HON. DOROTEO N. PALCONIT - THE MAN BEHIND CALUBIAN'S TRANSFORMATION

Since his election in May 2010, Hon. Mayor Doroteo "Dodong" Palconit has made significant changes in Calubian's physical appearance. The first transformation can noticeably be seen in the Municipal Hall including offices of the different departments. Not just the mayor's office that has been air conditioned during the previous administration but also all the offices of the different departments making transactions in such offices as more comfortable. A very nice canteen which utilized native costruction materials was constructed to cater the needs of the employees especially that the municipal hall is located away from carenderias and market. The new green color of the municipal building and some nearby structures has given Calubianons the hope of its town's development and advancement.












Other structures that Hon. Palconit's administration has given priorities is the repair of the Calubian Market which is almost finished and the Gymnasium where renovation activities had been started. Hon. Andy Salvacion's congressional funds has helped a lot in this renovation activities of Calubian being very supportive of Hon. Palconit's commitment for Calubian to grow and move forward.



A very visible project Calubianons had seen during the first year of Mayor Dodong Palconit's reign is the street lighting of the Metro Calubian. Great achievement as it is, Calubianons had been given the opportunity to witness the beauty of Calubian during the night aside from suppressing probable illegal activities or accident that may happen in dark streets.

Another project that has been started was the construction of the ABC Hall which is in collaboration with ABC and some other minor projects aside from the support given to the different departments conducting development activities.

DOLE REGION VIII PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TWO ASSOCIATIONS IN CALUBIAN

Last November 4 a team from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) of Region VIII headed by no other than its Regional Director Puguon had turned over two checks worth Php420,000.00 to the Local Governmnet Unit of Calubian which was received by the new mayor Hon. Doroteo N. Palconit.

The said amount were further awarded to two associations, the Caneja Fishermen Association of Brgy Caneja who received Php 220,000.00 financial assistance to support for their Small Scale Purse Seine fabrication and the Villalon Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association of Brgy Villalon who received Php200,000.00 for their rice production support such as the procurement of land masters and rice thresher.

The turn-over ceremony was held at the Mayor's office with this writer and Honorable Lucita Palconit, the designated PESO Manager of Calubian as witnesses togetner with Assistant Regional Director Cyril Ticao and his staff.




The two new associations who received the financial assistance were some of the farmers and fishermen association assisted by the office of the Municipal Agriculturist for their proposal preparation. Last year, two other organizations also received similar assistance from DOLE such as the Jubay Womens Association of Brgy Jubay and The Calubian Agri-Products Producers Assn/Coop of Brgy Tagharigue were both conducted similar livelihood Project which was Vegetable Production.

BARANGAYAN - Serbisyo sa Barangay

The Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMA) had been an active participant in every Barangayan, an activity which is a pet project by the new Municipal Mayor Hon. Doroteo N. Palconit. Services of the different Municipal Offices were being brought to the barangays such as consultation and distribution of different medicines by the Municipal Health Office and other services. The main services delivered OMA were the distribution of different seeds and vaccination of Hemosept for carabao and cattle.

The first Barangayan was held at the farthest barangay which is Brgy Jubay with other barangays included in the cluster such as Brgys K. Romualdez, Dalumpines, Casiongan, Caruyucan, Laray and host barangay Jubay. It was held last Junuary 20, 2011. The second venue was at Brgy Petrolio which was held last February 25 simultaneous with the celebration of the EDSA Revolution. This second cluster include Brgy Tuburan, Dulao, Malobago, the host brgy Petrolio, Tagharigue especially Sitio Kalunasan. Even residents of Brgy Linao of the Municipality of San Isidro had toke advantage of the services given by Calubian.



The third Barangayan venue was held again in the northern baragay of Brgy Inalad during the occasion of Mayor Palconit's 57th birthday which was on March 9, 2011. The cluster include brgys Railes, Caneja, Limite, Anislagan, Hda Enage and the host brgy Inalad. Residents were very thankful with the project since they cost them much savings espcially in paying their real property taxes and other probable expenses if they will be paying in the Municipal Hall.

LUBI-LUBI FESTIVAL

Lubi-lubi festival is considered a trademark festival for the town of Calubian. It is also considered one among the important activities during the annual fiesta celebration of the town. Dancers are usually being decorated with different parts of coconut tree such as cocoshell crafts, cocoleaves, midribs and others.


