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CAGAYANLifestyle TIMES Weekly DE ORO
Volume 7 | No. 76 | Cagayan de Oro City | January 11-17, 2021
Comfort Food CDO:
Sharing a Legacy of Family Heirloom Recipes
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By TITO MIKE
HERE’S this relatively new food company that produces frozen ready to eat food that’s been quietly making ripples among the lucky patrons fortunate enough to have come across them while surfing the world wide web.
Dubbed Comfort Food CDO, the homebased enterprise started in late 2017 brought by love for food and as a means to help couple Baba Pelaez and Francis Manaloto raise extra income for their wedding. “We started selling sisig to friends lang mga late 2017 pang extra income for the wedding, then in 2018 we started selling na pud ang Bicol Express
which became a second source of income,” said Baba. ‘Then last year lang gyud pag covid na we released the Binagoongan kay for a time wa koy makuha supplier sa lubi na reasonable price since tanan is just delivered. Sunod-sunod na dayon ang Callos then ang Asado.” At present, their menu is still limited to five specialties: Sisig Kapampangan, Bicol Express, Binagoongan
Kapampangan, Callos and Pork Asado Macao Style. However, what makes this line-up special is they are all family heirloom recipes handed down from across generations. “Our Sisig Kapampangan was taught to me by my uncle, mama’s brother (mom Beng whose family is Kapampangan),” Baba said, adding that hubby Francis is also halfKapampangan. As most Francis and Baba Manaloto, the Dynamic Duo behind Filipinos are aware, Comfort Food CDO.
Kapampangan Sisig Babi. Fun fact: Babi is the Kapampangan word for pork or pig. The city government of Angeles, Pampanga, through its City Ordinance No 405, Series of 2017, declared Sizzling Sisig Babi (Pork Sisig) as an intangible heritage of Angeles.
the Kapampangans are renowned for their culinary chops not only all over the country, but in overseas Filipino communities as well. Besides the Sisig, Baba also inherited their Binagoongan Kampangpangan style, also from her Mom Beng’s side. “Our Bicol Express was approved by my mother-in-law who RECIPES/PAGE 7
Bicol Express has pork and green chili peppers in shrimp coconut cream. Fun fact: the chili is actually the main ingredient, and the pork is like, only the panakot! We had to adjust para makaon pa!
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Callos (Spanish Ox Tripe Stew) is a combination of different parts of beef and pork slow cooked into this hearty meal.
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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO
January 11-17, 2021
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL HISTORY
122nd Anniversary of Fiesta Nacional in Cagayan de Misamis
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HE 10th of January 2021 is the 122nd Anniversary of the first
raising of the Filipino flag at the Casa Real when the five-man Concejo Provincial
NHI Marker on First Flag Raising 10 January 1899
The
CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO
CAGAYAN TIMES/Sudaria Group of Companies Publisher PINKY DOMINGO Marketing Manager MIKE BAÑOS MARK FRANCISCO JOE PALABAO CHENG ORDOÑEZ Board of Editors KLAUS DORING Contributor CLIFFORD SANTILLAN Layout Artist KHRISTHA RIVA FELICILDA Advertising ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI Legal Counsel
The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES newspaper is published weekly at Tanleh Bldg., Abellanosa Street, Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro City. It is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10 with Certificate No. 01801884, and with Business Registration Plane No. 17211 with Business License Certificate 2014-00691. TIN No. 311-982-549000 Tele/Fax #: (088) 856-3344 Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ CagayandeOroTIMES email us at thecagayandeorotimes@gmail.com Member: Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber)
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of the revolutionary government assumed office. The members of the Concejo were chosen in accordance with Aguinaldo’s decree of June 18, 1898. On that occasion, the newly installed municipal head, Toribio Chaves y Roa recited the poem Pinahanongod, and explained the meaning and symbols of the flag. This historic event is celebrated in a marker installed by the National Historical Institute (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, NHCP), in front of the Executive House (original site of the Casa Real), and mentioned in another found at the Hayes Street frontage of the Casa del Chino Ygua (acknowledged as the oldest existing residence in Cagayan de Oro) which recounts how on January 10, 1899, patriotic Kagayanons celebrated
Casa Real
