, who is just 71 years old, resigned from the post which he served since 2002. Church law requires bishops to submit their resignation at the age of 75.
Bishop Palang was born on June 13, 1946 in Consolacion, Cebu. He was ordained a priest of Society of the Divine Word on July 8, 1972. Pope John Paul II appointed him Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate Apostolic of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro on June 26, 2000, when then Bishop Vicente C. Manuel, SVD went on leave. Manuel, however, also resigned in October 2000 at the age of 61.
On March 1, 2002, Palang was appointed Vicar Apostolic and was ordained and installed Bishop on May 31, 2002.
At the time of his retirement, Bishop Palang is a member of the of the Episcopal Commission on Mission and the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Since Palang would be stepping down, Nueva Segovia Auxiliary Bishop David William Antonio will take charge of the vicariate, after the pope reappointed him as apostolic administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis (with the See vacant and at the pleasure of the Holy See).
RETURNED. BISHOP David William Antonio, D.D. as he challenged the public to care for the environment in this file photo. He is now the returning apostolic administrator of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro as . Photo Credit: VERITAS 846
Meanwhile, Bishop Antonio was born on December 29, 1963 at Nagtupacan, Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur. He was ordained priest for Nueva Segovia on December 1, 1988; and later on was appointed to the episcopacy in June 2011.
It was on Nov. 21, 2015, when Antonio, 54, was first named apostolic administrator of San Jose.
To date, the resignation of Palang brings to 10 the list of vacant sees in the Philippines. These include the dioceses of Bayombong, Butuan, Daet, Iligan, Isabela, San Fernando de La Union, and San Jose de Antique; the Territorial Prelature of Ilagan (Basilan), the military Ordinariate of the Philippines, and the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose de Mindoro.|With reports from CBCP News / #BALIKAS_News
DEPUTY Speaker and Batangas Congressman Raneo Abu reports on the accomplishments of the House of Representatives during the last press briefing before session adjourns on Wednesday, March 22, 2018.
Deputy Speaker Abu shared that the latest statistical data on measures processed for the First and Second Regular Session, or from July 25, 2016- March 14, 2018 consisting of 172 session days, the House has processed a total of 2673 measures and approved 653 or an average of 15 measures processed per session day.
“That’s one more measure processed per day compared to our performance from July 25, 2016 to December 13, 2017, where we were able to process an average of 14 measures per session day.” Abu added.
Out of these 653 measures approved, 60 bills were enacted into law, 22 of which are bills of national importance, 37 local bills and one was a resolution of Congress.
For the same period, the House approved on third and final reading a total of 392 bills as well as 10 measures approved on second reading, including 144 resolutions and report on motu proprio inquiry adopted.
“If we would restrict our focus from January 15 to date, the data indicates that for this period the House approved on third and final reading a total of 25 bills, which include several measures of national importance, including HB 690, which strengthens the security of tenure of workers; HB 6689 – Granting full insurance coverage to all qualified CARP beneficiaries; and HB 6834 – Strengthening the right of people to free expression, and to peaceably assemble, among others.” the Deputy Speaker said.
Recently, President Duterte urged leaders of Congress to approve before the end of May the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. The House committees on local government and Muslim Affairs as well as the special committee on peace, reconciliation and unity are working to fulfill this commitment.
“Let me also note that the House committee on constitutional amendments is hard at work in preparing a draft federal constitution so that it can be presented to the Filipino people for approval in a plebiscite that hopefully can be held by October this year.”
According to Deputy Speaker Abu, aside from purely legislative matters, the House too is actively supporting the anti-corruption drive of Pres. Duterte by conducting investigations in aid of legislation on alleged irregularities in government.
Among the most recent hearings conducted by the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability include the controversial P3.5 billion Dengvaxia program, the P9.3 billion project for barangay health stations, and the alleged misuse of Philhealth funds for senior citizens.
“Also today, the Committee on Justice has approved its committee report finding probable cause to impeach Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, as well as the accompanying Articles of Impeachment.”
“Modesty aside, I believe these achievements constitute solid indication that the House of Representatives, under Speaker Alvarez, is exerting all effort to fulfill its mandate and its commitments to the Filipino people.” Abu ended.|PMA/#BALIKAS_News
Significant improvements in coverage also noted by OpenSignal
PLDT wireless arm Smart Communications Inc (Smart) has further strengthened its lead in LTE download speeds nationwide and in all major regions in the country, while posting a significant improvement in 4G/LTE coverage as well, according to the latest study released by mobile analytics company OpenSignal.
