OFWs need not wait for passport appointment—DFA!

Overseas Filipino workers and other Filipinos in urgent need of passports do not have to wait long for an appointment, the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs said in a news release Tuesday.

Currently, the DFA-OCA appointment system will give traveling Filipinos a September appointment to apply for an electronic passport.

“Returning OFWs and those that are due for overseas deployment can have their passports processed immediately provided that they present documents that show there are jobs waiting for them in their countries of destination,” said the statement of the DFA-OCA.

“Similarly, employment agencies with passport applicants are given special slots for immediate processing and expedited issuance of passports,” it added.

On top of this, the DFA satellite office at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) in Ortigas will also re-open on June 22 (not June 21 as earlier reported) to cater solely to the needs of OFWs.

The DFA has also increased the number of passport appointments to accommodate more applicants.

“Special passport processing is held every other Saturday, with the view of expanding this service every weekend to accommodate more people with urgent travels. This system will free up more slots on weekdays which is seen to significantly cut down the waiting time for an appointment,” it said.

“To accommodate passport applicants in the provinces, the 19 DFA Regional Consular Offices (RCOs) that are strategically located all over the country are likewise ready to accept more passport applications,” it added.

Travellers with urgent need for a passport are also issued emergency passports that can be processed immediately without passing through the appointment system, with the approval of the Passport Director's Office, with telefax number 836-7759, DFA-OCA chief Assistant Secretary Jaime Victor Ledda told INQUIRER.net

Source: Veronica Uy, Inquirer.net

Davao Bloggers Blood Donation Drive this Saturday, June 26, 2010!

Davao Bloggers is once again in partnership with the Red Cross Davao Chapter for Blood Donation Drive! In the hope to increase awareness and knowledge on the importance and benefits of blood donation.

Date: Saturday, June 26, 2010

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Venue: Red Cross Davao Bldg.,  Roxas Ave., Davao City

Individuals and groups that may be interested in making this particular event successful are invited to grace the occasion. Your presence is much appreciated and we also accept monetary funds or you may donate blood or assist us during the event.

For information on blood donation, preparation, and requirements, please visit this LINK.

See you there!

Register now for the Kadayawan Fun Run is set on Aug. 15, 2010!

THE Filipino Entrepreneurs and Resources Network Inc. (Fern Inc.) will sponsor a rain or shine fun run dubbed Takbo sa Kasaganahan at Kaunlaran sa Kadayawan on August 15.

Organizers bared that big cash prizes are at stake for the winners in the three levels, which are elementary, high school and open (collegiate, professionals).

The Elementary level to run the distance of three kilometer (3K) will have a registration fee of P150. The starting point of the run will be in Rizal Park and which the turning point is in Central Bank going back to Rizal Park again.

High school level (5K) will start at the same place going to San Roque House as its turning point and back to Rizal Park. The registration fee is P250.

Meanwhile, the open category or 10K will have its turning point at the Southern Mindanao Hospital formerly named Davao Medical Hospital. Registration fee is P350.

Registration is ongoing and the deadline is on July 28, 2010 where the fee is non-refundable.

Winners for 3K category will bag P5,000 for the first prize. Second prize is P4,000, while P2,000 for third. There will be two runners who will win each prize, one for boy participants and another for girls.

For the 5K category, winners will receive P15,000 for the first prize, one for girl participants and one for boys. Second prize will receive P10,000, P5,000 for third, P3,000 for fourth placers and P2,000 for fifth runners-up.

However, in the 10K category prizes are a little bit higher with the first placers to get P20,000, P15,000 for the second, P8,000 for third runners-up, P5,000 for the fourth placers, and P4,000 for the fifth.

Assembly time will be at 5 a.m. in Rizal Park while the run starts at 6 a.m.
All participants will receive a certificate of participation, a Fern jersey, one pad Fern-C and a bowler.

Entry is non-transferable and change of race category after registration is not allowed.

