You follow the path of austerity when you allow yourself to be limited in one dimensional thinking. Beneath the seeming rigidity of the electrical engineering profession, however, lies its potential to harness in every individual the ability to combine creative initiative, innovation, practicality and technical competence to morph ideas into tangible realities.
The discipline has honed these very qualities in the persona of Engineer Bernard H. Morillo, a man whose life tells a tale of perseverance, hardwork and passion.
Engr. Bernard Morillo, the son of Jose R. Morillo and Pureza H. Morillo, finished his primary education in Oriental Mindoro. His high school years were spent at the Divine Word College of Calapan. He took up BS Electrical Engineering at the Technological Institute of the Philippines in Manila and earned his license in electrical engineering shortly after earning his college degree. He is happily married to Architect Maria Cecilia L. Morillo and has four lovely daughters: Bernice Cecilia, Bernadette Cecilia, Bernadine Cecilia and Bernette Cecilia.
Distinguished as one of the most reputable electrical engineers in the Philippines, Engr. Morillo has devoted more than twenty years of life exploring, learning and immersing himself in his chosen field of discipline. His expertise in his craft is attributed to his past work experience in the country’s top electrical companies: National Power Corp. /ABB, Westrade International Co. and Ampere Technology, Inc. His enthusiasm in electrical engineering has brought him to the different parts of the world, steadily increasing his knowledge of the field by attending seminars and trainings in Germany, Nevada, Chicago, Singapore, Spain, Italy, France, Turkey, Dubai, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and Hong Kong.
A socially active individual, Engr. Morillo is currently the overall Chairman and Vice President of Society of Philippine Electrotechnical Constructors and Suppliers, Inc. and Vice President of the Rotary Club of San Juan, where he has the distinction of being a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. He is also affiliated with different organizations like Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers, Metro Manila Builders and Developers Association, Electrical Engineers Golf Club, Inc., Architectural Center Club Inc., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Club Filipino, The Orchard Golf and Country Club and The Association of Mindoreños, Inc.
Engr. Morillo continues to endow local and international clients with exemplary workmanship he has been known for over the years. He has pursued excellence in his chosen field, successfully establishing himself both as a proficient engineer and a skilled entrepreneur. Today he owns and co-manages 19 companies with varied fields of interest. He is the Chairman of Plug Electric Manufacturing Corporation, PEMCOR Vismin Inc., PEMCOR Konstruction Corporation, PEMCOR GenSan Inc, Bare Electrique Systems Inc, BHM Equipment Supplies Inc., BHM Business Process Outsourcing, Inc., BHM Games Studio Corp., Electrosoft Inc., Fronter Freight Forwarder Inc., Guernica’s Tapas Bar and Restaurant, Inc. and Shinen Media Technology Corporation; the Director of Metaphor Construction Corp., Patio Guernica’s Restaurant, Inc. and Power Control Specialist Inc.; and the Managing Director of Beehive Digital Studios Inc., DynaPower Corporation, Fast East Energy Resources Inc. and Innovative Controls Inc.
As proof of his entrepreneurial prowess, he was awarded the 2010 Association of Mindoreños Inc. (TAMS) Outstanding Mindoreño Award in the field of Entrepreneurial Management on the 17th of October 2010. His societal contribution was also recognized when he was given a Certificate of Gratitude by MLQU School of Engineering for donating a Research Laboratory Equipment for Electricity Trading Parameters last September 26, 2008.
From left to right: Dr. Greg R. Lamanilao, Chairman of Awards Committee; Hon. Sherwin N. Tugna, CIBAC Party List Representative; Hon. Rodolfo G. Valencia, Congressman of 1st District Oriental Mindoro; Engr. Bernard H. Morillo, Chairman, PEMCOR Group of Companies; Mr. Jolly L. Ting, Chairman Emeritus of The Association of Mindorenos; Hon. Alfonso V. Umali Jr., Governor of Oriental Mindoro; Hon. Reynaldo V. Umali, Congressman of 2nd District Oriental Mindoro.
Throughout the years, Engr. Bernard H. Morillo has successfully embodied the rare qualities of creative initiative, innovation, practicality and competence—a true epitome of a man traversing the path of greatness.
Why he is a “Winner:” Engr. Bernard Morillo, in all his 39 years has achieved what others only dream of in a lifetime. His philosophy in establishing numerous companies is not for the accumulation of wealth but the creation of opportunities – to help those who deserve his help.
-Written by Nadia M. in collaboration with Jovie S.
Here is an old article worth reading...... Atty.Renato Zosimo Bilog Evangelista, Corporate Secretary of the Mangyan Heritage Center in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, is a managing partner of Crisologo, Evangelista and Associates. he finished his Master of Laws, major in International Law & Human Rights in the United Kingdom, and graduated with distinction for his paper, "Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and the Indigeous Peoples Rights". A gifted pianist, he has inherited his mother's talent for music.
A Mangyan lawyer in Manila By Ann Corvera(The Philippine Star) Updated December 25, 2005 12:00 AMComments (0)
"Ma-Mangyan Mangyan ka naman" is a phrase sometimes used to refer to a person acting stupidly or foolishly.
"There is the tendency to generalize," says Zosing, a Mangyan, as he recalls the discrimination he used to get as a teenager, although he admits he has "selective memory" when it comes to such bad experiences. But remembers he used to "feel like a freak" in public.
Born in the mountains of Oriental Mindoro, Zosing comes from the Hanunuo-Mangyan tribal group. He adds that being poor further fueled the prejudice.
But neither destitution nor bigotry stopped him from excelling in school. A valedictorian when he went back to the highlands for high school study, he turned humiliation into an impetus for him to become an advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples.
