Today, I receive all God’s love for me. Today, I open myself to the unbounded, limitless, overflowing abundance of God’s Universe. Today, I open myself to your Blessings, healing and miracles.Today, I open myself to God’s Word so that I become more like Jesus Everyday. Today, I proclaim that I’m God’s Beloved, I’m God’s Servant, I’m God’s powerful champion, And because I am blessed, I will bless the world, In Jesus Name, Amen.

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The Great Wall of China in Mutianyu

The Great Wall of China is referred to in Mandarin as Wanli Changcheng   (10,000-Li Long Wall or simply very long wall) BEIJING, ...

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

TYPHOON PEDRING CLASSES ADVISORIES AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2011



PAG-ASA Bulletin [As of 11:00pm, September 26, 2011]

Advisories
  • Chairman Francis Tolentino has lifted Number Coding tomorrow (9/27/11) due to Typhoon Pedring - except Makati and Las Piñas.

Colleges
NO Classes on the following - Update as of 5:50am
  • Adamson University
  • Bulacan State University
  • Central College of the Philippines
  • Centro Escolar University
  • Colegio de Sta. Teresa de Avila
  • De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
  • De La Salle Univeristy Dasmarinas
  • De La Salle Univeristy Manila
  • FEU Manila
  • FEU Makati
  • FEU East Asia
  • FEU Diliman
  • Kester Grant College
  • La Consolacion College
  • Letran College
  • Lyceum of the Philippines - Manila
  • Manila Tytana Colleges
  • Mabon University
  • Malabon Polytechnic College
  • MCU
  • Miriam College
  • National College of Business and Arts
  • Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
  • Philippine Christian University Taft
  • Philippine Women's University- Manila
  • Polytechnic University of the Philippines
  • Rizal Technological University
  • San Beda College
  • School of Fashion & the Arts
  • St. Benedictine-Imus
  • St. Scholastica
  • STI College-Novaliches
  • UE Caloocan
  • UE Manila
  • University of Caloocan
  • University of Perpetual Help System DALTA – Las Piñas
  • University of Perpetual Help-Molino
  • University of Santo Tomas
  • UP Manila
  • UP Diliman

High School
  • Storm Signal No.1: Classes in pre-school level in all public and private schools will be automatically suspended
  • Storm Signal No.2: Classes in pre-school, elementary and high school in all public and private schools will be automatically suspended.
  • Storm Signal No.3: Classes in all levels are automatically suspended.
  • Storm Signal No.4: All travel and outdoor activities are cancelled.


Storm SignalLuzonPotential Impacts of the Winds
No. 3
Winds of 101-185 kph is expected in at least 18 hrs
Aurora, Isabela, Cagayan, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Nueva Viscaya and Quirino
  • Heavy damage to agriculture
  • Some large trees uprooted
  • Majority of nipa and cogon houses unroofed or destroyed, considerable damage to structures of light to medium construction
  • Moderate to heavy disruption of electrical power and communication services
  • Travel by land, sea and air is dangerous
No. 2
Winds of 61-100 kph is expected in at least 24 hrs
Ilocos Norte, Ilocas Sur, Abra, Apayao, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Quezon including Polillo Island, Bataan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.
  • Moderate damage to agriculture
  • Rice and corn adversely affected
  • Few large trees uprooted
  • Large number of nipa and cogon houses partially or totally unroofed
  • Some old galvanized iron roofing may roll off
  • Travel by all types of sea vessels is risky
No. 1
Winds of 45-60 kph is expected within the next 36 hours
Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Marinduque, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias and Lubang Islands, Babuyan and Calayan grp. Of Islands.
  • Twigs and branches of trees may be broken
  • Some banana plants may tilt or land flat on the ground
  • Rice in flowering stage may suffer significant damage
  • Some nipa and cogon houses may be partially unroofed
  • Sea travel of small seacrafts and fishing boats is risky

  • Public Storm Warning Signal elsewhere are now lowered.
  • Residents in low lying and mountainous areas under Public Storm Warning Signals are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in
  • coastal areas are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone.
  • Estimated rainfall amount is from 15 - 25 mm per hour within the 650 km diameter of the typhoon.
  • Typhoon Pedring is expected to enhance the Southwest Monsoon and will bring scattered to widespread rains over Southern Luzon and Visayas.
  • The public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 5 AM tomorrow and the hourly updates.