independence through a Fiesta Nacional as a sign of support for the Philippine revolutionary government headed by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. The Kagay-anons gathered in front of Ygua’s house, marched around the poblacion
playing music, made speeches at the Casa Real (the governor’s residence), fired cannons and raised the Philippine Flag for only the second time in Mindanao. (Montalvan, 2002). According to heritage activist Antonio Julian
Montalván II, the local townsfolk were buoyed by an edict from Aguinaldo to hold local elections in Cagayan de Misamis in December 1898 (which was not true for the rest of Mindanao). FIESTA/PAGE 7
CARELESS WORDS THAT HURT Matthew 12:34 says, “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks”. Indeed, the place to begin with our words is inside in our thoughts about others and us. If we accompany that with a commitment to stop speaking hurtful words. We have begun a dramatic midcourse correction in life, a religion writer, Dave McCasland said a long time ago. The power of words, written as well as spoken out, is a weapon, which can hurt or even kill. Writing with a wicked pen or talking with a sharp tongue doesn’t mean that all of us should walk disrespectfully through other’s lives.
Careless words can really inflict wounds that last for a lifetime. On the other hand, kind words can bring healing and encouragement. Yes, everything we say has the power to hurt or to heal. The religious and philosophical writer Tulushkin stressed: “If you can’t go for 24 hours without saying unkind words about others, you have lost control of your tongue. Joseph Telushkin lectured on the awesome power of words and our sometimes “dirty tongues”. He suggested taking a revealing “tongue test” to see where we stand. “Monitor your conversation for two days”, he said. “Note every time you say something
negative about someone, who is not personally present. Also record, when others do so, as well as your reactions when it happened. Do you try to silence the speaker, or do you ask for more details?” And then, Telushkin concluded: “Most of us who take this test are unpleasantly surprised!” And now, my dear readers you can guess, why ... . I found another good description in Proverbs 6:1619, relate to the causes and effects of hurting and damaging words: “Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick
HAVE MY SAY
KLAUS DORING
to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers”. I really had to think of one of the other details from the past few days reaching us from the global newsrooms... . +++ Email: doringklaus@gmail or follow me on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter or visit my www.germanexpatinthephilippines. blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.
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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO
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13 Mindanao Chambers cited for COVID-19 Emergency Response T January 11-17, 2021
HE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry recognized 13 of its affiliate local chambers of commerce and industry (LCCIs) in Mindanao for their Emergency Response Initiatives in their respective areas during the early months of the global pandemic. According to Ma. Teresa R. Alegrio, PCCI Area Vice President for Mindanao, the chambers cited were the following (with their respective presidents) Surigao City, Tandag City, Bislig, Bangon Marawi, Iligan City (Reggie Punongbayan), Cagayan de Oro (Robertino E. Pizarro), Davao City (John Paul Tria), Kaamulan Chamber (Roderico Bioco), South Cotabato, Butuan City, Agusan del Sur, Siargao and Zamboanga City. Besides receiving a plaque of recognition, the 13 LCCIs were
each allotted 1,000 face shields and 1,000 face masks each courtesy of the office of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. According to Oro Chamber Executive Director Luthgarda S.R. Mutol, the face masks and shields are now ready for pick up by the beneficiary chambers at the Oro Chamber Building, Pedro N. Roa Avenue (formerly Macapagal Drive), 9000 Cagayan de Oro City. The office is open Monday to Friday 8 AM to 5PM. Please call Ms. Joy Janubas at mobile # 0917-5514558 for details. In addition, the Mindanao Area under Alegrio was similarly recognized for its Regional Response to COVID-19. The citations were awarded during the virtual 46th Philippine Business Conference and Expo held October 7-8, 2020 The virtual 46th Philippine Business Conference and Expo was conducted on
October 7-8, 2020 with the theme innovation@ ph that sought to provide a roadmap for businesses to effectively navigate uncharted territories and to chart a more sustainable and secure future for themselves and for the country. Its various sessions scrutinized the country’s innovation ecosystem and delved into how executives in government and across industries were leading digital transformation across different aspects of government and business operations.