For more details regarding this event, please call 271-5371 or 09105517372 and look for Bogart.

The Bat Emergence Night tour on June 27, 2010 in Samal Island!

THE Philippine Bat Conservation Inc. (PBCI) and the Monfort Bat Cave prepared another environment conservation activity in time for this month's eco-tourism celebration.

The Bat Emergence Night tour program on June 27, 2010 will be held at Monfort Bat Cave, Barangay Tambo, Babak District, Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) from 1 to 8 p.m.

The theme is Bat Conservation through Culture and Arts.

The event will feature arts exhibit, fruit tree planting, organic farming workshop, launching of Monfort Bat Cave's Guinness World Record, arts workshop, bat origami, poetry reading, arts performance, bat emergence viewing, fire dance, and a music band.

In February this year, the Monfort Bat Cave was recognized by Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest colony of Geoffrey's Rousette Fruit Bats or Rousetteus amplexicaudatus.

Highlight of the event will be a musical performance for bat conservation of well-known Davaoeño musician/artist Popong Landero, known for being a left-handed guitarist and for his reggae covers of Bob Marley.

Mindanao Culinary Festival (MCF) 2010 and Food Processing and Packaging (FPP) Technology Expo 2010, on June 16-19, 2010 in Davao City!

A culinary first in Mindanao, the Mindanao Culinary Festival (MCF) 2010, for its first phase, joins the biggest and most-focused food and beverage trade show dubbed Food Processing and Packaging (FPP) Technology Expo 2010, on June 16-19, 2010 at Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

FPP Mindanao continues to emerge as the most important food and beverage trade show in Mindanao providing linkages for the region’s manufacturers, processors and distributors with the latest products and technologies available in the market today. More than the trade show, FPP Mindanao has scheduled varied food-related and business-related seminars which are mostly free and open to the public such as on coffee farming, rice production, healthy cuisine, chocolate decorations and glaze, cake decorating, etc.

The MCF 2010, now on its 10th year, will be staged in two phases.

• The Phase I is intended for the participation of the professionals for selected competitions: Table Setting, Centerpiece Arrangement, Wedding Cake Display, UFS Local Soo Pinoy Soo Davao (Tuna/Tilapia/Chicken categories) and UFS Green-Hued Mock-tails.


• Phase II will be for the students scheduled on September 1-3, 2010 to give ample time for them to prepare. Recognizing the importance of green practices in kitchen management, and also in line with the advocacy of the Department of Tourism to promote sustainable tourism, the MCF 2010 theme is “Celebrating the Reign of Green”.

The MCF 2010 is supported by the Department of Tourism, Unilever Foodsolutions, Nestle Professional and Philippine Airlines. For more information, please contact 2215674 loc 101 and 3006730 or write konkordans@gmail.com.

30-minute switching power interruptions in Davao City on Sunday, June 13, 2010!

Davao Light and Power Company will be conducting two separate switching power interruptions on Sunday, June 13, affecting some parts of its southern franchise.

In a press release, the company has advised that the switching interruption is necessary to facilitate the upgrading of 69 kV line from Bangkal to Ulas. The temporarily shifting of power supply will minimize a widespread and prolonged service interruption.

Experiencing the separate 30-minute service interruptions from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM for normalization of loads are from Davao Memorial Park in Matina up to Inawayan, Binugao in Toril including GSIS Subd., part of Shrine Hills, Matina Aplaya, Bangkal, Ulas, Puan, Talomo, Bago Aplaya, Dumoy, Toril Proper, Bayabas up to Tungkalan, Eden and its neighbouring areas.

Similarly affected are the customers from crossing Ulas going to the whole area of Catalunan Perqueno up to Mintal Public Market.

Davao Light apologizes for the inconvenience of this service interruption but it will exert all efforts to restore electric service as scheduled or earlier. However, there may be instances where restoration may extend beyond the schedule due to unavoidable circumstances.