SSS Disability Benefits Guidelines



SSS Disability Benefits

What is the New Disability Program?
The new SSS Disability program is a re-designed disability program that implements the revised manual of disability assessment. The new program adopts the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of disability that states as any “restriction or lack (resulting from impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.”

What is the main objective of the new disability program?

The re-designed program aims to ensure that the right cash benefit for disability is paid to truly deserving members.

What are the salient features of the new disability program?
The re-designed disability program –
  • Adopts the WHO definition of disability which is any “restriction or lack (resulting from impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.” Impairment is defined as any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function.
  • Adopts the International Statistical Classifications of Diseases and Related Health problems Codes (ICD-10).
  • Includes medical and functional assessments.
  • Requires annual assessment of all pensioners except those with scheduled disabilities stated under Section 13-A (f) of the SS Law.

What is the medical and functional assessment under the new disability program?
        Under the medical assessment, nature and degree of impairment of affected body part/system is determined through physical examination and interview supported by appropriate diagnostic tests. While, under functional assessment, the capacity of the individual to perform activities of daily living (ADL) is tested using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM).

        Member should have 20% medical impairment to qualify for functional assessment.

Who is qualified for disability benefit under the new program?
        A member who suffers partial or total disability with at least one monthly contribution paid to the SSS prior to the semester of contingency is qualified.

What are some of the permanent partial disabilities? 
A complete and permanent loss or use of any of the following body parts and does not totally prevent a member from engaging in any gainful occupation.

http://harbor.tradechannelph.com/images/crew/crew_and_family_services/services/SSS/disability/disabilitychart1.jpg

What are some of the permanent total disabilities? 
The following fall under permanent total disability:
  1. Complete loss of sight of both eyes;
  2. Loss of two limbs at or above the ankle or wrists;
  3. Permanent complete paralysis of two limbs;
  4. Brain injury resulting to incurable imbecility or insanity; and
  5. Such cases as determined and approved by the SSS.

What are the types of disability benefits? 

They are:
  1. The monthly pension; and
  2. The lump sum amount.
The monthly pension is a cash benefit paid to a disabled member who has paid at least 36 monthly contributions to the SSS prior to the semester of disability.

The lump sum amount is granted to those who have not paid the required 36 monthly contributions.

How much is the monthly pension? 

The amount of the monthly pension will be based on the member’s number of paid contributions and the years of membership.

The lowest monthly pension is P1,000 for members with less than 10 credit years of service (CYS); P1,200 with at least 10 CYS and P2,400 with at lest 20 CYS.

Is the monthly pension for life? 
Only totally and permanently disabled members will be receive a lifetime monthly pension. However, the pension will be suspended if the pensioner recovers from the illness, resumes employment or fails to report for annual physical examination when notified by the SSS. The member may request for a domiciliary or a home visit if the disability inhibits the member from reporting for re-examination by the SSS physician at any of SSS branch offices.

The monthly pension of a partially disabled member is paid up to a certain number of months only according to the degree of disability. If with deteriorating and related permanent partial disability, the percentage degree of disability of previously granted claim shall be deducted from the percentage degree of disability of the current claim.

The monthly pension is also given in a lump sum if duration of pension is payable for less than 12 months.

How is the monthly pension paid? 
The monthly pension is paid thru the member’s designated bank. He is allowed to choose the bank nearest his residence thru which he wishes to receive his pension benefits under the “Mag-impok sa Bangko” program. This became mandatory effective September 1, 1993.