Face masks and shields for beneficiary chambers are now ready for pickup at the Oro Chamber building.
Recognition of Regional Response to COVID-19 MINDANAO (AVP Ma. Teresa R. Alegrio)
Recognition of Regional Response to COVID-19 MINDANAO
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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly
Manokboy brings back Manok Bisaya to Gitagum DE ORO
January 11-17, 2021
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By TITO MIKE
chickens are ITAGUM’S usually one kilo newest in size. Better food house is still, it can be bringing back purchased in iconic Manok portions of ¾ , ½ Bisaya dishes and ¼ kilo unlike to this rising other sellers who town of Misamis only sell full and Oriental. half-sized litson Manokboy manok portions. Food House had Their liempo its soft opening also retails for a on January 1-8, very affordable 2021 showcasing P100 only per its Litson Manok, piece. Litson Baboy and “This is Liempo. our recipe we Its Litson developed inManok sells for house through P195 per kilo years of testing and its roasted because I love to
From soccer to litson manok - Manokboy Food House owner Jack Biantan checks the litson manok and liempo turning on the grill.
Jack Biantan with Vince and Yvonne Manubag of Codi Beach Resorts taking first dibs on Manokboy’s opening day.
cook,” says owner and manager Leonides “Jack” Biantan who admits he loves to tinker in the kitchen. “Of course, it has our secret ingredient which makes it different and tastier than other litson manok.” However, Jack disclosed the Big Reveal will come in a week’s time during Gitagum’s town fiesta on January 17, 2021 when it will open its carenderia featuring the
beloved and iconic Manok Bisaya (native chicken) dishes such as Adobo, Halang-Halang and Tinola, to name a few. We will cook Manok Bisaya the oldfashioned way,” Jack said. “For instance, I noted many carenderias here in Cagayan de Oro cook chicken tinola with sayote, but we will cook our tinola with kapayas nga balbangahon, the way it should be properly cooked.” “Over the long term we plan to raise Manok Bisaya in our farm here in Gitagum,” he added. “Although they are difficult and expensive to raise because
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they take so long to grow, they are also very delicious.” Gitagumanons will have a double treat from Manokboy on its fiesta day on January 17 because aside from the Manok Bisaya dishes, Jack will also be rolling out his special litson baboy prepared by his lechonero from Lumbia. “My biggest critics are my 15-year old son and my two nieces. They love the Lumbia lechon. We will have it ready sa fiesta. And the other lechon manok recipes. Pero baligya ni ha dili ni fiesta party kay bawal ang fiesta party tungod sa COVID-19.”
