Book Cover Contest 2nd place winner Jonathan N. Reyes (CHED) receives his certificate and cash prize from CSC Chair Duque and NBDB Chair Gonzalez.

Second place winner Jonathan N. Reyes proudly shows his certificate and cash prize.

Simple recognition rites for the PCSA Digital Book Cover Design Contest and Give It Your Best Shot! Photography Contest were held today during the flag ceremony at the Civil Service Commission Central Office.

CSC Chairman Francisco T. Duque III commended all the winners and participants of PCSA contests nationwide. He also thanked all agency partners who supported the PCSA, including the National Book Development Board which made the Book Cover Contest possible. Duque, together with NBDB Chairman Dennis T. Gonzalez and NBDB Executive Director Andrea Pasion-Flores, gave a certificate of award and a cash prize of P6,000.00 to Mr. Jonathan N. Reyes of the Commission on Higher Education, who won second place in the said contest.

Meanwhile, the Personnel Relations Office, in cooperation with the CSC Photography Club, opened a photo exhibit displaying the top 10 winners of the Photo Contest.

Other NCR-based winners will be awarded at the CSC National Capital Region. CSC Regional Offices will be holding recognition rites for contest winners in their respective regions.

CSC Chair Duque, NBDB Chair Gonzalez, and CSC-PRO Director Alan Alegria led the ribbong-cutting ceremony of the Photo Exhibit.

On September 19, 1900, Act. No. 5, known as the Civil Service Act entitled “An Act for the Establishment and Maintenance of an Efficient and Honest Civil Service in the Philippine Islands” was enacted. It started the concept of appointments and promotions in the government being made according to merit. It also established a three-member body known as the Philippine Civil Service Board composed of a Chairman, Secretary and Chief Examiner.

To celebrate this special day, the Civil Service Commission and SM Department Store bring you a special Civil Service Day Sale at all SM outlets nationwide!

Just bring a valid government employee I..D. to avail of discounts, and your SM Advantage Card for more discounts.

We hope you will all have a good time shopping at SM today!

We continue to celebrate PCSA 111 for the whole month of September. For more information, contact OFAM at 9317984.

Ist place:

Leo Allan N. Renton

Department Head

Municipality of Orion, Bataan

2nd place:

Jonathan R. Reyes

Administrative Assistant I

Commission on Higher Education

3rd place:

Nenette B. Santos

Acting MIS Head

City Government of Balanga, Bataan

For more information, contact PAIO at 9314180. Thank you!

1^st place:

AILEEN C. IBANEZ

Teacher III

Cagayan National High School

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

“What is a Servant Hero?”

2nd place:

ROSARIO PATINO-YAP

Subject Teacher I

Cagayan National High School

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

“Filipino: Servant Hero”

3rd place:

MARICAR S. VILLAMIL

Public Relations Officer IV

Bases Conversion and Development Authority

“Raised by Heroes”

The Civil Service Commission thanks its esteemed panel of judges:

Dr. Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr. 

Professor

University of the Philippines

Department of English and Comparative Literature

Maria Oliva Z. Domingo, DPA

Professor

UP National College for Public Administration and Governance

Commissioner Mary Ann Z. Fernandez-Mendoza

Senior Commissioner

Civil Service Commission

For more information, please contact CSC Regional Office No. 4 at 9271832.

Once again, congratulations to all the winners and heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated!

Award: 1^st Place

Name: ELVIE C. JABINES                    

National Commission on Indigenous People – XI

New Matina, Davao City

Title: TESTIMONY OF ELDERS

Activity:  ATA-MANOBO Titling Process

Flagship Program of NCIP mandated by RA 8371 – Indigenous

People’s Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997

Date:  September 2010

Venue: House of the Tribal Chieftain, Head of Ancestral Domain Unit

Sitio Pamantawan, Bgy. Malabog, Paquibato District, Davao City.

