Updates on St. Peter Thelmo Church Construction and Appeal for Donation of Pews

(Saint Peter Gonzalez, 13 April 2011)

 

         Please view the pictures  at the facebook link of St. Peter Gonzalez.










The Church also appeals for donation to buy additional pews.   The contact information is as follows:
ST. PETER THELMO PARISH OFFICE
TEL #:  (078)888-22-17
BANK ACCOUNT.. PNB-APARRI PPC #  225386500012

HOLY WEEK 2011 (SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES)

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APRIL 17, 2011 - PALM SUNDAY
                                * REGULAR SCHEDULE OF SUNDAY MASSES
                                * BLESSING OF PALM BEFORE THE MASS
                   6:00 PM - STATION OF THE CROSS


APRIL 18, 2011 - MAUNDY MONDAY


APRIL 19, 2011 - HOLY TUESDAY
                                * CHRISM MASS (Tuguegarao City)


APRIL 20, 2011 - HOLY WEDNESDAY
                                * BISITA IGLESIA 
                 5:30 AM - MASS
                 5:15 PM - MASS


APRIL 21, 2011 - HOLY THURSDAY
    8:00 - 9:00 AM    -  TALK
    9:00 - 11:00 AM  -  CONFESSION
    5:00 PM               -  MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
    6:00 - 11:00 PM  -  VIGIL
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6:00 - 7:00 PM     - APOSTLESHIP OF PRAYED/ DIVINE MERCY/ CATECHIST/ TALLUNGAN/
                              GADDANG/ TORAN
7:00 - 8:00 PM     - CENACLE/ CWL/ MAURA/ SAN ANTONIO
8:00 - 9:00 PM     - CPM/ PHO/ LEGION OF MARY/ PUNTA/ MINANGA/ MACANAYA
9:00 - 10:00 PM   - COMMITTEE ON WORKSHIP/ PFT

10:00 - 11:00 PM - KC/ ADORATION/ CENTRO 1 - 15

APRIL 22, 2011 - GOOD FRIDAY
    8:00 - 9:00 AM    -  TALK
    9:00 - 12:00 AM  -  CONFESSION
    1:00 PM               -  7 LAST WORDS
    5:00 PM               -  PROCESSION AROUND THE TOWN
    6:00 PM               -  VIGIL/ AGEP
                                   "PABASA"


APRIL 23, 2011 - HOLY SATURDAY
    8:00 - 9:00 AM    -  TALK
    9:00 - 12:00 AM  -  CONFESSION
    8:00 PM               -  BLESSING OF THE NEW FIRE
                                 -  EASTER VIGIL
                                 -  SALUBONG/ SABET


APRIL 24, 2011 - EASTER SUNDAY
     6:30 AM           - MASS
     8:00 AM           - MASS
                              - (ANGELS WILL SING)
     9:00 AM           - EASTER EGG HUNTING
    4:00 PM            - MASS
    5:00 PM            - MASS
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331st APARRI TOWN FIESTA - The 3rd Aramang Festival - May 1-11, 2011

Theme: “Pasasalamat at Pagdiriwang Sa Mga Biyaya ng Kalikasan”


SCHEDULE OF FESTIVITIES


DAY 1 : May 1, 2011 - LABOR DAY CELEBRATION

    4:00 am - Diana around the Poblacion area

    7:00 am - Parade around the Town & Street dancing Competition

    8:00 am - Opening Program of the 3rd Aramang Festival

    10:00 am - Mass wedding @ the Municipal Function Hall

    2:00 pm - Aramang Cooking Contest & Search for Pinaka (agricultural products)     

    7:00 pm - Presentation of Candidates for Miss Aparri, Mr. Aparri  & FATalbugan


DAY 2 : May 2, 2011 - LITTLE MR. & MS. APARRI 2011

    8:00 am - Bloodletting Activity (Municipal Function Hall)

    7:00 pm - Coronation Night of Little Mr.  & Ms. Aparri


DAY 3 : May 3, 2011 - CULTURAL & BALIK APARRI NIGHT

    7:00 pm - Cultural Show
                       

DAY 4 : May 4, 2011 - SK NIGHT AND SEARCH FOR MR. APARRI 2011

    8:00 am to 4:00 pm - Job Fair (Municipal Hall Lobby)

    7:00 pm - Search and Coronation for Mr. Aparri 2011


DAY 5 : May 5, 2011 - SEARCH FOR MS. FATALBUGAN 2011 - 170-Pounder Healthy Ladies in Their Finest Form

