The 13-Point Agenda

According to Peter Drucker, American management consultant and educator:  "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."

Many people considered 13 as an unlucky number and the fear of number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia.  But I always consider 13 as a lucky number.  

The apparitions of the Virgin of Fatima is said to happen every 13th for six consecutive months.  The feast of Saint Anthony of Padua is celebrated evrery June 13.

Coincidentally, the number of letters in my name is 13.  So I coined the 13-Point Agenda with the starting letters that correspond with those of my first name and family name.  And it would be easier to remember them that way.

Launching 

When I took my oath of office for the first time as City Mayor on June 12, 2007, I launched my 13-Point Agenda.  At the City Gym, where it was also the Department of Education Maasin City Schools Division 5th Anniversary, a thousand teachers and city employees witnessed the debut of the 13-Point Agenda.

Tarpaulins showing my 13-Point Agenda were displayed at the City Gym near the City Hall.  It was my own way of telling the people the framework of my administration.  It was reflective of the aspirations of a growing city like Maasin City because it encompassed basically all the services needed by the constituents.  

The 13-Point Agenda are as follows:

Market and Business Improvement
Agricultural Productivity 
Livelihood Assistance
Orderliness and Peace Promotion
Nutrition and Health Services
Education for the Masses
Youth Empowerment
Sports Excellence
Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign
Mangrove and Forest Protection
Advertisements for Tourism
Concreting and Maintenance of Roads
Overall Barangay Development

Market and Business Improvement

This program involves promoting business-friendly atmosphere in the city.  We were able to get rid of the difficulty in securing business licenses.  We established the one-stop shop in the processing of business permits.  

I issued an order to exclude clearances from the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Social Security System to shorten the process and minimize the signatories.  We encouraged Build Operate Transfer Schemes (Long-Term Contract of Leases) for big business and establishments like Metro Hi-per Maasin, Brodeth One Stop Shop and Manaya Land Holdings invested in the city.

Agricultural Productivity

My administration established agriculture-based livelihood projects such as egg-layers, tilapia fingerlings, horticulture and animal dispersal. We continued promoting vegetable and crop production as initiated by the past administration.  We also conducted rice and corn production trainings.  

Farmers' and fishermen's associations and cooperatives were empowered.  We continued protecting our marine resources by apprehending illegal fishers and those fishing without permits through our Bantay Dagat Task Force.

Livelihood Assistance

The Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) projects and the Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino (4P's) through the assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development were implemented to the different non-government organizations.  Individual recipients accepted the Nego-Kart, Starter Kits, and other livelihood programs in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).  

We trained carpenters and plumbers and gave them equipments in partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority  (TESDA).  The city government gave counterpart for these programs. The Rural Improvement Club City Federation became a regional awardee.  Through the Bottoms up Budgeting (BuB) we provided spare parts to motorcab drivers and other livelihood projects to civil society organizations (CSO's).

Orderliness and Peace Promotion

The city administration hired and trained traffic enforcers to support the implementation of traffic rules and regulations.  We gave support to city jail facilities of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, support to fire prevention of the Bureau of Fire Protection and support to fight against criminality of the Philippine National Police.  

We also hired civilian volunteers to augment our peace and order implementors called Volunteers Initiatives Guarding Illegal and Lawless Acts Narcotics Tobacco and Evils of Society (VIGILANTES).  We imposed curfew for minors to prevent theft and robbery.

Nutrition and Health Services

We concentrated on the reduction of the percentage of malnourished children through supplemental feeding and mothers’ classes.  Our programs encouraged and promoted breastfeeding and established breastfeeding stations at the city hall, bus terminal, public market, malls, and other public places.  

Anti-smoking advocacy is spread out to all barangays throughout the city.  Selling of cigarettes is prohibited all throughout the city.  Vaccines were given free to children against diseases.  We promoted vegetable gardening in schools and in homes and made it into contests.

Education for the Masses

The establishment of Maasin City College enables disadvantaged families to send their children to tertiary level education.  Ibarra National High School was also completed with the first batch of graduates marched on 2011.  Likewise, integrated secondary schools and national high schools in Matin-ao, Lunas, and Hinapu Daku had their first batch of high school graduates in 2015.  

Asuncion and Batuan integrated schools were also opened.  Year-round Brigada Eskwela were conducted to repair and beautify school buildings and campuses and distribute free school supplies.  

Youth Empowerment

We put emphasis on Scouting on all levels, including Kid, Kab, Boy, Senior and Rover Scouts.  Maasin City hosted several scout jamborees, scout Olympics and trainings, national and regional in scopes.  

We also organized the task force SKY for the SK and youth and the Maasin City Youth Federation (MCYF) to federate the different youth organizations of the city.  We organize and activate our 4H Clubs to arouse the youth's interest in agriculture.

Sports Excellence

My administration made the Maasin City Sports Council more active.  We conducted trainings of coaches, officiating officials, and athletes.  Athletes were sent to international, national, regional and provincial competitions.  The city hosted regional and provincial athletic meets and tournaments.  We have also produced several national and regional champions.  

Different types of sports were promoted like boxing, taekwondo, archery, swimming, athletics, marathon, triathlon, sepak takraw, volleyball, basketball, lawn tennis, table tennis, badminton, chess, football/futsal, gymnastics, dancesports among others.  We conducted summer sports clinics to students during the long vacation.

Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign

The city government have conducted massive education against the perils of drug abuse especially among high school students and out-of-school youth.  We activated the Citizens Anti-Narcotics Organization (CANO) and the New Guardians, Inc. (NGI). 

We campaigned the other socio-civic clubs to participate in the anti-illegal drug crusade.  Random drug tests were conducted on city employees and those found positive were suspended. I gave a quota to the PNP to apprehend at least one drug pusher a week.

Mangrove and Forest Protection

We continued developing the City Forest Park as the watershed for the water supply of the poblacion of Maasin at Canlitid.  The City Nursery was also improved with the addition of the organic fertilizer production.  We planted forest trees and fruit trees through Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) and Community-Based Forest Resource Management (CBFRM) programs using people's organizations.

Establishment of an Eco-Park becomes a priority.  This sanitary landfill was built in Libhu based on the guidelines if the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).  Materials recovery facility and solid waste management was established too. Mangrove areas along the coastal barangays were also rehabilitated.

Advertisements for Tourism

We promote tourist spots through advertising and hosting of events.  We supported religious tourism and pilgrimage.  We regulated hotels, beach resorts, restaurants, and transportation for tourists and visitors.  Tourist guides were trained.

We hosted several national and regional sports competitions, conventions and trainings as part of our tourism activities. The roads leading to tourist spots like City Forest Park, Guinsohotan Caves, and Hanginan San Francisco Javier Shrine were developed and concreted.

Concreting and Maintenance of Roads

As a delivery of basic service, we give priority of concreting and rehabilitation of national, provincial, city and barangay roads with the assistance of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Provincial Engineer’s Office. 

We built bridges, canals, drainage systems, and river controls and tetrapods or jackstones to protect our roads.  A traffic light system was established at corner Rafols and Tomas Oppus Streets.

Overall Barangay Development

The city government conducted training on capability building of elected and appointed barangay officials. Awards were given to outstanding barangay councils, tanods, peace and order council, lupon tagapamayapa, nutrition committee, and clean and green.  

We built barangay infrastructure projects like evacuation centers and multi-purpose centers, barangay hall improvements, water systems, and rural electrification.    

American actor Zac Efron had this to say about luck:  "I know I've been lucky. But it's what you do with that luck afterwards that really defines whether you stick around."

"Maasin Bomber" Alex Aroy

Alex Aroy first trained as an amateur boxer under the Maasin City Sports Council, with me as the Chairman, and with the late Tiny Espina, then with Ramil Entia as trainers. He was later managed by Rex “Wakee” Salud under trainer Anol Jaca. He was so proud being a Maasinhon that he used the alias “Maasin Bomber” and “Batang Maasin.”

I accompanied Alex and company to Cebu City in 1999 when they competed in the National Youth Amateur Boxing Championships. His companions at that time were Darius Dag-uman, Jegner Ayaay, Mario Caube, and Adonis Aguelo, all of Maasin City.  When they turned professional, Dag-uman was with the Omega Boxing Club, Ayaay was once taken by the ALA Gym, Aguelo is now training under Brix Flores, while Caube did not turn pro and has retired from boxing.

