with mayor jesse

A very simple and unassuming man, mayor jess wasn’t one to hog the limelight, but was known to be a quiet and conscientious worker who earned the respect of those around him through the honorable life he lived.

Tsinelas, shorts and a simple t-shirt...

This was the favorite get-up of the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo. When mayor jesse died, he was among the country's highest ranking officials.

He is remembered as the young mayor who helped shaped Naga into the city that it is today, the first former local chief executive appointed to the powerful Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 2000, and a champion of good governance at the local level.

Mayor Jesse served as Naga’s Mayor for a total of 19 years and as Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for two years. His governance style and his achievements gained him international recognition, and upon his passing in 2012, the admiration of a grieving nation.

Mayor Jesse is remembered for his leadership style. He was consistently vocal about transparency and accountability. In addition, he was most distinctively known for “Tsinelas Leadership” which tells of his sincerity and humility as a leader. It can originate from his attitude as the type of leader who would walk the streets of his city in slippers and would show up to help during times of disaster, cleaning debris and even in helping with trafficking the roads. He was also known for his decisive management style, his moral authority, and his innovativeness. He was a leader easily respected by the people because he believed and lived out the value of leadership by example. He was able to encourage people participation through the way he communicated and listened as a leader. Through his leadership, he brought about more opportunities to those he led, improved the level of efficiency of the people, and significantly rose the rates of progress of the community.

The Museo ni Jesse Robredo opened in Naga City, just in time for his fifth death anniversary. This museum can be describe as a governance and teaching museum as it showcases the kind of governance Jesse displayed as a local chief executive of Naga for two decades. It pays tribute to the exemplary life and legacy of good governance of the long-time local executive. 

The museum has four galleries filled with Jesse's photos, personal itemss clothes and shoes he wore when he was alive, awards, letters, informative displays and interactive features.

Entrance to the museum is free. It is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

It is located at Naga Civic Center, J. Miranda Avenue cor. Taal Avenue, Naga City, Bicol.

santa's deer and me

Deer live where there is plenty of food, water and prime bedding areas. That is because they do not like to travel out of their own area.

Deers are always part of my imaginary world. They are commonly pet for nymphs in the alter dimension. 

Ecstatified with this childhood hymn I dreamed someday to see them in raw. And today we  take a tour to the foothill part of Mt.Isarog in Ocampo Camarines Sur. To where the deers are. kept, love and feed.

No, they do not only exist in Christmas songs and yes, Rudolph may be the most famous one but there is a herd of them in the town of Ocampo in Camarines Sur. In the foothills of Mount Isarog is a 5-hectare deer farm owned by the Province of Camsur. It started in 1996 with just about 60 heads but has to date grown it to 700.

As they are not domesticated animals, they move around large open spaces like prairies with nearby grassland, thick weeds and abundant herbs as their habitat. Guests in the farm are allowed to interact up close with them and can feed the deer with weeds.

They are pretty to look at as they wander around the vast grassland. Some are prancing and leaping from fallen tree branches while those in a herd walk so sexy as they feed on twigs and herbs. Wave your bunch of weeds they would happily race to you and get surrounded by lovely antlers. Local farm boys also help in collecting grass for their food.

Locally breeded, they’re are sold for their meat. Their fur skin for leather goods, their horns for ornament and medicinal usage as well. 

They are friendly to people, feeding them will give you an opportunity to take selfie with these new found friends so the best time to visit the place is at 3 PM onwards.

Here, one is allowed to get close and personal with several species of deer and it makes for a truly unique experience being with these shy, gentle creatures.

Situated about four kilometers up in Mt. Isarog, this five-hectare farm is considered as the Deer Farm of the country.

The farm was stocked entirely with Australian species such as blackbuck antelope, fallow deer, chital deer, red deer, and elk.

Owned by the Camarines Sur government, it was started late in 1996 with only 60 heads of five species from Australia.

Today, the number had increased to over 700 heads. Its goal is to make the province a supplier of deer meat (venison) which is a delicacy in restaurants while the hides can be used as materials for bags, belts, and other goods. The antlers can be extracted for medicinal value.