Feature: Magtiayon nga dunay Hydrocephalus nga anak natabangan sa Charity Rides sa Radbikes

DILI lang kutob sa joyrides apan aduna usab dako og kasing kasing sa pagtabang ang grupong Radbikes o Responsible and Discipline Bikes  nga adunay 14 ka chapter dinhi sa nasud sa Pilipinas.

Ang magtiayong Galla adunay lima ka mga anak kon diin usa niini mao ang 5 anyos nga hydrocephalus.

Gawas sa paghatag og groceries ug bugas mitabang sab ang grupo sa pagrepair sa ilang balay ug gibuhatan sab nila og gamayng kwarto ang 5 anyos nga bata.

"Sila ang among napili nga tabangan kay gikinahanglan nila ang tabang labina ilang papa usa ka laborer ug gatadtad og binggala, louy pod ang bata kay walay insaktong balay nga gatabil-tabil lang og og habol ug ang dingding nila karton," pahayag sa miyembro sa Radbikes nga si Prince dinhi sa Northern Mindanao Daily Source.

Photos Courtesy Prince 

Feature: Catherine Tabequero nga taga Bukidnon, International Author ug Publisher sa nasod sa Romania

BATA pa lamang si Catherine Tabequero hilig na kaayo niya nga magsulat og mga storya, ubay-ubay na usab ang mga poems, declamation iyang nagama ug kanunay adunay inspirasyon ug panglantaw nga hatagan og kinabuhi sa iyang huna-huna ang mga butang nga nagpalibot kaniya. 

Sa iyang pagtungha niya sa kolehiyo sa University of South Easthern Philippines sa Davao City nahimo siya nga Editor in Chief sa Crossover publication sa Christian youth movement.

Si Catherine natawo ug lumad nga taga Kibangay, lungsod sa Lantapan, probinsya sa Bukidnon nga karon usa na ka international romance author ug publisher sa nasud sa Romania kon asa siya karon nagpuyo ug successful sa iyang trabaho.

Sa maong nasud usa kini ka English teacher, nagtrabaho sab isip Translation Manager sa usa ka gaming company nga ga-manage sa mokabat 25 ka mga online languages alang sa mga online games ug ga sideline sab kini isip usa ka screenplay writer. Usa sab kini sa Chairperson sa 900 St. Incorporated. 

TRILOGY BOOK OF LOVE

Sa interbyu sa NM DailySource kang Catherine via zoom iyang gibutyag nga mas nagpokos siya sa pagsulat og libro dihang anaa lang siya sa puloy-anan gumikan sa pagbuto sa pandemya nga Covid-19. 

Dili tiaw ang mga hagit hatod sa pandemya mas nidoble dihang mao sab kini ang higayon nga nagkabulag sila sa iyang hinigugma nga usa ka Romanian nga giangkon niining nasakitan siya og maayo sa break-up gumikan soud sila kaayo niini ug nagsugod ilang relasyon sa panaghigalaay.

Gibuhos ni Catherine ang iyang kasakit sa pagbou og libro ug sulod sa napulo ka adlaw nasulat niya ang English manuscript nga moabot sa 303 pages nga "My Love is not Fragile" The Trilogy Book of Apology.

"During the heights of pandemic nakapokos ko sa writing, Nasulat nako ang 303 pages full of emotions within 10 days kay ang akong gibati gibuhos nako dinhi tanan," matud ni Catherine nga wala untay plano nga ipublisar kini kay alang lang unta kini sa iyang kaugalingon.

Apan gumikan sa mga aghat sa higala nga bout nilang makabasa niini ug nahukman niyang  i-share sa uban napublisar kini ug karon usa na ka libro nga in demand kaayo karon  sa mga book lovers.

Gani pwede na kining maorder sa Amazon.com nga mobalor og P900 ngadto P1,200 ang presyo sa matag libro.  Sa Lantapan, Bukidnon mapalit sab ang libro nga gidisplay sa Cafe sa Bukid.

Gibutyag sab niini nga kung aduna man mga order niini gikinahanglan nga modirekta kaniya kay print to order kini.

