TESDA offers
more scholarships

The Technical Educational Skills and Development Authority in Negros Occidental announced yesterday the availability of 2,500 additional scholarship slots for the training of call center agents, its press release said.

TESDA provincial director Lorena Yunque said the scholarship is funded under the Industry-based Training for Work Scholarship Program and co-managed by the Business Processing Association of the Philippines, Call Center Association of the Philippines, and the Bacolod-Negros Occ. Federation for IT, the press release also said.

The program is a response to the need for more call center agents in Negros Occidental, and Bacolod City, that has been ranked among the top three next wave cities by BPAP, and is host to major business process outsourcing companies, Yunque said.

The 100-hour finishing course for call center agents NC II includes training in communication skills and customer service. Applicants should be at least 18 years old, high school graduates and can speak English, the press release said.

Those interested may apply directly at any of the TESDA registered schools, like the Star of Asia Inc. at 6 th Lacson Street, CAPSI at Araneta Street, Philippine Call Center Institute, corner Gatuslao-San Sebastian streets; Lasaltech-Bacolod at Lopue's East Center annex; VMA Global College at Rizal Street, and at the Negros Occ. Language and IT Center at Paglaum Sports Complex, all in Bacolod City; as well as Lasaltech-La Carlota, Lopue's annex corner Mabini-JM Basa streets in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, the press release added.*

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Book launching today

The book “Away Sakit: Natural kag Herbal Nga Pamaagi” written by Dr. Violeta Lopez Gonzaga will be launched at the Bacolod Government Center lobby 3 p.m. today.

Gonzaga, a medical anthropologist, heads the Southeast Asia Center for Resource Studies Consultancy and Training.

Gonzaga said since she first settled in Negros, she has “struggled with the all too common images of emaciated kids and mothers, going to our office, asking for loans because of such common ailments as diarrhea, flu and cough. These ailments need no physician's attention or costly anti-biotic prescriptions if only such hapless poor are equipped with the right information.”

Given the need for health empowerment for the poor, Gonzaga said she decided to write her “Away Sakit” book.

“Away Sakit”, a pro-active reaction to the multi-billion dollar industry that has thrived on “modern day” illnesses – the epidemic like incidence of diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, she said.

The book, written in Ilonggo, is designed to empower the ordinary folk to manage their own household members' health, and free themselves from dependence on exploitative spiritual healers, or often insensitive town and city doctors caught in high-tech, very expensive medical technology and specialization, she said.*CPG

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UAP turnover, joint induction rites
of 3 chapters set July 22 in Bacolod

The United Architects of the Philippines Bacolod, Negrense, and Mt Kanla-on, under District C2 in the City, will hold their turnover and joint induction of officers and members rites on July 22 at the Bacolod Business Inn Hotel, a press release from the group said.

The theme of the activity is “Protect the Profession, Promote the Practice, Serve the Members”.

For UAP Bacolod chapter, the officers are Francis de los Reyes, president; Abemar Gegantoni, vice president for Programs and Development; Alever Leyva, VP for Operations; Jennifer Gasambelo, secretary; Roldan Penequito, treasurer; Jerome Meriveles, auditor; and Raymund Joseph Ureta, Roy Pablico, Eduardo Sabusab, Hilario Campos III, Eric Matulac, Willie Fernando Aujero and Daniel Bayles as directors, with Jude Patrick Tipon as ex-oficio, the press release said.

Eric Santiago will be inducted as president of the UAP Negrense chapter, together with Segundino Inumerables, VP Programs and Development; Rogely Gambito Lora, VP Operations; Gazil Sinoy, secretary; Christian Yu, treasurer; Nelson Nessia, auditor; and Raymund Granada, Tom Pedrosa, Ma. Josefina Geraldine, Edmund Guitche, Jose Angelo Lora and Andrew Derla as directors.

For UAP Mt Kanla-on, the officers are Felipe Jocson, president; Dominic Diocson, VP for Programs and Development; Salvador Salgado, VP for Operations; Nilo de Oca, secretary; Rafael Guerrrero, treasurer; Anthony Lim, auditor; Vincent Alovera, Hugo Flores III, Jico Monte, Rolly Gapulan, Ronnie Ayuban and Bethany Ibardolaza, directors, and Jorge Mission, ex-oficio.

The District C2 officers are Jose Generoso Mascardo, director; Ariel Tatoy, deputy director; Nilo de Oca, secretary; and Rogely Lora, treasurer. The three chapter presidents are also district officers, the press release said.

UAP national president Rozanno Rosal and other Board officials will induct and charge into office the new officers and members of the UAP District C2 and the three local chapters for 2102-2013.

The other guests are national executive VP Lora Rivera, secretary-general Rey Gabitan, Alfred Geoffrey Carandang – treasurer, VP for Area A Armando Eugene de Guzman, VP for Area C Avelino Pastor, and UAP secretariat Rakel Orenia.

A “balangkasan” will also be held in the luncheon meeting of the National Board and the Chapter officers to discuss concerns affecting architectural practice, the press release added.*

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August is breastfeeding
awareness month4

A resolution declaring August 2012 as the National Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Bacolod was approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday.

It enjoins the mass media, local government offices and the entire citizenry to extend their wholehearted support and cooperation by conducting specific programs for the celebration.

The resolution said Republic Act 10029 was enacted as a national policy to encourage, protect and support the practice of breastfeeding and create an environment where basic physical, emotional, and psychological needs of mothers and infants are fulfilled through the practice of rooming-in and breastfeeding.

R A 10029 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 declared August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month to raise awareness on the importance of and to further promote breastfeeding , it said.

The resolution said b reastfeeding has distinct advantages that benefit the infant and the mother, including the hospital and the country that adopt its practice.

It is the first preventive health measure that can be given to the child at birth and enhances a mother-infant relationship, it added.

“The practice of breastfeeding could save the country valuable foreign exchange that may otherwise be used for milk importation”, the resolution authored by Councilor Em Legaspi Ang , chair of the SP c ommittees on Social Services and Gender and Development, said.*CGS

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