Groups counts 18,000 waterfowl in Balanga City

By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net

BATAAN, Philippines—Almost an hour before sunrise here, 20 volunteers armed with their spotting scopes, binoculars, cameras and other equipment visited Sunday the three wetland sites in Balanga City to count the number of wintering or migratory birds that flock the area for breeding or a quick stopover.

The event dubbed the Asian waterbird census, is held every second and third week of January and forms part of the global census for wintering shorebirds visiting the wetlands and coastal sites across the Americas, Africa and Asia.

“As early as 5 a.m. we head to the identified sites where the migratory birds are roosting. We count and record their numbers per species and comparing this data over those culled in previous years, we analyze if there is an increasing or decreasing trends in bird populations and make recommendations to address the threats to survival such as habitat loss, food scarcity and diseases,” said census volunteer Mike Lu, president of nonprofit birding group Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP).

WBCP and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are the lead agencies holding the waterbird census in over 50 coastal sites in the country.

Specifically, the data collected from the sites form part of the global waterbird monitoring program called the International Waterbird Census, which is being coordinated by conservation group Wetlands International.

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Related: birdwatch.ph

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The Dipolog Pilot Demonstration School (DPDS) I.T. Center was turned over and inaugurated on Monday, January 11.

Mrs. Elba L. Fiel, Dipolog Project Coordinator welcomed everyone to the early morning event. Mrs. Purita P. Bael, Chicago Representative and former teacher gave an overview of the project. The much-awaited turn-over of 8 units Computer Machine and Signing of Memorandum Of Agreement then followed with DPDS Principal Lyn A. Carpio and Rosario A. Adraincem, Principal Finance Officer as signatories with Elba L. Fiel, Coordinator, Noah C. Omamalin, Head, Technical Committee and Purita P. Bael.

Mrs. Lyn A. Carpio thanked the DPDS Alumni Association in Chicago and all others involved for the gift of knowledge and technology to the students of their alma mater. This was followed by the cutting of Ribbon of IT Center and blessing of IT Center by Rev. Fr. Cesar Tinga.

Master of Ceremonies was Mr. Mateo Lacquio.

Photos by Aleksi Mari B. Gumela with Rhandolf Bueno Sindo. Additional coverage by Freger S. Reyes

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A single mother and pizza owner here bested seven others in the final screening for Rotary Club’s 2009-2010 Group Study Exchange (GSE)
program held in Bacolod City last November 7, 2009.

Cherry Q. Guillena, 36 years old, owner-proprietor of Gabriela’s Pizza in the city won the judges approval after intense screening thru question and answer in Bacolod City to clinch the all expense paid trip to The Netherlands for the 2009-2010 Group Study Exhange program. Guillena will depart March Next year for the Nether Netherlands.

Edna Capili-Chan, president of Rotary Club of Dipolog, said the GSE program “is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for
business people and professionals between ages 25 years old to 40 years old.”

The program undertaken by the Rotary Foundation provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. The GSE scholar will experience the host country’s culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practices abroad, develop personal and professional relationships and exchange ideas with their hosts. Guillena, bested seven other candidates of the program in Bacolod. The eight finalists were of varies professions, a cook (Guillena), a young lawyer from Aklan; a visual artist  from Bacolod, a business woman into food supplement distribution, also from Bacolod; Ili-ilo’s tourism officer; an account executive of China Bank from nearby Zamboanga City and
a local contractor based in Bacolod.

Guillena said she had no qualms about the final screening and “tried not to be intimidated since I know I have prepared myself for the final district screening.” The young single mother and local chef finished her culinary course at the Saint Vincent’s College and she passed the assessment test given by the TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority). Guillena also manages Gabriela’s Pizza, a home grown pizza store in the city.

After Winning a slot for Rotary’s GSE scholar next year to the Netherlands, Guillena is set to create her Zanorte Pizza in celebration of her being selected as member of the GSE  team. She will fly to Amsterdam by March 2010. (jgy)

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SOURCE: Ang Dipolognon (Rotary Club of Dipolog District 3850, Weekly Bulletin, Week 2, November 2009)

Special Thanks to:  Mr. Hector Soledad and the Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management of Saint Vincent’s College

A video shared by APO Jim Paredes: “This is a great video. This is how candidates should appeal to the people. A teachable moment for everyone. Funny, creative, incisive, and instructive. Every Pinoy should watch it.”