Pearl of Sarangani 2015

Winning Line – Atty. Tessa Dadivas-Constantino, a beloved daughter of three-termed Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino that is said to be prepared by Congressman Manny D. Pacquiao to be her father’s successor after retiring in 2016, flashes a thumb up sign as a gesture of confidence, right after Malungon Municipality’s beauty search bet, Ms. Fatima Kate Bisan has been crowned new ‘Pearl of Sarangani’ on Saturday night’s culmination of Munato Festival in Sarangani Province. (Isagani Palma – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

Best in swimsuit – Modestly representing Sarangani’s only landlocked Municipality of Malungon, Ms. Fatima Kate Bisan, the newly crowned 16-year old “Pearl of Sarangani 2015” beauty search winner, grins before a huge crowd of thousands at the Capitol ground, as she gracefully walks for a display of her bathing costume on Saturday night (November 28), amid the culmination of the two-day Munato Festival celebration in Alabel town. (Photos courtesy of Ms. ALMIN ABEJARON – PVGO/ Isagani Palma).

Maln’gan tribal dad remains rare to equal

Maln’gan tribal dad remains rare to equal – Known of his keen love and passion for the good of tribesmen, photo shows the half-blooded Blaan chief executive and ‘outgoing’ Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bongbong’ Constantino (3rd from left) as he extends outright personal assistance of P 5, 000 to a Banate National High School student (name withheld) in Malungon town. The kid has caught Constantino’s attention after, despite of some physical deformities, managed to perform his best for BNHS to bag the P140, 000-worth grand prize on last week’s colorful Street Dancing competition that highlighted the annual festivity of the SLANG Festival at the only landlocked town of Sarangani Province in Mindanao Island, Southern Philippines.  (JOJO GOCOTANO – Malungon Information Office/ ippalma).

A captured "gesture" of concern

A captured "gesture" of concern – Unmindful of the blistering heat from sunlight, Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon positions himself right at the heart of Sunken Arena, while giving direction for the “Sambuno” or ethnic-fashioned wrestling umpire to closely watch the safety of every contestants amid the 2-day sports competition that played up last week’s 8th annual celebration of SLANG Festival in Malungon, Sarangani Province. Standing rear atop a nearby parked carrier vehicle is the local chief executive, Mayor Reynaldo “Bong” Constantino. For more info, visit I love Malungon, Sarangani and Malungonian Kami (fb), or malungon.blogspot.com (JOJO GOCOTANO – Malungon Information Office/ ippalma).

Constantino remains a dependable ‘dad’ to tribes, say

Constantino remains a dependable ‘dad’ to tribes, say

By ISAGANI PROVIDO PALMA

MALUNGON, Sarangani – A government-tasked provincial chieftain cited with invaluable recognition and honor, the immeasurable support that the “outgoing” half-blooded Blaan leader, Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino has provided the Indigenous Peoples that have resulted confirmatory changes, not just in the lifetimes of the underprivileged tribal minorities, but also of the poor land tillers that dwell in the upper valleys.

The Sarangani tribal chieftain Edmund Pangilan who is also the ex-officio representative for the IPs in the municipality, said aside from speaking in behalf of the tribal communities, it is but high time for him to complete his own personal acclamation to give tribute to the of highly appreciated governance of Constantino, who is about to finish up a three-termed (nine years) successive headship in Malungon, Sarangani Province.

In an interview prior the Wednesday scheduled (November 18) culmination for the annually celebrated SLANG Festival, Pangilan told scribes that Constantino’s leadership have started of gaining its place right on the heart of tribesmen, following the latter’s assumption into office in year 2007.

His (Constantino) truthful leadership and sincerity in public service have started to surface, amid the heavy days of the latter-led pro-poor livelihood assistance programs and projects in the upper valleys. In line with this, is the mayor’s personally taken commitment to cure up the rising tension of banditry and other forms of lawlessness in various minority-occupied villages that are adjacently located at the town’s forested and mountainous areas at the triangular provincial boundaries of Sarangani, South Cotabato and Davao Del Sur.

“Those were the days that I myself have first seen the greatness of Constantino’s leadership, specifically in sharing almost all he got in form of self-initiated assistance for the benefit of tribes,” said Pangilan, who claimed to have seen the gradual rise of Malungon Town from then third class municipality toward its latest stance as a leader of progress and development in the entire province of Sarangani.

He said as the Constantino governance now begins to peep at the offing of its last and final lap, the Tribal People starts to give weight and recognition, on the fairly shared projects of the local government to all of its comprising 31 barangays, which includes the consistent implementation of the weekly-held “Lingap sa Barangay” program that cured up the inadequacy of health services, and so of the acridly felt thirst on medical supplies of those living in the far flung villages, prior to the taking over of the RFC-spearheaded administration.

