Pangasinan is all set for Agew na Pangasinan Celebration

LINGAYEN—The provincial government is all set for the commemoration of the 434th founding anniversary of the Agew na Pangasinan slated on April 5. 

Linapacan Island, Palawan has world's clearest water to swim in – News site

Barselisa Island, Linapacan, Palawan | Source: www.skyscrapercity.com

Linapacan Island, Palawan has world's clearest water to swim in – News site

Source: www.gmanetwork.com

It is no secret that the Philippines has some of the world's best beaches, islands, and diving spots. This year though, in particular, the world seems to be sitting up and taking notice.

Another Albay beauty Queen Crowned Miss Tourism World Philippines 2012

ANOTHER ALBAY BEAUTY QUEEN CROWNED MISS TOURISM WORLD PHILIPPINES 2012

Another beauty queen from Albay bags the the first-ever Miss Tourism World Philippines 2012 in colorful and glittering rites held at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on November 11, 2012.

Meryl Angeline King, 23 year old nurse from a Bicol town, will represent the country at the forthcoming Miss Tourism World Finals to be held in Bangkok, Thailand on December 15. She is also the reigning 2012 Ms. Pulang-Angui of the Municipality of Polangui and Ms. Tabak of Tabaco City, all in the Province of Albay. “We are very excited for our first winner of Miss Tourism World Philippines, not only does she posses the elegant and beauty of a true Filipina, but she also personify the charm and warmth of our motherland, a real Ambassador of Philippine Tourism.” Says Mr. Francisco “Gareth” Blanco Jr. the National Director and Philippine Franchise holder of Miss Tourism World Pageant. 

Ms. King is a product of the Albay Pageant Academy. In an interview with Albay Governor Joey Salceda, “the Province of Albay is the first ever in the country to have formally launched the Albay Pageant Academy which is a conscious effort to develop local pageant winners make it big in national and international competitions”. The Pageant Academy is headed by Board Member Glenda Ong Bongao, as its Executive Director. “The Albay pageant academy will bank on a person’s beauty as accentuated with a Happy Disposition and a contented spirit and that I think is the real Albayana beauty”, Board Member Bongao said. 

Gov. Salceda is a staunched supporter of Bicolana beauty queens in international competitions and was instrumental in the victory of Dianne Samar Necio, 2010 Binibining Pilipinas-International in the People’s Choice / Miss Internet Awards in the 51st Miss International Pageant in Chengdu, China.

Albay is said to be the Venezuela of the Philippines, having produced 37 regional, national and international beauty queens since 1980 with the entry of Ms. Agapita Sigue of Legazpi City as Ms. Philippine National Red Feather 1980. Topping the list of Albay beauty queens, to name a few, are Miriam Quiambao of Bacacay , 1st Runner-Up Ms. Universe 1999, Precious Lara Quigaman of Ligao City, Ms. International 2005, Melody Gersbach of Daraga, Bb. Pilipinas - International 2009, Diane Necio of Polangui, Bb. Pilipinas International 2011, Jane Bañares , Mutya ng Pilipinas 2009 and Venus Raj, Ms. Universe 2010 4th runner, who studied in Bicol University and served as spokesperson for the Center for Initiatives and Researches on Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), an office under the Office of the Governor.

In a separate interview with a contestant, it was observed that all beauty contestants dream of winning the different beauty contests in the province because they not only offer a big financial stake to winners with at least 200k-P300k cash reward, it carries with other privileges, scholarship and gifts from pageant sponsors, and most importantly, the opportunity to be part of the prestigious list of beauty queens and the different exposure the Province is committed to share . “The yearly Ms. Magayon, the provincial beauty pageant, offers an outright cash gift of P300k, though amount increases every year, is given on the day of the coronation, no installment”, as emphasized by Ms. Dorothy Colle, the Provincial Tourism Head.

Photos by Jhoezen B. Perez

Text by Vince Baltazar 

PNR adds extra trip to Bicol

     The Philippine National Railways (PNR) has announced that starting next week they will add additional trips to Bicol.

