Cebu City is the oldest city and first capital of the Philippines. Being the first Spanish settlement in the country, the city became the birthplace of Christianity in the Far East. During the 300- year Spanish rule , Cebu built the country’s oldest university, San Carlos University, as well as the oldest street, Colon Street.
Today, Cebu City, is the capital of Cebu Province, an island 365 miles south of Manila and the home of the Cebuanos. Based on 2020 census, Cebu City has a population of 964, 169.
Cebu City is now a commercial center for different industries such as being one of the major hub for business process outsourcing (BPO), banking, finance, IT, tourism, copper mining, fishing and aquaculture, farming and agriculture, shipbuilding, steel and cement. The harbor of Cebu City serves both international ocean-going vessels and domestic ships and five inter-island shipping companies, hence the prime centre of trade of Southern Philippines.
China Coast Guard continuous to bully the Philippine Coast Guard because Philippines allowed them to do so.
War is not a joke. It will bring humanity to its lowest point. Just look at Ukraine and Gaza. Philippines can prevent war with China over the fight on the West Philippines Sea. West Philippines Sea is obviously closer to the Philippines and China knows it’s ours. The China Coast Guard acts against the Philippine Coast Guard are just acts of bullying.
There are 3 possible solution that Philippines can undertake in order to claim ownership of the West Philippines Sea.
First one is to send every Filipinos who blames America on the issue. Let those group of Filipinos be the front line in confronting China. As they say, we don’t need America. So let them do it! Filipinos who hate how America is meddling with the issue might have the strength and power to defeat China. They don’t see that for a long time Philippines have been trying to resolve the issue in a diplomatic resolution. They don’t see the fact that a lot of Chinese are infiltrating the country. These group of Filipinos still believe in the conspiracies that America is just using Philippines or they believe that America would just like Philippines to buy weapons from them. Wake up! Philippines can’t afford American weapons so stop believing those conspiracies.
If the first one does not work, let us send our corrupt leaders and politicians to guard the West Philippines Sea because it is also for their own good anyway. They need to protect the Philippines otherwise, all the wealth they accumulated will become useless if China will conduct special military operation against the Philippines and turn it into a waste land or communist country. These corrupt politicians could have used our resources to enhance our defence and not for their shallow personal interests. Send with them the politicians and authorities who allowed chinese immigrants to secure permanent residency in the Philippines. Corruption in our country is just so unbearable. Corrupt Filipinos do not think at all, they think they are intelligent but actually no brains. They are leaving their own blood and grandchildren with uncertain future.
Last remedy is for Philippines, with the help of America and other allies, to seriously claim and guard the West Philippines Sea and do not allow China to bully our country. For the next generation sake, let us all admit that Philippines alone can not defend our sovereignty. We need help! All we need is to be serious in claiming and guarding the West Philippines Sea and China will stop its bullying acts. China does not want war, it conquers countries by economic means!
The Benguet Capitol, La Trinidad, Benguet. Photo by Benguet Vibe
A refreshing sight of the Benguet Capitol in La Trinidad, Benguet was shared by Benguet Vibe. It features a new mural painting at the bottom of the hill where the capitol sits. The mural depicts the cultural identity of Benguet Province and was an excellent craftmanship of Iyaman Art Exhibit Artist, Xanthos Oyan.
Do you have any news about your place you want to share? Send us and we will feature on our next post.
Philippines sees the upcoming fight between the political giants of the country.
The resignation of Vice President Sara Duterte as Secretary of Department of Education and as cabinet of Bong Bong Marcos Administration resonates a possible war of the political giants of the country. Her resignation was expected after the blatant disregard of Bong Bong Marcos’ courtesy to former President Rodrigo Duterte.
For whatever reasons, the Team Unity of Bong Bong Marcos and Sarah Duterte has now come to its end. Looking at the possibilities, the fight for power will now be an expected eventuality. If Raffy Tulfo, another giant in Philippine Politics, will also throw his hat in the rivalry, it will become a fight of the South, Central and the North. This will also translate as the fight of the The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly. It is now the choice of Filipinos to choose who will control over the fate of the country.
Team Malakas, Rendon Labador and Rosmar at their “charity event in Coronavirus, Palawan.
Rendon Labador and Rosmar of Team Malakas could be declared persona non-grata in Coron, Palawan for heavily confronting a municipal staff who rant on facebook about the motive of Team Malakas’ charity event. The staff aired her frustration as the charity event did not really helped the people of Coron. Instead, people were seem to be just lured to go to the event and waited for nothing.