A member must open a single saving account and must submit to the SSS his savings account number and a photocopy of his passbook upon filing of his application. The original copy of the passbook must be presented for authentication purposes.

Upon approval of the claim, the SSS will mail a notice-voucher to the claimant when to withdraw the benefit from the bank.

How much is the lump sum amount? 
For permanent total disability, the lump sum benefit is equivalent to the monthly pension times the number of monthly contributions paid to the SSS or twelve (12) times the monthly pension, whichever is higher.

For permanent partial disability, the lump sum is equivalent to the monthly pension times the number of monthly contributions times the percentage of disability in relation to the whole body or the monthly pension times 12 times the percentage of disability, whichever is higher.

Aside from the disability benefit, what else can a disability pensioner receive? 
In addition to the monthly pension, a supplemental allowance of P500.00 is paid to the total or partial disability pensioner. The allowance will provide additional financial assistance to meet the extra needs arising from the disability.

Total disability pensioners and their legal dependents prior to the effectivity of R.A. 7875 on March 4, 1995 are entitled to hospitalization benefits under PhilHealth. A copy of DDR Print-out indicating the type of claim is disability in nature and the effectivity date of pension or a Copy of Disability-Pensioner Certification, shall be submitted. Total disabled pensioners upon the effectivity of R.A. 7875 on March 4, 1995 and thereafter, are no longer covered except when they have accumulated one hundred twenty (120) Medicare monthly contributions and have reached age sixty (60).

However, those who wish to avail of PhilHealth benefits may enroll in the Individually-Paying Program (for voluntary/self-employed) or the Indigent Program (IP) of PhilHealth.

Are the children of a disabled member entitled to the dependent's pension? 
The dependent legitimate, legitimated, legally adopted and illegitimate children, conceived on or before the date of contingency of a totally disabled pensioner will each receive a dependent’s pension equivalent to 10 per cent of the member’s pension or P250, whichever is higher.

Only five minor-children, beginning from the youngest are entitled to the dependents’ pension. No substitution is allowed. Where there are legitimate and illegitimate minor children, the legitimated or legally adopted ones will be preferred.

The minor children of a partially disabled pensioner are not entitled to the dependent’s pension.

For how long will the dependent child receive his pension? 
The dependent’s pension stops when the child reaches 21 years old, gets married, gets employed or dies. However, the dependent’s pension is granted for life to children who are over 21 years old, provided, they are incapacitated and incapable of self-support due to physical or mental defect which is congenital or acquired during minority.

What will happen to the monthly pension in case the pensioner gets re-employed, resumes self-employment, recovers from his permanent total disability or his failure to present himself/herself for examination upon notice by SSS?
The monthly of the member and the dependent’s pension will be suspended upon the reemployment or resumption of self-employment or the recovery of the disabled member from permanent total disability or failure to present himself/herself for examination at least once a year upon notice by SSS.

What will happen to the monthly pension of a disability pensioner in case of death?
Upon the death of the permanent total disability pensioner, the primary beneficiaries as of the date of disability, shall be entitled to 100 per cent of the monthly pension and the dependents to the dependents’ pension.

If the totally disabled pensioner has no primary beneficiaries and dies within sixty (60) months from the start of the monthly pension, the secondary beneficiaries shall be entitled to a lump sum benefit equivalent to the total monthly pensions corresponding to the balance of the five-year guaranteed period excluding the dependent’s pension.

The pension stops when a partial disability pensioner retires or dies.

What is the prescriptive period in filing disability claims?
The prescriptive period in the filing of disability benefit claim should be ten (10) years from the date of occurrence of disability.

What are the forms needed in filing for the disability benefit?
  1. Disability Claim Application (SSS Form DDR-1);
  2. Medical Certificate (SSS Form MMD-102)
  3. Other documents that may be required to support the disability claim such as clinical and laboratory tests results, x-ray; and hospital records.
  4. SSS digitized ID or E-6 (acknowledgement stub) with two valid IDs, one of which with recent photo.

