Himantayon nga Kagay-anon

by Vonette Y. Go/city Information Office

City Librarian Myrna Acedera bids farewell to the City Government of Cagayan de Oro as she retires from the government service effective today, September 1, 2008.

During this morning’s flag raising ceremony, Ms. Acedera gave a three-minute speech before City Hall officials and employees, recalling her service to the City Government of Cagayan de Oro for the last 33 years. In her 33 years stint as a public servant, Acedera has served eight City Mayors of Cagayan de Oro whom she had honorably served with true faith, honesty and dedication. During her incumbency, she had well-represented the City Public Library in various local, national and international conventions and seminars. The latest of which was the World Congress of Librarian in Quebec City, Canada wherein she was the lone Filipino out of the 4,800 delegates from all over the world. The City Public Library is also listed as one of the “Most Outstanding Public Libraries in the Philippines”, Ms. Acedera added. As she bows down from government service, the city librarian takes pride that the Cagayan de Oro City Public Library has been placed in the limelight when she was elected as the National President of the Public Librarians Association of the Philippines and as the founding President of the Mindanao Librarians and Libraries Associations. Acedera expressed her gratitude and thanks to the local government officials, especially the unqualified support of her family, personnel and staff at the City Public Library for their unwavering support, trust and cooperation. “To one and all, I have no other words to say but thank you, thank you and thank you for the 33 years of friendship, and the pleasure of your company” Acedera’s final line.

By Mike Baños

Every city worth its salt prides itself with a place which where a resident or visitor can have a heavenly meal for an earthly price. These are most often carenderias (or carinderia, if you must), small hole-in-the-wall food stalls selling simple meals for the man-on-the-street.

Z.C. Eatery along Pabayo street is Cagayan de Oro’s garbo (pride) for such a place.

Set up by Zita “Z.C.” Cosare-Vequilla at the ground floor of her mother Victoria Mabalos’ residence in 1988, it’s a simple, no-frills carenderia you can hardly tell apart from the row of sari-sari stores and a tailoring shop which keeps it company in relative anonymity. (more…)

President Arroyo will award the 10 outstanding teachers of the Metrobank Foundation today.

A Palace statement said Mrs. Arroyo will present a trophy and a cash prize of P300,000 to each of the teachers at the Metrobank Plaza Auditorium to mark Metrobank’s 46th anniversary on Sept. 5.

The awardees are grade school teachers Jesusa Antiquiera, Lynn Padillo, Maydelyn Antioquia and Maria Theresse Bagas; high school teachers Rowena Hilbanada, Ermie Rabara, Jeanette Dials and Noei Obcena, and doctors Irma Makalinao and Virginia Cuevas.

The elementary level winners were cited for their civic and volunteer work on education as well as poverty reduction and environmental protection.

Jesusa Antiquiera of P. Gomez Elementary School in Sta. Cruz, Manila has been a strong advocate of the “Kilusang Makapagbasa,” a school project that equips parents with skills to teach their children how to read.

Maydelyn R. Antioquia of President Manuel Roxas Memorial School North in Roxas City was cited for her support to the Christian Family Movement for aiding families stricken by calamities in the province.

Marie Bagas of West City Central School in Cagayan de Oro City was cited for heading the health and sanitation committee of their homeowners’ association, working to improve the living conditions of residents in the newly developing area.

“This year’s winners will join the ranks of 266 outstanding teachers who have been honored by the Foundation for the last 24 years,” the Palace statement said.

“They automatically become members of the Network of Outstanding Teachers and Educators or NOTED, an honor society of outstanding teachers committed to nurturing a culture of excellence and service among educators through professional development, publication, research, and advocacy in active partnership with government and non-government organizations.”

Metrobank Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metrobank Group of Companies.

Over the last 29 years, it has promoted a culture of excellence among Filipinos through its various programs, notably the Search for Outstanding Teachers, the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence, the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service, the Metrobank Math Challenge, and the College Scholarship Program.

The foundation also has a grants program that assists NGO and the government in the fields of education, healthcare, and the arts.

Metrobank Foundation celebrates Filipino excellence and presents a wellspring of hope in the future of our nation.

“The Search for Outstanding Teachers represents the Foundation’s commitment to promote a culture of excellence in education by recognizing the country’s best mentors who can be upheld as models not only for educators but for other community members as well,” The Palace statement said.

“More than 200 exemplary elementary, high school, and college teachers from all over the country have so far been awarded since its launching in 1985.”

”The President, together with Metro-bank and Metrobank Foundation, believe that by recognizing outstanding qualities and contributions of teachers, countless other teachers all over the country can be inspired to achieve excellence in the teaching profession.” – Paolo Romero