At 32, Renato Zosimo Evangelista is a full-fledged lawyer, the first Mangyan to accomplish the distinction, according to the Mangyan Heritage Center of which he is a board member. As an advocate of the law, Atty. Zosing, as he is fondly called, vows to fight for the civil liberties of the Mangyans, who are among the hundreds of original inhabitants of the land. Sadly, however, they are now being driven out of their homes to allow for development.
Atty. Zosing is a managing partner at the Crisologo, Evangelista and Associates Law Office, currently working on a reservation land case in Paitan, Naujan in Oriental Mindoro.
"I have accepted to represent the Paitan Mangyan in the reservation case. A proclamation in the 1930s made a reservation for Mangyans in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro," he says.
He has acted as legal adviser on Mangyan issues, and handles mostly property related cases.
"It’s not really my specialty. It just so happens that we have a lot of those cases. But we also handle criminal cases, as well as pro bono cases," he tells Starweek at his office in Quezon City.
During the morning interview, Zosimo was worrying over the latest development in an eviction case –the court sheriff was in the house of a client, sequestering items.
"We have a newly-referred case wherein a client is trying to secure a temporary restraining order. It’s like an eviction case although there are still other legal issues that need to be threshed out," Atty. Zosing explains. "It’s hard for us (to secure a TRO) since the only remedy is to go to the court of appeals and it’s not that easy."
"As a lawyer, we can only protect our client to the extent of what is allowed by the law," says the Mangyan lawyer, who got his law degree in 2000 from the Manuel L. Quezon University in Manila, with an excellence award in legal education and the "best in commercial law" honor. He passed the bar a year later.
Zosing says he didn’t encounter any discrimination when he moved to Manila to realize his dream of becoming a lawyer.
He was a student leader in a Mangyan community high school and brought his leadership skills to college.
"Mangyans are always presumed not to know how to count or read. They give us a hard time whenever we go shopping and I think not much opportunity is given to Mangyan students to shine in school," says Zosing, who was orphaned at the age of 13 when his mother, Juana, died of broncho-pneumonia. He never really knew his father, a non-Mangyan, because his parents’ relationship was "unacceptable" at the time. "They had to be separated," he says. "That’s how the story was told to me."
Zosing says his mother worked hard not only for her only child, but also for her profession as a teacher. She was also active in the local church as pianist. Zosing inherited this skill and her natural talent in music.
Zosing was a typical awkward teener trying to find his place in the world but he knew he could accomplish more. He says Mangyans were sometimes "treated like savages."
"That’s how I see it. That when you hear the phrase ‘Ma-Mangyan-Mangyan ka naman’, that means you are stupid or illiterate or without manners," he laments, recalling that he became the butt of jokes and teasing for his heritage when he was just a boy.
Since his teens, Zosing knew he could be more, beyond what people judged him to be.
And education, he points out, "is empowerment."
As an orphan living with his relatives, Zosing earned ten pesos transporting sacks of bananas, mangoes and calamansi some 10 kilometers to the market. "I would also help in harvesting. It was enough to cover my allowances and transportation," shares Zosing, who was always on the honor roll, thus his tuition fee was subsidized.
Things changed though when he came to the big city. "When I went to Manila and took up college, people didn’t care if I was a Mangyan," he shares.
According to the Mangyan Heritage Center website, "Mangyan" is a general term that refers to eight ethnolinguistic groups occupying the mountainous region of Mindoro Oriental and Occidental.
"The Mangyans are the original inhabitants of Mindoro, the seventh largest island in the Philippines. The Mangyan population is estimated close to 100,000, about 10 percent of the total population of the island."
Zosing notes that though society is changing and more Mangyans are working and sending their children to school, "not more than a third" of their population are able to finish their studies.
"I want to help my fellow Mangyans," says Zosing, as he notes with gladness that more Mangyans are now trying to follow his footsteps. "Becoming a lawyer somehow boosted the confidence of my fellow Mangyans," he says.
After passing the bar, he became an associate of a law office and worked for Nokia Philippines, reviewing contracts on site acquisitions for the firm’s installation towers. A year later, Atty. Zosing was hired by the law office of the late Sen. Raul Roco.
"Their office called me up because one of their clients, former agriculture secretary Sonny Dominguez, referred me to them," recalls Zosing, who explains he and Dominguez have a common friend who is a fellow board member at the Mangyan Heritage Center.
He stayed with Roco, Capunan, Migallos, Perez and Luna Law Offices until 2004. He moved back to his home province when the governor asked him to be his provincial legal officer.
That year, he also applied for a graduate study grantin international human rights laws in England under the British Chevening Scholars program, which he read about in The STAR.
Among the hundreds worldwide who applied for the grant, Zosing made it to the small four percent who were chosen.
"It was a very tough decision because at the time we were putting up this law office and I was also working as a provincial legal officer," recalls Zosing. This was around August last year and he was given four hours to decide.
Zosing left for England in September and the year that followed proved to be fruitful for the Mangyan lawyer.
"The experience broadened my horizon. I met a lot of people from different countries, different cultures and I learned to appreciate our country better," he says.
At the University of Essex where he obtained his masters degree in law, Atty. Zosing met former deputy minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim during a human rights symposium.
"During the symposium, I introduced myself to Mr. Anwar Ibrahim as the only Filipino in that university," he shares.
Zosing readily showed his intellectual skills and diligence during the Chevening scholarship program. His research paper on trade related intellectual property rights of indigenous peoples was given a "distinction mark", one of only six out of 70 students that received distinction marks on their research papers.