Gikatakda usab ang pagdangat sa iyang laing duha ka libro nga sequel sa My Love is not Fragile nga mao ang Book of Loss ug Book of Pain nga mogawas karong bulan sa Hunyo.

"The Book of Loss has always been my favorite because I came across emotions and feelings I never thought existed. Even when the pain was gone, longing and sadness took over. Beautiful memories of the past started coming one by one. I had a lot of intrusive and obsessive thoughts about the person. Perhaps, that is quite normal when you lose someone. Everything that you see and hear reminds you of them," matud niini.

Pagpagawas sa tanang kasakit nga gibati maoy gipasabot niini nga rason nganong gisulat sab ang Book of Pain.

Sa kasamtangan kamulo kini og sulat sa laing sequel niini nga "The fallen leaves of Autumn-The Narrow and Painful Road to Recovery kon asa naglaom kining kung magkita man sila og usab sa iyang hinigugma bation na siya og kalipay nga anaa na kini kauban ang laing hinigugma.

"The book is about the hard journey to Acceptance to its final point - Healing," matud niini.

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

Gawas sa lima ka mga libro nga nasulat aduna sab kini espesyal nga sinulat nga fantasy book gipahinungod niini sa iyang amahan. Adunay kini titulo nga "To the ends of the Earth"

"It is a fantasy book dedicated to my father,  my teacher is my father. It’s a story of a father-daughter relationship. The girl is willing to go until the ends of the earth para pangitaon iyang papa, it is a story of adventure that a young lady chooses to embark on in search of her father. I have put all my father’s stories in a book, giving every character a magical life that gives significance to the world they live in. Plus, I have made my own story paradoxically tangled to them, as fantasy takes over the reality just like what I used to have with my father.," matud niini. 

BOOK LOVERS

Na-realized usab ni Catherine nga panahon sa pandemya mas gikinahanglan sa katawhan ang pagbasa og libro.

"Mas na-realized nako nga kinahanglan nila og book kay nara sila sa ilang balay, naa gyod pod mahilig kaayo og basa ug mo-collect sa books," matud niini ug nipasabot nga labina gyod kung ang content niini puno sa emosyon.

Sa kasamtangan parte si Catherine sa Publishing and Education Company sa Romania nga mao ang 900 St. Incorporated  kon diin nagama sab sila og writing materials alang sa mga bata ug sinulat mismo ni Catherine  Plano sab niining magtukod og English Center alang sa 5 anyos ngadto 15 anyos ang edad.

Samtang gipaabot ang pagkapublisar sa ubang libro sa pagkakaron giaghat ni Catherine ang katawhan sa pagbasa ug e-enjoy ang iyang libro nga "My Love is not Fragile' kon diin bisan ang Editor niini nakadayeg sa content niini nga mabati gyud ang puno sa emosyon. 

"The truth is no words can describe how fantastic the manuscript is. It's a story of hard truth told in the most realistic manner." feedback sa Editor niini ug bisan sa mga nakabasa na niini positibo ang ilang reviews nga gihatag ug nagpaabot sa sequel sa libro. 

Feature: Wedding proposal sa Camarahan Ridge

Photo courtesy: Surreal Signature Shots

Feature: Abugado nag streetby rider alang sa therapy sa higala

Mga kandidata sa Miss Kuyamis 2021 gipresentar na sa publiko 

Sulti niini nga dili lang kutob sa Miss Kuyamis ang mga kandidata kay kung modaog mahatagan og oportunidad nga mopresentar sa lalawigan nga siyento porsiyento nga suportado sa kagamhanan.

Photos Courtesy Miss Kuyamis official FB page

Kagay-anon nga si Leonides Valmoria Jr., mitapos sa Australian Defence Force Academy

"Never ever have I thought or planned on getting a degree and completing a military training overseas from a world-class university and academy without making myself and my parents pay a single cent. What a privilege. Thank you to the people of the Philippines and Australia for making this possible. I most especially thank the people who were with me in this very memorable chapter of my life especifically my family, best of mates, mentors, colleagues, foster families and friends, upperclassmen, mistahs, underclassmen and a lot more people that I met and trained with. I'll forever cherish those memories. On to the next chapter! Hooyaah!," kini ang pasalamat ni  Ensign Leonides B. Valmoria Jr, Philippine Navy kinsa mitapos sa kursong Bachelor of Science in Aviation and Mathematics and Statistics.

