by Deflin Laforteza, Public Information Officer, Municipality of Los Baños

Los Baños will celebrate a two-day Bañamos Festival with austere but meaningful activities on September 17 and 20. The Bañamos steering committee headed by Mayor Caesar P. Perez decided to have a very simple celebration due to moral and financial considerations brought about by typhoon Glenda. The celebration will start with a civic parade on the morning of September 17 followed by a program to commemorate the town’s 399^th Foundation Day.  The Barangay Night will cap the first day of celebration. Meanwhile, an evening concert will be staged on September 20 which will be followed by a grand revelry.

By: Kamille Anne Anarna

Residents of Los Baños and nearby communities gathered at the St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish (STCJP) in Los Baños to welcome the pilgrim relics of St. Therese.

The pilgrim relics was transferred from Camp Vicente Lim to STCJP through motorcade, with short stopovers: Camp Eldridge, Rhodas Subdivision, Umali Subdivision, UPLB freedom park, Putho, Collegeville, Pleasant Village and Hillside.

The pilgrim relics, moved via motorcade along Lopez Avenue, Brgy. Batong Malake, was welcomed by students of Lopez Elementary School, Colegio de Los Baños and Los Baños National High school. At exactly 12:50 pm, the pilgrim relics arrived at the STCJP.

Bishop Bernard C. Cortez, DD, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila, and former STCJP priest presided the welcoming rites of the pilgrim relics.

The Veneration by pilgrims followed the welcoming rites immediately, which will continue until 12 midnight.

The Scheduled Activities are as follows:

FRIDAY, 01 February

12:01 AM onwards – Veneration except at

4-4:30 AM -Asalto

5:30 AM – Lauds

6:00 AM – Holy Eucharist

12:00 NN – Midday Prayers

5:00 PM – Vespers

5:30 PM – Pontifical Mass (Bshp. Leo M. Dorona, DDB, D.D.)

6:30 PM – Holy hour in honor of St. Therese

10:00 PM – Night Prayers

SATURDAY, 02 February

12:01 AM – 8:00 AM – Veneration except at

4:00-4:30 AM – Asalto

5:30 AM – Lauds

6:00 AM – Holy Eucharist and Farewell Rites

8:00 AM – The Pilgrim Relics leave STCJP for Lucena

There will also be a special blessing for those baptized Therese, Teresa, Teresita and Teresito during the Pontifical Masses.

This is the third visit of the pilgrim relics of St. Therese in the Philippines.

By Ladylove May Baurile

Los Baños Laguna- The municipality of Los Baños held the Grand Revelry last night at Paciano Rizal Park. Grand Revelry is still part of the Paskuhan sa Bagong Los Baños wherein revelry is a noun synonymous for festivity.

According to Vice Mayor Baby Sumangil’s opening remarks, the municipality realized how concerned their citizens became when typhoon Habagat reached their place ever since. They chose to support the five barangays affected by Habagat instead of continuing the activities for the Bañamos Festival.  “Napakabait po ng ating Poong Maykapal dahil ngayong Disyembre,… ngayong kapaskuhan, nagkaroon po tayo ng magandang panahon…. upang ihandog po sa inyo  ang pamaskong handog ng Bagong Los Baños,” said Sumangil.

Part of the said event was the introduction of winners of past contests like Miss Los Baños Jonnadel Dongsay of Brgy. Timugan, Los Baños Idol Nimfa Arevalo of Brgy. Anos , Miss Gay aka Tony Gonzaga of Brgy. Baybayin and Make your Move’s Nasty Boys. The winners for the Fluvial Float Parade were the Brgy. Bayog, Brgy. Mayundon, and Brgy. Baybayin for the first, second, and third places, respectively.

Winners of Los Baños Idol, Ricky Mendoza, Aya Aguinaldo and Nimfa Arevalo, and of Make your Move Dance Contest, the Nasty Boys, performed on the said event. Mendoza sang “Rolling in the Deep”, Aguinaldo chose “Di kita Pipilitin” and Arevalo performed “Muntik na kitang Minahal” plus her winning piece, “Kahit Sandali”

Groove it! Make your Move first placer Nasty Boys proved to people that they deserved to win through their performance last night at the Paciano Rizal Park (photo by LMBaurile).

The highlights of the event were the act of duo-comedian Iyah and Tekla, the performance of the band, Itchyworms and the fireworks display.