Zosing also wrote a dissertation paper about terrorism and counter-terrorism measures, particularly in the gray area of handling terror suspects, including issues of alleged abduction and torture. During the study grant, Zosing was in the company of "United Nations’ experts" in the fields of torture and minority issues, human rights including rights concerning trade agreements between countries.
Extremely proud of his heritage, Zosing dreams of being a good advocate not only of the law but of Mangyan rights.
"My greatest concern as an indigenous person, a citizen and as a lawyer is good governance for the country wherein the poor–to which 90 percent of indigenous people belong–will be empowered and heard," Zosing tells Starweek. "Most especially, I want the indigenous people to be literate and liberated from poverty. It’s hard to put a hierarchy on the issue of the Mangyans, but primarily what I see is for the government to address foremost the issues of poverty and illiteracy."
After his study grant in England, Atty. Zosing says he has become "more of an activist."
This early in his career, Zosing says he doesn’t know what awaits him, but "for now, I only want to be a good practitioner and a good advocate of the law for the masses."
Another old article to cherish......Mindoreños celebrate ordination of 1st Mangyan priest ......04/23/2007
As a typical Mangyan kid, he went from one tree to another using forest vines, or barter mangoes and cassavas, for a notebook, with lowlanders.
He dreamed of becoming an agriculturist or engineer, for he was good in math. But Hanunuo Mangyan Gabayno Calinog Oybad ended up being the first Mangyan priest after he was ordained on April 17 at the Sto. Nino parish Cathedral here, to the delight of the community.
“I’m a proof that a Mangyan, when given the opportunity and support, and despite poverty, can succeed in any undertaking with perseverance. We’re all equal before God, anyway,” he said.
Although Father Oybad wanted a simple ordination, he could not prevent the people from flocking as they felt proud of the historic event.
Volunteers, Mangyans and non-Mangyans, pitched in.
“This is an event for the whole Catholic church,” said Fr. Ewald Dinter, director of the Mangyan Mission-Oriental Mindoro.
Happiness
Dinter was beaming with happiness.
“This is important for the enculturation of the message of Jesus,” he said, adding a quote from John Paul II: ‘A faith that does not become culture is a faith which has not been fully received, not fully lived.’”
Less than a hundred priests concelebrated the Mass, all of them with a red piece of cloth wrapped around their forehead, in special solidarity with the Mangyan.
The stage was decorated with indigenous materials.
Two SVD (Society of Divine Word) priests -- Jigs Orcino and Among Ricafort -- helped decorate the stage with indigenous materials.
Mangyan gong, flute and sticks were played to mark the highlights of the program. Their sounds penetrated the heart.
The cathedral was almost full, with Mangyan folk from different sub-tribes and towns, and even some foreigners supportive of the Mangyan.
“It’s the fruit of Mangyan Mission’s journey with the Mangyan towards the fullness of life with God and their active response to participate in and ultimately lead the journey,” said Fr. Rod Salazar, an SVD member and executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous People.
The parish of the Risen Christ, which looks after the pastoral concerns of all Mangyan Catholics in Oriental Mindoro province, was also jubilant.
Smiling and unassuming, Father Oybad drew a spontaneous response from the smiling community for his words of thanks at the end of the Eucharistic celebration.
Although he had his list of people to thank, he decided to speak from the heart after feeling overwhelmed by their support.
Unfortunately, he forgot to cite Bishop Warlito Cajandig, who presided over the ordination.
Supportive
But Bishop Cajandig didn’t mind and was instead supportive to add the choir and the seminarians to the list.
He called Oybad a “GM,” a genuine Mangyan, a genuine Mindoreño.
Oybad celebrated his Thanksgiving Mass the following day in his community in a mountain in Bulalacao, province’s southernmost town.
He wore the g-string before and after the solemn Mass, which was said in Mangyan dialect with Dinter, Orcino and Liung Maliksi.
Asked how he felt now that he is a priest, he said: “I am overwhelmed with the love of God.”
Oybad graduated first honors in a public elementary school and proceeded to a Catholic school.
Honors
In high school in Victoria town, he had to balance his studies with his work as a convent boy.
After high school, he took Philosophy at the Christ the King seminary in Quezon City.
Oybad proceeded to Theology for two years at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay. Then he taught for one year at the Mangyan Educational Center in Bait, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro.
He pursued Pastoral Sociology at the Asian Social Institute (ASI) in Manila. “I felt my skills were not enough, I wanted to be practically equipped in working with the Church and the communities,” he said.
His defense of his thesis on the effects of money on the Mangyan was a delight to ASI president Mina Ramirez and panelists because it was Oybad’s community in Sitio Binli, Barangay Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, who defended his thesis.
“My work has been to document my community’s experiences, thoughts and feelings,” he said.
Oybad was hooked by the community life he shared during the vocation campaign of the St. Augustine Minor Seminary in Calapan.
“He wanted to quit when he was completing his Theology at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay. But we gave our full support because we saw in him the right disposition typical of a Mangyan -- openness and humility,” said Fr. Mimo Perez, one of the formators at the St. Augustine Major Seminary, also in Tagaytay.
It came out that out of 14 seminarians in his first year at the St. Augustine Minor Seminary, only Oybad became a priest.
Oybad is clear about the kind of priest that he wants to be known.
“Simple, close to people, balanced by prayer,” he said.
It may be unfortunate that his parents did not see him garbed in white. But the Mangyan community found a fortune in Oybad.
Meet our newly-elected Governor "Boy" Alfonso Umali, Jr.
Posted 8/27/08 Introducing Dr. Ninfa Medina Saunders of Calapan City and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fidel Medina. She is one of the country’s top woman healthcare executive known for exceptional talent and intelligence in running healthcare organizations and is a well respected faculty and visitingscholar in a number of universities across the country.