Nahimong kabahin sa Philippine Military Academy Masidlawin Class of 2020 ug
Australian Defence Force Academy Class of 2020
University of New South Wales - Canberra Class of 2020.

Ang iyang igsuon nga si Jennylou Labial nibutyag sa NM Daily Source nga First Year pa lamang si JR sulod sa Philippine Military Academy (PMA) anaa na kini kanunay sa Top hinungdan mi-qualify kini nga makatungha sa laing nasud o foreign schooling.

Gani upat ka mga nasud ang mitanyag niini nga mao ang  Japan, Korea, US ug Australia apan ang uwahi maoy gipili niini.

Ang iyang batch sa PMA nga Philippine Military Academy Masidlawin Class of 2020
migradwar bag-ohay lang ug si JR kagahapong adlawa migradwar sa Australian Defence Force Academy Class of 2020. 

Matud ni Jennylou nga dili masukod ang ilang kalipay ug garbo sa pamilya sa nakab-ot sa ilang igsuon sa gawas sa nasud ug gani silang tanan unta mobiyahe sa Australia aron mosaksi niini.

"Promise man na namo ug niya sa una pa paglupad niya na Graduation puhon naa gyud unta tanan, kay sa Baguio pa suya dili man tanan nakaadto sa mga recognition ug uban pa nga events niya," matud ni Jennylou.

Apan kining tanan wala mahinayon gumikan sa hulga sa Covid-19. Apan bisan paman niini malipayon ang tibouk pamilya sa nakab-ot ni JR ug tibouk pwersa sa pamilya milantaw sa graduation niini pinaagi sa online.

Aduna usab silay laing igsuon nga migradwar sa PMA tuig 2006 nga si Robert kinsa mitapos nga Comlaude niadtong tuiga.

Photos Courtesy JennyLou Labial and Rey Valmoria 

Enhanced Nutribun pagbatok sa malnutrisyon

Photo Courtesy: PIA-10

SM City Cagayan de Oro lights up Enchanted Christmas tree

Photos: Chyrel Cariaga|CIO|SM City CDO 

SM unveils classic storybook Christmas tree theme at SM Downtown Premier

The majestic 50-foot Christmas Tree at SM CDO Downtown Premier features a classic storybook theme with its sparkling frosty forest and golden reindeers. It symbolizes the Joyful Stories of Christmas that we love to share to our friends and loved ones. 

SM lights up Christmas Trees

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

The excitement every time a perfect Christmas melody is played sends a chill down our spine. 

The lights that twinkle on every Christmas tree lighten up our spirits and remind us that the Yuletide season is just around the corner.

Those who are fond of uploading 'instagrammable' photos on their social media accounts would surely love the view of the biggest Christmas tree situated at the mall's event center.

The occasion was graced by Mayor Oscar Moreno, Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Carina Faye Carino and other city officials.

The launching of the tallest Christmas tree sends a message that we have every reason to celebrate Christmas even amid the pandemic. 

Photos courtesy Chyrel Macale, Steph Berganio, SM, and CIO 

Feature: Dressing up in Senina

MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL-How far are you willing to go to do what you love?

For one fashion designer in Misamis Occidental, she did not stop with a dream alone; she actually made things happen.

Meet Cielo Cervantes. Cielo’s love for fashion started when was still a little girl. Greatly influenced by the dressmaking hobby of her grandmother, she picked up her own thread and needle and started to design and make dresses for her dolls. A few years later, she upgraded her skill by altering ukay-ukay clothes for her everyday wear. Cielo did not only find herself daydreaming about the endless possibilities of her interest but she also wanted to make a difference in what she wears. That was her armor to chase her dream in fashion.

Unfortunately, her interest was set aside when she took up Hospitality Management and got employed in Dubai for practical reasons. Though she was able to secure a good job, Cielo found herself to be less motivated with what she has been doing. After years of serving the hospitality industry, she packed her things and went back to the Philippines to once again chase her dream.

