400 Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City stakeholders join Pink Run 2022 for breast cancer awareness

Close to 400 Subic Bay Freeport and Olongapo City stakeholders joined the Pink Run 2022 to show support to breast cancer awareness, which happened last October 21, Friday. 

Dubbed as “The Pink Run 2022–D’Feeting Breast Cancer,” the event was organized by the Philippine Society of General Surgeons (PSGS)-Central Luzon Chapter, the Olongapo City Medical Society (OCMS), Philippine College of Occupational Medicine (PCOM), and the Subic-Olongapo Cancer Foundation (SOCFI) in collaboration with the SBMA Gender and Development. 

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) Executive Committee Head Amethya Dela Llana was hands-on in welcoming the organizers, participants and event partners on behalf of the SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino. 

“On behalf of Chairman Paulino, we would like to thank the organizers and participants for having the breast cancer awareness activity here. And we have agreed that from here on out, the breast cancer awareness event will be hosted here in the Subic Bay Freeport.  This said signature project will be included in the Tourism and GAD calendars annually,” Dela Llana announced. 

Men and women participants in the Pink Run 2022 either wore pink shirts, pink bandanas, pink face masks, pink caps, pink pants, or pink shoes. They represented various Freeport locators such as Lindberg, Sanyo Denki Philippines, Wistron Infocomm Philippines, Nidec Subic Philippines Corporation, Brookes Aesthetic and Wellness Center, and Victory Gym. SBMA employees and Subic Bay Multipurpose Cooperative members also joined. 

Olongapo City contingents included Batang ‘Gapo Riders Club (BGRC), Metro Subic Colleges, Philippine Dental Association (PDA), Ridon St. Jude Medical Center, Sunlife, James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital (JLGMC), Olongapo City National High School (OCNHS) Batch 75, Olongapo City Police Office (OCPO), Lion’s Club District 301, Rotary Club of Downtown Olongapo (RCDO), Rotary Club of Subic Pearl (RCSP), and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).

PSGS-Luzon chapter vice president Dr. RJ Manzo, who was in the forefront of the event organizing committee, recalled that breast cancer awareness was last held in 2019 before Covid-19 pandemic broke. 

He added that before pandemic, it was celebrated with a unity walk then forming a human pink ribbon.

“So now that we are coming back to the new normal, playing safe. But we are trying to ease back the activities that we used to do. So this year, after a two-year absence, we are back,” Dr. Manzo said. 

He reminded that October is breast cancer awareness month, and that the Pink Run 2022 brought them all together to celebrate breast cancer patients, cancer survivors, and all womenfolk suffering from the big C, because women are more prone to breast cancer. 

“But truth be told nowadays, cancer is beatable. We can prevent cancer with early screening,” he assured. 

Hosted by DJ Tommy G of 89.5 Subic Bay radio and Dr. Karl Edejer, a pain management specialist, the program was highlighted by the warm-up stretching led by Victory Gym coaches. 

Meanwhile, the coaches and athletes of Crossfit Olongapo City spearheaded the first wave of runners, leading the participants around the Remy Field oval track.

Capping the event was the iconic forming of the human pink ribbon. 

In other parts of the country, Pink Run 2022 was also celebrated in Bacolod, General Santos City and Dasmariñas, Cavite with a lap run. 

In Bohol, a non-profit organization launched a long distance run in various distances as a fund-raising campaign for the benefit of breast cancer patients and other indigent beneficiaries. Participants were given the choice to run in 3, 5, 10 and 16 kilometers. 

The Pink Run is a project of the PSGS, a national event celebrated annual in October in observance of the Breast Cancer Awareness month. (MPD-SBMA) 

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Subic Bay Yacht Club's Christmas tree lighting ushers in Yuletide Season

Subic Bay Yacht Club (SBYC) has officially ushered in the Yuletide season with its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the SBYC front driveway.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino and SBYC Commodore Eduardo Aliño spearheaded the ceremonial switching of the light.  

 

Paulino said that the lighting of the Christmas tree along the half-a-block long decorations in front of the SBYC is a Subic Bay Freeport (SBF) tradition to kick off the Yuletide season here, which the SBYC has been known for—making the biggest Christmas decorations in the entire SBF.

The lighting ceremony was also graced by SBYC Vice Commodore Ronnie Del Rosario, and was celebrated by Bishop Most Revered Bartolome Santos from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Iba, with hundreds of SBYC staff, guests, and tourists flocking the event.

The Olongapo City National High School Performing Arts sang Christmas carols during the event, as hundreds of on-lookers gathered at the façade of the SBYC.

 

This year, all departments of the SBYC presented their own Christmas decor concepts, ranging from the classic are the Nativity Scene, huge Santa Claus, a Winter Forest, a Christmas train coming out of large boxes adorned with polar bears, a snow globe with a life-sized Santa Claus, and a Frozen themed boat.

During his message, Paulino said that the only time people around the world observe ceasefires from conflicts is during the Christmas season. He said he is hopeful that everyone would forget their personal differences and become one with God during this season.

Meanwhile, Commodore Aliño expressed his gratitude to the chief executive for supporting the event, citing that the agency has always been on board and provides the necessary assistance in its endeavors, which helps in the promotion and development of companies inside the SBF.

The display, which is an annual project of SBYC employees, is supported by certain Freeport corporate sponsors, and is lighted up each day at 6:00 p.m.  This is also open for public viewing. (MPD-SBMA)

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Subic Bay Freeport opens more jobs in the tourism sector

A total of 6,723 job openings were posted during a job fair held at the Harbor Point Ayala Mall on Monday with a number of applicants hired on-the-spot.

