2016 Manggahan Festival in Guimaras

The beautiful island-province of Guimaras is now gearing up for the Manggahan Festival 2016, and I'll be marking my calendar on May 11-22 for a trip across the strait to enjoy its world's sweetest mangoes!



The festival drum-beating actually started March 31 when we were invited (as members of Iloilo media and bloggers) for the press presentation of Mutya ng Guimaras 2016 candidates - 9 sweet and lovely girls from 5 municipalities hoping to inherit the crown from reigning Queen Madelle Estaya - in SM City Iloilo activity center.

You can read more about the pageant and candidates here.

This year's theme “Forward We Go. Together We Grow. Padayon Guimaras.” hopes to pillar the plans of Guimarasnon for inclusive growth and vibrant development of the province.

While the major events will start on May 11, each town will have its own celebration on the whole month of April 2016. Here's the full schedule:

2016 Manggahan Festival Schedule

April 1 (Friday) – Grand Caravan
April 1 to May 22 – Manggahan Sports Festival
April 2-3 (Saturday and Sunday) – Manggahan sa San Lorenzo
April 9-10 (Saturday and Sunday) – Manggahan sa Sibunag
April 16-17 (Saturday and Sunday) – Manggahan sa Jordan
April 23-24 (Saturday and Sunday) – Manggahan sa Nueva Valencia
April 28-May 1 (Thursday to Sunday) – Manggahan sa Buenavista

May 11 (Wednesday)
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM Sports Complex – 2nd Gov. Gumarin Motorcross Challenge
9:00 AM – Opening Mass (Canopy)
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Mango Growers and Financier’s Day (Provincial Gym)
10:00 AM – 12:00 NN – Opening of Agri Trade and Tourism Fair, Food Fest, Pintraysekel, Manggahan Photo Contest 2016 Exhibit (Food Court Area)
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Pinta Basura sa Manggahan (Food Court Area)
3:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Employees’ Day (Food Court Area)
9:00 PM – Guimaras Caterers Association & Guimaras Food Processor’s Night, Live Band (Food Court Area)

May 12 (Thursday)
7:30 Am – 9:30 AM – OPENING SALVO and STREET DANCE COMPETITION (Provincial Capitol Grounds)
10:00 AM – 12:00 NN – Opening Program and Press Conference (Provincial Capitol Grounds)
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Red Cross Day (Food Court Area)
6:30 PM – 10:00 PM – Talentadong Guimarasnon Year 2 Finals (Food Court Area)
Guimaras State College Night (Food Court Area)
10:00 PM – Live Band (Food Court Area)

May 13 (Friday)
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM – Farmers and Fisherfolks’ Day Para sa mga Mangunguma – (Food Court Area)
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Salida Pamilya sa Manggahan (Provincial Gym)
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Job Fair (GTIC Function Hall)
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM – OFW Night (Food Court Area)
10:00 PM – Live Band (Food Court Area)

May 14 (Saturday)
6:00 AM – 5th Mango Man Triathlon (Alubijod Cove to Provincial Capitol)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Manggahan Sports Fest Championship Games (Provincial Gym)
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM – MANGO EAT ALL YOU CAN (Trade Fair Area)
5:00 Pm – 8:00 PM – LAKAN and LAKAMBINI CORONATION (Food Court Area)
8:00 PM -10:00 PM LGU Night (Food Court Area)
10:00 PM – Live Band (Food Court Area)

May 15 (Sunday)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM – 1st Dog Agility Sports Event and Fun Match sa Manggahan (Trade Fair Area)
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM – MANGO EAT ALL YOU CAN (Trade Fair Area)
7:00 PM – 11:00 PM – MR. GUIMARAS (Provincial Gym)
9:00 PM – Live Band (Food Court Area)

May 16 (Monday)
7:00 AM – 9:00 PM National Government Agencies and TAREC Day, Parada sang Serbisyo Publiko, NGAs Got Talent Competition (Food Court Area)
9:30 – 12:00 NN – One Stop Shop of Services (Provincial Gym)
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM – MANGO EAT ALL YOU CAN (Trade Fair Area)
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – 2016 Manggahan Familia Culinaria (Food Court Area)
10:00 PM – Live Band (Food Court Area)

May 17 (Tuesday)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Manggahan Sports Fest Championship Games (Provincial Gym)
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM – MANGO EAT ALL YOU CAN (Trade Fair Area)
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM – PGG Retirees’ Day (Food Court Area)
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM – DISCO DERBY (Food Court Area)
10:00 PM – Live Band (Food Court Area)

May 18 (Wednesday)
6:00 AM – 8:00 AM – Pasundayag sang Taga DEPED, Fit N’ D Crowd (Food Court Area)
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM – Literary and Musical Contest (Food Court Area)
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM – MANGO EAT ALL YOU CAN (Trade Fair Area)
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM – WV Cooperative Summit (Provincial Gym)
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM – QUO VADIS, JUAN? (Food Court Area)
10:00 PM – Live Band (Food Court Area)

