Young Minds of Pandan: February 2010

Pandan is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Catanduanes, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 19,005 people in 3,181 households.
HISTORY
Formerly the town site was located some two kilometers away south of the present site. Then the people were disturbed by constant depredation of bandits coming from other places.
 
The present site has been chosen because it was near the sea and the fishermen found it very convenient for their trade, however, being near the sea, it was vulnerable to Moros who always come to get their belongings or even capture some people.
 
As a defense against such moro raids, the people planted pandan shrubs close to each other to form a formidable defense against invaders. When the Spaniards came they found the plants around the poblacion in great abundance. When asked what the name of the shrubs was, the people told them that they were pandan shrubs. Thus, the Spaniards called the place Pandan.
 
The municipality lies on the northern tip of the province, 96 kilometers from the capital town of Virac. Bounded on the south by the municipality of Caramoran, on the west by the Maqueda Channel, on the east by the municipality of Bagamanoc and on the north by the Pacific Ocean. It has a total land area of 11,990 hectares. This is a town of 17,096 friendly and hospitable people, to which 99% are Roman Catholic.
 
Of the 26 barangays that comprise the municipality, four of which actually form the town proper, which are Libod, the biggest barangay in terms of population, Napo, Pandan del Sur and Pandan del Norte. The rest are found usually near the seashore. The rest being an inland barangays.
 
The municipality does not only boast of the natural beauties, it has which are the Parway, Mangbang, Parola beaches, the Hinik-Hinik falls (Hinik-hinik is a local term for rain shower) and Minaipit falls, but especially of its being a hometown of Senators, Congressman, Governor, Cardinal and Ambassador.
 
The people of Pandan are generally peace loving, God fearing and are happy people. Everyone in the community is a brother, a sister and a friend where the products of which could be shared even food itself without thought of having it repaid or reciprocated. Visitors are offered the comforts that the family could afford even it means that the owner should lay on the floor just to make the visitor eased at home by using the “papag”. And that is not enough, before going home; products of their yard would be wrapped for you to bring in your family plus a bunch of cockling chickens.
 
During celebrations, immediate neighbors are invited bringing among the whole members of the family and this seemed to be incomplete without tuba drinking and little dancing. Pantomina is a long cherished dance that never changes with time despite of the current dance and music. Pandananons has a series of collected pantomina songs which are now famous composed locally, of course it is not only the above songs, Pandananons used to compose, for evidence of which that gained popularity was a song composed by the late Mr. Alfredo dela Rosa, former Municipal Secretary of the Sangguniang Bayan of Pandan, entitled “Islang Catandungan”. This song won first place in the regional contest in Sorsogon sometime on the late 60’s.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Bakasyon na! Summer na! Pa-PANDAN na!

Mga kaBlog, summer na summer na!

It's time to go home and experience the joy of spending the summer vacation in Pandan!

Kita-kits everyone!

Oratio Imperata

Laman ng mga balita ang sobrang pag-init ng panahon dito sa Pilipinas. Ang El Nino phenomenon ay lubhang nakaaapekto ngayon sa napakaraming kababayan natin sa iba't ibang lugar sa bansa. Namamatay na ang mga isda sa sobrang init, nababawasan ang tubig sa mga dam na nagsusuplay ng tubig sa maraming kabahayan, natutuyo ang mga pananim, at nagkakaroon ng mga sakit. Sa mga panahong katulad nito, sama-sama tayong manalangin bilang isang bansa sa Kanya na siyang tanging makakapitan natin sa ating mga pangangailangan.

ORATIO IMPERATA

Almighty Father, we raise our hearts to You in gratitude for the wonders of creation of which we are part, for Your Divine Providence in sustaining our needs, and for Your Wisdom that guides the course of the universe.

As we face typhoons, floods, volcanic and other calamities we trustingly seek Your help, aware that You are the Master of Creation.

We acknowledge that as an entire humanity we have not been good stewards of Nature. We have confused Your command to subdue the earth.

The environment is made to suffer our wrongdoing, and now we reap the harvest of abuse and indifference.

Global warming is upon us. Natural calamities occur in increasing numbers and intensity.

We turn to You, our loving Father, and beg forgiveness for our sins.

We humbly beg that we be spared from the dire consequences of calamities.

We beseech You to inspire us all to grow into responsible stewards of Your creation, and generous neighbors to those in need.

Amen.

(Prayer copied from http://www.op.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26594&Itemid=38)

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Entertainment Polls

The latest in the show business.. Pwede nang pagbotohan! Check the polls at the right side of YMP.blogspot.com..

Saturday, February 13, 2010

My Valentine's Prayer

I'm really having a hard time thinking of what would be the best valentine article for this blog. So I decided to share this prayer to all our kablogs who are celebrating their valentine's day without a special someone.