Where can a member file his disability benefit application? 
Applications forms of disability benefits are filed at the nearest SSS branch or representative office.


Saturday, September 17, 2011

TOLL HIKE TAKES EFFECT ON OCTOBER 1, 2011



It’s final.
Motorists passing through expressways will be paying a higher toll, inclusive of the 12 percent value added tax (VAT), effective October 1.
The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) gave the go-signal on Thursday to the country’s toll road operators to charge the new rates despite protests from commuter groups, mass transport leaders and lawmakers.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) expects to collect an additional P2 billion a year from VAT on toll.
The new TRB notice approving the new rates was published in newspapers yesterday. The adjusted rates for all the country’s highways were also made public.
Three-week notice
The notice will be published again next Friday and again a week later in compliance with the government’s three-week publication requirement for any adjustment in the rates.
At the North Luzon Expressway, the toll for class 1 vehicles from Balintawak to Sta. Ines will go up to P218 from the current P195. The toll will go up to P544 from P486 for class 2 vehicles and to P652 from P583 for class 3 vehicles.
At the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, the toll from Tipo to Tarlac will go up to P272 (from P243) for class 1, to P543 (from P485) for class 2, and P815 (from P728) for class 3 vehicles.
At the South Luzon Expressway, the toll from Alabang to Calamba goes up to P96 (P86) for class 1, P192 (from P172) for class 2 and P288 (from P258) for class 3.
At the Metro Manila Skyway, rates from Merville to Alabang will go up to P164 for class 1 (from P147), to P329 (from P294) for class 2 and P493 (from P441) for class 3 vehicles.
Toll at the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (Star Toll) from Sto. Tomas to Batangas for class 1 vehicles will climb to P67 (from P60), to P134 (from P120) for class 2 and to P200 (from P179) for class 3 vehicles.
Coastal Road
At the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway project, also known as Coastal Road, rates for the section from Roxas Boulevard to Longos, Las Pinas, will climb to P24 from P22 for class 1, to P48 from P43 for class 2 and to P72 from P65 for class 3 vehicles.
At the Coastal Road’s Longos-Kawit extension, rates will climb to P64 from P58 for class 1,
to P129 from P116 for class 2 and to P194 from P174 for class 3 vehicles.
The adjusted rates for all toll roads are rounded off to the nearest peso, to avoid forcing operators to give change in centavo denominations.
Despite TRB’s approval of the higher toll fees, oppositors are not yet giving up.
Elvira Medina, head of the National Council for Consumer Protection (NCCP) said they would appeal to President Aquino together with other parties opposing the VAT on toll.
“We’re not giving up. We will fight this measure until the very last day,” she said in an interview. “There’s still a possibility that the President will stop this,” she said.
She warned that imposing VAT on toll would lead to higher public transport fares, which may force people who live in nearby provinces to relocate to the already-congested Metro Manila, instead of commuting everyday to get to work. 
credits to inquirer


Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Shamcey Supsup was the third runner-up in the Miss Universe 2011





Reigning Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Shamcey Supsup was the third runner-up in the Miss Universe 2011 pageant held at the Credicard Hall in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Here is the complete list of winners.

  • Miss Universe: Miss Angola
  • 1st Runner up: Miss Brazil
  • 2nd Runner up: Miss Ukraine
  • 3rd Runner up: Miss Philippines
  • 4th Runner up: Miss China

Filipino singer and actress Lea Salonga was one of the nine telecast judges in this year's Miss Universe pageant. Aside from Salonga, the other telecast judges were Hélio Castroneves, Connie Chung, Isabeli Fontana, Vivica A. Fox, Adrienne Maloof-Nassif, Farouk Shami, Italo Zanzi, and Miss Universe 2003 Amelia Vega.

Ximena Navarrete of Mexico will crown her successor at the end of the 60th anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant. A record number of contestants from 89 countries and territories are participating in this year's pageant. The figure surpasses the previous record of 86 contestants in 2006.