In Photo: ATA Tribe led by Datu Dario Baliway (in white shirt), Datu  Gumatao (may putong na red) and Datu Iling Tangil (may putong na white), habang kinukuhanan ng history ng “tribe” through testimony of elders, in support of ancestral domain titling

Significance:  The use of “testimony of elders” in gathering information on the history of ATA tribe in support of ancestral domain titling.

Award: 2^nd Place

Name: NORRY P. SURAVILLA 

Nutrition Office, City of Koronadal

Title: THREE MOTHERS AND A BABY

One of the interventions of the malnutrition problem of the City of Koronadal is through the Infant and Young Child Training and Counselling.  There were trainings conducted which were participated in by barangay health workers, barangay nutrition scholars, midwives and nurses.  This photo shows that the participating individual and the participants were observing the good attachment and proper positioning of the baby while being breastfed. Participants are expected to promote and support the good pratices of breastfeeding in the daily life of a lactating mother.

Activity:  Training on Infant and Young Child Feeding

Date:  November 8-12, 2010

Venue: Brgy. Zone 1HealthCenter, City ofKoronadal

In Photo: Participants conducting interview and observing proper

positioning of baby during breastfeeding

Significance:  Addressing malnutrition problem in the City of Koronadal

through the training on infant and young child feeding

Award: 3^rd Place

Name: MEDARD T. APIT 

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – XI

Title: IISANG PAGKILOS

Wala na yatang mas hihigit pa sa marubdob na hangarin ng isang buong pamayanan kundi ang pangalagaan at pagyamanin ang kalikasan na siyang tumutugon sa kanilang pangangailangan.  Sa pangunguna ng BFAR XI ay nakilahok ang ibat- ibang sector ng lipunan sa pagtatanim ng bakawan sa Purok 9, Maco, Compostela Valley bilang pakikibahagi ng ahensya sa isinasagawang Nationwide Mangrove Planting noong Mayo 10, 2011.

Activity:  Nationwide simultaneous mangrove planting

Date:  May 10, 2011

Venue: Purok 9, Maco, Compostela Valley

In Photo:  Employees of BFAR, DENR, Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard, TESDA, PIA, LGUs (Municipal and Provincial), fisherfolk, youth and media in Region XI

Significance:  Pakikibahagi ng BFAR – XI at iba pang mga ahensya

ng pamahalaan sa rehiyon sa isinasagawang

Nationwide Simultaneous Mangrove Planting

SEMI-FINALISTS

1.      Engr. Cesar B. Estacio (Entry No. 43)

Palayan City Government

“Mano-Mano…Ligtas Tao”

2.      Michael N. Dela Vega (Entry No. 3)

Philippine National Police 1

“The PNP Badge of Honor”

3.      Renaldo C. Neneria (Entry No. 6)

Department of Trade and Industry

“Working with a Charm”

4.      Rhea Mae P. Magbanua (Entry No. 22)

City Government of Tagum

“Public Office is a Public Trust”

5.      Heriberto C. Buquid (Entry No. 4)

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration

“Libya Crisis”

6.      Rolando P. Azarcon (Entry No. 16)

LGU Palayan City

“Sa Buhay at Kamatayan…Ikaý Paglilingkuran”

7.      Louie Bryan M. Lapat (Entry No. 39)

LGU Tagum City

“Going Beyond the Office Table”

The Civil Service Commission thanks its esteemed panel of judges for the Photography Contest:

Mr. Ronniel C. De Guzman

Director of the National Press Club

Reporter, Manila Bulletin

Mr. Eufrosinio Q. Camarillo

Award-winning photographer

Former President, Press Photographers of the Philippines

Director Ma. Theresa C. Fernandez

Director III, Public Assistance and Information Office

Civil Service Commission

For more information, please contact the Personnel Relations Office at 9314149.