“Speaking of education, of course we do not only base such achievement on the rising number of teachers, facilities, and other related learning edifices, but including the highly affable outcome of other related projects such of the LGU scholarship assistance program that have able to produce several hundreds of poor students (Among which belongs to the IPs) to finish their respective tertiary courses, wherein two of which are now working as government-assigned physicians at the local-based infirmary,” Pangilan added.

Aside, the land marking of Mindanao State University’s extension campus is also a lucid proof of Mayor Constantino's ardent desire to train his people, paired by the dishing up of a well recognized teaching through the formation of a highly qualified educational institution in a very accessible site, for his poor people to learn more and be a band of great leaders, someday.


Meanwhile, likewise serving as municipal tribal head of Maln’gan, Pangilan said with the sharing of live entertainment and singing of native-fashioned compositions from a tribal group of musicians that dubbed themselves as the “Salek Band,” the merriment was cheered and grace by no less Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon and ranking provincial gov’t officials, the LGU and local officials led by Malungon town Mayor Bong Constantino, distinguished guests from the nearby town, cities and provinces, tribal chieftains, hundreds of tribes, Lumads, government workers, and the rejoicing local residents right at the town’s Sunken Arena. (Photos by JOJO GOCOTANO/ Malungon Information Office).

Upland town bags another prestigious National Award

Upland town bags another prestigious National Award – Outgoing three-termed Mayor Reynaldo “Bongbong” Constantino (center in white polo) of Malungon, Sarangani Province poses with pride together with his better half Roselyn (5th from right), the Municipal Nutrition Office volunteer action officer, local government officials, Dep’t heads, MNO staff workers, and known local personalities after the local Nutrition Office has been named National CROWN (Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition) Awardee on October 29, 2015 by the National Nutrition Council at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE/ ippalma).

LGU fast tracks AIP project completion

LGU fast tracks AIP project completion – Committee on Finance chair Joseph Calanao (center in black shirt) shares a healthy Monday discussion with Henry Lito C. Pactes (left), the local water district manager, and a number of Brgy. Kibala officials who came to check the scheduled construction of a newly approved Spring Development project in the area. With the string of multi-million worth AIP projects that are now ready for immediate implementation, Calanao said the Sangguniang Bayan also approved on October 19, 2015, Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino’s request for the construction of Brgys. Tamban and Kiblat water system projects (Spring Dev’t), including the proposed expansion/construction of evacuation centers in Barangays Panamin, Upper Biangan and JP Laurel. “Mayor Constantino ordered for the fast and appropriate implementation of all LGU projects, especially those intended in the upland villages that are mostly occupied by the Tribal minorities, to ensure its completion on or before his final day of office ends in 2016,” Calanao added. (Isagani Palma – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

Land marking of the Mindanao State University campus extension

Land marking of the Mindanao State University campus extension – Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino (right), Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (center) and (3rd – L) Department of the Interior and Local Government provincial director Flor Limpin Jr. flashes a thumb's up sign with a number of Sangguniang Panlalawigan board members, PEO ranking personnel, and a couple of Barangay Council representatives Monday (October 26), amid the groundbreaking of the five-hectare-wide school ground that is intended for the construction of Mindanao State University's' (MSU) campus extension edifices in Brgy. Malandag, Malungon, Sarangani Province. Also in photo (from left-right) are SP Board Member Elmer De Peralta, BM Abdulracman Pangolima, Provincial Engineer Jerry Belbider, BM Armand Guili, BM Virgil Clark Tobias, BM Cesar Nallos and Malandag Brgy. Capt. Fernando Fantin. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

Another proof of a highly laudable feat – Unmindful of his slimming time at helm of the local government, outgoing three-termer Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bongbong’ Constantino shares a healthy opening speech before a huddle of pleased teachers, PGO and local government officials, barangay leaders and invited guests, during the Monday (October 26) land marking of the LGU-initiated P5 million-worth five-hectare land, where the Provincial Government’s P7 million project construction of the Mindanao State University (MSU) extension campus will soon rise in Malandag, Malungon, Sarangani Province.(JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

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MALUNGON, Sarangani – TOP provincial and local government officials, in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, spearheaded Monday, the most awaited groundbreaking of the five-hectare wide Mindanao State University (MSU) campus extension in Brgy. Malandag, Malungon, Sarangani Province.