Question-and-answer portion
During the question-and-answer portion for the top 5 contestants of the pageant, judge Vivica A. Fox asked Supsup, "Would you change your religious beliefs to marry the person you love? Why or why not?"

Supsup answered, "If I would have to change my religious beliefs, I would not marry the person that I love. Because the first person that I love is God, who created me."

"I have my faith and my principles, and this is what makes me who I am. If the person loves me, he'll love my God too," she added. Supsup was the only one among the top 5 contestants who answered the judge's question in English. The others gave their replies in their own languages.

Shamcey Supsup
Shamcey Gurrea Supsup was born on May 16, 1986 in General Santos City. Supsup graduated from the University of the Philippines-Diliman as magna cum laude with a degree in architecture. She also topped the Architecture Licensure Examination in July last year.

Miss Angola
If you could change one of your personal characteristics, which one would it be and why?

"Thank God, I’m very well satisfied with the way God created me and I would not change a thing. I consider myself a woman with inner beauty. I have my principles. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I plan to follow this through the rest of my life."
                                                                                                                                   Credits to GMA NEWS


Sunday, September 4, 2011

Penafrancia Festival 2011 Avenue Square Naga City Activities


Entrance Fee is Free every Saturday and Sunday @ Avenue Square Al Fresco Acoustic Performances Plus a lot of other activities. 




Peñafrancia Festival 2011 Schedule of Events / Activities
September 2011 Activities


Schedules are subject to change without prior notice.



Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Penafrancia Festival 2011




The Peñafrancia festival is set for September 9 to 18 of this year.

 The Our Lady of Peñafrancia Basilica is located in Naga City.
 The feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is celebrated on the third Saturday of September in Naga City, Bicol.
 The feast day is preceded by a novena, nine days of prayer, in honor of the Virgin. 
On the first day, the image of the Virgin, a copy of the Madonna in Peñafrancia, Spain, is brought from its shrine to the Naga Cathedral where the novena is held. 
On the last day, the image is returned to her shrine following the Naga River route. 


The colorful evening procession is lit by thousands of candles from devotees in boats escorting the image. 

When the barge reaches its destination, the devotees shout "Viva la Virgen" (Long live the Virgin!) and the image is brought back in a procession to the cathedral.


Photo credits to my cuzin Rafael Matubis Jr.


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Happy Eid’l Fitr


The nation is marking today (Tuesday) the end of a long weekend with the celebration of Eid’l Fitr, a Muslim holiday. Eid’l Fitr (the Festival of Fast-breaking) is a three-day celebration of the Muslim world commemorating the end of Ramadan, a period of dawn-to-dusk fasting. Eid is a time for giving gifts, especially to children; giving charity to the poor; and celebrating with family and friends the completion of a month of blessings and joy.


Saturday, July 23, 2011

4 DAY LONG HOLIDAY IN AUGUST YAHOOOOO!



There will be a four-day long weekend towards the end of August, Malacanang announced on Saturday.

In a radio interview, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said August 29, a Monday; and August 30, Tuesday, have been declared non-working holidays.

August 29 marks National Heroes’ Day while August 30 is the end of Ramadan. - source inquirer.net


Thursday, July 7, 2011

TRABAHO SA BAWAT PILIPINO THE 4th JOB SEARCH JULY 15 & 16, 2011



TRABAHO SA BAWAT PILIPINO
THE 4th JOB SEARCH

JULY 15 & 16, 2011

2/F TRADE HALL, STARMALL
EDSA SHAW, MANDALUYONG CITY



Saturday, July 2, 2011

PNR FARE FROM MANILA TO NAGA



photo by wowee dollente

photos by vic nierva

PNR Bicol Express train fares are as follows: 

P    548 for the tourist section
P    950 for family-style cabins 
P 1,000 for executive cabins

PHOTOS BY VIC NIERVA


The tourist section of the train features reclining chairs and more space for passengers. Meanwhile, family coaches provide double-deck beds that can accommodate up to 4 people and the executive coach has private cabins.