Featured Photos | PNR Bicol Express

Photos by Ritche Merjilla Asagra | Hijab Albayano Photography Inc.

     The two new services, the Mayon Limited De Luxe will run every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while the Mayon Limited Ordinary will run every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. 

 

      These additional services will depart from Tutuban station at 8:30 pm and arrive at 5:45 am in Naga City, Camarines Sur, 6:50 am in Polangui, Albay and 7:00 am in Ligao City, Albay, the next day. 

Fare: Mayon Limited De Luxe 

P716.00 - Naga City

P768.00 - Ligao City 

Fare: Mayon Limited Ordinary 

P416.00 - Naga City

P491.00 - Ligao City

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Contact No | 09203058519

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Philippine Volcanoes at the 2012 PTAA Travel & Tour Expo

     The Philippine Rugby Team, Philippine Volcanoes at the 2012 PTAA Travel and Tour Expo at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia in Pasay City. 

K-Pop superstars 2NE1 in Albay for the Photo Essay Book

K-Pop superstars 2ne1 in Albay for the Photo Essay Book. 

Source: samecut123jez | Youtube 

Video courtesy of TV Patrol Bicol 

Source: samecut123jez | Youtube 

Video courtesy of 24 Oras

Tourist arrival in Albay up by 44%

by Sally A. Atento

Source: www.pia.gov.ph

LEGAZPI CITY, January 8 (PIA) -- Tourism Bicol regional director Susan Ravanilla has affirmed the impressive growth rate of tourist arrivals in Albay from January to June 2011 which so far is the highest in the past years.

Legazpi Airport

Tourist arrivals in Albay has considerably increased to 234,081 tourists in 2011 compared to 162,506 in the same period in 2010, a 44 percent growth rate compared to the previous year.

Tied up with the 44 percent boost in the number of tourist arrivals is the 51 percent growth in foreign revenue for the first and second quarter of 2011, from P122 million revenues for 2010 to P180 million generated.

This growth also generated 836,623 jobs for the 1st quarter of 2011.

According to Ravanilla, tourist arrivals peak during the first two quarters of the year.

"The people are the direct beneficiaries of this tourism boost,” the director furthered.

The tourists' countries of origin included the United States and the United Kingdom which also comprised the biggest tourist arrival rate in Sorsogon.

Ravanilla also said that Donsol contributed a lot to the tourism growth rate in Albay since their foreign visitors usually stayed in this city for accommodation, bar hopping, shopping and other stuff that they can try and enjoy.

Mayon Volcano

Also boosting the number of tourist arrivals in Albay is Albay’s month long Magayon Festival in April, including the nightly beer plaza and presentations at Albay Park and other festivities and events that appealed to both domestic and foreign tourists.

From the median term development plan, the tourist arrival target for 2012 is 2 million which was already achieved in 2010 and is expected to be surpassed in 2011. The challenge then for 2012 is to go beyond the said target, the DOT Bicol director said. (MAL/SAA, PIA V/Albay)

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Albay launches Philippines’ first beauty pageant academy

Published: November 30, 2011

Written by: Lovelyn M. Quintos, Correspondent | The Manila Times

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay: 18-year-old aspiring appeal queen Monica Belgica tilted her head back and lifted her chin a little.

The Five’ Eight”  dusky Bicolana then walked the runway with different local pageant titlists to mark the official start of the Albay Pageant College (APA) here on November Twenty Five.

Belgica’s great facial features and lanky make look like those of Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2010 Maria Venus Raj, in addition a Bicolana.

“I hear scores of persons state I put in remembrance them of Venus Raj. It’s a huge privilege for me since all of us know that Venus has given such an esteem to our country,” she said.

Raj of Bato, Camarines Sur province, completed 4th jogger-up in the Miss Universe Pageant last year after a weak question-and-reply (QA) performance that many thought cost her the title.

“I have done a lot of missteps, however I think it is just genuine for people. All of us have missteps and I consider missteps as challenges for you to do much better other time,” Belgica answered when asked the same question thrown at Raj in 2010.

