U.S. Embassy launches its visa blog
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug 31 (PIA) The U.S. Embassy in Manila has announced the launching of its official visa blog, VISAtisified Voyager this week.
The blog aims to provide timely and relevant information to Filipinos interested in learning about the Nonimmigrant and Immigrant visa processes.
Each week, blog posts will examine topics relevant to visa applicants. Readers are welcome to post comments and questions about applying for U.S. visas, said Embassy Information Officer Yolly de Guzman.
The blog is also a venue for visa applicants to provide feedback and share their experiences when they have applied for a U.S. visa.
De Guzman said, the blog will be moderated by a team of visa experts from the U.S. Embassy’s Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa units, and inquirers can expect a quick response to their visa questions.
With the launch of VISAtisfied Voyager, US Embassy Manila hopes to start a dialogue with applicants and provide them with up-to-date news and information.
However, in a press release stated, the U.S. Embassy Manila will not be able to respond to queries about individual visa applications on VISAtisfied Voyager. Questions about individual nonimmigrant visa applications should be directed toconsmanilaniv@state.gov. Questions about individual immigrant visa applications should be directed to ivmanilareplies@state.gov.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently noted that the Internet has become the public space of the 21st century, and as the percentage of Filipino internet users increases. The embassy creates the blog to make available to the Filipinos in all forms of media.
The launching of the VISAtisfied Voyager visa blog is part of the U.S. Embassy’s commitment to providing excellent customer service to the thousands of Filipinos who will apply for visas to travel to the United States.
Visit VISAtisfied Voyager at http://blogs.usembassy.gov/philippines/.
(PIA NegOr/JCT)
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Sta. Catalina LGU gets 100% dog vaccination
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug. 31 (PIA) The municipality of Sta. Catalina has emerged as the highest accomplishments on dog vaccination among 25 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental.
Provincial Veterinarian Solomon Cadiz of the Provincial Veterinarian Office (PVO) said Sta. Catalina achieved 100 percent of immunization of the total 5,220 dog population in the town, followed by Dumaguete City with 85 percent of the 9,000 number of dogs, in the first semester of this year.
However, Cadiz urged the rest of the LGUs which are below 50 percent of its target total dog population in its respective areas to continue giving out vaccines.
The PVO has recorded nine positive rabies cases which obtain from Bayawan City with four cases; Mabinay, two; and one each from Siaton, Bais City, and Dumaguete City from January to July, this year.
It is also reported that at least 23 of the 119 cases submitted for rabies examination were found positive of rabies while 93 were negative and three were declared unfit for testing.
In its provincial rabies prevention and control mid-year evaluation, Cadiz presented the total number of dogs euthanized completed to 2,368, dog impounded, 1,475, and 251 neutered from different LGUs.
Nevertheless, as the province intends to become a rabies-free zone, Apo Island of Negros Oriental and Siquijor Island were declared rabies-free last year.
In the region, Cebu obtains the highest incidence of animal rabies cases while Central Visayas is one of the top five nationwide in the number of animal rabies cases, it is noted.
The PVO now urged the LGUs to strengthen their efforts on advocacy drive on responsible pet ownership and also submit their pets for rabies vaccination.
Rabies is a fatal infectious disease that affects the central nervous system in mammals. (PIA NegOr/JCT)
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Army’s 302 Brigade tenders military honors to Edith Tiempo
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug . 31 (PIA) Army’s 302 brigade together with the 11th and 79th Infantry Battalions has provided a military honors in a state funeral of late National Artist, Dr. Edith Lopez-Tiempo, Monday in Dumaguete City.
Civil Military Operations Officer, Major Benjamin Aguilan Jr. said a military honors is accorded to Dr. Edith Lopez-Tiempo during the memorial service at the Memorial Park, this city where more than a thousand of Dumagueteños and Silliman community attended.
The military honor allows a grateful nation to pay its last respects in a dignified and solemn ceremony for Dr. Tiempo at the time of burial, the military officer said.
Dr. Tiempo status as a national artist was conferred by former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada pursuant to Proclamation No. 218 dated December 1, 1999 for her rare excellence and significant contributions to literature.
Tiempo, 92 , a native of Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya but studied and graduated at Silliman University and spent her whole career as a writer and teacher together with her husband, Edilberto at said university.
Dr. Tiempo was a nationally and internationally acclaimed as a brilliant writer from Silliman University who received fitting recognition for her magnanimous devotion to the advancement of Philippine Literature in English.
Before her interment, a very solemn religious service was held at the Silliman Church.
In a burial ceremony, the 302Bde snappily rendered a military funeral march from Silliman University to Dumaguete Memorial Park where she was laid to rest, and a 21-gun salute.
Brigade Commander, Col. Francisco Patrimonio on his part, presented a Philippine Flag to Dr. Tiempo’s daughter, Dr Rowena Tiempo Torrevillas, as a symbol of appreciation for her mother’s faithful service to the Filipino nation.
Aguilan said, the ceremony was a historic as it was the first time that a state funeral outside of Metro Manila was ever accorded to a national artist. (PIA NegOr/JCT)