TGA (Tayag-Goquingco Aquaculture) is looking at expanding its export market for its Filipino Nile Pacific Cherry Snapper product to include supermarkets in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Middle Eastern countries.

Rene Tayag, head of the five-year old tilapia production firm currently exporting to the United States, said the company is now seeking an accreditation by Qualibet Testing Services for the seal of excellence in all their export products.

FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET - TGA Foods
Corp. president Rene Tayag holds a giant Tilapia
ready for processing into fillet for the export market.

       Tayag said the seal of excellence will facilitate their entry into the export market, and therefore, doesn’t mind spending a little more for quality assurance.

TGA foods is HACCP-certified and accredited by the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
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The First Fisherfolk Congress will be held on March 26-30 at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Bonuan Binloc for the fisherfolks of Dagupan City and the towns of Mangaldan, San Fabian, Manaoag and San Jacinto.

Dr. Westly Rosario, BFAR center chief here and executive director of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), said the activities lined up aim to boost fish production in Pangasinan.

Experts from different parts of the country have been invited to share their knowledge on various topics pertaining to technologies on fish breeding and culture, he added.

Angelito dela Cruz, BFAR agriculturist here and in charge of the Fisherfolk Congress, told The PUNCH “it’s high time that the developed technologies of   BFAR in this city and in National Fisheries Technology Development Centers will be shared and transferred to fish farmers for their adoption.”
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TALK N’ TEXT CELEBRATION— Movie star Dominic Ochoa announces the various activities lined up for the anniversary of Talk N’ Text at Lucap in Alaminos as part of the city’s tourist-oriented city fiesta. Ochoa and fellow star Rica Paralejo (left) brought thrill and excitement to Alaminos residents. –(Punchphoto by Ray Zambrano)

DISASTER-PREPAREDNESS—House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. and his wife, Gina, distribute disaster-preparedness kits to barangay health workers in Dagupan City who are undergoing training conducted by the Office of Civil Defense. With them is former city councilor Belen Fernandez (3rd from right), president and general manager of the CSI Group of companies, who has been endorsed by the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party as their official candidate for vice mayor.

FARMERS’ ALLY—Team Unity senatorial bet Prospero “Butch” Pichay demonstrates his slogan “Ako si Prospero Pichay, Pro-Pinoy” to his welcoming supporters in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Pichay defended the rights of farmers in the province against the unregulated entry into the country of cheap, imported garlic, vegetables and tobacco.

BOUGAINVILLEA POWER–Mrs. Grace Rosario, wife of Mayor Sammy Rosario of Binmaley, leads the Women’s Brigade in setting up one of the initial 400 bougainvillea plants that they planted along the roadsides in Barangay Naguilayan as part of a town-wide beautification project.

FOR BEAUTIFICATION OF HIGHWAYS

BINMALEY—The Women’s Brigade here has launched its “Donasyon Mong Bougainvillea, Binmaley ay Gaganda” project to encourage people to donate this common ornamental plant to their group for planting along the town’s highways.

Grace Rosario, wife of Mayor Simplicio Rosario, led officers and members of Women’s Brigade here on Thursday in planting an initial 400 bougainvillea plants in barangay Naguilayan as part of their Women’s Month celebration.

She said they intend to plant 1,200 bougainvillas more in all the areas covering the five boundaries of the town

The Women’s Brigade has at least 100 members in each of the 18 barangays, all of whom have expressed willingness to support and carry out the project.
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Philamlife, the country’s largest and most diversified life insurance company, launches its 2007 Customer Rewards Program with cash prizes and a brand new car in store.

Starting this May, Philamlife will be holding raffle draws for 60 winners of P10,000.00 in cash. A grand raffle draw in January 2008 will determine the winner of a brand new Honda Civic.

Philamlife clients can participate in the raffle by sending in their policy number and contact information via SMS or text message. Active agents of winning policy owners will also get corresponding cash prizes.

Philamlife’s Customer Rewards Program is the company’s way of giving back to loyal customers, in celebration of its 60th anniversary in June.

Interested parties may call (02) 528-2000 for details on how to join.

Ten outstanding public school teachers of Dagupan City were honored during the awarding ceremony for the Search for Mata-lunggaring ya Maestra/Maestro on March 19 at the People’s Astrodome.

Awardees in the elementary level were: Marisel Maramba, East Central Elementary School (Grade I); Melba Paras, Tambac Elementary School (Grade II); Generosa Festejo, East Central Elementary School (Grade III); Erwina Camagay, Pugaro Elementary (Grade IV); Renato Benitez, Pugaro Elementary School (Grade V); and Manuel Ferrer, Salapingao Elementary School (Grade VI).   

Awardees in the secondary level included: Bernadette Castro, Dagupan City National High School (Year I); Maria Linda Ventenilla, DCNHS (Year 2); Rosalind Lomibao, DCNHS (year 3) and Cristina Aquino, Judge Jose De Venecia Sr. Memorial National High School (Year 4).
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THE San Carlos City Karate Team recently topped the women’s division in the karate event of the Philippine Olympic Festival 2007 North-Central Luzon Championships held in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Rizalyn Resultay, a first year engineering student at the Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation, won gold in kumite (sparring) category.

Resultay edged her competitors with superior techniques that are unique to her karate style - speed and evasion. She is a practitioner of Wado Ryu Ka rate-Do Institute, a karate institution responsible for building champions from San Carlos City through the years.

Other members of San Carlos City Karate Team who garnered medals were Kareen Joy Dela Cruz, 2nd year student at St. Therese College Foundation and Christian Estrada, Grade 5 pupil at San Carlos Central II Elementary School. They snatched four bronze medals from both kumite and kata events.
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