PB Pacquiao's Birthday Bash 2015

June 17, 2015 - Since his first term as an elected Barangay Official, the Honorable Punong Barangay Rogelio D. Pacquiao has been celebrating his birthday with the rest of his constituents. Usually a three-day celebration, he never fails to remember to share the bountiful blessings with the rest of Barangay Apopong, just like his generous older brother the Honorable Congressman Manny Pacquiao. 

The birthday celebration includes a Medical Mission, Distribution of School Supplies for indigent pupils and Distribution of family pack for indigent families.

For entertainment, there were Dance Competition and Battle of the Reggae Bands.

The Barangay Employees of Apopong also had a share of friendly competition of basketball.

Now, on his last term and with an unconfirmed plan of running for a higher position, these activities will surely be missed.

Lanton Day Care recipient of SGMAF's Adopt-a-School Program

Lanton-Apopong - Purok 13 Lanton Day Care Center is not new to being a beneficiary of Non Government Organizations programs. The center was initially built through community effort and was later improved with the help of Rotary. Purok 13 Lanton DCC has almost 50 pupils with majority of the children belonging to indigent family and are usually undernourished, thus they were chosen by the Senators Gaudencio and Magnolia Antonino Foundation's (SGMAF) program.  

SGMAF's Monthly Storytelling and Supplemental Feeding Program is a community development approach that facilitates education of children through values formation activities and nutritional feeding.

Facilitating the activities are the SGMAF scholars headed by Ms. Cheesy Mae Andal. Distribution of school supplies was also done bringing wider smiles from the children.

In behalf of the Purok 13 Lanton Day Care Pupils and the rest of Barangay Apopong, thank SGMAF!

BJMP Inmates of GenSan graduated thru ALS

Lanton, Apopong - Last June 19, 2015, the 11th Commencement Exercises of ALS was held at the BJMP GenSan. There were nineteen male and female inmates graduated Elementary Level and 43 male and female inmates graduated for the Secondary Level through the Accreditation and Equivalency Program of the Alternative Learning Sytem of Department of Education.

Alternative Learning System (ALS) is a ladderized, modular non-formal education program in the Philippines for dropouts in elementary and secondary schools, out-of-school youths, non-readers, working Filipinos and even senior citizens. It is part of the education system of the Philippines but an alternative to the regular classroom studies where Filipino students are required to attend daily. The alternative system only requires students to choose schedules according to their choice and availability. -wikipedia

Stakeholders present during the inspiring activity are: Sir Gregorio O. Ruales (ALS Education Program Supervisor), J/Supt. Erwin Kenny Ronquillo(BJMP GenSan Warden), Sir. Dante Cuadrado (New Society District Supervisor), Atty. Glenda Narcilla (Executive Assistant of City Mayor Rivera) and Honarable Kagawad Lou Bernadette Dulay, to name a few.

You have proven that "Nothing can stop you from achieving your goals in life if you have the hunger and desire to achieve" Na kahit po sa inyong kasalukuyang kalagayan, hindi po nawala ang inyong kagustuhang makapag-aral at nagsumikap na makapagtapos... "Make the rest of your life the best of your life. Create a life that feels good on the inside, not one that just looks good on the outside" Pagpatuloy po nating tahakin ang daan tungo sa ating mabuting pagbabago!" - excerpt from Kagawad Dulay's Words of Salutation

The Barangay Council of Apopong is a proud supporter of the ALS for years now, producing hundreds of graduates and A&E passers through the leadership of Mr. Marcos A. Olog, ALS Coordinator.

To avail of ALS program, you may visit the ALS Office at New Society District.

More photos here: Barangay Apopong

Apopong celebrates Environment and Men's Month 2015

June is one busy month with celebrations. This is the time when the World Environment Month is celebrated. Little of us know, that this month is also dedicated for the MEN with the recent practice of the Men's Month Celebration with a localized theme "Hugpong sa Kalalakin-an sa Pagpakabana sa Kinaiyahan".

The Barangay Council of Apopong made these two celebrations into one with its advocacy on Greening Mindanao. As a support to the Local Government's program on Greening the BLUE and the celebration of Men's Month, a TREE GROWING activity was held last June 5, 2015. Aiming to plant 1000 trees at the almost finished gabion dike at Purok 5 Sto. Niño Riverside this is a preventive program of the barangay.

