A single mom, an advocate and a beauty- in a police uniform: PO1 Shiela Mae Opong's story

WRITERS' INTRO : I have seen Sheila twice.  She was the emcee during the "Street Children Got Talent Too" of the Cebu City Police Office November of 2014 and then as the emcee again of the Christmas party of Cebu Provincial Police Office.  

The first time she was as slim as how she is now and the second time she was happily dancing with a baby bulge.

She is a natural on stage...a quality which is needed for a police to be convincing in communicating its programs -- to bring the police closer to the community. 

Should you read this now, click on this link Support PO1 Sheila to be #GandaPulis2017  LIKE on her photo or comment and share with hashtags #GandaPulis2017 #MissPNP2017.  Like also the GandaPulis page. 

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Click P01 Sheila Mae Opong's OFFICIAL PHOTO to support her 

“There is no such thing as no way out for women.  There are always choices and there is the PNP to help.”

This was the ready answer of 27 year old Police Officer 1 Sheila Mae Opong, of the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) 7 when asked why she accepted a quite difficult task--- the task of representing Central Visayas in this year’s search for Miss PNP Ganda Pulis 2017.

“Even with all the modernity, information within reach from the internet and media, there are still a lot of women out there, who believed it is normal to be abused..helpless,” Opong said.

This is her advocacy to be a tool, an instrument as a woman in a male dominated profession, to be of help to other women and children, the most vulnerable of all abuses.

She said stories of Nanays, Ates, girlfriends who were boxed, choked, beaten, raped, forced to have sex are her daily dish as Women and Children Police Desk Officer (WCPDO)  in a police station in Cebu City.

According to her, something must be done, these women should know, the police can help them.

“They need to know about rights, who to run for immediate assistance and remedies of their situation, we are just here,” she said.

Opong said it is a difficult task for her not only because there was lesser time to prepare, but she might be out to go upfront the possible ridicule of some “close-minded” people.

“I am a single mother, I have a two year old baby boy who is my reason to wake up every day and be inspired all the more to serve women who thought their worlds are as small as their hands,” Opong said.

Almost every little thing in the police organization is news with media branding it as a source of “juicy stories”.

A lot of expectations are being put up with men in uniform, much more with women in uniform. 

“To me, I am even more credible to speak to women, as one like them, as a mother, that we do have choices, to stop any violence experienced and to make a difference, or even to become the person you want to be,” Opong said.

She said destiny had directed her to be in the information sector of the PNP.  Currently she is the Police Community Relations Officer of PPSC7.

She is a registered nurse prior to entering the Police Special Basic Recruit Course (PSBRC) in 2012.   She graduated part of Alagdad class.

Opong is a native of Villaba Leyte but finished her college degree in Cebu City.

She was a member of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) immediately after college and served for three years.

Opong was also the crowned “Polis Fashionista 2014”.

On whether she’ll bring home the bacon as the “Gandang Police 2017”, she is quite hopeful.

Opong said she also needs the Cebuanos, Boholanos and Siquihodnons prayers: 

“I know my worth and I know what I can, this is for PRO7, this is for us women”. 

Six bidders vie for Alegria water system

The town of Alegria held a pre-bid conference for the implementation of the town's water system.


According to Jesus Rey Cavalida, Municipal Public Information Officer,
Philippine Rural Development Project - Alegria Integrated Potable Water Supply Project has an estimated project cost of 95,613,000.00.

PIO Jesus Rey Cavalida

As of today there are six bidders interested.

He said the water project is a Level 2 Water system which

is expected to serve eight barangays of the Municipality.

These include barangays Poblacion, Montpeller, Guadalupe, Santa Filomena, Valencia, Madridejos, Compostela and Legaspi.

Barangay Lepanto is not included since it has a stand alone water project worth P8 million under the Bottom Up Budgeting of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Cebu LIONS roared in the PCOO Roadshow

Cebu members of Lions Club International roared in two national public events hosted in Cebu.

These events were advocacy activities on the importance of communicating significant programs of the government by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson (OPS).

PART I

First was the PCO Road Show with no less than Secretary Martin Ruperto Andanar who explained that such activities will be done more often to let the public know the important programs of the government that has greater impact to the community

More than 30 members of the different clubs of District 301 B2 in Cebu came in strong as participants as part of the Civil Society Organizations (CSO).

PCO Secretary Martin Andanar with Lions DVG Stephen Yap

They were led by Vice District Governor Stephen Yap of Cebu Centennial Lions Club, who was

recognized by Secretary Andanar in the preliminaries of his speech.

The Lions learned about the Executive Order issued by President Rodrigo Duterte which will improve the flow of information from government to public --- the Freedom of Information by Assistant PCO Secretary Michael Kristian Ablan.