DILG Provincial Dir. Flor Limpin Jr., said with the dynamic backing and involvement of LGU-Malungon and MSU-General Santos City school officials, this 2011 projected school construction is among the Provincial Government of Sarangani’s project priorities after it has bagged the Local Government Department’s prestigious Seal of Good Housekeeping, which qualified the PGO to avail the DILG’s Performance Challenge Fund incentive of 7 Million Pesos.

He said commonly known as “Malandag MSU Campus Extension,” the principal principle of its expansion is to stress the most needed special tertiary extension services for the Indigenous People, and to suffice the lack of teachers and college institutions that offers a well-improved learning system, and a less expensive cost of schooling in the IP dominated areas.

“So I would like to stress my thanks and congratulations for a job well done to our provincial government officials, for putting up the PCF-fund in this educational development project. This includes as well, the highly commendable support and participation of the Local Gov’t Unit of Malungon Municipality under the headship of Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino, for providing the P5M-worth five-hectare campus, and the Mindanao State University officials who guided the formulation of the project’s concept papers and its engineering and technical designs,” Limpin said in a brief media interview.

Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon said in line with the Provincial Government’s “Sulong Karunungan and Sulong Tribo” program, the groundbreaking activity is a lucid manifestation of the government’s authenticity in its thrust to uplift the educational attainment and capabilities of its masses.

“Gani ako gisiguro sa tanan nga daku gyud ang pagpaninguha sa PGO nga mahatag ang tanang mga benepisyo, hilabi na ang para sa kaayuhan sa atong tribu. (That is why I am assuring each and everyone that we are doing all our best for the releases of all intended benefits, specifically those that are classified for the Tribal groups,” Solon said.

He said the opening was stressed right on time before the first 5-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) off campus program for 3 batches, a baccalaureate degree for deserving IPs to study in the MSU-GSC satellite school that started in Malandag in 2009, will about to end next year.

“Since the existence of the first MSU extension, we have already got 55 alumni with 17 LET passers. The first 9 LET takers are already absorbed by DepEd while the 2nd batch LET takers who passed last March 29, 2015 have already submitted their application documents for ranking at DepEd Sarangani. Most of the graduates of 25 are engaged in private employers to reach a living, while the 2nd batch graduates of 25 are waiting for the LET results. Hopefully the final batch of 44 will graduate in May 2016,” Solon added.

For his piece, the last termer Mayor Constantino said he is certain that for the past nine years, he has already given all his best in enhancing the local educational system, its facilities, and the desired increase in the number of teachers in the municipality.

“Today we have able to open another learning foundation in our dear town. Another great undertaking that was drawn not only for the insurance of our children’s future, but also the unborn. Gin-upisahan ko na ini. So yara na sa aton sunod nga mga lideres sang banwa, ang pagpadayon sang akon igahabilin para sa akon nga mga pinalanga nga mga katawhan, hilabi na gid sa akon nga mga ka-tribo nga yara nagapuyo sa aton mga kabukiran. (I have started it all. So it is now in the part of our incoming leaders to succeed in my legacy, that are contrived for the good of all. Of course especially for my beloved tribal minorities that thrive in the upper valleys),” Constantino said.

Thee mayor said aside from the P5M funding, the LGU is also eyeing to apportion another P3M-budget next year for the said project. “I know the significance of this tertiary campus presence here in our town. That is why our local government officials are doing all efforts to strengthen and maintain its existence. For as we could see, MSU is not solely for the benefit of our poor but deserving students, but likewise of great help in the role of parents who strive hard for the betterment of their children.”

In a forwarded message, DILG-12 regional director Reynaldo Bungubung said through PCF, the national government has again proven its mission's priority of producing tangible improvements for the Filipino people.

“We have to celebrate for the work that has been performed by the Provincial Government of Sarangani, Municipal of Government of Malungon and the MSU-General Santos City, that have braced together for the materialization of this project. So, we have to rejoice the positive result of the collaborative efforts of the Local Government and the Academe in providing education to Sarangans, most especially to the IPs and the young people. It should not be overlooked moreover, that both the Provincial and the Municipal Governments quest to give up basic services effectively and efficiently so as to get more human capital. And lastly, we bear to celebrate because the people of Malungon especially the Sarangani IP youths have the ardent fervor to be teachers… someday,” Bungubung said.

The activity was also grace by members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan namely: Board Members Dr. Elmer De Peralta, Armand Guili, Beboy Nallos, Virgilio Tobias and Abdulracman Pangolima; members of the Barangay Council of Malandag led by Brgy. Capt. Fernando P. Fantin, teachers, government workers and invited guests. (MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).