DTI Info Officers and Designates Training Program

Would media want more interesting information coming from government?

I'm sure most print reporters would rather have something other than the usual boring technical data given by the IOs in the agency.

That's the reason why the DTI decided to hold a training program for Info officers and designates last May 3 and 4. This is also in preparation for the second edition of the OTOPreneur magazine which will have a wider circulation.

Info officers were grouped in clusters with a maximum of 20 participants per training. Training in Cebu were participated by those coming from DTI regions 6, 7 and 9.

JVR Island in the Sky Resort

Barangay Gaas in Balamban is known as the "little Baguio" of Cebu. Its cool mountain temperature is similar to that of Baguio. The JVR "Island in the Sky Resort is located along the Transcentral Highway that traverses from Cebu City to Balamban where I usually take my weekend hike.

At the JVR resort, the fog is very visible even during noontime. Actually that was the first time I've seen a fog coming towards me. And there was an added attraction called the zip line. The management also plans to install a cable car sometime this year so guests can just ride the car towards the pool below the mountain.

The slopes and terrain of the Transcentral Highway is good for cardiovascular exercise, according to my doctor, aside from its relatively cleaner air (there are few vehicles passing the area) as compared to the downtown area.

With its lush greenery, cool breeze, and scenic sights, hiking at the transcentral highway, is my favorite exercise, it beats the gym treadmill and stepper everytime.

In going there, I take the GT Express, a van of hire (Php 100 fare), at the Ayala Center terminal.

Rizaliana Museum at USPF

According to the curator, the Rizal Museum at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation is actually the biggest collection of Rizal’s artifacts outside Manila.

The University has in its possession the original checkered winter coat and overcoat of the hero, the same one you often see Jose Rizal wearing in his famous photos. Other Rizal belongings include two evening white shirts, checkered winter pants, winter vest, cotton blue-stripped summer pants, a cotton collarless white shirt, and undershirt, cotton shirt cuffs, two pairs of socks and horse-riding breeches.

I still can’t get over Rizal’s waist measurement, it’s definitely smaller than mine. Jose Rizal’s height, as shared by a student guide, was around 4’11” – 5 ft. and 2 inches, definitely short by today’s standard. However, he was blessed with a sharp intellect and artistic talent as indicated by the sketches, literary and sculptural works he produced.

I also saw photographs of Rizal's family (Saturnina is the best looking sibling), a copy of Rizal and Trinidad's school report cards ( Rizal had excellent grades while Trinidad was average) and Josephine Bracken's letters (reminds me of the quaint English used by Conan Doyle in his Sherlock Holmes stories).

Sorry, I wasn' t allowed to take photos of the artifacts. As explained by my guide, these artifacts are light sensitive. I merely took a photo of the framed composite photos of artists trying to replicate the clothes of Rizal for the mobile museum.

The personal belongings of Rizal were donated by Doña Trinidad, Rizal’s younger sister to the University. Her niece, Concepcion Herbosa, the daughter of Mariano Herbosa and Lucia Rizal was married to the former USPF Vice President Escolastico Duterte. She promised to donate the personal belongings of her brother when she visited USPF on February 11, 1951. Doña Trinidad wanted to give her niece the cherished possessions of our national hero. I bet you didn't know that fact.

I asked the guide whether there are any relations left of Jose Rizal in Cebu. She told me that Concepcion Herbosa, who taught at the USPF, and Escolastico Duterte had no children.

If you want to visit the museum, you have to book in advance. You may contact Mr. Lucio Pulmones of the USPF Student Affairs Office at tel. nos. 4148773 loc. 122.