Engr. Manzano passed the November 2017 civil engineering licensure exam on her first take.

Photo Source: gineersnow.com

Rarely do indigenous people get the chance to have formal college education. Opportunities for them to attend school are rare, and to be able to graduate is already the entire tribe’s pride.

What more if one, a woman at that, is able to pass an engineering board exam? And on her first take?

That’s what Ezel Joy Pablo Manzano had accomplished for her Aeta community. She was the reason of the recent celebration of the Amianan tribe, which was moved to the Iram settlement area near Olongapo City in the Philippines after the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption.

In an interview with GMA News, she proudly introduced herself as a passer of the November 2017 civil engineering board exam. She is one of the 6,075 who made it out of the 12,447 takers.

Engr. Manzano, who finished civil engineering in Ramon Magsaysay Technology University in Iba, Zambales, revealed that at one point during her review, she burst into tears because she could no longer understand what she was studying.

She was asked about tips for future board exam takers. Ezel Joy said that they should give it their all because the chance to take board exam only comes rarely.

Her journey to being a registered civil engineer was tough. She recalled that she had to quit school for one semester due to financial reasons.

This became her motivation to pass her board exam. And she also persevered to achieve the dream of her deceased father for her.

She said, “Pangarap ‘yun ng tatay ko, kaya ‘yun po talaga ang nagpu-push sa akin na i-pursue ‘yun. [It was my father’s dream for me, so I pushed myself to pursue this field.]”

Estrelita Manzano, Ezel Joy’s mother, witnessed her daughter’s struggles. She shared that even without the presence of her father, Ezel Joy still did what she could do best in terms of her academics.

Now that she is an engineer, Ezel Joy doesn’t forget those who have helped her along the way. She plans to pursue a career that will help her tribe in any way possible.

Source: gineersnow.com

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Earlier today, February 16, 2018 held at the library of Manila Club – Standard Insurance Chairman, Mr. Ernesto “Judes” Echauz and Subic Sailing Organizing Committee Chairman, Mr. Jesus “Jun” Avecilla announced that the Subic Bay to Boracay Race (SBBR) and the Boracay Cup Regatta (BCR) that is presented annually by Standard Insurance and twice nominated by Asia Pacific Boating as the Best Asian Regatta will be replaced this year by the Subic Bay around Verde Island Passage Race (SBVIPR) and the Subic Bay Cup Regatta (SBCR). The move to forego Boracay is an expression of support to the alarming environmental concerns in Boracay Island recently raised by no other than the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

“We are a responsible insurance company in the business of protecting clients from accidents including health related risks. We apologize for the inconvenience of those who have made prior arrangements for flights and hotel bookings in Boracay but we adhere to strict environmental compliance and therefore are restraint in exposing the regatta, its organizers and participants to health risks to be sailing in an unhealthy environment. We hope to be back next year or when Boracay pull its acts together and do something with its serious environmental problems” Mr Echauz said.

The SBVIPR is a 200-mile race, the same distance as the Subic Bay to Boracay, will start from Subic Bay down to Verde Passage around the Island and back to Subic Bay.

“This would be a more challenging race considering that on the way back to Subic this will be mostly a kite run” added Mr. Echauz.

“The race schedule remains the same from Feb 24 – Mar 2, 2018. While the sudden move has caught the participants of the SBBR and BCR surprise and made a few unhappy the majority understand and support the change,” Avecilla said.

Also, the Subic Bay Cup will launch the debut of the FarEast 28R boats that Standard Insurance recently acquired and donated to the Philippine Sailing Association (PSA) where six (6) local and foreign teams from Singapore, Taiwan and Japan will contest the title for the inaugural one design race. Fittingly the offshore race highlights Verde Island passage, the world center of marine biodiversity.

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By: Allan Macatuno, Julius N. Leonen

A US Los Angeles class attack submarine docked at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Thursday for a routine port visit.

The port call in Subic Bay was the ninth and last for the USS Bremerton (SSN 698), said Commander Travis Zettel, the submarine’s commanding officer.

“This is Bremerton’s ninth and final visit to Subic Bay in the ship’s 37 year history. My crew and I are looking forward to the opportunity to engage with the local community while simultaneously preparing the ship for the remainder of our deployment,” Zettel said.

An attack submarine, the USS Bremerton is more than 300 feet long and weighing more than 6,000 tons when submerged, Bremerton is capable of supporting a multitude of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and mine warfare, said a statement from the US Embassy in Manila.

The USS Bremerton is also the oldest commissioned submarine in the US Navy and is currently homeported in Pearl Harbor. Later this year, the submarine will move to its namesake city, Bremerton, Washington, where it will be decommissioned after nearly 40 years of naval service, the US Embassy in Manila added in its statement.

