MANILA — Seven Filipinos in New Zealand were honored by the Philippine embassy in Wellington “for their steadfast efforts to promote the best of what the Filipino is” during ceremonies on April 13, dubbed an “Evening to Remember and Recognize Filipino Talents and Creativity.”

MANILA — A Mindanao-based university dance troupe performed at the Hue Festival in Hanoi recently, raising more than US$ 1,600 to rehabilitate areas devastated last December by tropical storm Sendong.

CAMP BGEN OSCAR M. FLORENDO, La Union — A total of 50 police personnel finished a 10-day Police First Responders Training Course here designed to enhance the capability of the police force in responding to crime incidents and other emergency situations.

APARRI, Cagayan — Aparri, the northernmost and cleanest town in this province will celebrate its 4th Aramang Festival on May 1 to 12 this year.

In town now is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine National Bank (PNB) - Eugene Sering-Acevedo. He will be giving an inspirational talk to top graduating students at the Bank’s Junior Training Program in Ateneo de Zamboanga University. And later, he will be having a lunch meeting with the different business sectors in Lantaka Hotel.

There's a new and exciting new band in Manila that is creating big waves in the music industry - the MALDITA BAND. Discriminating music afficionados say that this new band from Zamboanga City (yup, from Asia's Latin City!) has the potential to churn out one hit song after another. It is the gold mine discovery of 2010 they say.

Thanks to Hundred One Events and Exhibits, an event organizer, that coordinated with Zamboanga City Councilor Meng Agan, Daily Zamboanga Times, Extreme Deals and others our local photographers, amateurs or professionals, will have the opportunity to learn and enhance their skills in digital photography.

Zamboanga City should know more about this Zamboanguena woman leader – Violy Alejandro whom I met recently.  She impresses me. We need leaders like her that can make a difference. An energetic and always on the go Tumaga community organizer leader, Violy was the hard working staff of the late Zamboanga Congresswoman and City Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat for the concreting of the road beside the Manaoag Church in Tumaga, and was instrrumental for the construction of the hanging bridge in the same barangay from the funds of former Zamboanga City Councilor Atty. Luis Climaco.

There is a rising community leader from Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City that we can all be proud of – Teody Arquiza. He is the familiar face and voice that we see over GBPI TV 11 local news Dateline and hear every morning when we tune in to RMN Morning News.

To keep their chamber members well-informed and learn what precautions to take in times of threat to life and properties, the Zamboanga City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. held two (2) symposiums last September 28 and 29. Entitled “Business Security and Protection in Zamboanga City,” the main objective of the symposium was to help the business sector to be more aware, be alert, and learn what to do in case of a kidnap attempt and a bomb scare or bomb threat whether they are in  the city or somewhere else.

In a move to reach out to the masses, the Naval Forces of the Western Mindanao (NavForWem) conducted medical, dental, and veterinary outreach program at the scenic beach of Bolong last September 15. It was spearheaded by NavForWem Brig.Gen. Eugenio Clemen in coordination with Captain Mark Mudrinich of the Civil Affairs and Deputy Chief of Civil Military Operations, Joint Special Operations Task Force - Philippines.

(Here’s an update from Minda Ponce one of the Balangay crews that made a stop over in Turtle Island. Balangay is an ancient Filipino sail vessel/boat recreated and is making a historical trip from the Philippines to China. The starting sailing point was in Zamboanga City last May.)

Whee! Whoaaa! I can fly like Superman!