Elected Officials Convene in Inaugural Session

Newly elected officials of the city of Victorias gathered for the first time after the May 10 polls in the inaugural session held at the Don Alejandro Acuna Yap Quina Arts and Cultural Center in the afternoon of July 7.

The inaugural session was jam packed with family members, supporters and city employees and even former Sangguniang Panlungsod members as they yelled and cheered for each city councilor being called to take their respective seats in the council.

Mayor Severo Palanca opened the session . In his speech he said that he is hopeful that people will accord the new members the same honor that they have accorded to members of the city council who have completed their terms as public servants. Mayor added that he is happy to inform his constituents that a city agricultural school will open in the next school year to provide free education primarily to Victoriahanons as he tells Cong Benitez to bring the pride to congress of what Victorias has achieved.
The mayor then turns over to the Vice Mayor and Presiding Officer, Francis Frederick Palanca to call the session to order as VM Palanca acknowledged individually members of the council.

The presence of Congressman elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez added more significance to the affair when he said “ You made my dreams come true to be the first congressman of the city of Victorias. “ Charity begins at home and I will do everything in my power, resources and disposal to make Victorias a better place” he added.

Benitez assured the people that he, together with his constituents will do the right things and make ourselves proud of who we are and that politics should not come in the way in making the right decisions. “This is the beginning of something new to happen in Victorias and I will not backtrack from what I have said during the campaign because I am committed to do what I have said, Benitez stressed.

Vice Mayor Palanca in response urged for strong commitment and participation from the people. “Government cannot do this alone. The way to success is not achieved overnight” the Vice Mayor said. - Joy P. Famini (CCIO Head)

PALANCAS - Still the People's Choice

The recently concluded national and local elections has proven worthy of the people’s mandate.

Mayor Severo Palanca and Vice Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca along with the party member councilors ended up majority winners in the polls.

The canvassing which could have lasted for only a day if not for some technical failure could have proclaimed the candidates eve of May 11 but City Elections Officer and Chairman of Board of Canvassers Atty. Fatima Aspan said that until all votes have been canvassed only then will the proclamation be done.

On May 12 at 930 a.m., while supporters, employees and relatives troop to the canvassing room, winners of the May 10 polls were proclaimed.

Mayor Palanca in his short message was emotional when he said that words can never be enough for my constituents to thank them for their continued and undying support”. Vice Mayor Palanca on the other hand made his commitment to better serve his constituents in his new mandate .

Meanwhile in a separate occasion, newly elected city officials take their oath last May 21 with Judge Felipe Banzon of RTC Silay as the Administering Officer. They were accompanied by their families in a simple oathtaking and induction ceremony held at the 2nd floor lobby of the city hall main building.-by: Joy P. Famini, CCIO Head

New Set of City Officials

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BIR Launches Handang Maglingkod Project

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) through its Revenue District office-Victorias announces the launching of their Handang Maglingkod Project.

The project aims to strengthen the delivery of fast, efficient and courteous front line services to taxpayers and in the process continue the promotion of better voluntary compliance from the paying public. It also intends to foster cooperation among stakeholders of BIR and private organization that are also involved in the field of business taxation and customer service.

In line BIR’s thrust, Revenue District Office –Victorias assures the public of a non-disruptive services with a no noon break policy. Aside from this BIR’s role is not only for COLLECTION but DISPENSER of Millions of Prizes through its Premyo sa Resibo Prgram. -by Joy P. Famini

CFC Holds Int'l. Convention in Victorias

Around 6,000 members and delegates of Couples for Christ Handmaids of the Lord from all over the world convened at the Victorias Sports and Amusement Center last April.

The 3 day convention which started April 16-18 was packed with various activities organized by the local CFC organizers.

According to them, the Victorias Sports and Amusement Center is the perfect venue for their activity. The space, equipment and ambiance made it conducive for the 3 days activity. - Joy P. Famini, CCIO Head

Miss Victorias Ranks Next to Lin-ay Crown

Lin-ay sang Victorias Ruffnee Reala brings home another pride to Victoriahanons when she won 1st runner up in the concluded Lin-ay sang Negros Beauty Pageant held during the week long Pana-ad sa Negros Festival in April.