    7:00 pm - Search and Coronation for Miss FATalbugan 2011


DAY 6: May 6, 2011 - SEARCH FOR MISS GAY APARRI 2011  -  The Search for the Most “Bong-gay-cious” Gay in Town

    7:00 pm - Search and Coronation for Miss Gay 2011


DAY 7 : MAY 7, 2011 - BARANGAY NIGHT & TALENT COMPETITION OF CANDIDATES FOR MISS APARRI 2011

    1:00 pm - Coca-Cola Pa-Bingo (Public Gymnasium)

    7:00 pm - Ms. Aparri 2011 Candidates'  Talent Competition


DAY 8 : MAY 8, 2011 - WOMEN’S & SENIOR CITIZENS’ NIGHT

    4:00 am - Cycling Competition (In front of Municipal Hall)

    7:00 AM - Women’s Night
                                

DAY 9 : May 9, 2011 -  BATTLE OF THE BANDS
                                   
    4:00 am - Marathon Competition (In front of Municipal Hall)

    7:00 pm - Battle of the Bands


DAY 10 : May 10, 2011 - FLUVIAL PARADE - "BARANGAYAN SADIAY SABANGAN”

    7:00 am - Fluvial Parade along the coastal water in Honor of St. Peter Thelmo featuring artistically decorated boats

    7:00 pm - SEARCH FOR MISS APARRI 2011 - The Pageant and Coronation Night for Miss Aparri

                
DAY 11 : May 11, 2011 -  SMB NIGHT

    8:00 am - Mass @ St. Peter thelmo Parish Church

    9:00 am - Palaro ng Bayan (Public Park)

    7:00 pm - SMB Night and Gabi ng Parangal

Florida Bus Lines - Charter during "The Homecoming"

We were able to get in touch with Florida Bus Lines for a possible chartering of their buses going to Aparri from Manila Hotel.

 

The cost to charter ranges from P40K-45K with capacity of 28-35 persons. These are the buses they call Super DeLuxe and Sleeper.

 

The bus leaves the morning of April 30 from the Manila Hotel.

 

If you are interested, please email or call me. This will be a first come, first serve basis. I will need payment in advance to pay the bus company.

 

Thanks and regards.

 

TARRIE S. CO
45420 Ashwood Ct.
La Quinta, CA 92253
Home (760) 636 4687
Cell    (760) 289 0252

Minutes of Board Meeting, March 26, 2011 – Aparri International, Inc.

(Tarrie S. Co, March 26, 2011)

Date:                     March 26, 2011

Location:             Residence of Ferdinand Meram

                           1352 Waterloo Street, Los Angeles, California

Attendees:

Board Members: Tarrie S. Co, President, Loreto (Boysie) Bermejo, First VP, Ferdinand Meram, Treasurer, Janet Macatiag, Secretary, Fe Reyes, Auditor, and Antonio Mallari, Area West Representative.

Other Members: James and Elisa Acoba, Celie Meram, Estelita Purino, Elnora Florendo, Zeny Bermejo, Ferdie  Rabaja, Mr. & Mrs. Ramon Valera, and Domingo Barga (all the way from San Diego).

The meeting was called to order at 2:00 pm

Having been distributed by email, and no objections or corrections received, reading of the minutes of the last board meeting was dispensed with.

Agenda:

President’s Report on the Overall Status of Homecoming Reunion Events

·         The schedule of events has been confirmed and remains the same. In addition, Congressman Juan Ponce C. Enrile, Jr. has confirmed as Keynote speaker at the event.

·         Souvenir Program

o   The March 12, 2011 deadline has passed and we are no longer accepting applications for sponsorship pages,

o   The booklet has been compiled and the Souvenir committee has already reviewed one set of proofs and the final proof is available here at the meeting for final review and corrections. (In the course of the meeting, a recess was taken and all members present reviewed the proofs and suggested corrections as needed.) Once all corrections have been made, the printer will be given the go ahead to print the booklets and the booklets should be ready for distribution at our next board meeting. Attendees at the next board meeting will be given 15-30 booklets to bring to the Philippines where we will be handing out the souvenir program booklets at the grand ball event.

o   The souvenir program should result in a gain of funds of between $3500 and $4000. Essentially all funds to be received have already been received and the printing costs are all that need to be paid.

·         The update report on the reunion was emailed to our master list and responses are coming in.