The OpenSignal State of Mobile Networks: Philippines report, which covers the months of November to January and is available on their website, showed that Smart LTE download speeds led across all measured areas: National Capital Region (13.04 Mbps vs 8.57 Mbps), North Central Luzon (11.59 Mbps vs 6.34 Mbps), South Luzon (11.66 Mbps vs 7.03 Mbps), Visayas (13.49 Mbps vs 7.37 Mbps), and Mindanao (14.42 Mbps vs 7.38 Mbps).
The study also found that Smart’s 4G/LTE availability also jumped by nearly 20% to 59.68% from 39.96% a year ago.
Smart is also ahead in terms of latency, a metric that measures a network’s responsiveness, OpenSignal measured Smart’s 4G latency at 47.21ms, quicker than the competition’s 60.7ms. Latency, measured in milliseconds, is the time it takes data to make a round trip through the network. A lower score in this metric is a sign of a more responsive network, OpenSignal said.
OpenSignal’s latest State of Mobile Networks report that focuses on the Philippines found Smart ahead in nationwide LTE download speeds at 12.5 Mbps, compared to the competition’s 7.7 Mbps.
“The OpenSignal results are proof that our investments in improving our network are bearing fruit,” said said Mario G. Tamayo,PLDT and Smart Senior Vice President for Network Planning and Engineering. “With our ongoing roll-out of LTE and LTE-Advanced to more areas, we are on track to meet our commitment to the National Telecommunications Commission to achieve 90% municipality coverage for 3G and 4G mobile broadband by the end of this year.”
“Better latency also means better experience for our customers who want to play games on their mobile phones and update their social media accounts without lag,” Tamayo added.
World class speeds with LTE-Advanced
Smart recently announced that it is accelerating the deployment of LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) and carrier aggregation technology to more areas this year to provide world class speeds to its customers.
Carrier Aggregation (CA) is a feature of LTE-A which enables the combination of two or more radio frequency bands in order to deliver bigger bandwidth and much faster data speeds to mobile phone users.
Smart has already rolled-out 3CC CA sites in cities across Metro Manila, as well as in major cities in other regions of the country. 3CC involves the combination of three frequencies.
These include cities like Baguio City in Benguet; Santa Rosa, Calamba and Biñan in Laguna; the cities of Iloilo, Bacolod, Tagbilaran and Ormoc in the Visayas; and the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Dipolog, and Zamboanga in Mindanao, to name a few.
In Metro Manila and areas where there is a concentration of capable devices, Smart is also deploying 4CC, starting with Marikina and Quezon City.
In Marikina City, for example, customers with 4CC CA-capable devices like the Samsung Galaxy S8 have reported enjoying data download speeds of over 200 Mbps.
4×4 MIMO deployment
Smart’s accelerated deployment of LTE-Advanced is a follow-through on the stepped up roll out of its LTE network. In 2018, Smart is doubling the number of LTE base stations to about 17,700 and raising the number of LTE-equipped cell sites to more than 6,800 this year.
Smart is also upping the ante by deploying another LTE-A based technology called 4×4 Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), which raises the radio frequency efficiency by using multiple antennas for sending and receiving data.
Historic capex
As of end-2017, Smart has more than 8,700 LTE base stations and over 4,300 LTE cell sites. It has also increased its 3G base stations to over 9,800, and its 3G-equipped cell sites to about 7,500.
Base stations refer to the cellular radio equipment that run on specific frequencies, such as 700 MHz, 1800 MHz or 2100 MHz, while cell sites are the towers or structures that house several of these base stations.
For this fast-tracked LTE and 3G roll-out, Smart is heavily using the radio frequencies acquired from San Miguel Corporation, with over 2,000 base stations using these frequencies as of end-2017. This figure is expected to increase to nearly 9,000 base stations by end-2018. These frequencies are currently serving an estimated 24 million Smart, Sun, and TNT customers all over the country.
Parent company PLDT has committed historic levels of resources to support network transformation. Capital expenditures reached P40 billion in 2017, of which about 67% was allotted for the mobile network.
For 2018, PLDT capex is expected to reach P58 billion, which includes allocations for the aggressive roll-out of its fiber broadband service, which also supports the stepped-up deployment of the mobile network by providing high-capacity links for cellular base stations.|
WINNERS of the 9th Gawad Anak OFW. |Photo Credit: CBCP News
By JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS
A TOTAL of five (5) sons and daughters of Batangueño Overseas Filipino Workers were picked as finalists to the ECMI 10thGawadAnak OFW while 17 others are qualified for the 1st Luzon Migration Quiz Bee Finals slated on March 20.
The Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples (ECMI) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) released on Friday the names of the finalists from both elementary and junior high schools for the Ten Outstanding Sons and Daughters of OFW Student Achievers Awards (TOSDOSA) whose final interview and awarding will also be held on March 20.