May 19 (Thursday)
8:00 AM – 12:00 NN – WV Cooperative Summit (Provincial Gym)
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Tourism Day, Amazing Race (Food Court Area)
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM – MANGO EAT ALL YOU CAN (Trade Fair Area)
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM – TRIGs Night (Food Court Area)
10:00 PM – Live Band (Food Court Area)

May 20 (Friday)
8:00 AM – 12:00 NN – 2nd Provincial Rescuelympics (Food Court Area)
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Kalusugan Pangkalahatan sa Manggahan (Health Day), Dugong Alay sa Manggahan, Symposium on the Importance of Voluntary Blood Service Program 9GTIC Board Room)
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM – MANGO EAT ALL YOU CAN (Trade Fair Area)
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Search for Mutya ng Guimaras (Provincial Gym)
10:00 PM – Live Band (Food Court Area)

May 21 (Saturday)
2nd Manggahan Bike Fest Day 1
6:00 AM – Tour de Guimaras (Jordan Wharf)
7:00 AM Enduro Challenge (Woodland Bike Park)
2:00 PM – Kiddies Race, Woodland Invitational Tournament (Woodland Bike Park)
6:00 AM – Color Fun Run (Provincial Capitol Canopy)
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM – ManggaZumba (RTC Parking Area)
8:00 AM – 12:00 NN – MANGGAHAN CULTURAL COMPETITION (Food Court Area)
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM – MANGO EAT ALL YOU CAN (Trade Fair Area)
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Mango Picking (Capitol Area)
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM 0 Sinadya sa Capitol / Tunog Manggahan (Food Court Area)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – CULTURAL COMPETITION AWARDING CEREMONY (Food Court Area)
4:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Kapamilya Caravan (Food Court Area)
9:00 PM – Live Band (Food Court Area)

May 22 (Sunday)
2nd Manggahan Bike Fest Day 2
6:00 AM – Funride (Jordan Wharf)
8:00 AM – Cross Country (Woodland Bike Park)
11:00 AM – 4X and BMX Challenge (Woodland Bike Park)
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – AWARDING Bike Fest ((Woodland Bike Park)
7:00 AM – Anniversary Parade, DRUM and Majorette Parade Competition (Hill Top to Food Court Area)
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM – MANGO EAT ALL YOU CAN (Trade Fair Area)
9:00 AM – Thanks Giving Mass (Food Court Area)
10:30 AM – 12:00 NN – Anniversary Program (Food Court Area)
1:30 PM – 3:30 PM Awarding Ceremony (Food Court Area)
Drum and Majorette Competition
Manggahan Familia Culinaria
Agri-Trade and Tourism Fair
Manggahan Sports Fest
Pintraysekel
Float Competition
Manggahan Photo Contest 2016
Others
8:00 PM – Estrellas sa Kalangitan Manggahan Fireworks Competition 2016 (Food Court Area)
10:00 PM – Live Band (Food Court Area)

Surely, locals and tourist will enjoy the events lined up for Manggahan, and yes, I'll be there to once again savor (and bring home more of) the sweetest mangoes as its price range goes down during the festival.


I enjoyed my Manggahan trip last year, and definitely want some more mangoes this year!

See you and your family and friends there!

CHED Scholarship application steps, requirements

Bright students who are in need of financial assistance for their college enrollment can submit CHED Scholarship application and requirements. The government agency offers full and half merit scholarship under Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs), grant-in-aid programs and also student loan program under Study Now Pay Later Plan (SNPLP).

Ched scholarships availability is usually announced in February every year, and application period runs through March and April. Here’s the details of qualifications, requirements and steps based on the LATEST Ched Memorandum Orders No. 29 series of 2009 as amended by No. 07 and 56 series of 2012.

One of the updates is the lifting of NCAE results as one of the requirements. Check the details of CHED scholarship application below.

Qualifications

1. Must be a Filipino citizen of good moral character.
2. Must not be more than 30 years of age at the time of application except for senior citizens;
3. Must be a high school graduate or a candidate for graduation;
4. Must have a combined annual gross income of parents/guardian not to exceed P300,000.000. For those who are exempted from filing income tax, there should be a certificate of tax exemption from the BIR. For OFW and seafarers, a latest copy of contract or proof of income.
5. Must not be a recipient of any government scholarship and financial assistance.

Documentary Requirements

1. CHED StuFAPs Application (OSS Form 01);
2. Duly certified HighSchool Report Card for third year and grades for the first three grading periods for fourth year:
3. Latest Income Tax Return(ITR), Certificate of Tax Exemption or Copy of Contract or proof of income of parents/guardian from Bureau of Internal Revenue;
4. Certificate of good moral character from the high school principal/guidance counselor;
Application Steps

1. Get a copy of CHED StuFAPs application form from CHED offices or download it: Click here (PDF Reader required).
2. Fully accomplished the form and submit it to CHED Regional Offices together with all documentary requirements mentioned above.
3. After evaluation, CHED will contact/mail you regarding status of your application. Based on their timeline, notice of award to qualified applicants is issued in April but sometimes may be delayed to May or June.