·         Grand Ball Attendance Status

o   There has been no change in the number of US tickets sold and paid for since the last meeting: we are still at 30 tickets.

o   According to the Philippines committee, 100 Philippines tickets have been sold.

o   Since sending out the last update, the Ticket Sales committee has been actively calling members to determine attendance.  There are approximately 60-70 people who indicated that they were attending from the U.S., but they have yet to provide formal confirmation or to make reservations. Most of these have indicated that they will most likely pay at the door. Many of these also indicated that they would be bringing Philippines resident guests with them.

o   Once the April 12, 2011 deadline has passed, at our next board meeting, we will have better indications of US and Philippines tickets sales and reservations. We will then have to decide on whether we need to decrease our confirmed attendance numbers with the Manila Hotel to avoid incurring unnecessary expenses. If it looks like we will be too far away from the 400 attendance goal, we may have to reduce our commitment number which will cause us to have to pay for the additional cost of use of the ballroom for not meeting the 400 number. In an abundance of caution, the board assumed an attendance of only 300 in carrying out its further financial analysis.

o   We will send a final update on the reunion to our master email list early next week.

·         With the 30 US tickets and 100 Philippines tickets sold and paid for, the association is still in good financial position for the ballroom event as it is faced with only about a $300 loss of funds plus the cost of renting the room if it only reserves for 300 and has no further ticket sales. The sales of the souvenir ad pages have provided us with a buffer zone against losses. However, since our purpose is to raise funds to use for our projects, all attendees were urged to communicate with their contacts to encourage all potential attendees to at least call and make reservations so that we can make better decisions. In addition, the overall sense of the board is that we will still at least double the current ticket sales by the date of the event when we include those who indicated they would attend but pay at the door. If absolutely needed, the association can cut the commitment number further, to 250 or 200 if we see no more ticket sales or reservations by the deadline. Of course, this will increase the risk that people without reservations will have to be turned away at the door.

President’s Report on Executive Decisions made since last Board Meeting:

President Tarrie Co advised the board of Executive Decisions had had to make in the interim since the last Board Meeting and asked that they be ratified. 

Background: As a result of two factors, he had made executive decisions concerning the reunion ball which will be held at the Manila Hotel. First, the Philippine committee had a telephone conference and recommended that the board “reverse its position of Manila group by helping us other than just selling tickets” while noting that “Time is of the essence as there is not much time.”  The full text of the minutes of the Philippine Committee teleconference meeting which was attended by Gin Cababa and Titang Leabres is attached to these minutes. The second factor was that the last board meeting was postponed due to the potential lack of a quorum as many board members had prior commitments.

The Philippine committee raised the following issues:

·         Manila Group assigned tasks:

o    Ticket Sales – Manila group was to sell tickets only with no other tasks

o    100 tickets have been sold to date

o    There is a problem on how the checks are to be deposited as the association does not have a Philippine bank account.

·         Manila Hotel Arrangements

o    Reservation has been confirmed for a minimum of 400 guests, deposit has been made, and contract has been received by the association. The Manila group assumed 100 US based attendees and 300 Philippine based attendees.

o    Manila hotel needs information about motif for standard arrangements, etc., whether to have a presidential table, number of microphones needed, flowers, and size of dance floor.

o    Dinner selection still needs to be made.

·         Music

o    Aware that the board had previously decided that music would be provided only by a DJ, the group suggested adding a live band noting that a 3 man live band would only cost around P 15,000 or $300.

·         Program – the group complained that it had not yet received the program for the event. It also suggested a cadet marching band for the national anthem, and wanted to know if souvenir programs were going to be sold at the event.

Decisions Made: Since the Manila group correctly pointed out that Time is of the Essence, President Co made the following executive decisions, and seeks ratification of them by the board:

1.       Using his inherent authority under the original resolution authorizing the association to have and maintain a bank account, he initiated the opening of a Philippine National Bank peso account with the PNB branch here in West Covina, California. Once this account is opened in the next few days, Philippine peso instruments can be deposited into this account, both here and in the Philippines. Once funds are in this account, the funds will be subject to the legal and fiduciary rules governed by the associations Article of Incorporation and governing California laws and regulations.

2.       He authorized a budget of P5, 000 and requested the Manila group to arrange for a food tasting and arrange for a buffet dinner within the range of the previously board approved P 1,300 per person price range.

3.       He advised the Manila group that the board still needed to decide on the details for the set up with the Manila hotel.

4.       He advised the Manila group that we had P 40,000 budgeted for music, which would include both a DJ and a live band providing all required music services, and, relying on the representation that a 3 man band would only cost P 15,000 asked them to solicit a proposal to see if we could add a live band to our music vendors.