She enrolled in Slims Fashion and Art School in Makati City where she learned the trades and crafts in designing, cutting, sewing, and even marketing and enterprising her made-to-order wedding gowns and other pieces of fashion apparel. With her artistic skill, she earned the trust of some walk-in clients who bought a few of her designed pieces.

She went back to Dubai but this time as a master-cutter and pattern-maker at the renowned Dubai Design District.  Her drive to challenge herself with more knowledge, techniques, and mastery in multi-cultural fashion paved the way for a few of her masterpieces to be worn by models in Dubai shows.

In 2016, Cielo finally returned to the Philippines for good to put up her own business—The Senina Fashion Shop. Despite the financial challenges and entrepreneurial birth pains she experienced, the support of her relatives and friends who became her first loyal and generous clients eased her burden of handling her business.

Her brand specializes in creating modern-day Filipiniana wardrobes for various occasions such as custom-made bridal gowns, gala uniforms for official functions, debutant gowns and dresses. Cielo keeps her concepts fresh and exciting by listening to her market and getting to personally know her clients. Her work ethics and professionalism allowed her to establish a name for herself in the local fashion industry and gave her the opportunity to showcase her creations in various platforms—fashion shows, exhibits, magazines, major prints and even in social media.

But as an event-dependent enterprise, Cielo experienced a drop in sales when the pandemic started because of cancelled big events such as weddings and gala shows. The production of wardrobes were put on hold. Closing the shop was the easiest option, but being one of the mentees who just graduated in the first batch of DTI-10’s online Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) Program, Cielo relied on the mentorship program that taught her to rethink her business habits especially in this time when the fashion industry is greatly affected by the pandemic. 

She shifted her focus to creating fashionable face masks including scarf masks, silk masks, and batique masks with turbans—all of which are comfortable, washable, breathable, and handcrafted to excellence.

The new direction of her business started when she sewed scrap fabric to face masks, which she then handed out to the frontliners for free. Seeing the face masks opportunity in the market, Cielo upgraded by using patterns and designs that reflect the Mindanao culture of modesty into her fashionable face masks.

She arranged an alternative work arrangement for her employees, where those at home can still earn by cutting the fabrics needed. The introduction of the fashionable face masks somehow augmented the day-today operation of the shop. Her loyal customers came back as Cielo has already established a brand of producing quality products, which now includes the fashionable face masks. With the shift to e-commerce, Cielo started building the online image of her brand and reached out to a wider market through popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

Add to that, she also had the opportunity to feature her new designs for the new normal and talk about her experiences as in DTI Misamis Occidental’s Facebook live selling during the first Virtual Kahimunan Trade Fair and Go Negosyo’s Balik Kabuhayan Series.

From dressing up her dolls as a child, Cielo has now become a household name in the local fashion industry not only because of her determination to continue crafting her dream but also of her advocacy to help the local weavers in the community. As of this writing, Cielo has offered her services by training members of the Buenacama Agrarian Reform Cooperative on how to make face masks made from abaca hinabol, which are being weaved by the Malahutayong IPs Organization.

For Cielo, the times of crisis is not an excuse to go less in fashion. “It is even an opportunity to go for more.” (DTI MisOcc/PIA Misamis Occidental)

Feature Story: A PWD’s story on surviving the siege and its aftermath

Escaping the Marawi Siege on May 2017 was more difficult for Yusoph Edris, 35 and a person with disability (PWD), with his family on May 2017. Three years after the liberation of Marawi, his family is now walking to rebuilding their lives.

His family used to live in Raya Madaya I in Marawi City with his wife, Epi Ibra, 37, and three children.

He said that his left leg suddenly swelled up to almost the size of a basketball in 2014. They thought that it was because of diabetes. 

However, because they did not have the money to have his condition properly checked, they were only able to see a doctor in Marawi City. Without any other examinations, the doctor can only conclude that it might have been cancer and had recommended that he see another doctor in Iligan City, about 50 kilometers from Marawi, for second opinion and for amputation.

They did not have the money to take him to Iligan City, neither did Yusoph want to lose a leg.