SocSarGen Summer Safari and Mindanao Food Appreciation Tour!

This is the first time that I joined a very big event in SocSarGen area and I tell you it was awesome!

The day started very early for me since we had a call time to meet in front of Ice Castle Hotel, General Santos City where we were accommodated. I woke up at around 5 a.m. and waited for the other bloggers to wake up and call us up since we will be picked up with our transportation going to our destination which is Polomolok, then Lake Sebu, Marbel and back in General Santos City.

Dolores Farm Resort, Polomolok, South Cotabato is our first destination.

We had our breakfast here courtesy of  Dolores Farm Resort, it was refreshing to eat your breakfast in a native inspired hut, surrounded by luscious greenery. This is also the place where you can find the Polomolok Zoo, they also have swimming pool to boast for those who wants to cool down and dip into water.

The breakfast they serve was very filling, they served us fried Bangus and deep fried breaded Tilapia together with fried rice. They also have hotel rooms for travelers and those guests who wants to stay there longer. And one thing more they have a weekend Magic show for kids. They also hosts events and bikini open.

Trek and Zip at Seven Falls

Our next destination is the famous Seven Falls in Lake Sebu where you can trek and ride the most accessible zip line in SocSarGen area. The entrance is P20.oo for adults and from there you can go down and see the highest water fall in the region, the second of the seven waterfalls. If you are fit enough then try going down the 774 steps of stairs to view the majestic second water falls.

If you are brave enough then try the Zip at Seven falls, I was not able to try it, but the bloggers from Cagayan de Oro waited patiently and went back after lunch. Since it was a weekend the cue to ride the zip was very long.

Lunch at Punta Isla Lake Resort

It was a sight to behold, Punta Isla Lake Resort with the view of Lake Sebu. You will experience not only the good food but also the culture and history of the place presented by the native s of the area.

The lunch was superb with fresh ly cooked fish, grilled and fried Tilapia and even "Kinilaw na Tilapia", the native chicken dish of the T'boli specialty was also served. We really enjoyed the sumptuous lunch.

Merl Garden Spring Resort

We went to Merl Garden Spring Resort for our free snacks at Barangay Lahit, Lake Sebu. Merl Garden is owned by a family from Digos City and they just got there for the weekend to oversee the operation. A perfect palace for a family outing. There is a monkey bar, hanging bridge, banca ride, horse backriding, 40 feet monkey ladder, 2-way zip line, slide for life and bagging challenge.

Sa Balai Bistro, Koronadal City

After the long wait for other bloggers who went to zip at Lake Sebu we headed to Koronadal City Sa Balai Bistro to loosen up. We were greeted with Sa Balai’s drinks that are exclusively their own Pandan Shakes, Mulberry Tea, and Home-Brewed Coffee. Sa Balai has a nice ambiance, an old ancestral house which they turn into a bistro with artistic pieces from different ethic cultures in a mix of European decorations can be seen inside.

Red Tent Steakhouse

To end the day we went to Red Tent Steakhouse, we were serve al fresco under a red tent, that is where they got their name for the restaurant. The food was great we were served with crabs, beef steak, pork, garlic tuna,  and complete with dessert.

Adventure and food are well worth visiting the SocSarGen area, if you happen to pass by the area I highly recommend that you visit these places and I'm sure you wont regret visiting them at all.

A bunch of thanks to the following sponsors:

• Mr. Rey Billena of The Ice Castle Experience


• Piyesta KTV and Restobar


• Pacman Sports Bar


• Le Jardin Arnevel


• Dolores Farm Resort


• Francis Sablon of Zion Travel


• Seven Falls Zipline


• Punta Isla Lake Resort


• Merl Garden Resort


• Sa Balai Bistro


• The Red Tent Steakhouse


• Rolee’s Bakeshop


• Coffee Club 101


• Kuya Chito’s Takuyaki


• SOCCKSarGen Bloggers


• Avel and Orman Manansala