Dr. Saunders currently holds the position of Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Virtua Health. Responsible for all healthcare operations throughout Virtua's four hospitals, two rehab centers, senior services, home care, ambulatory and outpatient services and the physician organization. She is the top executive responsible for the development and building of a 650,000 square feet digital hospital in Voorhees, along with three new ambulatory centers being built in WashingtonTownship, Voorhees and Moorestown. She led Virtua Health from being 45th in the state of New Jersey in operating margin to being#1 five years in a row, since her coming to New Jersey.
Prior to joining Virtua, she served on the Governor's Georgia Cancer Coalition, created by Governor Roy Barnes to develop regional centers of excellence for cancer. Previously, Dr. Saunders served as chief operating officer for the DekalbMedicalCenter in Decatur, GA.
For the preceding thirteen years, Dr. Saunders served as director of nursing resources for EmoryUniversityHospital in Atlanta, GA. From 1974-1980, she held various nursing management roles at St. Barnabas in Livingston, NJ. She started her career as a staff nurse in the intensive care unit of RileyMemorialHospital in Meridian, MS.
Dr. Saunders completed her Doctorate in Healthcare Administration at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Saunders earned a Master of Business Administration from EmoryUniversity in Atlanta, GA, a Master of Science in Nursing from the RutgersUniversity in Newark, NJ, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from ConcordiaCollege in Manila, Philippines. She also attended the Healthcare-Executive Program at Wharton School-University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA, and the International Business Program at the London School of Business in London, England and was a fellow at HarvardUniversityBusinessSchool.
Dr. Saunders is an associate professor at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at EmoryUniversity in Atlanta, GA.She is an adjunct Professor at the University Sciences of Pennsylvania. A visiting scholar at the University of South Carolina. She was recently offered to be on the faculty of the doctoral program at JeffersonUniversity.She was recently appointed as a faculty ofGE’s JackWelchLeadershipCenter, where she is one of two healthcare executives teaching executives across the world on healthcare strategy and operations.
Dr. Saunders is a member of the Advisory Panel of Forbes Magazine. She is also currently serving as Vice-Chair of the Board of the Diocese of Trenton. In 2007, she chaired the successful inaugural “Go Red for Women Campaign” in South Jersey and consequently named to board of the American Heart Association.
In 2007, the Philadelphia Business Journal recognized her as a “Women of Distinction” for her outstanding contribution to the community and for her leadership. She was named one of the 25 most influential women in New Jersey in NJ Biz magazine's 2004 "Women of Influence" Awards. Dr. Saunders was also named one of the most "Outstanding Women of Burlington County" in 2004 by the Burlington County Advisory Council on Women and the BurlingtonCounty.
Socorro P. Vasquez of San Teodoro and Calapan City.
Posted 7/16/08
A tribute to her Lola...written by Jocelyn Cordova Pickens (Crown Point, Indiana) , daughter of Eleanor Vasquez Cordova of San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro, on her Lola's 93rd birthday last month.
How do you make a 93-year old woman smile ear to ear?By inviting all her families and friends, then throwing her a big surprise party.
Socorro Paglinawan Vasquez, of San Teodoro and Calapan City, celebrated her 93rd birthday bash at El Pueblo Rhizort on Sunday, June 8th.Organized by her daughters (Eleanor Vasquez Cordova, Mercedes Paglinawan Vasquez, Teresita Paglinawan Vasquez and Edna Paglinawan Vasquez), the beach setting party was a success, which included a wide variety of Filipino dish served buffet style.Also, her grandchildren assisted at the party: Jocelyn Cordova Pickens as the videographer, Joelle Cordova Racchumi (who attended in spirit) created the photo slideshow and Hilarion Paglinawan Vasquez who operated the slideshow presentation and partially DJ.
The celebrant was very surprised at the party.Her initial birthday request from her family was to attend church in the morning.It was important for all of us to thank our Lord for granting her such a fulfilling and long life.Her second request was to have homemade pansit with her closest relatives.As she walked towards the canopy at the party, she was overwhelmed by the amount of people who came to celebrate her birthday.
Most attending families of Vasquez and Paglinawan greeted Socorro one family at a time.They wanted to emphasize how she touched each individual with her kindest heart.She could not make a single wish that day because she had everything she wanted which is love.Her strength also showed that even at the age of 93, she is able dance to some videoke tunes sang by her niece, Rosario Pinsan and nephew, Allan Paglinawan.
What is her secret?She exercises almost every other day.She gets up early in the morning, eats her breakfast and sits at her favorite spot in the living room.She waits for the sun to rise, which is her cue to sit at the front porch, and then she begins her routine.First, she places her hand on the rails for support and then raises her arms one at a time.Also, she does leg raises and full squats as many repetitions as she can.Her exercise routine is short but more balanced and structured than younger people.She imitates these moves from television.It’s enough to keep her mobile.She claims that if she does not do these exercises, her body would be stiff and weak.What an excellent motivation for all of us to see her exercise at her age.
By the end of the party, she still wore the same smile as if it had just started.The celebration is to show her the appreciation for all the hard work and sacrifices she had made for her family.And by doing so, her birthday was very memorable not only for her but for all her families and friends. Pictures to follow in our photo album under Other People and Events.
Picture to follow....Penelope Villarica-Flores is a professor in the College of Education at San FranciscoStateUniversity. She finished her elementary schooling at the AdriaticoMemorialSchool and earned her high school diploma at the HolyInfantAcademy (Class 1949). She obtained her BS Education (cum laude) at the Philippine Normal University (Manila). She went to the University of Pennsylvania, USA for her MS in Educational Leadership in 1966 and her PhD at the University of Chicago, USA in 1984.