“Before, he (Yusoph) wasn’t able to go out of our house in Raya Madaya for 20 years. The first time he went out was when we had to flee from the war in 2017,” said Anisa Yusoph, Yusoph’s daughter

On the day they fled from the siege, Yusoph needed to be carried by the shoulder by family members. He shared that they had to literally drag him to cross Pumping Bridge by foot in the midst of all the exchange of fires because they had no vehicle. When they catched a glimpse of men in black shirts, members of the Daesh group, they can only keep going.

While crossing the bridge, he begged his cousins who carried him to just leave him on the bridge and save themselves. They refused to leave him behind and continued to drag him just so they could cross the bridge together alive.

Fortunately, at the end of the bridge, a tricycle passed by them and saw that they had a patient with them. The driver offered them a ride out of the city.

Community and Family Services International (CFSI) first met Yusoph in their tent in Bito Buadi Itowa Evacuation Center in Marawi City in 2018 where he was temporarily relocated after the war. His family lived under a tent for almost three years.

CFSI’s Marawi Recovery Project (MRP), funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Australian Government, granted Yusoph Edris livelihood support to set up a sari-sari store (retail store).

Using the profit they earned from the support, the family then started exploring more means to gain income by selling viands and accepting laundry jobs.

He and his wife is now able to earn as much as Php700 a day.

Yusoph was proud that ever since he received the support, he and his family is no longer dependent on the relief goods distributed to the IDPs and can now better provide for them. He can now also afford to buy the medicines he need for his aching leg.

CFSI’s MRP also assisted Yusoph in applying for a PWD ID. He shared that it was his only valid ID which he used to claim benefits and support from the government.

Yusoph’s family were then relocated to a sturdier temporary house in October 2019 by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Barangay Sagonsongan, Marawi City. His wife, Epi Ibra, said that they are now more comfortable because they have their own toilet and a house made of concreate. 

He also recently received Certificates of Live Birth (COLB) for him and his wife with the assistance of CFSI. He was able to use the certificates for hospitalization to see a doctor about his leg. Since 2014, he has not seen a doctor again for a check-up.

He also received crutches from CFSI MRP which not only allowed him to go out of the house, but also to personally go to government offices such as DSWD to claim IDP benefits for his family, as the head of the household.

“We hope that the war would not happen again, especially that it would be difficult to flee again, given the case of my father, Anisa shared, looking back at the war three years ago.

Epi said that they still need have Yusoph see another doctor for his leg and to get medicines to ease its aching. They are also affected by the effects of the province-wide quarantine imposed against COVID-19 but because of the support given to them, they were able to get by and is able to provide for the needs of their family.

“We are also thankful for the help from CFSI. Without them, we would not have been able to make it this far,” she said.

After surviving the siege and its ravaging effects, Yusoph and Epi, at present, continues to walk to rebuilding their lives for their family. (CFSI)

After running from their home devastated by the siege in Marawi and being temporarily shelter in a tent for about three years, Yusoph’s family is now able to become self-sufficient and is now walking towards rebuilding their lives (Photo by Riz Sunio).

MisOr bet Caroline Veronilla kadaogan ang pagkasulod sa final 16 sa MUPH

Wala man naangkon niini ang korona ug titulo apan garbo ug honor na ang dala niini sa lalawigan human sa mokabat 40 ka mga kandidata nga nagikan sa lain-laing probinsya ug siyudad sa tibouk Pilipinas mipasok si Veronilla sa  Top 16.

Sugod pa lamang sa mga kalihokan sa MUPH makonsidera na nga top contender si Caroline hilabina nga gakalakip kini sa mga ‘top picks’ sa mga ilado nga pageant-related websites ug pages.

Sa iyang journey sa MUPH lakip sa gipasigarbo ni Caroline ang mga maanindot nga atraksyon sa lalawigan sa Misamis Oriental ug aduna kini Suroy MisOr campaign sa iyang official facebook page. 

Gipaabot ni Caroline iyang dako nga pasalamat sa suporta nga gihatag kaniya sa mga Misamisnon ug local nga kagamhanan nga matud niini nga kadaogan na nga makonsidera nga makasulod sa final 16 ug wala niya gibasolan kay iyang gihimo ang tanan.

Photo courtesy Caroline Veronilla official FB page