Together we can make it happen

TOGETHER WE MAKE IT HAPPEN :: MAITUM, Sarangani (May 19, 2011) – Partners, organizers, facilitators and officials headed by Mayor Elsie Perret (seated, 2nd left) pose for a photo ops after the the joint community orientation, launching and medical mission at barangay Pinol headed by the GRP-MILF International and Local Monitoring Teams (IMT-LMT)in partnership with the Provincial Government of Sarangani, municipalities of Maitum and Palimbang, 73rd Infantry Battalion, private doctors and nurses and facilitated by Kalinaw Sarangani dubbed as “Together we make it happen” at barangay Pinol Tuesday, May 16. (Ritchie Tongo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Medical and Dental Team

73RD INFANTRY BATTALION DENTAL SERVICE ::

MAITUM, Sarangani (May 19, 2011) – Members of 73rd Infantry Battalion medical team perform a dental operation as one of the services for the medical mission conducted at barangay Pinol Monday, May 16, spearheaded by GRP-MILF International and Local Monitoring Teams (IMT-LMT). Eighty-one beneficiaries availed of the free dental services and over 300 residents received other medical services. (Ritchie Tongo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Mangrove Planting

MANGROVE PLANTING VOLUNTEER :: GLAN, Sarangani (May 20, 2011) – PFC Harrold Sacramento of 73rd IB joins other volunteers in planting mangroves and coastal clean-up activity of Sarangani Energy Corporation in time for the Sarangani Bay Festival 2011 celebration Friday, May 20, in barangay Kapatan. (CocoySexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

73rd IB 2nd Place in the Sarangani Swim Across the Bay

THE SWIM ACROSS SARANGANI BAY 2011 COMPETITION :: GLAN, Sarangani  - The first-ever swim across Sarangani Bay was on May 18, 2006, the first Sarangani Bay Festival, which was participated in by six teams.

“Now the event is on its 6th year in celebration of the Sarangani Bay Festival,” organizer Nemrod Butil said.

The province will celebrate the Sarangani Bay Festival on May 19 to 21, with the swim-across-the-bay on the second day (May 20) from 5:00am.

Swim-across-the-bay is a relay competition with team members both professional and amateurs swimming a distance of 15 kilometers from Tinoto Point in Maasim to Tango village in Glan.

To qualify, swimmers must be 14 years old or above. This year’s swimmers are mostly from Davao, South Cotabato, Koronadal City, General Santos City, Polomolok and local swimmers from Siguel and Maasim.

“This year, a new team from Kiamba (Sarangani) will join,” Butil said.

The idea to conquer the bay by human prowess was a brainchild of then swim manager Guiseppe Chew.

Chew described the race as “the longest open ocean marathon swimming competition in the country and probably in Asia.”

In the Philippines, related swimming competitions have been staged in Guimaras Strait (approximately 5km.), the body of water separating Guimaras and Panay islands, and in Samal Strait (5km.), separating Samal Island and mainland Davao.

Sarangani Bay’s biodiversity is twice richer than Carigara Bay in Northern Leyte, Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte, Bais Bay in Negros and Illana Bay in Northwestern Mindanao.

Sarangani Bay has been the passage for trade, businesses and social contacts with the Philippines’ Southernmost tip and neighboring countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei for hundreds of years.

But in particular, the bay provided a safe route to Sangils of Northern Indonesia and established trade and social relations with the Blaan natives of Glan some five hundred years ago.

“Sarangani is as old as our very own race, Malay. When Ruy Lopez de Villalobos happened to reach this part of the ocean in their search for provision in 1543, his chroniclers wrote Sarangani to mean ‘This is our territory’ or ‘We stop here’ according to the Indonesian language,” Dr. Tranquilino Ruiz II said. Ruiz is a known local historian of Glan, Sarangani’s oldest town.

Among journalists who have been covering Sarangani Bay Festival, now becoming the biggest beach festival in Southern Philippines, the most challenging yet fulfilling event is covering the swim-across-the-bay from start to finish.

Prizes for this year’s swim are P50,000, P35,000, P25,000 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes and trophies for major winners.
All teams finishers will receive P5,000 with medals. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

73rd IB Joins BRIGADA ESKWELA IN SARANGANI

Maasim, Sarangani – The nationwide Brigada Eskwela or the National Schools Maintenance Week has just started last 23 May 2011. Several schools in Sarangani had their own kick-off on the launching of the program. Together with the different stakeholders, volunteers and the soldiers of 73^rd IB the Department of Education family contribute their time, effort and manpower services, and even resources in ensuring the public school facilities are all set in preparation of the opening of classes.