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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO
January 11-17, 2021
The Face of NESCAFÉ Coffee
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Smallholder Coffee Farmer Leo Zambrano tapped for NESTLÉ PH campaign honoring outstanding farmers
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EO Zambrano, a smallholder farmer from Bukidnon, smiles proudly on NESCAFÉ packs on store shelves today, representing all the Filipino coffee growers who toil to bring us our daily cup of coffee. For over 37 years, Leo has earned a living as a farmer, but never has it been as profitable as when he became a beneficiary of the NESCAFÉ Plan, Nestlé’s coffee sustainability program. In 2018, Nestlé Philippines under the NESCAFÉ Plan started Project Coffee+, a farmer productivity and income acceleration initiative involving 1,500 farmers in Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat, hand in hand with GIZ (German Agency for International Cooperation). Leo is a participant of Project Coffee+, which seeks to increase the yields of the farmers involved to one metric ton per hectare
If interested, contact:
DANICA SUDARIA
dannycarosesudaria0512@gmail.com 0936-046-2356
over three years, with the goal of increasing their incomes and improving the economic viability of their farming systems. True to its goal, Project Coffee+ has helped Leo double the productivity of his farm and triple his income. “Masaya ako na napili akong makibahagi sa proyektong ito,” said Leo. “Ang pamilya ko ang tanging dahilan kung bakit ako bumabangon araw-araw para kumita sa pagsasaka. Ngayon, panatag ako dahil alam ko na ang kita ko ay magiging sapat para sa mga pangangailangan ng aking pamilya (I am so happy that I was chosen to participate in Project Coffee+. My family is the reason why I get up every day to earn a living through farming. Now, I am confident my earnings will adequately meet my family’s needs).” Leo has attended the project’s flagship agripreneurship training component called Farmer Business School (FBS), which taught him the most effective intercropping techniques to augment and sustain his income throughout the year. His integrated farm now grows coffee, sayote, sweet pepper and tomato, expanding in 2019 to include lakatan banana and some livestock. Various forms of farmer intervention from the NESCAFÉ Plan have been extended to Leo, including Robusta plantlets for replanting and gap filling, as well as grafting materials. Soil conditioners and fertilizers are also among the inputs he has obtained from Project Coffee+ to enhance coffee productivity. For coffee-
vegetable intercropping, Leo received seeds from project partner East West Seed Company, engaged by GIZ. With a wealth of technical training and his trove of farming experiences, Leo’s leadership has prompted him to help other farmers transform their operations into fully-fledged agri-businesses. He is helping to train farmers in Barangay Kaatuan, Lantapan, Bukidnon and is chairperson of the Palambuon Farmers Association. Leo has earned the distinction of being appointed a Project Coffee+ Coffee Ambassador, teaching fellow farmers to reach optimal income levels. Today, the Zambrano Integrated Farm is a certified Learning Site of the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in Region 10. Leo inspires others to pursue their passion for farming, and his farm is a showcase and demonstration site in his community as well as other municipalities in Bukidnon covered by Project Coffee+. A representative sample of the participating farmers shows that net average farm income has increased from P30,000 in 2018 to P 90,000 in 2019. Coffee productivity (yield/ha) has grown from 235 kg/ha to 477 kg/ha in the same period, as independently verified by the Rainforest Alliance. They are slowly but surely transitioning from subsistence farmers into agripreneurs. Project Coffee+ farmers are now adopting profitable and best-
Maramag Buying Station Visit
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integrated farming systems. Farmer groups and organizations of smallholder coffee farmers have noted improvements in accessing services including financing and post-harvest support for processing coffee cherries. Toward filling the gaps in the coffee production process, Nestlé collaborates via the NESCAFÉ Plan with government agencies and other stakeholders. Most recently, the company signed an agreement with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to help implement the Rural Agroenterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project, specifically in the coffee sector. Under the project, DTI, funding partner International Fund for Agricultural Development, and Nestlé have committed to support coffee farmers in expanding production areas and improving productivity. Nestlé will provide a ready market for Robusta beans from local farmers. Through this involvement, the NESCAFÉ Plan can potentially reach more farmers to change their lives for the better. For his part, Leo says that if he can help other farmers grow quality produce and become better providers for their families, he is only too happy to share what he has learned from the NESCAFÉ Plan. “At ipinagmamalaki ko na ako ay magsasakang Pilipino na nangangalaga ng kapeng Pilipino para sa kapwa ko Pilipino (I’m proud to be a Filipino Farmer growing Filipino Coffee for Fellow Filipinos).
