Cong. Albee's 2nd Brainsbee Winners Hailed

The Brainsbee ni Albee of Cong. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez of the Third District hailed the representatives of the cities Talisay and Victorias as grand champions in the grand finals at the Victorias Sports and Amusement Center last April 30.

The winners were Christine May Espeja of Brgy. Matab-ang, Talisay City, secondary category and Kerr John Porras, elementary category of Brgy. VI-A, Victorias City.

Espeja, 16, is from Negros Occidental National Science High School and Porras, 12 is from Victorias Elementary School.


Both of them received a cash prize of P30,000 and a trophy each.


Brainsbee ni Albee, now on its 2nd year is the first community-based academic quiz bee competition in the province and has reached all 115 barangays of the Third District.


This is but one of the many projects of the congressman to discover potentials of the youth, provide opportunities for community development and attain academic excellence. - by Jemaimah Taldico

City Launches Scholarship Program, Inaugurates NESCA-Victorias Campus

The City has launched and inaugurated its very own Negros State College of Agriculture (NESCA)-Victorias Campus in Brgy. XIV last March 18.

After the ribbon-cutting at the site, a turn-over of the symbolic key of the government officials and NESCA President Freddie Maningo took place to signify the collaboration of NESCA and Victorias City in this educational endeavor.

The city officials and scholarship committee awarded the certificates of scholarship to the program grantees and Mayor Severo Planca signed the scholarship contract.

Registration started this April 4 while the enrollment will start on May 2 and classes begin on June 6.

NESCA’s first and main campus situated in Kabankalan, was known as Negros Occidental National Agricultural School (NONAS) on Oct. 2, 1946 and was named as Negros Occidental Agricultural College on Sept. 6, 1977.

It was later on called Negros State College of Agriculture (NESCA) on July 3, 2001 and has been a college of scholars from the different towns, cities and neighboring islands of Negros Occidental.

It is envisioned as a center of excellence in agriculture, forestry and allied courses which provide opportunity for translating knowledge and skills into sustainable growth and development of the marginalized sector in the country side.

It has also several campuses in Cauayan, Sipalay, Ilog, Candoni, Moises Padilla, San Carlos, Hinoba-an and Hinigaran.

The four-year courses approved and stated in BOT Resolution # 30 series of 2009 and BOT Resolution # 43 series of 2010 are as follows:

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
Bachelor in Animal Science
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Bachelor of Science in Hotel &Restaurant Management
Bachelor of Arts
Major in Social Science
Major in English
Bachelor of Science in Criminology

by: Jemaimah Taladico

Barangay 9 Holds 1st Hugyaw sa Malihaw

Barangay IX or better known as Daan Banwa which seats the old town of Victorias held its first Hugyaw sa Malihaw Festival last April 26 in celebration of the city’s church fiesta .

The day’s activity honored in thanksgiving its patron saint Nuestra Senora de las Victoria where history reveals that because of her the town was saved from the invasion of the pirates who wanted to rule the it.

A fluvial parade which opened the program was participated in by coastal residents connecting barangays 9 and 6-A .

Brgy Captain Juvy Pepello in her opening message was in all praises to her constituents because of their strong support to the activity despite its pilot celebration. She added that because of the enthusiasm that residents of barangay 9 had shown, she commits to continue the affair as part of the barangay fiesta aside from its annual barangay fiesta celebrated every last Saturday of August.

City officials officials headed by Mayor Severo Palanca and Councilors, Mark Palanca, Audie Malaga, and Rene Imperial also graced the occasion.

Mayor Palanca said that he sees no obstacle having two barangay fiestas as it encourages participation and cooperation from barangay residents and that it can help in the economic growth. “I am happy to see that people are one in the celebration, Palanca added”.

Sad-sad or merry making followed the fluvial parade with 13 contestants joining the activity.-by Jemaimah Taladico

City Agriculture Office Joins Pana-ad sa Negros

The Victorias City Agriculture Office showcased expertise in different fields by joining the province-wide competition on seven categories during the Pana-ad sa Negros Festival last April 4 – 9.

The following competitions were the search for the Farmer of the Year, Fisherman of the Year, Best RIC Organization of the Year, Corn Base Cooking Contest, Handicraft Making Contest, Swine Raising and Goat Raising.

Antonio Buison of Brgy. X was conferred the Fisherman of the Year while the RIC- Association of Barangay Nutrition Scholars with officers namely Pres. Adora Daquiado; Vice Stela Besa; Sec. Rona Panaligan; Treas. Angeles Novera; Bus. Mgr. Merlita Casañares; and Aud. Ma. Theresa Moreno was second place awardee for the Best RIC Organization of the Year.

Junjo Majaducon of Brgy. XI, Laila Inocencio of Brgy. VII and Isabelita Leaño of Brgy. XVIII-A got consolation prizes for Fisherman of the Year, Corn Base Cooking and Handicraft Making Contest respectively.

Other participants were swine raiser Zenaida Navaja of Brgy. III, and goat raiser Karen Soliva of Brgy. XIV.

Ligtas Tigdas Campaign Active in Victorias

The City Health Office (CHO) of Victorias takes an active part in the Ligtas Tigdas campaign, promoting vaccines as cost-effective health interventions from April 4 to May 30 of this year.

"Iligtas sa Tigdas ang Pinas” is the theme of Ligtas Tigdas which aims to terminate measles by 2012 and accelerate the control of rubella.

Furthermore, the objectives of this campaign are to reduce the number or pool of children at risk of getting measles or being susceptible to measles and to achieve at least 95 % measles-rubella immunization coverage of all children 9 – 95 months old.

The CHO targets 19, 742 children of Victorias, whose ages are from nine months to below eight years old to be receive the measles – rubella vaccine.