PHOTOS FROM RIHSPI

Travel time to Naga via the Bicol Express trains is expected to be 10 hours, all in the comfort of new air-conditioned coaches that the Philippine National Railways recently acquired. 

photo from RIHSPI
Soon, more features will be added to the Bicol travel such as television sets and free Wifi access.


Wednesday, June 29, 2011

PNR NOW RUNNING



Photo by Wowee Dollente
The fully-rehabilitated PNR Bicol Express  have 3 kinds of coaches : tourist class with reclining seats and in-coach movie and sound systems

photo from vic nierva

Sleeping cars for families and for the executives
photos from RIHSPI


The family sleepers (FS) car is one where the passenger can lie down on a full-body bed-like seat with a curtain which can be drawn close to provide privacy. There are four of these "beds"- two on each side of the open-cabin, one above the other. 
The family sleeper car is big enough for four adults. Children may be able to share one bunk bed. Going up the elevated bunk-bed though was a little challenge . Look for this metal bar which could assist you in climbing up the upper level bunk.
Photos from Chito

Dining car with first class amenities.

The dining car (DC) is a semi-full service dining facility, i.e. with waiter but no kitchen at the moment which can seat 50 people at any one time.

The projected journey of less than ten hours will put the Bicol Express at a competitive advantage with buses which take a full ten hours to make the trip, while offering travelers a superior riding experience at attractive fares.

Full service at 4 round trips a day (with a six-coach, 400-passenger capacity) is expected in September in time for the pilgrimages to the Festival of the Virgin of Peñafrancia.

An additional 16 round trips will start next year.


Monday, June 27, 2011

One-day e-passport processing slated for PNP personnel and dependents



Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel and their dependents will have the rare chance of getting their e-passport processed in just one day on July 30.

PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo said that as part of the celebrations of Police Community Relations Month held every July.


The PNP leadership is coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs in holding a one-day passport processing at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City for PNP personnel.

Bacalzo advised interested applicants to bring their National Statistics Office (NSO) birth certificate and at least two valid identification cards.

This year’s theme is “Matatag na Ugnayan ng Mamamayan at Kapulisan tungo sa Mapayapa at Ligtas na Pamayanan (Strong Alliance between Citizens and Police toward a Peaceful and Safe Community).” 

souce: inquirer.net


Saturday, June 25, 2011

VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR: My Burnay Making Adventure


VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR: My Burnay Making Adventure

Pagburnayan Pottery Making in Vigan, Ilocos Sur is a popular destination among tourists.
When in Vigan, do what the Vigans do! 

I readily agreed when the Manong Kutsero (horse drawn carriage driver) ask me if I wanted to visit the Pagburnayan Factory. 

Arriving in the factory in a kalesa ( Horse drawn Carriage) distinguished tourists from locals. Not only because the locals know how to speak Ilocano but also because they usually ride the tricycle or walk around town.
I was filled with awe when I saw hundreds if not thousands of Burnay upon entering the factory! The burnay is an earthenware jar crafted by a potter’s hands with the aid of a potter’s wheel. It uses fine sand (anay) as a tempering material and fired at a high temperature in a huge brick-and-clay ground kiln that makes it is harder and more durable than other terra cotta. According to the Manong Kalesa driver who also serves as my guide, the local bagoong (fish sauce), sugarcane vinegar and basi wine would not taste as good if not fermented in stoneware burnay jars.

Burnay technology was brought to Vigan by Chinese artisans, who, according to Vigan folk historian Damaso King, came from Kwi-Sao, Chun-chiu province in Mainland China. As such, it may have existed in the area even before the coming of the Spaniards in 1572. These Chinese artisans who set up this cottage industry depended on the natives for their clay supply and labor.Fidel Go, owner of the Ruby Pottery and descendant of the first Chinese potter who came to Vigan, has his own account of the burnay industry’s history in Vigan.



