In a show of his known tough and strong-willed leadership, Tagum City Mayor Rey Chiong Uy said he himself “will personally guard” to ensure the full security of all participants in the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) 2010 to be held here on Feb. 21-26.

Uy assures that the week-long event will be fully safe for some 5,000 student-participants, including their advisers from private and public schools in the country's 17 regions.

The students are expected to partcipate in the seven writing events in English and Filipino categories.

The mayor said “everything is already set” as to the city government’s security preparations and full support to make the nationwide activity of high school campus writers successful and memorable.

The NSPC 2010 will be held almost simultaneously with the “Musikahan sa Tagum,” which runs from Feb. 19 to 28.

“Musikahan sa Tagum” is a yearly music competition and festival launched by Mayor Uy in 2007. It aims to develop the musical talents of Tagumenyos and Mindanaoans that subsequently led the Department of Tourism (DOT) to convey the city as Music Capital of the South. It followed DOT’s declaration of naming Tagum as the Palm City for its lined palm tree greeneries.

“The selection of the Tagum City as this year’s host of NSPC was due to the popular request,” Mayor Uy said.

City tourism council chair Alma Uy, wife of the mayor, estimated that some 20,000 people would flock in to witness the NSPC’s venue, which is the sprawling site of the new city hall at Barangay Apokon.

The Tagum City Peace and Order convened at the Sangguniang Panglungsod session hall and police and military officials, led by 1003rd Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Eduardo del Rosario, assured that full security will blanket the city and particularly the venue.

He said various forces and stations of the army inside the city and those guarding in the neighboring towns would be on their toes to complement with the city police and their augmentation forces and force multipliers.

Currently, the city has five police sub-stations in strategic places of entry and exit points of the city and has a couple of bomb sniffing dogs under the care of the city’s SWAT Team, while it has CCTV cameras installed in its integrated terminal areas.

Region VI and Region XI emerged the Grand Champion in the secondary and elementary levels, respectively during the 3rd National English Jazz Chants Festival held at the Tagum City Pavilion, Tagum City, Davao del Norte on February 16, 2010.

The National English Jazz Chants Festival is an event of the Department of Education initiated by the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) together with the World Class Language Center and OroEco Enterprises as sponsoring partners. It aims to promote Oral English Proficiency and creative interpretation of jazz chants by elementary and high school students.

The Grand Champions received P20,000 each, trophy and certificate for each of the 20 participants per team. Their respective coaches get a 3-day trip to Thailand courtesy of DepEd-NCCT and the sponsors.

The said competition was participated by Regions 2, 3, 4-A, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, and 13 in the elementary and Regions 4-A, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12 & 13. From the said competitors, one Regional Winner was chosen for the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Regions for both levels; and from such regional winners, the Grand Champion was further selected.

The Regional Winners receiving P10,000 cash, trophy and certificate are the following: Elementary: Luzon- Region 5; Visayas- Region 7; & Mindanao- Region XI; secondary: Luzon- Region 4-A; Visayas- Region- 6; & Mindanao- Region 11.

DR. CHRISTINE C. BAGACAY
Editor-in-Chief
The Palm Gazette

“Tagum City is more than a peaceful place. Even me, I can go alone, anywhere around the City. If we cannot secure the area, we will not invite them here.”

This was the assurance given by Hon. Rey T. Uy, City Mayor in an interview on February 4, concerning the peace and order condition in Tagum City and on issues of securing the delegates during the National English Jazz Chants Festival on February 15-17 and the National Schools Press Conference on February 22-26, 2010.

As a part of the security measures, Mayor Uy cited the presence of the Philippine Army at the perimeter area and the Philippine National Police at the City Proper; including the services of the Barangay Tanod, the City Security Unit; the Traffic Enforcers; and the Barangay Officials.

Mayor Uy also lauded the ever concern of the Barangay Officials who will be active in patrolling that time, not only in their respective localities, but even in the Poblacion, as well.

As to the extent of support, Mayor Uy said, “110% we support the events! All possible resources are provided. The physical arrangement of the venues are well-taken cared; the water and light facilities of the billeting centers; the caterers who are all from Tagum are already selected; and the cushion for the beddings of every delegate is already purchased and ready. We are set for the hosting.”

On the other hand, in a related meeting of the City Peace and Order Council last January 8, Vice Mayor Allan L. Rellon also made an assurance on the security of visitors who come to the City, “We make a stand that security measures will not be taken lightly.”