The staff has a point because if Rendon and Rosmar really wanted to help, they have plenty of people to help at their own locality or in Manila without having to go to Palawan. Filipinos already know that they went there for the sake of social media.
Lesson Learned: Help others if you really want to help others, not for something else.
The Cordillera Connection (TCC) has been doing charity works since 2012 and we learned that to help others, you must really have the good intention.
Baguio City- The Philippine Airlines (PAL) has terminated its Baguio- Cebu flights due to low passenger turn-out. This is expected as not a lot of Baguio and Cordillera residents are not keen to travel to Cebu. Probably proponents of this project just wanted to use investors funds and not really made a feasibility study.
With the cancellation, it is proposed that Baguio- La Trinidad Flights will be put in place instead. Only, they have to build an airport at the Strawberry Farm. This might work better when the implementation of P250 Congestion Charge when travelling to Baguio has been finally put into ordinance.
Politicians and businesses keep on thinking about how to make money so this might be more acceptable and beneficial to the poor community, not for the benefit of the rich but small segment of our society.
The Cordillera Connection (TCC) is launching its online search for Philippines Most Valuable Content Creator.
Nomination is now open for Philippines’ Most Valuable Creator, open to all Philippines-based or overseas Filipino Content Creators who are creating contents that delivers great impact to the lives of Filipinos or the world.
Mechanics: Simply fill-up the form below to nominate yourself or someone who you think deserves the recognition. Open to all ages, religious denominations, sexual orientations, political affiliation, or anything, as in no boundaries, big or small content creators. Nominees will be judged by our chosen panels.
Nomination closes June 30th, 2024.
Prize: Plaque, Ph10,000.00 plus Free 1-week holiday break in a secret resort located in Northern Luzon, includes travel, accommodation, and food for a maximum of 5 people including the winner. Money prize might increase from sponsors.
Sponsorhip: Contact us for sponsorship for this competition at info@thecordilleraconnection.org.
Congratulations to TCC-Israel for being one of the recipients of the 2022 Adivay Global Icons, awarded by the Provincial Government of the Province of Benguet for the recognition of the contributions of Benguet OFWs to the Benguet Community, Culture, Nature and the Future!
Representative of TCC-Israel, TCC-Israel President Jovelyn Taynan’s cousin who received the recognition trophy.
TCC-Israel President Jovelyn Taynan (Middle) with the TCC-Israel. They have been consistently providing sponsorship to medically-ill beneficiaries and supporting scholars most especially through out the pandemic.
With the Benguet Provincial Officials and other recipients of the award.
TCC-Israel receives the award thru its representative, with the Benguet Provincial Officials and other recipients of the award.
The Cordillera Connection (TCC) has once again activated its Operation Hope to provide relief for the flood victims in Cagayan Valley particularly, Quezon, Isabela and Afusing, Alcala, Cagayan where Typhoon Ulysses had hit the hardest.
Seven brave volunteers leaded by Juvie Egsan, Laarni Tam-og Delos Santos and Antonen Joseph including Anito Garage drivers who sponsored the vans headed by Eduard Dacanay made their way to bring the relief goods from the donations of TCC supporters locally and all over the world.
The TCC Operation Hope 2020 volunteers.
About PHP214,000 worth of donations plus cloth items were transported from La Trinidad to Cagayan Valley, at least 8 hours drive via Ambuclao/ Vizcaya and another 1 hour to exact location.
Our volunteers have witnessed and had a short-lived experience of the severity of damage inflicted by the flood and typhoon to the community. The challenges they faced include crossing a deep river and walking a slippery muddy paths to bring the goods to the affected residents. Fortunately, members of the community were also active in carrying the goods from the vans, loading them in conventional boats to across the river then unload and reload again to a carabao-wheeled wagon to finally bring it to the waiting community.
Dr Michelle Ganase Tugade (in pink shirt).
Dr Michelle Ganase, a native of Buguias, Benguet now residing in Cagayan and working as physician in Tuguegarao helped in contacting local officials of Afusing, Alcala in order to identify their needs and make necessary arrangements for the relief operation. She met up with the team in Tuguegarao and led them to the site. She also made sure that our volunteers will conclude their tiring day with a dinner treat and so they had a taste of Cagayan’s best delicacies.
Lead Volunteer Juvie Egsan and Dr Michelle Ganase Tugade leads the team.Laarni Tam-og Delos Santos, a former OFW in Hong Kong and former Ms TCC-HK also leads the team and captured these great images together with the excellent photography skills of Antonen Joseph.The happy youth waving their thank you and goodbyes to our volunteers.