During the said tournament, Alex won his initial bout but lost in the next fight. He had weight problems and we had to cover him with a large plastic to perspire in order to reduce. It took a tool on his second fight. Weigh-in in the amateurs is done daily before each fight. But like in his professional career, Alex was never been knocked down in his amateur days.

Professional boxing

It was Darius who introduced Alex to trainer Anol Jaca. I took the initiative of promoting five of his fights in Maasin City to let our local fans witness how the rising hometown boxer swiped opponents with his stinging punches. The Maasin City Sports Council tied up with Salud to sponsor his fights in Maasin and Alex did not fail his kababayans.

He had his pro debut in Jakarta, Indonesia in October 23, 2003 by winning on points against Indonesian Donny Suratin in eight rounds despite hostile crowd. Since then, he compiled straight wins against Roy Fuentes, Ruther del Castillo, Rogelio Bardon, Rex Madrid, Elmar Francisco, Michael Rodriguez, Allan Dugang, and over Rolando Baclayo, in his first fight in Maasin.

He tasted first defeat in the hands of Rollen del Castillo. He had a technical draw with Noel Veronque at the City Gym in his first pro fight in Maasin.  He lost a technical decision over Milan Melindo in a six-round non-title fight in the undercard of the Z Gorres-Fernando Montiel bout in the Cebu City Sports Center.

PBF title

He did not lost in his hometown and he won the Philippine Boxing Federation light-flyweight title against Dennis Juntillano at the City Gym, becoming the first Maasin boxer to win a national title.

His father Nemesio “Benny” Aroy in Barangay Maria Clara was a former boxer and it was he who was his son’s first trainer. He had high hopes that his son someday would become an international or even a world champion.  It was not an impossible dream because of his performance in an international championship in South Africa.

The people of Maasin City pinned our hopes on Aroy as our first world champion. We had produced such nationally rated boxers as Romy Roa, Al Tan Lee, Bert Lozano, Jun Tan Sato, among others.

WBC international title fight

All went for naught in that forgettable evening in South Africa and the hopes of producing another World Boxing Council (WBC) international champion, in the same category as that of Manny Pacquiao, were vanished.

WBC International minimumweight champion Zukisani Kwayiba of South Africa was on the verge of getting floored by the hard-hitting Aroy in rounds six and seven, but the lights in the boxing ring mysteriously went off. While the other parts of the hotel-casino were still well with electricity.

When the ring power failure occurred, Kwayiba immediately went down the ring and took off his gloves, sensing the lights will never return, while Aroy stayed on top of the ring waiting for the power to be restored.  Seven minutes had passed and the judges decided to go to the scorecards per WBC rules and Kwayiba won by Majority Technical Decision in round seven. Very oddly, the lights were back immediately after the verdict was announced.

Unfortunately Aroy was behind on points as he was known as a slow starter and was relying heavily on his superb knockout punch. But South African fans were not all highly-partisan as they booed the notorious outcome of the fight.  It was quite astonishing that a prestigious hotel and casino such as Carousel in South Africa has no standby power while hosting such a reputed WBC international title fight.

Unpopular decision

Aroy became an instant hero in South Africa forcing promoter Branco Milenkovic to let him fight again in this country. Everywhere he went in Temba, boxing fans would be shouting “Aroy! Aroy!”  Because of the dream turning a nightmare, Aroy turned into an instant celebrity in the world of boxing. He became known not only in the country but in the international boxing scene as well.

South African promoter Branco Milenkovic was so disgusted by the performance and the controversial victory of Kwayiba that he considered staging a rematch even if WBC did not order so.  We were offered by Salud to host the WBC international title fight involving Alex in Maasin, but we refused because the budget involves millions of pesos and the city government was not ready to spend such a hefty sum.

Although the rematch with Kwayiba did not materialize because Aroy exerted a lot of effort in reducing to get the 105-lb. mini-flyweight limit. It also contributed to the sluggish first few rounds he had with Kwayiba.  So he had to fight on the next higher weight category.

Another fight in South Africa

Aroy again failed to win the World Boxing Council international crown without throwing a single punch in the same jinxed South African venue which is famous for hometown decisions and controversial outcomes in boxing.  His South African opponent WBC international light-flyweight champion Phumzile Matyhila was stripped of his title when he failed to make the weight limit when he tipped the scales three kilograms overweight. Organizers cancelled the bout and Matyhila was stripped of his belt.

The return bout with Arnel Tadena was considered by many in Maasin as conceded in favor of our local hometown boxing hero. For during the first encounter with Tadena on Maasin fiesta vesper day on August 14, 2007, Alex was very much ahead on points in the three judges’ scorecards when an accidental head butt cut Tadena’s head in the second round. Upon Dr. Teodulo K. Salas, Jr.’s advice, Tadena was declared unfit to continue and the bout was declared a technical draw.

Maasin boxing fans were dismayed not seeing the imminent knockout coming through. They wanted to see Alex sending Arnel kissing the canvass, but to their disappointment. Thus, a rematch was the order of the day. But the “Maasin Bomber” was slated to fight Kwayiba in South Africa so the rematch did not materialize.

The untimely demise

Prior to the rematch, Aroy had a 12-5-2 (6 KOs) win-loss-draw card, while Tadena’s professional record was 7-3-2 (4 KOs). Aroy was rated RP No. 7 light-flyweight contender, while Tadena was the RP No. 6 mini-flyweight contender. The fight was scheduled for ten rounds for the PBF light-flyweight title.

The much-awaited rematch with Tadena occurred on that forgettable Villaba, Leyte encounter. Already feeling weak because there were reports that he had a fever a few days before the fight and he did not have adequate practice for the bout, he lost by unanimous decision to the fighter who had prepared well for the rematch.

But with a warrior-like attitude that he had, he did not retreat from a challenge to prove who was the better fighter from among the two protagonists. Unfortunately though, the Divine Providence had favored to take away his life at a very early age of 23. He did not live long enough to get another crack at the WBC international title we longed for him to take.

I received an early morning cellular phone call on February 5, 2008 from Rex “Wakee” Salud matchmaker Willie Flores breaking the news about the death of our local boxing hero. Willie was in tears as he narrated Alex’s heartbreaking situation, how he had the difficulty in urinating before collapsing in his dressing room after the fight. I was tasked to inform his parents about the dreadful incident.

But just minutes later, Alex’s parents came to our house to air their grief on the shocking death of their son. They said they were informed by Alex’s co-boxer Darius Dag-uman. I ordered a vehicle to transport both father and mother from Maasin to Villaba, which is more than three hours drive. The boxer’s remains were already laid at the Puso Funeral Home in Palompon, Leyte, more than forty kilometers from Villaba.

No autopsy

The promoters and GAB personnel proposed an autopsy on Alex’s remains, but upon learning that it will be brought to Tacloban, more than four hours drive from Palompon, because the town lacks the necessary facilities, the parents decided to waive the planned autopsy and bring the body back immediately home.  According to his parents, we could not bring Alex back to life even if an autopsy had to be conducted.

I always regarded our boxers as my adopted sons and Alex had been a pet since he brought honor and glory not only to the city but as well as to the country.  Whenever he was in Maasin, he never failed to visit me in the office to pay a courtesy call.  If ever they had problems, his mother would visit me at home or at the office.

One of the many controversies that hounded Alex was when he fought for the WBC Youth championship and lost to Thai Oleydong Sithsamerchai in Petchaboon, Thailand and was not paid his purse by the Filipino promoter. His mother cried and aired his misery to me when the incident happened. It was just one of the many tempests that Alex encountered in his short pro career.

Meeting with GAB

I went to Manila just right after his shocking death and had a meeting with Games and Amusements Board Chairman Eric Buhain and GAB Boxing Division Chief Dr. Nasser Cruz. The amiable doctor explained that probable causes of Aroy’s death could be a failure in pancreas, spleen, liver or bladder. He added only an autopsy can verify officially the real cause of the ring death.

While I told him that Alex had a fever prior to the fight, he said that several boxers had experienced fever before their scheduled encounter and still won. No less than Manny Pacquiao, according to Dr. Cruz, suffered from a fever but still was able to fight after receiving medical treatment. However, Buhain and Cruz assured me that the investigation was already in the works through GAB Visayas in Cebu City.