Zettel said the submarine’s visit highlights the “strong partnership” between the US and the Philippines, noting that it demonstrates the US Navy’s commitment to regional stability and maritime security.

The visit also gives the submarine’s crew of 150 sailors an opportunity to meet the local community in Subic, Zettel added.

“Bremerton’s arrival into Subic Bay means a lot to both my crew and the U.S. submarine force,” Zettel said in a statement issued by the US Embassy in Manila.

Zettel added that a number of the submarine’s sailors have families in the Philippines, and the port visit gave the crew the chance to better connect with their Filipino heritage.

“It really means a lot to me that I get the chance to visit a number of my family members again,” said Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Christopher Gapasin, who lived in the Philippines for six years and still has relatives in the area. /muf

Source: Inquirer.net

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CLARK FREEPORT – Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is now Pampanga Second District Congresswoman, has described the Subic-Clark area as the counter-magnet for Metro Manila.

Arroyo issued the statement during the formal launching of the P130-million Mabiga Toll Plazas and the P27 million Santa Ines-Magalang Exit Ramp of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) in nearby Mabalacat City on Monday, February 26.

The former president said that NLEx, SCTEx and the Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway (TPLEx) or the whole belt way is important for the development North of Manila.

The new interchange in Barangay Mabiga, which all of its features, is a very important tool in making the Subic-Clark growth corridor the most competitive center in the region, according to her.

“To me, SCTEx, among all my infrastructure projects when I was president, was my most important legacy to my province of Pampanga,” Arroyo said.

She also disclosed that President Duterte is bullish about the development of Central Luzon.

“Indeed, we’re very happy that now with the administration of President Duterte, he thinks the same way about our region. Remember when he came here last December 7 for our Kapampangan food festival? He said that Metro Manila is decaying and the alternative, the magnet, the counter magnet should be the Subic-Clark area,” Arroyo said.

The congresswoman at the same time thanked NLEx Corporation, under the leadership of President Rodrigo Franco, for being a “willing and cooperative” private partner of the government in the project.

“We now have the infrastructure to realize our vision, which is the Subic-Clark area counter-magnet for Metro Manila,” Arroyo said.

She also mentioned other vital projects in the region, which are being pursued by the Duterte Administration, including the Clark airport, NAIA-Clark train, and others. “As Kapampangans, we do our share because the way the President Duterte put it about Manila decaying is that it is not suitable for factories anymore. We are very suitable for the industries,” Arroyo said.

“Together with Clark, the province of Pampanga has partnered to promote investments in this part of the region,” she added.

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ? Dr. Lucio Tan, chairman and chief executive officer of Philippine Airlines, is looking at putting up a flying school here under the flagship airline’s brand.

Tan flew into the Subic Bay International Airport for an inspection of its airport facilities, and was welcomed by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma.

During the visit, the tycoon inquired about the state of facilities at the airport terminal, as well as other business potentials and tourism facilities that would complement an aviation-related trade.

“He was all smiles since the moment he landed at the SBIA on board his helicopter,” Eisma said. “The SBMA technical working group made a presentation showing the full potential of the Subic airport and I believe he was very much impressed.”

The PAL chairman and his entourage, looked closely at the Subic airport terminal, and asked for areas that could possibly be used for restaurants or passenger lounges.

Eisma briefed Tan of the design and purpose of the terminal, and pointed out that it used to accommodate local and international flights.

“Despite not being fully utilized, the SBIA equipment all work properly. We have kept them in tip-top shape,” Eisma pointed out.

The SBIA, which was completed in 1996 in time for Subic’s hosting of the Apec summit, boasts of a 10,000-square meter passenger terminal that has two gates, two jet ways, a closed-circuit television system, and a 9,000-foot runway.

It also has a military ramp at the southwest area, which is used by US Air Force planes under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the United States. Meanwhile, its midway ramp is being utilized by a flight school here for aircraft parking.

Tan’s group also went on a rolling tour of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and looked into areas such as the Alava Wharf and the Cubi residential area.

The businessman, who asked if there were enough hotels that could accommodate the influx of airline passengers in Subic, was reportedly thrilled over the tourism sites that abound in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Early this month, leaders of the Hong Kong-based Asian Business Aviation Association said in a forum here that the SBIA could be developed as a business and general aviation airport to help increase people mobility, as well as boost business operations in the region.

Eisma said the agency is now aggressively promoting Subic as an aviation hub and is entertaining all possible options to maximize the use of its airport facilities.

“It is a challenge to us to get SBIA running. We’re all for these suggestions to turn Subic into an aviation hub that would cater to tourists, as well as traders because that would mean more business for the Freeport,” she added.

Source: Manila Standard

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