Burnay Making


According to him, burnay technology was introduced to Vigan around 1890 by Pedro Go, a Chinese settler from Chinkang, in Fukien, Mainland China. He set up his camarin (jar factory) along what is now known as Rivero Street in Brgy. VIII. Around 1916, Ongkai Go, son of Pedro Go’s brother, came to the Philippines and worked with him, then went back to China to marry when he was 18 years old.

Ongkai came back to the Philippines around 1922, now with his cousin Igan Go, to set up their own jar factory, which is now known as Ruby Pottery. At such time, there were five (5) burnay factories in Vigan – that of Pedro Go, of Igan Go, and of relatives Ramon Go (owner of RG Jar Factory), Buki Go, and Domingo Go. The separate camarin of the last four (4) were all along what is now known as Gomez Street in Brgy. VII.

Fidel Go is the son of the late Ongkai and inherited the Ruby Pottery from Igan Go. He was awarded the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (National Folk Artist Award) of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts in 1990 for continuing the craft he inherited and for himself knowing all the rudiments of the craft. He claims that between the two (2) surviving Chinese-owned jar factories, he is the only one (now with one of his sons) who still does pottery himself.

Zosima Amistad, wife of Pedro Amistad, the proprietor-potter of NP Jar Factory, supplies supplementary information to Fidel Go’s story.

She remembers that there used to be seven (7) jar factories (presumably at a time when Pedro Go’s camarin already went out of operation). Aside from the four (4) already mentioned, there were those of Filipinos Jovencio Adora along the present Katipunan Street, Nicolas Amistad, and Evaristo Amistad whose camarin were near the southern end of Rizal Street.

Nicolas Amistad and Evaristo Amistad were the son and nephew of Iban Amistad respectively. Iban Amistad learned the craft while working as cook of one of the Chinese factory owners. According to Zosima, Iban learned to mold jars in the potter’s wheel while his Chinese master went away to gamble. He then taught his son Nicolas who later set up the NP Jar Factory. Nicolas’ son, Pedro Amistad, inherited the said jar factory and like Fidel Go, himself molds jars, sometimes with the help of one son.

Today’s Barangay VII is still more popularly known as Pagburnayan, which literally means “place where burnay is made”. This section was so aptly called because all the burnay camarin (cottage factories) were located in this southwesternmost part of the poblacion.

But about 15 years ago, there were only four (4) burnay factories left in Vigan. Three (3) belonged to Barangay VII’s jurisdiction, and one (1) under Barangay VIII, but all were neighbors.

However, one of the burnay factories (that within Barangay VIII) ceased its operations in the last decade. Presently, three (3) burnay factories remain: RG Jar Factory, Ruby Pottery, and NP Jar Factory. These burnay factories are the only ones found throughout the country.

At present, a variety of burnay products are made, mostly for decorative functions. These are jars of different shapes, sizes and designs, plant pots, ashtrays and others.

These are marketed within the country and abroad. The factory owners’ business contacts, other local and foreign traders order the jars with specifications or purchase these on the spot. About four (4) traders from Bulacan and some others from Manila frequent the jar factories in Vigan. It is said that the Bulacan Garden in Manila is the strongest dealer of burnay. Other Filipino and foreign exporters also patronize the Vigan burnay jars.

Volume purchases or orders are bought at discounts and are transported to other places by hired freight service. In one instance, Ruby Pottery delivered three freight loads of jars to an international shipping line to satisfy the order of a foreigner businessman who would take these to Belgium. While exportation is not yet regular, demand continues to expand to other foreign countries (e.g. Great Britain).

Local and foreign tourists also buy jars directly from any of these factories. Since Pagburnayan is a must-see section in Vigan tours, jars, especially the miniatures, are easily sold. The miniatures have a potential for expansion as they are bought and resold with some value added, as in converting these into painted decorative items.

Source: "Lifted from the Vigan Ethnographic Studies by VMP Socio-Cultural Team"



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