Buhain said that no less than WBC international secretary Mauro Betti of Italy handed the WBC condolences thru email. According to them Alex was a great loss considering that he was a world rated boxer. Prior to the tragedy, Aroy was rated No. 31 by the WBC in the entire world in the light-flyweight division.

Milenkovic, the South African promoter, was also saddened of the untimely death. He was working a future WBC international fight for Alex which could no longer materialize. No less than world boxing pound-for-pound king Pacquiao extended his condolences and donated assistance thru Salud.  Antonio L. Aldeguer of the famed ALA Gym also extended his condolences and assistance too.

In Alex’s wake, I gathered all boxers, pro and amateur, who were present. Not one of them decided to stop boxing because of the ring tragedy and Aroy’s death challenged them more to give honor to Maasin City where Alex had left. Alex, their inspiration, was buried on February 12, 2008 at the Maasin Cemetery. But the passion among my other “sons” to fight and redeem Alex’s death will not be buried.

Road to the Nutrition Honor Award

"But charity is a very complicated thing. It's important to find an area where you can really help and you can feel the results. Charity is not like feeding pigeons in the square. It is a process that requires professional management." - Roman Abramovich, Russian businessman.

Our quest for national nutrition supremacy started when I was still still Vice Mayor and Damian Mercado was the City Mayor.  We won our first Green Banner Award for the year 2004 when we topped the city category in the whole Eastern Visayas Region beating Tacloban and Ormoc.

Before the winning of the Green banner, our malnutrition rate was high at about 20%.  When we started implementing our nutrition programs, malnutrition was 10.33% among pre-schoolers which was the lowest among cities in Region 8.  We won the Green Banner for three consecutive years in 2004, 2005 and 2006 garnering the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) award in the process.

The CROWN award was conferred by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) to a town, city or province that has been adjudged by the inter-agency regional nutrition evaluation team as outstanding in the region in the implementation of its nutrition action plan for three consecutive years.

Winning the CROWN

When I became City Mayor in 2007 we continued winning our CROWN garnering our first maintenance award from no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the Manila Hotel. Our malnutrition rate was 7.56% among pre-schooler children that time.

Then in the assessment for the 2008 accomplishments we faltered as we failed to get the passing mark during the national evaluation.  It was the time when the abaca industry in Maasin was greatly affected by diseases like bungy top and alcoheres.  Our malnutrition slightly increased to 7.57% among pre-schooloers.  Besides the barangays which were evaluated proved to be insufficient in their programs.

We were back to square one and competed again at the regional level garnering the Green Banner Award in the city category in 2009, 2010 and 2011.  We emerged again as CROWN awardees and we returned to the national nutrition awarding ceremony.  Malnutrition rate went down to 5.03% among pre-school kids in 2011.

In 2011 Maasin got the CROWN Award and in the year 2012 and 2013 we got the two consecutive years CROWN maintenance awards.  Then we would vie for the highest nutrition award in the country.

Quest for the honor award

It was our target to lower our malnutrition to a rate of 2%. The City Government solicited the support of all stakeholders, considering our population of 86,000.  We invested considerable amount for our nutrition programs. And I constantly explained it that we worked hard not only for the awards, but for the future of our children and the city as a whole.

"For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home." -  Matthew 25:35.

During that time, the barangays with zero malnutrition in the city are Canturing, Abgao and Cansirong.  We worked on improving the system of our nutrition strategies for us to further reduce the malnutrition incidence from the existing 5.03% that year.

We focused on the formulation of a Barangay Nutrition Action Plan (BNAP) and strengthening of the Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC) of the seventy barangays and motivate all of them to be functional.  

The activation of the BNC in every barangay is very significant since it is responsible for formulating, managing, monitoring and evaluating the BNAP, mobilizing the needed resources for the implementation of the projects under the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).  Part of their functions is to coordinate and integrate nutrition-related projects and activities of government and NGOs, including organizing the community to participate in nutrition projects.

At the grassroots level, a very helpful and practical function of the BNC is in the promotion of home, school, and community food production in the villages.  Some of their programs include distribution of seeds and seedlings, planting materials, fingerlings, goat, chicken, duck, etc. and in the establishment of demo- centers and nurseries.

Adopt a malnourished child

On top of this, is another innovative activity which is the adopt a severely malnourished child that is gaining support in the community.

Starting from my adoption of three severely malnourished children, each for all the members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, heads of the department of the city government and city hall employees follow suit. Then it was simultaneously replicated with the adoptions by the different sectors in the city like the fraternities, civil society organizations, religious groups, national line agencies and even down at the barangay level.

The "Adopt-A-Malnourished Child Program" was launched on November 29, 2014 with 95 underweight and severely underweight children aged 0-71 months old as recipients. Each child was allocated P30 per meal per day budget good for 150 days.  The total amount involved was P437,500.00.  On February 14, 2014, we had a Love Day for these children where we had a feeding program and gift giving at the City Gym.

In a launching activity of the said program at the city gymnasium, in my opening message I urged everyone including non-government organizations, private sector and the general public to help the city officials reach the goal towards zero malnutrition.

We are targeting the vision "Good Nutrition – A way of life of the people of Maasin City."

There were 150 supplemental feeding days which started December 2, 2014.  Each office or agency contributed P30.00 a day per adopted child, excluding Saturdays and Sundays to rehabilitate the identified malnourished children. Supplemental feeding was only once a day.

The activity showcased some identified recipients that are living along the city proper. They were fed after the launching and were given pair of slippers sponsored by Cong. Damian Mercado along with his family and a "get-to-know" between the adopted child and their sponsor

National evaluation

During the national evaluation, Health Assistant Secretary Bernardita Flores lauded Maasin City as it continues to aim for a healthy and well-nourished citizenry for almost 12 years already.

Flores is also the executive director of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) and recently led the national team of evaluators who visited the city, as it vies for the National Honor Award (NHA), the highest award conferred to a local government unit.

Flores said that to get the National Honor Award, one has to get 98 per cent rating on overall nutrition program. The evaluators will also give 5 per cent bonus rating.

She said that the unity and the cooperation between the city, province and in the representative of the lower house chamber proves beneficial to Maasin City, because it gets all the support it needed in all its programs for a healthy citizenry.

She added that the support Maasin got from provincial Governor Roger Mercado and Representative Damian Mercado is a big boost to the journey of Maasin towards excellence in implementing its nutrition program.

The journey towards the Nutrition Honor Award is not a bed of roses, but my contention was that win or lose, the nutrition programs for the citizenry of Maasin City will continue.

For me, the award is just a bonus for our efforts, but our service to our constituents continues.

“Our goal is to have a healthy and nourished citizenry not only in Maasin City but throughout Southern Leyte,”  Cong. Damian G. Mercado disclosed in his opening message during the welcome program for the national nutrition evaluators held April 29, 2014 at the Maasin City College .

The awards for Maasin for effective nutrition program implementation were mentioned such as  the Green Banner Awards;  Outstanding Municipality in the Region; Red Orchid Awards for three consecutive years which gained Maasin City the Hall of Fame for successfully implementing the anti-smoking campaign; Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN), to name a few.

The national evaluators for the Nutrition Honor Award  was led by Assistant Secretary for Health Maria-Bernardita T. Flores. They randomly selected five barangays to be validated such as Pinascohan, Laboon, Malapoc Norte, Canturing and Ibarra. The evaluation started today, April 30 and will end May 2, 2014. 

We welcomed the national validating team which arrived April 29, 2014 in a short program held at Maasin City College together with the members of the City Nutrition Committee headed by Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Francilisa I. Tan, Sangguniang Panglungsod members, among other concerned local officials and employees.  The evaluation lasted until May 2, 2014.

The team also visited mangrove areas, school’s hand washing facility and vegetable gardens, and the Maasin City nursery.

Nutrition situation

During the presentation of Maasin City’s nutrition situation, I focused on the impact programs implemented by the city such as food production, food fortification, livelihood assistance, micronutrient supplementation, nutrition information, communication and education, promoting healthy lifestyle, nutrition in emergencies, adopt a malnourished child program, among others and it’s road to the national Nutrition Honor Award, as its target and goal for Maasin City.