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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO
Phoenix lubricants now recognized by JASO, API January 11-17, 2021
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HOENIX joins the world’s major oil brands as it manages to list six of its lubricants in the Japanese Automotive Standards Organization (JASO) Engine Oil Standards Implementation Panel, and seven in the American Petroleum Institute (API). Based on the physical and chemical properties of the Phoenix lubricant products, which have passed the clutch friction test included in the JASO T903:2016 requirements, the homegrown oil company was able to register four motorcycle oils and two scooter oils under its Cyclomax line. “The JASO classification of our Phoenix Cyclomax brand has always been part of our strategy to promote the excellent quality of our lubricants. After five years, it has now been accomplished, and
all this is in line with our pursuit to give the best experience to our customers,” said Phoenix General Manager for Lubricants Sales and Distribution Jay Mujar. Phoenix’s Cyclomax Racing 4T 10W-50, Cyclomax Syntech 4T 10W-40, Cyclomax Titan 4T 20W-40, and Cyclomax Force 4T 20W-50 were given the MA2 rating, which means these products can deliver higher clutch frictional performance. Meanwhile, Cyclomax Scooter Syntech 10W-30 and Cyclomax Scooter Titan 20W-40 were given the MB rating for the products’ ability to deliver friction performance resulting in fuel economy. With this achievement, the aforementioned Phoenix products are now officially registered and classified by JASO, and will soon have
the emblem of the organization on the packaging. Composed of major vehicle manufacturers in Japan, JASO is a quality standard classification entity for engine oils. Aside from JASO, API has also recently recognized seven other Phoenix lubricants. After Phoenix earned its first API approval in October with the Accelerate Super G 15W-40, it was able to register six other products the following month. Accelerate Racing 5W-30 (API SN), Accelerate Syntech 5W40 (API SN), Phoenix Zoelo Extreme 15W-40 ( API CI-4/SL), Phoenix Zoelo Syntech 10W-30 (API CI-4) Zoelo Max 15W-40 (API CH-4/ SL), Zoelo Powertech 5W-40 (API CJ-4/SN) are now listed in the API Licensee Directory, and will soon be packaged with the API donut symbol.
Motorists can now avail of more quality products from Phoenix as its engine oils and lubricants are now registered and certified by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and classified by the Japanese Automotive Standards Organization (JASO).
Encompassing multiple segments in the oil and gas industry, API is considered as the most recognized certifying body for automotive lubricants with over 600 members and more than 700 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency, and
sustainability. “Now, more than ever, our customers can expect excellent quality from our lubricants as two of the world’s esteemed motor oil standard classification organizations have recognized our products. JASO has rated our motorcycle oils, while
the quality of our main engine oils is now fully backed up by API,” said Asst. Vice President for Technical Services and QAPD Jaime Diago. Phoenix engine oils and lubricating products are available in Phoenix gas stations and its network of retailers nationwide.
Cebu Pacific welcomes 2021 with month-long PHP88 seat sale Flights for travel from January to December 2021 up for grabs The Philippines’ leading carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB) greets 2021 with a special PHP88 alldomestic seat sale. This year-opener, monthlong promo aims to further inspire everyJuan to support local and show #JuanLove for the Philippines in 2021. For sale until January 31, 2021, passengers can enjoy fares as low as PHP 88 to over 30 domestic destinations, for travel from January 13 until December 31, 2021. With this ongoing seat sale, travelers can once again plan trips ahead, or even book and fly now, to their favorite local destinations. Whether you miss the warm sunny beaches of Bohol, Coron, Boracay, Cebu, and Siargao, or just want to experience the culinary trails of Davao, Bacolod, or Pampanga, this special seat sale emboldens everyJuan to further explore and patronize local destinations and products. Passengers with travel
scheduled until March 31, 2021 will enjoy more flight options with Flexible Bookings. Guests with existing Travel Funds may also use these to book new flights to make way for new travel memories. Payments may also be made online or via payment centers. So, what are you waiting for? Start the year right by plotting your 2021 must-visit #CEBTravels before this promo runs out! Book now via cebupacificair. com. CEB offers antigen tests for only PHP 700 for its passengers flying from Manila through its Test Before Boarding (TBB) process. The carrier also offers affordable RT-PCR tests as low as PHP 3,300 via its three partner laboratories, namely PADL, Health Metrics, Inc. (HMI), and Safeguard DNA Diagnostics Inc. (SDDI). Passengers booked on Cebu Pacific and Cebgo can easily choose and
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book appointments via the “Testing Options” tab on https://bit.ly/ CEBFlightReminders. CEB has been rated 7/7 stars by airlineratings. com for its COVID-19 compliance as it continues to implement a multilayered approach to safety, in accordance with global aviation standards. These include contactless procedures, thorough cleaning and disinfection protocols for all aircraft and facilities, mandatory wearing of masks and face shields for both passengers and crew, as well as Antigen testing for CEB frontliners before duty. On top of these, our aircraft are also equipped with hospital-grade HEPA filters with 99.99% efficacy, keeping viruses at bay. Cebu Pacific currently flies to 30 domestic destinations from its Manila and Cebu hubs, on top of five (5) international destinations namely Dubai, Hong Kong, Nagoya, Seoul, and Singapore.
