News That Shaped 2011

The year 2011 has left the Southern Leyte Times newsroom with stories of tragedy and hope. Join us now as we look back on the major news makers of the year that was.

Early 2011 the Regional Trial Court of Cebu found Eivan Barabat and Mark Anthony Gabriel guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the murder of graduating nursing student Ruby Jade Ruba of Macrohon, Southern Leyte.

Bishop Precioso Cantillas of the Maasin Diocese and six other bishops of Eastern Visayas make an impassioned appeal to government leaders to stop commercial mining in the region.

The month of February shocked Southern Leyteños when Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo’s 75 year old Auntie, Lucia Maamo, was found brutally murdered and raped in her home in Barangay Tawid, Maasin City. The case remains unsolved as of this writing.

The quite town of Hinundayan was suddenly awakened last March when Samuel Tomboc Jr. a suspect in the rape and murder of two young women in Apalit, Pampanga suddenly surfaced in Hinundayan and surrendered to police authorities.

Last summer showcased the launching of the Zipline Adventure in Sogod Town. The Zipline traverses the Agas-Agas Bridge  which is the highest in the Philippines.

The fiesta season provided Southern Leyños with a glimpse of professional boxing as Maasinhon and ALA Boxing stable sensation Albert Pagara continued his unbeaten streak and knocked out Anthony Galigao in the first round.

The majority of Southern Leyteños voiced their support for the Reproductive Health Bill in a survey last May despite the Catholic Churches opposition.

Last July, Beryll Lynn Yu, representing the Municipality of Sogod bested 17 other contestants and was crowned Miss Southern Leyte 2011. First runner-up honors went to Marian Mate while  Beverly Ann Orais was chosen second runner up.

Southern Leyte Times editor, Ruevivar Markines Reyes, was elected as Trustee of the Philippine Press Institute for the Visayas and as officer of the National Press Council. President Benigno Simeon Aquino III inducted Reyes and the other Trustees in Malacañang Palace.

In August,strong waves triggered by Habagat winds capsized several fishing boats in Sogod Bay. The fishermen who hanged on to their ill fated basnigs would have surely perished if speed boats from a dive resort in Padre Burgos had not rescued them.

The month of September saw Amnesty International reaching out to help Maasinhon, Rodelia Palima who was apprehended by  Iranian authorities for allegedly carrying prohibited drugs into the Islamic state. Philippine foreign affairs officials believe she is innocent and are expecting a long trial ahead.

September also saw the National Census Office predict that by 2019 Southern Leyte would meet the population requirement for a second seat in Congress.

One of the biggest news event of the year was the triumph of the Maasinhon Trio in ABS-CBN television’s talent search show Pilipinas Got Talent.

The charred body of a Chinese national was found in a shallow grave in Barangay Libhu, Maasin City last October. The badly decomposed corpse which was exhumed by Maasin city police and health officers was identified as 61 year old Kwok Che Fung  who was reportedly killed by two men. One of the two suspects has since been arrested and is now in police custody.

November saw the arrival of 15 baby salt water crocodiles at the Danao Forest Zoo and the passing away of the well loved youth leader and beauty queen RC Estrada. 

In December, Southern Leyte’s legal community voiced their opposition to Malacañang’s move to impeach Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona (By ANGELYN BOOK)          

Other News

Calapre is Batang Pinoy's Best Athelete

Sarah Dampog Tops SP Attendance

Is Southern Leyte Insurgency Free?

Noynoy Impressed with Mercado's Log Ban Law

Gonzales Awarded Best District Engineer in E.V.