“Nutrition has always been included in my priority programs,” I said showing the Maasin City’s 13-point agenda, “MALONEY SAMACO,” as N stands for Nutrition and health services.  I explained that the city government allocated funds for nutrition program for at least P1 million for the past 3 years and more than P1.4-M last year.

I eagerly shared the leading intervening factors such as the home, school food production, adopt a malnourished child, that bounces up the nutritional status in Maasin City.

I discussed also “Gulayan sa Paaralan” and "Magulay ang Bahay" programs which are the most effective intervention that helps in the recovery of malnutrition in the city for years.

The program yields the nutritious food which are just planted within the premises of the household and in the schools thus readily provides food for the hungry children and even give the farmers a means for livelihood, as I explained to Assistant Secretary Ma-Bernardita Flores during the partial assessment. 

Food production activities such hog raising, chicken dispersal, goat raising, planting of vegetables, it also includes the procurement of mobile vans that carries the agricultural output of the farmers down to the market, among others.

The City Nutrition Committee appropriated some P70,000.00 for the procurement of vegetable seeds distributed among the 70 barangays and to those identified nutritionally depressed barangays will be receive more.

Malnutrition rates

In the year 2013, our underweight children were 4.14% in the city as compared to 26.4% in Eastern Visayas and 20.7% in the entire Philippines.  Wasting or thinness is 1.8% in Maasin while it is 6.7% in Region 8 and 6.9% in the entire country. 

Stunting or low height for age is 10.2% in the city while it is 41.1% in the region and 32.3% in the whole country.  Overweight children is only 0.71% as compared to 3.3% in the whole Philippines.

For school children, our rates were still way below the national and regional standards.  In the school year 2013-2014, we had 92.61% normal, 5.16% wasted, 0.65% severely wasted, 1.2% above normal, and 0.34% obese.  

Winning the highest distinction

The National Nutrition Council conferred the highest distinction in nutrition, the Nutrition Honor Award, to Maasin City together with the municipality of Lal-lo in Cagayan province in Region 2, and the province of Ifugao in the Cordillera Administrative Region. According to the NNC, "Our LGUs have exemplified outstanding performance in nutrition program management as manifested by the continued reduction in the prevalence of undernutrition both among preschool and school children for six (6) consecutive years as validated by the inter-agency National Nutrition Evaluation Team." 

The City of Maasin and other nutrition champions each received a trophy and cash incentive of P1,000,000 during the 2014 National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony on October 21, 2014 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. Sixteen (16) other LGUs were recognized during the awarding ceremony.

"You are what you eat." The famous phrase was popularized by American nutritionist Victor Lindlahr, who was a strong believer in the idea that food controls health, according to phrases.org.uk. The earliest known printed example was in a 1923 edition of the Bridgeport Telegraph:  "Ninety percent of the diseases known to man are caused by cheap foodstuffs. You are what you eat."

Maasin City hosts smoke-free EVRAA 2012

As early as February 2011, right after the opening ceremonies of the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet in Calbayog City, it was already agreed by the Regional Sports Board that Maasin City will be the host of the biggest gathering of athletes in the region by next year.  It was even announced during the closing ceremony to all athletes and officials “See you in Maasin City in 2012.”

It was a distinction that earned Maasin as an aggressive host.  Usually, hosts were determined just few months before the big event.  But when Southern Leyte deferred its hosting for 2012, it was Maasin’s turn to be offered as the next division to stage the annual sporting event. 

I consulted Gov. Damian Mercado and Cong. Roger Mercado if Southern Leyte is willing to help us as co-host of the EVRAA in 2012.  As expected, the two leaders gave their yes, and immediately I informed the DepEd Regional Office of our intention to accept the hosting of the big event.      

Then Maasin Schools Division Superintendent Pedro Escobarte informed the Regional Director Rosemarie Saet and the different superintendents were unanimous in awarding the hosting of the EVRAA 2012 to Maasin City.

100 Days Countdown

One good reason why they agreed to the Maasin City hosting is that the Congressman, Governor, City Mayor, provincial officials and city officials are united.  This is not true to the other cities and provinces in Eastern Visayas. 

On October 20, 2011, the 100 Days Countdown was launched at the Anatalio Gaviola Plaza with Regional Sports Coordinator Cesar Verunque as the guest of honor.  It was attended by hundreds of athletes, officials, and teachers including city employees and the general public. 

But the preparations were disturbed by rains especially the preparation of the track and field oval at the Southern Leyte Sports Complex and the baseball and soccer fields.  However, covered courts were ready in the different barangays to host the indoor events.  Athletes’ trainings were also interrupted by the inclement weather.

Through the persistent preparation by the Maasin City Sports Council led by Atty. Feorillo Demeterio, Jr. and the City Schools Division Sports Coordinator Fernando Salapi, everything was ready including the billeting schools and the playing venues. 

It was one of the few EVRAA meets which were not postponed even if the preparations were disturbed by the rains.  The 100 days countdown hit the target opening day on January 29, 2012.

Opening ceremony

Delegations kept arriving staring January 26, 2012.  And every thing was set for the opening ceremony.  It stopped raining in time for the opening ceremonies of the EVRAA on January 29, 2012. 

The opening parade kicked off the EVRAA 2012 from the plaza to the sports complex.  Delegations paraded in alphabetical order, starting with Biliran, Calbayog City, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar. Ormoc City, Samar, Southern Leyte, Tacloban City, and the host Maasin City was the last. 

No less than Pilipinas Got Talent Grand Champion Maasinhon Trio serenaded the crowd.  Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali, who was in-charge of sports in the DepEd, was the guest of honor.  It showcased the unity and solidarity of our leaders which did not happen in the other provinces and cities.  

Lighting of the flame

As in any Olympics, SEA Games or Asian Games, the lighting of the Friendship Flame was the highlight of the opening.  Our national gold and silver medalists carried the torch around the track.  To the surprise of the audience, the runners stopped in front of the grandstand to turn over the privilege of lighting the urn to the “true champion of sports in Maasin City.”  I run with the athletes to the place where the urn was situated.  To the background music of the movie “Superman” and “The Ten Commandments” the urn was lighted and the EVRAA signage was lighted by fireworks. 

The urn and signage lighting was invented by city hall scientist Rudolph Sanchez upon my suggestion that it should be the climax of the opening ceremonies.  It was the tradition of major international games that the lighting of the urn will be the biggest surprise of the opening.  We started the parade at 3:00 P.M. apart from the usual 1:00 P.M. to let the ceremony reach sunset.

Another grand show of fireworks lighted the sky when the EVRAA 2012 was formally opened by Director Luisa Bautista-Yu.  All were impressed of the grand display of pyrotechnics which happened only in the Maasin hosting of the EVRAA.  What followed was the very enjoyable Welcome Night at the city gym. 

The sun shone so brightly and the highlighted lighting of the Friendship Flame, the pyrotechnics of the EVRAA signage and the fireworks display went on perfectly.  The rains came back when the EVRAA came to a close. 

Maasin City delegation was housed at the Maasin City College campus.  It was so secured and we had protected the rooms from vandalisms especially that we can impose discipline on our own athletes.  The rooms were newly painted but there were no writings whatsoever because we let them love the building because it is our own college, financed and operated by the city government.  

Results of the games

Competitions began on January 30.  As expected powerhouse Leyte dominated most of the games.  They are the biggest delegation numbering more than 600 athletes and officials.  Maasin City athletes fought hard to show the home crowd that we are determined to become champions in some events and to go for the gold. 

The most interesting of all was our delegation in the archery event.  Only three days before the start of the games, the bows and arrows ordered from Manila arrived.  The athletes practically were briefed on the basics of archery for two weeks only.  It was the first time we joined archery in the EVRAA.  The boys’ team placed 4th and the girls’ team placed 5th out of 8 participating teams.  

We also fielded entries in arnis for the first time in EVRAA history.  And our girls garnered 6 gold medals enroute to winning the championship in their division.  They trained for only five months and started from scratch, like archery.  

Although Leyte won the secondary boys’ boxing by a solitary bronze medal, and Maasin City won the elementary boys’ boxing with 2 golds and 1 silver, Maasin won the unofficial overall championship in boxing with a medal tally of 3 golds and 2 silvers as compared to Leyte’s 2-2-1 tally. 