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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO
January 11-17, 2021
Recipes...
Their latest menu addition (Pork Asado from page 1 Macao Style) is a break for their initial heirloom is Bicolana, while our recipes but made the Callos is my Lola Edith’s recipe who taught Mama, grade after hurdling the then si Mama taught me,” couple’s ‘hugnes’ test. Baba said. “Amo na dayon “Siya ang pinaka-bata di pa siya heirloom kay gihimo among version 2nd gen pa lang, but it based on the original.” is truly a comfort food. Edith Pelaez (nee When I made it pag tilaw Fabella) was the wife of sa akong bana naka hug former Vice President gyud siya!” Emmanuel Pelaez, and Comfort Food mother of her father Kitchen CDO’s is Eduardo “Bong” Pelaez, based at J.V. Seriña the sixth of the couple’s St., Barangay Carmen nine children. and can be reached However, Baba through their Instagram admits she’d had to put a contemporary twist to the account https:// Callos to make it suitable www.instagram.com/ comfort_food_kitchen_ for multiple production. cdo/, email address “I had to improvise comfortfoodkitchen. kay si Mama mag tudlo cdo@gmail.com, puro based sa dila ang Messenger https:// spices,” she laughingly www.facebook.com/ shared. “Dili namo Comfort-Foodpuwede baligaya so Kitchen-106764217844695/ amo gitimbang ang or call 0917 813 6393 tanan [ingredients] para from 10:00AM to consistent.” 5:30PM. Baba previously worked at Lifestyle Network of the ABSCBN Cable Channels and from page 2 Print Media Group before “There were 2 distinct traits of that historic coming back to Cagayan de Oro and still works as event,” Montalvan said. “There was the boom of marketing manager and cannonades (celebrating photographer for their freedom from Spanish Studio 8 photographic colonialism) and there services specializing in was the participation of food photography. Higaonon indigenous She admits catching peoples who came down the cooking bug a bit from the hills.” late when her parents The float "La lost their kusinera and Libertad de Filipinas" her mom couldn’t cook symbolized that freedom because of an injury. and passed by the Casa “I wish I was older Real from the street when Lola [Edith] was still around and cooking.” that was henceforth called Victoria to A silver lining in this signify the victory of the current pandemic is that Philippine Revolution. this home business was Later, Governor Jose able to grow and adapt Roa y Casas wrote to to the “now normal”. Aguinaldo and called the Business owners have event the great "Fiesta ventured into new Nacional" of Cagayan de opportunities. Comfort Misamis. Food has partnered with Ate Girl, a new enterprise of friend Angela from page 8 Dayrit Kho which does deliveries, groceries, bills the following awards and decorations: Philippine payments, and the like. Defense Medal; “Wala mi gawasAmerican Defense gawas balay and we can Medal; Asiatic-Pacific fully operate with the Campaign Medal, World help of their services.” War II Victory Medal; Ate Girl also helps them Philippine Republic Unit do groceries online Citation Badge and the for her parents who U.S. Distinguished Unit have similarly confined themselves to their house Badge. Following his nearby. polyneuritis, Dr. For the time being, Montalvan reverted Baba and Francis still to inactive status on have no plans to expand July 11, 1946 and was their present menu, but promoted to the rank of will offer seasonal “off Major, Infantry Reserve the menu” items such as in January 20, 1950. guinamos and calamansi “He suffered so much pie. under the hands of the “Ang qualification Japanese and often got namo sa ako bana dapat maka piyong pag kaon for slapped for no reason,” it to be part of our menu,” Ms. Montalvan said. “Many years later, that Baba said, “Something Japanese that put him that we both like gyud, hence the name [Comfort under hard labor came back to Cagayan de Oro Food]. “That’s why to apologize to him and pud di kaayo mi gadali daghan dishes e baligya.” to others he tortured.