For the past years, the festival had been challenged for its existence. Last year, it was revived as the new administration took over the reign of the municipal government. However, the newly concluded fiesta was very critical for the festival to almost just die in its natural death. It was because many of the towns who signifies its intention to join the festival had incurred much expenditures in joining the Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals sponsored by the Provincial Government. With only two contingent, the festival was pushed through just to sustain its survival. The LGU of Calubian has expressed its heartfelt gratitude to the Naval State University delegation for its strong support to make the festival sustaining.

AGRI-FAIR 2011

The Municipality of Calubian had celebrated its town fiesta in a most exciting way possible. Among the important events that highlighted the celebration was the conduct of the Agricultural Fair or simply the AGRI-FAIR which showcased agricultural products produced locally. The AGRI-FAIR also included the Booth Making Contest showcasing the talents of the Barangay Officials which were clustered into six as well as institutions and cooperatives who joined the said event.

(Hon. Doroteo N. Palconit, Municipal Mayor of Calubian led the cutting of the ribbon to officially open the AGRI-FAIR 2011. Assisting him was Vice Mayor Nilda Ramirez while some Honorable Councilors witnessed the event.)
The following emerged the winners of the Booth Making including the arrangement of their products; First Prize went to TESDA with a nicely designed booth which garnered a total of 88.8% followed by the Calubian Horticulture Association (CAHA) with a uniquely designed umbrella type booth with Anahaw roofing and a numerous antique display conceptualized by its president Mr. Bobby Lee. CAHA garnered a total 88.2%. The third prize winner was Calubian National High School (CNHS) garnering a total points of 87.4%. (Photo above shows TESDA's booth which was declared First Prize winner of the Booth Contest)


(Above; 2nd Prize winner booth owned by CAHA while below was the 3rd Prize winner owned by CNHS)



A very festive site where AGRI-FAIR 2011 was located.

Aside from booth making competition, a PINAKA Contest was also launched given recognition to the best products produced by the farmers such as biggest or longest fruit vegetable. Among the vegetable included in the contest were the biggest coconut, squash, tomato, Ampalaya, watermelon, sweet pepper and sweet potato. The vegetable which were included in the longest product category were eggplant, stringbean and patola. A team composed of Municipal Agriculture personnel has taken the weights and measurements of the entries as basis for declaring the winners. Four entries won by TESDA, three won by Cluster 4, Two won by CNHS and one each won by cluster 2 and 6.










The following were additional photos of Municipal Mayor Doroteo "Dodong" Palconit together with some Municipal Councilors and the Candidates for Miss Lubi-lubi 2011;

POTENTIAL TOURISM SITES IN CALUBIAN EXPLORED

CAVES:

With the proposal to develop the Tourism Industry to this remote, almost forgotten municipality, this author has been privileged to be part of the team who explored some sites potential for development into tourism sites. Although there are already some identified existing tourist sites such as the beaches in Brgy Abanilla and the Diocesan Shrine of St Therese at Brgy Obispo, the group prioritize to explore the caves on the hilltop of Brgy Herrera and Cabradilla and the Umbrella Cove at Brgy Jubay (In photo: Engr Agnes Ruiz, Hon. Lucita Palconit, Mrs Merriam Roble-Balmocena and this author).


The exploration team was headed by Hon. Lucita Palconit, the first lady of Calubian assisted by the designated Tourism Officer of the municipality in the person of Mrs Merriam Roble-Balmocena and accompanied by a pack of tourism enthusiast. The trip to the caves was so exciting since we pass by a rocky climbs in order to reach the top of the hill. However, I had a very satisfying experience when the group reached the entrance of the cave. Everyone felt the excitement to explore what is inside the cave. With ex-Brgy Captain Fer Halichic leading the pack, the group succesfully entered the beautiful and fascinating Tungason Cave.

Pictorials inside the cave:

(Taken from inside the cave towards the entrance)


(Inside the cave featuring Hon Lucita Palconit with this author at the background wearing red cap and the rest of the party)





(Tom Tibunsay and Fanny Pedida both staff of the Municipal Agriculture's Office inspected the dead-end of the cave)


The team proceeded to another cave, the "Cabyao Cave" but due to its vertical descend only very few dared to enter and successfully witnessed the fascinating beauty of the cave's interior.

BEACHES

The following week, the same team proceeded to another site which was the Umbrella Cove of Brgy Jubay, a beach of natural beauty carved from the huge and gigantic rocks to form an undiscovered paradise. The group has taken our lunch their at the same time enjoyed swimming in the crystal clear water of the beach.




(Gigantic rocks served as sea-walls and the cute umbrella-liked rocked floating on the tide)





(A very refreshing seawater beneath the huge rocks, who else are not tempted to swim?)


(Even our team leader tried the cool clean water of the cove)