Magbinaydan 2011 updates a/o May 25, 2010

Mabuhay!

Congratulations to all Filipinos, Bicolanos and Irigueños in particular, for another success of democracy in the Philippines.

Now that the election is over, I guess it’s time again for us to contemplate on our forthcoming Magbinaydan 2011. Yes folks, it’s less than 10 months, and the days are quickly passing, before our Magbinaydan big event in Iriga.

We have some early bird registrants (please see list below), but of course we need more to signify their intentions now to help us plan well our affair.

Our appreciation goes to fellow Irigueños who are giving more than their share of active involvement in our project in various ways, including those making suggestions or asking important inquiries to enable us run our processes and activities smoothly (please see for example some of the comments/inquiries quoted below).

Also, we are at this juncture providing a partial list of event committees and team members (positions are still open for any volunteers who would like to join the teams).

Here are samples of inquiries coming from our kababayan about the Magbinayadan:

From Estella (Europe)

“Kindly note that for some, like us here in Europe, it's too fastidious to send moneys through cheque. To send a 100 dollar cheque, we have to buy the cheque and mail it via registered airmail delivery (to ensure, it’s not lost), the process of which can be too taxing especially for those who are on shift jobs. Purchasing the cheque ranges from Euro 10 to 15. Posting it via registered, would ran to Euro 5 to 6.”

Our response

First Option: The Magbinaydan 2011 committee can open an account in one of the commercial banks in Iriga, and folks from Europe, Middle East, Australia, Canada and other countries can deposit directly their registration fees to an authorized account number. If you have more than one registrant in your area, you may want to collectively send your money to avoid multiple transfer fees. Please ask your local banks about their specific policies, if any. We also encourage you to e-mail Atcho Margallo at mmargallo@aol.com or Eilen Diamante at eilendiamante@yahoo.com to confirm your registration.

Second Option (which we prefer): The Magbinaydan 2011 committee has now opened an account in the US (to keep our bank information secure, we will only provide it on request when you are ready to register) and the same procedure of transfer as mentioned above can be followed.

Since most of the expenses and financing activities will happen in Iriga, the appropriate committee will also open a bank account in Iriga around October of this year to secure the transfer of the collected registration fees from the US.

Folks in US can send their checks to Atcho Margallo (Magbinaydan 2011 Chairman) or simply deposit directly their registration fees to the said US bank account obtained for this purpose and payment will be confirmed via e-mail.

From Estrella (Canada)

Estrella, my classmate in Iriga Central School, called me a few weeks ago inquiring on how our local (Iriga) invited guests, relatives or friends attending our functions will be accounted for.

Our response

Those invited guests, relatives or friends will be charged per head. The names and the approximate number of guests to be invited should be submitted to the appropriate committee. Final head counts should be confirmed on the registration due date, that is, on July 30, 2010.

Click here to download the Registration Form and Souvenir Book Ad Form.

If anyone is interested in how we have arrived at the schedule of fees, we will be glad to let you access our budget plan upon request.

Reminder: We would like to remind donors again that they may now start sending old clothes to the Iriga Parish Church c/o Msgr. Jonie Aguirre for storage (as you know, shipping time is about three months). The actual distribution will take place during Magbinaydan 2011.

List of early bird registrants (UPDATED 06/10/2010):

1. Tessie Aligada
2. Don Bahillo
3. Albert Bolor
4. Nancy Marasigan-Bolor
5. Agnes Chavez
6. John Chavez
7. Eilen Diamante
8. Topper Diamante
9. Agnes Jacob
10. Dandy Jacob
11. Mardan Ibarrientos
12. Art Ibarrientos
13. Marian Lee
14. Larry Lee
15. Oye Margallo
16. Floyd Margallo
17. Josie Margallo
18. Atcho Margallo
19. Matt Margallo
20. Claudette Margallo
21. Lucio Margallo
22. Jenny Margallo
23. Abe Margallo
24. Lina Rebano
25. Evan Rigoroso
26. Ernie Rigoroso
27. Estela Rigoroso
28. Bobbie Salire
29. Florence Salire
30. Jean Vibar
31. Butch Vibar


Atcho Margallo, Magbinaydan 2011 Chairman

Magbinaydan 2011 Updates

March 3, 2010

Greetings:

As promised, I’m sharing here with you the result of the trip Josie and I made to Iriga as well as Metro-Manila a couple of weeks ago to set the groundwork for Magbinaydan 2011.