The 21 year old lass, now a registered nurse is on her volunteer work at a government hospital in Negros. A product of the Negros Occidental Science High School, Rap-Rap as she is fondly called by family and friends won her first award as first runner up during the search for the Kadalag-an Queen 2005 . The youngest daughter of George and Carol Reala , Ruffnee is a typical teenager who spends most of her time surfing the net and reading. Prior to joining the Lin-ay sang Negros, she worked as an English Teacher to Korean students in Bacolod which she said greatly helped boost her communication skills making her confident and comfortable with the english language..

Making it to the top 10 semi finalists she was asked during the final Q & A on her choice between the integrity of the voters for the election or the integrity of the election for the voters, Ruffnee wittingly replied that she would choose the integrity of the election for the voters because Filipino voters are already honest and intelligent enough to choose the leaders that will govern the nation and their respective local government units but if the election would seize people their rights for real choice it will lead to social unrest.

In addition to her 1st runner up title, Ruffnee was also chosen Miss Globe and Miss Superferry bringing home a total cash prize of P70,000.00
- Joy P. Famini, CCIO Head

Victorias Celebrates 12 Years of Cityhood

Victorias is now on its 12th year as it celebrates the Kadalag-an Festival. With the theme ‘ Moving Onwards, Going Beyond our Commitment to Serve” the festival started March 16 with various events prepared for the people to enjoy .

Opening the affair with a float parade, socio- civic and non government organization; business sectors; academe and transport groups extended their participation to the city government. Daily invitational sports activities were also part of the events ,

Initiating something new in the province of Negros Occidental is the Festival Costume Parade and Competition. Aimed at showcasing artistic talents of designers, the competition obtained favorable participation from 25 local designers . Winners of the competition received cash prizes of 10,000.00 for the champion while the 2nd and 3rd placer got 7,000.00 and 4,000.00 respectively.

The Sanggunian Night gave the city councilors a chance to dance the night away with the people, both from the non government organizations and cooperatives. The holding Little Miss Kadalag-an which was sponsored by Victorias Commercial Center tenants likewise added to the affair’s FIRST in the city.

Highlighting the festival is the staging of Kadalag-an Queen, the Streetdancing competition and performance of showbiz personalities featuring Ronnie Liang , Valerie Concepcion and showbiz’s hottest comedian Vice Ganda where the city plaza crossing the national highway was jampacked with spectators as they laugh their hearts out with the incredible performance of Vice Ganda
Meanwhile the Kadalag-an Queen with an Egyptian inspired motif was graced by Senator Elect Vicente “Tito” Sotto III , Congressan Elect- Albee Benitez bringing along with him actress Mylene Dizon who were all presenters during the coronation night. - by Joy P. Famini, CCIO Head

Schedule of Activities

KADALAG-AN QUEEN 2010

photo credit:

LEO VISION VIDEOGRAPHY

(official photgrapher & videographer of Kadalag-an Festival 2010)

Victorias earns Regional EXCELL Awards for Social Services

The City oif Victorias recently earned the distinction of winning the third slot in the Regional EXCELL Awards for the Social Services Category in the awarding ceremony held at the iloilo Grand Hotel on December 15.

The Excellence in the Local Governance Award (EXCELL Awards), now on its second year is an initiative of the Deapartment of Interior and Local Governance region VI (DILG VI) to recognize and acknowledge Local Government Units (LGUs) that have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in local legislation; administrative governance, social services, economic development and environmental management.

The city's qualification to the regional competition followed after making it to the top 5 in the Provincial EXCELL awards. Last October 13, a team of evaluators representing different regional offices visited the city to conduct series of evaluations on the performance of the state of local governance.

From the 13 component cities in the province of Negros Occidental five competed against four highly urbanized cities in Region VI. These are the cities of San Carlos, Kabankalan, Victorias, Sagay, Bago, Bacolod, Iloilo, Passi and Roxas.

Vice Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Vincent Marie Roa, CPDO Head Evangeline Alo and LGOOO J Dignadice represented and received the award on behalf of the city government.
by: Joy P. Famini, CCIO Head