Three (3) among the 10 finalists for Elementary Level nationwide are from the Archdiocese of Lipa that comprises th whole province of Batangas, namely – Alex Anthony L. Andal of Lipa City and whose father works in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); Kim A. Bulanhagui of Bauan, Batangas whose father is a worldwide seafarer; and Jana G. Mendoza of Taal, Batangas whose mother is working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
For the Junior High School Level, only eight (8) made it to the finals and two of them are also from Batangas – Czarlise P. De Castro of Taal and Shena Mae R. Comia of Batangas City. Their fathers are working in the UAE and KSA, respectively.
Said finalists were evaluated based on the submitted documents from their respective archdioceses/dioceses (60%) and will have their final ranking after the interview (40%0 on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the pilot episode of the 1st Luzon Migration Quiz Bee Finals will also commence on Tuesday. A total of 52 Junior High School Qualifiers from Four Pilot Dioceses (Alaminos (Pangasinan) – 5, Lipa (Batangas) – 17, Antipolo (Rizal-Marikina) – 12, and San Fernando (Pampanga) -18 will compete for the top honors.
Migration Quiz Bee intends to raise consciousness and awareness among the young generation on the different issues and concerns on migration. The Final Interview and Awarding Ceremony will be both held on March 20 at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Intramuros, Manila.
The annual ‘GawadAnak OFW’ organized by the CBCP- ECMI was conceptualized in support of the family of OFWs. It acknowledges skilled and outstanding students from various elementary and high schools nationwide.
Last year, Kiana Carlyn Silang from Our Lady of Caysasay Academy in Batangas won the first place in the elementary level while Aisha Cruz Said from Pilar College of Zamboanga City, garnered the top award for the high school category.
This 10th ‘GawadAnak OFW: TOSDOSA’ will serve as a reunion for all awardees since the beginning, and will be an opportunity to highlight the success stories of the awardees.
LIPA City – A TOTAL of 431 senior citizens flocked to SM City Lipa last March 13 to attend a talk regarding the updates on their social benefits which was discussed by Mr. Emman Medrazo of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
Also talked about during the session is the way in which senior citizens can properly address complaints to establishments who are not following the prescribed discounts for seniors.
Mr. Frank Fajutagana, President of the Lipa City Federation of Senior Citizens Association (LICFOSCA) intimated his heartfelt thanks to SM for holding events for the senior citizens and for making sure that they (the seniors) have their special lanes in the mall.
After the discussion, the seniors were given a body wellness treat. Led by Zumba certified instructor Homer Lalog, 43 seniors joined in the dancing which lasted for 45 minutes. Seniors Day at the Mall is a quarterly event of SM Supermalls. It aims to promote caring for senior citizens and for the mall to be a venue for senior citizens’ events and affairs.-PR|#BALIKAS_News
ENERGY. After signing the declaration of commerciality, Energy secretary Alfonso Cusi shakes hand with CIMP Co. Ltd. Chair Lam Nam, while DOE Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos and CIMP Co. Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Eric Lie served as witnesses.|DOE PHOTO
DEPARTMENT of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi on Wednesday, March 14, declared the Alegria Oil Field in Southern Cebu to have commercial quantities of natural gas and oil resources.
The pronouncement was made after the ceremonial signing of the Joint Declaration of Commerciality (JDC) between the DOE and the service contractor China International Mining Petroleum Company Limited (CIMP Co. Ltd.) on 14 March 2018 at the Hyatt Hotel-BGC in Taguig City.
CIMP Co. Ltd. holds Petroleum Service Contract (SC) No.49, which covers the Alegria Oil Field.
Signing the declaration along with Cusi was CIMP Co. Ltd. Chair Lam Nam, while DOE Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos and CIMP Co. Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Eric Lie served as witnesses.
Exploration and drilling activities on the oil field by the service contractor started in 2009.
By 2016, the DOE and CIMP Co. Ltd. jointly established that the oil field contained commercial quantities of natural gas upon its discovery of oil accumulation in the adjacent hydrocarbon traps within the Alegria underground area.
The DOE and CIMP Co. Ltd. discovered an estimated 27.93 million barrels of oil (MMBO) with a possible production recovery of 3.35 MMBO or a conservative estimate of 12% of total oil in place/reserves.
For natural gas, about 9.42 billion cubic feet (bcf) reserves were found, with the recoverable resource estimated at 6.6 bcf or about 70% of total natural gas in place/reserves.
Based on the development plan crafted after the initial testing, the natural gas and oil production of the field may last until 2037.
The JDC outlined the roles and responsibilities of CIMP Co. Ltd., particularly its compliance with all conditions stated in the approved Plan of Development dated 19 December 2017.|-PR/DOE | #BALIKAS_News