PRAYER FOR A SUITABLE PARTNER IN LIFE

Loving and wise Father,
I pray for the light
of Your wisdom and guidance
as I search for friendship
that will lead me to find
my suitable partner in life.
Help me to patiently wait for the right person
who will be my companion for all my life.
Bless me Lord,
that I myself may grow in these virtues:
deep respect for life and for people,
kindness, sincerity and generosity.
Teach me to become unselfish
and forgiving of others.
I ask for the grace
to be prepared for the commitment
that I will eventually make
to the particular person
who will be Your gift to me.
Lord, accompany me all the days of my life.
Draw me closer to you so that I will be able
to discern your will for me.
Give me the courage to decide
not according to what others want,
not even according to what I alone want.
But may I always place my desires
in accord with the designs of Your heart
so that I may experience real peace and joy
that can only come from You.
Amen.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Pasko sa Pandan '09 (Mga Larawang Kuha)

Medyo late na po ito pero ihahabol pa rin. Narito na po ang mga larawang kuha sa nakaraang pagdiriwang ng Pasko sa Pandan. Enjoy!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Pasko sa Pandan '09: The Gift-Giving

Isa ito sa mga activities na namiss ko. (I was not able to spend my Christmas in Pandan last year.) Bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng Pasko sa Pandan taon-taon ang pagbibigay at pagbabahagi ng konting biyaya sa mga kapus-palad nating kababayan. Kaya naman isang malaking bahagi ng pondo para sa pagdiriwang ng Christmas Cheers sa Pandan ay inilalaan sa gift-giving.

Sa mga nakaraang taon, ang pagbibigay ng regalo sa mga indigent families sa Pandan ay ginagawa sa plasa bilang bahagi ng programa. Ngunit napagkasunduan ng executive committee ng Pasko sa Pandan '09 na gawin itong espesyal. Ang mga members mismo ng Execom ang personal na mag-aabot ng mga pamasko na mula sa mga mababait at mapagbigay na Pandananon sa ating mga kababayan.

Nacurious ako. Kaya nang umuwi ako sa Pandan, I asked one of the members of the Execom how was the gift-giving done since karamihan sa mga bibigyan ay nakatira sa mga malalayong baryo ng Pandan. May mga araw raw na nagbibigay sila ng regalo tuwing gabi. Hinaharana muna nila ang maybahay. Ngunit sa halip na humingi ng pamasko ay sila pala ang mag-aabot ng regalo. There was even a funny story about this. Hindi raw lumalabas ang tao sa bahay at ang sabi ay, "Patawad! Mii pa ninto." But they answered, "Buko po. Kami po yu ikan ning dara para sainyo."

I was touched when I saw the pictures. Kahit umuulan ay tuloy pa rin ang mga staff sa pamimigay ng mga regalo sa mga barangay. But I was more touched when I saw the pictures of our kababayan's who deeply appreciated the simple gifts that was given to them. Sa totoo lang, marami talagang pamilya sa Pandan ang naghihirap. Many do not experience eating meals three times a day. Kaya naman ang mga simpleng handog na ito ay isang bagay na hindi nalilimutan. We are lucky enough not to experience what they do. So it's really nice and just to share some of our blessings to those less fortunate people in our communities.

And for this job well done, I just want to congratulate everyone behind the 2009 Pasko sa Pandan celebration, especially to the Executive Chairman, Rev. Fr. Stephen Polo. Keep up the good work and may the good Lord bless us always. Layag Pandan!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Happy Anniversary PSAT!

This month, our Alma Mater, Pandan School of Arts and Trades is celebrating its 48th Foundation Anniversary. Congrats PSAT! We love you!

(To greet PSAT, just leave a comment below.)

Y.E. sa Pandan 2

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Pakikiramay sa Isang Kababayan

Ang YoungMindsofPandan.blogspot.com ay taos-pusong nakikiramay sa pamilya at mga mahal sa buhay ni Elmer Eusebio ng Sta. Cruz, Pandan, Catanduanes. Siya ay pinaslang ng isang grupo ng mga armadong kalalakihan sa kanilang bahay noong ika-30 ng Enero ngayong taon sa harap ng kanyang pamilya. Manalangin po tayo para kay Elmer, sa kanyang iniwang pamilya, sa katahimikan ng ating bayan. Nawa'y makamit ang hustisya sa malungkot na pangyayaring ito.

(SOURCE:ABS-CBNNEWS.COM)

Rebels torture militiaman in front of family

MANILA, Philippines - Suspected rebels tortured and shot dead a government militiaman in front of his family in Pandan town in Catanduanes Monday afternoon, a military spokesman said.

Maj. Harold Cabunoc, spokesman of the Army’s 9th Infantry Dvivision, said Elmer Eusebio was playing with his kids at his residence at Sta. Cruz village when 7 rebels barged inside his home at 4:30 p.m. and dragged him away.

“In front of his weeping family members, the NPA rebels tortured Eusebio until he was bleeding profusely due to rifle butt strokes. He was repeatedly shot in the different parts of his body by the unknown bandit leader while others watched, shouting ‘Mabuhay ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan,'” Cabunoc said.

Eusebio was brought to a hospital in the town but he was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physicians.

Cabunoc said Eusebio is the first militiaman to be killed by the rebels this year in the Bicol region. Last month, the rebels killed Pfc. Michael Sarza in Camalig town in Albay.

Last year, Cabunoc said 34 people were killed by the rebels. “This number includes military and police personnel, New People's Army rebels who were accused of being deep penetration agents and civilians who were suspected of being military informants,” he said.