She acknowledged that she battled in the Q A portion, however evidently her individuality and appeal made her stand out at the Mutya ng Bacacay 2011 contest.

The crown obtained her a scholarship at the APA, a plan of the Albay provincial authority geared towards supplying a coaching ground for Albayanas poised to join nationwide appeal pageants.

‘Big deal’

Here in Albay, an attraction pageant is a pretty huge deal. The partakers indeed outlay scores of cash in an attraction pageant. The prize ranges from P 150,000 to P200, 000 just for the title,” provincial board member Glenda Bongao, the key supporter of the plan, said.

Nationwide pageant winners 1999 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Miriam Quiambao, 2009 Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental Melody Gersbach and 2011 Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental Dianne Necio trace their roots to Albay.

Bongao said that the appeal-pageant college provided coaching in individuality development and conducts speech courses, which, she added, would help local promising pageant winners do well in larger competitions.

“That is a college like no different since it tries to dig deep in the real essence of appeal. It is a college that considers appeal not as a physical feature or maybe a fashion sense. It is a college that espouses the principle of appeal as an daily life,” in accordance with the provincial board member.

In the Philippines, the APA is the first school only geared towards appeal pageantry and supported by the authority.

Winners of local pageants in Albay for example Miss Bicol Academy, Miss Governor’s Cup, Mutya ng Pulang-Angui, Mutya ng Tabak, Mutya ng Ibalong and Mutya ng Magayon would be given main concern admission to  the college.

Not Like usual schools, though, the APA lacks real infrastructure.

“Some were asking me where the school is, they wish to see it. However the APA has no real lecture rooms. We’ll just supply coaching from professionals,” Bongao said.

She added that the provincial authority took pride in Albayanas representing the Philippines in the intercontinental appeal arena, so, its support for the college.

Crown shy

In the history of intercontinental appeal pageants,  2 Filipinas have brought home the Miss Universe crown (Gloria Diaz in 1969 and Margie Moran in 1973), 4 Miss Intercontinental titles (Gemma Cruz in 1964, Aurora Pijuan in 1971, Melanie Marquez in 1979 and Precious Lara Quigaman in 2005) and none from the Miss Planet competition.

Early that seven days, Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental 2011Necio reached the destination from the Miss Intercontinental pageant in China, where she made it to the Top Fifteen.

Bongao was part of the Philippine delegation who supported Necio and she observed that height remains a benefit when joining intercontinental pageants.

In individuality and in assurance, Filipinas stand out amongst the faces of appeal from every single one nation, she said.

For local pageant winners to go farther in future competitions, the APA would select tall young ladies to undergo coaching at the college.

“When we went to China to support Dianne, we observed that those that qualified for the next rounds were as a rule tall. We thought it would be much better if we pick to develop those that are brilliant with height,” Bongao said.

Party of beauty

Though she said that there would be speech courses for critical conversation methods, the students need not be fluent in English.

“It has been an issue ever since on if our representatives should have an interpreter like different states. To us, it doesn’t matter. Whatsoever language the competitor discovers herself more cozy in, then she could use that. As great communicators, the partakers might pick their medium as far as they could express themselves well,” Bongao elucidated.

Other Ones could discover appeal pageants, not to say an attraction pageant school, a kind of exploitation of ladies, however not Bongao and Belgica.

“That is a party of appeal. The college won’t push ladies to amend what nature has endowed them with. The college will improve what nature has brilliant them with,” Bongao said.

“To some it is a way to reach their dreams and achieve their objectives, not for them to be exploited. It just hinges on how a real appeal queen will handle it,” Belgica said.

Article Source: The Manila Times

World AIDS Day Celebration, Information and Street Walk' 11

   World AIDS Day Celebration, Information and Street Walk 2011 in Legazpi City, Albay.

Video courtesy of MRENRIQUEism 

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan visits Tiwi, Albay's Tuna fishing community

   With the dwindling catch of General Santos City in Mindanao, Lagonoy Gulf in Bicol is emerging as a model tuna producing area because fisherfolks in Lagunoy Gulf employ more sustainable line fishing method.

