ARGAO MUNICIPAL PROFILE

The 222-year old Argao Church has always been one of the most notable cultural heritage structures of the entire province. The distinct and beautiful Rococo- Baroque architecture of this historical treasure has never failed to capture the interest of tourists, local and foreign alike.  But time has not been too friendly for this prized local heritage site. Its roof, ceiling, floors and convent have been the victim of undesirable and inevitable changes through the passing years. 

For this, the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) headed by Mr. Roque Sarcauga, and Rev. Fr. Silvino Y. Figues, Jr, the present Argao Parish Priest have spearheaded the restoration and conservation project of the convent and the church’s 2,000 linear meter roof area.

Argao, Cebu (July 7, 2010) -- The Parole and Probation Administration – Department of Justice Regional Office 7, specifically in the Minicipality of Argao, is celebrating the 34^th Anniversary and the 17^th Parole and Probation Week. This year's theme is “Thirty-four years of Redeeming Valuable Human Material: An Affirmation for Non-Custodial Measures.” The Agency has prepared various activities for the week-long celebration which highlighted with the following significant undertakings

a. Health and Nutrition Seminar (Argao Nature Park, July 7, 2010)

In community health and nutrition programs, households interact with health workers to protect and promote household members' health and nutrition, and to facilitate access to treatment of sickness. Mothers' and children's health and nutrition are a primary focus of the programs. Activities undertaken by community–based programs include the provision of prenatal care, women's health and nutrition, complementary feeding, nutrient supplementation, growth monitoring, and immunization.

June 30, 2010 was a special date for the ten (10) newly elected officials of the Municipality of Argao. These ten new breed of leaders who will run the municipality for the term of three years took their spot as they officially took oath for office last Wednesday.

The extraordinary inauguration affair begun with a eucharistic celebration, bringing themselves in thanking God for the opportunity of serving the common people of Argao. The solemn celebration made each official to lift their hands up to the Lord for envisioning three productive years for their term of office. After the mass, the ceremonial oath-taking happened at the Unity Plaza where a covenant of passion and commitment was witnessed as they raised their right hands in cadence with every powerful word they spoke for the Argawanons. The newly-installed LGU officials of Argao are as follow:

In order to curb the unemployment problem in marginalized barangays throughout the municipality, there is a need to initiate livelihood training programs that will provide opportunities for local communities and their residents to engage in various economic activities that will secure and augment their family income.

Youth are back bone to the nation. They can change the future of the society with their well being and courageous behavior. They are here to show us that which we have not been willing to look at within ourselves. Unfortunately today we find the youth those who are more interested in other places witch are not useful to them as well as nation. They chooses to spend their days doing drugs and playing video games. They spend their nights partying and living it up, so to speak. More and more young men of this age group are sitting at home in front of their televisions playing games all day instead of bettering themselves or going for worthwhile activities. They have no vision and if they do have dreams, they do not have the drive to make any attempt at achieving them.

June 25, 2010 was a commemorative event for the eight (8) outgoing elected officials of the Municipality of Argao. The evening’s affair was such one moment calling for a celebration of a life of a public servant that was lived to the fullest. The night was a showcase of a unique legacy of leadership as the municipality paid tribute and gave distinction to these outgoing officials who have given their best shot for a better Argao.

The human activities like illegal logging, illegal fishing, and quarrying are the common causes of destruction of the environment. These practices of human destroy the surroundings. While man is enjoying doing these, they don’t think the harmful effects of these to them. On the back of their mind, these practices were profitable and can be a livelihood. Moreover, they did it for themselves and they didn’t care about the environment. The man is smart but they use it to wise the other. In general, man had the biggest contribution why the environment was put in danger.

As the heavy rain cooled down the entire place, Argawanon’s deep sense of volunteerism and compassion heated up. The rain never became a reason for them to postpone the annual Independence Day Celebration. Luckily, the weather which was once uncooperative at last showed up to the crowd.