The trip turned out to be very fruitful considering that we were able to secure offers/commitments from our local partners, the city government, and various suppliers and support groups concerning the following:

I. Community Projects

1. Green project: This project involves the participation of about 2,000 local students and the planting of up to 10,000 seedlings in several strategic areas for reforestation.
2. Medical, dental and visual mission: The mission is to be undertaken in select sites such as the Iriga Health Center and the Fatima orphanage.
3. Serve the foodless, roofless, shirtless and shoeless: This community service to be coordinated by the Iriga Parish Council and the East Coast Irigueños includes feeding the poor (about 1,000 beneficiaries), repair of 50 pre-determined houses damaged by recent calamities, and distribution of old clothes and footwear.
(NOTE: Donors may now start sending old clothes to the Iriga Parish Church c/o Msgr. Jonie Aguirre for storage; the actual distribution will take place during Magbinaydan 2011.)
4. ‘Books’ Project: This is an ongoing project of United Irigueños which is to be augmented in conjunction with Magbinaydan 2011.

II. Venues for Magbinaydan 2011 activities

1. Welcome ceremony/cultural presentation/dinner (UNEP Gymnasium, pending official approval)
2. Breakfast summit (Café Felicidad, Iriga Plaza Hotel)
3. Magbinaydan 2011 evening affair and dinner (Iriga Convention Center, Iriga Plaza Hotel)
4. Closing rite (place-tbd)

III. Tinagba Festival participation

1. Coordination with Iriga City tourism department re Magbinaydan participation in the Festival
2. Firsthand observation of the Tinagba celebration
3. Selection of volunteer group to design Magbinaydan 2011 float

IV. Contacts with various service suppliers

1. Catering: Contacts with several local caterers provided general idea on cost and nature of service.
2. Printing: Services discussed covered printing of souvenir programs, promotional t-shirts, hats etc.
3. Decorations: Talks with suppliers contacted included the adornment/props for the evening affair and the Tinagba float, and church decoration
4. Music/Band: Contact was made with a Baao-based band as recommended by people in the know.

V. Information on hotels and lodging facilities

1. Iriga Plaza Hotel
4431 Iriga City, Philippines
Tel +(63 54) 299-9999
www.irigaplazahotel.multiply.com

Standard Room ----------P 1,500/day
De Luxe Room -----------P 2,200/day
Junior Suite ------------- P 2,650/day
Executive Suite ----------P 3,100/day
Presidential Suite --------P 4,000/day

Start of reservation will be in September 2010
For guaranteed reservation, deposit payment on Iriga Plaza Hotel
BDO Account #5950099428

2. LEMAR’S Hotel
Highway 1, San Roque, Iriga City
Tel (054) 299-2594, Mobile 09284239819

Family Room ------------P 2,800/day
De Luxe Room ----------P 1,800/day
Standard Room ---------P 1,500/day
Ordinary Room
with Air-con ------------P 1,500/day
Ordinary Room
with Fan ----------------P 800/day

3. Macagang Business Center, Hotel & Resort
Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway
San Antonio Poblacion
Nabua, Camarines Sur
Tel (054) 288-3091; (054) 299-5045

Suites (10) ---------------P 3,300/day; P3,100/day; and P2,800/day
Economy (6) -------------P 1,500/day

VI. Mass

Arrangement for concelebrated mass at St. Anthony de Padua and novena/mass at Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes.

Also attached hereto are 1) the tentative schedule of activities for the week-long event, 2) the Registration Form and 3) the Souvenir Book Ad Form. You will considerably help us to be more efficient in our planning and budget processes if the forms are returned to us as early as possible or no later than July 30, 2010 (Registration) and no later than September 1, 2010 (Ad).

Download the Registration Form and Souvenir Book Ad Form here.

Please note that we encourage everyone or any group to share with us any other initiatives/projects they plan to undertake. Magbinaydan 2011 will be glad to coordinate scheduling or provide support if requested or needed.

For more information log on to www.Magbinaydan2011.blogspot.com. Updates subsequent to this will be posted at our website which is now operational. For instance, chairs, co-chairs and members of various committees will be posted next week.


Atcho N. Margallo
Chairman, Magbinaydan 2011