The National Power Choir wins the PCSA Government Chorale Competition

The National Power Chorale of the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) was hailed the Champion in the recently concluded Government Choral Competition held yesterday, September 6, 2011 at the Cultural Centerof the Philippines. The PAGCOR Voice Symphony of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) won 1^st runner up followed by the Pagibig Fund Chorale of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) as 2^nd runner up. The competition was held in celebration of the 111^th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary themed Championing R.A.C.E.: Public Service Excellence at Full Speed.

For the special awards, Mr. Robert Delgado bagged the Best Conductor category, while Mr. Joy Nilo received the Best Arrangement award as presented by the PVAO Chorale.

The panel of adjudicators – Maria Lourdes Venida-Hermo, Eduardo Lumbera Manguiat, Jonathan Velasco, Tristan C. Ignacio and Nathaniel Arnel de Pano – came from the distinguished roster of the Philippine Choral Directors Association.

The twelve chorale finalists performed in the following sequence after the drawlots conducted in the morning of the event: Philippine Ports Authority Chorale, East Avenue Medical Center Chorale, Central Luzon State University Administration Choir, Bureau of Quarantine Chorale, Dangal ng Lungsod Batangan Chorale, POEA Chorale, PVAO Chorale, Pagibig Fund Chorale, National Power Chorale, City Government of Makati Employees Choir, Professional Regulations Commission Chorale and PAGCOR Voice Symphony. Each choir sang three songs, including the Competition Song “Para Sa ‘Yo” by Trina Belamide, within a span of 10 minutes.

Second District of Cavite Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla and Manila City Vice Mayor Isko Moreno served as the emcees of the event and enthralled the audience with their lively banter covering the rundown of the competition rules as well as the criteria for judging the chorale finalists.

In his welcome message,Cultural Centerof the Philippines (CCP) President Raul Sunico expressed his appreciation for the public sector’s shift towards the culture and the arts through the holding of a chorale competition. Following his speech was the message of National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman Felipe De Leon Jr., delivered by his representative, Executive Director Malou Jacob. NCCA commended the idea of inculcating and putting a premium on government talent like agency choral groups to champion the message of genuine public service.

As the main guest, Civil Service Commission Chairman Francisco T. Duque III praised the organizing agencies for ensuring that the competition abides by the spirit of upholding praiseworthy talents in the civil service. He congratulated all the chorale finalists stating that they were already champions in their own right and worthy of recognition.

After awarding the major prizes, CSC Commissioner Mary Ann Z. Fernandez-Mendoza thanked all twelve choir participants and the more than a thousand government employees in attendance. She also presented tokens of appreciation to the emcees.

The winning chorale is set to give a performance in recognition of HAP awardees at the CSC-NCR Honor Awards Program to be held at the PNP Multi-Purpose Hall on September 12, 2011.

Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and Congresswoman Lani Mercado served as the emcees of the event.

For the finale, all chorales performed Tagumpay by Gary Granada.

Fantilaga wins the R.A.C.E. to Serve Fun Run

2,822 officials and employees from the different sectors of government and some from the private sector joined the 111th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary R.A.C.E. to Serve Fun Run.

The following are the winners:

3K RUN

Male Category:

1st place – Jucell Laya (Philippine Army)

2nd place – Reggie Lumawag (Department of Agrarian Reform)

3rd place – Robin Angeles (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas)

Female Category:

1st place – Nhea Ann Barcena (Philippine Army)

2nd place – Gina Marie Lanipao (Office of the Ombudsman)

3rd place – Elaine Santiago (Municipality of Angono, Rizal)

5K RUN

Male Category:

1st place – Carlito Fantilaga (Department of Agragrian Reform)

2nd place – Dandelon Bumahit (Philippine National Police)

3rd place – Andrico Mahilum (Philippine Army)

Female Category:

1st place – Marecil Maquilan (Philippine Army)

2nd place – Ellen Tolentino (Philippine Army)

3rd place – Mary Grace Fortun (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System)

The CSC would like to thank its partner agencies who made the Fun Run possible:

1. Philippine Sports Commission

2. Pasay City Government

3. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

4. Pasay City Police District

5. Small Business Guaranty and Finance Corporation

6. Cultural Center of the Philippines

7. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

8. Philippine Information Agency

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay and CSC Chairman Francisco T. Duque III lead the R.A.C.E. to Serve Fun Run.