In the qualifying round and in the semi-final round, all 5 boxers of Maasin City won their bouts via referee stopped contest (RSC).  The boxers abilities improved with the training they got from Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP).  No less than 1992 Olympic bronze medalist Roel Velasco came to Maasin to train our coaches and referees.  Also, our own boxer Edillo Abrea now training in Baguio City at the ABAP national camp came home to share his knowledge to our amateurs.    

Maasin City’s elementary girls’ volleyball team successfully defended their title by taking the gold medal.  Last year in Calbayog, they were also champions.  The girls come from Malapoc Norte Elementary School and practiced religiously everyday until evening.  

Maasin City became champions in boys’ and girls’ swimming, girls’ volleyball, and boys’ boxing in the elementary and in the girls’ swimming, girls’ arnis, boys’ badminton, and girls’ table tennis in the secondary division.  

Standings

In the elementary level, Leyte got 1st place, Eastern Samar 2nd place and Maasin City 3rd place.  In the secondary level, Leyte got 1st place, Eastern Samar 2nd place, Ormoc City 3rd place, and Maasin City tied with Tacloban City at 4th place.

In the overall championship, Leyte was 1st, Eastern Samar was 2nd, and Maasin City was 3rd.  Our consolation was that Maasin City emerged the top city as it bested Ormoc City (4th place), Tacloban City (5th place) and Calbayog City (10th place).  The other delegations’ overall standings were Northern Samar (6th place), Southern Leyte (7th place), Samar (8th place), and Biliran (9th place). 

Leyte dominated practically all events in both secondary and elementary levels.  The Leyte Sports Academy (LSA) organized by their provincial government was a big plus factor to Leyte’s dominance.  So Maasin City learned a lot from the LSA, especially from Dr, Lucrecio Calo, the consultant and organizer of the LSA.  He was a retired Executive Director of the Philippine Sports Commission. 

Maasin City became the champion in the secondary division when it hosted the EVRAA in 2005.  It was the time when the standings were decided in terms of medals won.  This time the point system similar to that of the Palarong Pambasa was used. 

Safety

On the other hand, if we failed to win the championship, we were rated “excellent” by Mr. Verunque on the matter of hosting the games.  During the evaluation conducted by the tournament managers days before the opening, they rated our playing venues at 95%.  According to them, this is the first time alternate venues were prepared for volleyball and lawn tennis in case it rains so the games won’t be interrupted.      

There was only one reported case of theft during the EVRAA.  It happened at the Maasin City National High School where the Calbayog City delegation was housed.  I was ashamed of the incident because when we were in Calbayog during the EVRAA 2011 we were safe from robbers because of the tight security of the PNP and the Army.  

The PNP caught the robber and we presented him to the delegation.  He could no longer return the robbed money so I paid the victim more than the amount stolen from her.  She was a mother of a badminton athlete.    The suspect was a known thief and robber in Barangay Combado where the city high school was situated.  

Avenue for healthy lifestyle

Officials gave positive feedbacks on our hosting.  They would want to be back to Maasin in the future hosting of the regional meet.  They appreciated our Smoke-Free EVRAA and those officials who were smokers were able to reduce if not eradicate their smoking vice.  I told them, “I helped extend your life by several minutes or even hours and days.” 

All posts in the poblacion area were marked with tarpaulins indicating “Thank You for Observing our No Smoking Policy.”  These also include billeting quarters and playing venues. 

True to its theme “School Sports: Avenue for a Healthy Lifestyle,” the EVRAA 2012 was the first ever “Smoke-Free EVRAA.”  For it was held in the city that cares for the health.  

Batang Pinoy

Maasin City first participated in the Batang Pinoy in the year 2001 in Iloilo City.  During that time there was no single medal won by our more than thirty athletes who joined the competitions.  It prompted the passage of the ordinance creating the Maasin City Sports Council sponsored by then Sangguniang Kabataan President Bennites Paloma.  I was the City Vice Mayor that time and I was appointed as Chairman by then Mayor Damian Mercado.

Executive Order No. 44, otherwise known as the Philippine Youth Games or Batang Pinoy, was issued by the President.  It serves as the national sports competition program for children aged 15 years or younger and is aimed to address the need for a grassroots sports program focused on values formation inherent in the practice of sports and play.

Batang Pinoy, organized by the Philippine Sports Commission, is conducted in partnership with national government agencies such as the Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Leagues of Provinces, Cities, Municipalities and Barangays.

Revival

The Batang Pinoy was then revived in 2011 with the Visayas leg held at Dumaguete City on November 10-13, 2011.  Maasin City sent around 40 delegates to include athletes, coaches and sports officials, headed by Sports Council Chairman Atty. Feorillo Demeterio, Jr. The city competed in such events as boxing, taekwondo, table tennis, lawn tennis, badminton, and swimming.

Maasin City sports delegation bagged 3 golds, 11 silvers and 8 bronze medals after competing in the last day of the Batang Pinoy 2011 Visayas Leg.  It was good for 7th place among 28 participating LGUs. 

Christian Ivan Salud got two gold medals in swimming while Mary Joy Calapre won the lawn tennis single event. The gold and silver medalists would qualify for the national Batang Pinoy 2011 to be held at Naga City. 

For the silver medals, boxing got three, lawn tennis got four for singles, doubles and team event, swimming harvested two, badminton got two while taekwondo got one and they all qualified for the national competition. 

Cebu City dominated the badminton, table tennis, judo, taekwondo, chess and swimming competitions to finish with 52 gold medals, 37 silvers, and 31 bronze medals and became the overall champion.  Bacolod City got 2nd place with 34 gold medals, 18 silvers and 23 bronzes.  Host Dumaguete City collected 27 gold medals, 18 silvers and 27 bronzes to finish 3rd place.

Leyte placed 4th with 11 golds, 16 silvers, and eight bronzes.  Rounding up the top ten were Antique (5th place), Bohol (6th place), Maasin City (7th place), Bayawan City (9th place), and Talisay, Cebu (10th place).

National championship 2011

The Batang Pinoy Youth Games National Championship was held in Gov. San Luis Sports Complex in Naga City last December 9-13, 2011.  About 2,000 athletes from the local government units nationwide who qualified in the different regional legs competed in the national youth games.

Mary Joy Calapre dominated the girls’ lawn tennis singles and together with Angelica Mae Baluran, the powerful tandem bagged the gold in the girls’ lawn tennis doubles.  Calapre was also awarded the prestigious “Best Athlete in Lawn Tennis” of the Batang Pinoy National Championship.

The other medalists from Maasin City were Julirey Villahermosa, silver in boxing; Josh Mark Maquilabit, silver in badminton singles, Josh Mark Maquilabit and Nequi Joseph Cepada, bronze in badminton doubles; Alemar Javier and Cesar Bestudio, bronze in boxing; and Joshua Lagunay bronze in taekwondo. 

Maasin City got 2 golds. 3 silvers and 3 bronzes.  I went to Naga City together with some city officials to give moral support to our athletes.  We paid a courtesy call on Mayor John Bongat at the city hall. 

Mayor Bongat asked me on how we were able to achieve the exemplary achievement in tennis.  Their bets were beaten by Calapre and Baluran in the finals.  I told him constant training and holding of age group tournaments.  The Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA) had conducted several tennis clinics in Maasin.  We were also part of the Milo Summer Age-Group Tennis Classics.    

Hosting of Visayas leg 2013

Maasin City became the host of the Batang Pinoy 2013 Visayas Qualifying Leg on September 24-28, 2013. It was originally scheduled at Roxas City, Capiz but was transferred to Maasin upon the recommendation of Philippine Olympic Committee President Jose Cojuangco.  Likewise, the Luzon leg was held in Iba, Zambales on October 15-19, 2013 while the Mindanao leg was conducted in Tagum City, Davao del Norte on August 27-31, 2013.

The PSC Batang Pinoy Secretariat led by Atty. Jay Alano, Executive Director, arrived in the city earlier. Three thousand athletes were expected to join the games and they will be billeted in schools. The opening ceremony was at the Maasin City Gym on September 24, 2013 in the afternoon before a full house crowd.

The events to be played were arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, boxing, chess, dancesports, futsal, gymnastics, karatedo, lawn tennis, pencak silat, softball, sepak takraw, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling and wushu. Swimming was held at the Leyte Sports Center in Tacloban City because we have no standard swimming pool.