Professor Flores is a member of various professional association including: The World Council for Curriculum and Instruction; the Comparative and International Education Society; the American Educational Research Association; The Philippine American Writers and Artists, Inc.; the International Council for Teachers Education; and the Philippine Historical Society.
Among the positions that she held were: She taught at the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) and was assistant principal of the Elementary Department. She was executive officer of the UP-UNESCO Institute for Teacher Educators,Diliman, QC, then was assigned to Kathmandu, Nepal as consultant/adviser in the Ministry of Education (1969-74)
In 2004, she was hired as the Primary Teacher Evaluation Expert in the Research and EvaluationCenter, Ministry ofEducation, in Addis Ababa, Ethopia. In 2005, she was adviser for Primary Education in Indonesia under the USAID.
Professor Flores has authored more than a hundred articles on Philippine cultureand society. She is the editor of two journals, the Journal of Philippine Psychology and the Journal of Interdisciplinary Education. She wrote a monograph: Ethno mathematics – From Abel to Tinalok (2000) for the National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development, University of the Philippines. Her latest books published are: Whisper of the Bamboo; Readings for the Young and Old; Goodbye Vientiane (Untold Stories of Filipinos in Laos; Fields of Mirrors and the latest is: The Philippine Jeepney – A Filipino Family Metaphor”
For Many Years, she sat on the board of the California Humanities Council and is still active as lecturer in USA and abroad. She was a recipient of the prestigious Outstanding Fil-Americans in California Award (19 ?).
Penelope is the second among four Villarica siblings namely: Jose, Jr., a cardio vascular surgeon based in Roseville, Cal.; Caridad, a housewife andpart time art critic and columnist for a local magazine in Port Hope, Ont. , Can. and Florante, founding publisher-editor of The Island sentinel, (a weekly publication circulated in the MIMAROPA Region. Phil)
She is married to Manuel G. Flores, a paleontologist who now dabbles in photography. Theyhave two grown up sons, Norman J and Ivan Jo.
The books are available on line at www.pawainc.com/jeepney.html
Posted 3/20/08 Now, let us meet Lynne Atienza !!! Lyn was born and raised in Puerto Galera. After high school, she went to Manila and finished Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology at Centro Escolar University ('80). She passed the Philippine board a year later, but didn't work as Med.Tech. Instead, she worked as a social worker for Foster Parents Plan International for a year and then took a teaching job at a local high school teaching Chemistry for a year and a half.
Came to America on Sept.18,1989 and worked for six months as a pharmacy technician from Nov.1989 to April 1990 and transferred to the hospital laboratory from 1990 to present. Passed the national board for Medical Technologist given by American Society for Clinical Pathologists and the National Certification Agency for Clinical Laboratory Scientist specializing in Immunohematology. She was involved in Autologous Stem Cell processing and re-infusion and currently on training for Parathyroid Cryopresevation. There are only three Filipinos in her lab ,one is a phlebotomist and two Pinay nurses who happen to be her sisters, Dolores Atienza-Barcebal and Marieta Atienza. A young and very energetic Mindorena, Lynn enjoys the company of her siblings in United States.
One of Joey's products that he supplies to Boracay is broccoli !
Posted March 7, 2008 Everyone, there is a guy who produces brocolli and lettuce from Bansud....He is Joey B. Macato, 38 years old and is the Food and Beverage Manager of Villa Anna Paradise Resorts & Farm in Socorro, Oriental Mindoro. He is also the Vice Chairman of Provincial Tourism Tripartite Council and Incorporator of Oroganic Farm located at Poblacion, Bansud, Oriental Mindoro. He resides in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro. Joey supplies lettuce and broccoli to Boracay restaurants and intends to expand this business to include carrots and many more.
Posted 3/10/08 Introducing to you, Fr. Jeronimo Liwag Perez or "Fr. Mimo" to all... He comes from Baco, Oriental Mindoro and is a diocesan priest from the apostolic Vicariate of Calapan. Writing songs since the early 80's when he was still a young seminarian, Fr. Mimo, has always felt the need to find a vehicle by which to communicate his faith-inspired songs. He started with Earthen Vessel (or EV, formerly Lighter Side), a group of musically gifted, mostly church employed pastoral workers whom Fr. Mimo formed to accompany him in his music ministry. Later on ,due to varying work commitments, distance and change of life paths, it became increasingly difficult for the EV members to carry on. Eventually, Fr. Mimo took it upon himself to bring ahead the work of evanglization through music, getting alot of help from fellow songwriter priest Fr. Carlo Magno Marcelo, EV guitarman Bong Abao, percussionist and former Jesuit volunteer George Gabriel and other friends.
To date, Fr. Mimo has three albums of his original compositions, produced and distributed by the Jubilee Music Ministry.
Taken in 2005 on her 99th birthday.
Posted 1/13/08 Mrs. Dorotea Oliva vda de Aguilar will celebrate her 102nd birthday on Feb. 6 in Dulangan, Baco, Oriental Mindoro. Born in Vigo, Lubang, Occidental Mindoro in 1906, Lola Toyang married Geronimo "Lolo Tomong" Aguilar at the age of 20. They were blessed with nine children, Saling, Choleng, Angko (deceased), Diony, Rading (deceased), Rene, Nestor (deceased) and Anie (deceased). In the ealry 1950s, Lolo Tomong became the Vice Mayor of Baco. The Aguilar clan grew to a big family of 46 grandchildren and 79 great grandchildren and 3 great, great grandchildren. Lola Toyang's favorite pastimes are playing solitaire, gardening "gusad", weaving "dinugton" and "hiniksik". The family was not without its own pain with the death of her husband in 1970, and 5 sons, Nestor, Anie, Rading, Danny and Angko. She also outlived two of her grandchildren. In 2003 her successful cataract eye surgery made her vision back to 20/20. She still has an active memory, remembers events and recognizes family and relatives who have been away and seldom see. She prays rosary twice a day, 6 PM and 12 midnight ,mentioning all her children, grandchildren with husbands and wives, close nieces, nephews and even "inaanak sa kasal". And, she uses webcam to communicate with her family abroad.