City Health Officer Dr. Jerry Pahamtang and Expanded Program on immunization EPI/Nurse Mary Ann Salar together with the city health personnel help conduct the door-to-door campaign as they also have tapped the different barangays to support in whatever way they can. By: Jemaimah Taladico

Inter-Barangay Street Dancing Competition Result

Overall Champion - Barangay 10 & 21

1^st Place - Barangay 16 & 16-A

2^nd Place - Barangay 15 & 15-A

3^rd Place - Barangay 6-A & 9

4^th Place - Barangay 3 & 6

STREET DANCE

1^st Place -Barangay 16 & 16-A

2^nd Place-Barangay 12 & 13

3^rd Place-Barangay 10 & 21

SPECIAL AWARD

Best Lead Banner-.Barangay 6A & 9

Best in Head Dress-Barangay 15 & 15A

Best in Costume-Barangay 15 & 15A

Best in Concept-Barangay 10 & 21

Best in Choreography-Barangay 10 & 21

PAGEANT RESULTS

Search for Kadalag-an Queen 2011 Winners
(Photo Credit: Mr. Dwight Morana, Jr.)

Kadalag-an Queen 2011
Jemaimah Taladico

1st Runner Up
Michelle Pajotal

2ND Runner Up
Rosie Barredo

Victorias City Crowns Ms. Kadalag-an Queen 2011

Kadalag-an Queen 2011 Rose Ann Dominguez
turns over the crown to Taladico

Victorias advances into a city of progress as it celebrates its 13th Charter Anniversary, Kadalag-an Festival 2011.

With the theme “Victorias…In Unity Towards Prosperity”, the event opened on March 15 and showcased a week of fun-filled activities until March 21 for Victoriahanons and guests.

The festivity opened with a bang as the city government officials and employees along with the various socio-civic and non-government organizations, business sectors, academe and transport groups promenade the city streets with a colorful grand parade.

During the first two days, March 16 and 17, the evenings were made special by the Little Miss Kadalag-an 2011 sponsored by the Kadalag-an Consumers’ Cooperative, a band concert, and the day after, it was followed by the Ms. DepEd and cultural presentation, sponsored by the Department of Education.

The Legislator’s Day was marked with a parade, different parlor games and the awarding and recognition of the Outstanding Victoriahanons followed by the Pre-Pageant Night of the Kadalag-an Queen 2011 on March 17.

The festival highlights were the Kadalag-an Queen 2011 pageant and coronation night ( March 18); Festival Costume Parade and Competition and mini concert with The Company and John Santos (March 19); mass wedding and Cong Albee Benitez’ Day (March 20); Inter-barangay Streedancing competition and Celebrity Night featuring Princess of ASAP Sessionista, Markki Stroem and K Brosas (March 21).

Meanwhile, a week-long invitational sports including women’s volleyball, street soccer, Drum and Bugle Competition and Taekwondo Tournament which were all named after Mayor Severo Palanca, also took place at the public plaza.
-by: Jemaimah N. Taladico

Victorias Bags Excel Awards For Social Services

City Health Office, one of the social services sector
of the city receives a plaque of recognition
from Mayor Severo A. Palanca

The City of Victorias once again bagged the award for the Social Services Category given during the third Excellence in Local Governance Awards (EXCEL Awards) held at the Sugarland Hotel last Dec. 17.

EXCEL is an initiative of the Department Interior and Local Governance Region VI and it recognizes the Local Government Units for their commendable accomplishments and outstanding performance in local legislation, administrative governance, social services, economic development and environmental management.

The City’s Social Services sectors who received the Plaque of Recognition were the City Health, Housing, DSWD, BFP, PNP, Parole, BJMP, DSWD, DepEd District I & II.

Special citations were also given to the City’s DILG, FSCAP (Ret. Col. Jose Agpangan) and Catholic Women’s League & Kaayong Lawas Foundation, Inc. for its invaluable support to the various activities in the 2010 EXCEL Awards.

Meanwhile the City’s CPDO was also awarded for its superior performance as over-all coordinator & facilitator of the 2010 EXCEL.

City Planning & Development Officer Evangeline Alo and City Councilor Vincent Marie Roa received the EXCEL Awards on behalf of the City of Victorias.
by: Jemaimah Taladico

Victorias City Civil Registrar's Office Celebrates Civil Registration Month

In line with the Civil Registration Month Celebration in February, the Civil Registrar’s Office of Victorias City conducted different activities such as an annual mobile registration to several remote barangays and free issuance of civil registry documents.

A total of 598 applicants for delayed registration of civil registry documents such as birth, marriage and death, were from Hda. Gaston, Brgy. VIII (238 applicants) on Feb. 12 ; Hda. Ideal, Brgy. XIII (72 applicants) on Feb. 19 ; and Hda. Nena, Brgy. XIV (288 applicants) on Feb. 26.

To mark the month-long celebration was the free issuance of civil registry documents that benefited 150 applicants last Feb. 27.

This activity started after the approval of City Ordinance No. 1 series of 2006, authorizing the city civil registry to issue certified copy / transcript of civil registry documents free of charge every 27th day of February and after the memorandum issued by Mayor Severo Palanca, granting the request for the Office to render overtime service.

“This is one of the activities re- commended by the National Statistics Office to be undertaken by local civil registrars”, City Civil Registrar Julie Ann Roa said.

It was held every Feb. 27 because during the same day, way back in 1931, when R.A. 3753 or the Civil Registration Law was approved.

They also conducted several information dissemination drives on the important rules in civil registration.

The Civil Registrar’s Office of Victorias City implemented the use of the revised Municipal Form January 2007 which was effective on April 1, after conducting an orientation on the proper filling up of documents to midwives of the City Health Office.
-by Jemaimah Taladico