Maasin City was informed of the hosting only last May. But holding of national and regional sporting events is not new to Maasin City. Last February, it hosted the 2013 National Boxing Championships which the ABAP officials considered as the most successful staging of the event. The Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) of the Department of Education was played in Maasin three times in 1998, 2005 and 2012.

The first, second and third placers of the different regional legs will qualify for the Batang Pinoy National Championships which will be held in Bacolod City on November 19-23, 2013. The original host was Zamboanga City but because of the ongoing crisis with the Muslim rebels the PSC and the POC decided to change the venue.

MOA signing at Philsports

The memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the hosting was signed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the City Government of Maasin. The signing ceremony was held at the Philsports Arena media room in Pasig City last July 23, 2013.

The PSC was represented by Commissioner Jose Luis Gomez while I singed it in behalf of the city government. Batang Pinoy Executive Director Atty. Jay Alano and Maasin City Administrator Atty. Feorillo Demeterio, Jr. witnessed the signing ceremony.

It was covered by national media and I was interviewed by sportswriters from different national dailies.  It also coincided with the Sports Science Seminar at the Philsports Arena.  I met former Olympian and incumbent PSC Commissioner Akiko Thompson.

Opening ceremony

Some 1,200 athletes joined the opening ceremony of the Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifying Leg. More than 3,000 delegates including officials graced the parade that started at the Anatalio Gaviola Plaza and marched around the poblacion main streets.

Several school bands added gaiety to the parade and people lined-up the streets to cheer the participants. The venue of the opening ceremony which is the Maasin City Gym was a full house and were filled to the rafters.

Jose Luis "Jolly" Gomez, PSC Commissioner in charge of the Batang Pinoy, gave the keynote speech. He emphasized the significance of the grassroots program of the PSC which is quite different from that of the Palarong Pambansa.

"The Batang Pinoy is also open to out-of-school-youth. We have national winners in the Batang Pinoy who pursued their studies through the Alternative Learning System of the DepEd," said Gomez.

Well-participated qualifying leg

Thirty five LGUs from barangays, municipalities, cities, and provinces sent athletes and officials. "This is a well-participated Batang Pinoy," said Atty. Alano. She and her staff were the workhorse of the games.

On the side of the city, it was the Maasin City Sports Council and the DepEd Maasin City Division who assisted the PSC in all the preparations. The whole Maasin City Council was in full force during the opening ceremony and the Mayor's Welcome Dinner.

The Philippine Olympic Committee is represented by Romeo Magat. During the solidarity meeting of all officials, he explained the role of the POC. "The POC coordinates with the PSC in the Batang Pinoy program. We work hand in hand in searching talents to be trained for international competition such as the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games and the Olympics," said Magat.

Governor Roger Mercado, who headed the strong Southern Leyte delegation, gave the welcome message in behalf of the province while this writer welcomed the delegates in behalf of the city.

The entrance of the torch and lighting of the urn was the highlight of the ceremony. Yours truly carried the torch and lighted the urn in a very colorful and exciting display of fireworks which wowed the audience and the visitors.

The Ajonay Festival dancers of the Maasin City College gave a very awesome show to the delight of the crowd. The hearing-impaired pupils of the Maasin Special Education Center gave a doxology and the special rendition of the national anthem, provincial and city hymns.

Tobacco and cigarette smoking is strictly prohibited in all playing venues, billeting quarters, and all public places and public utility vehicles in the first-ever smoke-free Batang Pinoy. "Sports and healthy lifestyle must go together," my words during the opening. "Maasin City is a Hall of Fame Red Orchids Awardee of the Bloomberg Foundation, the WHO and the DOH."

According to Atty. Alano:  "It was the best hosting of the Batang Pinoy so far."

Results of Maasin Batang Pinoy

The final medal tally:
LGU-Gold-Silver-Bronze-Total Medals
1. Cebu City 87-61-34-182
2. Bohol Province 29-19-14-62
3. Iloilo City 18-4-7-29
4. Bacolod City 15-6-12-33
5. Maasin City 9-23-36-68
6. Iloilo Province 9-21-13-43
7. Mandaue City 8-8-7-23
8. Province of Leyte 7-13-12-32
9. Baybay City 6-9-6-21
10. Province of Iloilo 6-6-3-15
11. Negros Oriental 6-3-6-15
12. Negros Occidental 5-11-9-25
13. Leyte Sports Academy 5-10-10-25
14. Aklan 4-7-24-35
15. Tacloban City 4-5-14-23
16. Province of Southern Leyte 4-1-1-6
17. Talisay City 4-1-0-5
18. Province of Antique. 3-7-22-32
19. Tagbilaran City 3-1-13-17
20. Province of Aklan 3-0-0-3
21. Lezo, Aklan 2-4-4-10
22. Ormoc City 2-1-4-7
23. Brgy. Sambag II, Cebu City 2-1-1-4
24. Cadiz City 1-2-1-4
25. Hilongos, Leyte 1-2-1-4
26. Brgy. Bangkal, Lapulapu City 1-2-0-3
27. San Fernando, Cebu 1-1-4-6
28. Brgy. Labangon, Cebu City 1-1-1-3
29. Municipality of Carmen 1-1-1-3
30. Zarraga, Iloilo 1-0-0-1
31. Municipality of Consolacion 0-3-2-5
32. Borongan City 0-2-0-2
33. Kalibo, Aklan 0-1-4-5
34. Bato, Leyte 0-1-1-2
35. Matalom, Leyte 0-1-0-1
36. Maybocog, Maydolong, E. Samar 0-0-3-3
37. Eastern Samar 0-0-1-1

Maasin City placed second to Cebu City in the total number of medals.

The Batang Pinoy Medalists of Maasin City. The city's biggest medal harvest so far in the Visayas Leg of the National Youth Games.

Gold Medalists:
1. Aris Maceda - swimming 50m butterfly 13-15 girls
2. Alexis Costillas - wrestling bulinggit 32kg. boys
3. Futsal Team Event Boys
4. Crisarl Gaviola - soft tennis singles boys
5. Trisa Luz Garces - soft tennis singles girls
6. Jessrey Vincent & Jonas Dayondon - soft tennis doubles boys
7. Trisa Luz Garces & Juliane Magallanes - soft tennis doubles girls
8. Gymnastics Cheerdance
9. Romie Evale - boxing light pinweight division

Silver Medalists:
1. Abegail Aguelo - athletics 2000m walk girls
2. Lilibeth Payao - swimming 200m backstroke 13-15 girls
3. Ericah Diez - swimming 50m breaststroke 12 & under girls
4. Aris Maceda - swimming 200m butterfly 13-15 girls
5. Ryan Obida - swimming 50m butterfly 12 & under boys
6. Ericah Diez - swimming 200m breaststroke 11-12 girls
7. Ryan Obida - swimming 100m backstroke 12 & under boys
8. Aris Maceda - swimming 400m individual medley 13-15 girls
9. Rolando Ambe Jr. - swimming 100m butterfly 12 & under boys
10. Aris Maceda - swimming 100m butterfly 13-15 girls
11. Ericah Diez - swimming 100m breaststroke 12 & under girls
12. James Louric Arnaiz - taekwondo lightweight boys
13. Mark Carlo Ellazar - wrestling bulinggit 29kg. boys
14. Angelito Jejorpe - wrestling bulinggit 32kg. boys
15. Willy Ortega - wrestling schoolboys 47kg. boys
16. Lawn tennis Team Event Girls 15 under
17. Jovane John Aroy - arnis full contact featherweight boys
18. Jessrey Vincent - soft tennis singles boys
19. Hannah Pueblas - soft tennis singles girls
20. Niko Calapre & Jeruz Garde - soft tennis doubles boys
21. Hannah Pueblas & Cristlyn Bacariza - soft tennis doubles girls
22. Louie Jay Forzado - boxing kiddieweight division
23. Joshua Orello - boxing mosquito weight division