June 12, 2010‑‑‑ the 112^th Philippine Independence Day Celebration with its theme:

                                                “Kalayaan Yaman ng Bayan.”

                Working hand in hand with the Honorable mayor, Vice mayor, SB members, Department heads and heads of the different Agencies, employees and general public made the celebration successful.

The program started by a band parade (Community drum and Bugle Corps) and then followed by an opening prayer sang by Mr. Arnel Puerto and Ms. Rhona Llegunas, as a  flashback of the origin of the Philippine flag, its evolution was presented right after.

Mexican Ambassador, Tomas Javier Calvillo Unna Visited Argao Last May 28, 2010. He was accompanied by Madam Ambet Ocampo of National Historical Institute and Party. They went around the San Michael Church and the Church Belfry (Campanario) taking pictures as souvenirs.

    The first ever automated elections made fast the revelation of who and what type of leaders Argawanons longed to have. After hours and hours or even a day of waiting, standing on lines to make their choice here come at last another group of minds and hearts to render service to Argao and its constituents. At around four o'clock in the afternoon of May 11, 2010 the Office of the Commission on Election through Mrs. Delilah Fuentes, Election Officer and Board of Canvassers proclaimed the newly elected officials at the Office of the Sangguniang Bayan, Argao Municipal Hall.

Four members of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) visited Argao last Friday, February 26, 2010, to film Argao’s rich heritage structures in the walled complex to be included in a segment on Cebu in the BBC’s Fast Track Program.  The production crew was accompanied by a representative of the Department of Tourism and Atty. Christina Codilla Frasco, daughter of Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia.

The crew went around the walled complex with Atty. Frasco as its narrator.  The finished segment is expected to air on BBC on a weekend two weeks from time of filming.

Three of Argao’s young athletes have made it to the Palarong Pambansa, a national sports competition held each year to select the best athletic champions in the country.  Kent del Rosario, a graduating student of Argao National High School, Ives Fiel, also a graduating student of the Argao Center for Science Learning, Inc. (ACSLINC), and Crissianne “Wan-Wan” Kintanar of St. Michael School, have qualified for the Palarong Pambansa Track and Field, Chess, and Lawn Tennis competitions, respectively.

Although the local government of Argao has always paid more attention to basketball, this has not stopped other sports enthusiasts from pursuing their passions.  During the Cebu Provincial Meet held last November 21-25 last year in Liloan, Cebu, five Argawanon youngsters were able to bring honor to their municipality by winning various medals in their respective competitions.  These were Kent del Rosario, who won the gold medal in both the 100 and 200 meter dash divisions and another silver medal in the running long jump contest; Darlene Mae Relacion won second place in the lawn tennis competition while Wan-Wan Kintanar won the gold medal; Ives Fiel won the gold medal in chess, while Russell Pantinople won second in table tennis. 

One of Argao’s beloved sons, Cerge M. Remonde, a Press Secretary of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, died unexpectedly on January 19, 2010.  The 51 year old Argawanon had a heart attack in his home in Manila and was rushed to a hospital.  After a wake held in his honor in Manila, his body was flown to Cebu City on January 22 and a wake was later held at the Malacaňan Sa Sugbo.  The following day, his body was transferred to the President Diosdado Macapagal Sports and Cultural Center, whose financing and completion he personally helped facilitate.   The local government of Argao gave Sec. Remonde a fitting necrological service on Saturday night.  On Sunday, President Gloria M. Arroyo, Vice-President Noli de Castro, and many other government and military officials attended Remonde’s funeral mass held at the St. Michael the Archangel church.  A 21-gun salute was the fitting closing to Cerge Remonde’s very eventful life.

The Provincial Government through the Office of the SK Federation, the Office of Board Members in the Second District, Department of Labor and Employment and Public Employment Services Office under the Office of the Mayor conducted a Livelihood Training to the unemployed Argawanon constituents.