Lions Chester Lim and Johnny Chan and DVG Stephen Yap with PCO Assistant Secretary Kristian Ablan and OPS Gaspy Villegas  

Another advocacy is Administrative Order 1 and the Protection of Journalists by   Undersecretary of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security Joel Egco.

There was also a presentation about the Chairmanship of the Philippines in this year’s Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Conferences.

Here are some of their learnings

LN Leonora Jusayan of Cebu Hamili Lions Club 

and here's another

They even stayed until the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the FOI.

"The event made us feel closer to the government, after knowing all those information programs," LN

LN Chester Lim of Cebu Downtown with Kristin Jansen, PIA Ambassadress 

The groufies with the Malacanang personalities

With PCO Secretary Andanar 

followed :

With PIA Director General Harold Clavite 

Meet the earliest Lion to arrive in the venue

LN Manny Calera of Cebu Capitol Lions Club 

Up next is PART II, Lions participation in the Nation Building Workshop 1 with Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella. 

Catch my attention! - matod ni Digong

Aron masumpo ang korapsyun ug uban pang mga binuang nga binuhatan sa mga anaa sa gobyerno, gusto ni Presidente Rodrigi “Digong” Duterte nga magsaba saba.

“You complain, assert, assert, mag create kayo ng eksena, catch  my attention,” matod ni Digong.

Ang naka apan sa Pilipino, matod niya, kahibalo sa mga katungod apan wala kini buhaton kun kini matamakan.

“On the first hint, you know the thing about corruption is that,  ang Filipini hindi assertive he knows his rights he will complain about it but he will not do anything,” matod ni Digong.

Siya nagkanayon nga dili siya magduha duha og imbestigar o pataktak sa mga tawo sa gobyerno nga gabuhat og korapsyon.

Iyang gisultian ang mga negosyante, nga klarohon sa paglukat sa mga permits, kun unsa pa ang kulang sa mga dokumento aron kini dali daling ma korehian.

Gikinahanglan nga adunay “routine slip” diin nahibaw-an anus-a gisubmit, ug asa na kini nga lamesa ug unsay aksyon.

“Ang mga directors sa departments must husband the papers, siya mismo ang magtingin kung saan yung papel at a given time, and they are only given 15 days,” matod sa Presidente.

Iya usab gimando ang pagpamenos sa mga gikinahanglan nga mupirma aron mapadali ang mga transaksyon.

Mahimong mureklamo dayon sa Ombudsman ang mga agrabyado, gipangpangayuan og hingi ug uban pang mga maniobra.

Si Duterte mao ang nagpapanumpa sa mga bag-ong opisyales sa grupo sa mga magpatigayon sa Sugbo

ang Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Gihangop sa natudlo pagbalik nga Presidente, Melanie Ng ang mga pulong ni Duterte.

Makapagana kini sa mga magpatigayon. (fcc/PIA7-Cebu)

Communications Training alang sa mga Kto12 Plus movers gipahigayon

The participants of the one day Communications Enhancement and Planning

Aron mapahibalo sa kadaghanan ang benepisyo  sa Kto12Plus project,  gipahigayon ang Communications Workshop alang sa mga nagpadagan niini bag-0hay lang.

Ang Cebu Chamber of Commerce of Industry ug ang AFOS Foundation (usa ka German Foundation) ang nangulo sa pagpahigayon sa Communications Enhancement and Planning didto sa Montebello Vista Hotel.

Norbert Weiss -Project Manager of Kto12 Plus Project welcoming the participants 

Kini aron mahibaw sa kadaghanan ang mga benepisyo sa maong programa sa matang sa edukasyon.

Unang tigpamaba mao si Minerva Newman, ang kanhi regional director sa PhilippineInformation Agency (PIA) Central Visayas nga maoy nasinati kabahin sa pag identify sa mensahe sa usa ka adbokasiya ug unsaon kini pag paabot ug pagpasabot sa publiko.

Human sa extensibong diskusyon, misunod ang training kabahin sa “Storifying Advocacies and Building Relationships with Media” gikan sa PIA Cebu.

Former PIA7 RD Minerva Newman facilitating the workshop on advocacy 

Ang Kto12Plus usa ka proyekto diin gisunod ang dualized nga approach sa pag edukar sa mga estudyante sa matang sa technical vocational skills.

Gitinguha nga gawas sa nakat onan sa eskwelahan mupadayon ang mga tinun-an sa pagkat-on ngadto sa mga magpatigayon.

• “Adunay mga teknikal nga tawo ang mubansay bansay sa mga estudyante sa matang sa konstruksyon, culinary og HRM,” matod ni Teresa Pono, AFOS resident representative,

Ang maong sistema gisunod karon sa tulo ka mga eskwelahan.

Aduna nay mga mugraduwar sa maong project karong Abril.