Bronze Medalists:
1. Rolando Ambe Jr. - swimming 100m freestyle 12 & under boys
2. Jael Maraon - swimming 50m breaststroke 13-15 boys
3. Ina Maceda - swimming 200m breaststroke 13-15 girls
4. Proper Joy Ambe - swimming 800m freestyle 13-15 girls
5. Rose Fraxides Siega - athletics shot put girls
6. Lilibeth Payao - swimming 400m individual medley 13-15 girls
7. Lilibeth Payao - swimming 200m individual medley 13-15 girls
8. Ryan Obida - swimming 50m backstroke 12 & under boys
9. Rolando Ambe Jr. - swimming 50m freestyle 12 & under boys
10. John Michael Paler - taekwondo welterweight boys
11. Freya Beya Demeterio - taekwondo featherweight girls
12. Romie Wacay - wrestling bulinggit 29kg. boys
13. Jude Bryle Maraon - wrestling bulinggit 44kg. boys
14. Mary Joy Orit - wrestling schoolgirls 44kg. girls
15. Kimberly Jane Ponce - arnis full contact pinweight girls
16. Edito Abendanio - arnis full contact flyweight boys
17. Kim Carl Bestudio - pencak silat class B 27-40kg. boys
18. Sahrani Olama - pencak silat class C 40-43kg. boys
19. Kim Palen - pencak silat class D 43-46kg. boys
20. Zaire Laraga - pencak silat class G 52-55kg. boys
21. Softball Boys Division
22. Vince Angeli Sy - table tennis singles boys
23. Christopher Jacob Go - soft tennis singles boys
24. Niko Calapre - soft tennis singles boys
25. Liezel Barola - soft tennis singles girls
26. Juliane Claire Magallanes - soft tennis singles girls
27. Crisarl Gaviola & John Basmayor - soft tennis doubles boys
28. Christopher Jacob Go & Joseph Suficiencia - soft tennis doubles boys
29. Kimberly Poblete & Liezl Barola - soft tennis doubles girls
30. Christine Lorezo & Stephanie Delmonte - soft tennis doubles girls
31. Volleyball Boys Division
32. Volleyball Girls Division
33. Princess Julienne Paler - lawn tennis singles girls
34. Princess Julianne Paler & Janzen Angeli Albino - lawn tennis doubles girls
35. Anthony Cabil - boxing minimumweight division
36. Jonathan Artegas - boxing light paperweight division

National finals in Bacolod

Batang Pinoy National Finals was originally set on November 14 – 25, 2013 in Bacolod City but was postponed to January 28– February 1, 2014 due to super typhoon Yolanda. Then together with four city councilors Hon. Romeo Geneston, Hon. Antonio Cardoza, Hon. Pepito Generan and Hon. Felicisimo Taborada, we led the 50 athletes and officials of Maasin City. 

The opening ceremony started with a parade of delegations through the major commercial districts of the city followed by a program attended by PSC chairman Ricardo Garcia, Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevilla and Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson at the public plaza. Mayor Puentevella, a former PSC Commissioner, coincidentally is the Father of Batang Pinoy.

The Maasin City athletes and officials were cheered during the parade and welcomed during the boodle fight that followed the opening ceremonies because we were gracious hosts to Bacolod during their stay in our city during the Visayas leg.  But something untoward happened to our futsal team.

Romie Evale won the bronze in boxing light pinweight division at the Batang Pinoy National Finals.  He lost a controversial decision to his opponent from Cagayan de Oro in what could have been a silver medal and a chance to fight for the gold.

Maasin City won the bronze medal in gymnastics cheerleading with 15 medals awarded  individually.  Paranaque City won the gold and Calamba City won the silver.

Our futsal team were not as lucky. We almost defeated host Bacolod City with a score of 3-4.  But another host Negros Occidental employed rugged physical plays and hurt our players causing a near riot of the game.  The hosts were doing everything not to lose in their favorite game in their own homecourt.  Our boys defaulted the game at score 0-0 and headed for home immediately for safety.

Visayas leg in Aklan

We sent delegation to the Batang Pinoy 2014 Visayas Qualifying Leg at Aklan.  The medalists from Maasin City:

Gold Medalist:
Bernard Gaviola - javelin throw boys

Silver Medalists:
Jhayve Donaire - boxing antweight
Roy Jones Crisostomo - boxing powderweight
Joshua Orello - boxing lightflyweight
Christian Salud - 50m breaststroke boys 13-15 yrs old
Christian Salud - 200m breaststroke boys 13-15 yrs old
Christian Salud - 100m breaststroke boys 13-15 yrs old
Shanrud Noval - 800m freestyle girls 12 yrs & under

Bronze Medalists:
Mary Ann Cabero - shot put girls
Louie Jay Forzado - boxing vacuumweight
Lilibeth Payao - 200m backstroke girls 13-15 yrs old
Ares Maceda - 50m freestyle girls 13-15 yrs old
Ricardo Aragon - 400m individual medley boys 12 yrs & under
Lilibeth Payao - 400m individual medley girls 13-15 yrs old
Christian Salud - 50m backstroke boys 13-15 yrs old      
Ares Maceda - 50m backstroke girls 13-15 yrs old
Prosper Joy Ambe - 800m freestyle girls 13-15 yrs old
Petrix Neil Dalo - taekwondo finweight junior boys

Our cheerdancers/gymnasts won the bronze medal in the national competition which was held during the Luzon Qualifying Leg at Naga City.  We won the bronze medal in the Cheerleading category and another bronze medal in the Group Male Category. There were seven participating teams. 

We were not able to send the winners to the Batang Pinoy National Finals 2014 hosted again by Bacolod City because of the threat of Typhoon Ruby in December.

The real tobacco-free city of the Philippines

"People always come up to me and say that my smoking is bothering them... Well, it's killing me!" These are the words of American stand-up comedian Wendy Liebman.

It goes to show that most smokers would want to stop smoking but just don't have the will and determination to kick the bad habit.

I launched our anti-smoking campaign on World No-Tobacco Day on May 31, 2009.  It was a Monday and during the flag ceremony I destroyed two reams of Marlboro blue seal before the employees of the city hall.  These were given to me as birthday gift last May 24, 2009 during my 46th birthday celebration thinking I would give it to my constituents.

The cigarettes were cut by scissors one by one and dumped into the trash bins.  It ushered a formal declaration of a massive advocacy on the ill effects of tobacco smoking.  Before that, the campaign was introduced by the World Health Organization and the Department of Health during a seminar on our health personnel on April 29, 2009 at Sabin Resort Hotel, Ormoc City.


Anti-smoking advocacy

Maasin Anti-Smoking Advocacy Movement began.  What followed were a series of smoking cessation seminars in coordination with the DOH and the Bloomberg Foundation.  I initiated the posting of No Smoking stickers on motorcabs. We conducted announcement using public address system on public places informing the people that our anti-smoking program is on.  Our Healthy City Enforcers informed public utility vehicles at checkpoints of the anti-smoking laws implemented by the city government, especially on visitors and tourists.

We had conducted information drive in all barangays on Republic Act No. 9211,  "An Act Regulating The Packaging, Use, Sale, Distribution and Advertisements of Tobacco Products and Other Purposes" and City Ordinance No. 2009-042 "The Smoke-Free Ordinance of the City of Maasin, Southern Leyte."  Anti-smoking campaign were also conducted to all drivers of public utility vehicles including motorcabs and pedicabs.

The Seventh day Adventists supported us in our seminars.  During their Visayas Youth Assembly held at Maasin City Forest Park, Adventists from all parts of the Visayas, including their pastors, manifested their appreciation on our political will to campaign our people against smoking.  The Church continued supporting our endeavors through their prayers and always inspired us to continue our cause for the good health of our constituents.


Support from religious and civic groups

All other religious denominations, through the association of the different pastors in Maasin and Southern Leyte, showed their support by inviting me in one of their meetings.  They pledged their support by inspiring their church members to refrain from smoking.  The program also earned the support of the Muslim community through their imam.

Of course the biggest inspiration came from the dominant Roman Catholic Church and religious organizations like Knights of Columbus and Gawad Kalinga who showed undying support to our advocacy.  Some priests including the bishop appreciated our advocacy and aired their sentiments during their homilies.

Non-government organizations, civic clubs and private establishments helped us in our campaign by posting tarpaulins urging people to quit smoking.  These includes pictures on the ill effects of tobacco.  We removed cigarette advertisements, including billboards and signages in business establishments.


 Smoke-free city jail

The Maasin City Jail became a smoke-free city jail, the first in Region 8 and probably in the whole Philippines.  It was not an easy task controlling smoking in a place where suspected criminals and convicts are housed.  At first inmates protested and threatened to stage a hunger strike.