And my dad readily accepted his apology!” He resumed his duties as a professor of Spanish at the Ateneo in 1949 and took up law at the Cagayan Law School of the Ateneo, graduating with a degree of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 1953, passed the Bar exams and was admitted to the Bar in June 1954
and military apparently forgotten by the new generation of Kagayanons. To rectify this situation, plans are afoot to rename Camp Edilberto Evangelista to “Camp Jose Montalvan in honor of a Kagayanon and Mindanaoan war hero who fought against the Japanese to protect the freedom of
the Philippines." Camp Edilberto Evangelista in Barangay Patag, Cagayan de Oro City, is the largest military camp in Mindanao with an area of 129 hectares. It is the home base to the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division and covers the Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions.
Asticom launches subsidiary for local and international expansion
Fiesta...
Kampo...
and established a law practice. He married the former Mercedes Acero Roa of Cagayan de Oro City and with whom he had six children: Marietta, Daisy, Annabel, Eduardo, Consuelo and Antonio. Dr. Montalvan passed away on September 21, 1978, his patriotism and service to the country
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STICOM Technology, Inc., a shared services company wholly owned by Globe, is launching its first subsidiary, Asti Business Services, Inc. (ABSI), a move that will propel the company to be the number one shared services provider in the Philippines and Asia. ABSI is a business process solutions company providing enterprises with Above and Beyond Service Innovation with end-toend solutions for human resources, administrative, finance, and information technology functions. With its commercial launch, ABSI will provide shared services
markets,” said Mharicar CastilloReyes, Asticom President and CEO. Gary Ona, General Manager of ABSI added: “More than launching a subsidiary, our goal is to showcase Filipino innovation and expertise as an international IT-BSO services provider. With ABSI, we emphasize people development and unwavering commitment to innovation, quality and efficiency.” As it strives to to a multitude of raise the bar of industries including telecommunications, IT-BSO services, ABSI offers digital financial platform solutions technology, to help leading information technology, retail, health, logistics, automotive, banking, education, real estate, and aviation. “Amid the pandemic, we see a growing need for IT-BSO services as enterprises have reinvented their ways of working while fully focusing on their core business functions. In line with our vision to become the number one shared services company in the Philippines and Asia by 2029, we are confident that ABSI will be able to create purposeful growth for the local and international
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enterprises in their digital transformation journey such as customer experience and employee engagement. In addition to ITenabled services such as web and mobile application development, ABSI will also focus on process optimization for front and back-end office functions ranging anywhere from customer verification to payroll administration and finance support services. To learn more about ABSI, visit absi.ph.