   
  Senete Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairman Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan visits the fishing community in Tiwi, Albay to see how modernization and infusion of post harvest facilities can help up the incomes of the fisherfolks in the area.

BBC World Documentary Story on Climate Change featuring Albay

   
   BBC World Documentary Story on Climate Change featuring the Province of Albay. 

PNoy inaugurates Climate Change Academy in Albay

     President Benigno S. Aquino III led the inauguration of the Climate Change Academy in Albay by unveiling the marker of the newly-built Climate Change Academy located within the compound of Bicol University. The opening of the academy is very timely as the nation celebrates the National Climate Change Consciousness Week. Climate Change Academy is the first academy in the world that offers courses focused on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

Text and video courtesy of RTV Malacanang

1st National Media Conference on Climate Change Adaptation

     President Benigno S. Aquino III led the
1st Media Conference on Climate Change Adaptation in Legazpi City, Albay last November 25, 2011, where media men, both local and national, were invited to increase the awareness in the crusade against climate change.


Video courtesy of RTV Malacanang

Puregold Embarcadero in Legazpi City | Now Open!

       The first Puregold store in the province of Albay opened today, November 23, 2011 at Embarcadero de Legazpi. The newest branch offers a wide variety of assortments and value for money.

      Puregold Embarcadero is the 85th store of Puregold and is strategically located at Embarcadero de Legazpi, Legazpi Port District, Victory Village, Legazpi City.  

        Come and visit Puregold Embarcadero!

Kenyan athlete Willy Rotich wins 2011 Mayon Trail Run

       The 2011 Mayon Trail Run, dubbed as the most grueling adventure run in the country was participated by over 400 athletes and running enthusiasts last October 22 in Legazpi City.

     Kenyan athlete Willy Rotich took home the crown in the 21K extreme Mayon Trail Run.

Another long weekend!

          In observance of Eidul Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), November 7, 2011 has been declared as a REGULAR HOLIDAY throughout the country. Yeah! Another long weekend!

Source: Official Gazette

La Union Surfing Break 6 Schedule of Activities

         After five successful years of surfing and dancing, now on its 6th year, La Union Surfing Break promises to be bigger in terms of attendance and beach-oriented fun activities which will further promote the dominance of the province as the premier surfing destination in North Luzon.

Press Briefing with DOT RO-1 Regional Director Martin S. Valera and La Union Surfing Break 6 Management Committee at Giligan Restaurant, SM Mall of Asia

       This year 6th La Union Surfing Break schedule of activities has been released giving the participants a glimpse of what to expect in this forthcoming event on October 28 - 30 in Urbiztondo Beach, San Juan, La Union.

La Union Surfing Break 6

Urbiztondo Beach, San Juan, La Union, Philippines

October 28, 2011 (Friday)

7:00 am    Assembly

7:30 am    Commencement of Motorcade

               Opening Ceremony

9:00 am    Sala Ti Dalluyon Open Dance Competition

10:00 am  Sand Castle Fun Building Contest

               Beach Volleball Tournament

               Photography Contest

               Surfing Clinic

5:00 pm    Yoga-Samba Session

7:00 pm    Surfing Bodies Competition (Bikini Open)

               Bonfire Party

October 29, 2011 (Saturday)

9:00 am    Surfboard Design Contest

                Beach Volleyball Tournament Finals

                Simultaneous with: Photography Contest and Surf Clinic

2:00 pm    Pinta Alon Contest (Tattoo Fest)

5:00 pm    Yoga-Samba Session

                Octoberfest

October 30, 2011 (Sunday)

6:00 am    Surfing Break Fun Run

9:00 am    Surfing Competition

               Simultaneous with: Surf Clinic

1:00 pm    Kite-Flying Competition

5:00 pm    Yoga-Samba Session

7:00 pm    Awarding and Closing Ceremony

               Beach Party

          Come and visit La Union, the Surfing and Active Lifestyle Holiday Destination of the Philippines.

Breaking News: Road accident in Daraga, Albay

 A road accident in San Roque, Daraga, Albay.