Operation Hope 2020 could have never be possible without the generousity of TCC supporters and donors. Sir Gregorio Taag, TCC-Philippines Chairman led the activation of Operation Hope upon seeing the situation of flooded areas aftermath the supertyphoon. He has set-up different donation avenues so supporters can send donations. TCC-United Kingdom also set-up Facebook Fundraiser for the same purpose. TCC Chapters, Supporters and donors from different countries such as UK, Canada, Singapore, Israel and Japan were able to pool enough funds for the operation. Thanks God for them.
Ms Beverly Pedro, OFW In Canada originally from Buguias, Benguet.
Ms Beverly Pedro, originally from Buguias, Benguet, now a residing in Canada has won CAN$8,500 from Total Life Changes, a health and well being company. She donated about $500 from her prize to help with TCC’s civic works.
Here is her statement:
I Am OFW here in Canada, originally from Buguias. God blessed me through our Health & Wellness company (TOTAL LIFE CHANGES-Providing products and community that you’ll feel). I chose THE CORDILLERA CONNECTION CHARITY to give back because I believe in their mission. (I once struggled with my studies financially but God blessed me with great people to get through. I hope this donation could help a student in philippines who is in need.) WE ❤ EACH OTHER PERIOD. GODBLESS ALL!
The donation has been received by TCC-UK and will be sent to Philippines to be awarded to students in need, as follows.
Beneficiary 1: Ivan Kiang Mendoza, one of Sir Gregorio Taag’s students and was endorsed by his Math teacher and one of our volunteers, Freda Kate Samuel.
“Life long learner ak po sir nagapu ak iti old curriculum sir.. hanak nag tuloy skwelak isu nga tadta ak lang nakaenroll BSU idi nagbalin nga libre iti tuition ken awan mabayadan tuition sir. nagtatrabahoak idi sir ken nagbalin ak nga out of school idi nalps ak iti highschool ko sir.. Nagbridging program ak BSU sir bago ak nakaenroll iti course nga kayat mi sir..”
Asked about his studies, he said, “Sir narigatanak makijoin iti online class gapu iti nagapply ak iti trabahok pakipordiyaan tanu makadiskitar ak sir iti mausar para iti inaldaw aldaw ken para iti pagbayad ko iti abang mi pagiiyanak tadta sir.. lunes inggana sabado iti trabahok ijay pakiporpordiyaak sir.. agrugi ak iti 7 ken agawed iti alas sais mtlang ti rabii sir.”
Beneficiary 1: Mr Ivan Kiang Mendoza
Beneficiary 2: Charles Blake Fabian, whose parents are from Karao, Bokod, Benguet and Pacso, Kabayan is appealing for help. Here is his story:
I’m Charles Blake G. Fabian The only Child of Nover C. Fabian(+) and MariaFe G. Fabian . I’m a 2nd year college student at Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) currently taking up Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. This past years I’ve been trying and doing best to help my mother our financial needs because way back 2017 my father died because of sickness and my mother and i suffered a great loss and i almost Quit my studies because of lack of financial needs and the loss of my father. After having losing my Father, my mother is doing all she can just to support me in my studies she applied as a part timer in a food establishment and Worked as a construction helper also to my needs in school and daily needs but i recently quit my job because i cant focus on my studies. My plan for my future is to graduate and help others also specially to the people who are in desperately in need of help, I also love helping people in life without nothing in exchange and there smile is enough . My plan also is to help my mother after I graduate and now im also a member of SK kagawad here in our barangay Cruz and when I was a Junior High student I was also a Band member of choir in San Jose Parish la trinidad . If I will be choosen by whom and given a chance I would do my best and promise not to fail you and thank you for being a big big part in my life for helping me and consider you as Big part in my family and as parent whos always willing to help others and Thank God always for you who helped me and I promise to take back the good things they have done for me and Help them also when they need help. Thank you and Godbless this organisation and thank you for helping those people who are in need.
And I’m humbled and appreciative of all that they have done for me especially their support and sacrifices and in return , I want to finish my studies and will be applying for a stable job to be able to provide for our needs and to repay the hard work that they have sacrificed and done for me.
Beneficiary 2: Charles Blake Fabian from Karao, Bokod, Benguet
The 2 beneficiaries will share the donation amounting to Php17K for their school needs and will be awarded by Sir Greg once he receives the fund from TCC-UK.
Kudos to Ms Beverly Pedro for helping 2 beneficiaries. May God bless you more.
Update: Beneficiaries have now received their grants. Thanks to Sir Greg for facilitating it.
Mr Ivan Kiang Mendoza receives his Php9,000.00 from Beverly.Mr Charles Blake Fabian also received her educational cash grant.
THE CORDILLERA CONNECTION 