Financial Assistance

• Full Merit Program – P15,000 per semester
• Half Merit Program – P7,500 per semester
• Tulong Dunong grant-in-aid – P6,000 per semester
• Study Now Pay Later Plan – P7,500 per semester

CHED scholarship grantees must enroll in priority courses listed here. For more information visit CHED regional offices for your inquiries. For updates on scholarships, please stay on this blog and follow me on Twitter @nonoy.

New Philhealth Contribution Table for Voluntary, Employed, OFW members

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation implements the new Philhealth Contribution Table for voluntary/individually-paying, employed, OFWs and sponsored members starting January 2014.



Philhealth board resolution No. 1571 series of 2011 sanctioned the increase in the member premium contribution, but due to public clamor against it, the implementation of new schedule was deferred in 2013.

Board resolution 1842 series of 2013 empowers the agency to implement the increase in 2014. With the new schedule of contributions, Philhealth members will be entitled to in-patient hospital care including all the rate packages and catastrophic illnesses in the Case Z Type Benefit Package, out-patient coverage and other special benefit packages.

Contribution schedule for Individually-paying / Voluntary

• P25,000 and below monthly income – P2,400 annually (you can pay by quarter, semi-annual, annual)
• Over P25,000 monthly income - P3,600 annually

Contribution schedule for Employed sector

Premium rate for employed sector shall be at 2.5%, using the same salary bracket. Salary bracket floor is at P8,000 and ceiling at P35,000.

Salary Bracket	Salary Range	Salary Base	Total Monthly Premium	Employee Share*	Employer Share
*Employee share represents half of the total monthly premium while the other half is shouldered by the employer. **For Kasambahay helper receiving a wage of less than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) per month, the employer will shoulder both the employee and employer share based on the premium schedule.
1	8,999.99** and below	8,000.00	200.00	100.00	100.00
2	9,000.00 - 9,999.99	9,000.00	225.00	112.50	112.50
3	10,000.00 - 10,999.99	10,000.00	250.00	125.00	125.00
4	11,000.00 - 11,999.99	11,000.00	275.00	137.50	137.50
5	12,000.00 - 12,999.99	12,000.00	300.00	150.00	150.00
6	13,000.00 - 13,999.99	13,000.00	325.00	162.50	162.50
7	14,000.00 - 14,999.99	14,000.00	350.00	175.00	175.00
8	15,000.00 - 15,999.99	15,000.00	375.00	187.50	187.50
9	16,000.00 - 16,999.99	16,000.00	400.00	200.00	200.00
10	17,000.00 - 17,999.99	17,000.00	425.00	212.50	212.50
11	18,000.00 - 18,999.99	18,000.00	450.00	225.00	225.00
12	19,000.00 - 19,999.99	19,000.00	475.00	237.50	237.50
13	20,000.00 - 20,999.99	20,000.00	500.00	250.00	250.00
14	21,000.00 - 21,999.99	21,000.00	525.00	262.50	262.50
15	22,000.00 - 22,999.99	22,000.00	550.00	275.00	275.00
16	23,000.00 - 23,999.99	23,000.00	575.00	287.50	287.50
17	24,000.00 - 24,999.99	24,000.00	600.00	300.00	300.00
18	25,000.00 - 25,999.99	25,000.00	625.00	312.50	312.50
19	26,000.00 - 26,999.99	26,000.00	650.00	325.00	325.00
20	27,000.00 - 27,999.99	27,000.00	675.00	337.50	337.50
21	28,000.00 - 28,999.99	28,000.00	700.00	350.00	350.00
22	29,000.00 - 29,999.99	29,000.00	725.00	362.50	362.50
23	30,000.00 - 30,999.99	30,000.00	750.00	375.00	375.00
24	31,000.00 - 31,999.99	31,000.00	775.00	387.50	387.50
25	32,000.00 - 32,999.99	32,000.00	800.00	400.00	400.00
26	33,000.00 - 33,999.99	33,000.00	825.00	412.50	412.50
27	34,000.00 - 34,999.99	34,000.00	850.00	425.00	425.00
28	35,000.00 and up	35,000.00	875.00	437.50	437.50

Contribution schedule for Sponsored members

This covers the Sponsored Program members who are not included in the NHTS PR list and whose contributions are fully or partially subsidized by the LGUs, legislators, private entities and national government agencies.

• Annual contribution – P2,400

Contribution schedule of OFWs

Starting January 1, 2014, landbased Overseas Filipino Workers shall pay annual contribution of P2,400. Premiums may be paid in local Philhealth offices or accredited collecting agents here and abroad.

Deadline of payments

• Quarterly: Pay until the last working day of the quarter being paid for.
• Semi-annual: Pay until the last working day of the first quarter of the semester being paid for.
• Annual: Pay until the last working day of the first quarter of the year being paid for.

For questions and more information, visit official Philhealth website or its main and regional offices. For updates, stay on this site and follow me on Facebook HERE or at Twitter @nonoy.