In Maasim Central Elem School, soldiers of 73^rd IB participated the Brigada Eskwela through classroom repair and roof painting. Three school buildings were repainted.”Usually, during Brigada Eskwela we are in need of manpower to work on the repair of our classrooms. We are pleased that the soldiers from 73^rd IB volunteered to help us without reservations,” Mrs. Torcino said, principal of the school. The principal had requested the soldiers a week before the activity started.

Meanwhile, in Datu Bali Elementary School, in Brgy Tinoto, the construction of a classroom had just started with the effort of the soldiers who have carpentry skills. “This classroom is part of Bayanihan concept – Adopt a Clasroom Program,  wherein we are asking literally any construction materials to the people we know,” LTC Espuelas said, Commander of 73^rd IB. Many responded the call and donated several materials for the construction of the classroom.

“I am in deep gratitude to the soldiers of 73^rd IB for their initiative to materialize the classroom. I never thought they plan this bigtime to finish this PTA project,” Mrs Quintana said, principal of Datu Bali Elem School in Maasim.

Together with the Parents Teachers Association of the school, each parents in that school also donated one or two hollow blocks as their contribution for the classroom.

The commitment of the soldiers of 73^rd IB is not only limited in maintaining the classrooms through cleaning, repair and repainting but also helps in building more classrooms. As part and parcel of their job, this Brigada Eskwela is a regular activity of the unit in support to the Department of Education. (1LT SOMBONG)

Blood Letting Activities "Dugo ko, Buhay mo"

“Dugo Ko, Buhay Mo” – A JOINT BLOOD LETTING ACTIVITIY OF 73^RD IB, PNRC GENSAN 1205th CDC

07 May 2011, 73^rd IB, St Tampuan, Kamanga, Maasim -  A joint bloodletting activity of 73^rd IB, Philippine National Red Cross – Gen Santos City Chapter, and 1205^th CDC with the theme “ Dugo Ko, Buhay Mo” was held in 73^rd IB headquarters. This activity marked as one of the noblest act the Army can offer aside from guarding the land territories in maintaining peace and order in Sarangani Province.

2LT Marvin Rosal, the Executive officer of the 1205^th Community Development Center, 12 RCDG, ARESCOM, together with more or less 60 reservists from Bravo Company and Gen Santos City participated on the bloodletting activity.

“ The bulk of the soldier’s life today is more on humanitarian activities and blood donation is one of it,” Maj Romasanta said on his welcome remarks.  Ms. Estella Dolendres,CSR Blood Services of PNRC Gensan was thankful and in deep gratitude for the soldiers who donated blood and their willingness to offer a part of their lives for the welfare of others. “I am very much indebted to the soldiers of 73^rd IB and the reservist for their selfless love in this bloodletting activity. Many lives will be spared because of their volunteerism,” Ms Dolendres said on her message during the opening program.

“It is a great help and honor to the soldiers that they will be donating blood today. This humanitarian activity where the soldiers are doing now is one of the noble and brave act of service they could offer to the people,” LTC Espuelas said on his message during the opening the program.

A unit briefing was followed after the opening program while other volunteers piled up for registration. The briefing was presented by Lt Fernandez, operations officer of 73^rd IB which emphasized the culture of peace concept approach of the unit.

A total of 25 soldiers donated blood with at least 450cc/bag were collected during the activity.#

 

GMA 7 Born To Be Wild and 73rd IB - A Call for Peace

The GMA 7 Born To Be Wild host Kiko Rustia and his crew together with the 73rd IB and local officials of Brgy. Amsipit, Maasim, SP visited the B’laan tribes. The program covered the B’laan Tribes  of Amsipit and their Mameng expedition in Sarangani Bay. Their program will be aired for the whole month of May, 11:45 in the evening every Wednesday.

Joint 73IB-PNP Conference

Joint 73IB-PNP Conference :: MAASIM, Sarangani Province 27 April 2011- the 73rd Infantry (Neutralizer) Battalion hosted the Joint 73IB-PNP Conference purposely to know the situation in the respective area of operations. Every Chief of Police made inputs on the current situation and subsequently LTC Espuelas gave his guidance. 

Visit of International Monitoring Team

Visit of International Monitoring Team :: MAASIM, Sarangani Province - FIRST ADMIRAL MOHAMAD ADIB BIN ABDUL SAMAD Deputy head of mission visited the home of the Neutralizers at sitio Tampuan, Brgy Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani Province and welcomed by LTC Adolfo B Espuelas Jr 73IB Battalion Commader, Officers and Enlisted personnel of the unit. LTC Espuelas gave the visitors military honors and afterward delivered his briefing and tour around the camp. 

Platoon Sustainment Training

MAASIM, SARANGANI PROVINCE :: The 73rd Infantry Battalion conducted another training to continuously equip our soldiers additional knowledge to enhance their capabilities and to help the people in times of calamities.