5.       He made the executive decision to request that the Manila group solicit proposals from videography/photography providers.

6.       He made the executive decision to decline utilizing a marching band in the reunion ball ceremonies.

President Co then advised the board that he had received a request from the Manila group that we remit P 20,000 immediately as down payment to retain a 7 man band and that we remit P 12,500 immediately as down payment to retain a videographer/photographer for P 25,000. He was not given any details on the terms of engagement for either the band or the videographer/photographer.

Much board discussion ensued.

Board ACTION on the President’s request for ratification of executive decisions:

1.       The board unanimously ratified the executive decision to open a Philippine bank account.

2.       The board unanimously ratified the executive decision to conduct a food-tasting and delegate the menu selection to the Manila group.

3.       The board unanimously concurred with the decision to defer hotel settings to the board.  It was also noted during the discussion, that Ferdie Rabaja will be in Manila a week prior to the event, and that he was going to take care of flower arrangements. It was suggested that Ferdie Rabaja also be given authority to make final last minute changes to the arrangements. For example, it was noted that the Manila hotel may have the capacity to provide a much larger dance floor size (up to 80 by 160 feet) if we request it. He should be authorized to make necessary venue settings arrangements if it does not add too much to the overall costs. Further discussion will be held on this issue at the April 16^th board meeting.

4.       The board, by a 4 to2 vote, refused to ratify any changes to the music arrangements and re-affirmed its prior decision to have only a DJ provide the music. It directed the President to request that the Manila group solicit a bid from a DJ, if it desires, making sure that any bid from the DJ also guarantees that the DJ will provide an adequate sound system for the Manila Hotel ballroom, as the contract with the Manila Hotel only includes a basic sound system which is not adequate for dance music. Final decision on the music is deferred to the April 16^th board meeting.

5.       The board made a unanimous qualified ratification of the decision to utilize the services of a videographer/photographer. First, it reduced the amount the association will pay for a video disc to no more that P 15,000. It was the sense of the board that it is willing to pay the videographer to videotape the event and produce a 2 hour video of the event that includes the approximately one and one-half hour of the ceremonies and one-half hour of random shots of the attendees participating in the event. However, the end product video shall become the exclusive property of the association, with all rights of reproduction and sale. It is also willing to grant the videographer/photographer exclusive right to take and sell photographs of attendees to the attendees with no consignment fees, provided that the photographs will be available for delivery to purchasers by the end of the reunion event, and that no funds will be accepted from purchasers except at the time the photographs are delivered. It directed the president to request the Manila group to solicit a formal bid from a videographer/photographer that clearly comports with the above requirements.  In light of the generous extension of the right to make photograph sales, the board expressed its expectation that a proposal will most likely be far less than the amount budgeted, if not in fact, free.

6.       The board unanimously concurred in the decision to not utilize the services of a marching band.

The next Board Meeting will be held on April 16, 2011 at the residence of Manny & Girlie Calusa, 139 E. 234th St., Carson, California.

The President’s Report and the above board decisions, having covered all of the topics that would have otherwise been on the agenda, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 pm.

Updates on Aparri International, Inc. Grand Reunion in Manila and Aparri

(Tarrie S. Co, March 28, 2011)

This is to remind you of our upcoming Reunion, and the steps you need to take if you plan on attending.

April 29, 2011 – Homecoming Grand Ball at the historical Manila Hotel

May 3, 2011 – Balikbayan Cultural Night in the Aparri Gymnasium

May 4, 2011 – Picnic on the Beach in Aparri

WE WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO COMMIT TO THE HOTEL FOR WHAT WE KNOW IN ADVANCE. SO IF YOU DON’T COMMIT TO US AND AT LEAST MAKE A RESERVATION, YOU AND YOUR GUESTS WILL RUN THE RISK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND!!!!

THE DEADLINE FOR PURCHASING TICKETS AND/OR RESERVING TICKETS IS APRIL 12, 2011.

US Tickets are white and are $ 100 each and only for NON-PHILIPPINE RESIDENTS AND include participation in all of our Reunion Events in both Manila and Aparri. Philippine Tickets are red and are PhP2500 each but are only for PHILIPPINE RESIDENTS WHO ATTEND THE Homecoming Ball at the Manila Hotel.

ALL PAYMENTS MADE “AT THE DOOR” FOR RESERVED TICKETS MUST BE IN CASH. PESOS FOR red TICKETS, USD FOR white TICKETS.