The Civil Service Commission wishes to thank all the participants of the 111th PCSA R.A.C.E. to Serve Fun Run. You have made the anniversary kick-off event a huge success!

Special thanks to His Excellency Vice President Jejomar C. Binay for his enthusiastic support.

Congratulations also to the winners of the Men’s and Women’s Categories of the 5K and 3K Runs. The complete names of the winners will be posted here soon.

Check out the Fun Run report at GMA News TV:

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/89740/bt-fun-run-isinagawa-anibersaryo-ng-civil-service-commission

We hope everyone had a great time. See you all in the next runs.

Almost 3,000 government employees participated in the R.A.C.E. to Serve Fun Run held on September 4.

CLSU Administration Choir (Central Luzon State University, Region 3)
PVAO Chorale (Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, NCR)
PRC Chorale (Professional Regulation Commission, NCR)
POEA Chorale (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, NCR)
East Avenue Medical Center Chorale (East Avenue Medical Center, NCR)
PPA Chorale (Philippine Ports Authority, NCR)
City Government of Makati Employees (LGU-Makati City, NCR)
National Power Chorale (National Power Corporation, NCR)
BOQ Chorale (Bureau of Quarantine, NCR)
Pagibig Fund Chorale (Home Development Mutual Fund, NCR)
Dangal ng Lungsod Batangas Chorale (LGU-Batangas City, Region 4)
PAGCOR Voice Symphony (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, NCR)

NOTE: FINALISTS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER NOTIFICATION TOGETHER WITH THE FINALS GUIDELINES
The list presented is not in the order of Pre-Finals Scoring.
The Finals Guidelines, Competition Piece, Programme, and Theater Rules and Regulations may be downloaded here.

Special Thanks to our Pre-Finals Judges:

PROF. MARIA LOURDES VENIDA-HERMO
Choirmaster, Ateneo College Glee Club
Vice President, Philippine Choral Directors Association

Maria Lourdes Venida-Hermo is a professor of music at the St. Scholastica’s College, Manila (SSC). She handles Choral Conducting, Music Theory, and Chorus classes, both in the undergraduate and graduate programs therein. Formerly, she was a faculty member of the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music for almost fifteen years.
Professor Hermo completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Choral Conducting at the University of the Philippines in 1983 and 1998, respectively. She will forever be grateful to Professors A.O. Veneracion and the late R. T. Paguio, Dr. F.F. Feliciano, and Mr. M. Behrman for their unselfish mentoring.

In between her academic calendar and conducting responsibilities, Professor Hermo is often called upon to adjudicate regularly in choir competitions of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and conduct choral clinics in its outreach programs, including workshops for the Kodaly Society of the Philippines and the Philippine Society of Music Educators. Currently, she sits as the Vice- President of the newly established Philippine Choral Directors Association (PCDA).

Often referred to as the “first woman choirmaster” of the Ateneo College Glee Club (ACGC), Professor Hermo has worked with the undergraduate choir since 2002. Her direction of the group, where she is known more comfortably as “Ma’am Malou,” has produced its own share of happy successes in the choir’s long history. Most memorable among these are the much-applauded U.S. concert tour of 2004 and the European competition and concert tour of 2006, where the ACGC garnered major awards in Miltenberg, Germany and Arezzo, Italy.

TRISTAN CALISTON IGNACIO
Conductor & Musical Director, Imusicapella

One of the Philippines’ youngest and most promising choral conductors today, Tristan Ignacio is the founder and conductor of IMUSICAPELLA. He led the group into winning top prizes in national and international choral competitions. Under his leadership, Imusicapella emerged as the first Philippine church choir to win a GRAND PRIX in one of Europe’s toughest international choral competitions, the 10th Festival Chorale International de Neuchâtel, Switzerland in August 2003 and again this year, the GRAND PRIX at the 1st Mięedzynarodowego Festiwalu Chóralnego Mundus Cantat 2005 in Poland in September.