This, according to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, proves that this premier Freeport is bouncing back from the hurdles brought by the pandemic.

Paulino added that the job fair is the culminating activity of the agency’s celebration of National Tourism Week 2022 that was moved to a later date due to super typhoon Karding.

“It was originally among the activities to kick off the National Tourism Week, but due to super typhoon Karding, we had to postpone it for the following week,” he added.

Paulino said that 57 companies in and around Subic Freeport participated in the event, most of them from the tourism sector, which was gravely hit during the Covid-19 pandemic from restrictions of social distancing.

He added that since the restrictions are easing off, it is likely that companies engaged in tourism-related activities will need more employees as the Subic Bay Freeport Zone expects an influx of tourists during the next few months.

In their social media page, FUNtastic Subic Bay, the SBMA Tourism Department posted the companies that are currently hiring. Companies such as Zoobic Safari, The Lighthouse Marina Resort, and The Shoreline are currently looking to expand their workforce since they are expecting an increase in guest arrivals towards the end of this year.

Atty. Melvin Varias, SBMA Labor Manager, said that among the companies hiring, 7 are into business process outsourcing (BPOs), 8 manpower companies, 12 construction services, and 9 manufacturing companies.

The applicants hired on-the-spot were in fact already welcomed into the workforce by DaTian Subic Shoes Corporation, a shoe manufacturing company here.

Varias disclosed that Subic Bay Freeport workforce is 146,711-strong who are employed with 3,731 companies here. He added that Olongapo has the biggest number of workers with 65,363 employees, followed by Zambales with 27,027.

He also said that most of the workers are male, with 102,070 compared to 44,641 female workers, mostly working in the service providing companies. The service sector which comprises 74.25 percent of the workforce, is followed by the manufacturing sector with 13.76 percent.

The two categories are followed by the construction sector at 8.38 percent, while marine-related services follow with 3.61 percent. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA ends Pride celebration with 1st LGBTQ+ circle of unity, solidarity

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Gender and Development technical working group (GAD-TWG) spearheaded the ceremonial circle of unity and solidarity among members and supporters of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer (LGBTQ+) community.

Forming a big circle around the LGBTQ+ flag, participants waved their flaglets in the air, dancing to the tune of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” to show equality among all sexual preferences.

“Our objective for this circle of unity and solidarity is to show the world that gender equality exists in Subic Bay Freeport,” said DJ Jepsz Eslava, SBMA Gender and Development (GAD) coordinator.

Eslava said that the event serves as the finale of the month-long celebration of Pride month. Earlier this week, GAD-TWG organized a webinar for SBMA employees and other LGBTQ+ members. It tackled two topics—hypertension and angina, and safe spaces act and anti-bullying.

During the culminating activity, a gallery of photos joining the contest was also judged according to its theme, “Breaking stereotypes.” Entries were judged according to people’s choice and jury’s choice. Both won ₱10,000 cash.

Also, the Pride Eco-wear Challenge, where contestants were challenged to come-up with an attire made out of recycled materials and coherent to this year’s theme, “love and unity for the LGBTQ+ Community 2022.” The champion was given ₱10,000 cash, while consolation prize winners got ₱2,000 cash.

Last but not the least, live Q&A finalists at G’ Morning radio program of GAD, which aired over 89.5 FM Subic Bay Radio, were also judged according to people’s choice and jury’s choice. Winners of both category were given ₱5,000 each. Consolation prize winners received ₱2,000 each.

Meanwhile, SBMA chairman and administrator Rolen C. Paulino, who was attending another important event, expressed his support to the LGBTQ+ community. 

“I support the LGBTQ+ community, and they are very welcome here. Everybody is welcome here. Subic Bay Freeport is open for everybody,” Paulino assured.

Paulino added that this support to the LGBTQ+ community also serves as a welcome to potential investors who is eyeing to make it happen in the Philippines and invest in Subic, because people in Subic are gender sensitive. 

GAD-TWG disclosed that more GAD activities are already lined up for the rest of the year, including Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) and Men Oppose VAW Everywhere (MOVE). (MPD-SBMA)

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400 Masonic riders join historic 1st-ever Unity Ride to SBFZ

At least 400 members of different Masonic Riders Clubs from all over Luzon joined the first ever Unity Ride and converged at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC).

The Unity Ride, which started from the different hometowns of different Masonic Riders’ Clubs, entered the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) thru the Tipo Security Plaza, toured the San Bernardino road en route Olongapo City, and finally to SBECC for its final stop.

“I preferred it to be held here in Subic (Freeport) to make it historical for the riders to be in the country’s top tourist destination because this is a dream destination for them,” Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino said.

Paulino, who is also the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, added that the Unity Ride was aimed unifying all Masonic Riding Clubs and Associations and maintaining harmony among the masons by promoting the Masonic Year “Clear Vision of Masonic Harmony” thru this unity ride.

Organized by the Sons of Luzon Pilipinas and the Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association, they were joined by East and West, Travellers, King Solomon, and Vespa riders, among other riders’ clubs.

Coming all the way from Lipa City, Batangas, Bro. Gil Quiambao, Jr. of the Sons of Luzon, the organizing group, said that the Unity Ride, which was in coordination with the SBMA, to unify all Masonic Riding Clubs and Associations.

The Unity Ride 2022 is a motorcycle ride is open to all Mason motorcycle riders and enthusiasts. (MPD-SBMA)

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