I explained to them that it is for their own good.  Non-smokers suffered much the consequences in a congested prison cell if smoking is tolerated.  Later the Bureau of Jail and Management Penology (BJMP) Regional Director ordered that all jails in Eastern Visayas should follow the example of Maasin City.  

Visitors who visited the inmates especially those brought cigarettes secretly were body searched and the tobacco were confiscated.   We educated them that smoking caused more harm in a crowded room and the lung illness they could possibly suffer would easily contaminate all their fellow boarders.


No smoking service

I campaigned on all city employees to stop smoking.  Certificate of non-smoker is required for all employees, permanent, casual or job order.  Those who could not quit right away were required to undergo smoking cessation seminars.  A single cigarette butt in the city hall is very rare.

Even people who transacted business at the city hall were barred from smoking in the city hall premises.  Employees wear badges "Serbisyong Walay Sigarilyo" (No Smoking Service).  This slogan is placed in our official city hall letterheads.

Maasin City College, owned and operated by the city government, is now the number one smoke-free college campus in Eastern Visayas and was awarded by the DOH.  Mere position of cigarette, match or lighter in the MCC campus is strictly prohibited.


Smoke-free areas
           
Maasin City Forest Park at Sitio Danao, Malapoc Norte, where the Maasin City Zoo is situated, is declared as a smoke-free zone.  In one activity participated by delegates all over the country, during the Boy Scouts of the Philippines 7th National Rover Moot and One-Visayas Jamboree all participants, adult leaders and visitors were prohibited from smoking.

One participant, a lady adult staff from the national office said "It was the first time I was not able to puff a single stick of cigarette in seven days when I stayed in Camp Danao.  Hope I can stay in Maasin so I can totally quit smoking, Mayor."

Motorcabs' and pedicabs'  franchises were not renewed if they did not print No Smoking signs inside their vehicles.   Smoking is strictly prohibited in public utility vehicles and in public places such as plaza, market, terminal, schools, hospitals, clinics, restaurants and other covered places.  Public place is defined as a place where people converge including streets.

I was able to convince the management of the provincial hospital especially smoking doctors to refrain from their vices especially if patients could view them smoking.  Besides the Province of Southern Leyte has passed an ordinance declaring the province as smoke-free.  A smoking area was also designated in the cockpit.


First Red Orchid Award

Tobacco advertisements and promotions were prohibited.   Tarpaulins showing the ill effects of a smoker's body and campaigning people to quit smoking abound the streets and public places instead.

Maasin won its first Red Orchid Award given by the Department of Health in coordination with the World Health  Organization and the Bloomberg Foundation on May 31, 2010.  Red orchid is the most sensitive of all varieties of orchids.  When there's smoke due to pollution or cigarette, it withers.  Maasin City is one of the only five local government units awarded the Red Orchid which include Davao City, Legaspi City, Talisayan in Misamis Oriental and Calauag in Quezon.

The search by the DOH is joined by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in its quest for Kalusugang Pangkalahatan or Universal Health Care, living a healthy lifestyle in an environment free from tobacco smoke.


Second Red Orchid Award

The DOH Red Orchid Awards winners are judged based on the strength of comprehensive efforts to implement a 100% Tobacco-Free Environment using the World Health Organization  MPOWER initiative. MPOWER is an acronym that denotes the six proven tobacco control policies, namely: Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; Protect people from tobacco smoke; Offer help to quit tobacco use; Warn against the dangers of tobacco; Enforce bans on tobacco advertising; and Raise taxes on tobacco.

The following year on May 31, 2011, Maasin City led all cities in receiving its second Red Orchid Award.  Davao City, Roxas City, Balanga City and Legaspi City also were awarded.  There were also 13 municipalities who received the Red Orchid, including Pintuyan and Naval, who conducted seminars and learned the techniques in Maasin.

During the awarding, I met Running Priest Father Robert Reyes, a staunch advocate of anti-smoking.  In his runs, he spread the word on the killer effects of tobacco.  We had conducted also our Takbo Kontra Tabako on May 23, 2011 one day before my birthday.  It was a run for a cause and all the proceeds were given as financial assistance to victims of tobacco-related diseases.

No smoking home

We have promoted the No Smoking Home and gave stickers to residencial houses who wanted to make their houses smoke-free.   The Blue Ribbon award was given to smoke free private establishments and the private sector who assisted us in our advocacy.   We also conducted a search for Outstanding Smoke-Free Barangays or the Barangay Red Orchid Awards, following the format of the DOH Red Orchids Award.

We have established three smoking cessation clinics, at the City Health Offices I, II and III at Barangays Asuncion, San Rafael, and Manhilo, respectively.  Smoking is considered as the fifth vital sign of a patient, the others being blood pressure, body temperature, height and weight, in our health offices, centers and stations.  The Smoking Cessation Clinic is established at the Office of the City Mayor.

Volunteers' training was conducted to recruit anti-smoking volunteers among students, barangay tanods, Sangguniang Kabataan officials and members, and out-of-school youths and they were issued identification cards.


 Hall of Fame

On May 29, 2012, Maasin City won the Hall of Fame by getting the third Red Orchid Award together with the other Hall of Famers Davao City, Legaspi City, Calauag in Quezon and Talisayan in Misamis Oriental at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City.  We were awarded a P500,000 project grant on tobacco control for us who won for three consecutive years. We used the money to buy LCD projector and sound system for our advocacy.

There was DOH Caraga Region who conducted studies in Maasin.  Four municipalites of Biliran and two of Southern Leyte became recipients of our seminar-trainings.  The masteral students of Southwestern University from Cebu conducted their lakbay aral primarily to learn how effective the anti-tobacco program of Maasin is.  Nursing students from different schools made a survey on our people on the lessening or quitting of their smoking habits.


 Smoke-free activities

DOH Regional Office from Calabarzon also visited Maasin for an educational tour.  The Philippine Ports Authority also came to learn on how to make the ports tobacco free.  I was invited by Tacloban City to conduct a seminar on their enforcers on how to implement the anti-smoking law.

I campaigned anti-smoking thoroughly to all barangay captains and other officials.  A Barangay Red Orchid Award was conducted with big prizes awaited the winners in the urban and rural category.

The 2012 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet in Maasin became the first ever smoke-free EVRAA. Coaches, trainers and officials are prohibited from smoking to show good examples to their athletes.

When Maasin hosted the National Boxing Championships on February 2013 and the Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifying Leg on September also of 2013.  Both events were participated in by delegations from all parts of the county and were declared smoke-free, the first in the history of the two sporting events in the country.

The Smoke-Free Regional Rescue Jamoboree was held in Maasin on July 2015.  The participants were impressed on the regulations we imposed on our constituents.  It was a show window of how disciplined the people of Maasin City were.


Anti-smoking campaign

I visited the different schools of the city and campaigned room to room on pupils and students.  I warned them of the law prohibiting minors on buying cigarettes and cautioned them not to buy tobacco when told by their fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and other elders.  I also urged the children to tell their elders to quit smoking because of their concern for their health.

In a great show of political will and to show how serious we are in our anti-smoking campaign, I cancelled all permits for the selling of cigarettes in the entire city.  This is to give thorough investigation on the distances of stores from hospitals, medical, dental and optical clinics, health centers, nursing homes, dispensaries, laboratories, gas stations and storage areas, daycare centers, schools, colleges and other facilities frequented by minors.  We do this for the concern of the health of our constituents especially the wives, mothers and children who are greatly affected by second-hand smoke.

I called stores and residences every Monday at the office warning them against selling of cigarettes.  We conducted a seminar on them on the perils of tobacco smoke.  We have closed stores who continued to sell cigarettes in San Rafael, Tagnipa, Mambajao, Mantahan, Canturing, Sorosoro, Pasay and Public Market.

Smoking is addiction

Our campaign is primarily against the most common legal addictive drug, and that's the cigarette.  In Maasin, we consider smoking as a form of addiction.  While marijuana is medicinal, it is banned because of its addictive nature.

And smoking is considered a habit forming vice, bad for the health, bad for the pocket, and bad for the future of our children.  Smoking is considered as the first step towards drug addiction.

We have a Facebook Page called Maasin Anti-Smoking Advocacy Movement.  It has several Likes and featured articles and links on the dangers of tobacco.

"If somebody invented cigarettes today, the government would not legalize them," said American actress Loni Anderson.