In 1997 – 2002, he handled the Lingkod ni Yahweh Community Music Ministry and transformed and developed the group’s potential to become one of the country’s finest church choirs. He is credited for leading the group in winning four (4) First Prizes in local choral competitions and the 2nd Prize in the 2002 National Finals of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) College Choir Category.
In 2002, he handled the UST Chorus of Arts and Letters and won 2nd prize in the Himig Tomasino Inter-Collegiate Choral Competition. He was the conductor of the UST Pharmacy Glee Club last year where they competed and won the 1st Prize in the 2004 Himig Tomasino, the Inter-Collegiate Choral Competition at the University of Santo Tomas. He is an affiliate of the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He is also a member of the National Committee on Music (NCMusic) – one of the 22 national committees of the Office of the President’s National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). He has participated in workshops of outstanding international choral conductors such as André Ducrét of Switzerland and Alexander Vaćcek of the Czech Republic and Jonathan Velasco of the Philippines.

Tristan is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Tourism at the University of Santo Tomas. He was enriched with his solid choral experiences as a member, officer and soloist of the University of Santo Tomas Singers with Prof. Fidel Calalang, Jr. whom he considers his biggest influence in sharing his knowledge in handling Imusicapella. He was part of the UST Singers’ International Concert Tours in Europe, Mexico and the USA in 1998 – 2001 where they competed and won in some of the world’s most prestigious choral competitions in Tours, France; Gorizia, Italy; Varna, Bulgaria; Miedzyzdroje, Poland; Arezzo, Italy and Spittal, Austria.

OSCAR PANTALEON JR.
Secretary General, Philippine Choral Directors Associating
Philippine Ambassador, Contemporary A Cappella Society

He obtained his degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of the Philippines. In 1987, he joined the UP Madrigal Singers under the leadership of Prof. Andrea O. Veneracion, National Artist for Music, and went on national and international concert tours with the group until 1996. Earlier, he was actively involved with the UP Singing Ambassadors under Ed Manguiat and briefly sang with the UP Kasarinlan Ensemble led by Felipe De Leon Jr.

He studied choral conducting with Dean Reynaldo T. Paguio and voice with Prof. Ma. Cecilia Ongsiako-Valena at the UP. Since then, he has been actively involved in the national choral circle as conductor, music director, trainer, adjudicator and consultant. Last year, he traveled to the regional centers as juror of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists. He was also appointed in 2009 as the first secretary general of the Philippine Choral Directors Association.

As an arts management practitioner, Oscar Pantaleon has produced various concerts and recordings. He established his own production outfit, ConcertNet Philippines Co., and managed the pop trio, III of A Kind. He taught arts management at the De La Salle University – College of St. Benilde and handled the business services of The San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts that managed The San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra and The San Miguel Master Chorale. He has served as juror in various editions of the Awit Awards and he currently freelances as an arts project manager for the award-winning composer, Ryan Cayabyab.

As the Philippine Ambassador of the Contemporary A Cappella Society, he has sat as juror in various local and international competitions notably the Asian Competitions for Contemporary A Cappella in Taiwan, the National A Cappella Championships in Singapore, and the annual Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards in San Francisco. He was also conducted various artistic and management workshops for the Singapore A Cappella Society.

Oscar Pantaleon is the founding music director and conductor of the The Tala Choir and the Our Lady of the Pillar Cathedral Choir. He also directs and conducts Caltex Chorale and Pfizer Chorale.

Deadline of pre-registration is extended until AUGUST 12, 2011!!!

Registration fee for both 3K and 5K distances is P111.00. To register, please call CSC-NCR at 381-7681 and 749-9026.