If you are currently in the US or Canada, please send your inquiries about purchasing tickets or your reservations for tickets, to Tarrie Co at mailto:tarrie_co@yahoo.com as soon as you are done reading this. You can also purchase tickets or make reservations for any guests who reside in the Philippines that you plan to bring with you to the event.

If you are currently a resident of the Philippines, contact any of the following persons to purchase or reserve tickets:

Contact Person             Cell No              Email

Teresita M Leabres  0317-812-9294   titaleabres@yahoo.com

Rema T Manzano    0929-790-6888

Jane V Lingan          0927-601-2141

SEE YOU IN MANILA AND IN APARRI!!!

TARRIE S. CO
45420 Ashwood Ct.
La Quinta, CA 92253
Home (760) 636 4687
Cell     (760) 289 0252

Updates on Aparri International, Inc. Grand Reunion in Manila and Aparri - "The Homecoming"

 (Tarrie S. Co,  March 13, 2011)

We are pleased to announce that everything needed for a successful, albeit basic and simple, reunion ball has been accomplished. In fact, we have now met our MINIMUM expectations. Here is our schedule:

April 29, 2011 – Homecoming Grand Ball at the historical Manila Hotel - We will have a basic event, with ceremonies limited to one and one-half hours during dinner. Our goal is to have the maximum amount of time for the attendees to socialize with each other; both during the 2 hour reception before the program starts, and again after the brief ceremonies and dinner are over. And of course, lots of time to dance is built into the event.

May 3, 2011 – Balikbayan Cultural Night in the Aparri Gymnasium – In addition to enjoying the program our town mates will put on for us, we will be participating by entering 2 numbers into the program.

May 4, 2011 – Picnic on the Beach in Aparri – Let’s all get dark in the brilliant tropical sun of our beautiful beaches. Although the beach picnic will basically be a “pot-luck,” the association has budgeted funds to cover drinks and miscellaneous sundries (paper plates, flatware, decorations, etc.), and maybe some special viands for the picnic.

WE WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO COMMIT TO THE HOTEL FOR WHAT WE KNOW IN ADVANCE. SO IF YOU DON’T COMMIT TO US AND AT LEAST MAKE A RESERVATION, YOU AND YOUR GUESTS WILL RUN THE RISK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND!!!!

THE DEADLINE FOR PURCHASING TICKETS AND/OR RESERVING TICKETS IS APRIL 12, 2011.

US Tickets are white and are $ 100 each and include participation in all of our Reunion Events in both Manila and Aparri. Philippine Tickets are red and are PhP2500 each but are only for the Homecoming Ball at the Manila Hotel.

ALL PAYMENTS MADE “AT THE DOOR” FOR RESERVED TICKETS MUST BE IN CASH. PESOS FOR red TICKETS, USD FOR white TICKETS.

General Information and Progress Report

Aparri International, Inc. was founded for the purpose of promoting unity and camaraderie amongst Aparrianos around the world and to use this camaraderie for the benefit of our beloved hometown. So we have reunions and other fund-raising events to raise money for projects that will be useful to our hometown.  We have two active projects right now: a medical mission in Aparri in November 2012 and the creation of a self-sustaining cultural center in Aparri as soon as possible. To make these projects happen, we need to raise funds.

Our US ticket sales (we believe we have 100 sold!) our Philippines ticket sales to date (we also believe we have 100 sold), and the souvenir ad sales have raised enough funds already for us to break even as of today.  This means that our reunion will be a qualified success. Additional sales, especially of Philippine tickets, will give us additional funds to be used for our projects. So for us to be really successful in raising funds, we need 2 things to happen: First, we need more US and Canadian Aparrianos to join us in this reunion and buy US tickets. Second, we really need to ensure that more Aparrianos in the Philippines attend the events and buy Philippines tickets.

If you are an Aparriano in the US or Canada who has not yet purchased tickets but are planning to attend, please send us an email and let us know your plans. If you can purchase your tickets and pay for them by the April 12, 2011 deadline, that will be wonderful. But if all you can do is to confirm to us that you will be there, we can still reserve tickets for you to purchase at the door. However, we need your confirmation in order to be able to do this.  Similarly, if you cannot attend yourself, consider having a relative in Aparri attend on your behalf. If you can confirm that your relatives will attend, we can reserve tickets for your relatives at the door. The most important thing for us at this point is to know who will be attending the grand ball. We will only make a commitment to the hotel for the number of attendees who give us confirmations!