Her diet is focused on vegetables, fruits, fish and manggang hilaw, ginayat sa tubig at asin (her secret of longevity ? ). Happy 102 nd birthday, Lola Toyang !!! (article contributed by her apo, Violet Turalba of Toronto, Canada).
Taken in 2008 New Year !
Posted 1/3/08
Let us welcome, Fr. Pete Literal of Naujan and currently, of Pennsylvania. Fr. Pete has been with the Central Office of the Federal Bureau of Prisons for the last 17.5 years. From staff chaplain in FPC Allenwood, he was promoted as supervisory chaplain to activate the Religious Service Department at FCI Fort Dix (largest prison in the country) then moved to FCI Memphis. He is currently in the Central Office of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Program Review Division, as Program Reviewer for Religious Services Department of the entire Federal prisons.
Fr. Pete sends us a daily prayer for our spiritual needs. He now shares this link : www.usccb.org/nab/12/28/07 for our daily use.
Fr. Pete Literal
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Nov. 19, 2007 And now let's meet a special lady from Naujan ! Erlinda Aranas Macalintal hailed from Barangay Pagkakaisa, Naujan, Or. Mindoro, had lived and worked in Los Angeles for 33 years. She retired from her California employment in March 2000, and shortly thereafter, decided to spend most of her time in the Philippines. In California, she worked for 28 years with a number of government agencies of Los Angeles county, dealing with the various aspect of toxic and hazardous waste management. For ten years prior to her retirement, she was a Manager of the Hazardous Materials Control Division of Los Angeles County Fire Department.
From 1985 to 2000, Ms. Macalintal taught courses on Hazardous Materials and Scientific Concepts in Environmental Management at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Pollution Prevention at West Los Angeles and East Los Angeles Colleges. After she retired, she was hired by the Philippine government as a Balikscientist Program Consultant, under contract for 3 months, with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Taguig, Metro Manila. She also became affiliated with the University of the Philippines (Diliman) as a part time Senior Lecturer in the Graduate School of Environmental Engineering. She introduced the UCLA program on Hazardous Waste Management tothe National Engineering Center of UP and helped them developed a 160-hour certificated course program on Toxic and Hazardous Waste Management (THW) under the sponsorship of US Environmental Protection Agency.
Ms. Macalintal has a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Master's degree in Teaching Physics from the University of the Philippines. She taught College Physics at MIT for 5 years prior to her migration to the United States in 1969. Along with her husband, Pancho Macalintal of Lobo, Batangas, she is presently investing in various Philippine projects (such as Honey Beach Resort in Lobo and as contract chicken grower for San Miguel Food Corporation). They have two grown children, Diana and Marc, who both live in California and whom they visit every six months.
"Linda" as we all call her is the president of Lobo Resort Owners Association (LoROA). She is also involve in the Manila-based association of Mindorenos, The Association of Mindorenos (TAM), the Calapan-based Kalinga ng Inang Kalikasan (KANIKA), the OMHS Class '56 Association and the Los Angeles-based Oriental Mindoro Association of Southern California (OMASC) as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1993 and as its Philippine Liaison since 2003. For her picture, go to "Other Mindoro Asso. " photo album and scroll down to OMASC group.
Oct. 31. 2007 From Ella Bugarin's desk, a Tribute to a Great Lady !!! My Lola, IsabelMendoza Bugarin, was born on November 19, 1913 in Batangas City. She immigrated to Chicago in 1974, the year I was born. She is "Chabing" to all but to me, she is my Inay. She was the fifth child of Lino and Maria Macatangay. Her family moved to Calapan and eventually settled there. To this day, she is my number one role model and hero. She has always comforted me in childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, and into my early thirties as a grandparent rightly should. She listened with an open heart and open mind. These days when I talk to Inay over the phone, I can still sense the caring and nurturing in her voice as I did when I was a little girl. Inay was the first to teach me my multiplication table, not my teachers in school. She raised two young children alone back then, my aunt Leslie and my dad, Robert. Every Valentine's Day, she lights a candle and prays for her husband who passed away in the 1950's. and although she is in constant pain with osteoporosis that affects all aspects of her physical being, she continues activities like going to the flea market or to Woodhaven Lakes Family Camping Resort with her family whenever she can. A secret I know about my grandmother is that Calapan has a special place in her heart. She last visited Calapan in December 1999 when she was 86 years old. She graduated at OMHS and married Enrico Bugarin, a Sargeant in the US Army in the 1940's. Both were educators by profession. She was an elementary school teacher who taught first grade until she retired in 1977. Inay says she has nothing to leave me when she leaves this good Earth. How wrong you are, my dear Inay. Your time on Earth is the most important inheritance you have given me. Sending my love from Boston, Ella Bugarin. (Picture to follow).