Iyah and Tekla were hired from Punch line, Laugh line and Metro Bar. Itchyworms performed their hit singles “Kabataang Pinoy”, “Akin Ka Na Lang”, “Gusto Ko Lamang Sa Buhay”, “Love Team”, “Freak Out Baby”, “Beer” and “Pahingi Ako Niyan.” Moreover, people enjoyed the grand fireworks displayed for about ten minutes.

The Grand Revelry. Jugs of Itchyworms led the band in performing their hit singles “Kabataang Pinoy”, “Akin Ka Na Lang”, “Gusto Ko Lamang Sa Buhay”, “Love Team”, “Freak Out Baby”, “Beer” and “Pahingi Ako Niyan” (photo by LMBaurile).

Save the best for last. Itchyworms, the last highlight of the event, rocked the Los Baños community through performing their seven hit singles (photo by LMBaurile).

Past activities of the Paskuhan sa Bagong Los Baños like Marian Convention (Dec. 6), Dia Agua Santa: Elejer (Dec. 7), Fluvial Float Parade (Dec. 7), Himigsikan (Dec. 9), Miss Los Baños Talent Night (Dec. 12), Miss Los Baños Swimsuit Competition (Dec. 13), Make your Move Dance Competition (Dec. 13), Los Baños Idol (Dec. 14), Miss Los Baños Coronation Night (Dec. 15) were presented and flashed on screen.

According to Mayor Anthony Genuino, having a new Los Baños wherein the local government aggressively develop services for health, occupation and education and make long-term projects for each barangay was just a dream before but that dream becomes a reality as of today.

“Actually, itong Grand Revelry ang main event ng Paskuhan kasi lahat ng best of the best na nangyari sa Paskuhan ay dito pinalabas… I think in the next more years… mas maa-uplift pa yung tourism in terms of events, yung mga tourism sites siyempre madedevelop ‘yon at… mas maa-upgrade pa ‘yong quality,” shared KC Manaquelod, municipal tourism officer and Grand Revelry coordinator.

Reach for the skies. People of Los Baños enjoyed the grand fireworks symbolizing the new Los Baños. It was displayed for about ten minutes in the Grand Revelry (photo by LMBaurile).

By Ladylove May Baurile and Gretzel Lantican

Los Baños, Laguna- Candidate number 17 Jonnadel Dongsal of Brgy. Timugan won the title of Miss Los Baños 2012 last night at the Paciano Rizal Park.

The question asked to Miss Dongsal in the Question and Answer Portion was “Halimbawa mayroon kang sariling party at pwede kang mag-imbita ng kahit na sino. Sino sa tatlong ito ang iimbitahan mo, si President Noynoy Aquino, si Manny Pacquiao, o si Derek Ramsay?”

“Ang akin pong iimbitahan ay si P-Noy po… Dahil hindi naman po bongga yung party ko… Hindi tulad ng mga handaan sa Malacañang, sa mga munisipyo. Hindi ganun karangya. Gusto ko ipakita sa kaniya na kahit hindi ganun kaganda yung party na pupuntahan niya sa amin, nagkakaisa naman kami sa amin and kung ano po yung napaghandaan, yun po iyong pinaghirapan namin. Yun lang po at maraming salamat,” answered Miss Dongsal.

Simple and humble. Newly crowned Miss Los Baños Miss Jonnadel Dongsal from Brgy. Timugan didn’t expect that she’ll win the competition. (Photo by Joan G. Nacorda)

The first, second, third and fourth-runner up titles were bagged by Louisse Ann Perez (Brgy. Timugan), Rubelyn Malitic (Brgy. Bayog), Roxanne Siman from (Brgy. Bambang) and Arnie Delideli (Brgy. Mayondon), repectively.

Miss Dongsal also won the most number of special awards, including  “Miss McDonald’s Best Smile”, “Best in Swimsuit”, and “Miss Metro Hair”. Other special award winners were Rubelyn Malitic for “Emery Award”, Victoria Banagan for “Best in Talent”, April Rose Dichose for “Miss Casual Wear”, Arnie Delideli for “Macdonald’s Customers Choice”, Aira Mae Trinidad for “Miss Press Photographer’s Choice Award”,  Roxanne Siman for “Miss Informatics Choice Award”, Victoria Banagan for “Best in Long Gown” and Louisse Ann Perez for “Miss Globe”.