We also understand that the Manila Hotel can handle more than our current minimum projection of 200 persons. We have room for more, but only if we know in advance.

 The last thing we want is for the Association to pay for something that we won’t use.

Our Philippines committee has done a great job so far, and we can only hope that they can get even more tickets sold, and especially hope that they can get an accurate count of the confirmed number of attendees from the Philippines. We need your help too – make up your minds to join us and let us know you will be there, and, get your friends and relatives in the Philippines to join us as well.

Here’s one final caution for those of you who are thinking of just showing up without tickets or reservations. Once we have made the commitment to the hotel for the number of attendees, we will only have a very small margin to sell tickets at the door to un-reserved walk-ins. If we commit to 200 attendees, we will only be able to accommodate 10 persons without reservations. If we commit to 400 attendees, we will only be able to accommodate 20 persons without reservations. Don’t risk being turned away. Contact us and let us know your plans.

If you are currently in the US or Canada, please send your inquiries about purchasing tickets or your reservations for tickets, to Tarrie Co at mailto:tarrie_co@yahoo.com as soon as you are done reading this,

If you are currently a resident of the Philippines, contact any of the following persons to purchase or reserve tickets:

Contact Person............Cell No...................Email     

Terestita M Leabres.......0917-812-9294.......titaleabres@yahoo.com     

Rema T Manzano...........0929-790-6888

Jane V Lingan................0927-601-2141         

Naty Cueto             

Nora Paggabao             

Atty. Boysie Manzano            

SEE YOU IN MANILA AND IN APARRI!!!

2010 Cagayan Photo Contest - Grand Prize Winner

Batangrelax O. Sipe

These were my entries in the Cagayan Photo Contest held last November 15, 2010.  Fortunately, I was awarded the grand prize.  Enjoy the pictures...

A Bit of Trivia - "Madrid - Aparri First Flight"

(Tyrone Paragua, February 24, 2011)

"Madrid - Aparri Flight", was said to have been launched to commemorate the friendship between the Philippines and Spain.

Some comments published subsequently mentions about a book written by the late Ed de Rivera Castillet: "Cagayan Province and Her People".   I just would like to mention, in passing, that I found a copy of the book from among my father's archives (he died December 2009).   And the book did contain an account of that historic flight made by the two Spanish pilots from Madrid to Aparri on board a Breguet biplane in May 11, 1926.   The names of the two Spanish pilots: Capts. Eduardo Gallarza and Joaquin Loriga, are now immortalized in the town as two of the streets in San Antonio have been named after them.

Footnotes:

• Rivera Castillet, Edvigio de. Cagayan Province and Her People. Manila, Philippines:  published 1960. (FHL book 959.91 E3r; film 0795964 item 4.) This work has biographies of residents of Cagayan province. 
•  Book on Historic 1926 Madrid-Manila Flight Takes Off (Facebook - LGU Aparri Cagayan)

• Book on Historic 1926 Madrid-Manila Flight Takes Off (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Construction of Aparri Doppler Radar to Start in March, 2011

(PIA Press Release, Tuguegarao City,  January 28, 2011)

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration- Department of Science and Technology (DOST-Pagasa) said that the construction of the Doppler radar in Aparri, Cagayan will start in March this year.

Engr. Leo L. Bunag, Chief of the Northern Luzon PAGASA Regional Services Division said the Doppler radar would make it possible to gauge the rainfall volume and forecast typhoon directions.

At present, Bunag said, the Pag-asa Northern Luzon is still using conventional instruments in the weather forecasts in the area.

Bunag further said, through the Doppler radar, the Pagasa could give more advance warning on the strength, direction and rainfall content of approaching meteorological events and this will enable the residents as well as the concerned agencies to prepare for disasters.

The Doppler radar, a state-of-the-art technology, has four major components – meteorological radar system; meteorological data display system; meteorological data satellite communications system, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and a radar building.

Earlier, Bunag said that the Doppler radar in Aparri, Cagayan is one of the Doppler installation projects of DOST-Pag-asa which is a part of the P500 million Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) grant to PAGASA.

Aside from the Doppler radar installation, the DOST-Pagasa is also in the process of identifying sites for the establishment of automatic weather stations (AWS). Bunag said the sites for the AWS should be secured because these are usually unmanned.

“ We have already established one AWS in Palanan, Isabela and we intend to establish another in Divilacan and Maconacon in Isabela and Sta. Ana in Cagayan.

The automatic weather stations are sending automatic weather reports to Pagasa through short messaging system or SMS. (TCBicarme)