Participants coming from the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police specifically from the Regional Training Center headed by PSupt Nestor Cruzata Babagay Jr. and the Police Precinct 2 through the leadership of PSI Jennifer Molina; High School students from New SocietyNational High School headed by the school  Principal Efren Limana and assisted by teachers Roy Erecre Palomera and Marites Marquez and Lanton High School headed by their principal Elsie Cabanlit; CARGILL PHILIPPINES, CENRO, Youth Developement Task Force (Jella Delos Angeles, Jomarie Amador Olarte, Prince Bryan Lacea), Barangay Apopong Employees and Apopong Men's Officers paraded their way to the planting area.

Almost 200 people participated this noble activity.

The activity is made possible by the Barangay Council of Apopong through the leadership of Honorable Punong Barangay Rogelio D. Pacquiao.

Let us continue taking care of our environment!

Young People of Apopong joined Earth Day 2015

“Earth Everyday, Everywhere for Everyone”. Different sectors from the region joined the celebration of the Earth Day 2015 through a Mangrove Planting Activity at Purok Minanga, Barangay Buayan, General Santos City last April 22, 2015. This activity was initiated by the Local Government Unit of General Santos City spearheaded by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO). About 1,500 mangroves were planted at this time.

Youth Vounteers on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (YVOCCAAM) of General Santos City which composes of the Youth Development Task Force (YDTF) and other youth volunteers-Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) and Katipunan ng Kabataan from 5 barangays also supported the said activity. About more than 200 mangroves were planted by the youth volunteers.

Youth from Barangay Apopong actively participated the said celebration.

Words and Photo: Jomarie Olarte

Four barangays of the city attended the Barangay Development Plan (BDP) last May 9, 2014 at Venue 88, Brgy. City Heights, General Santos City. The BDP was conducted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) headed by the OIC-Regional Director Atty.Rochelle Mahinay-Sero. Different Sectoral Representatives from Bgry. Apopong, Sinawal, Labangal and Bgry. Calumpang with some of their Bgry. officials participated in the said event. Hon. Rogelio D. Pacquiao, Bgry. Captain of Apopong and ABC President of General Santos City was also present on that time together with the Brgy. Kagawads of bgry. Apopong - Hon. Lou Bernadette Dulay,Hon. Paolo Natividad and Hon. Ponciano Cimagala. The main purpose of the event is to come up with a great and a strategic plans of the programs,projects and activities for the Development of it’s individual barangays and to help in the nation-building. At the end of that day, the participants marked a smile on their faces, bringing the new knowledge and ideas for the development of their barangay and it’s people.

Community-Initiated Medical Mission at Sto. Nino, Successful!

A medical mission and an operation tuli were conducted at the Basketball Court of Purok 4, Sto. Niño Barangay Apopong, General Santos City on May 16, 2014. The said activity was initiated by the Barangay Apopong Forever Movement Inc. (AFMI) headed by the AFMI President Jose Paulate with the partnership of the Achievement Integrity Movement (AIM), the Office of the 1st District of South Cotabato Representative Pedro B. Acharon Jr. and the Trade Union Workers Health Organization, Inc. 

Operation Tuli

A total of eight-eight (88) Senior Citizens were given the privilege to consult their illnesses to Dr. Fidel Penamante a family medicine doctor and were then given medical advices and some medicines after the consultation. Meanwhile, more than 70 children ages ranging from 5 to 15 were circumcised and were given free medicine ( for the immediate relief of their wounds ) .

Medical Check-up for Senior Citizens

Barangay Apopong encourages community initiatives like this activity as to empower its people.

 First two boys circumcised are brothers

A salute goes out to the following organization/people who made this medical mission possible:
Apopong Forever Movement Inc. thru Mr. Jose "Toto" Paulate
Achievement with Integrity Movement
Hon. Pedro B. Acharon Jr.
Trade Union Workers Health Organition, Inc.
Dr. Fidel Penamante
Volunteer Nurses 
Purok 4 Sto. Nino Apopong Officials headed by Mrs. Thelma Tama
Purok 3 & 4 Sto. Nino Chapter Senior Citizens
ILHOIA Officers and members headed by Mrs. Mila C. Dulay
Youth Volunteers
and the rest of the community

words & photos by: Jomarie Olarte