Minglanilla Cebu Business Chamber natukod na

Aniay maayong balita sa lungsod 

Nasayran nato gikan sa atong Ka CAOCAMPIO nga si Eric Pagar nga nagkahugpong na ang mga

Lumen Canedo-Selma, 1st President MCDC

magpapatigayon sa lungsod og natibuok ang Minglanilla 
 Cebu Business Chamber (MCDC).

Susama na kini sa mga dagkong dakbayan ug mga kalungsoran sa lalawigan nga aduna nay lehitimong business group.

Napili isip unang president ang dugay ng negosyante sa konstruksyon nga si Filomena Selma Canedo sa Canedo Equity Ventures. Iyang Bise Presidente mao si  Mr. Eric Leys, Leys Properties; Secretary, Ms. Araceli A. Esgana, One Destination Business & Travel Solutions; treasurer Mrs. Myra Mantalaba Lapitan sa,Jomara Group of Companies; Assistant Treasurer Jenny Young, Ebotec Builders.

 

 Dugay ng gipangandoy sa lungsod nga adunay business group nga mamahimong katambayayong unya sa panggamhanan sa pagpaugmad saa ekonomiya.

Si Mayor Eleanito Pena nagkanayon nga adunayy dagkong mga proyekto ang gilinya na sa pag implementar sa lungsod.

May plano ang Minglanilla nga magbuhat og reclamation project, international port, adunay bypass road ug ang downtown financial district.

Pipila ka buwan ang nalabay og naghimo sila og mga consultative meetings kauban ang  president sa Mandaue Chamber of Commerce of Industry nga si Glenn Soco.

Si Soco mao ang nakapanag iya sa Cebuano coffeeshop nga “Coffee Dream”.

“Ang business chamber magpabiling neutral, apolitical,” Glenn Soco.

Ang lungsod sikat tungod sa kalihukan matag Cuaresma, mao kini ang “Kabanhawan Festival”.

Siya natung-an sa duha ka dakbayan, ang Talisay City ug ang Naga City.

Learning is a never ending process. 

More so, when our jobs entail information and communication.

Information in itself is dynamic.  There are always updates and developments in all fields... and the means to communicate these are also fast changing.

So for three days this January, me and my colleagues underwent activities rediscovering and redefining our roles Information Officers as well as discussing the major projects involving the agency for this year.

This was the first need addressed by our newly appointed Officer in Charge Regional Director of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 7, Ms. Fayette Rinen.

"We need to revisit and be reminded on why we are here and what are the things we need to focus on as PIA.  We need to communicate to the people the focus and actual programs of the government," Ms. Fayette said.

On the first day, we revisited our respective targets according to the tasks that we identified in the previous year.

We were also briefed about the major activities for this year, which include all out information and education about the holding of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.






This year is Philippines holds the chairmanship of ASEAN 2017.

Other major events include information campaign on the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) directive and the holding of the summit for the Visayas and Mindanao Communicators Network.

Then our OIC brought us back to why PIA was established. (READ : Executive Order 100 Creating the Philippine Information Agency)

Our OIC also reminded us that we focus on being developmental communicators --- we write about the programs of the government and its effect on the people.

We have to bear in mind, President Rodrigo Duterte's 10 Point Social Economic Agenda as we carry our our information and communication tasks. 

"It s important that we will find a way to translate these for the public to understand better," she said. 

The second day, we discovered Google Suite and how it can be used to the MAX! My Cebu Infocen Manager Rachelle Nessia (whose digital and social media skills got her uprooted all the time from us  huhu ) made a presentation of its features.

"PIA is going Google, all of us will have our own government issued Gmails and so we have to be ready using the features," Ms. Rachelle  

LISTENING ATTENTIVELY.Here we are, learning about GOOGLE Docs, Books, Calendar, Photos ..Yep we did listened attentively. That's Elvie Bongosia, IO1 of PIA Bohol taking the photo.; then my partner video and camera man V (Virgilio Verzonilla); PIA NegOr IO2, the hunk Roi Antoni Lomotan; PIA NegOr's AO4  Leandria Pagunsan and Moi. =) 

Now we follow each other on Google Plus G+ other than Facebook.

Here's Mam Jenny Tilos (the ICM of PIA NegOr) who looks overwhelmed with the wonders of Google.'

On the third and final day, we had two Cebu media and communication authorities to share with us what we need to focus on as developmental communicators.

The writers, information officers and even admin staffs listened to a review on the world of developmental communication by  Mayette Tabada, a Sunstar columnist and Communication's professor of the University of the Philippines Cebu.

With Sunstar columnist Mayette Tabada

"As a communicator we should go for responsible messages"

The Infocen Managers on the other hand, got tips from former Cebu Daily News Publisher Eileen Mangubat about story editing.  Ms. Eileen is also senior professor of UP Cebu.

A post by ICM Rachelle Nessia, who is our regional editor

Its going to be a challenging year for us, but after that staff development and refresher, I guess, we started it right.