VIRAC, Catanduanes—Rep. Cesar Sarmiento of the Liberal Party (LP) scored a first in the history of the lone district of Catanduanes when he was reelected with 101,156 votes to topple opponents Leandro Verceles (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino) and Resty de Quiros (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, or PMP).

Sarmiento, who is the LP provincial chair, also delivered in the senatorial race, helping win votes for nine Team PNoy candidates. LP candidates also won nine of the 11 mayoral contests as well as four seats in the provincial board.

In the race for governor, however, Gov. Joseph Cua (LP) failed to get a new mandate after he was defeated by businesswoman Araceli Wong, an independent candidate, who bucked three successive election losses to clinch victory in the May 13 elections. Wong got 67,252 votes against Cua’s 60,881, that paved the way for her proclamation on May 16.

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The Provincial Tourism Office of Catanduanes will host the 2013 International Museum Day celebration cum capability-building workshop for Bicol region today until tomorrow at Rakdell Inn here.

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established International Museum Day in 1977 to increase public awareness of the role of museums in the development of society.

The two-day activity will revolve on the theme: “Museums (Memory + Creativity) = Social Change”.

According to Mrs. Carmel B. Garcia, Provincial Tourism Officer, this year’s theme was chosen by the museum community.

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SARREAL with the author on Puraran Beach, Baras, Catanduanes. NAJIB ISMAIL

Catandunganons took a big respite from political jingles when they trooped to the closing concert of the summer music festival at the Kemji Resort in Virac, Catanduanes.

“Such splendid voice!” commented Gerry Rubio of the nearby Catanduanes State University. “His voice had the power of an amplified singer but he didn’t use any sound system all throughout his performance.”

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