Memories: Ala Eh Festival

Who would forget the most celebrated festival in Batangas during the time when Congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto was the Governor of Batangas?

Ala Eh Festival with tagline "All Here... So Near" was considered as the mother of all festivals in Batangas. It was no doubt the most grandiose festival in Batangas celebrated every first week of December along with Batangas Foundation Day. The festival was being participated by 32 municipalities and 3 cities of Batangas and every year a city or municipality was being chosen to host the event.

Lipa City hosted the event in 2010 followed by Calaca, Tanauan, Batangas City, Sto Tomas etc until it was discontinued by the current provincial administration.

During the week long festival, cities and municipalities were participating and competing in different activities like street dancing, "parol" making, trade fair, beauty pageant, and more highlighting the culture, tradition, and local festival of each towns in Batangas.

Free Tablets for Senior High Students

Mayor Eric Africa personally handed the free tablets for Senior High students in public schools of Lipa. First batch of tablets was given to Integrated National Highschools of San Celestino, San Isidro, Lodlod and Bolbok. Twelve more public schools will be visited until Saturday for distribution.

Few days ago, more than 2,000 free laptops were distributed to public school teachers of Lipa. These projects are the city's assistance for advancement of teachers and students in public schools given the current set up in Philippine schooling.

Photos: Roldan Laygo of BINHS

Free Laptops for Public School Teachers of Lipa

A priority project of Mayor Eric Africa in coordination with Department of Education, laptops were recently distributed for free by the city government to public school teachers of Lipa City.

Not only the teachers will receive the unit but it has been bundled with Maximum Security care of Rotary Club of Lipa West headed by Gina Sy to sustain the project.

The project will serve as advancement for public school teachers on the current set up of Philippine schooling due to pandemic.

Taal Volcano Alert Tracker

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology or PHIVOLCS-DOST has reminded that Taal Volcano is still under Alert Level 1 since March 19 of the current year.

It can be recalled that Taal volcano has escalated to Alert Level 4 last Jan 12 and eventually lowered back to level 1 after more than 2 months.

Alert Level 1 is interpreted to have low level volcanic unrest and no eruption imminent. Activity of volcano maybe hydrothermal, magmatic or tectonic in origin.

PHIVOLCS-DOST is monitoring the activities of all active volcanoes in the country 24/7.

source: PHIVOLCS-DOST

New Attraction soon at Community Park

Playpoint Philippines Inc released in their FB page a design of fresh themed Playground and Outdoor Gym for Community Park. It will feature a “Giant Stallion” which is a common icon of Lipa for having good horses in the city aside from lomi and kapeng barako.

Project is headed by Councilor Nicole Ronquillo, Chairwoman on Committee on Beautification in partnership with Senator Ralph G. Recto, Congresswoman Vilma Santos Recto, Mayor Eric Africa and the Sangguniang Panglungsod headed by Vice Mayor Makmak Luansing.

The new attraction is soon to be enjoyed and photographed before end of this year.

credit: Playpoint Philippines Inc

Lipa City's Inauguration Day

Lipa celebrated its inauguration as the first City of Batangas province last August 31 1948. The celebration came late after Lipa became a chartered City on June 20 1947.

This should not be confused with Foundation of Lipa which was when the Augustinian Fathers made Tagbakin the first settlement of the Lipeños and a mission center with the name of San Sebastian, perhaps after the installed Patron Saint, which continued to the present. The settlement was made a regular municipality in 1702 (according to Lipa written history).

It is not correct to use Foundation Day on June 20 instead Inauguration or Charter Day should be used.

photo: Lipa City Tourism

Lipa reached 2B Revenue in 2019

According to Commission on Audit or COA published 2019 Annual Audit Reports, Lipa City's revenue increased by more than 203M from 2018 which pulled up its 2019 revenue to 2.12B pesos from local taxes, permits and licenses, services and business income, and internal revenue allotment. City's Asset has increased to almost 5B pesos while Liabilities is also up to more than 1.5B.

Lipa City ranked #9 in CALABARZON for 2018 with highest revenue out of 19 cities. Ranking for 2019 is not yet definite due to reports yet to be posted for the rest of the cities.

While every places in the country is having the most challenging period of the year, 2020 financial reports will be a good indicator on how the administration of each cities and municipalities will be fair in managing its revenues and liabilities.