Oct. 15, 2007 And now, let's meet Julie Lao, author of The Bullpen:Gateway to the State Prison....Born in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro to Ramon Lao and Rosario "Chayong" Ramirez Alea, Julie studied at the Holy Infant Academy until the 5th grade and was the first batch of graduates at the Mindoro College Elementary Department graduating at the top of his class. He then attended St. Augustine Minor Seminary, Christ the King Seminary, all the way to Tagaytay City where he completed his MA in Philosophy. He then went to Ireland to complete his thelogical studies at the famous Pontifical University of St. Patrick in Maynooth, Co. , Kildare, Ireland. He served the ministry for 12 years, did parish work in San Jose, Occ. Mindoro, Pinamalayan, and became Administrative & Finance office of Divine Word College of Legazpi City (Bicol). After years in South Carolina, he left the religious ministry and pursued counseling skills and expertise in the VA Department of Corrections. He is now a Chesapeake Probation and Parole Officer and Certified Substance Abuse Counsellor in Virginia. He handles a specialized caseload of probationers with subtance abuse issues. See Julie's photo in Photo Album under OTHER PEOPLE AND EVENTS.
His book is available at amazon.com, barnes&noble.com and authorhouse.com. Julie's motto is "Do the right thing. It is not always easy, but it is always right". Let's support his endeavors and order his book. We will all learn a lot from it.
Oct. 3, 2007 Introducing Jimmy Chua, president of the newly- formed organization, Association of Calapenos, USA International, based in Northern California. Born and raised in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, Jimmy does not only hold a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration but also post-graduate studies from the Philippine Christian University. His wife, Priscilla Bautista, is from San Jose City, Nueva Ecija. They are blessed with three kids, Joyce, 19, a Junior at University of San Diego majoring in International Business, Jamie, 16, a senior at San Mateo High School and Jacques, 13, an either grader at Bowditch Middle School, Foster City, CA. Currently, he is the Vice President and co-owner of Relief Nursing Services, Inc., a California corporation and also the office manager/instructor/co-owner of Providence vocational School, Inc. in Daly City, California. See his photo in PHOTO ALBUM under OTHER MINDORO ASSO.
Sept. 26, 2007 And now, meet Ernie Cleofe, the new president of OMASC (Oriental Mindoro Asso. in Southern California). Ernie is from Parang in Calapan. His wife, Nini, is from Batac, Ilocos Norte. They have 2 daughters, Cherisse Sydlle (Chac), Cherrise Heidi (Syd) and a son, Ernst. Now a resident of Buena Park in California, Ernie is both a lawyer and an accountant by profession. Ernie is committed to continue the on-going projects of OMASC during his term as president. In a recent dinner-dance, Ernie was greeted by fellow Mindorenos who came from different areas to celebrate the organization's 14th year at LAX Marriott Hotel. Please access his picture and his guests by going to PHOTO ALBUM under OTHER MINDORO ASSO.
Posted 9/24/07 From Occidental Mindoro, meet Resty Aguilar, the new president of Lubang-Looc International (LLI) (seehis picture in Photo Album section). Resty is from Lubang and is married to Cherry Villaluz, also of Lubang. They have an 8-year old daughter named Judge. Resty is also incharge of the LLI Youth group in addition to being the president. On LLI, he is happy to share the news that a dinner-dance was held on Sept. 22, at the Knights of Columbus in New Hyde Park, New York City in celebration of its 20th anniversary. Delegates from Toronto and Texas came to celebrate with New York-New Jersey Chapters. LLI was given the "Banaag Award" for Outstanding Filipino Organization Abroad conferred by Pres. Cory Aquino in 1991 and Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2001. Governor Josephine Ramirez Sato of Occ. Mindoro commends the group for their unwavering commitment to provide scholarship to deserving college students from Looc and Lubang.
Organized in 1987 by Freddie Tesalona, who is now the Vice Mayor of Lubang, LLI now have 160 scholar graduates and 54 scholar undergraduates. Other projects include medical missions, Pamaskong Handog for the Poor, book donations, sports equipment and summer tutorials for high school students conducted by the scholars. (pictures of the 20th anniv. dinner-dance can be found in PHOTO ALBUM under Other People and Events section).
Posted 9/19/07 Presenting to you, Adella Panaligan Leo of Pinamalayan...(see her picture in the Photo Album under Other People) Adel, as we all call her, is the long time adviser of the Pinamalenos Asso. in the tri-state area, a group that she has nurtured for so many years. Well-attended Pinamalenos gatherings and keeping her kababayans intact are just some of the achievements as far as community service is concerned. Adel obtained her Bachelor of Science in Education at the Manuel Luis Quezon University. In New York in the late 1980's, she started as an airline reservation sales agent then moved on to Staff Assistant, Acting Supervisor and Coordinator Assistant at the old TWA airlines. From there, she joined in 2001 American Airlines as Human Resources Staff until 2003. Currently, Adel is with Tri Maintenance Contract company managing and organizing tenant work orders utilizing Data Stream and Lotus applicants. A resident of Manhattan for 34 years, she and her husband, Dr. Edmund Leo, have grown up son and daughter. Bubbly and personable, Adel loves ballroom dancing. She is also currently serving as a director of our asso., the United Mindoro Int'l.
Posted 9/13/07 Meet the first president of Oriental Mindoro Asso. in Southern California (OMASC)....Hermie Maramot (Naujan) ! See his picture in the Photo Album under Other People & Events).Hermie Maramot’s four-year term as president of the Oriental Mindoro Association of Southern California (OMASC) started in 1993 when he, along with friends Lauro Manigbas, Elsie Amansec, and Bayani Ylagan founded the now thriving Los Angeles based organization of southland Mindorenos.Leadership comes naturally to this native of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.Being the eldest of five children, he is always looked upon as the guiding force, the trailblazer, the one with the last word.
