Ambibo.com is delighted to launch FACES of AMBIBO/ZaNorte and deeply honored to present Ms. Miracle Romano as our inaugural personality. Our sincere thanks to her and her parents, Rosalio "Didi" Olvis Romano and Marietta "Laclac" Ladera Dalman-Romano.

“Miracle Romano” in my own words would be rather selfish if this sentence began with “I Am.” So allow me to begin by saying that in every person is a miracle, and other than the miracle of life everyone is blessed with, each miracle varies. Mine simply happens to be the fact that I have been graced with dedicated parents who decided to have me and my siblings home-schooled and raised in an unconventional system despite the concerned and previously doubtful society. Their main purpose in home-schooling us was to harbour us from manifold sorts of bad influence during our cultivating years. This decision not only made them realize their goal, but it also resulted in so much more. We had the extra time to study art and music that otherwise would not have been this bounteous due to the educational system that is basically concentrated only on academics. Furthermore, my brothers and I had the best full-time tutors – our own parents. My mom being a journalism graduate from UP Diliman is where my love for writing and literature springs from, and my dad being a fine arts graduate from UST, is where I credit my artistic side. The passion for music emanates from both sides of the family.

So if I am to say what I am; a musician? It could be. A writer? There’s a possibility. An artist? Not quite yet but perhaps. But, a daughter? A definite yes. I am my parent’s (sole) daughter, I am a daughter of Dipolog, but most importantly, I am a daughter of God. That is Miracle Dalman Romano in my own words.

P.S.

It is quite ironic that I, whose face usually prefers to be cropped out or partly concealed in artistic photos, should be featured in Ambibo’s “Faces”. Brand me autistic or insecure, but it is a fact that I often avoid eye-contact with the camera’s lens in my solo photos. Being admittedly un-photogenic with my heavy and imbalanced brows which I forbade anyone to “fix” during the photo shoot, I admit I was not being an easy subject. “No foundation, no eye-liner, and no make-up if possible,” I begged – and it was not for the reason that I believed I was already picture-perfect that I did not need any of those; it is because I always wish to look as natural as possible. Thanks to the supports of Ambibo’s Dipolog contacts (Aleksi, Ku, and Jarian), they have made me seem rather tolerable and human despite my unusual beauty (or should I say “ugly”?) requests. Moreover, I wish to thank Mr. Armand Frasco for caring enough to recognize not only the faces, but each miracle of today’s youth, and the miracle that is us – people of Zamboanga del Norte.

Name: Miracle Dalman Romano
Nickname: Mira, Cle, Meewa
Age: 23
Location: Dipolog City
Interests: Classical Music, Literature, Painting, Writing, Espresso, Dipolog’s Sunsets, and Family

5 Things you should know about Miracle:

1. Plays piano and violin
2. Home-schooled
3. Dreams of traveling to Europe
4. Member of the Peace Philharmonic of the Philippines
5. Granddaugther of Antonina Olvis Romano (composer of the Dipolog City march)

Photography: Ku Gamalinda. Art Direction: Aleksi Mari B. Gumela. Print Supervision: Noah C. Omamalin

View the special FLICKR photoset .

View the special FLICKR photoset

All images © 2008 Ambibo Communications All Rights Reserved

Nominations for FACES OF AMBIBO are accepted. Email us at ambibo1@ambibo.com

The Mindanao Business Conference is the biggest annual gathering of business and industry leaders, government policy makers and other stakeholders. This year’s conference targets the attendance of some 500 delegates representing the Mindanao business community (local chambers of commerce, trade and industry associations and other business groups), national and local government officials, the academe, as well as businessmen and dignitaries coming from the BIMP-EAGA and ASEAN regions. Members of the diplomatic corps especially of countries that have economic and development undertakings in Mindanao will likewise be invited.

The 17th Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) will explore and discuss key business and economic issues surrounding Mindanao’s endeavor to achieve development. Key leaders and figures from both the government and business sectors have been invited to present issues and give insights on the plenary topics of the conference.
Ultimately, the Conference will provide an avenue for the integration of policy recommendations that will be submitted to the President of the Philippines who has been invited to grace the conference.

This year’s MinBizCon is aptly themed: “One.Global.Filipino. Making Public-Private Partnerships Work for Mindanao’s Economic Development” to give special emphasis on the partnership and synergy between government and the business community. LEARN MORE.

View the FLICKR PHOTOSET by Aleksi Mari B. Gumela

Dignitaries and honorees of the Diamond Jubilee of Southwestern University (from left, lowermost row) SWU Pres. Eldigario D. Gonzales, DPA; Dean Emeritus Carmen V.N. San Lorenzo, Dean Maria Elena A. Cabigon, Chairman of the Board Andrew S. Aznar, Director of Alumni Affairs Pierre I. Infante. Third from left on the second row: Dr. Ma. Grace F. Gurdiel of DMCCFI, Outstanding Alumna Awardee. (Photo: DMCCFI)

In the 3-day celebration of their 60th Founding Anniversary, Southwestern University of Cebu awards Dr. Ma. Grace Figueroa-Gurdiel of Dipolog Medical Center College Foundation, Inc. as one of its Outstanding Alumni in a grand ceremony held at the Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City.

Dr. Grace Gurdiel, dean of the College of Nursing of DMC College Foundation, graduated with honors from the prestigious Southwestern University in March 1988 in her Nursing degree. She was among the few alumni who were chosen from a number of highly accomplished candidates to receive the coveted award. Having been one of the pillars of DMC since joining the institution in 1995, Dr. Gurdiel was a Clinical Coordinator for seven years, an Associate Dean for four years, and the Dean of the biggest department of the college for two years now. Under her insightful guidance and supervision, the Nursing department continues to flourish and run smoothly in response to the increasing demands of Nursing education and the Nursing profession.

The huge celebration of Southwestern University was graced with several prominent people of Cebu in the realms of business, science and the academe where Dean Gurdiel was among the honorees. The administration of DMC College is rightfully proud of the dean’s accomplishment and recognizes it as an honor, exemplifying the college’s credo of having the best and most qualified faculty, staff and administrators in its field of providing the best kind of education to students.

Dr. Gurdiel finished her Doctorate in Management under the consortium of Negros Oriental State University and DMCCFI in 2006. She is married to Dr. Roel L. Gurdiel, one of Dipolog’s most distinguished radiologists, and has three children, Tren-tren, Kat-kat and Pao-pao.

Photo: Mercy Gonzales pay her respects to Saint Augustine after the mass in honor of his feast day.

Devotees of Saint Augustine from Sulangon, Dapitan City celebrated their town fiesta on Thursday, August 21 at the residence of Rey and Lucy SyGaco in Barrington, Illinois. The mass concelebrated by Fr. Nemesio Sayon and Fr. Manuel Duterte was followed by a sumptous dinner. (Photos: ABF)