Crowned beauties. Different barangays were represented in the Miss Los Baños pageant to showcase the true beauty of the people of Los Baños. The pageant is an annual event held during the Bañamos Festival in September but because of the habagat this year, it was moved to the Christmas festival of the municipality. (Photo by Joan G. Nacorda)

 “First time kong manalo nang may title kasi matagal na ako nasali ng pageant pero hindi pa rin ako nanalo. Dinededicate ko ang pagkapanalo ko sa family ko at kay God. Alam mo ba na may piso pa ako sa paa bilang lucky charm,” said Miss Los Baños 2012.

Supporters and family of the candidates filled the coronation night of Miss Los Baños 2012. Guest singer Jimmy Bondoc also serenaded the ladies with his hit song “Let me be the one.”

By Ladylove May Baurile

With reports from Kezia Grace Jungco

Los Baños, Laguna- Twenty two candidates showcased their talents and fought for the title of Los Baños Idol last night at the Paciano Rizal Park.

The participants were divided into three batches that performed accordingly. The first batch consisted of Elaine Kaye Teaño (Malinta), William Don Criste (Lalakay), Mart John Renz Regis (Tuntungin-Putho), Aira Bautista (Bayog), Lenie Briones (Lalakay), Fiona Beltran (Mayundon) and Amiel Job Liwanagan (Batong Malake). The second batch was composed of Ricky Mendoza (Bayog), Regine Masecampo (Anos), Emmanuel Casubha (Batong Malake), Ana Liza Belloga (Maahas), Marie Fe Cao (Bayog), Shararayah Sto. Domingo (San Antonio) and Caren Patiten (Mayundon). Moreover, the third batch consisted of Lord Cedric Pavia (San Antonio), Roel Anthony Wagan (Batong Malake), Kathleen Anne Galula (San Antonio), Nimfa Arevalo (Anos), Ronnie Teaño (Malinta), Aya Mikhaela Aguinaldo (Bayog), Jomark Mesa (Bayog) and Dianne Ubaldo (San Antonio).

Another highlight of the event aside from the performances of the participants was the intermission of the duo child dancers who will compete for “Batang Pinoy National Dancespat Competition” and the “Laguna Teatro Kislap”.

The contestants were also given memberships to the “Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit” (OPM). Among the chosen participants were Nimfa Arevalo, Ricky Mendoza and Marie Fe Cao who was chosen among the three to perform for the organization’s upcoming concert.

“Sumali ako dito para mashowcase yung talent ng barangay namin at para mapprove na ang mga Los Baños ay magagaling, masaya dito kasi nakakabonding mo ang mga kalaban mo at hindi mo aakalain na yung kompetisyon ay ‘di ganoon kabigat,” shared Marie Fe Cao.

From the top 5 out of 22 finalist of the Los Baños Idol singing competition, only one will become the champion. The top 5 have performed amazingly in the elimination rounds and in the final rounds. (Photo by Joan G. Nacorda)

The top five performers for the said activity were Ricky Mendoza who sang “Don’t Stop Believin”, Lord Cedric Pavia who sang “Lady”, Marie Fe Almazan Cao who sang “And I am Telling You”, Aya Mikhaela Aguinaldo who sang “When you Believe” and Nimfa Arevalo who sang “Kahit Sandali”.

The winners were Nimfa Arevalo, Marie Fe Almazan Cao and Aya Mikhaela Aguinaldo respectively. They received cash prizes of P10000 for grand winner, P7000 for the first runner-up and P5000 for the second runner-up with scholarship from Informatics Institute.

“Sumali ako dito kasi gusto ko matulungan si mama, patay na kasi si papa kaya ako na lang ang inaasahan… kaya thank you po sa lahat lalo na kay God,” said Nimfa Arevalo.

It is the inaugural staging of the Los Baños Idol, which is still part of the Paskuhan sa Bagong Los Baños.

Nimfa Arevalo from Brgy. Anos bests 21 other finalist at the Los Baños Idol singing competion. She joined the competition in hopes of helping out her mother. In fact, she hopes to buy building materials for their house with the cash prize. (Photo by Joan G. Nacorda)

“Sa mga nanalo sobrang salamat sa pakikiisa sa programa namin at congratulations sa lahat kahit tatlo lang yung nabigyan ng OPM… lahat sila panalo dahil naipakita parin nila sa Los Baños ‘yung talent nila,” said Hon. Julius Moliñawe, event coordinator of the event.