The said training was divided into two phases.

1. Beauty Care and Spa Livelihood Program (Oct. 19- Nov. 7, 2009)
2. Meat Processing and Soap Making Livelihood Program (Feb. 17, 2010)

After the Training the Department of Labor and Employment Region VII distributed the DOLE Kabuhayan Starter Kit a micro-business enterprise development concept intended for those who prefer putting up their own business as an alternative source of income. It consist of a package of priorities and services that will enable qualified beneficiaries to quickly start a livelihood undertaking and become self-employed like simple house-house service oriented skills, skills that can be enhanced through short period training, as well as new skills that be acquired through formal trainings.

The first Argao Singing Idol and Sayaw Argao Dance Group winners were proclaimed last September 27, 2009, during the grand finals of both contests held at the President Diosdado Macapagal Sports and Cultural Center.

                The four finalists for the Argao Singing Idol 2009 were Dwight Brian Chavez, Eeven Eslin Bacaltos, Ruth Fuentes, and Mhera Fuentes.  The three final groups for Sayaw Argao were the Sci-tech Dancers, the Lycans, and G-Tings. 

As a continuation to last year’s successful Garbo sa Argao Grand Awards Night, the local government of Argao decided to continue the tradition of awarding successful and outstanding Argawanons.  This year, during the Garbi sa Argao Grand Awards Night held at the Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Sports and Cultural Center on September 26, 2009, the following categories were established to simplify the awarding ceremony:

                Daniel Lim Sesaldo was born July 21, 1936 in Granada, Boljoon, Cebu, to Blaza Sesaldo and Ku Lim Sangan.  He studied at the Cebu Gospel School and later finished his Commerce degree from the University of San Carlos.    He married Azucena Diez Miñoza, daughter of former Mayor Eliseo E. Miñoza, on January 14, 1965 in Argao, Cebu.

Three hopefuls of the first ever Argao Singing Idol and two dance groups of the Sayaw Argao were eliminated last Saturday, August 8, 2009, held at the Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Sports and Cultural Center.

As part of the Province’s month-long celebration of Cebu’s 440^th founding anniversary, the Province of Cebu once more held the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals last August 15, 2009, at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

                Despite budgetary constraints and several other problems, the Argao Pitlagong Festival contingent joined in both the festival queen and ritual showdown competitions and performed to the best of their ability despite being clearly outdone by other contingents in terms of costumes, props, and backdrop. 

Caving experts and enthusiasts from all over the Philippines met together for the very first national seminar-workshop on Cave Research Survey Methods held on August 11 to 12, 2009 at the CSCST – Argao Campus.  The event was jointly sponsored by the Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Foundation (CBCF) and the Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in cooperation with the CSCST – Argao Campus and the Local Government of Argao, Cebu. 

Government officials and employees of the municipality of Maydolong, Eastern Samar visited Argao on July 2, 2009.  After a courtesy call at the mayor’s office, the officials and employees proceeded to the training center where Culture and Heritage officer Todd Lucero Sales gave a brief presentation on Argao’s history and profile.  Dr. Rhine Mamac, RHU-1 head, also gave a presentation on the steps and activities taken by the municipality to curb the malnutrition rate of the town.  After which the guests were taken to barangay Langub where they saw the efficiency of the barangay’s transactions due to the concentration of its government buildings in one compound. (TLS)

The Cebu Queen City Lion’s Club, together with the Moriah Lodge No. 252 of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Customs Inspectors and Guides Association (CIGA), sponsored a medical mission in barangay Bogo, Argao, on July 4, 2009.  Free medical and dental checkups were provided by the medical and dental team that the organizers brought with them.

                The Lion’s Club is headed by Atty. Raul Sanchez; Paul Alcazaren heads the Moriah Lodge No. 252 of the Free and Accepted Masons; and Edgar A. Galeos, brother of municipal mayor Edsel A. Galeos, is the president of the CIGA.