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NTDP IN PAMPANGA Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano 21 March 2018 Instructed by the Governor through the Provincial Administrator, I proceeded to Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga province particularly at Quest Hotel and Hill Top to participate in the Northern Luzon Cluster Roll-Out of NTDP Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Tourism Rapid Assessment (TRA) Manuals. The National Tourism Development Plan 2016-2022 is a continuation of the National Tourism Development Plan 2011-2016 formulated in 2010 by the Department of Tourism as mandated by Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009. It was completed with the assistance of Asia Pacific Projects, Inc., in association with Indra Philippines. The vision of developing a highly competitive and environmentally sustainable tourism industry that is focused on creating inclusive growth was adopted to provide the long-term implementation framework consistent with the declaration of policy set forth in the Tourism Act of 2009...

SABUNGANAY FESTIVAL & BENITO SOLIVEN Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano 18 March 2018 This morning I graced the 1 st Sabunganay Festival and the 51 st Founding Anniversary of the Municipality of Benito Soliven, Isabela and had the privilege to be one of the members of the board of judges in one of its main events – the Cook Fest. I gave an impromptu message as requested by the municipal officials during the opening program which was attended by the local officials headed by Mayor Roberto T. Lungan. Integrated in my speech is a short biography of Assemblyman Benito Soliven who will be celebrating his 120 th birth anniversary two days from now. Since banana is an abundant product of the town, the municipal officials decided to use the banana part particularly the banana blossom as the rallying symbol of the festivities. The cook fest showcased one hundred and one ways to cook sabunganay participated in by almost all barangays. Other activities of the festival includes: Fu...

GSTC @ ENDANGERED BORA Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano 15 March 2018 Boracay is one of the top destinations of both local and foreign tourists in the country not only during summer season but throughout the year. I’m back in this popular island to attend Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) sponsored “The Philippine National Forum – Global Sustainable Tourism Standards & Development” held at the Boracay Ecovillage Resort and Convention Center, Yapak, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan. Lately, Boracay is in the headlines and in a bad light. President Rodrigo Duterte said last week that he would declare a state of calamity in Boracay because of its sewage and several other environmental problems and warned courts not to interfere by issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) in the clean-up. Posted in Inquirer news, Duterte said that the problem in Boracay is a public health and public safety issue, allowing him to issue such declaration. He had also asked the Departmen...

JCI AND THE SENATE Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano 11 February 2018 The year 1996 was my first acquaintance with a number of senators. The first set of senators were the colleagues of my boss - Senator Heherson T. Alvarez in the Philippine Senate where I worked as a legislative and out-of-town staff for two years (1996-1998). The second group of senators were the JCI Senators, the senior members of the worldwide federation of young leaders and entrepreneurs popularly identified as Philippine Jaycees and officially named as JCI where I was inducted as a member in the same year. Posted in its website, JCI or Junior Chamber International is a  non-profit   international non-governmental organization of young people between 18 and 40 years old. It has members in about 124 countries, and regional or national organizations in many of them. It has consultative status with the  Council of Europe , with the  Economic and Social Council of the United ...

SUPER BLUE BLOOD LUNA Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano 01 February 2018 Last night the second full moon for the month of January 2018 passed through Earth's shadow in a Super Blue Blood Moon eclipse. According to space.com , “This rare lunar sight was visible to millions of observers around the world. The lunar eclipse was the first to coincide with a Blue Moon – a second full moon in one month and in North America in over 150 years. It was also the second "supermoon" of 2018, with the moon appearing slightly bigger and brighter than usual due to its closeness to Earth. To top it, the supermoon passed through Earth's shadow casting a reddish hue on the lunar surface for more than four hours”. This lunar eclipse was visible in all 50 U.S. states as well as Australia and eastern Asia. In the Philippines, the "super blue blood moon" was observed for about two hours, between 8:51 p.m. and 10:07 p.m. According to the chief astronomer of the state we...

SAN PABLO y CABAGAN Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano 23 January 2018 The twin old pueblos of San Pablo and Cabagan had a very colorful past and both are very much interrelated. I was able to attend their town fiestas and was given the opportunity to deliver a message where I narrated in a capsule their rich history and culture. The Dominican priest, Pedro V. Salgado’s “Cagayan Valley and Eastern Cordillera” gave me the sufficient data in recounting the historical development of San Pablo y Cabagan.  San Pablo and Cabagan were originally incorporated in the territory known as La Irraya. Irraya (Addaya and Yrraya in other manuscripts) region comprised the vast area from Tuguegarao in Cagayan province up to the present Gamu town in Isabela province. Irraya was also the term used for the native’s name and their dialect. Irraya is an Ibanag word which means “upriver”. In the Gaddang dialect, the term “dirraya” also means “upriver”. In 1607, the provincial chapter of the Holy Ro...