After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in accounting at FEU in 1969 and passing the board examinations the same year, Hermie worked as an accountant and later as Controller for the Cacho group of companies which included Fiesta Greetings, Commercial Packaging, and Modern Business Methods.In 1974, he married Mila Aranas, also from Naujan and a childhood friend. They had twin daughters and together, the family left for the United States in 1976.They settled in Alhambra where he worked as an accountant and later as Controller for a warehousing company until his retirement in 2000.These days, he keeps himself busy playing golf wherever he finds himself – be it in Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club in Lipa where he is a member, or in the many golf courses in and around Los Angeles county. With his wife Mila who also recently retired, he plans to travel some, but mostly to the Philippines where his heart still is – proof that no matter where you may roam, the best part is coming home.
Posted 9/9/07 Meet our young and pretty Vice Governor Atty. Estee Manahan Aceron, 34 years old from Calapan....(picture to follow).
VG Estee
Feb 6, 2007
A lawyer by profession, Vice-Governor Estee, as fondly called by her constituents, originally sworn in on 30 June 2004 as the province’s topnotch board member for the first district. As a result of the sudden and unfortunate demise of then Governor Bartolome L. Marasigan, Sr., she unexpectedly but wholeheartedly took her oath of office as the province’s second highest public official – as Oriental Mindoro Vice-Governor. The partnership between Vice-Governor Estee and Governor Arnan C. Panaligan [also a lawyer] brings to fruition genuine, sustainable economic progress and development throughout the 426 barangays within the province and to its estimated 700,000 Mindorenos inhabiting the right half of the paradise island of Mindoro.
A glimpse through her past… Born on March 7, 1973 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, Vice-Governor Estee is one of the seven siblings of Atty. Edgardo Contreras Aceron and Mrs. Estrelita Manahan Aceron. Born and raised in a simple and loving family, young Estee never imagined of being a public servant one day although her scholastic achievements would somehow foretell that she had the makings of a brilliant and productive citizen someday. From being the class valedictorian in elementary (1986) and high school (1990) at the Holy Infant Academy in Calapan City, she was also a consistent dean’s lister at the Royal Pontifical Catholic University of Santo Tomas (1994) in Manila where she finished her Bachelor of Science, Major in Botany.During her stint in UST, she was also crowned as Ms. BioChem-Botany, Miss College of Pharmacy and Miss University of Santo Tomas – 1st Runner-Up.Because of the major influence of her father, eldest sister and brother, all of them are respected lawyers, she took up Bachelor of Laws at San Beda College of Law and finished the same in 1998. A year after graduating law school, she passed the Bar Examinations with an average grade of 83.1% and became a full-fledged lawyer.
A Born-Leader…A born-leader and equipped with the acquired knowledge and vital skills from her profession, she entered public service in 2001 as No. 1 City Councilor and considered to be one of the most competent councilors the City of Calapan ever had.As a city legislator, she penned and co-authored essential local legislative measures, the most significant of which is the Child Welfare Code of Calapan City, a legislative enactment which led to the nomination of Calapan City as the “Child Friendliest City” in the entire country.As a proficient lawyer, she practices her profession as the youngest partner in the Mercado, Aguillardo and Aceron Law Firm in Makati City. Aside from this, she is also an active officer and member of various civic and religious organizations in and out of the province. She was recently inducted as the youngest President of the Rotary Club of Downtown Calapan for RY 2006-2007 and the club’s second Paul Harris Fellow.
Leading the province’s legislative body – a remarkable team composed of veteran legislators and greenhorn politicians from various fields of endeavors - Vice-Governor Estee [the youngest member among the regular members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan] aims to promote and realize effective and responsible legislation centered in the actual and immediate needs and problems of her constituents.The province’s executive-legislative agenda is anchored within the Provincial Government’s core development thrusts in the agriculture and tourism sectors, thus the indispensable role of the Provincial Board in drafting and approving worthy legislative measures focused at maximizing the agriculture and tourism potentials of the Province of Oriental Mindoro. (scroll down for Wil Saulong)...
Posted 9/7/07
Featuring Wilfredo "Wil" Saulong of Bongabong....
Wil, as we fondly call him, has a long list of accomplishments. After finishing BSC at FEU in 1963, BSE in Roxas College, Roxas, Human Relations and Community Development at CDC UP-Laguna and BA in Roxas College, Roxas, he became a college instructor at Eastern Mindoro College in Bongabong and at Roxas College, Roxas. In addition, he joined the Dept. of Interior and Local Gov.t as Municipal Development/Local Gov.'t officer.
Wil was also awarded Outstanding Officer for his performance in 1976 and Model National Employee in 1982 in the municipality of Bongabong. Recognizing his skills, education and abilities, he briefly served as Municipal OIC Mayor in Mansalay from Dec. 1, 1987 to Feb. 1, 1988.
In the US, he joined the US Dept. of Justice Immigration & Naturalization Service in New York. Wil, now retired since 2003, is a resident of Staten Island, New York. He currently shuttles between Bongabong and Staten Island on his chosen month, chosen day and time, truly enjoying his freedom from work.
At United Mindoro asso., the association of the people from Mindoro in the East Coast, Wil serves as one of the directors for 2007-2008. He is not only the proud son of Bongabong but also a much sought-after officer considering his expertise in many fields. The asso. will surely benefit from Wil's guidance in choosing projects for Mindoro. Wil is married to Evelyn, also of Bongabong, and has three grown up daughters, Ivy, MaryAnn and Karen. (Go to Photo Album and click United Mindoro for his solo picture).
Coming up next Mrs. Isabel Bugarin of Calapan who will be 94 years old in November !
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