Winning Streaks of PAARL, Inc.

1. 20 CPE Credit Unit earners are first batch and were PAARL’s attendees to its 3-day National Summer Seminar-workshop on the theme: Librarians at their Best: Envisioning and Realizing Multilevel and Progressive Readers Services from April 29-May 1, 2009 held at the Lyceum of Aparri, Macanaya District, Aparri, Cagayan Valley witnessed by CPE Council Representative and 1996 PAARL president, Mrs. Zoraida E. Bartolome. See complete list of participants’ names below.

2.Lyceum of Aparri, one top performing school in Region 02, provided the landscape and venue:

.1 for participants’ study about advanced and innovative reader services (RS),

a.Prof. Salvacion M. Arlante (UP) discussed Partnership 2.0 to help facilitate reference and resource training to small and least budgeted libraries particularly in the countryside;

b.Ms. Alicia B. Esguerra (BSU) gave Reader Services On Demand that identified user’s expectations in terms of adopting new technologies and modes of information delivery and the challenges involved in implementing "on the go" resources/services;

c.Ms. Fe Angela M. Versoza (DLSU) iterated Social Networking Literacy Skills for recasting the reader services librarians’ competencies in the 21st century that entails various networking activities and develops strategic approaches for integrating these activities into a productive and cutting edge readers services;

d.Dr. Enrique T. Cayaban (SMU) lectured on Proactive and Effective Management of Reader’s Queries and Transactions. He explained strategic approaches in proper handling of queries and transactions in reader services – online or personal;

e.Ms. Perla T. Garcia (DLSU) provided insights for a better analysis and interpretation of library statistical records. She encouraged the participants to earn Data Literacy Skills and interpret statistics the right way for meaningful reader services’ assessment; and,

f.Prof. Thelma S. Kim (SLU), through her paper on Readers Services Marketing Plans, taught participants about the role of advertising, promotion and public relations beginning with the library’s architectural designs to developing healthy and positive human affairs while doing reader service work.

.2 for a tour near the longest river in the country, the Rio Grande de Cagayan, from Tuguegarao in the south to Aparri in the north:

g.Buntun Bridge, the second longest in the country, welcomed the group while singing Lupang Hinirang, to Aparri’s southernmost with black sand beach where lurung - one rare and delicious fish - can be found. Mr. Christopher C. Paras, vice-president and conference chair, reiterated that the portion of a body of water the group caught a glimpse of where the river meets the sea is known as Edge of Heaven and Sea;

h.Only less than 30 attendees explored and walked around the seven chambers of Callao Caves – limestone caves of Tuguegarao. This can be reached through a steep flight of 206 steps carved into the side of a cliff and cave spelunking started with a short talk by a little boy guide named Andoy in the amphitheater that has a chapel complete with a stone altar, pew, and a Lourdes grotto replica. This chamber is 30 m high plus an opening in its domed roof that allows sunlight to brighten the place. Beautiful Aetas were spotted in the area.

i.Iguig people are proud of its Calvary Hill – an 11-hectare rolling terrain overlooking the Cagayan River. The movie Santa-santita used this as backdrop with Stations of the Cross depicting life-size and imposing concrete statues;

j.Participants also paid homage to The Miraculous Lady of Piat. Her image is 364 years old, made of paper from Macao and was originally enshrined in Lal-lo, but brought by the Dominicans to Piat town, to convert the Itawes to Christianity. This was also told by tour guide Mr. Michael Pinto, head librarian of St. Louis College of Tuguegarao.

.3 Lyceum of Aparri boasts of a taste of education with a difference, delivered the Lycean way as mentioned by its President-Founder and Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao, Most Rev. Diosdado A. Talamayan. Lyceum of Aparri as evidenced by its impressively grand buildings – one for the library was donated by Sy- has what cities can offer – well-involved faculty, good classroom management, laboratories with Pentium 4 models, library with Internet facility & multimedia center, social orientation & community involvement, physical plant & facilities with attractive landscape and numerous sheltered areas, student personnel services towards holistic development of students, Christian virtues and a lot more. Administrators, personnel and other staff of the Lyceum of Aparri with Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ludivina Reyes, were a wholesome group to be with. They made things easy for PAARL’s board and participants of the seminar-workshop. Room ushers and student usherettes were provided, AV technician was reliable, food servers were kind and helpful, and Lyceum’s cultural group which performed opening numbers for workshop attendees’ 1950s fellowship night was fantastic.

3.2009 PAARL Board proceeded to Ilocos Sur, specifically Ciudad Fernandina now known as Vigan, stayed in St. Paul University for two days and had empanada, Sinanglaw (papaitan in taste), delicious and small longganisas for breakfast and lunch, respectively. Board director Sr. Ma. Gloria Pasamba of St. Paul-Pasig coordinated the trip for the board. They also met the very accommodating 2009 president Ms. Fe Angela M. Verzosa (whose birthday is on May 8, Friday) in Villa Angela, a prominent heritage house, so typical 1850s Vigan house, now transformed into the city’s most charming hotel, in Quirino Boulevard, Vigan City. Village Angela is also the house where Holywood actor Tom Cruise stayed while filming “Born on the Fourth of July.” The films “Jose Rizal,” Gumising Ka Maruja,” and “Noli Me Tangere” and the teleserye “Anna Karenina” were also shot here.

2007 president Mrs. Marietta D. Molina also joined the group, cheered and celebrated with local folks for their annual Viva Vigan fiesta with highly energized street dancing by kids and adults as well. Trying times and successes of former Congressman Floro Crisologo in the Crisologo Museum were also seen through memorabilias, pictures, and artifacts while Hidden Garden was one best offer for the group’s lunch. The famous St. Paul Cathedral, which stands on one end of Plaza Burgos, and Baluarte of Chavit Singson were also visited. Indeed, walking its narrow cobblestone streets lined with Spanish colonial houses and seeing horse-drawn kalesas is like being transported back in time.

4.PAARL t-shirts (P180.00), key chain (P50.00), pins (P100.00), paper weigh/table pieces (P100.00) are now available for sale. Please contact Association’s treasurer, Mrs. Jocelyn T. Balangue (DLSU) for orders @ 09154370890. Loyal exhibitors were visible and supported PAARL’s national seminar-workshop in the Lyceum of Aparri.