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CAGAYANTIMES Feature DE ORO
January 11-17, 2021 Page 8
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL HISTORY:
Maj. Jose Manuel Corrales Montalvan, 1st Camp Commander of the ‘Kampo’ By MIKE BAÑOS
On 01 January 1940, First Lieutenant Jose Manuel Corrales Montalvan was appointed Camp Commander and Mobilization Center Officer of Camp Edilberto Evangelista, a post he served up to the outbreak of World War II. Initially assigned as Cadre Commander of the 2nd Misamis Oriental (Machine Gun) Cadre at Camp Bulua (as Camp Evangelista was first known) a post he served in from January 1-Dec. 31, 1939. A Lumad Kagay-anon, Dr. Montalvan was commissioned a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1928, was trained and successfully completed the U.S. Army Extension Courses. From 1933 to 1937 he was the instructor for Military Science and Tactics at the Ateneo de Cagayan. However, the lure of a full-time career in the newly formed Philippine Army proved irresistible and he resigned from the U.S. Army Reserve and
was commissioned as a First Lieutenant, Infantry Reserve, of the Philippine Army on July 16, 1936. He was called to active duty training at Camp Murphy Training School for Reserve Officers (Infantry), assigned as Company Commander of the training officers company, and graduated No. 5 with a general average of 90.7% in 1938. While assigned as the first camp commander of Camp Evangelista, he graduated from the School of Military Law and Courts-Martial Procedure, Camp Keithley, Lanao in 1940. Dr. Montalvan, known to friends and family as Ñor Peping, was born on March 17, 1903 in present day Cagayan de Oro (then known as Cagayan de Misamis, capital town of the Segundo Distrito de Misamis, and later as Misamis, Cagayan under the American regime) to Jose Gabriel Montalvan, a retired Spanish soldier from Belmonte, Cuenca, Spain who was assigned by
the Spanish government to the Philippines and Concepcion Corrales y Roa of Cagayan de Misamis. In 1927, he was graduated with honors (3rd highest) from the Philippine Dental College, Manila with a degree of Doctor in Dental Surgery (DDS). Upon his return to his hometown in 1928, he practiced dentistry and became one of the first teachers of the Ateneo de Cagayan (present day Xavier University) and was its Commandant of the Corps of Cadets. While assigned as the first camp commander of Camp Evangelista, he graduated from the School of Military Law and Courts-Martial Procedure, Camp Keithley, Lanao in 1940. Upon his induction into the U.S. Army Forces – Far East (USAFFE) on September 6, 1941, he was appointed Division Finance Officer and Division Quartermaster of the USAFFE’s 102nd Division. Later, he was appointed Division Inspector General of
the same unit which had its Headquarters at Tankulan, (now Manolo Fortich) Bukidnon then promoted to Captain, Infantry, in April, 1942. Following the surrender of the USAFFE forces in Mindanao under Gen. William Sharp to the Japanese Imperial Army on May 10, 1942, Dr. Montalvan was taken as a prisonerof-war (POW) by the Japanese and detained at the Ateneo de Cagayan campus which had been converted into a POW Camp. “During his captivity he developed polyneuritis, which caused his leg to become shorter, as a result of the hard labor he underwent in prison when he and others would carry sacks of potatoes and coffee under the rain, soaking their only clothing in their bodies,” recalls his daughter Annabel Montalvan Corrales. “One night after such experience his whole body became numb and his leg started to give him extreme pain. The doctors at that time did not know what it was, but
1 Lt. Jose Manuel Corrales Montalvan as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve in 1928 (Montalvan Family Archives)
it was later diagnosed as polyneuritis.” However, he successfully escaped and joined his family in Talakag, Bukidnon. He walked for days to Talakag, away from the road, because the Japanese were looking for him. Again, the rains came and soaked his clothes. When he got to Talakag he had very high fever and the polyneuritis he contracted became worse. He then proceeded to Misamis Occidental to join the guerrillas Officers of Camp Bulua (present day Camp Edilberto Evangelista) at Cagayan de Misamis in 1939. (Montalvan of Col. Wendell Fertig, commander of the 10th Family Archives)
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Military District, United States Forces in the Philippines (USFIP) in Mindanao, which was made up of escaped prisoners-of-war and Filipino and American soldiers and civilians who refused to surrender to the Japanese. Between 1942 and 1945, USFIP forces raided Japanese occupation forces in Mindanao and provided valuable intelligence to the Allied forces. For his military service before and during World War II, Dr. Montalvan received KAMPO/PAGE 7