The City Government is in close coordination with DepEd in the said Events. It has extended financial and logistics support in order to have a worthwhile conduct of the said events.

The delegates of the Presscon can join the Musikahan Festival of Tagum City!

This is possible through MTV production, a Concurrent Session for the non- contestants (elem. & secondary) which is conceptualized by Tagum City and was duly approved to be included by the National Technical Working Group led by Dr. Lolita M. Andrada, Chief of the BSE and Dr. Yolanda Quijano, Chief of the BEE, Chair and Co-chair of the NSPC, respectively.

Accordingly, every region shall come up with a 3-minute presentation during the workshop which will make up the Category on MTV Production (NSPC Edition) of the Musikahan, to be presented on February 24, at the Tagun City Atrium.

Sponsored by the Tagum City Tourism Council, best presentations shall receive P5,000 first; P3,000, second; and P2,000, third place.

“Let the NSPC be a training ground for our delegates. Let them experience the real work of a journalist. Let’s keep them be on the job. Let them interview Sec. Lapus during the Press Conference slated during the NSPC.”

This was the final words of the NSPC Chairman Dr. Lolita M. Andrada, Director IV, Bureau of Secondary Education, during the final planning conference of the National Technical Working Group with the Support Committees in Tagum City on January 13, 2010 at the Division Office Conference Hall.

Dr. Andrada was referring as to who shall attend the scheduled Press Conference with the DepEd Secretary Jesli A. Lapus and Party on February 22 at 9:00 – 10:00 at the AVR, Tagum City National High School.

Accordingly, the participants per Region to the said Press Conference are the Outstanding Campus Journalists (elem. & sec.) and the Outstanding School Paper Adviser; so with the National Officers of the School Paper Advisers Association (elem. & sec.).

Department of Education (DepEd) XI Regional Director Susana Estigoy has assured National School Press Conference (NSPC) participants including their parents and guardians, of their safety.

In a recent media forum, Estigoy asked parents and guardians of NSPC participants not to get too wary about the peace and order situation of this year’s NSPC venue.

“We assure that the region (XI) is a safe place to go. We are not affected by what was happening in the nearby provinces. That was quite far from Tagum City and Davao (City),” she said referring to the much publicized “Ampatuan massacre.”

More than 3,000 delegates from 17 regions of the country including parents, guardians, coaches of NSPC participants will be attending this year’s one-week NSPC set from February 21 to February 26, 2010 in Tagum City.

In a statement, Tagum City local government has assured that peace and order is a primary concern that it is taking into utmost consideration in hosting the event.

Tagum City Police chief Guiseppi Geralde assured the safety of the participants and visitors saying “with all the security measures in place, Tagum is the safest place to live.”

Estigoy said NSPC is a gathering of top campus writers and broadcasters who are considered as “cream of the crop” in each school they are representing.

“They belong to the intelligent group of students,” she said.

Tagum City became this year’s NSPC host when it signified its interest to do so at the time when DepEd XI was in search for a local government unit in Davao Region that could support such event.

DepEd Tagum City Superintendent Nenita Lumaad said aside from ensuring safety, the local government of Tagum has purchased 3,000 pieces of foam mattresses which participants can sleep on during their stay at schools identified to house them.

Lumaad said Tagum City’s private schools are also supporting the event as venues of NSPC competitions and as quarters of participants.

Estigoy looked at Tagum City’s hosting of NSPC as culturally fit as it will coincide with the Musikahan Festival.

Estigoy cited NSPC guidelines which requires that it should be held at a venue where student can also pick up cultural lessons.

“The venue should also have cultural significance for the students,” she said.

Enwrapped with the desire to stage a glitch-free and smooth-flowing opening rites, this year's host of the 2010 National Schools Press Conference will conduct a blocking rehearsal at Tagum City Pavilion with no less than DepEd Regional Director Susana Teresa B. Estigoy serving as the main critic.

The Schools Division of Tagum City headed by Schools Division Superintendent Nenita E. Lumaad will lead the mock opening program in an anticipation to know how the opening program will run and what things are lacking and needs to be done.

Division personnel will serve as dignitaries in the said event while live performances will be rendered by the Kalumunan Dance Theatre Guild, the La Filipina National High School Jazz Chanters and Tagum City National High School's Dance Theatre Guild.

After the rehearsal, Mrs. Estigoy and Mrs. Lumaad will lead the 30-man Regional Technical Working Committee chairmen for the Final TWG Conference scheduled at 1:00 PM at Pots and Grill Restaurant in Tagum City.