'Yawa-yawa festival' eyed as next attraction for Boracay

(photo by: Churchill Gumboc)

BORACAY ISLAND, AKLAN- The Malay municipal tourism office eyes the 'Yawa Yawa' festival of Barangay Argao as the next tourism attraction for this resort island.

Barbara Flores, Malay municipal tourism office said, she already has included in her plan the inclusion of the said festival among her priority projects.

Participants of the 'Yawa Yawa festival' dresses like ghosts and other scary creatures and roamed around the village of Barangay Argao to seek for Christmas gifts.

Its concept was derived from the Holy Innocents Day or Childrens Mass of the Catholic Church. It commemorates the innocent male infants and boys under two years of age who were killed by order of King Herod of Judea who sought Jesus Christ's death.

"We are celebrating the festival for year's that we do not know when it exactly started. We are doing it yearly as part of our tradition," said Argao village chief Ruby Ascano.

Ninos Inocentes is also the name for a traditional Christmas play in nearby Barangay Maloco, Ibajay Aklan loosely based on the Biblical story of the slaughter of the Innocents.

In this play, King Herod kidnaps and holds the newborn Christ child for ransom. But when old women brought him a sack of rice or corn, he releases the infant. The Maloco tradition is celebrated every December 28th.

Pacman spends Xmas holidays in Boracay

BORACAY — Superwelterweight champ Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao spent the Christmas holidays with his wife Jinkee in this resort island.

The couple arrived here on Saturday just in time for Christmas.

They reportedly plan to go back in Saranggani province before or after the New Year.

After this vacation, Pacquiao will undergo a rigid training for his bout against Shane Mosley.

The fight is scheduled on May 7 next year at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Recently, Pacquiao won the brawl against Mexican fighter Antonio Margarito on November 14 at the Cowboy Stadium Dallas, Texas.

While in Boracay, Pacquiao stayed in the West Cove Resort with his friend and long-time Philippine flag bearer, businessman Cris Aquino.

American DJ to perform live in Boracay

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- A disc jockey based in California, USA is expected to render a live performance in this resort island on Jan.12, 2011.

Alfred Darlington, 33 and also known as DJ Daedalus, is an experimental music producer. Daedelus pioneered using the Monome in conjunction with Max/MSP for live performances.

He is a part of the groups Adventure Time and The Long Lost.

He is currently signed to the Ninja Tune label but has released material with a number of labels, including: Plug Research, Mush, Laboratory Instinct, Eastern Developments, Phthalo, Merck, Big Dada, Soul Jazz, Distill,Hefty, Bit Of Heaven, Temporary Whatever, Stones Throw, Alpha Pup, Eat Concrete, Friends Of Friends, Brainfeeder and Warp.

He is also a founding DJ at the internet radio station Dublab. He attended the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

After his Boracay gig, he will also be performing live January 14 in Dubplate Manila. The Dubplate Manila is the one who will bring DJ Daedalus in this resort island.

Malay Council laments Boracay's exclusion from new peso bills

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan - The Malay Council which has jurisdiction over this resort island is questioning the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) why it did not include the world-famous Boracay in the design of the new peso bills.

The BSP has been receiving flak from various sectors for its alleged errors in the design of the new bills.

The new bills' designs are said to have added security features to prevent counterfeiting.

The new bills which were presented to the public last week are expected to be released next year.

The Malay Council discussed the new bills in its regular session Tuesday and the members decided to come up with a resolution to formalize their sentiments. All the councilors have voted in favor of issuing the resolution.

"The BSP should have included Boracay in its new design, the resort island being the premier tourism destination in the country," said Councilor Ezel Flores.

The council believed that the Boracay tourism industry would be further strengthened if the BSP decided to include it in the design of the new peso bills.

The council maintained that Boracay Island has the right to be included in the Philippine peso bills because of the billion of pesos it contributes to the coffers of the government.

Once the resolution is drafted and finally approved, this will be submitted to the BSP Central Office.

Boracay is safe from tsunami scare -- PHIVOLCS

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has officially ruled out any tsunami possibility in this resort island averting any tsunami scare in the future.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said that the geographical location of Boracay, protected by its cove, is that at the back of an open sea. The perfect location makes it difficult for tsunami in Boracay despite the fact that this resort island is along the Tablas fault.

"If a tsunami happens in the surrounding area, we expect Boracay will experience a minimal risk. Boracay's geographical location is considered a suitable tourism destination," Solidum, who traces his roots in Aklan province, said.

Phivolcs local officials said that, for several years, they are constantly monitoring the activity of Tablas fault which traverses Romblon and Antique provinces. In the 16th century, a tsunami reportedly hit the coastal areas of Romblon, making PHIVOLCS believe that it could happen again in the future.

The PHIVOLCS, an agency under the Department of Science and Technology, has undertaken a study on the geographical status of this resort island.

DSWD wants Children’s Code enforced in Boracay next year

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is looking forward to the implementation of the much delayed Provincial Children’s Code in this resort island next year.

Elma Malbas, provincial DSWD officer said that they were already conducting awareness on the Code among the transport group and laborers of the Caticlan Jetty Port.

Earlier, the DSWD-Western Visayas mobilized the Children’s Welfare Desk at the Jetty Port. This means that all of the minors passing in the jetty port would be registered at their desk.

The purpose of which was to protect children from abuses while staying in this resort island.

"We are just waiting for the passage of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Children’s Code. Anyone, including resort owners, would be held liable if they violated certain provisions in the Children’s Code," said Malbas.

Prior to the passage of the code, resort owners prohibited policemen from entering their premises to investigate suspected child prostitution cases.

"Based on the code, we could use the strategy of rescuing the children whenever they are suspected of having an illicit relationship with an adult be it foreigner or local," said Malbas.

Once the IRR is released, the DSWD will then start a massive information campaign relative to the implementation of such existing laws.

They also hope that stakeholders and resort owners will fully cooperate with the ordinance for the protection of children.

Reports said that children are prone to abuse and trafficking cases in this resort island.

Prosecutor’s office vows vs sex workers

BORACAY — The Provincial Prosecutors Office pledged its moral commitment against sex workers in this resort island.

Atty. Mayen Bien Tolentino of the said office said they are having a campaign against sex workers in Boracay as part of their commitment to eliminate cases of violence against women and children.

Records from the office showed that sex workers here are from the different parts of the country.

"A sex worker could earn P1,000 per hour, especially if their clients are foreigners,” said Tolentino.

These sex workers, when apprehended, are normally charged with vagrancy, Tolentino said.
Some of them were believed to be minors.

"When police look for their identification cards, they always present postal IDs. More often than not, we discover that the name in their postal ID is different from what is in their birth certificate," said Tolentino.

The law, however, only requires a person charges with vagrancy to pay the penalty of P2,000.

Currently, the police are charging apprehended sex workers even during Saturdays.

"I told police authorities that when they arrest sex workers, they should note if the arrest was for second or third offense so we could mete out a higher penalty," said Tolentino./