Southern Leyte Celebrates Its 51th Founding Day Anniversary

July 11,2011

Southern Leyte Celebrates Its 51th Founding Day anniversary
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The province o f Southern Leyte, comprising 18 municipalities and one city, has recently celebrated its 51th founding day anniversary at the provincial capitol grounds with a theme: “Southern Leyte: Sustaining The Growth”.
The celebration started with the parade at the Anatalio Gaviola plaza down to the provincial capitol. It was participated in by municipal mayors, Vice-Mayors and their respective Sangguniang Panlunsod members, provincial and city officials, heads of line agencies, including the public presentation of Miss Southern Leyte 2011 and her court
Mayor Maloney Samaco and Governor Damian Mercado delivered their welcome addresses during the anniversary program at the sunken garden’s public stage.
Also present at the stage were Vice-Mayor Ma. Effie Abiera-Sabandal and some City Councilors;Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo,11; ,some SP members,DPWH Regional Director Angel Sia,DAR Regional Director Castillo, Coral Cay representatives, Regional Tourism Director Karen Teopes and other personalities.
Congressman Roger Mercado in his short speech said “let us continue what we are doing” and urged the people of the province to be industrious,coursteous and hospitable in their dealings with different people including tourists that they are going to meet in their day to day living.
He also strongly enjoined the inhabitants to plant a variety of crops on their vacant lots and should give time also in clearing their respective places and surroundings.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri was still able to come as the guest speaker despite his busy appointments in some other places like North Cotabato and in Davao where he chose to visit the place on the eve of its anniversary so that he could come to Southern Leyte, he said.
However, he did not deliver any kind of meaningful speech, as if all he wanted to say were already spoken by other public officials.
Zubiri ,an adopted son of Southern Leyte who has had passed numerous laws in environmental conservation and protection, like renewable alternative energy and waste management ,among others,has merely repeated that indeed, in unity and teamwork, and with the cooperation of the constituents, a province like Southern Leyte can really move on to progress.
He likewise disclosed that whenever there’s an opportunity to talk about Southern Leyte, he always tells the people he knows to also include the place in their eco-tourism tour or perhaps invest in the province.
Plaques of Rajah Kolambo Awards were likewise handed over to the most outstanding Southern Leyteños 2011 by Governor Damian Mercado in behalf of the provincial government.
1)Vice-Mayor Ma. Effie Abiera –Sabandal-government service;2)Domingo P. Espina-retired government elected official and being the Mayor of the municipality of Libagon for 16 years and as COCOFED Partylist Representative-government service; 3)Patrick Rimbert S. Galia-international motorcross champion(young achiever category)-champion in various national, international and Asian motorcross competitions,65 class category,10 years old and below;4)Patrick Joseph S. Galia-international motor cross champion(young achiever category)-champion in various national, international and Asian motorcross competitions,50 class castegory,8 years old and below;5)Placida Go-Saga(Posthumous Award as writer/author/educator)- for her downright and deep concern and sincere interest in preserving the precious cultural heritage of the province through her book “Folk Poetry of Southern Leyte”.
Winners of Ms. Southern Leyte 2011: 1)Beryl Lynn Yu-Ms .Southern Leyte 2011-Sogod;2)First runner up Marian Mate-Anahawan;3)Second runner- up-Beverly Ann Orais-Maasin; 4)Third runner up-Shara Tibon-Bontoc; 5)Fourth runner up-Sheila Diokno-Macrohon.
Winner of showdown Sinugdan Festival: 1) Grand winner-Maasin;2)First runner-up-Bato;32)Second runner-up-Anahawan; 4)Third runner-up-Malitbog.
1) Best in street dancing-Bato, Leyte;2)Best in costume-Maasin; 3)Best in Choreographer-Kobol Abres-Maasin; 4)Festival Queen-Aisha Umacob-Anahawan.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

Kinamot Sa Abgao Restaurant.Tel. no. (053)381-3878.
Villa Romana Hotel.13 airconditioned rooms with TV sets,etc.
Tel no.(053)381-0639.Tomas Oppus St.,brgy. Abgao, Maasin City.

N.B.The almost eleven years old city of Maasin has no skin specialist yet until now. Only those w ho have the means can go to Cebu City for their skin problems. But those with little income cannot afford to go to Cebu for consultations. We hope that a skin specialist or dermatologist from nearby cities will be interested to put up a clinic here to serve those who have skin problems.

Natasha Service Center/MSE Marikina Shoe Service Center,
A.Bantug Street,Tunga-Tunga,Maasin City,Southern Leyte
Tel nos. (053)570-8144;(053)381-0430.