TALAKAG - the etymology of which came from the Bisayan dialect LAKAG meaning "to go after” or
“follow in pursuit” and the prefix TA denoting “fondness in doing such”.
In other words, Talakag means “fondness in giving pursuit”.


Monday, 30 December 2013

YEAR END MESSAGE

I would like to apologise for being such a terrible blogger. It has been 6 months since my last post here. Life has really been hectic this year, with numerous trips between Talakag and the UK. I did plan to update this Blog in between trips though, but the plans went right out of the window when some major health problems in the family were thrown into the equation. Jim has been diagnosed with Angina (a coronary heart disease) and had to undergo a procedure called Angioplasty where 2 stents have been inserted into two of his arteries supplying blood and oxygen to his heart.

Now with Jim’s medical treatment completed, I can’t wait to get back and catch up on blogging again. Thank you so much to all you readers who have continued to follow this Blog.

I am so looking forward to seeing what year 2014 will bring, so see you there!

In the meantime, I’ll end this post with some photos that I meant to share with you some months ago.

After so many years of waiting, I've finally enjoyed my fruits of labour (literally), harvested from my own backyard.  Definitely one of the perks of living in rural Talakag.


Right after the Local Elections in May, the Talakag Municipal Hall got a face lift.  The rennovaton work was completed just in time for the Sworn In Ceremony.


Steel fence with concrete posts were erected around the Town Plaza. 


Complete with lights!  Which makes it nice and safe to go and walk around the Plaza in the evenings.


Road widening work by the Talakag Terminal (before and after photos).
 
 

Here's a glimpse of the Annual Farmer's Day Celebration.  I always look forward to this event, with the colourful parade, and booths displaying agricultural produce from fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, etc.

 
  
 

You're probably expecting a mention about the Uguiaban Bridge saga here.  I'm afraid I have to disappoint you at this point.  However, I promise to post an update next week, so watch this space.

Friday, 28 June 2013

Oathtaking Ceremony of Newly Elected Municipal Officials of Talakag, Bukidnon

Our new set of elected Municipal Officials took their oath of office today June 28, 2013 before Judge Lourdes Eltanal-Ignacio.
Mayor NESTOR MACAPAYAG
Mayor NESTOR MACAPAYAG with his family
Vice Mayor and SB Members in photo from left to right
ABDON PACUÑO
AMADO NOBLE,JR
SAM NERI
CARLOS TAQUEBAN
RYAN MACAPAYAG
Vice Mayor VERGITO FACTURA
AILEEN AMATIAGA
ANGELO MONJE
ROMEO TIANZON 

CONGRATULATIONS!

Monday, 17 June 2013

Getting to Laguindingan Airport from Talakag: Don't Be Late!


Airport Terminal
Control Tower
 After years of waiting and speculation “will they” / “won’t they”,  the new Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental (complete with modern facilities) opened last Saturday, June 15th  replacing the old Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro.

Come fly with us but first let us take you there!


For those who have used the Lumbia Airport before, prepare for some drastic changes!  I'm sure fellowTalakagnons are wondering how this change will affect them.  So this morning we decided to drive to Laguindingan Airport from Talakag just to check things out for you.  Here’s what we found out:

Distance:  We left Talakag at 7:00am by private car and after 30 minutes we passed the old Lumbia Airport.  In order to avoid the city centre traffic, we turned left just after SM at Macapagal Drive heading towards Bulua.  Halfway along this road, we turned left again following directions towards Iponan and joined the National Highway from there towards Opol, El Salvador, Alubijid and, eventually, Laguindingan.  From the Laguindingan-Airport Road junction, we turned right and headed towards the airport which is 4 kms away.  We arrived at the airport at 8:30am after travelling a total of 65 kms.  From Talakag that’s 30 kms to Lumbia then from Lumbia to Laguindingan that’s another 35 kms and took us 1½ hours travel in total.

Traffic:  Allow for heavy traffic during the work/school rush hours and also for lorries/buses/PUJs plying the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan route.  Along El Salvador, watch out for a number of Heavy Goods Vehicles turning into Asia Brewery.  Expect delays between Alubijid and Laguindingan where there are roadworks reducing the highway into single lanes.  If possible, fly on weekends when there is less traffic to the airport.  Otherwise, aim to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before your scheduled departure.

Fees:  Parking inside the airport car park is 20 pesos.  For those flying out, the Airport Tax is 200 pesos.

Transportation (one-way only):

From Talakag:

Van hire  -  between 1,500 to 1,800 pesos to airport.

From CDO (assuming you have made your own way from Talakag):

Taxi (metered)  -  between 800 - 1,000 pesos approximate from CDO proper.

Airport Express Vans  -  Introductory fares at 150 and 199 pesos (250 pesos regular fare) and leaves every hour from various pick-up points.  CDO Transco from DBP Divisoria, Savemore Kauswagan and SM Pueblo.  Magnum Express Vans from Centrio Ayala Mall and Gaisano Mall area.  It is worth checking with Travel Agents  too as some of them offer Airport Services for 200 pesos.
 

From West-Bound Terminal at Bulua to Laguindingan-Airport Road Junction:

Vans  -  80 pesos

Bus  -  85 pesos

From Laguindingan-Airport Road Junction to the airport proper:

Airport Shuttles  -  20 pesos

Airport Shuttle waiting at the Laguindingan-Airport Road Junction
From the National Highway facing Airport Road 4kms long..

Hope this information helps.  When you do get the chance to use the Laguindingan Airport, please feel free to share your experiences and add your comments here so that we can update our fellow Talakagnons.

You can also check out the following for additional information.

CDOdev.com  HERE, HERE and HERE.

Mindanaoan.com  HERE.

Thursday, 11 April 2013

Talakag Policemen Hurt in a Clash with Suspected NPA

Talakag Police Force is on Red Alert after a clash with suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Barangay Sagaran, Talakag, Bukidnon yesterday afternoon.

Read about it HERE.

Friday, 8 March 2013

Linggo ng Talakag 2013 Schedule of Activities

If you’re planning to visit Talakag soon, then do it between March 18 and 24 in time for the Linggo ng Talakag celebrations.  Check out the schedule of activities below:


Mark your calendars and don't miss the Grand Parade with the award-winning Kaamulan Float and the spectacular Street Dancing and Ground Presentation by the Kaamulan Dancers on March 18.

Sunday, 3 March 2013

Talakag Bagged Three Trophies at 2013 Kaamulan Street Dancing Competition

Photo provided by Bon of http://www.contourblog.com/
Photo provided by Bon of http://www.contourblog.com/
 Congratulations and well done!
  • First place in Float Category
  • Second place in Street Dancing Category
  • Third place in Ground Presentation Category
Talakag is the only Municipality in the competition who won a place in all three catagories.  See Bukidnon Online for the complete list of winners.

For those who didn’t make it to Malaybalay to watch the 2013 Kaamulan Street Dancing Competition yesterday or even missed watching the live coverage on GMA-Northern Mindanao TV, here’s your chance to watch it online on the internet.  Just click HERE.

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Construction of the New Uguiaban Bridge

Two months after Typhoon Pablo destroyed the Uguiaban Bridge - Progress at last!   I’m pleased to report that construction work on the new bridge started this week.  See photos below:

Materials for Steelworks Delivered
 
Preparation Work from Cagayan de Oro Side of the Bridge

No doubt the construction work will take months.  So in the meantime, work continues to re-enforce and strengthen the temporary bridge (see below) that is being used at the moment.  Hope it holds up until the new Uguiaban Bridge is completed.